Me and Hector

It was so terribly cold, snow was falling and it was almost dark. It wasn't supposed to be that way when Hector and I started our hike. The cold was beginning to bother me, but Hector probably thought it was paradise. For Alaskan Malamutes, the colder the better. Mals are big dogs and Hector was on the large side of big.

Look, Hector is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Mals were bred to pull heavy loads, so brainpower wasn't a requirement, but he is a damn good dog and a better friend. Loyal and affectionate, Hector is the most Zen being I have ever met. Steady as a rock and completely unflappable. Yeah, I know, Hector is a weird name for a dog, much less a Mal. When we first got him five years ago and were trying to decide on a name, we threw all sorts of names his way. He was only eight weeks old and completely ignored every single one until I said, "Hector." He immediately came over to me. Probably a total coincidence, but it stuck.

Maybe you noticed I said, 'We got him.' It's just me now. I'm in my early thirties and a widower. Calli, my wife of eight years, died in a car accident caused by a DUI driver two years ago. Hector and I are still a mess. He was Calli's fur-baby and they were very close. He still sleeps with one of her shirts, so don't tell me that dogs don't grieve.

We started coming out on these long hikes as therapy for both of us. The insurance settlement from her death meant I didn't need to work full-time, which was good since I was in no condition to be working around power lines and transformers. Mostly, Hector and I hung out and when winter came, we took a lot of hikes since he wasn't fond of summer.

The forecast said cold and clear. As usual, the weather person got it wrong. I was dressed for cold and clear, but not for terribly cold and snowing. Hector didn't care in the slightest. It should have been no big deal, right? Just head back to the SUV, but this was a new area for us and my GPS kept looping us in circles until I was completely lost in an area I didn't know. Then the temperature plummeted, the light began to fade, and it started snowing. Not much at first, but it was coming down heavy now. I briefly considered that Hector might find the way back, but he was having the time of his life and had no idea we were lost.

The snow turned the woods into a winter wonderland. If I'd known where we were and it hadn't started getting dark, it might have been beautiful. The snow threw a blanket of quiet over the woods and the bitter cold drove every living thing to shelter.

Every living thing except Hector and I.

I checked my phone again. No service. Worry started sinking in. Hector could curl up and sleep through it until morning if he had to. I didn't have that luxury.

"All right, boy, let's get moving. Let's try this direction," I told him.

We walked maybe fifty feet before Hector stopped, turned, and stared off in a completely different direction.

"Come on, Hector, let's go."

He ignored me. I trudged over to him and crouched down in the deepening snow. "Buddy, we can't stay here. We gotta keep moving."

No reaction, he just continued to stare off. I could see his nose twitching like he was smelling something. On the faint chance that maybe he knew where to go, I gave in.

"Alright, let's try your way."

He walked a short distance, stopped, sniffed again, and then let out a long howl. Mals don't bark much, but they vocalize constantly. Most Mal owners swear they're trying to talk. And like their wolf cousins, they seem driven to howl.

"What is it, boy?" Maybe we weren't the only ones out here

He suddenly took off through the deepening snow. Hector is pure muscle with endless endurance and he could have left me far behind in seconds.

"Hector, stay!" I yelled.

He stopped, thank God, and looked back at me like he'd forgotten I existed.

"Slow down, wait for me."

He gave a short 'haruff' and waited for me to catch up.

Still sniffing, his short ears were turning like little radar dishes as he tracked whatever had caught his attention. I quickly clipped his leash on and we started off again. He pulled like a sled dog hauling freight. Hector had four-wheel drive. I had two long awkward stilts. While he had no problem moving through the snowy woods in the dim light, easily ducking under branches and fallen trees, I had to constantly pull him back while I tried to keep from running headlong into something.

The exercise had warmed me up some, but the temperature kept dropping and my extremities were starting to go numb. The snow was falling even heavier now and darkness was setting in fast. If Hector didn't lead us somewhere soon or if he was wrong, I was going to be in serious trouble.

Maybe a mile later, I smelled smoke. We pushed through a stand of large white pine and Hector suddenly stopped. To my disbelief, a cabin stood in a small clearing ahead.

I stared. Hector had smelled the smoke from a mile away. Maybe heard the fire burning too. I had to be right on top of it before I did. Human senses are pitiful next to dogs.

"Good boy," I said, leaning down to pet him.

At that very moment, he lunged forward, yanking the leash out of my hand and sending me sprawling face-first in the snow.

I pushed myself up to my knees. "Okay, that hurt," I muttered, rubbing my rapidly numbing face.

My normally Zen dog was losing his mind, jumping and prancing on the front porch. He raced back, grabbed my arm, and tried to pull me to the cabin, sending me face-first into the snow again.

"Geez, Hector, back up."

I gingerly got to my feet, staying clear of my suddenly unhinged dog. I followed him to the door. I knocked, no answer, but I could hear the fire crackling. I pushed the handle down. The door opened an inch and Hector hit it like a linebacker, barreling inside and dragging me with him. Stumbling forward, I nearly face-planted for the third time

The cabin was one room, rustic, with mismatched furniture. The kitchen cabinets were barely holding onto the wall. But it was warm. A roaring fire had the place toasty. A very welcome miracle.

And it was empty.

Hector tore around the room, confused and upset that he couldn't find anyone. The backdoor opened and he whipped around. A small figure bundled head to toe came in carrying firewood.

I swear Hector's eyes got as big as saucers. One second, he was beside me, the next he was on his hind legs, paws on the figure's shoulders. Hector wrestled them to the floor as the firewood was sent flying. He shoved his nose into the figure's hood, whimpering and crying.

The figure laughed. Arms went around Hector's neck in a hug.

"My beautiful fur-baby."

I froze solid, as solid as if I had been out in those woods all night. The last time I heard that voice was two years ago when she said she was running to the store and would be back soon.

She untangled herself from Hector and stood. Her hood fell back.

Calli smiled at me.

"Hey," she said softly.

My legs quit on me. I dropped to my hands and knees, hyperventilating. A gloved hand touched my cheek, then helped me to my feet.

"Easy, big boy," Calli said. "Slow breaths."

She hugged me. I couldn't move. My brain was complete mush.

"I've finally lost it," was all I could mutter.

She laughed. "You haven't lost it, sweetie."

"How can this be? I mean, how can this be?" I asked twice because asking it once didn't even scratch the surface.

Calli stepped back, petting Hector while looking me up and down. "You look good."

"Not so good, I've missed you so much. How are you here?"

"We never got a chance to say goodbye. I never got to say goodbye to Hector either. I couldn't leave it like that. And I needed to talk to you."

I was crying. I'm not even sure when I started. Her arms were back around me, her gloved hand wiping the tears from my face.

"We've been struggling, Calli," I said."Both of us. He looks for you every day. He thinks it's you every time a door opens." I hesitated. "So do I."

"I know, it's why I came. I really miss you guys, but I'm okay. Don't worry about me. I want you to be happy, to move on. It's okay to let me go. Keep taking care of one another, okay?"

She pulled my head down and kissed me. She tasted the same, felt the same.

"I love you," I whispered.

"I love you too," she replied. "Very much. Will you do this for me?"

"I don't know if I can. I don't know if I want to."

Smiling, she said, "Don't make me get tough with you."

I was able to finally laugh. "Okay, we'll try."

"Sit down and relax," she said. "I need to talk with Hector. Close your eyes and enjoy the fire."

I sat. The heat rolled over me, heavy and soothing. Drowsiness hit me like a wave. The last thing I saw was Calli on the floor beside Hector, rubbing him behind the ears and talking to him.

I awoke wrapped in a quilt. I looked around in confusion. An older man in a park ranger uniform came into view.

"There you are," he said. "You gave me a scare."

"Where am I?"

"Ranger station. Lucky for you, your dog came here and woke me up. He grabbed my arm and started pulling me. I took the snowmobile and followed him to you. You were pretty hypothermic when I found you."

"We were at a cabin," I said.

He frowned. "Cabin? That wasn't a cabin. It's just an old rundown shack that's been abandoned for at least fifty years. It's barely standing. You were lying face down in the snow outside it."

Suddenly, Hector was there, half climbing on me.

"That's a good dog you have," the ranger said. "He saved your life. What were you doing out there?"

"Hiking. It was supposed to be clear."

He snorted. "Weather people! Nice to have a job where you can be wrong all the time." He gestured at me. "Now just relax, a plow is clearing the way for the ambulance. They should be here soon."

"I don't need an ambulance."

"Yes, you do. Hypothermia is no joke."

"I have to call someone to get Hector."

"I don't think you'll be in the hospital long. He can stay here. He and my husky get along."

A month later, I was fully recovered. The ranger had been right. I had a good case of frostbite and though painful, it didn't result in anything permanent. I was lucky.

It also caused me to rethink calling Hector "not the sharpest knife in the drawer." What he did was incredible.

Look, I have no idea how I ended up like that.I know I saw, talked to, and kissed Calli, but I hear you. How was that even possible? The honest answer is, I don't know. Maybe it happened or maybe it was a hypothermia-induced hallucination. The only one who knows for sure has four legs and doesn't speak human.

I asked him anyway.

Hector gave me his most Zen-like look, but I swear, he was smiling.

Either way, he's different now. He's back to the way he was before Calli died. While he still sleeps with one of her shirts, he doesn't look for her anymore. He's at peace and more Zen than ever

I feel better too. I don't know how it was possible, but I do know this: Calli didn't want us to struggle anymore.

She had given us one last gift.

Thank you, Calli.

Your fur-baby and I love you.

The End