Chapter Five
Ripley
Oliver Creek. I’d never even hear of it, but whatever the town was, my options for getting away from it were limited…
as in nonexistent. Jude, the omega who was currently trying to help me, had made it clear that no mechanic or tow company would be coming until after New Year’s Day.
He was kind enough to agree to let me use his tools to try to fix whatever was wrong, but my mechanical skills were far less than adequate.
Staring into the engine, I tried to convince myself that I should be able to figure this out. If a big issue had occurred, something that involved replacing parts, I’d be stuck, but if it was something I could jury rig?
I’d already made it past Christmas, but for the next week, there would still be lots of holiday celebrations, and my urge to climb into my den and hide had never been stronger.
I’d left my own tools at home after having my truck broken into while traveling last year, but even if they were there, they were not the type for working on engines.
Probably. I’d never spent much time learning about cars.
“Here you go.” Jude appeared around the corner of the cabin, lugging an ancient toolbox.
“I inherited this from my grandfather, so I’m not sure what all is in there.
But he was a car guy, so presumably there are some useful things.
” He set the box next to my truck and came to stand next to me. “Any ideas what’s wrong?”
“None.” I moved a hose a little, checked the cap on the radiator. “I can build a house from the ground up, but the internal combustion engine is a huge mystery to me.”
“You can build a house?” Admiration rang in his tones. “For real?”
“Well, generally I am supervising a crew, but I do know how to do the tasks I ask of them. Just cars…never made sense to me.”
“Me either, really.” Jude studied some wires. “Do you know what these do? They look kind of burned.”
“They sure do. But maybe that’s soot from whatever was smoking.” As an alpha, I always felt like I should be in control of a situation. The person who solved problems and made things run smoothly. Probably why being a general contractor was such a great fit for me. “I just don’t know.”
“No. I wish I’d spent more time with Grandpa. He’d know what to do.” Jude stepped back and shook his head. “You’re all right, aren’t you? Not hurt?”
“I think so.” I did a kind of mental check through my body for anything that hurt. “I wasn’t paying enough attention.”
“Anyone can hit a bad patch of ice,” he said. “Don’t feel bad about that. As long as you are okay, anything else can be dealt with. When the garage opens again, they can check it out and it will probably be a small thing. You’ll see.”
The omega was the one providing comfort here. His kindness radiated from him, warming the edges of the icy tension that build inside me at this time of year. If we’d met in summer, he’d have found me an easier person to be around. But that was no excuse for not trying to be my best self.
“Thank you for trying to help. Are you sure there are no accommodations available in town? It wouldn’t have to be fancy or anything. Just a basic garret under the eaves of some old home would be fine.”
“I was in town on Christmas Eve and everyone was talking about it. Oliver Creek is really growing in popularity and several of the restaurants and other eating places had a whole holiday thing going. The B&B had a waiting list.”
“Then I guess I’m out of luck. No other town nearby? I’ve never had to exit the highway before while traveling through the area.”
“Oh, the work. Right. No, nothing that you could walk to and no rideshare or anything available right now. We’ve had a few, but they haven’t lasted long.” Jude picked up his toolbox and held it in front of him, both hands on the handle.
“I guess I have a real problem, then. I’ve thought of putting a camper on the truck, but it’s more a work than vacation vehicle. Regretting not doing that now. But, I can sleep in the cab.”
“In this weather?” Jude studied me as if I had said I would hang upside down in a local cave. “You’d freeze to death in an hour.”
“I have a blanket in the back and a warm coat. I’ll just layer.
Unfortunately, I’m blocking your driveway.
If the weather clears tomorrow, I’ll try to think of something else.
Really sorry to be a bother.” Glancing around, I noticed I’d managed to take out part of his fence.
“And I’ll pay for the repairs, any damage I did. ”
“Ripley, why don’t you just stay with me until the repair shop opens? Or until you figure something else out. I don’t mind at all.”
“I can’t…I couldn’t impose.”
“You’d be doing me a favor,” Jude said with grin.
“A favor? How?” Maybe he needed some repairs? I’d gladly do them.
“I won’t get a wink of sleep if you’re out here dying of hypothermia. So it’s really for both our sakes. Come in. The longer we stand out here, the colder we’re getting.”