Chapter 2: The Hunting Cabin

Dan was sympathetic, without going overboard about it, concentrating on his driving, while the girls told him about their journey, the people they’d met and how they’d ended up where he’d found them. He didn’t seem to think they’d been stupid, and didn’t try to tell them what they ought to have done; Ellie got a better and better feeling about him.

An hour or so later they were at a log cabin deep in the woods, being introduced to Rich, who seemed as nice as Dan and about the same fortyish age. There were heads of various animals mounted on the walls, which was a pity, but it was a hunting cabin after all. Quite a luxurious one with two big satellite dishes on the roof and three bedrooms.

The men fussed over the girls but gave no sign of any sexual interest, something that Ellie found a bit of a novelty. The men both had daughters, they said, and if their daughters were ever in a fix they sure hoped someone would take them in and make sure they were alright.

So before they knew it Ellie and Allie had eaten and were sitting on the couch feeling warm and full while Dan and Rich were in an armchair each. There hadn’t been an inquisition and there seemed to be no rush for them to go.

Ellie put an arm round Allie, thinking she didn’t want any more of that hitchhiking for Allie. Maybe these guys felt protective the same way.

“Is this your cabin?” It was a bit of a stupid thing to say but Ellie wanted to steer any conversation away from herself and Allie.

“Yeah I have this and thirty acres round it,” replied Dan, not even sounding proud, “I come up in season a couple of weekends to do some hunting. I ought to spend more time here really, it has a generator and satellite internet and everything so I could, but it is a long way from anywhere.” It had been a slow, bumpy journey along a rough track to get here.

Ellie thought he must be quite rich, to have this for just two weekends a year. She realized she didn’t want to talk about the hunting though. She liked animals, and Allie did too. She didn’t want to spoil things by letting out that they didn’t really understand people shooting them for fun, but luckily Dan and Rich seemed to have no idea anyone might object to it.

“The neighboring properties are the same kind of thing,” Rich took it up, “so we all have a deal to share each others’ land. It makes it a big area altogether, it goes for miles.”

Ellie smiled and tried to think of another subject.

“So look,” Dan started again; she’d left too much of a pause; “we really don’t want to be dropping you off in some strange town with nothing. In fact, I’m just not going to. And I don’t want to take you back where I found you either; no decent man would set two girls your age down in a strange place with nothing and drive away. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you, and it all too likely would.

“But you don’t want us to call the police or an agency ... I guess because you’re afraid they’d take you home again? Something’s not right there is it? Why don’t you tell us about it?”

Ellie looked at Allie. Allie certainly shouldn’t be standing around in some strange town with nothing but a few dollars, and night looming. Allie gave her a consenting look, anyhow.

“You were right we kind of ran away,” she confessed.

“From your parents?” Dan went straight to the heart of the matter. Ellie could see how he might be successful.

“Kinda,” Ellie replied cryptically. “Well, I have a mom but Allie’s left, last year, but we both have dads. That’s the problem really...”

Dan looked keenly at them for a couple of seconds. “You’re, what, fifteen? I guess you just recently grew into what you are, huh? And I guess your dads’ attitude changed? That happens more than people let on. And you would be a temptation for anyone who wasn’t quite together, I got to say. Not that that’s an excuse in the slightest.”