Chapter One
Other than fuel and food stops, Demi drove Blue all the way through the night and into the next day. By the time she’d gotten within a few miles of Stewart in British Columbia, she was exhausted.
Pulling over to the side of the road, she hit the bushes to relieve herself. Then seeing as how the sky was still light even though it was late into the evening, she got out her map and saw there were still fifty or so miles to go.
Leaning her head back against the seat, she closed her eyes for a few seconds and a passing logging truck woke her early the next morning. Another trip into the woods, a few exercises to get her limber, and a warm bottle of water later, she resumed her drive and reached the town of Stewart well before lunch.
This was where Harold had suggested she buy food and other necessities needed to take into the cabin with her. Slipping the list he’d helped her make and the envelope he’d handed her as she was leaving from the space under the dashboard, she parked in front of Bob’s Mercantile. Harold had suggested she stop at this grocery store and inquire if Elsie was still there.
Demi slipped on a light jacket, grabbed her wild hair to put in a roll she could clip, and headed inside. Noting how few people there were, she sidled up to the old-fashioned looking cash register and spoke to the pretty middle-aged woman. “Do you happen to know if Elsie Louder still works here?”
The heavier-set woman laughed and shook her head. “Not likely though I swear she haunts the isles from time to time. You know they call Hyder the friendliest ghost town in Alaska, well I think this is the friendliest ghost store in the North. I’m her daughter, Norrie. Anything I can help you with?”
Grinning, Demi nodded. “Possibly. Harold Fuller sent me here to ask for her. I understand he came here often.”
“Harold? How is the old bugger? I haven’t seen him in years. Actually, since I moved back home to clean out Mom’s house and decided to stick around. That’s over ten years ago now. Him and his wife were in here every day.”
“He seems to be failing. Told me he was eighty-seven. Uses a cane, has vision problems, and is still sharp as a tack. I bought his truck.”
“Blue. Right. I remember how proud he was of that vehicle, bragged about it a lot. He called Mom once after his wife passed… what was her name?” The pudgy woman snapped her fingers and glanced up. “Dammit, it was right there on the tip of my tongue.”
“Gloria.” Demi supplied the missing word and hid a grin when the woman beamed at her like she’d won a lottery.
“That’s it. Gloria. Couldn’t ever picture those two together. Harold is a little on the shorter side whereas Gloria stood above him by at least a foot. They were like teenagers though, always happy and holding hands now that I remember.” Norrie’s smile lit up the room while she reminisced.
“Though he was sad about having lost Gloria, Harold loved that truck. Made us all come out and take a look. Then proposed rides to those of us who would take him up on his offer.”
“Sounds like the man I met. I bought his truck, and before I knew what hit me, he’d given me all his camping gear and made me stay the night so I could head out early the next morning.”
“See… that’s the man we all knew and loved.”
Demi handed over a letter. “He wrote this note for your mother, but I think it’s okay for me to give to you.” Demi handed over the envelope and then began wandering the store pushing a shopping cart. Having no idea what she’d need to set up camp, she went from aisle to aisle and ended up with three cans of beans and a pound of coffee.
Interrupted on her third pass by a tearful Norrie, she stopped and waited.
Norrie wiped the streaks from her cheek and sniffled into a tissue she pulled from her pocket. “Damn that man has a way with words. My mom would have loved hearing from him. He says here,” she lifted the page and waved it around, “that you’re a greenhorn and will need a lot of help from us locals. He wants Mom, I mean me, to help you choose what supplies you’ll use to set up camp. Will you trust me?”
“Of course. He’s already given me a huge amount of camping gear, fishing rods, things like axes, and even a shotgun. Not that I know how to shoot one. A friend who’s with the FBI made me keep a handgun at my old home and gave me lessons on how to use it. He said I needed to learn and to keep it handy.”
“Can’t be too safe nowadays.” Norrie’s expression had become stern. “Especially living alone in the bush.”
Demi nodded. “Last thing Harold packed was a book that’s supposed to give me all the information I’ll need to settle in the north country.”
“Knowing Harold, it’ll be invaluable. For now, let’s get you some food. Where’re you staying?”
“My grandfather left me an old cabin on a patch of native land north of a place called Hyder, Alaska. I understand it’s just across the border to the south from Stewart.”
“Sure, it’s only a few miles away off Highway 37. Believe it or not, Hyder is a much smaller community than Stewart, and our population is around a whopping 500 folks now. You’ll be going into some wild country north of the town.”
“I vaguely remember being there as a child. It was beautiful. My grandfather belonged to the Cree indigenous people from Ontario and was a very proud man. Maybe you know of him, John Fedora?”
“No, I’m sorry. My mother might have met him, but unless he’s been here in the last ten years, I wouldn’t know him.”
“No. He’s been gone for all of that. I’ve just recently decided to explore the property he left me. I do believe he earned money as a gold miner in his youth and found most of his wealth around the Yukon and Alaska. He came upon the property, staked a claim, and settled for some time. That’s when my father brought me here. I was small, not yet in school, but I remember him as a strong man, very knowledgeable about his surroundings, and very kind. He taught me things I can still remember.”
“Then for sure it’s going to be interesting to see his place. But don’t rely on it being in good shape.”
“No. I got a notice from a friend of his quite a few years ago, telling me about his death and that I was now the owner of the land. Back then, he admitted it would need a lot of work to be livable. So, I don’t expect much. Figured I’d camp and survey the area and see if it’s even worth it to make repairs.”
“Nowadays, any land with your name attached is worth something, especially if it’s near the river. There’s always folks wanting the experience of the great outdoors willing to pay a fortune for the chance to live their dream.”
“Well, that’s kinda awkward. You see, I’ve come to get away from those types… had enough of them in the city. I just want to be left alone for a while to catch my bearings.” When she saw the woman’s eyes widen jokingly, she added, “Present company excluded.”
“I get it. Why do you think I decided to stay ten years ago?” Norrie grinned, her eyes commiserating and filled with understanding. “Okay, let’s get you started and whatever else you need, keep a list, and I’ll see you back here in a few days. And… I’d like your cell number. Not sure you’ll be able to get service where you’re heading but it doesn’t hurt to check.”
An hour later, with her truck filled with staples and necessities for living in the wild for a few days at least, Demi headed back to the truck carrying the last of the boxes.
A man leaned against the side of the vehicle, one who seemed very much at home even though he was making free with someone else’s property. As she approached, his eyes narrowed. And when she stopped, put down her box, and went to unlock the door, he snapped, “Not your truck, lady.”
“Actually, it is. Wanna see my title?” Snippy, her voice filled with sardonic dislike, she stood her ground. After what she’d been through in Phoenix, she’d made up her mind that no one would ever push her around again. It probably helped that she didn’t care what happened to her while she decided to work on strengthening her backbone.
“Then that means Harold Fuller either sold it to you or he’s with you.”
“Sorry, he’s not well enough to travel here anymore. He sold it to me.”
Slouching still, the muscled oaf looked to the ground and shook his head. “Sad to hear it. Poor bastard loved it here. If he gave up Blue, it must mean he’s not fit to travel.” He lifted a pair of shocking blue eyes to peer into her face, and she stepped back from the impact.
Dammit, the man might be big, and he might have the manners of a wounded bear, but his looks would excite any woman in a Phoenix nightclub. Thankfully, he needed a haircut, and she hung onto that negative to use against him.
“Excuse me, I need to get going.”
“Where?”
“None of your business.”
“Hey! Don’t hurt my feelings. Folks around here aren’t so prickly.”
“I’m not from around here.”
“Might as well give. I’ll just nag Norrie to tell me, and she can never stand up against my charm.”
“So, you say. Problem is, she doesn’t know exactly where I’m heading either.” Demi left him to go around to the other side of the truck. She loaded the box in the front seat, then strode past him, opened the door, forcing him to step back, and got inside. Putting the key in the ignition, she started the truck, put it in gear, and began driving away, relenting long enough to leave with a little wave of her hand… her middle finger fully extended..
~*~*~*~