Page 6 of Snow River

“Because this is where I’m meant to be at the moment.”She slid off the stool.As her feet hit the floor, she staggered.Like a shot, he whipped his hand across the counter and grabbed her arm to steady her.

“I’m fine.I’m fine.”She shrugged off his hand without quite meeting his eyes.He got the feeling that his touch had unnerved her.

He’d have to make sure he didn’t do that again.There was nothing he despised more than men who touched women without permission.

Not that it was going to be an issue, because he was unlikely to see her again.There was no way she’d find a place to stay this time of year.

“Do you mind if I leave my suitcases here while I secure lodging?”

“Sure.Just put them in a corner, no one will mess with them.”

“Thank you.A bientôt!That means ‘see you soon’ in French.I did so much Duolingo when I was on the bus in Canada.If you have any French-speaking customers, I can easily communicate with them.Just a little note for my job application.”

After she left, Bear spent a few moments reliving the entire encounter.Then he went into the back prep area and turned on the Wi-Fi.He made a call to Frank Stetson, who served as town manager along with his regular job of machine operator, and a few other jobs.

“That house on Pioneer,” he said when Frank answered.“The old hardware store.Remember back when we used to let people stay in it, teachers and doctors, anyone who had a skill to offer?”

“Sure, but it’s been empty since word got out about the murder spree.No one wants to stay there anymore.”

“If you go down there right now and put a ‘for rent’ sign on the door, you might have someone.”

“They got a name?”

He walked into the bar and nodded to Pinky and Gaston, who had just settled at a table and opened up a travel chessboard.Moving to the corner, he crouched down to read the luggage tags on the two suitcases she’d left behind.“Lila.Lila Romanoff.”

“She a teacher or a doctor?You can vouch for her?”

“I’ll vouch for her.She’ll be good for the town.”

He didn’t know if she had any professional skills along those lines, but he had no doubt that she would be good for the town.If nothing else, she’d be responsible for his new policy of serving soup.

4

Bear still didn’t knowwhy he’d called Frank.He told himself it was because he’d needed a bartender.But that wasn’t the full story, and a guy could only lie to himself for so long.

He’d wanted her to stay.Full stop.He still did.

With the gas tank filled and safely strapped into the bed of his truck, he drove back to the pullout where the Saab was parked.

Damn.She’d gone to the trouble of buying a car from Gunnar, but hadn’t taken the time to tell him why she wanted to leave.He didn’t say a word as he unscrewed the cap of her gas tank and emptied the can into it.Five gallons would get her to Blackbear, where she could fill up again.

He tossed the can back in the bed and wiped his hands on a blue shop towel.Then he tucked his thumbs in the pockets of his jeans and allowed himself to look at Lila, who was leaning against his truck while she tore open a package of powdered donuts she’d bought at the gas station.

“Well.I guess this is it.I heard the road was washed out about five miles past Kursk.Drive careful.These tires are probably over ten years old.”

She cocked her head with a frown, her hand inside the package of donuts, probably collecting powdered sugar.Lila loved her junk food.“Past Kursk?Oh, I’m sorry, didn’t I mention that I’m not going that way?”

He lifted his eyebrows.There was no other way.

“I’m not leaving,” she clarified.“I was going to, but then I just…couldn’t.”

“Because you ran out of gas.”

“No.I have gas now.I just couldn’t leave.It’s—” She stuck a donut in her mouth, as if trying to stop herself from saying more.After brushing off her hand, she opened her car door.“Someone has to make the soup,” she said through a mouthful of crumbs.“Thanks for the rescue.I’ll see you back at The Fang.”

As he watched, still confused, she got in and rolled down the window.“Please don’t read the note I left.”

“If you left me a note, it belongs to me.”

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