Page 12 of The Fixer and the Fugitive

“You’re stronger than you look,” he replied.

“Next time I’ll sweep you into my arms, pull out all the stops,” she promised.

He snorted a laugh that ended on a wince. Celeste regarded him, out of ideas on what to do next. The day stretched endlessly before her, awkward in the extreme with this stranger invadingwhat she had come to think of as her own private oasis. “I should probably go to town for more supplies.” There was no need to tell him she had just gone to town yesterday and vowed not to do so again for a long, long time. Plus with him eating her meager stores, she actually did need more food.

He gave a curt nod in reply. The beads of sweat on his upper lip told her he was probably in a fare amount of pain.

“What can I get you? Besides pain reliever, of course.” How did she not have any on hand?Because I didn’t think of it.She wasn’t even good at taking care of herself, let alone others.

“Nothing comes to mind,” he said between gritted teeth.

“Unfortunately I haven’t had a landline put in and I’ll be taking my cell with me. I don’t suppose you have a phone.”

“It didn’t survive the journey,” he said.

Journey from where?She wanted to ask but didn’t. The less she knew, the better. Soon enough he would be on his way. She didn’t want to have to wonder about him when he was gone. Not that she was in danger of becoming attached. It seemed to be one more thing that was deficient about her, the inability to form lasting relationships with others, save The Colonel who had more than earned her trust and loyalty.

“I’ll be fine,” he added, making her realize she was staring at him as she thought about her dismal life.

Without a word, she spun, grabbed her keys, and headed to her truck. Unlike yesterday, going to town now felt like a reprieve. Maybe today would be better. Maybe yesterday they had all gotten their fill of staring at the new girl like she was a freak. Whatever the case, she absolutely could not let on that she now had a houseguest. That was a way to get them both killed. Word would get out and then every assassin in the known universe would come calling. Celeste really didn’t want to have to spend the beginning of her retirement dispatching unwanted annoyances and dodging their bullets in return.

Then again, it would be a handy way to fill days that were already long and empty, a good way to distract a mind that wanted to do anything but heal.

Pushing away thoughts and feelings again, she focused on the looming town, on Paradise.

Chapter 10

“Back again? That’s quick.”

The speaker this time was Minnie, the pint-size woman who ran the gas station. Celeste usually liked her for her plainspoken, no-nonsense demeanor. Except, it seemed, when her insights applied to Celeste herself.

“Needed some things, things I forgot,” Celeste said.

Minnie eyed her with x-ray vision. Celeste tried not to squirm. Did she know about Sam? Had word already gotten around? Exactly how fast was the gossip mill in this place?

“For the storm?” Minnie asked.

Celeste blinked at her. “Storm?”

Minnie tsk’d, so fast Celeste almost missed it. A lot was said in that tsk.Newbies, outsiders, young people. Fools, all of them.“There’s a storm coming.”

“But it’s perfectly dry and warm and almost March.” Celeste had heard about Montana’s notorious winters, of course. But so far her time there had been sunny and dry. She assured herself, with a lot of false hope, that it had all been hype.Maybe the winters aren’t as bad as people say.

“First of all, it’s still winter in Montana. Don’t ever forget, and don’t ever let yourself be unprepared. Second, the weather can turn on a dime.” She snapped her fingers for emphasis. Celeste resisted the urge to shudder, but she did look out the window.It’s completely clear out there,was what she longed to say, mostly because she didn’t want to face a storm.There’s a metaphor for my life in there somewhere.

With a sigh, Minnie reached beneath the counter and handed Celeste a sheet of paper. “We came up with this when Maybe moved to town and have tweaked it a bit since.”

Celeste glanced down and saw a list marked “Winter Provisions.” “Thank you.” She turned to go, but Minnie hailed her back with another sigh, a stern one this time.

“Those aren’t a suggestion, little miss. Start here with kerosene.”

Celeste began to wonder if perhaps the counter was magical because now Minnie produced a yellow plastic fuel container and handed it over.

“All right,” Celeste agreed. She took the canister, went outside, and filled it with kerosene. For once she was thankful for the tab she’d opened with Minnie, the one that meant she didn’t have to go back inside to pay. Not being the sort of person who did well under authority, she wasn’t certain how much more of Minnie’s overbearing condescension she could take in a day.

She capped the fuel and stashed it in the back of her SUV before hopping inside and glancing at the list again. It was immense. Without permission, her gaze turned toward the sparkling blue sky. Not a cloud and the temperature was moderate. She hadn’t even grabbed a coat before she left home. “Do I really need to do this today?” she asked herself.

Eyes bored into hers. A quick peek showed Minnie staring at her through the gas station window, lids lowered like a vigilant hen.

---