Dead in winter, p.10
Dead in Winter, page 10
After filling the woodstove and dampening it down to a slow burn, she was ready.
Ann dressed in layers so she wouldn’t get cold yet wouldn’t overheat from the exertion. And then she tied her long black hair in a ponytail and tucked it under the knit cap she wore.
L
The first hour of walking isn’t too bad, Ann thought; the road was level and although the snow was deep, she only sank four inches with each step. She estimated she had walked over a mile, and that was making good time considering she was breaking trail with each step and towing a sled. If she picked up her pace, she could be in town in less than three hours, enough time to get the gas and return home.
After another half-hour, she was winded and needed to take a break and to have some water. Looking backward at her trail, she noticed she was now sinking a good eight inches with each step: the snow had gotten deeper and more powdery.
“This looks like a recent snowfall, snow I didn’t get at home. Hell must be getting hammered with the weather. I wonder who they pissed off,” Ann mused that her habit of talking to the dog, had her thinking out loud too. She trudged on, stopping every half-hour for water and a five-minute rest. She had read somewhere that the best method when walking long distances was a short walk earned a short rest; a long walk earned a long rest. The sun was high in the sky and even being obscured by the thick dark clouds, she could see the day was quickly falling away and shortened her rest periods.
It was pushing 2:00 in the afternoon when Ann stopped to eat her peanut butter and homemade grape jelly sandwich and drink more water; the hard walking was quickly dehydrating her. Stooping to rest a knee on the front of the rawhide snowshoe while she ate, Ann pulled the shotgun off from her shoulder and rolled her neck to ease the growing tension. Setting the stock beside her knee, she used the shotgun to push herself back to standing.
Upright again, the hair on the back of her neck bristled, and Ann raised the gun as she slowly twisted her body to scan her surroundings. Spotting the young male wolf, its head hanging low and its teeth bared, she tried facing the animal and stepped on the side of her snowshoes, almost tripping herself. The animal took advantage and ran toward his prey, looping awkwardly through the deep snow as though it was injured. She pulled the shotgun tight against her shoulder and blasted both barrels at the charging animal.
The wolf lay on its side, oozing blood from the multiple wounds, its chest heaving, struggling to take in air, big ice-packed paws twitching. Ann quickly reloaded and stepping out of the sled tow-rope, took three cautious steps toward the injured animal, and put another round in its head, stopping all of the death throe movements.
Shaking from the adrenalin spike, Ann hung her head and wept. She didn’t like killing anything, but she knew it would have been him or her that would survive, and she intended it to be her.
She loaded the shotgun one more time, and with a heavy heart slung it across her body again and picked up the sled’s rope to continue her journey.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Mallory Adkins hunched over and walked against the wind. Her hat pulled low over her ears and her scarf wrapped several times around her face. Her sheepskin mitten-covered hands swung stiffly at her sides, to help keep her balance in the snow and to generate some body heat. She normally knew better than to be out in this kind of weather, but it had been over a week since she had seen Roy, and she missed him with the passion of young love.
Roy Beltrum and Mallory Atkins had been dating for two years, and just a few months earlier had become lovers. They were convinced they were meant to be and nothing could keep them apart.
Roy lived with his uncle Marvin behind the gas station/minimart and worked there too whenever Uncle Marvin needed a break, an extra hand, or when he had other things to do. Other things were getting more and more frequent now that Marvin had started seeing Marjorie Adams again. Roy thought it kind of cute that two old people could think they were in love. He was also a bit alarmed. He expected to inherit the gas station when Marvin died but wasn’t quite sure how that would work out if those two got married. Roy’s dream was for him and Mallory to get married and live in this house and run the store together.
Mallory skirted the store so Marvin wouldn’t see her, and pounded on the back door until Roy opened it.
“I’m so happy to see you, but you must be freezing!” Roy tugged on her arm until she was inside and he quickly shut the door. She slipped off her coat and shivered. Roy pulled her into his arms and hugged her close until she stopped shaking.
“I won’t let you walk back in this weather. When you’re ready to go home, I’ll get the pickup and drive you back,” he said, hanging up her coat.
“I don’t want to even think about leaving just yet! I just got here,” she pouted. She kicked off her wet boots and looked up into Roy’s dark eyes. “How long will Marvin be at the store?” she asked with a mischievous grin.
Roy smiled back, and taking her hand, led her to his bedroom in the back.
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Lying in Roy’s arms, Mallory looked into his eyes. “Do you really think Marvin will leave you the store? Is that what you want?” she asked, a hint of hurt in her voice. She had envisioned them moving away. Apparently, Roy didn’t share that goal, but to her, what he wanted was more important.
“It would be so good for us, Mal. Just think of it this way: its instant security in our lives. I’d not only have a full-time job, but own the store! And we could live right here and not have to worry about paying rent or saving for a house and we could start a family as soon as you wanted and we wouldn’t have to leave our families. There would be so much good in it.”
“But if Marvin married Marjorie, we would have wasted so much time on a pipe-dream.”
“That’s always a possibility, there are no guarantees in life, and you know that. In fact, they only just started dating again—anything can happen. What we can plan and make sure happens, is that once you’re 18 we get married, and we can live here and keep saving money until we know for sure what direction we need to follow.” He leaned down and kissed her.
“Yes, but…”
“Stop worrying. I have a feeling everything is going to work out just fine.”
“You’re right, and I should be getting back home. I have to work this afternoon.” She let out an audible sigh and slipped from under the warmth of the covers to get dressed.
Roy dropped Mallory off at her mother’s house, located less than a mile from the gas station. He took a side road back to his uncle’s house, plowing as he went, preferring to stay off the main road and out of sight.
After parking the pickup, he hunched over the steering wheel and closed his eyes thinking about Mallory and the interlude they just shared, and hoping he hadn’t said too much about his plans for their future and his concerns about his uncle’s love life. Sometimes it was just too damn hard to not talk to Mallory about their life together. Roy certainly didn’t want to upset her with all the possibilities that faced them, but he really loved her and wanted her to be part of their decision on what to do and what path to take. She had been very quiet on the short drive back to her mother’s house, maybe too quiet.
L
Mallory waved at Roy like she always did, as she stood at the back door. It was her signal to him that she was fine and he could leave. After he pulled away though, she stepped off the small, wooden, snow-covered porch and went down the street to the post office.
“Ms. Adams? Marjorie, are you here?” she called out when she found the inner door locked even though it was early afternoon and it should have been open until 5:00 pm.
With no answer, Mallory made a split decision to go to the post master’s house. Everyone in town knew where everyone else lived; it certainly wasn’t a secret. Approaching Main Street, she heard snowmobiles and stopped beside a large pile of snow until they passed. Although it wasn’t intended, she was virtually invisible to the riders as she stood there. When she saw them stop at the Damn Inn, she crossed the street and headed down toward Marjorie’s house. What she was going to say to the woman who was interfering with Roy’s plan, she didn’t have a clue.
CHAPTER TWENTY
The dining room was quiet. In spite of the freezing temperature, Elly had gone out for a walk around the town for a bit of exercise and to clear her mind, and Ron had gone upstairs to clean out Murphy’s room.
Ron wanted to get Murphy’s things packed away before Mallory was told to clean the room for the next guest, whenever that might be. He was most concerned about Murphy’s service pistol. They were active military and on assignment, and both carried a weapon at all time. Someone finding the gun would raise too many questions, questions Ron didn’t want to answer.
If nothing else, Murphy was conscientious about not having a loaded gun on his person when he was drinking. Ron found the weapon in the top dresser drawer, under a green and black plaid sweater. He took the holstered gun back to his own room and buried it with the sat phone. He glared at the phone, wondering why his boss was making him stay long after the mission was accomplished. His excellent hearing picked up the roar of engines long before the snowmobiles made it to the edge of town.
L
“I still feel guilty about spending so much time here, Kate,” Ezra confessed, stirring cream into his coffee. He really didn’t want to leave: he was feeling even more guilty about the wolf attack and how it could have been avoided.
“Why? What else do you have to do?” She playfully poked his ribs across the bar. They had taken up their usual places facing each other so they could talk comfortably: Ezra in the end seat facing the door, Kate behind the bar.
“That’s just it: there are things I still need to be doing at the office. And honestly, I feel that if I were there more regularly, whoever turned off the furnace and effectively killed the plow and my truck wouldn’t have had the opportunity.” He ran his fingers through his unruly hair and held his head in the palms of his hands, something that was getting to be a habit of his.
“You don’t know that, Ezra! Whoever did that could still have come in while you were sleeping, or while you were out plowing, or having dinner.” She tried to comfort him but was falling short. Trying another tactic, she asked, “Have you tried starting either vehicle yet?”
“No, but I will this afternoon. I really should get to the office and get some paper work done, too.” Ezra was depressed that so much crap was happening to the town that he was in charge of keeping safe, and that an injured wolf was on the loose deepened that depression. It really wasn’t his job to keep the town safe, but it was his job to keep the town running smoothly.
The roar of several snowmobiles echoed down the stillness of the vacant snow-packed street, just as Elly opened the restaurant door and stepped in. She stomped her feet to knock the loose snow off her boots and moved away from the door, standing to the side while she shrugged off her heavy coat and hanging it on the wall-mounted rack.
Three long-track black sleds came to a halt outside the doors leading into the Damn Inn; the riders dismounted as one, removed their helmets, and approached the building, unzipping their jackets. The first one in, wearing all black to match his sled, pushed the door open and scanned the few occupants of the place.
“Small group for such a fine day out.” He smirked. “We’re sure glad to see you open. We’ve been riding hard for hours and now we’re hungry and thirsty.” Tall and dark, he looked around again and tipped his head to his companions. They followed him to a table away from the others and sat. Dropping their helmets casually on a second table, staking their territory, they huddled in conversation.
Kate leaned into Ezra and whispered, “You better not be thinking of leaving just yet.” She grabbed the daily menu and slowly approached the table.
“What’ll ya have?” she asked, forcing a smile.
“Three Boiler Makers,” the first man said, obviously the leader.
“You want them separate or drop shot?”
“The little lady knows her drinks! Bring them separate and we’ll drop shot our own.” He lifted the corner of his mouth and let his eyes wander across her body. “And three cheeseburgers.”
As Kate casually walked back to the bar, she noticed Elly, who having sensed a danger and an evilness about the men, was pressed against the wall, frozen in terror.
“Elly! If you expect a paycheck this week, you will get back into the kitchen where you belong and fill these orders!” Kate’s harsh and out of place comment, jostled Elly out of her fugue and it took her a moment to realize what was going on: Kate was trying to get her out of there.
“Yes, ma’am.” She tipped her head down submissively and scurried to the kitchen’s swinging door.
Kate pulled three icy beers and set them on a tray, then three shot glasses with Jack Daniels whiskey filled almost to the brim. After grabbing a couple of bar napkins, she picked up the full tray and delivered it to the new customers. As much as she was thrilled to have some paying clients, these guys gave her a very uneasy feeling that wouldn’t go away.
“When the burgers are ready, can that pretty little thing bring them out?” the leader asked. The other two had yet to say a word.
“She’s a cook, not a waitress.” Kate did an about-face and heard the guys chuckling behind her.
From behind the bar, Kate watched as the three took a gulp of their beer, then dropped the shot glass into the amber foam and gulped again until each glass was nearly empty.
“Bring us another round!” the tall dark one demanded from his seat, like he was very accustomed to giving orders and having them followed.
Kate refilled the empty tray with three more beers and three more shots, locking eyes with Ezra before she passed behind him. She set the drinks on the cluttered table in front of the men and removed the empty glasses just as a ding was heard coming from the kitchen.
As she turned, the leader ran his hand over her ass. She stopped, turned, leaned in close, and calmly whispered to him, “You touch me again and I will break your arm.” There was no question that she meant every word. His grin froze.
She dropped the used glassware in the soapy water, grabbed a larger tray, and silently slipped into the kitchen for the food order.
The tray, now loaded with three identical platters of burgers and fries, was heavy but she balanced it perfectly and made her way back to table as the men continued to talk quietly amongst themselves.
“We didn’t order fries!” the leader ranted as she set a plate down in front of each one.
“They come automatically with a burger. If you don’t want them, don’t eat them.” She put down three settings of silverware wrapped in paper napkins, a plastic bottle of catsup, and one of mustard. Once again, Kate turned her back to them, showing no fear; fear would only empower them, and the contempt she felt would only enrage them.
Ten minutes later, their plates were clean with the exception of a few fries and the beers were empty. Kate rang up their bill and took a tray to collect the used dishes.
“I’ll come back for this whenever you’re ready,” she said, setting the bill on the table. “Have a great afternoon.”
Behind the safety of the bar, she breathed a bit easier…until all three stood and the leader reached inside his jacket and pulled out a long-barreled Beretta 92FS. The weapon pointed at her.
“Send blondie out here.”
Kate froze.
“Now!” he yelled, snarling.
L
Ezra got up from his stool and went into the kitchen to find Elly. He felt he had no choice. It was deliver Elly, or risk Kate being shot.
“Elly, I’m sorry to ask you to come with me. Those guys have a gun on Kate. I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise you that!”
Elly’s lower lip quivered. “I understand, Ezra. Is there anything you can suggest I do?”
He smiled at her bravery.
“Yes, if he tries to make you leave with them, faint! Just collapse to the floor and don’t move.”
“I can do that. Long before writing this book, I took acting classes to help with my research. I can faint with the best of them! But I’m not going to like this at all.”
L
A few minutes later, Ezra returned with a frightened Elly.
“Come here, little girl. I promise not to hurt you.” He grinned, showing a mouthful of surprisingly white even teeth.
He quickly grabbed Elly by the arm and pulled her toward him. She let out a frightened squeal. “You!” he yelled at Kate, now pointing the gun at Elly, “give me all the cash in the register!”
Kate moved slowly toward the register and when it partially blocked the man’s view, she casually reached just under the bar and wrapped her hand around the grip of her personal pistol, a 9mm Beretta M9. From his angle, Ezra could see her stealthy movements.
“Hey! Leave the girl alone,” Ezra yelled, distracting the invader from watching Kate.
As he turned the gun toward Ezra, Kate pulled her gun up and in one fluid movement, aimed and shot the perp in the center of his forehead, immediately taking aim at the second intruder. Unnoticed to them, Ron Mesic had entered the restaurant through the side door and pulled his sidearm, a Sig Sauer M17, as that second rider aimed at Kate. Ron’s shot was as deadly as Kate’s, the double tap needing only two of the 17 rounds he carried. Kate immediately shifted her focus and took down the third man before his gun cleared its holster, firing the second of the 15 rounds in her magazine.
Four shots and it was over in less than thirty seconds.
“Damn, Kate, that was…some incredible shooting! Weren’t you afraid of hitting Elly?” Ezra gaped at the woman he thought he knew so well.
