Ill Take Forever

pleased her voice sounded almost normal. ‘What do you want from me?’
    His soft chuckle surprised her, but she kept her eyes resolutely on the cocoa she was spooning into her cup.
    'I've been in the blizzard since shortly after noon and lost my way. All the landmarks I was given are gone, everything’s covered in white. I was like a snowman when I came in, and it's all melting now. The house was dark. I thought it was empty. You alone in the house?'
    Jenny felt a small shock of hope. Could she bluff him, make him think there was someone upstairs? Make him leave before discovering there was not? What would he do if he found she was alone? It would only take a quick walk through to know the truth. Bravely, defiantly, she turned to face him.
    'I'm alone and I don't want you here. Would you please leave the way you came? You're warm now and can...' she trailed off as he slowly shook his head. Her eyes looked at the gun.
    'I'm not going anywhere tonight, nor is anyone else. Have you seen how deep it is out there? And it doesn’t look as if it’s going to stop any time soon. I'd die of exposure before morning. Oh, no, lady, I'm not leaving.'
    She stared at him silently, her mind whirling with questions, her stomach churning with apprehension. Jenny lived miles from the nearest town. It was a small mountain community where she knew everyone. What neighbor was after him? She looked out the window. Only the drifting flakes near the glass caught the light. Beyond it was impenetrable darkness. No one, Jenny suspected. He was making it up to cover for breaking in. It was too late, anyone she knew would stay home and keep warm on a night like tonight.
    The milk began to steam. Jenny turned to finish preparing her cocoa, a plan formulating in her mind. If he would remain in the kitchen, she could get to the phone and call the Sheriff. Let someone know she was in trouble, alert someone to come for this intruder. She took a deep breath, the plan steadying her a little. Now her fear was that he'd read her mind. She glanced at him again. He was still sitting on the floor, legs stretched out in front of him, leaning against the door, watching her closely.
    'Where's your husband?' he asked.
    Jenny blinked and stirred her hot drink. Another idea, pretend Johnny was coming later. Would that get rid of him?
    'He's out. But I expect him home soon.'
    'Not in this weather.'
    'We have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, it can get through. I've done all I need to do in the kitchen. Do you still think someone is watching me?'
    'I don't know. Just leave as you would if you were alone.'
    'Goodnight,' she said, out of habit. She shook her head—why be polite to an intruder, a housebreaker? Obviously a crook on the run. She just hoped he wouldn’t shoot her in the back as she left.
    Jenny carried her cup carefully. She had not filled it to the top, so she would be able to move rapidly once she was out of the kitchen, but there was no use letting this man know that. As if it were full to the brim, she walked slowly, carefully. Reaching the door, she flicked out the light and closed it, breaking into a run to reach the phone.
    Snatching up the receiver, she pressed the "9" just as a warm hand covered hers on the receiver. She felt the shock like a kick in the stomach. He depressed the cradle, severing the connection. He had moved quickly and silently. Backing away, her eyes wide, Jenny took a deep breath, tried to calm her racing heart, tears of frustration filled her eyes.
    'No,' he said gently. Removing the phone from her grasp, he released the button, listening for a moment. 'It's dead, anyway.' He hesitated a moment, indecision touching his face briefly, and then yanked the wire from the wall.
    'Can't take a chance they'll fix it before morning. Do you have any more?'
    Jenny licked her lips. 'One in my bedroom,' she said, at long last.
    'Upstairs?'
    She slowly nodded, her face clouding with worry. If the phone lines were down, there was no hope. He'd find the other phone and destroy it, too. Even if the service came back on, she couldn't call for help. She thought briefly of making a dash to her room, but there would be no sanctuary there. There wasn't even a lock on the door. She had never needed one before.
    'Let's go,' he said, pointing to the stairs.
    Jenny turned and slowly started moving, holding her cup carefully. She felt as if she were in a nightmare. Would she awaken and find that it was just a dream? No, it was real enough: the cold