Merry Christmas, My Love

“What happened?” Ellie asked.

“I must have run out of gasoline. There’s a spare can strapped to the running board on your side. I’ll refill the tank, and we’ll be on our way.”

“Ah, Max?” Ellie’s spoke in a weak and tremulous whisper.

He went around the automobile and gaped at the running board. “Where the devil is the can of gasoline?”

“Max.” She spoke a bit louder.

“What?”

“We don’t have it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I took the can off when we were loading the baskets because I had to keep climbing over it. I put it alongside the road and forgot to tell you.” Pale-faced, Ellie fumbled with the button on her coat.

He stared at her, hands on hips, eyes wide. “Ellie, I’m not sure I heard you correctly, so I’m going to ask you to say that one more time.”

“I took it off the running board this morning...”

Max held up his hand. “Stop.” He slumped and his chin hit his chest. “I did hear you correctly the first time,” he mumbled to his coat.

“Are you mad?”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Now why would I be mad? We’re here in the wilderness,” he waved his hand around, “with no gasoline, with darkness descending. It’s freezing out, and it may snow. And I’m starving and tired.” He glared at her.

Ellie stiffened. “I’m sorry, but I had no idea it was important. For all I knew, it could have been water in case we got thirsty.”

“You should have asked me before you took it off.” He spoke between gritted teeth.

“You were too busy shouting orders at me like some kind of general,” she retorted sharply.

They stared at each other across a chasm of cold silence. Max blew out a huge breath of air. “All right, let’s not argue. What’s done is done.” He climbed back into the automobile.

“What will we do?” She pulled the blanket tighter.

“We passed an abandoned farmhouse a short time ago. We can walk there and spend the night, and in the morning, we’ll find another farm where we can borrow a horse.”

Ellie pulled away, her eyes wide. “I can’t spend the night with you! My reputation will be ruined. I’ll lose my room. I’ll have to move back in with Uncle Jesse and Tori.”

“No one will know.”

“Mrs. Beamer will know. She’ll tell Uncle Jesse. Oh, this is a mess!” She twisted her hands in her lap.

“I will speak with Mrs. Beamer and your uncle, if necessary. But now we need to find shelter. It’s getting colder by the minute.” He grabbed the last basket from the back seat and the two blankets he kept there, and then helped her out of the motorcar. Max put his arm around her and pulled her close to keep them both warmer.

Snow began to fall as they approached the small farmhouse after a half hour of walking. Ellie’s teeth chattered, and he felt like an icicle. Darkness had descended, making him grateful they hadn’t stumbled into any small animal holes.

He shoved the warped wooden door open to reveal a one room house. Whoever abandoned the place had left their belongings behind. A rickety table and two chairs sat in the middle of the room. A bed had been shoved against the wall, a thin blanket bunched at the foot. The fireplace hadn’t been cleaned out, but a small stack of wood stood near it.

“What kind of food do you have in that basket?” Max shoveled ashes from the fireplace into a barrel standing against the wall.

“This one has smoked sausage, cheese, and an apple pie.”

He grinned. “Dinner.”

She nodded, her arms wrapped around her.