Joe trudged through the snow, shivering and dizzy. The moonless night made it even harder to make his way. His head hurt from where he had hit it on the steering wheel, and he was afraid that the pain in his right leg was more than bad bruising. To top it off, it felt like his left shoe had a hole in it, allowing the wet snow to seep in.
He was on a back road, not at all sure of where he actually was. All he knew was that in his rage, he had grabbed his keys and stormed out of the house with no wallet, no cell phone, nothing but a red fury in his brain. He had left a distraught Rob behind.
Joe didn't remember much of what had happened after he left. Winding roads, little light, sudden patches of ice, some close calls. The last clear memory was the terror of feeling the car beginning to spin and slide off the road. The back of the car had struck something, maybe a tree or a large boulder, that stopped the nauseating rotation.
Once the car stopped, Joe sat there, breathing hard and holding his aching head. It was obvious that the car would not be drivable, so the only thing to do was get out and walk. Realizing that he was lost, Joe had no plan but to just keep moving.
Having only a light jacket on, Joe was soon shivering and lightheaded. That was when he realized he had no phone, so he was on his own. Then he realized that he had no wallet, so when someone found his dead body in the snow, that wouldn't even know who he was.
Only weakness kept the tears at bay. His rage had cooled, and now all he knew was that he was likely to meet his end alone.
The cracking of a tree branch caused him to look up from the ground. The almost complete darkness made the tiny point of light ahead of him more apparent. Joe shook his head, convinced that he was seeing things, that the light was a cheat, leading him on with a false hope. He stared at it, expecting it to fade away like the mirage it must be, but the light was steady, even seeming to increase a little.
Joe staggered on toward the light. In the darkness, it became a beacon, leading him on to . . . whatever it might be. Anything was better than this despairing trek.
At last, Joe was close enough to the light to see that it was from the windows of a small house in a clearing of the woods. He stumbled on through the snow, finally reaching the door. He gathered his remaining strength and pounded on the door.
The door was opened, and just before he blacked out, Joe saw a tall man silhouetted in firelight. He felt strong hands take hold of him and pull him inside. Then he knew nothing more.
~~~~~~~~~~
When Joe opened his eyes, he found he was lying in bed, covered with a soft quilt, his head on fluffy pillows. He reached up and felt the bandage on his forehead, reached down and felt the splint on his leg. The room was lit by a cheery fire that warmed the heart as much as the body. Joe then realized that he was naked under the quilt, but he was too comfortable to worry about that.
He stared at the ceiling, trying to get his mind to work. So many loose bits of information ran around his brain and refused to come together as coherent memories. Joe felt that he should have been scared, but he was strangely calm.
He heard footsteps approaching and turned to look at the door.
Through the door entered a big man. Tall, strong, muscular, with a full beard and bright eyes, and a smile that immediately made Joe feel like an old friend. The man bore a tray with a plate of toast, a jar of jam, and mugs of fragrant coffee. He was dressed in boots, jeans, and a flannel shirt, with enough buttons undone to show the furry chest beneath.
How old was he? Joe never could decide. The hair and beard were more gray than anything else, almost white with traces of the darker hair of youth. But his body was that of a man with the strength of a young athlete in his prime. And the man's eyes were perplexing. They sparkled with the gleam of a mischievous young boy, but they also had the warm depth of maturity. And there was a hint of sadness there, as of one who has seen things that made him sympathetic to those in pain or despair.
"I'm glad to see you awake, Joe. Your head and leg will be fine. You have no broken bones, no serious injuries, just some scrapes and bruises. You'll have a knot on your forehead for a while."
Joe was surprised but not fearful. "How do you know my name?" he asked.
The man just gave him an enigmatic smile. "I just know . . . I'm Kris, and welcome to my house. You're welcome to stay here as long as you need. Now you need something light to eat."
Kris served Joe some golden-brown toast with delicious jam, obviously homemade. The coffee was just right and warmed Joe's insides while the flickering fire warmed his body.
Feeling comfortable and relaxed, Joe didn't question his host. He closed his eyes and tried to reconstruct the events that had brought him to this house.
"I'm sure you have a lot on your mind, Joe," said Kris. "Tell me about Rob."
Now Joe was shocked and rather worried. Who was this man who seemed to know too much?
"Don't worry, Joe. You talked a lot in your delirium after I brought you inside the house," explained Kris. "You said to 'tell Rob that I'm sorry' over and over. I suppose he's someone special?"
Joe's eyes grew dark, and his breathing became labored. Tears began running down his cheeks.
Kris softly said, "Forget it for now, Joe. You need sleep now."
To Joe's surprise, Kris sat on the edge of the bed and wrapped his arms around Joe and held him tightly. Joe was overwhelmed by the sobs that now wracked his body. Kris held him until the weeping subsided and Joe was nearly asleep.
Kris gently laid Joe back against the pillows and pulled up the quilt. Then he leaned over and kissed Joe's forehead.
"Sleep now, my friend. I expect you'll find that this house is a healing place. Don't be surprised! Most of my guests have some unusual experiences here."
The words barely registered in Joe's mind as he fell into a dreamless sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~
When the morning light crept through the window, Joe awoke, feeling strangely refreshed and alive. He leapt from the bed and realized he was now clad in soft pajamas. Ready to explore, Joe went to the bedroom door and opened it.
He stood frozen in amazement.
