She stood in front of the fire, feeling the warmth of the flames against her legs and listening to the whistle of the wind around the window frames. It had been a wonderful day, walking through the hills, and swimming naked and chilly in the river that wound through the trees below the cabin.
Now the air was cool, and the sun had drifted below the hills on the horizon. She had made a simple meal and ate it to the sound of the currawongs serenading the evening star. She built up the fire and lay down on the soft fur of the bearskin rug, which was stretched across the old wooden floorboards of the cabin grandfather built.
She laid for a while, lost in contemplation, enjoying the solace of the evening - the escape from the hustle and bustle of a busy job, a hectic social life, and all the responsibilities that went with being determined, ambitious and successful in the world of business. Her grandfather had died only months before, and this was the first chance she had to visit the cabin he had bequeathed her in his will. She remembered coming up here every summer as a little girl, and sometimes in the winter to ski the gentle slopes below the craggy mountain range that seemed to touch the sky.
Lost in her reverie, she barely noticed the insistent tapping at the front door. It finally penetrated her consciousness and she rose from the floor. It was unusual to see people unannounced in this area of the country, unless they were lost or broken down. But country hospitality demanded that help should be given if needed, so after checking that grandfatherÕs old shotgun was ready and loaded, she cracked the door open to see who was there.
In the dim light on the veranda stood a young man. He looked tired and his clothes were dusty and somewhat bedraggled. But his eyes were intense and he had a pleasant face, which lit up when he saw her.
"Sorry to bother you miss. I've been hiking through the park for a couple of days, and seemed to have lost my bearings'
'What can I do for you?' she asked.
'I was hoping I could use your phone, and perhaps scrounge a hot cup of tea'
She was unsure, alone in the cabin and a million miles away from help if she needed it. But something in the way he stood, and looked at her with those bright eyes made her want to trust him, so she undid the chain and opened the door wider to let him in.
Once inside, he shed his heavy jacket and she was impressed with the lean body that was revealed. While she bustled in the tiny kitchen with mugs and tea bags, he lowered himself into a chair by the fire with an audible sigh.
'I'm sorry', she said, 'I can only offer you the tea. The storm last night brought down the telephone line and they tell me it won't be fixed until the morning'
