Gone Too Deep by Katie Ruggle Page B
Authors: Katie Ruggle
clothes instead of folding them is a more efficient way to pack.â Ellie wasnât sure if that was why he was eyeing her, but she had to guess if he wasnât going to tell her. âPlus, it keeps them from wrinkling.â She pulled a face. âNot that wrinkles will really be an issue on this trip.â
Her explanation must have satisfied his curiosity, since he turned back to sorting her new clothes. Almost all of them ended up in the âkeepâ pile, and she exhaled in silent relief. He wouldnât have been happy if she hadnât had any appropriate clothes for the hike. They couldâve returned to the Screaming Moose, but that wouldâve eaten up precious time. Still, the image of George accompanying her on a shopping trip almost made her smile.
Once sheâd rolled and stashed all of the George-approved clothes in her pack, she tossed the contents of the reject pile back into her suitcase. While George was focused on finishing the dishwashing, she quickly tucked a couple of her bras into the pack, along with the contents of her purse. There were necessities, and then there were necessities , no matter what George thought.
After zipping the now-stuffed pack, she hurried to join him at the sink, snagging a folded dish towel off the counter. She took the newly rinsed plate from his hand and dried it, ignoring his raised eyebrows. After eyeing her for a few seconds, he shrugged and continued washing, handing the items to her to dry.
The sun wasnât up yet, but it was thinking about it, and gray light was creeping through the kitchen window. There was a coziness to their shared chore, and Ellie found herself smiling as she dried the mug in her hands. The first hint of peacefulness sheâd felt in days wrapped around her, warming her to her core.
It was over too quickly, and the dishes were done. After George filled water bottles, some with boiling water and some with just lukewarm, Ellie screwed on the lids and tucked them into foam covers. As George attached the bottles to the packs so they hung upside down, Ellie watched curiously. She wanted to ask why he put them on with the tops down, but she figured sheâd just get a grunt in response. Plus, she decided sheâd better save her questions for really important things, since George was definitely not one to waste words.
He hauled both packs to the door, and they donned their hats, boots, coats, and gloves before heading outside.
âI can take mine,â Ellie offered, reaching for the smaller pack, but George ignored her, carrying both easily. She closed the door behind them, hearing the wooden latch inside fall into place. The sound of the door locking made her suddenly anxious, and she turned toward his retreating back. âI didnât ask if you had your keys. Did I just lock you out?â
Without slowing, George walked through the side door of the outbuilding. Unsure of whether or not to follow, Ellie took a couple of steps after him and then hesitated. The overhead door rattled as he raised it, exposing the front of the silver pickup truck parked inside. After lifting the packs into the back of the truck, he got into the cab and started the engine.
Ellie waited, feeling useless. She wished that he would tell her what to do. Even barked orders would have been preferable to vague grunts and shrugs. Giving herself a mental slap, she cut off the surge of self-pity. Once she reminded herself that she could be stuck with bulldozer Josephâs come-ons for a week, she felt a little better about her quiet guide. As welcome as conversation would have been at the moment, there were worse things than silence.
George pulled the truck out of the garage and parked. Climbing out of the cab, he headed back to the porch. Without moving, she watched him walk past her, figuring heâd forgotten something. He stopped at the base of the steps and turned to look at her, making a come-along gesture. She joined him on the
Her explanation must have satisfied his curiosity, since he turned back to sorting her new clothes. Almost all of them ended up in the âkeepâ pile, and she exhaled in silent relief. He wouldnât have been happy if she hadnât had any appropriate clothes for the hike. They couldâve returned to the Screaming Moose, but that wouldâve eaten up precious time. Still, the image of George accompanying her on a shopping trip almost made her smile.
Once sheâd rolled and stashed all of the George-approved clothes in her pack, she tossed the contents of the reject pile back into her suitcase. While George was focused on finishing the dishwashing, she quickly tucked a couple of her bras into the pack, along with the contents of her purse. There were necessities, and then there were necessities , no matter what George thought.
After zipping the now-stuffed pack, she hurried to join him at the sink, snagging a folded dish towel off the counter. She took the newly rinsed plate from his hand and dried it, ignoring his raised eyebrows. After eyeing her for a few seconds, he shrugged and continued washing, handing the items to her to dry.
The sun wasnât up yet, but it was thinking about it, and gray light was creeping through the kitchen window. There was a coziness to their shared chore, and Ellie found herself smiling as she dried the mug in her hands. The first hint of peacefulness sheâd felt in days wrapped around her, warming her to her core.
It was over too quickly, and the dishes were done. After George filled water bottles, some with boiling water and some with just lukewarm, Ellie screwed on the lids and tucked them into foam covers. As George attached the bottles to the packs so they hung upside down, Ellie watched curiously. She wanted to ask why he put them on with the tops down, but she figured sheâd just get a grunt in response. Plus, she decided sheâd better save her questions for really important things, since George was definitely not one to waste words.
He hauled both packs to the door, and they donned their hats, boots, coats, and gloves before heading outside.
âI can take mine,â Ellie offered, reaching for the smaller pack, but George ignored her, carrying both easily. She closed the door behind them, hearing the wooden latch inside fall into place. The sound of the door locking made her suddenly anxious, and she turned toward his retreating back. âI didnât ask if you had your keys. Did I just lock you out?â
Without slowing, George walked through the side door of the outbuilding. Unsure of whether or not to follow, Ellie took a couple of steps after him and then hesitated. The overhead door rattled as he raised it, exposing the front of the silver pickup truck parked inside. After lifting the packs into the back of the truck, he got into the cab and started the engine.
Ellie waited, feeling useless. She wished that he would tell her what to do. Even barked orders would have been preferable to vague grunts and shrugs. Giving herself a mental slap, she cut off the surge of self-pity. Once she reminded herself that she could be stuck with bulldozer Josephâs come-ons for a week, she felt a little better about her quiet guide. As welcome as conversation would have been at the moment, there were worse things than silence.
George pulled the truck out of the garage and parked. Climbing out of the cab, he headed back to the porch. Without moving, she watched him walk past her, figuring heâd forgotten something. He stopped at the base of the steps and turned to look at her, making a come-along gesture. She joined him on the