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They both glanced toward Gunn and Maddie as they drew nearer.
“What’s up?” Maddie asked as she strode toward them.
“Our line’s gone,” Perry said.
“We don’t know that,” Em said. “It could be the box.”
Perry gave Maddie a baleful look. “We can’t get a signal.” He tapped the small gray metal case that stood on a stand beside the tripod with the cable attached. “It’s not receiving a signal. Something’s happened to the camera.”
“We can’t already be down a camera,” Em said. “We should bring the box back to camp and test it out with another camera before we cut the cable we have. If it’s the box, we can repair it. It’ll be so much easier than digging a new hole. We’d lose days.”
Maddie drew a deep breath. “I don’t know why you two are arguing. It makes sense to check the box. It’s the easiest fix. If it’s not the problem, you’ll bring back the box, the drill, and a new cable.”
The pair continued to glare at each other.
“Is there something else wrong here?” Maddie asked. “We’re still early in the season. You have to work your shit out.”
Perry was the first to break the stare-down. He nodded at Maddie. Then, without looking at Em, he said, “We’ll test the box tonight and then figure out our next steps.” He turned back to Maddie and Gunn. “We’re just frustrated because we won’t have any new film to review.”
“Well, better make it quick,” Maddie said. “Another front’s coming through. I’d feel better if you both were back inside soon.”
“We’ll be right behind you,” Perry said. “Soon as we pull the box.”
Maddie nodded and trudged back to her snowmobile. “Folks don’t usually get that testy this soon in the season,” Maddie said.
“I imagine nerves have to wear thin living on top of each other after a while.”
Maddie grimaced. “Last year, Mateo and Perry got into a fistfight over a video game.”
By the time they returned to the site, the temperature had dropped, the sky was filled with angry dark clouds, and the daylight was nearly gone. They put away their vehicles and headed back inside.
Maddie headed straight to the kitchen, where a pot of what smelled like chili was boiling. She held her fingers above the pot and leaned toward the heat. “I felt the cold today.”
Gunn headed to the coffee urn, took two cups from the shelf, and filled them. Then he walked back to Maddie and handed her one. “Wrap your fingers around this.” She took the cup and didn’t make a face when she drank down the bitter brew that had sat too long in the pot.
“There’s a blanket on the couch. Let’s go get under it.” He blinked after he said it, realizing maybe it wasn’t the most appropriate thing to say to the site boss.
She laughed. “You haven’t seen Nate and Eric huddling under a blanket. We all do it when we’re chilled.”
They moved into the living room. She chose the smaller sofa and sat. He plucked the blanket draped over the back of the couch, sat next to her, and covered them both up. For several minutes, she shivered beside him, then slowly relaxed. Her head tilted toward his shoulder.
“Hope you don’t mind,” she whispered.
“It’s nice,” he said softly, grateful now for the blanket covering parts of him that were heating a little too well. He liked the citrus scent of her hair and the feel of her curves snuggled against his side.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she said. “I wouldn’t be comfortable. Wouldn’t feel as safe. I used to take for granted that we were all friends. Now, I’m suspicious of everyone.”
“Anything bother you today?”
“That argument Em and Perry were having. It was…too much. Easily solved.”
“No reason for it?”
“Exactly.”
“I’ve seen how people can snap under stress,” Gunn said. “When someone has something that weighs on them, even if they think they’ve got it handled, it can erupt in unexpected ways.”
“But Em and Perry? They’ve been partners for years.”
