Free Somewhere Montana by MJ Platt Page B

Bayview-Hunters Point in southeast San Francisco, not too far from Candlestick Park. It’s a community with a high rate of unemployment, poverty, and crime.”
    “That doesn’t sound like a very safe area for you to be working.” He crossed his arms across his chest and stood straighter, a scowl on his face.
    “I don’t have any problems. I’ve earned their respect because I respect them. I wrote a couple grant proposals from which the rec center received enough money to keep it viable for another three years. I work with the kids, mainly tutoring, showing them what’s out there beyond the confines of the community and how they can pull themselves out of the hopelessness they feel.”
    “And how has that worked for you?” he asked, a note of skepticism in his voice.
    “So far, we’ve got two of them into college on scholarships. A couple of the boys cleaned up their acts enough to be able to join the army. One has turned himself around so far as to get into the Criminal Justice Academy and hopes to join the SFPD. The girls have been a little harder to reach.”
    “Why? I should think you would impress them with your accomplishments.”
    “Right.” She snorted. “Their take is I’m the rich bitch who’s come slumming because I have to do charitable deeds. That I’m trying to make them feel they’re better than the others in the community. Better than their parents. Families are close knit there. Their heritage is important. Also we’re competing with the gangs for membership.”
    “What do you see for their future?”
    “Redevelopment is working on the old Hunters Point Naval Shipyard as a commercial enterprise. It’s easily accessed by road and large ships. I don’t know how quickly it will come together. I had also started talking with one of the gang leaders about how they could improve their community instead of making it worse. Now he probably figures I’m just a bag of wind and bailed on them.”
    “Not if he can read and watch TV. Your situation must have drawn some media coverage. Won’t they think your disappearance might be connected to that?”
    “I hope not. The ones that like me enough to worry also have connections that could ensure Marcos ended up in the bay wearing a pair of cement boots.”
    “Seems to me that wouldn’t be a bad thing.”
    “I don’t want to see anyone dead over this. He needs to be held responsible for what he did and suffer the consequences. The kids don’t deserve to get into trouble over it.”
    “I wouldn’t want to see the kids get into trouble either. But I’m not as merciful toward Diego’s health status. Enough about that. Back to my original question. Please, will you go into town with me? It will do you good to get out and if it becomes too much for you, you can stay in the truck while I finish getting supplies.”
    Weighing the pros and cons, she didn’t think it was such a good idea. She didn’t want people’s pity when they saw her face. There would be many persons she knew from previous visits there. But she had to dip her toe in the water of society sometime.
    “Okay,” she acquiesced. She couldn’t resist his imploring look or the half smile that suggested it would be fun.
     
    * * * *
     
    After breakfast, Mac brought the truck to the front door and left it running to be sure it would be warm enough for Sage. When he entered the kitchen to pick up Little Mouse’s list, Sage caught his disdainful look at her outfit. The blue cotton pullover sweater over lightweight, gray pants and the thin, black leather half boots weren’t very warm. She was sure he would want to oversee the clothing she bought. She had attended winter survival camps at the ranch. Why hadn’t she packed more appropriate gear? She had planned to land in a warmer area.
    He helped her with her jacket and, with a hand at her back, escorted her out to the truck. Once in the truck, he looked at her reflectively.
    “Don’t you have a pair of winter boots?” he asked.