Free Montana Standoff by Nadia Nichols

time.” She shifted, turning to face him. “I keep thinking about that guy that threatened to shoot you,” she said. “And the fact that Ken Manning might be associated with that group. And the fact that such groups even exist.”
    â€œI guess everyone needs a hobby,” Steven said. The engine faltered and a fist of anxiety clenched in his stomach. Just one more long uphill, one more mile…
    â€œI was threatened once, too,” she said as if recalling some long-buried memory. “Not quite as violent as your threat, but it was scary.”
    â€œOh? Where?” Foot off the gas pedal now, coasting down the hill…
    â€œIn high school, by three big, tough girls. They cornered me once after freshman gym class in the locker room and said I was a witch, told me they were going to cut all my hair off and light it on fire. My hair was a lot longer back then, and if anything it was even redder than it is now.”
    The Jeep felt like it was hitting invisible barriers as the carburetor began starving for fuel. He could see the gas-station logo up ahead. “What did you do?”
    â€œI told them if they gave me the scissors I’d cut it myself and they could do whatever they wanted with it. I didn’t care. So they gave me the scissors and I cut my hair really short. Things were progressing nicely but just when I was almost finished, I nicked my hand with the scissors and made it bleed. And although I’m a strong person, I have one awful weakness. I faint at the sight of my own blood. So down I went onto the bathroom floor, out like a light. Caused quite a commotion at school, but those girls never bothered me again.” She paused and frowned out the windshield. “Do you think we’ll make it to the gas station?”
    â€œI hope so. I don’t feel like pushing.” He lost the power steering when the engine died and had to wrench the wheel hard to guide the Jeep up to the gas pumps. Never again in a million years would he be this lucky. “What did your parents have to say about all that?” he asked as they coasted to a stop.
    Molly smiled. “My mother cried and my father was so mad he called the school and threatened a lawsuit. My brothers made fun of me, like they always did, but in the end, I survived.”
    â€œYou have beautiful hair. Those girls were just jealous.” Steven got out and filled the Jeep’s tank. Then, when they were back on the highway just south of Fort Benton, he said, “Forgive me for asking, but with a weakness like fainting at the sight of your own blood, how did you ever manage to survive growing up in a family with all those brothers?”
    â€œIt wasn’t easy,” she admitted. “I was unconscious throughout most of my early childhood years.”
    He laughed. “You’ll have to tell me where this famous ice-cream place of yours is.”
    â€œIt’s just before we reach Helena.” They sat in silence for a while with just the whine of tires on the highway in the background. Molly shifted in her seat, facing him again. “What does your girlfriend think about what you do?”
    Steven switched on the headlights. “No girlfriend. Makes things a lot easier.”
    â€œI suppose it would, especially if you’re getting death threats from a radical right-wing militia group.”
    â€œThat was over two years ago. What about you?”
    â€œMy death threats were all in high school.”
    â€œI mean, your boyfriend.”
    She stretched her legs and sat up a little straighter. “No serious boyfriend. I was too busy going to college and law school and passing the bar exams and trying to impress the law firm that finally hired me on. No time for matters of the heart.”
    â€œMust get kind of lonely from time to time.”
    â€œSometimes,” Molly admitted. “But mostly I’ve been too preoccupied to notice.” She shifted in the seat again and