Plunking my butt down on the stairs next to Krista, I just stared off into the darkness. She cuddled up to my shoulder, resting her head on my chest as I slid my arm around her. It was still warm for the time of night this far north, but cool enough to snuggle a bit.

There were some quiet noises from inside the cabin, sounds of shower-taking, toilet, footsteps. Soon it was quiet. We sat and I thought deep and wandering thoughts. About the day, about the orphan I had 'adopted', about the lover I had discovered inside her. The escape merited no thought; it would never be a problem for me... I could buy my way out of the trouble.

Sounds in the woods took me back to my youth, happy and sad and angry. Hunting the foxes and squirrel and white-tail, fishing for the Walleye and Muskie, sharing time with my Dad in the early years happily. Sad as I got older, hurt, ignored. Angry when I ran away up here to avoid his drinking and abuse. I tried to shut the bad from my mind, and the sounds of the night creatures helped. That and the warm bundle inside my arm.

Looking down, I gently spoke to her. "Krista? You awake?" She did not move, did not stir. Gathering her in my arms, I carried her into the cabin, to the couch which someone had made out into a bed for us. I laid her down and pulled off her shoes. She stirred a bit in her slumber, and I pulled the blanket over her. Stripping to underwear, I moved next to her but did not sleep for a long time. Just couldn't calm my mind.