The acrid smoke from the forest fires hung in the air just above the treetops. The dark haze blocked the sun and dipped down into the roadway as I drove to the cottage. The fires were still distant but I needed to check my place and prepare in the event the winds shifted and drove the flames closer.
I crested the hill and was enveloped in the smoke, keeping the windows up and the a/c on recirculate to keep the worst of it from filling the cabin of my pick-up. I maintained speed and kept my hands steady as I drove through the dark smoke and felt the truck beginning to descend the hill before breaking through into a clearly visible stretch of road again.
There were two figures in the distance. As I approached I could make out two young women dressed in jeans and t-shirts. They had no backpacks or bags of any kind and looked ragged. I came to stop and rolled down the window.
"Hey, you two need some help?" I asked.
They stepped back a little and spoke to each other. The taller of the two shrugged and they came closer to the truck.
"Well, we could use some water if you have any?" she replied.
"Sure," I replied. "Just a moment."
I put the truck in park and reached behind the seat. I retrieved two bottles of water and held them out the window.
"Thanks," they said in unison as they took the bottles.
I watched as they quickly drained them and handed the empties back to me. I offered two more, plus two granola bars.
"Oh, sweet," the taller one said as she took them. "I'm starving."
I watched as they consumed the bars and took long sips from the bottles. They were aboriginal or metis, late teens or early twenties. Both had long dark hair plastered to the side of their sweaty faces and dark puffy eyes from the smoke. Their shirts were sweat-stained, their jeans dirty and the sneakers on their feet muddy.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"Home," the taller one replied. "In the city."
"That's a hell of a stroll," I commented. "It's a two and a half-hour drive."
They just nodded.
"Where you coming from?"
They looked at each other and the taller one just shrugged.
"Doesn't matter," I said. "Well, if you want a ride I can you give you one, but not for a few hours. I have to go check on my place before I head back to the city. You can keep walking and I'll pick you up on my way back, or you can come along."
They stepped away and had a short conversation before approaching the truck.
"We'll come along," the shorter one announced.
"You both have to sit up front, the back is full of stuff," I explained. "Get in."
They opened the door as I put the center console up and made room for them. The shorter one slid in beside me as the other closed the door.
"I'm Jean," I introduced myself. "You can call me J."
"I'm Jani," replied the taller one.
"Dez."
"Nice to meet you," I said as I put the truck in gear and began driving. "It's not far, about a half-hour."
We drove in silence through the thickening haze for almost fifteen minutes before Jani broke the silence.
"We met some guys who invited us to a party," she began. "They brought us out here to some fishing camp with a bunch of guys there. We told them to take us back home but they locked the car and refused.”
"Not my idea of a party," Dez added. "Had a really bad vibe."
"So we took off,” Jani continued. "Left all our stuff in that asshole's car and started walking. We went through the bush until we found this road."
"How long have you been walking?"
"At least two hours," Dez answered. "My feet hurt."
"Well, I suspect that you made the right choice to leave," I assured them. "But it's not safe walking around with the fires so close."
"Yeah, it was hard to breathe," Jani agreed. "On the road wasn't as bad."
"Here we are," I announced as we turned off of the road and onto the short trail to my cottage.
The branches of the trees brushed the mirrors as we passed through the narrow opening and emerged in the small clearing of the yard. The smoky haze wafted amongst the trees and seemingly clung to the roof of the small cottage. As we opened the doors of the truck the acrid smoke filled our lungs.
"Come on," I coughed. "Let's get inside."
"Uh, maybe we will just stay in the truck," Jani replied.
"I need a bathroom," Dez announced. "So I'm going inside. Come on."
I unlocked the door and pointed to the direction of the bathroom. Dez quickly disappeared behind the closing door.
"Don't worry," I assured Jani. "Just make yourselves comfortable while I bring my things in."
As I retrieved the cooler and bags from the truck I noticed the smoke seemed thicker and the daylight dimming. The trail to the road was no longer visible.
"It's getting bad out there," I announced. "The smoke is really heavy."
Jani and Dez sat on the couch as I checked the windows, closed the flue on the fireplace, and picked up a few things.
"You girls hungry?" I asked. "There's food in that cooler, drinks too. Help yourselves while I check around outside."
The smoke was thick and warm as I went to the truck and grabbed a mask. It helped somewhat as I moved any logs, brush, or branches away from the yard and cut down the taller grass. I could barely see the dock and the outline of my boat not fifty yards away. I checked on my old Ford pickup - battery was good, started right up, and nearly full tank of fuel. After checking the tarps on the snowmobile I decided there was nothing else I could do at this point.
As I returned to the cottage I smiled at the thought of spending the night with these two young women, thinking the right mood and some light persuasion should work in my favour.
"So it's really bad visibility out there," I announced as I returned inside. "Losing daylight fast."
"Want some of your food?" Jani asked as she pointed at the counter. "We warmed some up."
They both had a plate filled with beans, sausage, coleslaw, and bread and were obviously very hungry.
"Yeah, thanks," I answered.
I loaded a plate and put it on the table.
"Be right back."
I went back out to the truck and grabbed the cases of beer from behind the seat. I placed one on the counter and the other on the floor.
"You want a beer?" I asked.
"Sure," they both answered.
I set three cans on the table, sat down and ate while the girls finished up. Jani retrieved three more and put them on the table.
"BRAAAPPPP"
"Excuse me!" Dez exclaimed before laughing.
We all laughed as she covered her face, embarrassed at the sudden and loud belch that had erupted.
"Guess the food wasn't that bad," I joked.
"No, it was great. Thank you so much," Dez smiled.
"Yeah, thanks," Jani added. "We really appreciate it."
"No problem," I replied. "However, we are not heading back tonight, the smoke is heavy and it's already getting dark. The fire is moving away but the smoke is moving in according to the reports on my phone."
The girls just sipped their beers.
"You can use my phone and call anyone if you need, let them know where you are."
Dez shook her head and Jani replied. "Thanks, but nobody to call. We share a place."
I nodded. "Well, you two can have the bed over there and I'll take the couch."
The girls looked at each other and smiled.
"Can we have another?" Dez asked as she held up the empty can.
"Sure, help yourself," I said as I started clearing the table.
I noticed Jani scratching under her arm.
"You can use the shower if you want," I offered as I pointed to the bathroom. "And I can give you some clean t-shirts to wear. Be a little big, though."
"Oh, that would be great," Jani exclaimed. "Thanks, J."
I grabbed two shirts from my bag and tossed them to her. They both went to the bathroom and closed the door. I heard giggling and the shower running while I finished cleaning up.
***
I plugged my phone in and hit my favorite playlist. The Bluetooth speakers came alive and the sound of Pink Floyd spread throughout the cottage. I left the lights off except for the single fluorescent over the sink, creating a dim but cozy atmosphere as the darkness covered the windows.
I went to my bag and pulled out the small metal tin that held my stash. As the shower stopped I took out three joints, set two of them on the coffee table between the beer cans and sat down in my tattered recliner. I lit the fattest one up, taking a deep drag of the soothing smoke. The bathroom door opened as I exhaled.
“You smoke?” Dez asked excitedly.
I nodded and took another slow pull as they came into view. Wet hair, sleeveless t-shirts and no jeans. I admired the smooth, shapely bare legs and watched the slight jiggle of their breasts as they approached the couch.
“It’s relaxing, takes the edge off,” I explained as I exhaled. "Feel better?"
"Much," Jani grinned.
"Oh yeah," Dez agreed.
They sat on the couch and Jani checked the beers, shaking the empty cans. She jumped up and went to the counter for more. Smooth, curvy cheeks peeked out from under the hem of the baggy shirt.
I took another drag and held my hand out to Dez. She smiled and took the smoky offering as Jani returned to the couch.
She took a long drag and passed it to Jani, who did the same before passing it back. Dez offered it to me.
“Go ahead, you two finish it. We have a few more.”
I pointed to the coffee table and both girls smiled.
“You’re pretty cool for an older dude,” Dez said with a grin.