Amka had forgotten about Jarod again.“Fishing, I think.I guess I should’ve called him.”
“I’ll give him a call.”Sheldon pulled out his phone and walked toward the far wall.
Wyland rubbed at his brown-spotted jaw.“Sorry about that.Sometimes he gets ahead of himself.”
Amka couldn’t think about insurance right now.Plus, if the fire had been arson, didn’t insurance people conduct an investigation?She’d worry about that later.“It’s nice you two were fishing together today.”
“Oh, we weren’t.”Wyland almost smiled.“He was up on the North Fork, I was further down.We had a little competition going.I called him when I heard.”
“You want a ride home?”Sheldon asked from across the room.
She paused and could’ve said yes.But Christian was outside.He’d pulled her out of that building without hesitation.She hadn’t figured out what to say to him yet, but she wasn’t a coward.“No, thanks.Christian already offered.”
“All right,” Wyland said with a sigh.“I’ll let Sheldon handle the insurance.He’s been taking over more and more of the finances for Friday’s Groceries anyway.I’m getting old.”
“No, you’re not,” Amka said quietly.The words came out before she could think too hard about them.He moved slower now, sure.But old?No.Not the way he still showed up for people.“Why don’t you come by the tavern tonight?”she added.“It’s not clam chowder day, but I can make one of your favorites.”
Wyland straightened.“You’re a sweetheart, but you need to go home and sleep.”
“Exactly,” May said adamantly.“Listen to your doctor and your friends.Get some rest, Amka.”
Amka didn’t have time to rest.“Of course.”
“Why don’t I walk you out to Christian?”Wyland asked, moving toward the door.
Amka turned and gave May a quick hug.They’d become friends almost instantly when May had moved to town last year.“Thank you.I’m feeling better.”
“I’m not kidding,” May replied, her voice low and firm.“You need to take it easy.Don’t make me pull rank as your doctor.”
“All right, all right,” Amka said, a dry chuckle slipping out.Not that May could actually stop her from doing anything.
May’s eyes twinkled.“Say hi to Christian for me, would you?”
Amka didn’t answer and just followed Wyland out the door.
Chapter3
Christian turned off the paved road and onto the gravel stretch winding along the river.His knuckles flexed once on the steering wheel before relaxing again.Behind them, the hospital faded into memory.Ahead, the late Alaskan spring unfolded—barren and waking, the kind of in-between season that never really promised safety.
Snow still lingered in the shadows of the tree line, like the last remnants of a threat not quite done with them.Bare birch trunks reached into a sky the color of wet slate, and the Dalika River ran swollen and fast beside the road.He eased the truck through a muddy bend and cut left, tires crunching against frozen gravel and away from the main river.Another half mile brought them to Amka’s land.
Tika snored happily in the back seat, spreading out like he owned the vehicle.
Amka's cabin rose out of the ground like it belonged there in two stories of weathered log and green metal roofing, tucked at the edge of a thicket where the forest would someday reclaim everything.The place had a comfortable vibe.Welcoming.However, it was way too exposed and would be easy to infiltrate.
He killed the engine.
Amka shifted beside him.Even that small movement made her wince.
He didn’t like the wince.“You said that Doc May cleared you except for the bruises and that your rib might be cracked.”He spoke without looking at her, his gaze still pinned to the cabin where a small curl of chimney smoke drifted above the roof.
“I think I’ll be fine,” Amka said, her voice hoarse but steady.Her fingers brushed a streak of soot from her thigh.“I got ash all over the truck.”She shivered as if unable to warm up.It was probably the shock setting in.“I’m sorry.I smell like a firepit.”
He turned his head slowly.“No.You don’t.”
She blinked at him.
“You smell like cloudberry.”The second the statement left his mouth, he wanted to take it back and bury it under the permafrost.What was that?
