soapy bucket used as a makeshift sink.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Gabe chimed back.
“I don’t think you know how to be idle.” Rachel answered.
“Hey, I find woodworking relaxing.” Gabe defended.
“Whatever you say.” Rachel replied with a smile.
“I’m serious!”
“Gabe, I think you figured out a long time ago that being alone completely with your thoughts and no distractions can be a tough thing. There’s no shame in admitting that.” Rachel explained.
She was right. He learned to work himself to the point of exhaustion and then at night, when his head would hit the pillow, he would slip into unconsciousness without his thoughts drifting to Rampart or Baal. He didn’t want to get into this discussion with her though. She didn’t need to know about the demons that haunted his thoughts. “Well, it’s not like it matters. With your mouth around I would never have much time to be alone with my thoughts.”
“Hey!” Rachel shouted in a gleeful squeal, scooping a handful of sudsy water from the bucket into her hand and flinging it in Gabe’s direction.
“I’m just kidding.” Gabe laughed, shielding himself from the onslaught of splashing bubbles.
“How about we have a game day.” Rachel suggested.
“Game day?”
“Yeah, one of my favorite things growing up was playing board games all day long with my brother.” Rachel explained.
“I don’t know where you think we are, but there is a bit of a shortage of board games around here.” Gabe said, turning and settling onto a pile of bedding.
“I know silly, we will have to make up our own games.” Rachel answered.
“This is your way to get me to play seven minutes in heaven, isn’t it?” Gabe asked sarcastically, a huge mischievous grin across his face. “Sorry, to disappoint you, it’s not going to happen.”
“You wish.” Rachel answered, drying her hands and flopping down next to him. “I am sure we can use our imagination to come up with some fun games.”
“If you say so.” Gabe relented, not wanting to reveal the idea actually intrigued him.
CHAPTER TEN
“Pst! Wake up.” Gabe felt himself softly shaken as he heard the voice. Startled, Gabe jumped up in an instant, taking an offensive posture.
“Shhh! Jesus man, it’s me, Uri. You’re going to wake Rachel up, be quiet. Follow me.” Uri whispered, motioning towards the front door.
Gabe struggled to process the idea that his missing friend was somehow now here in front of him. He had expected him to only be gone for a matter of days when Rachel was first left in his care. Now that months had passed, there was a part of Gabe that thought perhaps Uri had met an untimely end, yet here he was. Without a word, Gabe followed his friend outside of the cabin. The two reached the edge of the clearing where Gabe wasted no time in punching Uri’s arm.
“Ouch! What was that for?” Uri groaned as he tried to rub away the sting.
“A few days?” Gabe snapped. “Uri, it’s been months!”
“I know, I’m sorry.”
“When you didn’t come back, I don’t know, I thought— Jesus, I thought you were dead.” Gabe continued, finding it difficult to control his volume. He had not verbally spoken of his fear that Uri’s delay had been due to his early demise until that moment. Hearing himself say it, he realized just how much his friend still meant to him.
“Please, you know they can’t kill me.” Uri jokingly replied.
“It’s not funny man. I don’t even know what I would have done with Rachel had you not come back.”
“Sorry, I didn’t realize it had been so bad having her here. I didn’t mean for it to take so long.” Uri apologized.
“No — I mean— it’s not been bad.” Gabe replied. He paused a moment as he considered just how enjoyable it had been having Rachel as a guest. “All I meant was that it’s not safe for her to stay here forever. I knew that and I wasn’t sure what I should do if you didn’t come back. She has actually been pretty great.”
“Honestly, right now she’s probably safer here than anywhere else. I’ve had a tracker I couldn’t shake. There was no way I could come back to the valley until I knew I had lost him.” Uri explained.
“What? Are you sure—”
“I got rid of him, don’t worry. I’m not an idiot.” Uri defended himself.
Gabe didn’t respond. The thought that Rachel would be leaving him washed over his thoughts. The idea consumed him with a sadness he had not felt in a long time. He thought when