“Go back to the campground. I’ll update you in a little while,” Virginia ordered.
Dave lifted Mattie into the van’s passenger seat, despite her protests that she was perfectly capable of walking. He pulled back into their campsite, then helped her sit on the picnic table. He dug around under the driver’s seat in the van and quickly returned with a small first aid kit. He popped it open and took out an alcohol wipe.
“I’m fine, Dave. I promise.”
“When I saw that truck take off with you on the back of it, my heart stopped. I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared.”
“I know the feeling. What were you thinking when you jumped out of the van and hauled that guy out of the driver’s seat? What if he’d been armed?”
“You’re worth the risk, Mattie.” He was having a hard enough time knowing that Mattie had to go home. He couldn’t take it if he had no chance of ever seeing her again.
“Not if something happens to you.” Her warm hand felt right in his as he wiped gravel off her palm. The sunlight hit her chestnut hair and highlighted her brown eyes. He was going to miss her.
“Have you decided what you’re going to do next? Are you going to double down on Dave the Magnificent and try to book more shows? Or are you planning to go back to Grand Prairie?” she asked.
“Actually, I’ve been rethinking my options.”
“Oh?”
Hope bloomed in his chest at her hopeful tone. “I’m getting more bookings than I initially thought I would. Right now, I can plan on having magic money coming in through the fall. Grande Prairie is on the very northern edge of the map when it comes to any largely populated areas. If I wanted to keep doing Dave the Magnificent appearances, I need my home base to be someplace with closer audiences.”
“You seem to have a lot of show opportunities in southern Saskatchewan. After this weekend, I’ll bet you’ll have even more in southern Manitoba,” she said encouragingly.
“I think Dave the Magnificent can perform shows at least twice a month. If I find a part-time mechanic position, that should be enough to support myself.”
“Everybody needs mechanics, right? The Boniface garage in December has a help wanted sign in the window.”
“That sounds promising. Of course, I’ll be leaving my old friends behind in Alberta.”
Mattie took the wipe from his fingers and set it on the picnic table. Then she took his hand in hers. “I’ll be your friend, Dave.”
That was kind, but it wasn’t enough. “I was hoping you’d be more than a friend. We’ve spent every hour of the last three days together. That’s the equivalent of about twelve dates. That’s at least two months of dating. I really, really like you, Mattie. If I go back to Grande Prairie now, it’ll feel like I’m breaking up with you, and I don’t want to do that.”
“I don’t want you to do that either.”
“What would you think if I hang around December for a few days to check out the work situation?”
“I think I’d let you park the Magnificent van in my spot if it meant that you’d stay.”
Dave slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her into a gentle hug that tightened the longer he held on. “Does this mean you’re officially my three-day, two-month girlfriend?”
“With more to come,” Mattie added, just before Dave lowered his lips to hers.
Dave lost himself in the moment. Things were still uncertain, but they both knew what they wanted—a future together in December. He was a hard worker; he’d do whatever it took to make their relationship happen. He trusted that Mattie would too.
Everything was going to work out.
Chapter 9
Mattie
Mattie heard a cough. “Excuse me.” She pulled her head away from Dave’s chest and saw Virginia standing in front of them. “I’m done with the police. It’s a good news, bad news situation. The good news is that Constable King spoke to the local RCMP detachment. They will need statements from you later this afternoon or tomorrow, which means you two have the option of staying in Hopewell for one more night if you want your road trip to last a little longer.”
Dave squeezed Mattie’s arm. “I think we’ll do that. We’ll talk to him this afternoon, and I’ll drive Mattie home tomorrow.”
“I thought that might be the case,” Virginia said with a smile. “Now for the bad news. All of the Santa’s Village pieces are being impounded, along with the trailer.”
“Well, it was nice working with you while it lasted. That trailer is a rental. The fees are going to compound. I put it on my company credit card!”
