Page 70 of Snow River

After knocking and receiving a cheerful, “Come in, but keep the snow out!”she found Paulina, rosy-cheeked and bright-eyed, painting the sparkling landscape outside her window.Of course she gave it her own whimsical fairytale touch, with an imaginary bear cub perched on the shoulders of a snowman.

Lila presented the elderly artist with a basket of corn muffins she’d made that morning.

“Well, good morning, aren’t you a kind snow angel to drive all the way out here to make sure the old crone isn’t starving in a pile of snow.”

Laughing, Lila kissed her on the cheek.“I should have known this would be your favorite kind of weather.”

“Indeed it is.The snow makes me feel safe.It’s like a layer of insulation between me and that mean old world out there.”

“You really are a hermit at heart, aren’t you?”Lila drew up a footstool next to her easel.

“Aren’t you?We sensitive souls tend to be.”She set down her paintbrush and picked up a muffin.

“No, not at all.My friends are too important to me.”

Just as she’d hoped, Paulina took the bait.“Friends are always a boon.You’re very fortunate.”

That was what Lila wanted to talk about—Paulina’s old friends.But she’d learned by now that she needed to get Paulina to drop her shields before bombarding her with questions.“I agree, especially because Alaska can be such a man’s world.”

“It’s an independent person’s world.Man or woman.But we women relied on each other a lot,” she admitted.“There weren’t very many women out here when I first came.That was before the town grew, and more people built homes out here, and tourists started coming.It was a forgotten frontier town where people had to stick together just to survive.”

“I have it on very good authority that the women here then were very close.”She hoped she didn’t have to say that the authority was a murder victim.

“Well, that is true.We always helped each other, when we could.Especially if someone was in danger or—” She broke off abruptly.There was something here, a third rail she didn’t want to discuss.

Lila had to push.“Like when Allison Casey was killed?That kind of danger?”

Alarm flashed through the older woman’s eyes.“We shouldn’t talk about that.That’s all done with.”

Such an odd way to put it.“That must have been such a terrifying time.Where were you when it happened?”

“At home.Painting.I don’t know anything, I—” She clamped her jaw shut.

Lila set a hand on her arm, feeling it tremble.“Paulina, what are you so afraid of?Is it that man you saw?He’s been dead for years.We found that out when we identified him.”

“I don’t like to talk about it.That boy asked me too, and I warned him to stop.”

That boy?Lila cast around for who that might be.“Do you mean Jim Sutcliff, who did the podcast?”

Paulina scowled at her.Lila realized she was doing a terrible job of getting the woman to drop her defenses.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.Let’s not talk about Allison, may she rest in peace.”

The artist muttered something about “that’s not likely,” then took a bite of her muffin.

“So tell me more about what life was like for you back in those days?What was the dating scene like?”

That got a hoot out of the woman.“‘Dating scene.’That’s a funny way to put it, when it was mostly just find a warm body to get you through the winter.”

“Ooh, sounds juicy.I bet you were a hot ticket.”

“I was a woman, wasn’t I?”A mischievous smile touched her lips.“I had my share of lovers.Men and women.”

“Scandalous.”

“I’m an artist.I don’t put boundaries on my sexuality.”

Lila put up a hand to high-five the older woman.She hadn’t expected the conversation to turn this direction, but if it helped her loosen up, bring it on.“Any names you can share?What about Gwen?”

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