Free Stranded by Lorena McCourtney

today. Something came up with the Swenson case, and I’m going to have to make a quick trip up to Denver,” he said, and I gave him points for thoughtfulness. “Unless you’d like to come along?”
    “Thanks, but I have an appointment with Nick about the Bronco, and I want to help Ivy and Abilene get moved in.”
    “Mom wants us to have dinner with her tomorrow night.
    Okay with you?”
    “Sure. I have to run out to the mine tomorrow afternoon, but I’ll be back in plenty of time.”
    Chris’s dark gold eyebrows edged together. “Kell, don’t you think you’re doing too much for that old guy out there? He can’t expect you to be his personal errand girl. You were out there only yesterday.”
    “I know, but his pickup’s broke down, and he needs some feed for the chickens and something for his stomach problems. And he was coming down with a cold too.”
    “For which he wants you to bring him what? A couple bottles of that tequila he and Hiram were so fond of? Or maybe some eye of newt, snake oil, or powdered lizard tongues?”
    Kelli pounded her fist lightly on Chris’s arm, a gesture that looked more affectionate than angry. “There you go again. Ol’ Norman’s not into weird stuff like that.”
    “They don’t call him Nutty Norman for nothing. And I’m not so sure the old coot isn’t dangerous. One time when I came over to talk to Hiram about something, he and Norman were yelling bloody murder at each other.”
    “Norman’s just a little eccentric, and their arguing didn’t mean anything. All he needs are cough drops and Nyquil, and some blackberry balsam for his stomach. Perfectly ordinary stuff. And he’s no more dangerous than my Sandra Day.”
    “Your Sandra Day always looks at me as if she’s thinking about clawing my eyes out. I don’t want you going out there alone.”
    “Okay, maybe I won’t go alone. Ivy, you want to come along?”
    I knew nothing about Nutty Norman, or what this trip entailed, but I promptly said, “Of course. I’d love to.”
    Chris rolled his eyes, and I could see he figured I’d be as much help to Kelli in a dangerous situation as a month’s supply of lizard tongues. He didn’t argue anymore, however. Just a put-upon expression and another light kiss. “Be careful,” he said and headed back to the Mustang. I looked at Kelli after he was gone.
    “Someone special?”
    She smiled. “Very much so. Though he worries too much. You don’t really have to go out to the mine with me tomorrow. The road’s pretty rough.”
    And muddy, I suspected, from the condition of Kelli’s Bronco. But, after two seconds’ thought, I knew, if she hadn’t invited me, I’d have tried to finagle a way to go along. That mutant curiosity gene in action, of course. “I’d really like to go.”

7

    By that evening, Abilene had the job with Dr. Sugarman, plus an appointment with the dentist, Dr. Li, for the following day. She and I had cleaned out the refrigerator and freezer in the motor home while Nick adjusted the carburetor on Kelli’s newly washed Bronco. I arranged with Nick to drain the water system on the motor home so it wouldn’t freeze up and break something. Kelli had then ferried everything we thought we’d need over to the house. We could always come back later for anything we’d forgotten. I’d told Nick I’d let him know as soon as we figured out how to pay for a new engine.
    “No rush,” he said generously. “I’ll just drag the motor home around behind the shop where it’ll be out of the way.” After an odd little hesitation he added, “You be careful over there at the McLeod house, okay?”
    “Careful of what?”
    “Well, you know. Old Hiram got murdered there.”
    “I doubt his murderer has anything against Abilene and me. And I certainly don’t believe in spooks or ghosts or anything like that in old houses.”
    Nick looked uncomfortable and suddenly became busy searching a drawer for something, as if he wished he’d never brought this up.