Snowed in With My Small Town Billionaire

Chapter 19 Sawyer

19

C H A P T E R

Sawyer

S awyer sat in the corner of the parlor, his hands resting on his knees, as Daniel laid out the situation about the generator in a calm but urgent tone. The snowstorm they had feared hadn’t come and the clouds had cleared, but the temperatures had dropped drastically overnight, creating a chill in the lodge that even the heaters couldn’t completely defeat.

“So, how much longer do we have with the gas we’ve got left?” Sawyer asked, glancing between Daniel, Lucas, and Oliver. His mind was already running through the worst-case scenarios. They were all hoping the weather would clear soon enough for a rescue, but it seemed that help wasn’t going to come before they ran out of fuel.

“Maybe a day, at most,” Daniel replied, his expression grim. “After that, we’ll have to switch to the propane tank. It’s a hundred and twenty gallons, but it won’t generate enough amps to keep everything running. We’ll have to cut back drastically—probably just the essentials. We can keep the well going for water and power the kitchen. But that means no heat in the rooms, even at night.”

Sawyer felt the weight of those words settle over him like the heavy snow outside. The idea of surviving without heat in these temperatures, especially with Zaid still recovering and the others already on edge, made his stomach twist.

“We’ll do what we have to,” Oliver said, his voice steady. He crossed his arms, his face stern but resolved. “If that means chopping wood and huddling in the living room for warmth, then so be it. We can make it work.”

Sawyer nodded. He admired Oliver’s calm under pressure, but he knew they were skating on thin ice.

“We can’t risk anyone getting sick, especially with Zaid’s condition. We’ll need to make sure we have plenty of wood for the fireplace. That’ll be our main source of heat.”

“We can do that,” Lucas chimed in. “We’ve got enough axes and saws, right?”

Daniel nodded. “Yeah, there’s a good supply of tools in the shed. We’ll just have to stay on top of it. Chopping wood will keep us warm, anyway.”

Sawyer chuckled softly, though the humor felt hollow. “I guess that’s one way to look at it.”

His mind drifted back to Gwen and the others. It was hard enough to keep the tension low without adding freezing temperatures to the mix. Everyone’s nerves were on edge and people were snapping at each other. They were tired of cards, board games, and the same movies on DVDs that they’d been watching.

They all sat in silence for a minute.

“All we can do is take it day by day,” Sawyer said.

“I guess I’ll make an announcement,” Oliver said. “I don’t want anyone to be taken by surprise.”

They had everyone gather in the parlor. As expected, no one was happy about the situation. With everyone sleeping together in the parlor, they would almost literally be lying on top of each other.

“I think I’ll be going back to the cabin and sleeping there,” Sawyer told Lucas.

“I’m with you, there,” Lucas agreed.

After the meeting, Gwen pulled Sawyer aside.

“Is Zaid going to be okay if we have to stay here much longer?”

Sawyer ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. “I honestly don’t know. I’m giving him the antibiotics that Oliver had, but they don’t seem to be helping. He needs stronger meds.”

“Does he know?”

Sawyer sighed heavily. “He does. I’ve been completely honest with him.”

“Dang. Is there anything I can do?”

“Not for Zaid. As for everyone else, you can help keep them calm. I know people are bored, restless, and afraid. Now is the time to use those classroom management skills.”

She laughed without humor. “I think rambunctious teenagers are easier to deal with.”

Gwen looked into his eyes and smiled. “I know this sounds awful, but in a way, I’m grateful for the avalanche. It gave me a chance to realize the truth and to get to know you again.”

“I understand and I feel you,” Sawyer said. “Now, we just need to get off this bloody mountain and see where our feelings take us. You might feel different when we’re not cooped up together and the threat of death isn’t constantly looming over our heads.”

“I don’t think that’s why I …” she started to say.

“Gwen, will you go outside with me?” Brent asked.

She looked down at her nephew and smiled. “Of course, I will.”

“How’s your cough been?” Sawyer asked.

“Just a little,” Brent said.

“Don’t get too cold. When you start shivering get your tail back inside,” Sawyer ordered.

“I will,” Brent promised.

Sawyer briefly wondered what Gwen was going to say, but then Oliver approached him.

“Were you serious about hunting?”

“Yeah, if we need to,” Sawyer said.

“We’re low on meat,” Oliver said. “I have a .22 for small game and a .30-06 for an elk or moose. At this point, small game might be preferable, because hopefully, help will come soon, although we wouldn’t waste any elk or moose meat.”

“Lucas and I will go out and take both rifles and see what we can get.”

“Thanks,” Oliver said.

Sawyer slung the .22 over his shoulder while Lucas carried the .30-06. The temperature seemed to have dropped even further. He hoped that they would find something soon.

After half an hour of walking in silence, Lucas spotted some movement in the trees ahead. There were some ptarmigans which are white plumed chicken-sized birds. Their feathered feet act like snowshoes. In the winter, only their beak, eyes, and feet were visible against the snow.

Sawyer raised his rifle and managed to get five of them before the rest took off.

“Do you think five will be enough for the group?” Lucas asked as they picked up the birds and dropped them into a bag.

“It depends on what Millie does with them. If she puts them in a stew or something, it should be fine. If not, we’ll come back out.”

They walked quickly back to the lodge and found Millie in the kitchen.

“Do you think five birds will work or do we need to go find more?” Sawyer asked.

“These will work fine. I’ll boil them, shred them, and use them to make a slightly different version of chicken and dumplings,” she said.

“Do you know how to defeather and take care of them?” Sawyer asked.

“Tessie and I both do. This won’t be the first time we’ve had this particular meat for dinner and I reckon it won’t be the last.”

“How are we doing on meat and other food?” Lucas asked worriedly.

Millie drew in a sharp breath. “Let’s just say that if something doesn’t give soon, I’m going to have to ask you to go after an elk or moose.”

“We can do that. Both of our daddies made sure that he could hunt and field dress the animals with minimal waste. I’m sure you can use the hide, entrails, and bones for something,” Sawyer said.

“Well, the wolves can have the entrails and bones but we can use the rest,” Millie said, smiling at them. “Thank you for the birds. Now, skidaddle and let Tessie and me get to work.”

Sawyer kissed her on the cheek, making her grin.

Gwen, who was sitting in the parlor putting a jigsaw puzzle together with Brent, looked up at them questioningly. Sawyer nodded. She looked relieved although Sawyer knew that she, like everyone else, was worried.

Almost everyone was very complimentary about Millie’s chicken and dumplings. Sawyer picked up on the slightly gamey taste, but if the others did, no one said anything. They ate with gusto as if it was going to be their last meal.

Sawyer and Gwen were cuddling on the couch in the library, reading books, when loud noises erupted from the parlor. They threw down their books and rushed into the other room.

Jeff pushed Darren. “I saw you looking at Elaine. You think that just because you’re so hot and studly you can have any woman you want.”

Darren’s clenched fists were by his side. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. If I looked at her, it was because I spoke to her. Typically, people look at the person they are talking to. I have no interest in Elaine that way.”

“Please, Jeff. He didn’t look at me in any bad way. We were talking about the cars he restores, that’s all.”

“Don’t lie to me and don’t try to protect him. He was flirting with you,” Jeff shouted. He turned back to Darren and poked him in the chest.

Sawyer literally stepped between them and Lucas grabbed Jeff and pulled him back.

“Darren has not been flirting with Elaine. He has been one of the people keeping this place together. I suggest you act like you’ve got some sense or you can haul your skinny butt out to one of the cabins and stay there. Each one has a fireplace and you can cut your own firewood to take with you,” Sawyer said in a low, deadly voice. The look on Sawyer’s face showed that he meant business. “This is your one and only warning. The next time you start anything with anyone here, you will leave the lodge.”

Jeff bared his teeth at Sawyer, who stood in front of him calmly. He jerked his arms out of Lucas’ grip and stormed off into the conference room.

Elaine whispered, “Sorry,” to Darren. Her face was flaming red and it was obvious that she was humiliated by the situation.

Sawyer turned toward Jerome and waited for him to say something, but the man obviously decided that he should keep his mouth shut.

Gwen, Sawyer, and Lucas went back into the library.

“I hope help comes sooner rather than later. If they stay cooped up together for much longer, they’re going to be ripping each other’s throats out,” Lucas said.