Blog Tour Review: Under Northern Lights

Extract

“Wow.” It was all I could think to say when Nova took her hands away from my eyes.

She came up beside me, beaming with pride. Her chest was poked out like a strutting peacock on full parade. “Not bad, huh?”

“How did you…?”

“Friends in high place, Benton. And since you’ve never witnessed the aurora borealis before, I figured we’d make it an experience you won’t soon forget,” she said, putting her arm through mine and leading me over to the yurt.

It was made for two people. Big enough to hold a platform bed, rustic-looking shelves, and a wood chest that turned out to be a cooler stocked with food and drinks. Windows were set on either side of the door facing the open expanse of the sky. Whoever had set the yurt up knew what they were doing. The location couldn’t have been more perfect.

“Is that a bear skin?” I asked, ruffling my fingers against the rough texture of the blanket covering the bed.

Nova wandered around the room lighting a few candles set in colorful jars, deep enough that if they were knocked over, the candle would go out before the flame could catch the place on fire. She looked over her shoulder and glanced at the bed. “Don’t know. Smell it.”

“Smell it?”

“I hope there are other blankets under that one,” she said, crossing the room and running her hand with briskness over the fur. “Real.”

“How do you know that? You didn’t smell it,” I said.

“Native. I know these things,” she answered, flipping back the fur and sighing with something like relief as she said, “Sheets. That’s good. The fur will keep us warm, but it’s itchy.

“So, Native Nova, what time does the light show start?” I asked, winking at her when she flicked an irritated look at me.

“Soon. There’s a box in the back of the truck; can you go get it?” she asked.

I brought it in, setting it on the small table just on the other side of the window opposite the bed. Nova walked over with a folded blanket in her arms, handed it off to me, and flipped the box lid open.

“Is that a .357?” I asked, peering over her shoulder.

“Yeah, it’s Noni’s,” she answered, stowing the gun into its holster after checking to make sure it was loaded and the safety was on.

“I guess that covers us, somewhat, for protection,” I said, wishing for a rifle instead.

Nova giggled.

“What?” I asked.

She blushed.

“Oh… Oh!” I hadn’t thought about it at all. Not even once. And me, a doctor, too. Although in my defense, my particular set of medical skills ran more toward patching a person up in the field, followed up by surgery if needed.

I’d allowed myself to be reckless with Nova, and with myself as well. I was sure all my thoughts were broadcasted on my face, because I wasn’t trying to hide the varying emotions kicking me in the gut.

She nudged me. “I’ve got us covered, Eli.” She tossed me a pair of earmuffs, not the kind used at a range, but a pair covered in the softest fur.

“Nova, that’s not—”

“I know,” she interrupted. “I have us covered on that, too.”