Page 8 of Burning Escape (Chasing Fire: Alaska #3)

“You’ll be staying here since Hiram and his family are gone for the season.

There’s an outhouse outside this door.” She pointed to the back wall and the wooden door off to the side.

“We’ll get a bath ready so you can wash yourselves off.

” Hannah opened the door to a small room.

A double bed took up most of the space. “You’ll sleep here.

I’ll lend you clothes while you hand Mara those filthy things you’re wearing.

It will take a while to wash them off and dry.

You probably don’t have a clue how to wash something by hand, do you? ” Hannah addressed Tori.

“I’m willing to learn. I don’t expect you to take care of?—”

“We’ll see about that.” Hannah spoke in another language to Mara and then left.

Mara pulled a large metal tub off the wall and set it on the floor.

“What’s that for?” Tori asked.

Mara looked at her, confused. “This is the bathtub.”

Tori’s wide eyes spoke volumes.

Probably this wasn’t what she’d had in mind as an answer to prayer.

* * *

What kind of alternate universe had they gotten themselves into?

After drinking an herbal tea Mara made for her and taking the most awkward and coldest bath ever, Tori slipped on a shapeless cotton dress and sweater and wool socks.

She’d scrubbed with plain cotton cloth and soap that wasn’t the greatest smelling but did rid her of the ash and grime, so she was clean at least. Her ankle was too swollen to put back into her boot.

Orion dumped out the water and took his own bath in the main room while she rested on the bed with the door closed.

She must’ve fallen asleep. When she woke, the sun was significantly higher in the sky, right above them now as Tori limped out to the tiny porch of their cabin, where she found Orion.

“Why did you let me sleep so long?”

“Figured you needed it.” He had a fabric sling holding his arm close to his chest and a clean bandage around his head.

“I see someone took care of you. Shows you what kind of wife I am, letting someone else nurse you back to health.” She rolled her eyes.

He chuckled. “Mara cleaned out my cut and bandaged it. Not much to do about the shoulder but rest it up. I was told no cutting wood for the next few days, which I guess makes me a lousy husband.”

“Few days? How long do they think we’re going to be here?” she whispered as she lowered herself to sit next to Orion on the top step. Her ankle was killing her.

“Dunno. Mara is the only person that I’ve talked to so far.

Everyone stares at us, but they seem too nervous to talk to me.

And I didn’t want to leave you alone in the cabin.

There’s too many strangers, and I don’t know if I trust this group.

They might be with the militia. But once I talk to Amos, we’ll see about calling base camp and getting back. ”

“Good, because I am not a dress-and-head-covering kind of girl. We need to get back as soon as possible. See how everyone else…fared.”

She had to believe they’d all made it and were safe. But she couldn’t deny the unease in her middle. Their plane must’ve crashed, and the militia was out there. Had the others made it out okay?

“There he is.” Orion stood and nodded toward Amos and a couple of men walking into the central area of the commune.

“Wait. I’m coming with you. In this fake marriage, we are equals. None of this little-lady stuff, letting the men make all the decisions.”

“Okay.” He held out his good arm.

She paused. “No push back?”

“What would I have against that? Decisions affect us both. You should be in on this.”

She stared. Was he for real? Weren’t most churchy guys all about women being submissive?

Well, didn’t even have to be church-going men. Most that she knew were all about controlling and telling her what to do, which was why she’d vowed to never depend on a man again. And here she had to fake a marriage to survive?

“Tori, you’re hurt. I’m just trying to help. You coming?” He wiggled his arm as if to remind her that he was waiting for her. “This will help us sell the husband-wife thing. It’s not a sign of weakness.”

She hated looking anything less than one hundred percent self-reliant and capable, but he was right.

Something told her that everyone else seeing them as a married couple was vital in this little commune.

With a small sigh, she allowed herself to lean on Orion as she hopped over to the fire where Amos stood with Hannah and other men and women.

“Amos, we’re grateful for everything your people have provided. But if we could use a radio or satellite phone, we’ll be able to contact our friends. We can be out of your hair soon.” Orion offered him a hand.

Amos stared at it, looked up. “There’s no radio or phone here. Thought I told you that. We live off the grid for a reason.”

Okay, there was off-grid and then there was completely crazy. “You don’t have any connection with the outside world?” Tori asked.

“I didn’t say that. We have friends at a homestead that’s a few miles away. They arrange deliveries once a month. Just had one last week.”

“How do you get ahold of them?” Orion asked.

“One of us hikes over there with a list.” Amos looked at them like the answer was obvious.

Orion didn’t give up though. “So they have a radio or phone?”

“Yes, but you’re in no condition to hike that far.” Hannah spoke up.

This was getting ridiculous. Tori cleared her throat, as if she needed to announce her intention to speak. “Can’t you send someone to them? They can bring back the communication equipment or pick us up?—”

“No.” Amos’s voice shushed all conversation in the outlying groups.

“There is no reason to rush. And I can’t spare anyone at the moment.

This time of year, every single person here is busy getting ready for winter.

Cutting wood. Smoking fish. We don’t work now, we don’t survive.

You’ll stay here. Rest. Heal. When you’re both better, I’ll have someone lead you to the Brinks’ homestead. ”

Orion stepped closer to Amos. “You could give us directions and?—”

“Enough. I’ve already prayed and inquired of the Lord. You’ll stay.” Amos made his declaration and walked away.

Orion’s mouth snapped shut. Tori didn’t blame him. Probably on a good day, Orion could take the tall older man, but with his shoulder banged up and their being surrounded by men loyal to Amos, they were stuck.

One of the men who’d found them this morning looked at Tori with a scowl before walking to one of the other cabins. Probably he didn’t want them here.

The feeling is mutual, buddy.