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Tony searched through several lodges until he found one that was suitable for both himself and Gibbs. Tony’s tastes tended to run too expensive and posh for Gibbs, and Gibbs’ tastes were generally too rustic for Tony.
Then, he stumbled across a lodge called The Pewter Fox. It looked like a posh English estate. They had a large swath of land and allowed hunting with a permit. With a little more digging, Tony found that all hunting gear could be rented from the lodge, and they sold the required permits. That would make Gibbs happy.
That it was an old, large, English-style lodge, complete with a pub, made Tony happy. And who didn't enjoy a nice pub? It seemed like a win-win and perfect for their Christmas break from work.
After checking in with Gibbs, Tony made the reservations and was looking forward to their trip.
~~~***~~~
They compromised for the ride up to the lodge in New York by taking Tony’s sedan for comfort, but Gibbs took the wheel, insisting they’d get there faster if he drove. They made good time. The roads were dry, and traffic was light. The day was frigid, below freezing, but the car was warm. There were a few light bursts of snow, but nothing to be concerned about. It made the drive a very picturesque one, highlighted with occasional strings of lit Christmas lights, and a lot of decorations along the way.
Tony was pleased with the lodge the moment they drove up. It was obviously well-maintained and matched the photos posted on their website. While the sign out front was painted, a red fox wearing a black blazer, a top hat, and a monocle, once they stepped foot inside, there were plenty of decorative pewter foxes all around as part of the decor, which Tony would describe as charming. He couldn't help but think Ducky would love it here, and made a mental note to recommend it.
They checked in, went up to their room, then stopped at the pub for a beer before having dinner in the lodge's restaurant. While Gibbs agreed it was good, he also suggested they find less expensive dining options for at least some of the time.
At least the price of breakfast was included with the room. Tony said the pricing was very reasonable for the quality. And they weren’t burning gas, time, and wear and tear on the car if they ate at the lodge. However, to make Gibbs happy, he agreed they could try another restaurant in the area, look for a homestyle cafe, or pick up sandwiches to eat in their rooms.
“I’ll bet we could even order in pizza,” he said.
Their room was plenty large, including a bed, a television, a coffee table, a settee, and two plush chairs, all reminiscent of old English décor. The paintings were in an older style, mostly depicting fox and hound hunting on horseback.
The room and furniture featured a lot of dark woods, with colors mostly in the rose and cream palettes, with hints of blues and greens throughout.
They were both very satisfied with the accommodations.
~~~***~~~
One of the highlights of the trip for Gibbs was the guided hunting excursion. While he would have been perfectly happy to just go out on his own, the lodge insisted that everyone go together with guides for safety. The promise was that any turkeys they shot would be used for a Christmas Dinner, offered free to all lodge guests, and anyone who had gone out on the hunt.
On Christmas Eve, the hunters gathered in the main lobby after breakfast, then were led over to their rental shop, which was in an old barn across the parking area. Most were guests of the lodge, but a handful of them were either locals or people staying at a different place. Anyone who needed a hunting license had to purchase one in the lodge’s lobby.
Before leaving, everyone was given several minutes to practice using the bows and arrows, as they were only allowing bow hunting. The targets placed over straw bales depicted turkeys at different angles. The targets showed the best spots to shoot a turkey, so the hunters could practice aiming for the correct parts.
Tony tried to tag along on the trip, but they said only if he purchased a hunting license of his own, which he declined to do. Gibbs was happy to pay the cost, but Tony thought it was wasted money since he had no interest in hunting.
“I guess I’ll just go for a hike while you’re out hunting,” he told Gibbs.
One of the lodge guides suggested that Tony take one of the neon orange vests and stick to the trails for his trek. Gibbs took it upon himself to talk to the lead guide, Dave, and the man finally agreed that Tony could walk out to the hunting grounds with the group, as long as he promised not to scare off the game. However, the man made it very clear that Tony wasn’t officially part of the hunting party and wouldn’t be able to stick around them all day.
Tony assured him that he’d be bored out of his mind just sitting around all day twiddling his thumbs. Especially since this was a dry hunt. No, Tony would be happier just hiking and enjoying the beauty of nature. But he did want to spend time with Gibbs, so being able to start the day by walking with him for a while was a bonus for them both.
The guide explained their property backed up to a substantial hunting area, which was a few hundred acres. They’d be hunting on those public lands. “Wild turkeys are not contained, so there’s no telling where they are exactly. Mike and Mark are going to go on up ahead of us with a radio, and they’ll be on the lookout for turkeys. We’re going to be walking quite a distance, at least an hour. Where we set up will depend on where we find the turkeys. Once we’re out there, just stay in the area. We’ll start with lunch, so everyone will have plenty of energy to hunt turkeys. Drinks and snacks will be available as needed. Sean and Brian will be bringing all the hunting gear, food, and drinks out on an ATV. If anyone has a medical emergency, one of them can bring the person back to the lodge. All the guides have medical training, so you can feel safe with us.”
The hunting group consisted of about twenty men. They were encouraged to ask questions. Not much was learned other than all the guides carried radios, first aid kits, and extra water. All of the hunters were asked to carry two bottles of water with them. Dave even allowed the guys to give Tony two bottles of water before they set off for their hike. The guides also made certain everyone was bundled up appropriately to be outside in the freezing weather, and was wearing a neon orange vest with reflective stripes. Warm coats, hats, gloves, and boots were required. Dave explained that they may feel warm while walking, but it could get cold sitting in the brush, waiting to spot a turkey.
Mike and Mark took off first, riding smaller ATVs. Dave explained that there were a few small clearings on the public lands, and they always chose one of those as their base camp for the day. It was perfectly safe for them to leave the ATVs in a clearing and walk out to look for wild turkeys. To Tony’s surprise, Sean and Brian waited until all those on foot were on their way, and then followed slowly with the larger ATVs, packed with the gear. It seemed to be their job to ensure no one lagged behind.
The group walked for slightly over an hour. Dave was leading the way and clearly announced when they were leaving the lodge's land and entering the public hunting grounds. There was a locked gate that the staff was able to unlock as needed. There were very clear signs that there was no trespassing onto private property. And the gates were clearly marked as belonging to The Pewter Fox.
As Tony passed through the gate, Dave asked if he wanted to continue with the group. When he said yes, Dave told him to make sure he remembered how to get back to the gate. “Since you don’t have a key, you’ll have to go through the side here,” the guide explained, showing him how to open and close the smaller opening in the barbed wire fence. “It’s big enough for hikers and horses. Just make sure the bottom post is inside the loop, and the wire is up at least six inches, then push the top of the post over until you can pull the top loop over it. And make sure you push the wire down about six inches. We have horses in our fields and don’t want them wandering onto the forest where people are hunting.”
Tony nodded his understanding.
As the group continued their trek, the snow flurries began to drift to the ground, creating a beautiful winter scene.
The snow was coming down a bit harder by the time they reached their clearing and found the two ATVs left by Mike and Mark. Dave made contact via the radio, learning that Mike and Mark had found what they referred to as a gang of turkeys, which made Tony chuckle. Dave relayed the information to the hunters that a ‘flock’ of turkeys had been located.
As Sean and Brian arrived, they began handing out the bagged lunches to the hunters. Dave took Tony aside and explained to him that he could walk back the same way, or there was a more scenic route that was a little bit longer. He described it as being hilly, going down low enough to have to cross a couple of small creeks, then also climbing a little higher, where there was a nice view, but the trail was steep with some scary drop-offs. However, there was a hand rail they'd put up, and the views were spectacular.
“Since we’ll be staying and hunting for a couple of hours, you’ll still beat us back to the lodge if you take that scenic route. It's up to you.”
“The scenic trail sounds amazing. I can do that one. I’ll take plenty of pictures to show Gibbs.”
At that, Dave handed Tony a hiking brochure from the lodge. It had a map on the back when unfolded. The main trails were brightly marked, but there were some lesser-used trails marked as well. “Just make sure you stick to the trails, and you’ll be fine,” Dave said confidently.
He made sure that Tony had two full bottles of water, a couple of trail bars, and half a dozen Band-Aids, explaining how he may not need them, but it sucks to get blisters or cuts and not have a Band-Aid handy out on the trail.
Tony waved to Gibbs and said he’d see him back at the lodge. “Get us a nice, big turkey!” he said, adding a thumbs-up for encouragement.
Gibbs nodded and watched Tony disappear down the trail.
~~~***~~~
The hunting group was a hearty bunch. The beverages packed included thermoses of both hot chocolate and coffee, plus a variety of sodas and cases of bottled water. There weren't any extra sandwiches for lunch, but there were a few extra snacks, fruit, and trail bars people could eat if they were still hungry. Dave remained at the clearing and even started up a small campfire contained within a circle of rocks. He also strung up a tarp for anyone who didn’t want to stand out in the snow while eating or drinking.
One of the hunters was a lawyer from Boston. He asked who was watching the turkeys while everyone was eating lunch.
Mike explained that he and Mark had been watching them, and they hadn’t moved much. They’re just eating and hanging out and wouldn't move far. “Don’t forget to check up in the trees,” he added. “Wild turkeys sometimes roost up on branches.”
Mike and Mark took those still interested in hunting on the cold, snowy day out to where they had spotted the turkeys. At that point, the snow and cold hadn't deterred anyone. The group was chatting amiably and betting on who would get the first kill, and who might bring in the largest turkey. The guides had to remind the hunters to stay as quiet as possible, so they didn't scare off the game.
Gibbs was excited. He hadn’t been bow hunting in years and had promised Tony that he’d get a big juicy turkey for their Christmas Dinner. Not only did he shoot the first turkey of the day, but he made the kill with one shot. Mike and Mark were impressed, as were several others in the group.
Other hunters quietly expressed their congratulations, as they’d been warned loud noises and yelling would spook the flock, and ruin the hunt for everyone else.
For better or for worse, one turkey was the limit per license. Mark helped Gibbs retrieve his turkey and gave him directions to get back to the clearing.
“Do you want me to show you the way?” the guide asked.
Gibbs shook his head. “No, I’ll be fine, thanks.”
Mike got on his radio to inform the others that Gibbs had bagged his turkey and was coming back to the clearing. A couple of the other hunters followed soon after.
As they were warming themselves by the campfire and enjoying coffee or hot chocolate, Dave explained how after the first hour of hunting, they’d load the shot birds onto Brian’s ATV, and he’d take them back to the lodge, where they would get busy plucking off the feathers and preparing them for Christmas dinner while they were still at premium freshness. At the clearing, Dave, Sean, and Brian did the field dressing to prepare the birds for travel.
Each turkey was tagged out in the field by Mike or Mark, and the lodge had agreed to process all the necessary paperwork for the state.
As they waited for the other hunters to get their turkeys, the group at the clearing noticed that not only had the snow picked up, but the wind also. They parked Sean’s ATV in front of the fire, hoping to block some of the wind, and Dave added more firewood to the campfire.
Brian seemed very ready to leave when Dave and Sean helped him load up the first round of turkeys, along with all the trash from lunch. They watched him heading down the trail.
Dave got on his radio, reaching out to the lodge itself. The call was staticky. But they could hear well enough. “Can you double-check today's weather report?” he asked calmly. “The snow's coming in faster and heavier than we expected.”
“Are we going to have trouble getting back to the lodge?” one panicked guest asked.
Followed by another, “Will we be stuck out here overnight?”
Dave was completely calm and unconcerned. “No, we’re fine. The ATVs will flatten the snow on the trail, so it’s not going to be that deep to walk in, even if we get several inches. And if it gets too bad, or anyone has any difficulty walking in it, we do have the ATVs. We can take passengers back as long as we deem it urgent. So, if any of you feel that you’re struggling on the way back, just let me know. We’re going to take care of everyone and get you all back to the lodge safely. No worries.”
Gibbs wasn’t worried. Yeah, the snow was coming down pretty hard by then. He was just glad he’d nailed his turkey early and wasn’t squatting in the brush, cold, and deepening snowfall.
Someone from the lodge called back on the radio and noted that the weather station reported that the wind pattern had shifted, and the area where the lodge was located was now considered to be in a blizzard zone.
Some of the hunters appeared worried, but Dave remained calm and deliberate. He had procedures he followed and years of experience. “If any two or more of you want to start walking back down the trail, I’m okay with that. I just don’t want anyone going alone.”
There was no need for him to worry. Half of those at the clearing raised their hands, ready to leave immediately.
Dave nodded. “Stay on the trail. Now, you’re going to either have to wait at the gate for us or use that side, manual gate. Just remember that we have horses in our fields, so it has to be closed. If you can’t get it closed, you’re going to have to wait for us and make sure none of the horses get out. Everyone understand?”
Several nodded.
“Brian’s ATV will have crushed the snow down a bit when he left, but I’m also going to send Sean down to the gate, too, to make the trail a bit easier to follow.” Turning to Sean, he said, “I just want you to ride down to the gate and back. If the snow keeps up at this pace, I may have you run it two or three times to make sure we have a good trail to walk on.” Turning back to the hunters, he continued, “Just step to the side of the trail when Sean comes through so you don’t get hit.”
Once that group took off, Dave called back to the lodge on the radio and asked them to have Brian run the ATV from the lodge back up to the gate on their side of the fence.
Gibbs stayed behind and told Dave he was used to being out in the woods and would be happy to lend a hand if needed. Dave nodded and thanked him, but said his crew knew what to do.
Dave also reached out to Mike and Mark on the radio, telling them to come back whenever they felt they needed to. Mike called back, stating he was bringing some of the hunters back, but two of them wanted to try a few more minutes. Mark was staying with the two stragglers.
As the hunters returned, the guides gathered their bows and arrows under the tarp Dave had strung up earlier, so there was no longer room for the hunters to take shelter from the wind and snow.
Sean had arrived back at the clearing, so Dave sent Mike with his ATV to lead the next group of hunters to the gate. “Go ahead and take them back.”
Mike looked doubtful. “Are you sure you won’t need my help with anything?”
Rolling his eyes, Dave explained, “With this group going with you, more than half the hunters have headed back to the lodge. Sean, Mark, and I can bring the rest of them. We’ll be fine. I already asked Brian to return to the gate, and if anyone wanted a ride, he could take them back on the ATV.”
Since Mike’s ATV had room for one passenger, they asked the oldest hunter if he wanted a ride. He declined, but someone else was happy to take the spot.
Gibbs kicked at the snow. “Six inches at least, and still coming down,” he said, to no one in particular. Looking up at the sky, all he could see was white beyond the tree branches.
“You can go if you want,” said Dave. “It’s not going to get any better as the day goes on.”
Gibbs shrugged. “I enjoy having some time outside. I’m fine.”
Finally, the last two hunters had their turkeys, and Mark led them back to the clearing. Dave said they’d still need to tag and field dress the birds. While Mark was taking care of that, Dave and Sean were busy loading the bows, arrows, and other gear onto Sean’s ATV. And they finally accepted Gibbs’ help in getting everything loaded and strapped down.
Sean left first, packing down the trail for the few remaining hunters. It was Gibbs, the two stragglers, and two other guys who felt they were just as tough as Gibbs and the guides.
Which was fine. Gibbs secretly chuckled at their machismo. They were young, in their twenties. And, fortunately for them, this was a non-alcoholic hunt. If beer had been supplied, Gibbs had no doubt they’d both be snockered and have trouble staying on the trail.
Gibbs helped Dave take down the tarp he’d strung up, fold it, and pack it, which was no easy task considering how blustery the wind had become. He also helped Dave douse the fire with snow and stamped on it, making certain it was completely out.
Sean had already left, with the four other hunters walking behind him. Dave offered to allow Gibbs to ride with Mark, but he declined, saying he was fine walking.
Dave wasn’t going to ride. Not unless every one of the guests was safely back at the lodge first. Mark still followed slowly behind him on the small ATV. That was his job: to ensure everyone made it back and no one was left stranded.
They caught up with the others before they reached the gate. Once they were through and the gate was secured, Dave had all the ATV riders start shuttling the hunters back to the lodge. At the end, it was only Gibbs and Dave walking, but the snow and wind was gusting so hard, they were barely making any progress at all.
Sean came back for them. As he had one of the larger ATVs, he had room to take both Dave and Gibbs. At that point, Dave said it wasn’t really an option anymore. The winds were gusting around forty miles per hour, and the snow was still coming down at a heavy clip.
They finally made it back to the lodge. Brian reported he’d dropped off the first load of turkeys, and they’d unloaded the second batch that Sean had dropped off the first time he returned to the lodge, so all the turkeys were being prepared for the Christmas feast. It was offered to the locals to take their turkeys home, but lodge guests really had no way to store or transport the birds properly. Dave shared that if they had too many turkeys, more than what they’d need for Christmas dinner at the lodge, the extra birds were donated to shelters.
Most of the hunters were gathered in the bar, swapping stories and warming up. Everyone seemed happy and jolly. All the hunters and guides were required to remove their shoes in the foyer so they didn’t track snow throughout the lodge. Everyone was provided loaner slippers, and a bag if they wanted to carry their boots up to their rooms try dry out. Each room had a shoe rack with a small drain mat in the winter.
But something felt off to Gibbs. Where was Tony?
Gibbs was concerned and asked the ladies at the front desk, but neither of them remembered seeing Tony return. Since the rooms had no phones, Gibbs asked if someone could go upstairs and check to see if Tony was up there. He wasn’t.
Dave saw that Gibbs seemed worried and was putting his boots back on. “What’s going on?” he asked.
“Tony never made it back.”
The color drained a bit from Dave’s face. “Oh, no. He’s out there alone in this. You can’t go out alone. We’ll help you. Just hold on while I gather my crew.”
They went out to the barn together, where Mike, Mark, Sean, and Brian were busy filling out the paperwork for the tagged turkeys, having already put the gear away.
“We have a problem,” Dave began. “That guy Tony, the one who walked out with us, he never made it back.”
Gibbs could see the concern in everyone’s face.
“I suggested he take the scenic trail, and I gave him a brochure,” Dave continued. Pausing, he glanced outside. By then, the blizzard was in full force, and it was near white-out conditions. “He should have made it back by now, long before us. But in this snow, he must have gotten turned around somewhere and is lost out there.” Placing a map down on the table, Dave traced out the scenic trail he’d sent Tony on. “I’m not sure if it’s going to get too deep for the ATVs, so we should break out the snowmobiles.”
“It wouldn’t be safe to take the snowmobiles all the way down the scenic trail,” said Sean. “We’ll have to go on foot at some point.”
Knowing the area well, Dave pointed out spots in the trail. “These are good access points, here, here, and here. I want Sean and Brian to go here and search. Mike and Mark, you guys go here. Gibbs and I will go here.” Glancing over to Gibbs, he asked, “Can you handle a snowmobile?”
“I’m sure I can pick it up fast enough. I can handle a motorcycle just fine.”
“These are automatics, piece of cake. Just avoid the trees, boulders, and fences, and you'll do fine.”
Grabbing an extra radio, he handed it to Gibbs and made sure everyone was wearing helmets. “Think about the worst, steepest part of the trail,” said Dave. “If he’s hurt, those are the most likely spots he would have fallen. Other than that, he could have lost the trail in the snow, so those areas with open fields between sets of trees, he could have lost the trail and been unable to find the trail at either side, so he could be lost in one of the fields.” Turning to Gibbs, he said, “You know him best. Any ideas on what he’d do if he were injured or lost?”
“He can take care of himself. He’d try to get himself back to the lodge.” Pausing, Gibbs took a long look at the trail map and pointed to one of the creeks. “If he’s hurt and didn’t think he’d make it back, he’d stick near water.”
~~~***~~~
The six searchers kept in touch over the radios. Dave had given strict orders not to lose sight of the person they were searching with. The group did their best to search the open fields first, starting with riding around the full perimeters, then riding across the fields in crisscross patterns, looking for Tony. But no one saw him.
Next, they had to park their snowmobiles and begin searching the trails on foot. The wind was howling, so there was no sense in expecting anyone to hear anyone else over the din.
Every few minutes, they checked in with each other on the radio, noting what section of the trail they’d completed. The most worrisome thing was that the sky was beginning to darken.
“We’re not going back without him,” Dave assured him. “If we haven’t found him by dark, I’ll call the sheriff and have him get the rescue team out here, along with extra troopers and dogs if necessary. We’re going to find him.”
And the search went on. They followed Gibbs’ suggestion of checking near the creek. But it was difficult trying to find the trail beneath the snow, and Dave warned of steep drop-offs in some areas. But they kept going, determined to find Tony.
It was nearly dark when Gibbs thought he heard something. Dave was just saying, maybe it was time to call in the professional search team, when Gibbs motioned for him to be quiet.
“What did you hear?”
“Splashing, sticks breaking, and maybe Tony’s voice.”
Gibbs grabbed the binoculars Dave had loaned him and scanned the area down the creek. “There!” he called, pointing into the distance. Handing the binoculars back to Dave, Gibbs struggled to get through the deep snow.
Dave tried to see what Gibbs was looking at, and he saw it. Tony had taken the reflective neon orange vest off and was waving it like a flag. “We found him!” Dave called into the radio. He gave their location the best he could; Tony wasn’t making any attempt to come to them, so Dave was concerned that he was injured and was unable to walk on his own. They could use some help to get him out of there.
Gibbs reached Tony first and did a quick assessment. “What happened?”
“I was on that scenic trail when the wind and the snow suddenly got so much worse. I thought I could cut across the creek and get to a field. I was certain I had a good idea of which direction I needed to go. But then I slipped and fell into the creek. Something shifted, and my foot is stuck. I've been trying to free it for what seems like hours. I'm freezing.”
“Shit!” Gibbs exclaimed. “Are you in any pain?”
“Hell if I know. I just feel cold and numb right now. And tired of my ass sitting on this freezing cold boulder. But I guess it's better than sitting in the freezing cold creek.”
Working together, Gibbs and Dave struggled as they attempted to move a big rock that was pinning Tony’s foot. Within minutes, the other four men had arrived. Sean had thought to bring some straps and climbing gear, just in case. Using a wide strap, and all six men, they were able to move the large rock and free Tony’s foot.”
“We can’t even look at it here,” said Dave. “Who brought blankets?”
Brian and Mike had those, so they set to work wrapping Tony up. Mark had brought a tarp, so they wound up setting Tony down on the tarp, bundled in the blankets, and began dragging him up the trail until they could cut over to the snowmobiles.
“You’re going to have to hold on,” Gibbs told him. At his request, Sean wrapped a strap around both Gibbs’ and Tony’s waists, making certain that Tony wouldn’t fall. With the blankets around him, he was starting to feel like less of an ice cube.
The group set out, making sure Gibbs rode in the middle of them, so they could all make sure Tony got back okay.
Back at the lodge, they all helped get Tony off the snowmobile and safely inside. Dave remained with Gibbs and Tony, advising that he should be warmed up slowly. He asked for someone to bring a bucket of lukewarm water from the kitchen to set Tony's foot into.
“Just in case it’s frozen at all, we have to bring it back to temperature slowly. Then we’ll see if he’s hurt.”
“Maybe we should get him to the hospital,” suggested Gibbs.
Dave shook his head. “It’s not life-threatening, and I’m sure they’ll have their hands full with car accident victims. Plus, as bad as the weather is, the roads could be closed. It’s better to keep him here where he’s safe and warm. I was a medic in the army years ago. I’m sure I can assess whatever his injuries are.”
That comforted both Tony and Gibbs to an extent. Dave also had someone from the kitchen bring out some soup and hot chocolate for Tony, to warm him up from the inside.
They’d set him on a bench near the door where it wasn’t too warm, and they took off his boots, wet socks, pants, and gently bathed his foot. As Tony was wrapped in blankets, he was still covered up.
It was quickly clear that his ankle was purple and a little swollen. Dave said that probably being in the cool water of the creek had been a good thing to keep the swelling down. The worst thing was Tony having a wet ankle and having to drive through the cold air back to the lodge. But his boots were warm, and being wrapped in blankets helped.
When Tony was feeling better, they moved him into the lobby and got him settled on one of the sofas in front of the fire. They kept bringing him all the soup and hot chocolate he wanted.
Throughout the whole time, Gibbs sat at his side, an arm wrapped around Tony’s shoulders.
“If we had a little more privacy, I’d consider this to be pretty romantic,” said Tony.
“Whenever you’re ready, we can help you up to the room,” Gibbs promised.
“Maybe we should eat first?” Tony suggested. “I’m not sure I can get back downstairs on this ankle.”
That seemed like a good suggestion, so a couple of the lodge employees helped move Tony into the restaurant portion of the lodge, setting them out of the way, in a dimmer corner, romantically aglow with candlelight.
“It is romantic,” said Tony. “How was your hunting trip?”
Gibbs gave the story of how he got the largest turkey and did it with a single shot. Tony described how his hike began very nicely, and was pretty with the falling snow. But the trail began getting treacherous, and Dave had warned him about the part of the trail that went up steeply and had drop-offs, so he’d decided to cut across that creek, and that’s when he got into trouble.
“I knew you’d find me. At least I had plenty of water and a couple of trail bars.”
“And Band-Aids. I saw Dave give you a handful.”
Looking down at his swollen ankle, Tony said, “I didn’t get a chance to use those.”
After dinner, Dave helped get Tony back up to their room and wrapped Tony's ankle. He’d brought up several packs of Tylenol from one of the first aid kits and left them for Tony. “I stay here at the lodge, so if you need anything, just use your cell phone to call the front desk. I’ll let them know it’s okay to wake me up if you need something.”
They’d gotten Tony settled onto the settee and pointed at the television. Gibbs ordered up a bottle of wine and let Tony choose a movie to watch.
When the wine was poured, Tony tapped his glass against Gibbs’. “Well, this certainly is not the worst holiday I’ve ever had.”
“Me either,” Gibbs agreed. “Dave said your foot and ankle should be fine in a few days.”
“He did suggest soaking in a lukewarm tub. But I’m going to need some help with that, so I don’t drown. You're going to have to sit in the tub with me.”
Gibbs gave Tony's shoulder a squeeze. “Maybe they left us some bubble bath?”
“It’s turning out to be a pretty romantic evening after all.”
~The End~
12/24/2025
© 2025 by Jacie