“Why would he give it to you?”
Mary stared at the moose, her brow furrowing. “Reuben can’t talk, hasn’t ever since I’ve known him.” She spoke slowly as if piecing together the significance of the moose a word at a time. “He doesn’t tell me things...” she looked up at Nick, a smile breaking through the frown. “He shows me. This moose must mean something.” Then her frown returned. “But what?”
Nick glanced at the gawkers gathering around the smoldering house. “Let’s get in the car.”
Mary clutched the moose to her chest and climbed into the vehicle. Once in the passenger seat, she clipped on her seat belt, then opened her fist.
Nick settled in the seat beside her. “What were you asking him when he gave you that?”
“I was asking him if the explosion had anything to do with my father.” Her forehead crinkled. “He nodded in answer to that question.”
Nick reached across and grabbed Mary’s arms. “What else did you ask?”
“If he knew where my father was. This moose has something to do with where my father is.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “Where would my father be that has anything to do with a moose? Where?” Then her eyes opened. “Moose Lodge!”
“Moose Lodge?” Nick let go of Mary’s arms. “Where is it?” He shifted into gear and pulled out on the street.
She laid a hand on his arm. “Nick, you can’t get there in this car. But I know how we can. Go two blocks and turn right on Dennis Road, then take another right on Aztec. I have a friend I think can help.” Mary’s tears had dried and her jaw set in a firm line.
Nick’s attention shifted from the road to this more determined Mary, admiration swelling in his chest. Most women would fall apart at this point. Not Mary. A few tears and she was back on top of it.
“Here! Stop here.” Mary was out of the car before Nick came to a complete stop.
“Gotta talk to her about basic driving safety,” he muttered beneath his breath.
A man met Mary outside a weather-weary garage where snowmobiles of all shapes and sizes lined the parking spaces in various stages of repair. Some had For Sale signs tied to them.
Mary stood slightly behind the man, but facing Nick. “Ed, this is Nick, my...boyfriend.” She gave Nick a pointed stare. When Ed shot a narrow-eyed glance down at her, she smiled up at him. “Ed and I dated back in high school, didn’t we Ed? But that was ages ago.” Mary sidled up to Nick and tucked her arm in his. “You aren’t going to get jealous, are you?” She batted her eyes at Nick and squeezed his arm hard.
His body hardened in response to Mary pressing against him. “Maybe.” Nick studied Ed. The man looked none too pleased to meet him and Nick felt likewise, a sensation he wasn’t familiar with on a first meeting with a complete stranger.
“Chris said you were back in town.” Ed’s gaze moved from Mary to run the length of Nick. “But I thought you were alone.”
“Nope. I brought Nick.” She smiled at Ed. “I promised Nick I’d take him on a snowmobile ride around the area. I don’t suppose you have a couple we could rent, do you?”
Ed wiped his hands on a greasy rag. “I don’t rent snowmobiles. I fix them.”
“Then do you have a couple we could borrow?” Mary looked up at Ed. “Please?”
Nick could have laughed at Ed the way Mary’s blue-eyed gaze melted his anger so easily. Then again, Nick was ready to give her just about anything if she’d look at him with that much pleading in her eyes. Damned female.
Ed looked from Mary to Nick and back to Mary before answering, “Oh, all right. You can take mine. It’s a two-seater that I’ve refurbished. It’ll do.” Ed led the way into the shop. “Did you hear the explosion a while ago? I heard from Millie at the convenience store that Reuben Tyler’s place blew.”
Mary ducked her head. “Yeah. He’s on his way to the hospital in Fairbanks.”
“Probably a busted gas line.” Ed collected a set of keys from a hook on the wall in the office inside. Piles of paper littered the desk, and dark handprints coated the walls and doorframes. “Been thinking about converting to electric heat, myself. What with the price of propane and all. Might be worth checkin’ into. Gas can be dangerous.” Ed walked through the shop to the back door.
“When do you need it back?” Mary asked.
“No hurry. I ain’t goin’ for no joyride in this weather.” He motioned toward the thick clouds dumping snowflakes like so much confetti at a Thanksgiving Day parade in the city. He slogged through the dirty snow in back of the shop and brushed the loose white powder from a vinyl snowmobile seat. “You know how to run one of these?” Ed pushed the key in the ignition, his gaze raking Nick as if questioning his manhood.
“Yeah.” To prove it, Nick climbed on the seat, flicked the key and pressed the start switch. The engine chugged and died. On his second attempt, the engine roared to life.
“Hmph. Just don’t stop in a snowdrift.” Ed turned his attention to Mary and spoke in a lower tone. “What say you ditch this guy and go out with me, Mary? We can pick up where we left off in high school.”
Nick caught the gist of what Ed was saying, and despite himself he strained to hear Mary’s answer.
“Ed, I appreciate the loan of the snowmobile, but I can’t go out with you. I’m with Nick now.”
