When Hugh Mathews decides it's time to get out from under his tyrannical father's thumb and away from the life he's been living, he does it in a big way. Packing what he'll need to survive in the wilderness, and with only his dog, Orion, for companionship, he heads into the mountains. When they find a abandoned cabin, Hugh begins the arduous task of repairing it, as well as hunting for food and everything else they'll need to stay alive.<br><br>Soon after, Ansel Jeffries, a nature photographer, arrives at Hugh's cabin, seeking an abandoned mine he wants to photograph. After talking with him, Ansel sees the potential for a story in what Hugh is doing -- and why.<br><br>Ansel convinces Hugh to let him tell it, meaning he'll be living at the cabin with Hugh. When he moves in, will what becomes friendship between the two men grow into more?

Off the Beaten Path

The first chore, after taking off their boots and outerwear, was toweling Orion down to get the snow offhim. Hugh added a couple more logs to the fire from the pile at one side of the fireplace, told Orion to lie in front of it to finish drying off, then he and Ansel fixed supper.


“So far,” Hugh said as they ate, “this first storm hasn’t been too bad to cope with. Of course when we get one every day…” He shook his head. He had the feeling he knew how Ansel would answer.


Chapter 36