Page 145 of Unleashed

My heart clenched at the mention of him. I swallowed hard. “He’s, uh, my husband.”

Sally’s eyes lit up with curiosity as she grasped my gloved hand, feeling around for a ring. I gave her a sheepish smile.

“We’re going through a rough patch.”

“Oh, sweetie,” she sighed, her expression softening. “It comes with the territory. Marriage is hard.”

“Don’t I know it,” I muttered. My gaze shifted around the room, searching for anything to focus on besides the gnawing feeling in my chest. “Where’s Nick?”

“In the diner, as usual. You know him—can’t resist his morning routine.” She paused, her tone playful. “So, what’s the plan? Just stopping by for a hello, or are you staying?”

“I haven’t decided yet,” I admitted.

“Well, maybe this will help you make up your mind.” She motioned toward the television behind the counter. A news report flashed on the screen, and Sally turned up the volume just as the reporter warned of a spring storm barreling in, set to dump several inches of snow by morning.

I groaned, rubbing a hand over my face. “Shit, shit, shit. I thought we were done with this stuff.”

Sally smirked. “So… does that mean you’re staying?”

“Hell, yes, I’m staying. I’m not getting caught in that mess. Remember those hikers who nearly froze to death one spring?”

Sally’s face turned serious. “Danny and Bonnie Archer. They come by every summer now. I guess they learned their lesson.”

“Yeah, I’m not making that mistake. Do you have any rooms?”

“A few,” she said, glancing at her reservation book. “But I bet they’ll be gone by this afternoon. One or two nights?”

“Better give me two. Looks like the storm will pass, and the snow should melt quick enough.”

“But it’ll make the trail muddy and slippery,” she warned, her eyes narrowing.

I waved her off with a tired smile. “Been through worse.”

“Just be careful, okay?”

She busied herself with the paperwork, setting me up for two nights, then handed me the room key. “Need anything else?”

“Actually, do you have any antibiotic cream in the store? I’ve got a nasty blister.”

Sally winced in sympathy. “Oh, no. How’d that happen? I thought those boots were broken in?”

“They are. It’s a mystery.”

She tapped her chin for a moment, then her eyes lit up. “I’ve got something better than that. Wait right here.” With a wink, she disappeared into the back.

As I waited, the bell above the door chimed, and I turned to see Paul and Darla walk in. Paul’s familiar grin widened when he saw me.

“Well, look who beat us here! You staying, Morgan?”

“Looks like it,” I said with a sigh. “Storm’s rolling in, and I’m not stupid enough to trek through that.”

“Same here,” Paul agreed, glancing out the window at the gray sky. “One or two nights?”

“Two,” I replied. “Maybe we can grab a meal together?”

Darla smiled. “That’d be nice.”

Just then, Sally reappeared, holding a small white container with a screw-on lid. She handed it to me, her eyes twinkling with pride. “Here. That’s an old family secret. It’ll heal that blister right quick.”

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