Snow Bound

“Do you have the expense report?” said Mr. Poe, poking his head into Logan’s office.

Logan didn’t answer.

“Hey, Logan. Get your head out of your ass. I have a meeting in ten minutes, if I don’t have that expense report it’ll be your head,” said Mr. Poe stepping into the office.

Logan shook the blank stare off his face, “Sorry, what were you saying?”

“Meeting? Expense report? Your life on the line?” said Mr. Poe.

“Right,” Logan shuffled through the stack of papers on his desk placing select sheets into a manila folder, “Here, last quarter and the opening of this quarter.”

Mr. Poe took the file and flipped through it, “Wait, didn’t you read the memo about formatting?”

“Formatting?”

“Yeah, formatting. The new CFO changed the layout for the expense reports,” Mr. Poe tossed the folder back onto Logan’s desk, “This needs to be re-done,” Mr. Poe tapped his wristwatch, “Before the meeting.”

“Hey, Mr. Poe?” said Logan catching Mr. Poe at the door way, “I’m taking the day.” Logan pushed his chair in and grabbed his coat.

“You’re taking the day?”

“Yeah,” he put a hand on his stomach, “Feeling a bit sick. Actually, think I might take the week.”

“You can’t just leave,” he pointed at the expense report, “I need that report. Now.”

“You know as well as I do, that with Arizona’s new sick leave law, I can leave without notice,” Logan picked up the expense report and pushed it into Mr. Poe’s chest, “You better get to work.”

Mr. Poe stammered as Logan walked past him and down the hall. Unable to muster a retort before Logan disappeared behind the elevator doors. Before the elevator reached the lobby Logan had booked both a flight and an Uber to take him to the Phoenix international airport. He drove home to pack. His heart racing off and on as he thought about the confrontation with Mr. Poe. Even if Mr. Poe legally couldn’t retaliate against him for using his sick leave, Logan knew there would be hell to pay when he got back.

He dug through the closet in the guest room until he found his hard frame backpack still packed with his hiking gear. He double checked the essentials and added perishables like snacks, tooth paste, and other toiletries. His phone chimed announcing the arrival of his Uber driver. In a rush he changed his cloths and ran out the door.

He was lucky he was taking a domestic flight and the security line was quick. He dropped into seat 34a and let out a sigh of relief. Just over two hours ago he was sitting in his desk at the corporate office silently hating his life. Now he was on a non-stop flight from Phoenix to Roanoke. He plugged a pair of earbuds into his phone and hit play on the audiobook he downloaded on the way here, a thriller by Taylor Stevens.

The flight took a little more than four hours, the plane had to divert south to avoid a storm but they touched down in Roanoke around two in the afternoon, eastern time. Logan waited outside the airport for his driver. He pulled his coat tight around his neck. When he left Phoenix it was seventy five degrees and sunny, Virginia was anything but. White and grey clouds rolled across the sky. Logan refused to interpret the weather as a bad omen. If he was using all of his sick leave and leaving Mr. Poe in the lurch he was going to make the most of it.

As an avid hiker Logan had always dreamed of hiking the Appalachian Trail, but as the years went by he was always able to find an excuse not to go. As he thought about it he realized it was the same with every aspect of his personal life. He was twenty nine, not only single but he had never had a serious relationship. Trail first, girlfriend second, he thought as he opened the door of his latest Uber.

“Hey, you’re going to the McAfee’s Knob Trail head?” said the driver.

“Yeah, you know where it is?”

“Yeah been there a few times,” he said as he fiddled with his GPS. Logan sat back and enjoyed the scenery. Roanoke wasn’t a beautiful city but it was different from anything in Arizona.

“Be careful,” said the driver before Logan shut the door, “There is a winter weather warning for the area.”

“Alright, thanks,” said Logan and shut the door.

The trail head parking lot was empty except for a single Nissan Sentra. Logan hoisted and shrugged into his pack jogging across the two lane road and onto the trail. With a mile of trail behind him a slight breeze began to pick up. After another mile the light breeze had turned into a decent wind. While the brunt of it was absorbed by the trees. Fear and doubt was creeping up in the back of Logan’s mind. Soon the trees were swaying in the wind, dead branches crashed into the thick leaf litter. Logan had already past two trail shelters. He stopped and looked up catching flecks of snow on his face. It was getting dark, and if he hadn’t been hiking the cold would be unbearable. He dropped his pack and withdrew a flashlight and map. He was roughly half way between Mountain Shelter and Campbell Shelter. He had to make a decision. The weather wasn’t improving and it was almost dark. He looked at the tiny map markers for the two shelters and decided to keep going until he reached Campbell Shelter. If he made it there tonight he would have less of a walk tomorrow. He kept both the map and his flashlight in hand as he continued up the trail.

Logan was forced to lean into the wind as he walked. Frozen bits of ice and snow like natures razor blades stabbed and cut at any exposed skin. Logan wrapped a spare shirt around his face and shielded his eyes with a gloved hand. The snow was building on the trail making it hard to follow. He knew the shelter was nearby he just had to find it. He attempted to use his flashlight, but the beam reflected off the wall of snow falling around him, blinding him more than helping.

Fear, colder than the icy wind, gripped Logan by the neck. He could feel panic welling up inside himself. His foot hit something solid and he fell. Rolling onto his side he got a look at what tripped him. It was a wooden picnic table bench. He noticed the table and other bench covered in a blanket of snow. Logan’s heart leap, the shelter had to be nearby. He decided to face this challenge logically. With the picnic table at his back he took ten long steps. He looked around. Nothing. Logan retraced his steps back to the table and moved around to the head before taking ten more steps away from the known point.

It took him three times before he finally caught a glimpse of something red through the snow. He climbed the stairs. Desperate and laughing, sank against the back wall of the shelter. There was only three walls but it was far better than the alternative.

“This storm crazy or what?”

“Ahh!” Logan screamed and jumped hitting his head on the back wall.

“Oh, sorry. I thought you saw me,” said a woman.

Chest heaving, Logan let out a sigh of relief, and sat up, “It’s ok, sorry I yelled at you.”

She laughed, “It’s fine. Were you out there long?”

Logan nodded and unwrapped his face, “About an hour, I think.”

“Wow, I’m Sophie.”

“Logan,” he opened his bag and removed a change of clothes and a rolled up tarp. He set the tarp aside and removed any wet clothing and replaced them with dry one from his bag. Then he stood up.

“Give me a hand with this tarp?” said Logan.

Sophie looked over her shoulder from the corner she had been staring at while he changed, “That is a good idea,” she said impressed. They tied the tarp over the open wall of the shelter blocking out the remaining wind and snow.

“Got the idea from a podcast about the Appalachian Trail,’ Logan confessed.

When they were done they returned to their respective corners. Logan pulled out his jet boil and propane tank, “Gunna make some coffee, want some?”

Sophie smiled, “That sounds aa-mazing.” She scooted across the shelter to warm her hands by the blue flame burning under Logan’s small coffee pot.

It was hard to tell how attractive Sophie was under her puffy blue jacket, her face is really cute and that smile …

“Is this your first time on the trail?” asked Logan.

“That obvious?” she said.

“No, it’s my first time too. Just flew in this afternoon actually.”

“Really? I’ve been planning this trip for weeks and when I woke up this morning to that winter weather warning I didn’t want to change my plans,” she laughed and looked at the tarp billowing in the violent wind, “It felt like it was a now or never kind of thing. You know what I mean?”

Logan stared at her, “Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. Would you believe me if I told you I was sitting at my desk worrying about last quarter’s finance report,” he tapped his fingers with each word, “Just this morning. In Phoenix.”

Sophie looked at him like he was crazy, “No, I wouldn’t believe you …”

Logan felt a wave of embarrassment, “What? I had an epiphany. I was sitting at my desk with my boss breathing down my neck, when it hit me.”

“That your giving your life to a company that would replace you in a week if you dropped dead that instant?” said Sophie.

“No … Well, actually yes,” His head was spinning, “That and the expense report. My boss threw it down and it actually hit me.”

They both laughed.

“Well would you believe me if I told you that I had the same epiphany just a few weeks ago. Mind you I didn’t leave my desk and fly across the country that day. But I did fly across the country,” she looked at him from the corners of her eyes trying to imply something.

“No way, there’s no way,” Logan said grabbing his head between his hands, “You’re from Phoenix too?”

She laughed and nodded.

“What are the chances of two people from Phoenix winding up in a little shack on the Appalachian Trail at the same time and during a blizzard,” a gust of wind buffeted the tarp Logan hit it in return, “It really is a small world, huh?”

She took a small cup of coffee from Logan, “It really is.”

Logan took a sip of coffee, “So, what do you do back in Phoenix? And you better not tell me corporate finances or I will lose my freakin mind.”

“Put your mind at ease,” she said holding up a hand and taking a sip, “I’m a personal trainer.”

Damn! Thought Logan, again wishing she wasn’t wearing that jacket so he could check her out.

“Corporate finance? Now I understand why you had to leave immediately,” she shot herself in the head with a finger gun.

“It’s not that bad,” he said after laughing, “And to be honest I’m only in it for the money.”

“Well, at least you’re honest,” she said. She looked down at her coffee spinning its contents, “You think your gunna go back?”

“What do you mean?”

“Aren’t you worried you’re going to enjoy living your life?”

“I guess I haven’t gotten that far,” said Logan, “I’m taking this one day at a time,” he shrugged, “And today is the first day.”

“Makes sense,” she admitted, “But humor me for a second. Look at where we are right now. Yeah … there is a snow storm outside. While it’s scary, it’s also beautiful. The howling wind in the trees. The frigid air seeping around the tarp. There’s just something about an experience like this. You never forget … never regret.” Her words trailed off and they sat in silence for a minute, “No one is going to lay on their death bead and say “Damn, I wish I would have worked more overtime” or “Damn, if I’d only watched more TV or movies…” You know what I mean?”

He tightened his grip around the warm cup of coffee, “Yeah, I know what you mean. I’ve never thought of it like that but you’re right.” He watched Sophie. She wasn’t looking at him. She had her eyes closed, listening to the storm. There was something about her. He couldn’t put his finger on it but something about her made him want to quit his job. Never go back, live a life of adventure on the road. See the world … but the thought of doing it without her seemed less thrilling.

She opened her eyes, “What?”

“What?” said Logan looking away.

“You were staring at me.”

“No I wasn’t.”

“Then why are you blushing?” said Sophie with a beautiful grin.

“I’m not. It’s just wind burn,” said Logan returning the smile.

“Oh, wind burn? Alright,” she moved so she was sitting next to him, “So you don’t mind this?”

Logan shook his head, “No.” He cursed himself when he felt his ears burn again.

If she noticed she did say. Instead she held out her cup, “Is there anymore coffee?”

Logan reached out with a shaking hand and took her cup.

“Are you cold?” she said taking his hand in hers, “Doesn’t feel like it.”

Logan pulled his hand away and refilled her cup. She was smiling at him and inched closer.

“Thanks,” she said taking the mug. When they looked at each other their faces were only inches away. Logan looked into Sophie’s eye then down towards her lips. They kissed. With the wind howling and freezing temperatures enclosing around them. Logan put a hand on her cheek pulling her lips tighter against his. Warmth radiated from his chest, down his arms and legs blocking out the cold winter air. Sophie broke away from his embrace. She lean across the shelter dragging her pack to her side. She held up a blanket and lifted her eyebrows. Logan grabbed one side and helped drape it over them before picking up where they left off.

The frigid morning air was still. A loud silence filled the woods as the thick blanket of fresh snow absorbed the ambient noise. Logan pulled the blanket over Sophie’s shoulder. Her head was on his chest and the warmth between them was like red coals. He never would have thought a night, stuck in a blizzard, could pass by so fast. It was unlike any night he had ever had. They spent the night talking and kissing. There was a moment when it almost went further, but it hadn’t happened, and Logan was fine with that. He was content with this moment right now. Laying on the cold hard floor of the shelter a beautiful, smart, and funny woman in his arms. He didn’t want it to end.

“Knock, Knock, anybody home?” said a voice from beyond the tarp.

Logan shook Sophie’s shoulder, “Sophie, someone’s outside.”

She rolled off him and sat up.

“Hey, how’s it going?” said Logan as he pulled the tarp aside.

It was a pair of hikers, “Good, real good. Just enjoying this winter wonder land left by the storm.” The man looked past Logan at the makeshift bed, “Did you two stay out here all night?”

Logan looked at Sophie, “Yeah we got stuck, couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.”

“Wow, you too are hard core,” said the other hiker.

Logan shrugged, “Hey, how far is McAfee’s Knob from here?”

“Not far, if you keep going the trail forks. Take the left and you will pass the knob on your way back to the parking lot.”

Logan and Sophie said goodbye to the other hikers and packed up their gear. They followed the trail in silence. Logan couldn’t understand how they had spent an entire night together and now he didn’t know what to say. It was as if they were under a spell last night, a spell that had been broken with the morning light. It took them over an hour to navigate the snow covered trail to McAfee’s Knob.

They stood on the rock ledge as it reached out into open air, the forest far below. Black and gray deciduous trees filled the valley and hills beyond. Snow covered every inch for as far as the eye could see giving everything a clean and perfect look.

“It’s beautiful,” said Sophie, “I love how the snow contrasts with the trees. It looks amazing.”

“Yeah it does,” said Logan before pulling out his phone, “Want to take a selfie?” He held up the phone.

“Yeah, alright,” she said and moved closer to him. Logan put his arm around Sophie’s shoulder and held the camera up. He snapped several pictures getting different angles. She gave the same beautiful smile from the night before.

“Hey, add my number and send me those,” she said.

Happiness surged inside him, “What’s your number?”

She told him and he saved it.

She stole a peak at his screen, “What did you save that under?”

“Sophie …”

“No you didn’t. What did you write,” she reached for his phone, “Tell me, please?” she clasped her hands in front of her like she was praying and made a pouty face.

“Fine,” said Logan holding his phone out.

“Snowphie? Really,” she said with a laugh, handing the phone back, “That’s lame. But cute,” she said quickly.

“What did you expect?” asked Logan.

She shrugged and turned away, “I don’t know. Something romantic, something that immortalizes our night together.”

Logan looked at her with the beautiful Virginia wilderness behind her, “You mean something like …” his voice trailed off as he typed. Then handed the phone back to her.

She looked at the phone for a long time. When she finally looked up there were tears in her eyes, “It’s perfect.”

He took his phone back and wrapped her in his arms. They stood on that precipice overlooking the world, holding each other for a long time. When they were done they got back on the trail and head for the parking lot.

To Logan the hike out went by too fast. Before he knew it he was standing beside her rental Nissan Sentra while she loaded her gear into the trunk. He looked at his phone. His Uber driver was ten minutes away.

“What are you going to do?” asked Sophie.

“I don’t know,” Logan kicked a rock, “I don’t think the Appalachian Trail in February was the safest choice.”

She laughed, “Yeah, I know what you mean. But you got to admit. It turned out pretty good.”

“Yeah,” he pulled her against him and kissed her forehead, “Yeah it did.”

They stood in silence holding each other.

When they finally broke apart Sophie said, “Let’s get out of here. Let’s go somewhere warm and sunny.”

Logan started to speak, but Sophie cut him off.

“Not Phoenix, somewhere with a beach,” she clarified, “I’m so sick of this puffy jacket.”

“You and me both,” said Logan returning the smile she flashed him.

A black car pulled into the parking lot, “That’s my ride.”

Sophie held tight to his hand as leaned to speak to the drive, “Sorry, won’t be needing a ride after all.” The driver didn’t complain and Logan made a mental note to send the driver a tip.

“Somewhere with a beach huh?” he said turning back to Sophie, “I’ve always wanted to see the Caribbean.”