Chance Encounters

Rainy nights and warm fires

Dinner was fantastic, and I was stuffed. Frank made some amazing food,but nothing compared to my family’s cooking. Ike,Mark,Redhawk and Tom,we’re all talking and playing a game of poker. Talking about hunting and fishing. Mark glanced over at me as I was helping do dishes. Great auntie Copperfox patted me on the shoulder, her black hair tied back in a ponytail. “He seems to be a good fit for you.” Smiling a bit I nodded, “Yeah,he’s a great guy, his buddy is awesome too. Larry and Mark both took me into their group no problem.” She laughed, “Well,I’m glad to hear that, just know,that you and him are always welcome here.” I smiled, just then the boys were making a commotion. “CHUG IT!!! HELL YEAH!!” They were egging Mark on, with a jar of shine. I walked over and all the men raised their eyebrows, “Oh s**t, I think she wants in on it.” Ike said. Tom laughed as Mark looked as if he was about to vomit. “I got this.” I said, taking the jar off the table. It was Apple pie shine that Redhawak spent the last few years making. The smell was that of real apple pie, but the clear liquid taunted me. With a big gulp of air, I brought the jar to my lips. Raising the suspense,I began to let it flow down my throat. Mark looking at me like I went crazy and Copperfox shaking her head, laughing. It stung my throat, but I set the now empty jar down. Ike and Mark shot me a look. “Pure insanity. Christ Skye.” Knowing that Ike was right, but unable to help it I shot him a grin. “That’s how you do it babe.” I sat down lighting a joint. “Some things never change,clearly.” Tom said gesturing to me. After the mass clean up, Mark and I excused ourselves. “Thanks for dinner guys, hopefully tomorrow morning we can bring some more ducks.” We walked out the door. A lot more drunk than I’d care to admit.

The rain continued to pour down. It was making mud puddles on the paths. Mark took my hand and led me back inside my house. Oh boy, did the shine hit me, and him. We sat on the couch and Splash came from in front of the Franklin stove to greet us. “Hey bud.” I said stroking his head as he hopped up on both our laps. Mark grunted, “A bit big for a lap dog.” I laughed, “He’s a lapapeake bay retriever.” Mark smiled as Splash licked him in the face. The sound of rain off the roof was relaxing. The power hasn’t cut off yet,but before it did I wanted to toss more logs on the fire. Splash decided that crushing the humans wasn’t comfortable anymore and hopped off. I went into the garage and came back with some pine logs placing them in the fireplace and stove.

It was about ten minutes later when the power did cut out. The winds were howling, and the relentless rain showed no sign of stopping. Mark got up off the couch and came back holding something in his hands. “You can say no,but I did get some concert tickets. It’s CCR and Grateful Dead. It’s in Wisconsin. I figured we could go since we are only a few hours away. My store asked if I wanted them.” He handed me the tickets. “BACKSTAGE?? How much did that cost?” He laughed, “Nothing,they were free.” I had a smile ear to ear, “Absolutely we will go.” I gave him a giant hug and kissed him. The dates said two days from now which would give us plenty of time to find the venue. Mark picked me up,I wrapped my arms around his neck,almost forgetting that we were both drunk. Setting me down before we both took a tumble. I giggled, and Mark smiled at me. We went into my room, where I proceeded to light a candle. The flame dancing around on the walls added to the atmosphere of where the night was going.

We slipped into bed. I tore Mark’s shirt off assaulting him with kisses down his neck and chest. His eyes were closed soaking in the feeling of me touching him. I sat on top of him,my legs straddled around his hips. He took my shirt off and began to pull me into his arms. I was laying flat on top of him. I chuckled, then we both started to laugh. “I’m glad I found you.” He said softly in my ear. I smiled ear to ear, “I’m happy that I get to be with you.” He planted kisses along my neck and on my cheeks. I rolled off of him stripping the remainder of my clothes. Mark rolled on to his side, taking his pants off. I felt his hands start to move tenderly down my legs until he felt the center with his finger. The tingling shot through my body as I began to quake. His fingers entering slowly, moving back and forth. I started to moan. His pace increased as he got me to hit climax. “Let’s try something.” He said, flipping me on my knees. He slowly inserted himself into me. Grabbing my hips, moving in and out in a rhythm. The sensation of bliss was incredible. He picked up his pace, moving quicker, causing me to climax two more times. He stopped, pulling out reaching for a shirt and finishing on it.

I fell over out of breath. Partially due to the shine and partially due to him making my body feel amazing. He sat down on the bed, wrapping his arms around me. I smiled leaning into him. We heard the rain lighten up on the roof, “The lake will be calm again by morning. The Great Nor’Easter is slowin’ her roll.” I said still smiling. Mark kissed me on the forehead, “We have to get ready for Wisconsin.” He said, I nodded and sat up. I walked over to my dresser and rummaged around, pulling out a few different maps. Opening one that had Wisconsin in full view. “Yup,you said it’s right around here?” I asked pointing to a city called Bayfield. Mark nodded, “Yup that would be it.” I looked at the U.P. on the map, “It’s about a four hour drive! Hell that’s not too bad!!” I said doing the rough math for it. Mark smiled, “This is going to be one hell of a concert.” Hugging him again I told him thank you. “I don’t see the need to pack anything,but I’m definitely bringing some cash.” I said. Mark waved his hand, “I got that covered.” I shook my head, “Absolutely not.” I said gently pushing him on his back, kissing up and down his neck. “I’m bringing some cash weather you like it or not.” He smiled blue eyes dancing in the candle light. “We do need to leave early in the morning as tomorrow will probably be the last good hunt we have before the lake goes crazy.” Mark nodded, “Well after all of today’s events why are we still up?” He asked playfully. I shrugged, then had an idea, “Hey Mark, help me drag the mattress to the living room, let’s sleep in front of the fire.” He looked at me as if I lost my mind. Then proceeded to help me lift the mattress up and into the living room. With a bit of effort we made it squeeze into a spot between the couch and fire place. Splash woke up to the commotion and came walking out to see what we were doing. Then he made himself a spot at the foot of the mattress, with a big sigh he fell back asleep. I smiled then sat down with Mark. He laid down pulling the covers up over us. My head was on his chest listening to his heartbeat. The warm glow of the fire kept us in its embrace as we both fell asleep.

Splash knew exactly what time it was and that was more hunting. He woke us up as the grandfather clock chimed it’s alarm for 3 am. “Uhg.” I grunted as I sat up. Splash relentlessly poking me with his nose. I released my grip on Mark as I rolled off the mattress. My head pounding as the hangover was setting in. “Congratulations Skye, you won the prize of being stupid.” I mumbled to myself. I went into my room quickly getting dressed,when I walked back to the living room, Mark was already putting on a shirt and pants. He had the kettle going before I could even protest. It was now 3:45 and soon we had to be on the lake. Most of the smart birds are already gone to warmer weather. I was getting Splash ready and my gun as Mark rummaged for a thermos. Making me some tea as I went to see if the boat was still hooked up, thankfully it was.

We managed to get out the door at 4:03. Both of us were quiet, most likely because Mark was suffering a hangover too. I hopped out of the truck,having him take over to back the boat in. Slightly irritated as I lost my favorite coat and muck boots in the lake yesterday,the spares I had weren’t the same. Mark parked the truck as he carried the gun across his back, Splash was in tow. We all got into the boat, Splash laying down looking around hoping that we would get some ducks. I started the Mercury and with much protest from the engine it started up. We were tolling alongside the south west coast, lots of pine trees were on the bank as we stopped. Mark handed me the thermos. “Here I made some tea, I figured you could use it.” I smiled and gratefully let the warm liquid hit my throat. The smell of the honey mixed with the crushed tea leaves was homely. I reached down and took out the decoys. Throwing them out and letting the currents take them away from the boat. Mark put the stock of the shot gun against his shoulder, waiting patiently as I blew into the duck call. The woods were deathly silent. I blew into the call again, this time adjusting the pitch as I waited. Of all things that came to the call were snow geese. With a spark of happiness I swapped to my goose call. Before the flock had time to land Mark shot eight out of the ten flying. He quickly loaded more shots into the gun, hitting the remaining ones in the flock. Now,it was Splash’s time to shine,I gave him the release command and without any hesitation he leaped into the water. Splash swam bringing me goose after goose. Splash had a goose in his mouth, Mark snapped a few pictures. Splash didn’t stop until they were all in the bottom of the boat. The water nearly ice clung to his coat,beading off as if it were nothing. Mark and I had the adrenaline rush of a lifetime, we smiled and hugged. Giving each other a hi-five we reeled in the decoys. We pulled in the anchor, and headed towards the dock. Today was the most successful hunt I’ve had in a long time and I could tell that the two boys were feeling the same way.