The lonely cabin

The cold air and the wind caused his temperature to worsen after the Cadillac slid into the ditch. There was no way Peter Gertrude could dig out the packed snow from the exhaust pipe, and to stay in the car to keep warm without inhaling the fumes, and passing out.

Putting on his thick overcoat, and winter gloves; Peter began trudging back the route he had come from. The blizzard grew more intense, limiting his vision. The once easily seen painted line that he was following became less visible. The dirt and asphalt was still visible next to the white solid line.

He remembered catching a glimpse of a log cabin with lights and thought to himself of how lucky the owner must be, to live in a house like that. He had always wanted to live in one, when he read magazines, about off grid living.

For what seemed to be like forever, Peter finally arrived at the door of the log cabin. The cabin looked dark and gloomy, when he first walked up to it.

"I hope they're still awake"

Just as he finished pounding on the door three times, he looked behind noting the freshly made tracks, made by the vehicle when the owner had left. Nothing happened. He pounded on the door harder. Minutes went by. Quickly he walked around the house to make sure there was no sign of any vehicle, to indicate that the owner was home.

Peering through the window, he could see a wooden table, and chairs. The empty wooden table confirmed to him that the house was empty.

He didn't see any decorations that were visible enough to confirm their absence. He checked the time on his watch. 10:32.

His throat was dry, and it was hard to breathe. Checking his phone connection, he swore. He went to the door again, and pounded several more times; but to no avail.

Frantically; he kept looking down the road, as the weather was getting colder. No one he assumed was home, or coming. He frantically searched around the house. There was a stack of logs on the right side of the house. Grabbing a chopped log, he hesitated.

"This isn't your house Pete-

He was cut off in mid-sentence, when he heard the distinctive, eerie sound from a howling wolf. Panic quickly set in.

"Forget that, I'll deal with the owner instead!"

Quickly smashing a window he scrambled over the ledge and fell inside.

"Ow!" He moaned. Standing up, he took out the flashlight from his phone. As he looked around, he saw a fireplace, the table, and a couple of wooden chairs; one in front of the fireplace that was next to a small coffee table. Gasoline fueled lanterns also hung down from the ceiling.

He then found a stacked firewood, and kindling near the entrance. Quickly he started the fireplace. He could feel his body thawing. He lit the rest of the lanterns, closed the window with a wooden shutter. It didn’t do much; but at least he wasn’t in the dark, and not freezing. A few minutes later he put his overcoat on the chair, and after looking through the cabinets he made himself some coffee.

Shaking his head he put the phone away.

"All of this but no service"

Sitting at the fireplace; he set the cup on the table and felt himself dozing off to sleep.

The cold air didn’t bother Peter. Walking up to the salt box house his parents lived in. There was a Garage sliding door and a side walk that lead around to the front door. Knocking on the door, he heard a familiar voice call out.

 “Come in!”

Walking in, he quickly saw the white painted walls, and wooden linoleum flooring. Mom’s cooking quickly welcomed him in. Shutting the door behind him, the red lab called princess quickly greeted him.

“Hey girl”

“Want a cup of cocoa or coffee”

“Coffee pops!”

“Good girl”

There was another knock at the door.

“Come in!”

The door opened and in walked Marshall, and Sandra.

“Hey bro; it’s nice to see you. and you too sis!”

His brother and sister in law quickly greeted him.

“Come on in all of you and sit down”

Peter was about to enter the kitchen to greet his mother when he heard a scratching at the door. Everyone turned and looked.

Peter was aroused from his sleep. There was a scratching at the door, and a whimper. The howling from last night quickly reminded him, and he felt as his heart began to race, as fear set in.

To his surprise there were two doors. The first door opened revealing the shorter pallet door. Quickly, a dog’s head had poked under the door and looked around, and beginning to wine; the door was opened.

The blood hound quickly ran up to greet him.

“Good doggie” He was worried when the owner appeared.

He was dressed in a black car heart jacked, full grown grey beard, and knit hat, and blue jeans. The man took off his aviator glasses.

“You okay mister?”

Peter began pleading with him.

“Look I can explain-

The man waived it off.

“I saw a silver Cadillac in a ditch by the road. No one’s in it. I guessed that was you when I saw broken glass outside”

“I heard howling-

“Howling” He laughed. “That was just red”

Peter was shocked.

“Yeah, I usually leave him in a dog house. I got stuck at my folk’s house for Christmas Eve dinner due to the blizzard”

“Oh”

“You have any breakfast?”

Peter shook his head.

“I’ll make you some”

“I actually… What time is it?”

“Ten thirty two”

Peter remembered that his parents normally start the Christmas dinner at twelve.

“I better pass. My family starts the dinner in a couple of hours”

“Oh ok. I see you grabbed my favorite mug”

Peter glanced at the coffee table, and felt scared.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll just wash it when you leave. Come on. I’ll get the Farm-Al ready, so we can get your car out”

“You build this?”

The man looked around, and smiled.

“Yes. Although I ordered the logs from hardware stores, I pretty much built it”

“Why don’t you have any electricity?”

Sighing; the man added. “I don’t know that much about it, plus I like to live without it… What’s your name?”

“Peter Gertrude”

“I’m Jeremy. I’ll get the tractor started up”

“Okay”

Peter put on his overcoat, and quickly followed him out. Hunger was quickly setting in, but he ignored the growling in his stomach. Walking over to the wooden shack with the doors open, he heard the roaring of the tractor and the clinging sound from the little cap on the smoke stack. It got even louder when Jeremy kicked it into drive.

The big beast slowly jumped a few inches off the ground, but Jeremy wasn’t scared.

“Hop on the side!”

Nodding Peter quickly climbed up.

The wind kicked up again. He didn’t mind it now, that he would soon be in his car again on the road, he would crank up the heat.

 When they reached the road; the yellow and white lines were now visible, and the snow piles were lined on either side. It didn’t take more than ten minutes to reach his car. He tried looking for his foot prints on the way, but he guessed they were buried under the snow.

After pulling out the Cadillac; the two bid each other a farewell. Peter let the car get warmed up as Jeremy drove back to the cabin.

An hour later he arrived at his parent’s house. It was just like the dream he had that night. Except this time it was for real. Peter knocked on the door.

The familiar voice was welcoming.

“Come in!”

“Hey pops!”

The white walls and linoleum flooring was still there. Princess trotted over to greet him.

Kneeling down he greeted her.

“Want a cup of cocoa or coffee”

“Coffee pops!”

“Good girl”

There was another knock at the door.

“Come in!

The door opened and in walked Marshall, and Sandra.

“Hey bro; it’s nice to see you. And you too sis!”

His brother and sister in law quickly greeted him.

“Come on in all of you and sit down”

Walking into the kitchen; he spotted his mom pulling the glass pan out from the oven, he waited until after she set the pan on the stove.

“Hey mom”

She looked at him with joy.

“Hi Peter, Merry Christmas. How are you?”

“I’m doing well. My car got stuck in the ditch”

“Oh, no!”

“Yeah- but-

“How did that happen?”

“Oh Scott!”

“I’m just asking Noelle”

“It’s okay mom”

Peter quickly told the story as everyone began to sit at the table. When he told the part of the howling, that it was really a blood hound; everyone laughed.