Growing Cold Series

Chapter 1

“The Road Less Traveled”

Sadie stared blankly out the window of the 4Runner, her hazel eyes unfocused as the stretches of barren road and the occasional sparse cluster of trees blurred past. The interstate stretched on endlessly, an unbroken ribbon of gray asphalt disappearing into the distance, the hum of the engine becoming a background to her spiraling thoughts. Her legs were stretched out, thermal sock covered feet propped up against the dashboard.. It was a comfortable position, but the restless energy inside her couldn’t quite be quieted. Her mouth absentmindedly nibbled on the edges of her nails, a nervous habit she still hadn’t broken. Every now and then, she chewed too hard and winced before returning to the familiar rhythm of the habit.

“This just doesn’t feel right,” she muttered, more to herself than Nathan, her voice barely louder than a whisper over the hum of the engine.

Nathan, who had been driving happily in silence for the past hour, glanced at her quickly before returning his gaze to the road. His blue eyes, always perceptive, narrowed slightly as he read the tension in her posture. She was staring out the window as though the world outside held all the answers she was looking for. “What’s that?”

Sadie sighed. She adjusted her hair, tied in a messy bun on top of her head. Drawing her hands into the sleeves of her olive-green zip-up hoodie, her fingers curled into her palms as she rested them in her lap. Her lips pursed in a mixture of frustration and thought. “This is the first time in a long time that I don’t have a case to investigate. I mean, there’s always been something, you know? A name, a face, something to chase. But now…” She trailed off, her voice growing quieter. “Now it’s just… open road and nothing.”

Nathan kept his eyes on the road, the steady rhythm of his driving was the only answer he could offer for a moment. He could feel the tension in her words, the way they hung in the air between them, and his heart ached for her. After everything they had been through, he understood her need to keep moving, to keep chasing something, anything. It was how she worked, how she’d coped, and how she thrived.

He exhaled slowly, bringing his hand up to rub his beard softly. “You’re complaining about not having a case to solve? After everything we’ve been through?”

Sadie shot him a sideways glance, a small but tired smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “I know. I just need something. I need a face, a name, something to dig into.”

She huffed in frustration. The quiet moment stretched between them, filled only by the sound of the tires on the road, the soft purr of the engine, and the rustle of the occasional gust of wind. Nathan’s voice finally broke the silence, warm and steady, like it always was when he knew she needed him to be calm.

Nathan reached over, his hand briefly resting on her shoulder in reassurance. “I get it. You need that next case to focus on. That next puzzle to solve. That’s what you do. I know that’s who you are. But, hey, we’re here, and we’re safe. We made it through all that shit, and we made it through together. No one’s trying to kill us right now for a change. And that’s a win.”

Sadie managed a faint laugh, though it lacked her usual energy. “I guess so. But it’s hard, you know? I’m used to having that next cold case to research, that unsolved mystery. Right now, I feel like I’m stuck in limbo.”

Nathan nodded, understanding more than she realized. He wasn’t quite sure what their future held but he knew they were headed there together. That made all the shit they had gone through worth it.  “Maybe we deserve a little time to breathe. Something will pop, I promise.”

Sadie smiled softly, turning her head to look at him. “Yeah. Maybe. But still…” She let her voice trail off again, her eyes falling back to the road ahead. The words felt like they were stuck in her throat.

Everything had taken longer than they had originally expected. After spending a couple weeks in the hospital from the incident in Plainview with the Leermans, they’d taken a train back to Portland, since the doctor had warned them against flying due to their broken bones. The healing process had taken time, and it had been slow. Together, they had holed up in her condo with Tango and Cash, Nathan’s two Rottweilers, both of whom had given them more comfort than words could express. The slow recovery process had turned into weeks, and soon months that were spent binge watching Netflix shows and researching everything from unsolved murders to campers.

Nathan had found himself sidelined for the first time in his career, unable to take on any new cases while they healed. The cabin fire had nearly wiped him out financially, and his fight with the insurance company had been a drawn-out nightmare, a series of claims adjusters who just seemed to be trying to stall him at every turn. It took months and countless phone calls before he finally managed to get a check sent out.

Sadie had been receiving advertisement money from her podcast, but it wasn’t enough to cover the bills, especially the mounting medical costs. Still, they were managing. Somehow. 

And then there was the camper.

Sadie’s podcast had become a nationwide sensation. Growing Cold was the number one show on iTunes, and it wasn’t just fans of true crime. It had spread beyond that, becoming a cultural touchstone. Spotify and Amazon both had reached out for exclusive rights to her show, and after a lot of legal wrangling and consultation, they’d reached an agreement that included a generous advance. With that money, Sadie had put it to good use and bought the camper—the one they were currently towing behind them on their way to Toledo, Ohio.

Nathan had wanted something simple. Something small. A used truck camper that he could have attached to his pickup truck would’ve suited him just fine. But Sadie? Well, Sadie was a research fanatic. And once she’d gotten started, she couldn’t stop. Every camper option she came across led to another, and soon, she was showing Nathan a brand-new, state-of-the-art camper that was far more luxurious than Nathan had anticipated. 

As they passed endless wintery fields on the barren highway, Sadie smiled to herself, remembering the day they had finally settled on something they both could agree on. The gleaming aluminum camper had stood tall and proud in the lot, and she had insisted it was the perfect fit. It was both practical and a little over-the-top.

“Let’s be honest,” Sadie said now, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “It’s got fucking style for days and it’s practically indestructible. It’s like if someone combined you and me and turned us into a camper.”

Nathan had looked it over one last time, clearly not as thrilled as she was, but even he couldn’t deny the quality. It was used, which helped cut down the price. The 2015 Airstream Flying Cloud which was small enough to be towed by Sadie’s 1992 4runner but big enough to house two adults and two Rottweilers as long as they all cuddled together. The ZipDee awnings, the outdoor shower, and the air conditioning that could handle the desert heat were practical touches, but Sadie had gone down a rabbit hole reading reviews and specs, ensuring it had a spacious living area with modern amenities, including a fully equipped kitchen, comfortable seating area, and a luxurious bathroom. 

“It’s got everything,” she said, running her hand over the polished aluminum exterior. 

Nathan leaned against the doorframe, watching her with that same smirk of amusement. “Yeah, well, I guess it’s better than sleeping in a tent or a shitty motel.”

Sadie had smiled at that, stepping inside and immediately feeling at home. The kitchen, the cozy sleeping quarters, the skylights that let in the warm sun just felt right. And when Nathan stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her that day, they both had shared the quiet acknowledgement that this was their new home.

“We’re gonna make a lot of memories in this camper,” she whispered and leaned back against him, the feeling of the camper’s comfort filling her with joy.

Nathan kissed the top of her head, his smile matching hers. “Yeah, we are.”

Sadie smiled as the memory filled her head, her heart swelled with the warmth of it. The laughter, the conversations, the quiet moments in their new camper, those were the things she cherished most. But underneath that, she could still feel the unease gnawing at the pit of her stomach. The one thing she had been craving for weeks, and still couldn’t find: a case. A story. The next big thing for the Growing Cold podcast. 

“Fuck,” she muttered, leaning forward and tapping her phone screen furiously. She was scrolling through endless pages of Google results, each one filled with unsolved cold cases from across the country. There were so many, it felt overwhelming. But none of them stood out to her. None of them had that spark that made her feel like she could sink her teeth into it. “There’s so many, but none of them stick out.”

“Are you sure you’re not also just a little freaked out about going home?” Nathan asked, his voice laced with concern. He reached over, his hand resting on her shoulder, the warmth of his touch a subtle reassurance. His fingers began massaging gently, the soothing pressure of his hands sending a wave of calm through her tense muscles. It was a comfort, but it didn’t completely erase the unease.

Sadie groaned, letting her phone slip from her fingers as she tossed it onto the dashboard with a sigh. “I don’t know. Maybe! Whatever,” she muttered, her voice edged with frustration. She turned her head to the backseat as a loud yawn erupted from Cash. The big dog stirred, stretching his long legs out across the bench seat. His head popped up, eyes still heavy with sleep, glancing at her curiously. He seemed to wonder why she was disturbing the peace with her cursing. Tango, on the other hand, was still curled up tightly in a ball next to him, completely unaware of the small outburst.

“Sorry, did I wake you, your highness?” Sadie laughed softly, her voice lightening as she looked at Cash. The dog groaned in response, clearly unimpressed with her apologies, and laid his head back down, slowly drifting back to sleep. His big, soulful eyes blinked once, twice, before they fluttered shut again. It made her smile, the quiet humor of the moment breaking through her frustration.

Nathan chuckled from the front seat, glancing back at the dogs.  Sadie threw a playful glance at him, a glint of mischief flashing in her eyes.  Nathan raised an eyebrow, a half-smile tugging at his lips. Neither of them spoke as they let the moment stretch for a bit before Nathan asked, “Want to stop somewhere for the night? We’re still about four hours away from Harts Grove, and it’s getting dark.”

Sadie shrugged, the thought of pulling over for the night seeming like a welcome reprieve. “Yeah, I guess. It might be better to get there tomorrow, after Brodie and Brock are done with the chores. They get up early to take care of the farm, so they usually turn in pretty early. Well, at least Brodie does. Brock’s still got that ‘young and dumb’ energy, so he’ll probably be up all night.”

She paused for a moment, looking out the window at the fading light. “Where the hell are we anyway?” She asked, her brow furrowed as she glanced at Nathan.

Nathan lifted his phone and checked the GPS, squinting as he studied the screen. “Looks like we’re nearing Spiceland, Indiana, wherever the hell that is.” He said with a shrug.

Sadie’s eyes widened. “Oh my god, if this is a town dedicated to the Spice Girls, then we are definitely spending a week here, maybe a month. Fuck, I might be willing to move here.” She squealed with mock excitement, quickly grabbing her phone to search for more information about the place.

She furiously typed the name into the search bar, hoping for something ridiculous to pop up. A town where everyone wore platform shoes, and the local diner served Spice lattes or something. But when the search results loaded, her smile faltered. “No such luck. No Spice Girls stuff anywhere,” she sighed in disappointment. “The only notable thing mentioned is that two high school kids who stabbed a couple of Dartmouth College professors to death were arrested at a Flying J truck stop here. Lame.” She groaned and tossed her phone back onto the dashboard, the excitement she’d felt moments ago now replaced with a dull sense of anticlimax.

“Well, you wanna camp at the truck stop for the night? We could freshen up, have a few drinks in the camper, and listen to “Spice Girls” on shuffle.”  Nathan asked with a mischievous grin, his smirk grew as he reached over to her. Sneaking underneath her shirt, his fingers traced along the curve of her hip bone in a playful ticklish manner. The sudden sensation made Sadie squirm, her body instinctively shifting away from his touch, but she couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips.

She slapped his hand away with a chuckle, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Only if you tell me what you want,” she teased, her voice low and playful.

Nathan’s grin widened, and he leaned in just a little closer, his eyes locking onto hers. “You mean what I really, really want?” He asked, his voice thick with amusement.

Sadie bit her bottom lip seductively, playing along. “Mmhmm. Tell me what you want.”

Nathan took a deep breath, his tone suddenly robotic and dry, as if he were reciting the most impersonal thing he could think of. “I wanna really, really, really wanna ziga zig ah,” he said, mimicking the Spice Girls’ lyrics in the most monotone voice imaginable.

Sadie couldn’t help it—she burst out laughing, the sound echoing in the quiet interior of the truck. “Oh my God, you are such a nerd,” she said between giggles, shaking her head at him. The weight of the unease that had been gnawing at her stomach seemed to lighten, even if just for a moment. 

Nathan chuckled, the sound warm and genuine. “Well, if you’re not going to take me seriously, at least I can entertain you.” 

“Isn’t that what I’m here for?” Sadie said with a wink, her laughter still lingering in the air.

Nathan’s expression softened, and for a moment, the playful banter faded into something deeper—a shared understanding between them. They might not have a case to solve at the moment, but they had each other, and in that quiet, uncomplicated moment, that was enough.

Chapter 2

“Spice Land”

Nathan towed the camper to the far edge of the truck stop, positioning it far away from the main lot where the long-haul trucks idled in their dark, metallic rows. The engine slowed to a stop with a low rumble as the gravel crunched beneath the tires. The soft, isolated spot at the back of the truck stop offered some peace and quiet, a momentary escape from the continuous hum of diesel engines, but still within reach of the fluorescent lights casting an eerie glow over the parking lot.

“Alright, this should work. Hopefully no trucker is dumb enough to sit and shine his brights on us while we try to sleep. I’d hate to have to smash some kneecaps in the middle of the night.” Nathan muttered jokingly to himself as he turned off the engine. Sadie, already shifting in her seat, shoved her door open and hopped down onto the gravel with a stretch, adjusting her hoodie as she tugged it up over her head to ward off the evening chill.

“I gotta pee!” She called over her shoulder, giving him a quick, tired smile before she disappeared inside the camper.

Nathan opened the back door to the 4Runner and after giving the dog’s a brief scratch behind the ears, he let them jump out and run on their own. Tango, his solid Rottweiler, immediately started walking beside him with a calm, deliberate pace. Cash, the more energetic Rottweiler, practically lunged at the ground as if the grass had some sort of magical power over him.

The lot behind the truck stop was expansive and covered in scruffy, unkempt grass. The perimeter was lined with a mix of neglected fences, rusted farm equipment half-buried in the dirt, and patches of overgrown shrubs. The evening had begun to settle into darkness, but the last rays of sunlight still flickered over the landscape, casting long shadows over the weeds and loose earth. Nathan looked around, the stillness of the place settling over him like a thick blanket.

He walked slowly, hands jammed into the pockets of his jacket, as the dogs walked ahead with their noses on high alert. Tango, methodical and calm, moved with a steady gait, keeping pace with Nathan. Cash, on the other hand, was everywhere—darting between bushes, sniffing wildly at every corner, and every now and then, growling at some unseen creature in the distance. His energy was almost a tangible thing, palpable as the dog bounded in circles around his calmer companion.

“Yeah, yeah, get it out of your system now. I’m about ready for bed,” Nathan muttered under his breath, glancing at Cash. 

The air was crisp and cool enough that he could see his breath in short puffs. It felt good, though—this moment of solitude, away from the noise and clutter of the truck stop, away from the constant hum of his own thoughts. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind, and there was still something unresolved gnawing at the back of his mind.  He wasn’t sure if Sadie was more unsettled by the idea of going back to Harts Grove, or the uncertainty of what happens when they arrive. 

As he walked, the dogs ventured farther, until the path curved around a group of overgrown trees on the edge of the lot. A dim, distant light from the truck stop illuminated the tree line in hazy pools of yellow, but beyond that, it was dark. The woods beyond the truck stop seemed to swallow up all light, the darkness swallowing any trace of the evening sky. Nathan’s boots crunched on the gravel beneath him as he hesitated for a moment, watching the dogs sniff around the base of a large, gnarled tree. 

Tango sniffed the base of the tree with calm indifference, but Cash—ever the curious one—scrambled at the roots, his paws digging at the dirt. Nathan exhaled, pulling his jacket tighter around his shoulders as he looked into the woods, the shadows there feeling deeper than they should. He was probably overthinking it, but something about the space beyond the truck stop felt off. Maybe it was the isolation, the eerie quiet that made the darkness feel like it was just a bit too close.

“Whatcha got boy?” He muttered to himself, his words feeling hollow against the stillness of the woods. Tango looked back at him, his steady gaze calm, as if asking if Nathan was going to keep walking.

Nathan gave a soft chuckle, shaking his head to clear the unease that had settled there. 

Cash suddenly let out a soft bark from the far side of the tree, pulling Nathan’s attention back. The dog had found something—a faint scent on the wind that seemed to be drawing him in deeper. 

“Alright, alright,” Nathan said, taking a step toward him. He snapped his fingers, calling Cash back from whatever had caught his attention. Cash reluctantly let out a low whine but followed obediently and returned to Nathan’s side. Tango’s head snapped to the side, his nostrils flaring, a low growl rumbling from his chest. Cash, too, was sniffing the air with a sense of purpose, his ears perked as he strained against the leash. The tension in the air thickened, and for a moment, Nathan thought he saw something in the shadows—something out of place.

“Stay,” Nathan muttered, his voice low but firm. The dogs obediently stayed where they were, eyes trained on the dark woods ahead.

He didn’t want to spook them, but a chill ran down his spine. There was something off about the way the dogs reacted, their hackles raised and noses twitching. Nathan knew the woods were wild, full of animals and hidden dangers, but after everything he’s been through the past year, something felt different. His instincts screamed at him that something was out there, something he needed to check. 

“Stay,” Nathan added once more, glancing over his shoulder to make sure the dogs were settled before he slowly moved into the woods. He slid his pen light from the breast pocket inside his coat and clicked it on, shining it into the darkness.

The soft crunch of gravel underfoot was replaced by the rustling of dead leaves and the faint snap of twigs breaking beneath his boots. As he moved deeper into the trees, the light from the truck stop receded, leaving only the faint, eerie glow of distant street lamps. The darkness was thick here, the trees looming over him like silent sentinels. 

Every instinct told him he was heading toward something that wasn’t right. His hand tightened around the flashlight as he slowly crept through the underbrush. The air felt heavier now, pressing in around him, as if the woods themselves were holding their breath.

The dogs’ low growls echoed faintly from behind him, and Nathan ignored them, pressing forward. His mind raced with the possibilities—what if it was a body? Another victim? Someone for Sadie to investigate? He couldn’t shake the thought, and his chest tightened with the familiar anxiety.

He rounded a corner, the beam of the flashlight cutting through the darkness. Then, just ahead, he saw it. A shape, hunched against a large tree. Something pale, white, and unsettling. His heart skipped again, his breath catching in his throat. 

A body. 

Nathan’s pulse quickened as his flashlight flicked across the scene. He stepped forward, the beam of light dancing over what seemed to be a human form, lying unnaturally against the roots of a tree. His stomach twisted in disbelief. 

As he closed the distance, he froze.

The beam of light caught the hollow eyes and ribs, the once-soft fur now rotted and matted to the ground. The skull, still intact, was tilted at a strange angle with the antler’s propping it up off the ground. Off white bones were scattered and half-buried in dirt. It was a deer. A deer that had been carelessly shot and left to die by an inexperienced hunter, its bones picked clean by scavengers over time. The scent of decay lingered faintly, mixing with the smell of damp earth. 

Nathan’s shoulders relaxed as the tension bled from his body. 

“Jesus,” he whispered under his breath, exhaling sharply as his heartbeat slowly returned to normal. He felt an odd combination of relief and disgust wash over him. It wasn’t a human body, thank God, but it was unsettling to see the remains of an animal that had met such a grim fate. 

He knelt beside the skeleton, shining the light over the scene. The deer’s body was collapsed in a heap, the ribs caved inward where it had been shot, and the bones were brittle from time. Whoever the hunter had been hadn’t bothered to retrieve it, leaving it to rot in the woods. A moment of failure, frozen in time.

He shook his head, suddenly feeling foolish for letting his mind wander so far. No mystery here and no dead body to investigate. Just a creature who had met its end far too soon.

Nathan turned back toward the clearing, glancing over his shoulder one last time before making his way back toward the trees, stepping lightly over the brush and the uneven ground. The flashlight’s beam bobbed in his hand, cutting through the night as the woods seemed to open up before him. Tango and Cash were sitting where he’d left them, waiting patiently, their eyes catching the light as they turned toward him. 

“Alright boys,” he called, his voice steady now, though the faint unease still lingered at the edges of his thoughts. “Let’s get back to the camper. Let’s go get Sadie.” The dogs followed him dutifully as he led them back toward the camper, the darkness of the woods behind him now feeling less like a threat and more like an odd, distant memory.

As they approached the camper, Nathan couldn’t help but glance over his shoulder one last time. The dark woods stretched out behind him, calm and silent. Whatever had been there, or rather whatever his mind had conjured up, was gone. 

Nathan stepped into the camper, the warm air inside a welcome contrast to the biting cold outside. The dogs padded in behind him, tails wagging as they made themselves comfortable on the worn rug. Nathan’s eyes scanned the small space, and he frowned when he noticed Sadie wasn’t there. 

He shrugged off his jacket, draping it over the back of a chair, and grabbed the dogs’ bowls from the kitchenette. Opening a cabinet, he retrieved their kibble, pouring it into the dishes with a rhythmic clatter. Tango and Cash instantly perked up, their tiny tails wagging as they dove into their food. 

“Where the hell is she?” Nathan muttered under his breath, glancing at the clock on the microwave. She’d been gone for a while now, longer than it should’ve taken to use the bathroom or grab whatever snacks she had planned to bring back. Their bathroom worked just fine inside the camper, so he assumed it must have been a snack trip. He shook his head, trying to tamp down the small flicker of worry rising in his chest. Sadie was resourceful and tough and more than capable of handling herself. She displayed that in Cedar Grove and Plainview. But still, he couldn’t shake the gnawing thought that something might be wrong.

Minutes ticked by, and the silence in the camper began to feel heavier. Nathan changed out of his gray henley and jeans into an olive green t-shirt and light gray sweatpants. Growing impatient, he sat near the front of the camper, glancing out the large windows at the dimly lit parking lot beyond. The faint hum of truck engines idling reached his ears, punctuated occasionally by the distant sound of laughter or shuffling footsteps. 

Where was she? 

He was just about to grab his jacket and go looking for her when the door suddenly burst open. Sadie darted inside, slamming the door shut behind her, her breath coming in quick puffs of white air.

Nathan’s heart leapt into his throat. “Jesus, Sadie! What’s wrong? Are you ok?”

Sadie blinked at him, wide-eyed, then burst out laughing. “Jesus yourself! It’s freezing out there! I ran because I didn’t want to lose my nose to frostbite.”

Nathan let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, his shoulders sagging in relief. “You scared the hell out of me. I thought something happened.”

“Well, something did happen,” she said, her tone turning sour as she dropped a plastic bag and a six pack of beer onto the counter. “I got hit on by a couple of creepy-ass truckers in the convenience store. You’re lucky you’re cute or I might have gone back with them to their trucks.”

Nathan’s jaw tightened. “What happened?”

Sadie waved a hand dismissively. “Nothing serious. Just the usual gross comments. One of them asked if I was ‘looking for company’ while the other kept staring at my ass like he’d never seen one before. I told them both to go fuck each other and grabbed the beer and chips.”

Nathan’s brows knit together, his protective instincts flaring. “You should’ve called me. I would’ve..”

“You would’ve what? Punched a couple of old truckers in the face?” Sadie interrupted with a smirk. “I can handle myself, Nathan. You know that.”

“I know,” he said, though his tone was still gruff. “Doesn’t mean I like the thought of you dealing with that alone.”

She softened a little, stepping closer and placing a hand on his chest. “I’m fine, okay? They didn’t follow me or anything. I ran because it’s cold, not because I was scared.”

Nathan looked at her for a moment, then sighed. “Alright. But next time, just… let me know, okay?”

Sadie grinned, her hand trailing down to pat his stomach playfully. “Sure thing, tough guy. Now, how about we crack open a beer and eat some chips before you have a coronary?”

Nathan couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking his head as he grabbed the bag of snacks from the counter. “You couldn’t find any Flamin’ Hot Fritos?”

“Nope! I think the assholes discontinued them,” Sadie shot back. Kicking off her boots, she peeled off her jeans and wiggled into a pair of green checkered flannel sleep pants. Pulling off her hoodie, she tossed it back onto their bed before flopping onto the camper’s small couch in just her black white beater. Tango and Cash, their tails wagging, trotted over to join her, curling up at her feet.  

Sadie untied her wavy brown hair from the messy bun that rested on top of her head and it fell down past her shoulders. She hadn’t had it cut since before she met Nathan, and he had not complained about the length, so she let it grow. When she first jogged to his cabin, it barely reached her shoulder. Now, it could almost cover her breasts in the shower.

She moved her eyes over to him as he grabbed two beers from the case on the counter and handed one to her, settling in beside her on the couch. He too had really let himself go since they met, so to speak. She remembered his short buzzed dishwater blonde head and weeks worth of stubble when she first laid eyes on him back at his cabin in Cedar Point. Now his hair, which got darker as it grew, hung down almost to his lips if he didn’t smooth it back. His beard too had grown out an inch or too also, and to Sadie’s own surprise, she loved it. 

She often joked with him that if he shaved the sides of his head, he would look like that guy from the Vikings show. He always just hushed her and referred to her as that chick from Shameless, and in turn, she would shove him back. It always ended up in a tickle match which resulted in a loss of clothes and a loss of breath.  

The tension from earlier faded as they clinked bottles and turned on some music. Outside, the hum of the truck stop continued, but inside the camper, they were in their own little world. For now, that was all that mattered. 

Chapter 3

“Moon’s Over My Hammy”

The morning air inside the camper was bitterly cold enough to make Nathan stir awake with a groggy shiver. His first thought was of Sadie, her warm, soft body curled against his beneath the tangled mess of their blanket. His arm was draped over her waist and her back pressed against his chest. She shifted slightly, pulling the blanket tighter around them. Even in her sleep, she sought the warmth they shared. Their bodies were the only thing keeping the biting cold at bay.

Nathan exhaled, watching his breath mist in the faint light seeping through the frosted window. “God dammit,” he thought, realizing he’d forgotten to turn on the heater the night before. But, to be fair, he’d had more important things on his mind. Like how playful Sadie got after they had a few beers. 

The memory of her playful resistance flashed through his mind, and he smirked to himself. She hadn’t made it easy, but then again, nothing about Sadie ever was. It was one of the many reasons he liked her so much. 

Nathan shifted slightly, brushing a strand of hair from her face, careful not to wake her. The tip of her nose was pink from the cold, and she buried herself deeper into him with a soft, contented sigh. His chest tightened, not from the cold, but from something he wasn’t ready to put into words yet.

The camper was eerily quiet, save for the soft breathing of the dogs up front. Nathan tilted his head just enough to catch sight of them—Tango and Cash curled into a single heap of fur on the bench seat near the window. They looked reluctant to stir with their bodies pressed together as if trying to melt into one. Their breath fogged up the glass, leaving smudged little trails on the surface.

Sadie stirred against him and her hand slipped from under the blanket to rub her eyes. She blinked a few times and her nose scrunched up as the cold hit her. “Holy shit,” she murmured, her voice rough with sleep. “Why is it so Goddamn cold?”

Nathan chuckled, his voice low and husky. “I think I forgot to turn on the heater.”

“You think?” She twisted around to glare at him, her messy hair framing her face in wild waves. “We’re one step away from becoming a Discovery Channel special about campers frozen alive.”

“Hey, at least we’re conserving propane,” Nathan teased, pulling her back against him before she could fully sit up. “And look, we didn’t freeze. We’re fine.”

“We’re not fine. I can see my breath, Nathan. That’s not fine.” She wriggled in his grip but didn’t actually try to get away, the warmth of his body too tempting to leave. 

“Well,” he said, grinning against her shoulder, “I’ll just have to keep you warm, won’t I?”

She groaned, her breath fogging the air as she muttered, “You did plenty of that last night Captain. Get my clothes before I die. Please.” She said that last word in a teasingly, begging manner.

“Yeah yeah. Let me just get my courage up as something else goes down.” 

Sadie smirked, rolling her eyes, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she let herself relax against him again, their bodies fitting together in a way that made the cold seem almost bearable. The world outside the camper could wait—at least for a little while longer. 

Nathan groaned as Sadie nudged her elbow back against him. “Come on, Come on. I’m still freezing and I’m sure the dogs are cold too.”

“All right, all right,” he muttered, his voice raspy with discontent. “I’m getting up.”

“Good,” Sadie grumbled without moving. “I’m not leaving this bed until it feels like less of an icebox in here.”

Nathan chuckled as he sat up, goosebumps rising on his arms and chest. He reached for his clothes, yanking them on with a speed born of desperation, hopping slightly as he tried to pull on his jeans without fully exposing himself to the frigid air. Once dressed, he looked down at her, snuggled deep into the blankets.

“I figured we might as well just get dressed and head out. No sense in wasting all that time starting the heater up if we are just heading back out of the room.”

“Ugh.” Sadie pulled the blanket over her head and groaned. “Fine. Get me my clothes then so I don’t have to get out from under here.”

Nathan reached for Sadie’s pile of clothes, tossing them toward her but not before purposefully letting them land just far enough away that she’d have to stretch to grab them.

“Oops,” he said with a mischievous grin, watching as she shot him a glare, her eyes narrowing as she realized his game.

“You’re an ass,” she muttered, sitting up and yanking the blanket around her shoulders. She reached for her clothes, and Nathan didn’t even bother to hide his smirk as the blanket slipped just enough to give him a glimpse of her bare shoulder and the curve of her back.

“Don’t look so smug,” Sadie said as she caught him looking at her before he turned toward the kitchenette. He grabbed the dogs’ bowls and poured in kibble. The sound of dry food hitting metal roused Tango and Cash from their huddled sleep. They stretched and trotted over with their butts wagging as they dug into breakfast with enthusiasm.

Sadie muttered something about Nathan being a teenage boy under her breath as she got dressed, shooting Nathan a mock glare when she caught him sneaking another glance. Once clothed, she grabbed her coat and shoved her feet into her boots, letting out a low groan. “It’s colder in here than it was outside last night.”

Nathan opened the door and ushered the dogs outside, watching as they bounded into the open space near the camper. Cash barked once before sniffing the frosted grass while Tango eagerly ran circles with  his breath steaming in the cold morning air.

Sadie leaned against the doorframe, tugging her coat tighter. “I forgot how much winter mornings in Ohio suck balls. Remind me to never let you forget the heater again.”

“Noted,” Nathan said, stepping back inside after ensuring the dogs wouldn’t wander too far. He rubbed his hands together and glanced at her. “How about we grab breakfast at the truck stop before heading to your family’s farm? Warm food, hot coffee—might make you less grumpy.”

“I’m not grumpy,” Sadie shot back, her lips twitching into a faint smile. “But… hot coffee does sound good. And maybe some pancakes.”

“That’s the spirit.” Nathan whistled, calling Tango and Cash back to the camper. The dogs quickly run to the back of the camper and curl up in the warmth of Sadie and Nathan’s bed. Nathan locks the door to the camper before lacing his arm through Sadie’s as their feet crunch on the frozen gravel while crossing the lot to the Flying J’s restaurant.

“Oh, Denny’s. How fancy!” Sadie exclaimed with mock excitement.

“What’s wrong with Denny’s?” Nathan asked honestly. 

“Moons over my fucking hammy? Really?” She laughs.

“I’ll moon over your hammy. Again!” Nathan tries to joke, but it falls flat. Sadie just rolls her eyes at him with a smile as they enter the truck stop. 

The truck stop’s warmth hit them like a wall as they stepped inside, the smell of coffee and grease heavy in the air. Sadie let out a sigh of relief, stamping her boots on the mat to shake off the cold. Nathan followed behind her, his sharp eyes sweeping the room out of habit.

An older waitress with a kind but tired face greeted them. “Two for breakfast? Do you want a booth or a table?”

“Booth, please,” Sadie answered, flashing a polite smile.

The waitress grabbed a couple of menus from the counter and led them to a booth in the corner. The vinyl seats were cracked, but the spot was tucked away enough to give them a bit of privacy. Nathan slid in first, positioning himself with a clear view of the room, while Sadie sat across from him, her hands rubbing together for warmth.

The waitress set down their menus and gave them a smile. “Coffee to start?”

“Yes, please,” Sadie said, glancing up. “And lots of it.”

“Yes ma’am,” Nathan nodded.

The waitress shuffled off to grab their drinks, and Sadie opened her menu, her eyes scanning the offerings. “I don’t know why I bother looking. It’s gonna be pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Every time.”

Nathan smiled, but his gaze flicked toward the far end of the room where a pair of truckers were seated at the counter. His muscles tensed as he noticed the men watching Sadie, and they weren’t being subtle. Their eyes fixed on her with a predatory interest that made his blood boil. One of them leaned over to say something to the other, both laughing low and gruff.

“Hey,” Nathan said, his voice dropping. “Are those assholes from last night?”

Sadie glanced up, following his line of sight. Her face tightened for a moment before she plastered on a calm expression and reached across the table to touch his hand. “Yeah. Let it go,” she said softly.

“They’re staring at you,” Nathan muttered, his jaw clenching. His fingers flexed against the table, itching to do something about it.

“And if you make a scene, it’ll just give them what they want,” Sadie replied, her tone even. She squeezed his hand. “I’m a big girl. You don’t need to fight my battles for me.”

Nathan took a deep breath, his eyes darting back to the truckers. He didn’t like it, but she was right. Causing a commotion here wouldn’t help anything. “Fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “But if they start anything…”

“They won’t,” Sadie cut him off. “Just focus on breakfast. Let sleeping dogs lie.”

The waitress returned with two steaming mugs of coffee, setting them down with a smile. “You two decide what you want?”

“I’ll have the pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bacon,” Sadie said, closing her menu. “And extra syrup, please.”

Nathan barely glanced at his menu before ordering. “Biscuits and Gravy, please. With a side of sausage patties.”

The waitress nodded, collecting their menus before retreating back toward the kitchen. Sadie took a sip of her coffee, her eyes meeting Nathan’s over the rim of her cup.

“Relax,” she said, her voice softer now. “They’re just idiots with too much time on their hands. They live on the road and only talk to people on C.B.s or when they are picking up a trailer. They’re antisocial as fuck and usually have to pay for sex. You gotta pity them. ”

Nathan grunted, not entirely convinced, but he forced himself to focus on the meal ahead. The last thing Sadie needed was him making a scene. For the rest of their breakfast, he kept his attention on her, letting her jokes and banter ease the tension in his shoulders. The truckers didn’t approach, and by the time they were finishing up, it seemed they’d lost interest entirely.

Nathan left a generous tip, more out of gratitude to the waitress for her no-nonsense attitude than anything else, and they made their way back out to the camper. He stayed close to Sadie’s side, his protective instincts still on high alert, but she seemed unbothered, humming a tune as they walked.

When they got back to the camper Nathan wrangled up the dogs and got them back inside the SUV for safety reasons. Once everyone was inside the 4Runner with the heater running and the radio softly playing, Sadie turned to Nathan.

“I know that must have been tough for you back there, not kicking those guys asses.” she said, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek. “But you did great, and I’m proud of how you are growing. You’re not the same asshole you were five years ago, Nathan. You’re better than that now.”

Nathan  smiled softly to her and started the engine, the familiar rumble settling his nerves. Sometimes, it was just that little bit of acknowledgment that made everything better. As Nathan guided the 4Runner onto the highway, the truck stop fading into the distance and he glanced over at Sadie. She was fiddling with the radio, flipping through static-filled stations until she settled on one playing an old country tune. The sunlight streamed through the windshield, catching the faint smile on her lips as she stared out at the open road.

“Are you ready for this?” Nathan asked, breaking the comfortable silence. His tone was light, but there was a weight beneath the words.

Sadie turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow. “Ready for what?”

“In about four hours, we’re gonna pull up to your family’s farm,” he said, his eyes briefly flicking her way before returning to the road. “You ready for that? Being back home?”

She leaned her head back against the seat, letting out a long breath. “Ready or not, I guess. But the real question is…” She turned to him, her grin widening. “Are you ready?”

Nathan laughed. “I’ve met my girlfriend’s parents before.”

“Oh I’m sure Melissa’s family was so hard to win over!” Sadie said, her tone playful. “My mom is the sweetest woman ever, but Brodie and Brock aren’t exactly subtle when it comes to grilling people. Brodie’s pretty reserved, you might survive him. But Brock? He’s young, dumb, and doesn’t know when to shut up. He’s probably gonna ask you all kinds of embarrassing questions.”

Nathan smirked, his confidence creeping back in. “Embarrassing for me, or for you?”

“Both,” she said, laughing. “Brock doesn’t have a filter. He’ll dig right into whatever dirt he thinks you’re hiding, and Brodie, we’ll he’s taken the role our father left when he passed away. He’ll just sit there silently judging you.”

“Silent judgment I can handle,” Nathan said, gripping the wheel tighter as he adjusted his posture. “I actually prefer silent judgement. Should I be worried?”

Sadie shrugged, her teasing grin softening into something more genuine. “Nah. You’ll be fine. I wouldn’t bring you home if I didn’t think you could handle them.”

“That’s reassuring,” Nathan said dryly, though a small smile tugged at his lips. He reached over and gave her knee a gentle squeeze. “If I win over your family, then you gotta do the dishes for a month.”

Sadie laughed, a light, musical sound that filled the cabin. “Deal. But don’t worry, you’ll probably win them over as soon as they meet Tango and Cash. Dogs are the ultimate icebreakers.”

Nathan chuckled, the tension easing from his shoulders. “Good to know. I’ll just command the boys to give your brothers kisses until they accept me as family.”

Sadie snorted, shaking her head. “Sounds like a plan.  Just try not to get into a fistfight. Brodie’s as quick as you are to get into a fight. His buddy Brandon doesn’t help. They egg each other on until they get in trouble. So if we all go out drinking, or you go out alone with them, please, please, please don’t get into a fight.”

Nathan nodded, his expression turning thoughtful as he glanced at her. “I’ll do my best. It’s not just meeting your brothers, is it? Going home. Does it feel…weird?”

Sadie’s smile dimmed slightly, her gaze returning to the road ahead. “Yeah, a little. It’s been a while since I’ve been back. And after everything with the podcast, it’s hard not to think about all the shit I’ve dug up about other families when I have plenty of my own skeletons at home.”

Nathan reached for her hand, threading his fingers through hers. “You’re not the same person you were back then either, Sadie. You’ve grown as well.”

She squeezed his hand, her smile returning, though it carried a hint of something deeper. Gratitude maybe, or trust. “Thanks, Nathan.”