Page 13 of Desert Angel

She nodded and led the way to the store. As he shopped for the pants and shirts to replace those he’d lost in the fire, she located the manager of the store and chatted about the soap and lotion sales numbers.

“They’re really taking off this year,” said Phyllis, the manager. “I think the I-10 travelers are spreading the word.”

“Great. Do you need any more? I’ll have the regular order ready next month, but I might be able to bring more if you need them.”

“I’d love a few of the lavender lotion and soap sets. They seem to be our best sellers. If you have any other scents, let me know too. I had a couple of ladies ask for other scents last week.”

Nikki frowned, “Did they want something in particular?”

Phyllis shook her head. “I think they were buying presents and wanted some variety.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Nikki said as Dylan approached them. She introduced him and watched Phyllis’s face break into a sly grin as she surveyed the couple. Anxious to set the woman straight, Nikki started to explain that Dylan was there to help her out when he put an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “I’m glad to meet you, Phyllis. I have to say, I’ve been smelling Nikki’s products all week. She’s got a fresh batch curing right now and the whole house is full of the scent.”

Phyllis twittered a laugh. “I can imagine. Nikki is so talented, what with her lotions and soaps. And she does so much for the church here in Lordsburg.”

“Really?” Dylan said, shifting his weight as if settling in for a long conversation.

“Oh yes,” Phyllis said. “She helps out with the Christmas program every year, even takes on the kids if no one else will. And she’s always working on doing more for the illegals. Food distribution, taking up donations of clothes to take to the border station. And even goes out and leaves water for the illegals.” She shook her head at Nikki. “And in the middle of the night. I don’t know where she gets the courage, to go out in the desert by herself.”

“By herself,” Dylan just repeated the words but Nikki heard the encouragement to continue in his voice.

“I know! As if the illegals might not hurt her. And in that old truck of hers. Freddy at the garage told me the other week that he had to replace the shocks in that thing every year from her going out so much. You know if you drive off the roads, it’ll destroy your shocks like that.” She snapped her fingers in front of Nikki, almost taking her nose off.

“You think she should stop?” Dylan asked, his arm still around Nikki. She knew he could feel her tense but he didn’t respond other than with a tightening of his hand.

“I’d like her to, but she won’t. You know Nikki. She’ll keep on watering those illegals, giving them clothes and stuff. It’s who she is, and we have to love her for it.” Phyllis glanced over their shoulders and smiled. “I need to get to work but if you come up with another scent let me know, Nikki. I’m sure we can sell it.”

She sidestepped around them and headed for a customer who was holding up a tan jacket. Dylan looked at Nikki and waited. When she didn’t say anything he asked. “I thought you weren’t that involved in the charity work here in town.”

She shrugged. “The clothing drive didn’t take off. I was the only one collecting things so I discontinued it with the church. Now, if I come across things that can be used in a shelter I just take it to Douglas or Albuquerque.”

“And the food distribution?” he pressed, his tone even but his eyes sparkling with what she was sure was irritation.

“We take up food twice a year. The distribution is done through a community organization. I haven’t been able to help with that because of the ranch work.” She looked up at him with some irritation of her own. “I didn’t think of the food or clothing things because they aren’t regular occurrences, Dylan. They’re just odd things that crop up. If that’s an issue, I’ve also donated old books that I had, and I gave some of Grandad’s old railroad memorabilia to the local museum. I work picking up trash on the side of the road with a youth group four times a year. I volunteer. I like doing things!”

She finished in a near shout, drawing attention to them. Dylan held her gaze for a minute then shifted the clothes in his arms and said, “I need to check out. Then we’re trying out the café again. I saw some milkshakes.”

She sighed and trailed after him, already regretting her outburst. But how was she supposed to remember all of the things she did in town? She enjoyed helping, she enjoyed doing things to keep the small town thriving and in good shape. And she enjoyed interacting with something other than her goats, chickens, and burros occasionally.

Dylan had his milkshake and she had a soda at the café. He chatted easily with the proprietor, talking about his memories of a certain ice cream he’d had in the South. When the owner agreed to try to replicate the chocolate malted dessert, Nikki decided Dylan had some sort of special gift at drawing people in. He’d charmed his way through the town, both men and women. But could he find the person threatening her?

Their last stop was at the hardware store. This one, in contrast to that of Animas, was three times larger and had more to choose from. Dylan went straight for the rental counter where he talked about renting a bucket tractor. Nikki quickly assured him she had a small one but he ignored her and chatted to the clerk instead. “You know, we had a fire set and we need to clean up the place.”

“Really?” The middle-aged man eyed Nikki and said. “I heard there was a fire out past Animas but I hadn’t heard where it was. You okay, Nikki?”

She nodded, “It was my hand house.”

“Didn’t get to your main house or anything did it?” He seemed concerned, which touched Nikki.

“No, we got to it in time.”

“Good thing, too,” Dylan said in deep tones. “A wind could have sent it to the house easy enough.”

“Yeah,” the clerk said and then cleared his throat. “Glad you got it in time. Let me see if I have one of the tractors you want.” He turned his back and headed to a counter a few feet away. Nikki turned to Dylan and said in a low voice. “I have a tractor that we can use, Dylan.”

“I know, I saw it in the equipment building,” he averred. “But I needed a reason to talk to him. What’s his name, Nikki?”

“Mark Williams.” She said with a frown. “Why?”

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