Page 141 of Into the Mist

“Yep, even older than the one in Madras, but it’s battery powered. I also found a stack of CDs.” He met and held her gaze. “‘Strawberry Wine’ is on one of them.”

Mercury’s stomach was filled with fluttering butterflies. “Are we going to dance again?”

“I’m counting on it.”

“Hey, did y’all hear that?” Stella dragged two baskets loaded with groceries to the truck and stopped as she stared off into the distance.

“I didn’t hear anything,” Ford whispered.

“Hear what?” Mercury asked softly.

Stella shook her head. “I don’t know. I don’t hear it now, but I could’ve sworn it was an engine. So, you two need to stop making goo-goo eyes at each other and get this truck loaded. I’m ready to leave this graveyard.” Stella glanced in the bed and her frown changed to a brilliant smile. “Ooh! Chickens!” Then she clamped a hand over her mouth.

“I know,” Mercury whispered. “I did the same thing. Okay, come on, y’all. Let’s get this done! Uh, Ford, did you put those big metal troughs in here for the goats and horses we don’t have yet?” She pointed to the troughs that were already filled with bales of straw, bags of sand, and several boxes of seeds.

Ford grinned. “No, Bellota. Livestock can drink from the creek. One of those troughs is to keep water in for cooking. The other I thought you ladies would like to use for baths. I also found a bunch of metal buckets so you could warm water and then dump it in the trough.” He disappeared back into the feed store.

“Damn, Acorn, Ireallylike your man.”

“I really do too,” said Mercury.

They worked quickly and quietly. Soon Ford was securing the pile of supplies with bailing twine. The baby chickens and ducks made happy little sounds as Ford gave them and the rabbits grain and water for the trip, and then covered their cages.

“I think that’s a pretty good first haul,” said Ford as he finished knotting the last tie-down.

“Yeah, it was particularly cool to find all those sleeping bags and tents,” said Mercury.

“Don’t forget the coffee!” said Stella.

“Neverforget the coffee,” agreed Ford. His dark brows lifted to his hairline.

“We also found a bunch of old grapes in the grocery part of the store. And they aren’t seedless!” Mercury grinned victoriously. When Ford didn’t appear to get it, Stella spoke up.

“Ford, grapes equal wine, which thrills me a lot more than coffee.”

“Oh,nowI understand,” said Ford.

“I’m also thrilled about the stash of soap and shampoo I discovered,” said Stella. “But there wasn’t one piece of stemware to be found, though I did grab plenty of plastic cups and plates and silverware that’ll probably outlive all of us.”

“Hey, I think there’s a little pub around here somewhere. It’s attached to a small brewery. Tiger something,” Ford said. “I’ll bet they have wineglasses.”

“Do not tease me,” Stella said.

Ford grinned. “Look down the street there. Doesn’t that sign say Tiger Town Brewing Company?”

Stella spun around and then made a happy little squeak. “It does! Okay, how about if I grab just a few wineglasses and stuff them into the bed of the truck?”

“Sounds good to me,” said Mercury. “I’d hate to contemplate life without stemware.”

Ford hid his laugh with a cough.

Stella’s brow arched up. “You jest, but you’ll thank me when we’re sipping an excellent red from real wineglasses tonight.” She studied the road between them and the brewery. “Backing down there is not possible. Too many vehicles blocking the way. I’m just going to go there real quick, grab some glasses, and then we can leave.”

“Mercury, you should go with Stella. You know she’ll want help carrying those glasses,” Ford said. “I need to take a restroom break before we leave anyway.”

“Okey-dokey. We’ll BRB,” said Mercury as she and Stella walked briskly down the street, averting their eyes from the crow-covered mounds that littered the area.

They opened the door to the brewery, and both women stepped back, gagging.