I woke up to see the sun shining through the window. The snow had stopped falling, and the howling of the wind had also ceased. I sat up in the bed and looked at Amelia. She was still sleeping and looked peaceful.
After chopping the wood, I warmed up some more soup and the rest of the chicken. I had fed her and gave her more painkillers and changed the bandage on her arm again. I must have climbed into bed and gone to sleep at some point.
I climbed out of the bed carefully so I wouldn't wake Amelia and put some more logs on the fire.
"Good morning," I heard her say from the bed.
Good morning, " I replied. "How's the pain?"
"Much better. How long was I out?" She asked as she sat up in the bed.
"A couple of days, I think," I shrugged." I can't be sure,"
"You don't have a phone with you?" She asked.
"I leave it in my car when I go climbing, I don't like it distracting me."
She moved to get out of the bed, I jumped up to help her.
"I can manage, Brandon," she insisted. I stepped back, and she made her way to the bathroom. I noticed her limping still, but she managed the short distance by using the wall to support her.
I turned to the kitchen and found some porridge. She came out just as I'd poured the hot porridge into two bowls. She sat at the table, and I handed her a spoon as I sat on the other chair.
"Thank you," she said without looking at me.
"It's nothing, " I replied.
"No, thank you for looking after me and everything you've done since you found me,"
"How long have you lived out here, Amelia?" My curiosity got the better of me.
"A few months"
"Where's your family? Loved ones? Do they know where you are?"
The door opened before she could respond. I jumped up and grabbed the back of the chair, ready to tackle whoever or whatever had come in.
A tall figure in a khaki coloured parka and hat came in with a gust of cold air.
She smiled when she saw us.
"I see you've made a friend," she said as she shut the door.
"Kelly, this is Brandon, Brandon, Kelly." Amelia offered no further information.
I extended my hand to shake Kelly's as she came closer.
"Lovely to meet you," I said.
"How did you two meet?" Kelly asked.
"I was out climbing when the blizzard hit. I was trying to find somewhere to shelter when I found Amelia." I explained.
"She just let you stay here?" She asked incredulously.
"I had fallen and hurt my arm when Brandon found me. I was lucky he did, or I would have frozen out there." Amelia explained.
"You're hurt? Show me," Kelly's voice was full of concern.
Amelia pointed to her left arm. Kelly helped her out of the sweater and unwrapped the wound.
"It's very clean," Kelly nodded
"But you'll need stitches," she told Amelia.
"I'm not going anywhere," came Amelia's response.
"I can do the stitches here," Kelly said. "I'll just get my bag."
She got up and went outside, presumably to her car.
"Kelly's a doctor," Amelia explained.
"That's good," I said, nodding.
Kelly returned and started setting up the equipment she needed. I cleared the table. Kelly set to work on Amelia's wound.
"Did she have a fever?" She asked me.
"Yes, she did. She was out of it for a couple of days. I fed her and gave her painkillers every few hours and wiped her brow with a wet towel."
I felt it was important to tell her everything.
She wrapped a new bandage around the wound and helped Amelia put her sweater back on.
"I think she also sprained her ankle," I told Kelly.
She lifted Amelia's foot and pressed down around the ankle.
"Yep, it's sprained," she confirmed.
"You'll need to keep it elevated for a few days, and you'll need to change the dressing every day until I take the stitches out," Kelly instructed as I nodded.
"Brandon will probably need to go back home now the storm is over." Amelia said "I'm sure he has a girlfriend or someone wondering where he is," she continued without looking at me.
Kelly looked at me.
"No, no girlfriend," I told her, "but my sister will be worried sick. Could I borrow your phone, Kelly?"
"Of course, here," she handed it to me. "I'll just get the supplies I bought for Amelia from the car." She headed out again, and I dialled my sister's number.
She picked up on the second ring.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's me,"
"Brandon, thank god, where are you? Whose phone is this?"
"I'm ok," I assured her, "I was out climbing when the blizzard hit," I wondered how many times I'd have to tell that to everyone. Every time I said it, I felt like more of an idiot.
"Are you safe? Are you hurt? Do you know your location so I can give it to the search and rescue team?"
"I'm fine, honestly. Call off the search party. I'm staying in a cabin up here. There's food and firewood. Just no power. I'll come down as soon as it's safe, " I assured her.
"OK. Call me again if there's anything you need." she sounded reluctant but didn't push it.
"OK, I love you,"
"I love you too."
Kelly came back in just as I hung up. She was carrying several shopping bags. I rushed to help her.
"I bring Amelia supplies once a week," she explained. "There's milk and some fresh produce, along with lots of tinned food."
"Do you live on the mountain too?" I asked her.
"No, I have a cabin further up. I like coming up here every so often to clear my mind. I met Amelia while out walking one day. We hit it off straight away," she smiled and turned to Amelia, but she had fallen asleep.
"Why does she live here?" I asked Kelly.
"That's not for me to tell you. She has her reasons is all I'll say. She's very lucky you were up here and found her when you did."
"I'm the lucky one," I started putting the groceries away just to keep myself busy.
"You're very humble Brandon. You did an amazing job keeping her warm and keeping her wound clean."
I just nodded in response.
"Amelia said you're a doctor," I said to change the subject.
"I'm a retired trauma surgeon,"
I couldn't believe she was old enough to be retired. "You don't look a day over 40!" I couldn't hide my surprise.
"I get that a lot, but I'm 67 now. I still volunteer at a clinic, and I pitch in at the hospital when needed."
"Are the roads clear now? I was thinking about heading home soon."
"No, the trail back down is treacherous, I barely made it here. I'd advise you wait a couple more days"
"How did you make it?"
"I have a 4x4 and I know this mountain very well."
"Would you like some tea?" I asked. I was enjoying having a conversation. Something I didn't realise I'd missed.
"Yes, thank you"
I filled the kettle with water and placed it on the hob to boil.
"What do you do when you're not climbing mountains?" She asked.
"I'm a data analyst. I spend my days staring at numbers on a screen."
"I can understand why you like the mountain. You need to switch off from the digital world."
"Exactly"
"You two aren't so different," Kelly said nodding towards Amelia.
I glanced at Amelia and let out a small sigh.
"We've hardly spoken. I don't know anything about her. "
"But you'd like to?" Kelly probed.
I turned around without answering her and made the tea.