#bad batch reader insert au

 That night, the wind picked up again.  Hunter got settled in his recliner as the snow piled up even more outside.  It had been a very productive day.  More firewood was chopped.  Laundry was hanging to dry near the woodstove.  He found time to carve another bowl to add to his set before heating up another pot of leftover soup.

   The cabin, as always, was quiet except for the crackle of firewood.  Hunter slurped spoonful after spoonful, his mind wandering to plans he had for the next day.  It was time he paid the boys a visit.  Perhaps he could bring some venison their way since he always had a decent supply.  Not that they needed it.  All of them did just fine getting food on their own, but it was always a nice gesture to bring a gift when visiting.

   A thud caught Hunter’s attention.  He looked up from his bowl, spoon hovering over the steaming broth, and waited.  It wasn’t uncommon for snow to drop off of tree branches due to the weight, but that sound was different.  It didn’t come from the roof.  It came from the front door.  If the first thud wasn’t enough to pique his curiosity enough to rise from his chair, the second one sure was.

   Something cried out on the other side of the door, but it wasn’t the wind.  Soon enough, the banging continued.  Hunter quickly retrieved his gun from its mount on the wall.  He cocked it and grasped it firmly as he took careful steps toward the window on the right side of the door.  There was no doubt that someone was trying to break in.  They were throwing something repeatedly against the door most likely in hopes of breaking it down.

   Hunter dimmed the lantern so he could pull back the curtain and take a look.  There were two figures at the door, and they certainly weren’t dressed for the weather.  To his disbelief, one looked like a child.  Neither were armed.  Hunter raised the light of the oil lamp and tucked the gun away under the coat rack where it wouldn’t be seen in case these people were indeed trouble.  He quickly undid the locks on the front door, and as it swung open, the first figure practically fell into the cabin.  They must’ve been mid-charge trying to break the door down.

   Before he could utter a word, she looked up at him with wide eyes and jumped to her feet, hurrying straight back out the open door.

   “Woah, woah, woah,” he said, grabbing her arm.  He nearly flinched at how cold she was.  The sleeve of her shirt was coated with ice and snow.

   “Please, please,” she begged.  “We thought the cabin was empty!  I-I didn’t think anyone would be here this time of year!  Please let me go!”  She looked utterly panicked, gasping and thrashing about in a futile attempt to break free from his grasp.

   “L-l-let her go!” another voice exclaimed, and the child darted in to take hold of the hem of the woman's shirt to pull her back.  She was also covered in ice and snow, and her teeth chattered.

   “Listen to me,” Hunter said, giving her a final tug to still her.  He met her gaze sincerely.  “I’m not gonna’ hurt you.  But I’m telling you, if you go back out there dressed like that in this weather, it will not end well.  Certainly not for the kid.”  

   She stopped struggling, seemingly mesmerized by his intense gaze.  Hunter slowly released her wrists from his hands, backing away.  “It’s warm in here, and I have plenty of food.  Just...don’t go back out there.  Please.”

   She looked at the frozen child beside her, lips turning down in a contemplative frown as she internally debated her options.  Hunter remained silent as he let her make the decision.  Finally, her determined eyes met his once more, and she nodded.

   “Alright, I’m going to shut the door,” he told them.  “We’ve let a lot of cold in as it is.”

   Both of them entered the cabin, but they lingered near the door long after Hunter had shut it and headed toward the kitchen to fetch another bag of thawing soup to heat up over the wood stove.  Once he got that cooking, his eyes did a scan of the woman’s frozen apparel.  The clothes hanging near the stove were still damp, so he headed back to his room.

   “W-w-where are y-you going?” she demanded.  Her teeth chattered uncontrollably ever since she set foot in the toasty cabin.  It was evident that she still did not fully trust him, which was to be expected considering he was a total stranger.

   “Both of you need to get warm,” he called back.  “Your clothes need to thaw out and dry.”  He returned holding an oversized shirt and a pair of pants.  “Unfortunately, today happens to be laundry day, so I only have one set that’s dry at the moment.”

   “Give it to her,” she said without hesitation, nodding in the child’s direction.  Nonetheless, she stepped forward to accept the clothes and hand them to the girl instead.  Hunter understood why she was being so protective, and as a matter of fact, he admired it.

   “You can change in the other room,” he said, motioning toward the room he emerged from.  Meanwhile, he walked over to the side table where a few folded blankets and quilts were stacked.  “Here, you can use these.”

   “I’m f-fine,” she said curtly.

   “Like I said, your clothes need to dry.  In the meantime, you can wrap yourself in a few of these.”

   She glared daggers in his direction.  “Exc-c-cuse me, b-but I don’t wish-sh-sh to be sat in a stranger...stranger’s cabin without m-my clothes.”  Speaking was clearly difficult for her, and though Hunter understood her distrust, it was hard for him to see her suffering needlessly. 

   “If it makes you feel any better, I’ll stay on the other side of the room.”  When she didn’t respond, he sighed.  “Fine,” Hunter held his hands up, dropping the quilts onto the recliner.  “You do what you want.”

   The girl came out of the other room in her change of dry clothes.  Though oversized, they’d do the trick.  Hunter instructed her to lay out her old clothes near the stove so they’d dry faster.

   As promised, he remained near the counter where his radio was to give his guests the space they needed to make them more comfortable.  The child sat down on the couch, but the woman stayed standing while she hugged herself and shivered.  After several minutes of awkward silence, the woman finally rose to her feet and snatched up the quilts before marching to the back room.  Not long after, she emerged wrapped in a blanket and quilt with one hand sticking out to set her old clothes down next to the child’s.

   Hunter made no sly comment.  Gave her no pointed look.  He was just relieved that the two were safe and would be warming up.

   “Soup should be done,” he said.  He took a step forward, looking at his guests cautiously.  Neither looked alarmed by his approach, so he carried a few bowls and spoons over.  He ladled some soup into each one and handed it off before refilling his own bowl.  “There’s more if either of you want seconds.”

   There were a few sniffles and slurps of broth before the woman spoke up.  “T-thank you.”  There was still a quiver to her voice, but she already sounded much better.

   Breakfast was a relaxed affair.  The three of you ate and made small talk.  Afterwards, Hunter took your plates and deposited them in a larger container for washing later.  You once again offered assistance as a gesture of gratitude for his hospitality, but this time he accepted.  You helped him take down the hanging laundry and fold it while Omega volunteered to do dishes.  Hunter filled a basin with water from a pump outside and set it down on the counter.

   “Here, use this..”

   You noted the dish soap’s packaging.  It wasn’t a typical plastic container.  It was a glass bottle that had a label scribbled on by hand.  Fabric was tied around the bottleneck with twine to seal it.  “Do you make everything around here?” you asked in amazement.

   He smirked.  “Actually, I bought this from some friends of mine in town who sell homemade products.  It’s less garbage I need to worry about disposing of.”

   You folded another shirt carefully and set it down on the pile.  “How often do you go into town?”

   Hunter added another log to the stove and closed it back up.  “Once every few weeks or so because it’s far to walk.”

   “Sounds like a refreshing walk,” you said.

   “It’s not bad in the warmer weather.  In the winter, I don’t go nearly as often.  I try to stock up on things I’ll need before the cold hits.”

   “I can imagine.”  You finished the last of the folding and carried the piles to his bed so he could put them away.  It was difficult not to linger and get another look at the cozy bedroom.  With the soft glow of the lantern and assorted animal furs, he must get good sleep there, you thought.  When you emerged, you saw Omega motioning for you to stand beside her as Hunter pulled up a stool in the kitchen.

   There was static and a faint voice speaking on the radio device that you’d seen sitting on the counter.  He adjusted a dial, and the voice got louder.

   “...I repeat, this is Tech.”

   “I read you, Tech.  This is Hunter checking in.  What’s up?”

   “Yeah, what’s up?” another man’s hearty voice joined in.

   “Hello, Wrecker.  Crosshair, Echo, do you read me as well?”

   There was a sigh.  “Yes.”

   And another responded with, “yes, sir.”

   The one who called himself “Tech” over the radio continued his message.  “I am alerting you all of an incoming storm.  Be prepared to be snowed in for the next few days.”

   Hunter adjusted another dial when the static became unbearable and spoke into the mic.  “When’s this supposed to start?”

   “Within a couple of hours.”

   “Copy that,” he said with a serious nod.  “Thanks for the warning.”

   “Also, on the subject of news, the missing person alert has changed,” Tech said.  “The case of the missing woman and child has been reclassified as a kidnapping.  It says that the child is in considerable danger.”

   Your blood ran cold at his words.  Your hand instinctively went to take Omega’s, and she looked at you with wide eyes and a frown on her face.  Both of you held your breaths.  Hunter stole a glance over his shoulder before responding to the update casually.

   “I’ll keep an eye out.”

   “As we all will,” the coiled voice added.

   “Alright, that is all.  As always, if there is anything you need, do not hesitate to contact me before the weather gets too severe.  Tech, over and out.”

   Silence fell over the cabin.  Hunter dialed down the radio and shifted on the stool to face you and Omega.  Those intense eyes found yours, both sending a chill down your spine and making your chest tighten at the same time.  What would he do?  Did he really believe the alert?  Would he contact the authorities?

   “You wanna’ tell me what’s going on?” he asked.  He didn’t sound harsh or even irritated.  Hunter glanced between the two of you as he patiently waited for an explanation.

   “I promise, I’m here of my own will,” Omega spoke up, squeezing your hand.

   “That, I can tell,” he said with a nod.  “So, why is there an alert?”

   Several seconds passed in tense silence as his question hung in the air.  Omega lowered her head, unable to think of a response.  In the meantime, you were searching your brain for something to say.  

   “Custody,” you blurted finally.  “I mean...It’s a complicated custody situation.  With my ex.  That’s why we can’t go to the police.  That’s why we’re on the run.”

   See, this story made sense.  It better explained why the two of you were in the situation that you were.  Something clicked then in Hunter’s eyes, and you realized that he accepted this answer much quicker than the first.  Guilt rose in your chest at deceiving him, but it would only be a short while…  Soon, you and Omega could continue on your way and leave the poor man out of any further involvement.

   “As a matter of fact, we’ve been here too long as it is,” you continued, and tears nearly pricked your eyes at the utterly heartbroken look on Omega’s face at your words.  “We really should be going.”

   “Didn’t you hear?” Hunter nodded in the direction of the radio.  “There’s a blizzard coming.  You won’t get very far, even if you leave this second.”

   Omega looked hopeful as you considered this.

   “Look, I know I should call the authorities,” Hunter said.  “It just so happens that I don’t get any decent phone service out here.”  He cracked a smile, and you couldn’t help but mirror it as he slid off the stool and headed for the front door.  “It’s your choice, of course, if you want to leave.  Just know that you’re both safe here and welcome to stay.”