Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 97287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
“Hey, buddy,” I say to Bjorn. “This is a dangerous journey we’re about to take. Better keep your seat belt on and hold on to Laila so that you don’t lose her. I’m counting on you to be the man back there.”
I’m hoping that will trick him into behaving.
Bjorn just glares at me.
I look at Ella, hoping I wasn’t stepping on any toes. She’s staring at me in utter amusement.
“He does know English, right?” I ask her.
She nods, suppressing a smile.
“Yes, I know English!” Bjorn shouts from the back.
Ah, the kid speaks.
I clear my throat, feeling stupid, then start driving.
The first part of the journey is fairly easy, following a trail that was obviously cleared earlier in the day. I have to wonder at how much power Prince Magnus has at his fingertips to just command something like this, clearing half a mountain, on a whim, because that man only operates on a whim.
But then the trail gets narrower, the snow higher, and even though driving the ATV is fairly easy to get the hang of, I’m still finding it challenging. I keep glancing at Ella and Laila every minute, asking if they’re okay. I think at one point Ella actually wants to take over for me.
Finally we get clear of the pine forest and emerge into the open mountainside, the mountain opening up in front of us, rounded peaks stacked on top of each other, the white sky beyond. Up here the snow is fresh powder, but when it seems like the ATV is about to sink, Magnus and Einar come to a stop.
“We’re here,” Ella says.
“Yay!” Bjorn yells, and I look behind me to see Bjorn unbuckling and launching himself into the snow. “Uff da!”
Everyone laughs, the kid’s joy infectious.
Then comes the hard part of the unloading and bringing our stuff up to the cabin, which is still a short walk away. It takes us forever, especially with the snow up to our knees, but eventually we get to the infamous kikut.
It’s a quaint little cabin, with a smaller, newer cabin beside it, nestled amid a patch of trees. There’s a path of sorts connecting the cabins and the outhouse as well, and though I shudder at the thought of using it in these temperatures, I have to remind myself that if the Crown Prince of Norway can, and does, use it, then I can use it too.
“Don’t worry,” Magnus says to me, obviously catching my gaze. “We’ve installed a heater in there. Nicest outhouse you’ll ever be in. It used to be over there, hanging off the edge,” he says, pointing past the cabins, where the ridge drops away. “You could just shit right out onto the rabbits. It was magical.”
Ottar brushes past me, carrying a suitcase. “It was not magical,” he whispers to me as he goes.
Magnus, Ella, and the boys end up taking the new addition, so all of the help is in the main cabin.
And when I step inside the cabin, I realize “main” cabin is a bit of a stretch. It’s very quaint and homey, smelling of cedar and woodsmoke, but it’s very small. I have no idea where we’re all going to go.
“Who sleeps where?” I ask, eyeing the lot of us.
“Well,” Lady Jane says, “there will be some sharing. Ottar and Einar are up in the loft.” She points at the narrow wood ladder leading up. “I’m taking the bedroom. Which leaves you and Laila on the sofa bed.”
“Uh,” Laila says, raising her hand. “Not to be intrusive, but why can’t I share a bed with you?” she asks Lady Jane.
Lady Jane just smiles. “Because I don’t like to sleep with someone. I need to sleep alone.”
“Well, I don’t want to sleep with James.”
I manage to hold a million things back. Finally, I say, “You can have the sofa bed, Laila. I’ll take the cushions and sleep on the floor.”
She seems satisfied with that, even though Lady Jane looks a wee bit disappointed.
With the sleeping arrangements all settled, the royals come back over to the kikut and we start making plans. We’re only staying a night, and our plans thus far are just to drink and eat. Einar and I are officially off duty, since there is nary a person in the area for hundreds of miles, so we’re told to partake in the festivities.
Even so, I know Einar is keeping his wits about him.
I do the same, knowing that even though this is technically Magnus’s home too, I should still be on guard.
But that one beer turns into another beer. And then while the boys are upstairs in the loft, playing Go Fish, the adults start playing drinking games. Prosecco is popped. In the kitchen, Ella whips up Christmas cocktails with cranberries, while Lady Jane makes everyone bangers and mash for dinner. Laila puts on Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas music. At one point Ottar and Magnus start dancing to “Jingle Bell Rock.”