17C and sunny.
Went to bed early last night then woke up every 2 to 3 hours all night long - yechht!
Going to sit outside in the backyard to have coffee and read the news paper.
I did manage todo some of the story so here it is ---

axe in one hand and the tree in the other she retraced her steps back to the cabin.

 Chapter 18

Back at the cabin, Alicia had Bob stand up and together they figured out how long the shaft of what was going to be a crutch should be and she cut it off to that length.

“There that should help you have some independence,” she said. “I’ll let you trim it up or whatever you need to do to make it comfortable.”

“Sure, there’s a leatherman in one of my pants, it has a good blade on it and I can whittle it down.”

Alicia, after a brief search, found the knife and brought it to Bob. “I’m going to use the few meat scraps that are left and some of the bones from your deer and make us a stew for supper while you’re working on that.”

They both turned to their tasks and after a little while Bob said, “Alicia can you hang here for a couple of days until this thing of mine heals? And then can I get a ride into Uclulet with you?”

“Well of course I’ll stay, I can’t very well leave you like this.”

“Thanks,” he replied, “and you didn’t finish your story last night.”

She laughed, “Well it must be pretty boring, you fell asleep while I was talking.”

He laughed as well, “Guess you’re right, well I’m awake now.”

Alicia , thought for a moment, then picking up from just before she had noticed that he had dropped off, she continued with the rest of her story.

After a short while Bob stopped whittling and watched her as she talked. He saw the emotions that she couldn’t conceal and in his mind joined her almost in a visual way as she related the story up to her arrival and their earlier confrontation.

Eventually she finished talking and the small room was silent. Bob was still staring at her and after a few seconds she turned to look at him and their eyes locked and held for many seconds more. Finally, as though by some unspoken agreement they both looked away and continued with their chores.

“After a little while Bob said, “You didn’t say if I can catch a ride with you.”

“Oh, oh that of course, but you can stay on here for awhile if you want.”

“Thanks, but no, I better let my brother know and get on with becoming un-hermitized.”