“Wait.” His cheeks dented with a smile. “What am I thinking? I know the best way."
"Am I going to like this?" I finished my breakfast and washed it down with the last of my coffee.
Logan shrugged. "Maybe? But at this point, Shepherd, if you want to get the town on board, you might not have any other choice."
"You're killing me with the suspense."
"What does this town love?"
"Gossip?"
Logan choked on his coffee. "Well, yes, but what else?"
"Hockey…"
"Mmmhmmm. And what is the biggest event in the Winter Carnival?"
"The Classic? But what does that have to do with me? Isn't it the Bobcats versus the Eagles?"
"Yes, but we've added one more game. Our local beer league versus Windswan's old-timers."
Fuck. All of a sudden I knew where he was going. And I didn't like it. "I still don't understand what this has to do with me." I played dumb while I tried to think of an excuse why I couldn't brush off my skates and join them on the outdoor rink.
"Come on, Shepherd." Logan put on his jacket. "Remember when you were a kid? How excited you would've been if an NHLstar laced up for your Christmas Classic game? Hell, I think half the grown-ups in the town would be pumped."
Muriel dropped off the check. I grabbed it before Logan could, and handed it back to her with a hundred. "Keep the change."
Call me Scrooge now.
Muriel slipped the cash into her apron. “What’s this I hear about you playing in the Christmas classic?”
I shot a look at Logan.
“I’m not sure I’ll still be in town.”
Her smile faltered. “That’s too bad, honey. I’m sure a lot of people would love to see you and Mr. Brush here on the same line.”
“You play beer league?” I put on my coat.
“Hockey is hockey,” Logan said. “And there’s some pretty good players on the team. Rumor has it that Windswan has recruited a couple of ringers.”
Muriel glanced around. “I heard it’s Brad Diefenbunker.”
Brad was from my era, and a damn good defenseman. “What’s he doing up here?”
This time it was Logan to glance around. Were there ears everywhere? “I’m not supposed to say anything. Charlotte sold Brad a cottage on Windswan Lake. He’s technically a resident now, and totally eligible to play on their team.”
“But he’s what? Thirty?”
“Each team is allowed a line of younger players. We’re currently short exactly one young buck.”
Muriel elbowed me. “You’d better make plans to stick around.” She pulled a bottle of whiskey from her apron and shook it. “Next time I’ll make sure you get a special coffee.”
This was the kind of stuff that would get me accepted into the community. “I don’t have any equi—“
Logan interrupted, “We’ve got plenty of equipment here for you.”
I’d be an idiot to say no. “Well, Muriel. It looks like I might be around to enjoy one of your winter coffees.”
