14C  partly O/C
Sold the O/B yesterday!!
Heading out early today and busy all day.

She then turned and hurried backcatching up with Bob just a few yards from the cabin’s clearing. 

Chapter 20

The morning had passed quickly and by the time they got back to the cabin it was lunch time.

Bob rekindled the fire while Alicia skinned the two cheeks and cut and washed to small pieces from one of the fillets.

She then washed the remaining fish and said, “Bob, Have you got anywhere reasonably cool to keep these?”

He said, “Actually I have, I made a sort of root cellar on the south side over there, for the potatoes and carrots.”

“What potatoes and carrots?”

“Oh I guess I forgot, I did get a bit of a harvest and I stored them in it. Sorry I just plumb forgot.”

Alicia smiled instantly, “Of course you forgot, you’ve had a bit more on your mind with other things when your mind has been awake.”

“How about putting the fish in it and bringing back a couple of spuds?”

Bob nodded, picked up the fish and went out the door.

They fried fish and sliced potatoes in deer tallow, they chatted back and forth as they ate, but periodically there were short silences during which they both felt inexplicable embarrassment.

Later after the dishes had been washed and put away, Bob cleared his throat and said, “I’ve been thinking; my butt is doing fine and I’m sure you want to get back, so whenever you are ready I’m ready.

Alicia studied him for a moment then said, “Okay let’s leave in the morning, I can bring the boat around to this side and pick you up.”

Bob shook his head, “No I wouldn’t mind doing the walk a cross and going by the water hole.” He smiled slightly, “Sort of a last walk for the sake of nostalgia.”

Alicia nodded, “Sure thing, I understand.”

They sat for a bit saying little the Bob stood up, “Hey do you like to play cards? There’s an old deck here somewhere.”

“Yes I do, do you play crib?”

Bob found the deck after a brief search and they whiled away the afternoon playing cards.

At one point Alicia exclaimed, “Oh damn, I was going to make flour then Indian bread with that sea weed, if we’re leaving tomorrow I won’t be able to.”

Bob said, “That’s okay you can make it for us another time.” He paused briefly, embarrassed by what he had implied, he hurried on, “The garden we can spread it on the garden.”