Page 3 of Snow River

Maybe some people might side-eye talking to a fish, but Lila didn’t mind talking to any living being, and even the occasional rock or mountain.Everything had an energy, and she felt that energy, and liked to engage with it.So what if it wasn’t a two-way exchange?And maybe it was, who knew?

The farther she got from Firelight Ridge, the sadder she felt.She was going to miss everyone, from the retired miners who hung out at The Fang to her friends who had followed her to Alaska.

Most of all…

No, she couldn’t think about Bear.That would make it too hard to leave.Bear was like a guardian angel and a thirst trap rolled into one.Sometimes she caught herself staring at him while he did something innocuous like wiping off the bar counter.She’d realize that her mouth was open and her lower belly was fluttering and she’d completely forgotten whatever it was she’d been doing.

But Bear had never given any hint that he saw her as anything but his employee.Which was a relief, really.So many bosses or managers had made passes at her throughout her checkered employment history.That was one of the reasons she’d left so many jobs.She couldn’t tolerate that sort of energy around her—always watching her back, guarding her smiles, making sure she wasn’t “flirting.”Co-workers always told her to “block it out,” but she didn’t have that ability.

Bear…I’m sorry.I wish I could explain.But where would I start?

Her hand shook as she set her Thermos of coffee between her thighs so she could unscrew it.Bear didn’t know about her weird intuitive streak.No one in Firelight Ridge did except for her friends, and they’d been sworn to secrecy.She’d loved being able to start fresh in a place where she didn’t sense things quite so intensely.

Well, until the other night.

The sky was turning pink and the morning light haloed the treetops on the eastern side of the road.Up ahead, the road changed.It was about to widen out into an overlook.There was a turnout up there where you could park and take pictures of Snow River and its braided channels and shifting gravel bars.That overlook marked the end of the Firelight Ridge road.A few miles beyond, there was Kursk, where the paved road began.After that, Blackbear, and beyond that, the rest of Alaska.

In other words, after that overlook, her Firelight Ridge adventure would be over.

Tears sprang to her eyes.With her vision blurring, she swung the steering-wheel to the right and brought the old Saab to an abrupt stop facing Snow River.The sun was rising to the east, over mountains that traced sharp bright edges against the sky.The river flowed from the ice fields all the way to the Gulf of Alaska.Along the way, it branched into various streams and offshoots, one of which flowed through the town of Firelight Ridge.

Snow River said goodbye to Firelight Ridge all the time.And it also said hello.Lucky Snow River.

For long moments, Lila watched the sunrise light sparkle on the river’s surface, turning the water shades of silver, purple and even emerald green.Goodbye, Snow River.Goodbye, Firelight Ridge.Goodbye, hardware store.Goodbye, Fang.

She let out a long breath.Time to go.She could do this.She was used to leaving things and people and places.So many times, she’d had to do this exact same thing, leaving before she was ready, because an overwhelming feeling told her she had to.

Her hands were resting on the steering wheel, but when she tried to move her right hand to turn the key in the ignition, it wouldn’t go.It simply would not budge.

Come on, she urged it.You can do this.Let’s get on the road.

Finally, her hand inched off the wheel and settled on the key.It felt like dragging her hand through concrete sludge.I don’t want to leave.I can’t leave.

Winning the battle, she finally managed to turn the key.The engine sputtered to life, then promptly died.She tried it again.This time it didn’t respond at all.Dead.

She looked at the gas indicator.It had read over halfway full when she left Firelight Ridge.But as she watched, it glitched and dropped like a stone all the way to empty.Faulty gauge.Great.What were the chances that an old beater car that had been sitting around Gunnar’s lot would have issues?She should have seen that coming.

Now what?

Sinking back in her seat, she unscrewed the lid of her Thermos.She took a long sip of coffee.Someone would pass by soon enough.Maybe they’d have a spare gas can in the back of their truck.Maybe they could give her a lift to Kursk, where there was a gas station.People around here helped each other out; that was how they survived.Maybe somewhere else she’d be freaked out by running out of gas.But not here.

Her eyelids felt heavy.She hadn’t been sleeping well ever since that dream, and she’d gotten up early to hit the road.Before she knew it, she was dozing off.It felt like stepping onto a piece of driftwood being carried downriver.So soothing.So sweet.So dreamy.

A tap on her window had her jolting awake.Her eyes opened to see it was broad daylight, perhaps even afternoon.Had she really slept that long?Her Thermos lay sideways in her lap.Fortunately, she’d tightened the lid before drifting off.Her neck was cramped.She winced as she turned to see who had appeared to rescue her.

Of course it would be Bear.

3

Bear Davis hopedthat none of the stormy emotions churning through his heart showed on his face.His sister used to joke that he had two expressions, blank and scowly.“Scowly” came in handy when it was time to boot rowdy customers out of the bar.But he tried to keep it to a minimum in most other circumstances.

With Lila, it was different.With her, he didn’t worry about scaring her away.She’d never once shown any fear or wariness of him.For someone who’d been large and intimidating since the age of twelve, that was unusual.

Then again, so was she.

She rolled down her window and shone her sunny smile at him.“Hi Bear.What are you doing all the way out here?”

Lila’s friend Ani had tipped him off that Lila might be in trouble, based on her cleaning frenzy over the past few days.Should he tell her that he’d raced a speedboat across Smoky Lake, then hopped on a four-wheeler, then jumped in his truck and most likely ruined his struts so he could catch her?

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