Page 48 of Huckleberry Hill
“There are other things to do here,” I protested.
“Like what?”
“It might be time I let Muddy teach me how to crochet.”
“Stop. Please stop. You just aged thirty years in once sentence.”
“I’m going to the Copper Mule with Gracie.”
“Great, when? Tonight?”
“No. In a few days. Her in-laws are watching the baby and Cole is working.”
She was silent for a moment and then she said quietly, “Are you ready to talk about it?”
I swallowed. “No.”
“I’m the one who buries stuff she doesn’t want to talk about—not you.”
I once again thought of my earlier conversation with Declan.
“Salem, I gotta go,” I said.
“Go? Go where?”
“None of your beeswax.”
“I want details!”
“There won’t be any details,” I said with a laugh. “Bye.”
I hung up and tossed my phone aside.
Muddy and Dad were in the sitting room with the TV on. I felt like I was sneaking out, and I had a moment of teenager flashback. I grabbed my coat from the hook and put it on and then slid into a pair of comfortable outdoor slippers before quietly closing the front door behind me.
I was halfway to Declan’s cabin when I realized I’d forgotten the bear spray. I picked up my speed and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the front porch of the cabin lit up and Declan sitting in a chair, nursing a beer.
“Hey,” I greeted. “Sorry to interrupt your night.”
He looked at me and smiled. “You’re not interrupting. You want a beer?”
“Oh.” I paused for a moment. “Sure.”
“Sit,” he said, rising. “I’ll grab a beer and the other chair.”
I headed up the porch steps and didn’t protest. I settled into the seat and hunched lower in my coat.
Declan came back outside and handed me a beer in a koozie and then went to grab the other chair at the end of the porch.
“Cheers.” He clinked his bottle neck beer against mine and then sat down.
“Thanks for this,” I said and took a sip. “Oh, that’s good. What is it?”
“A huckleberry microbrew.”
I laughed. “Stop.”
“Seriously.” He grinned. “Gotta love the grocery store in town. They only have local beer. Can it even be called a grocery store? It’s got like eight aisles. Can you even buy sandwich meat there?”
