only source of conversation for each other, the only human contact period. It seemed reasonable to Rachel that the focused exposure had a way of speeding up the process of getting to know one another.
Rachel didn’t want to think about it anymore, after all, Gabe may have already changed his mind about her. She pulled the cabin door open, squinting as she peered out, her eyes taking time to adjust to the light. Glancing from side to side she saw no sign of Gabe. Rachel walked back into the cabin and pushed the door closed behind her. She assumed Gabe must be gathering water or be involved in some other various chore; after all, he rarely wanted to sit idle.
Rachel recalled the kiss once again; frustrated she could not shake it from her thoughts. She didn’t want Gabe feeling like he had to return her interest, she also did not want him to think she was not interested in return. How could she relay so much depth and complexity of emotion to him?
Breakfast, she decided. She would make the best breakfast she could with what she had on hand. Rachel set out like a woman on a mission. Pulling the harvest baskets from under the make shift prep counter, she did a quick inventory to determine what she could prepare.
A bag of flour and sugar sat nearby, but Rachel noticed they were both running low. She wondered when Gabe would journey to the village he had been telling her about to restock. She hoped she would be able to accompany him, but knowing Gabe, she doubted he would think it was safe enough.
Turning and searching the baskets, Rachel pulled out a plump, large potato. She searched the nearby counter where she found only two eggs. Grabbing an apple, she placed both the apple and potato near the eggs. The feast came together in her mind. She would prepare country hash browns with an omelet that was grilled with roasted tomatoes and spinach. Finishing off her feast would be a little pan seared bread with a homemade apple butter spread across it. Her mouth was watering just thinking about it.
To begin, Rachel would need to gather more eggs from the hen house, some spinach and a ripe, off the vine tomato from the garden. Rachel could barely contain her excitement. She was confident Gabe would be surprised by the elaborate meal. Her only concern was she had no idea where he was or when he would be back; she hoped she could complete the dish before he returned.
Rachel ran from the cabin, gathering her natural, home grown, supplies as quickly as her feet would carry her. Her heart began to race, her smile continuous as she worked. Rachel hadn’t seen any sign of Gabe outside and now even more determined to finish the meal before he returned, she took off towards the cabin in a sprint. Without slowing, the eggs bouncing around in her skirt that she had folded in half and was using like a basket, she burst through the door. What Rachel did not know was that Gabe had already returned while she was preparing her ingredients. As she entered the close quarters, without warning, she smacked right into Gabe, the eggs crushing in her skirt from the pressure of their bodies colliding.
“Oh no!” Rachel screeched, almost crying as she pulled the gooey fabric away from her body.
“Oh my God, Rachel, are you alright?” Gabe gasped.
“No, I’m not alright. Damn it! I was going to prepare this fantastic breakfast for you and now it’s ruined. Look at me, I’m a mess. It’s all ruined.” Rachel rambled staring at the disaster, nearly trembling in frustration.
In an instant Gabe burst out in a thunderous laugh. Rachel stared at him, her mouth hanging open wide in disbelief that he was laughing at her blunder.
“Why are you laughing? Everything is ruined!” Rachel cried.
“Come here,” Gabe said pulling Rachel close to him by her wrists. She dropped the skirt and the mess flopped to the floor onto their feet. She still was struggling to find the humor in the situation.
“Nothing is ruined. Can’t you see everything is perfect?” Gabe added pulling her into an embrace, the egg covering the front of his jeans.
“How can it be perfect, now we’re both a mess and we can’t eat any of that?” Rachel argued.
“Because my dear, you are a very lucky lady and I am going to save the day.” Gabe answered, pulling away from Rachel he