Page 8 of Mountain Protector

“His poor blind date was furious,” Margaret continues with a chuckle. “But when it’s right, it’s right. That’s the magic of this town, you know. Fit Mountain has a way of putting the right people in the right place at the right time.”

I catch Ruby’s eye briefly, and something electric passes between us before she returns her focus to applying the stencil.

“Harold proposed six weeks later,” Margaret says. “Everyone said we were crazy. Too fast, they said. How could we possibly know? But when you know, you know. It happens in an instant and changes everything.”

The words hang in the air, and I suddenly feel too warm in the sunlit shop.

“That’s how you ended up with the butterfly design?” I ask, desperate to focus on something other than the way Ruby’s hair falls across her cheek as she works.

Margaret nods.

“Harold always called me his butterfly. Said I brought color into his world.” She glances at the stencil now transferred to her wrist. “Perfect, Ruby. Just as I imagined.”

As Ruby begins the actual tattooing, Margaret barely flinches. Instead, she launches into more stories about Harold, about growing old together, about the life they built. All the while, I find myself watching Ruby’s face.

I’ve seen a lot of professionals at work in my time. Soldiers, security specialists, even artists. But there’s something about watching Ruby that hits differently. Pride, passion, and precision all wrapped up in a five-foot package of fire and talent.

When the tattoo is complete, Margaret examines her wrist with tears in her eyes.

“It’s perfect,” she whispers. “Harold would have loved it.”

Ruby walks Margaret through aftercare instructions, though I sense they’ve had this conversation before in preparation for today. After Margaret pays, refusing Ruby’s birthday discount offer, she hugs Ruby tightly.

“Thank you, dear. For making an old woman’s dream come true.”

As Margaret gathers her things to leave, she pauses in front of me.

“It was lovely meeting you, Clay. I hope you’re enjoying our little town.”

“Yes, ma’am. It’s been... illuminating.”

She pats my arm, her eyes twinkling. “Sometimes the things we aren’t looking for are exactly what we need to find.”

With that cryptic statement and a knowing smile, she’s gone, the bell chiming as the door closes behind her.

“She’s something else,” I say, my voice sounding too loud in the quiet shop.

Ruby glances up, a small smile playing on her lips.

“Margaret’s one of my favorites. Comes in at least once a month to talk about getting a tattoo. I never thought she’d actually go through with it.”

“Guess turning seventy changes your perspective.”

“Or gives you courage.” Ruby straightens, suddenly aware of how close we’re standing. I can smell her shampoo again, something citrusy and clean. “Kind of amazing to think about, isn’t it? Loving someone for over forty years. Knowing from the first moment.”

I take a step closer to her.

“You believe in that? Love at first sight?”

She shrugs, but doesn’t step back.

“I don’t know. Haven’t experienced it myself. But Margaret and Harold, they were the real deal. And there are a lot of stories like theirs in Cooper Heights. People call it the ‘Fit Mountain Instalove Magic.’”

“So I’ve heard.”

Ruby tilts her head, studying me with an expression I can’t read.

Then suddenly, a loud crash from the back room shatters the moment.

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