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Sage put her parka on and shoved her feet into a new pair of Lovely Boots she’d purchased yesterday in town. As Trudy had promised, they made her feet feel as if she was walking on a cloud. “Bye, Trudy. I’ll catch you later!” Sage rushed outside into the frigid winter morning. Hank was standing beside a red truck parked in front of the house. Astro was sitting in the back of the truck as if he was looking forward to getting a ride. Sage quickly swallowed up the distance between her and Hank.
“Trudy told me you found a vehicle for me to use. Is this it?” she asked, jerking her chin in the direction of the truck. She was smiling so hard it made her cheeks hurt. She couldn’t think of the last time anyone had done something this sweet for her.
“It’s all yours for the duration of your stay here in town. It’s seen a few miles over the years, but it’ll get you where you need to go. All you have to worry about is putting gas in it when it runs low. I filled the tank up for you so you won’t need to refuel for a while.”
“Let me know how much I owe the owner.”
Hank waved a hand in the air. “Don’t worry about it. He owed me a favor. It’s yours to borrow for as long as you like, no strings attached.”
“Oh, Hank, it’s all so wonderful.” A feeling of immense gratitude washed over her. Sage threw her arms around Hank, enveloping him in a tight bear hug. He smelled like pine needles and apples—a warm, pleasant scent. Although she knew her enthusiasm might seem over-the-top, she couldn’t rein herself in. Everyone here in Owl Creek had been so kind to her ever since she arrived. She hadn’t expected this treatment at all by the townsfolk. Hank was a busy man—a single father and a town sheriff—who didn’t have to go out of his way to help her.
When she pulled away from him she couldn’t help but notice he seemed a bit flustered.
It was kind of nice seeing another side of the always-in-control sheriff.
“Thanks so much for making this happen,” she gushed. “Trudy has been wonderful, giving me rides, but I like being independent. I hate feeling like a burden. She already has a lot on her plate.”
“That’s understandable, although I know Mama doesn’t think of it that way. She loves spending time with you. I think it’s safe to say you’re her favorite guest of all time.”
Sage let Hank’s words settle over her like a cozy blanket. It was such a heartwarming feeling to be embraced so enthusiastically by Trudy. It was making her feel as if she really did belong in Owl Creek. Because in truth, she wasn’t really an outsider. This quaint town was where she’d been born, where her family had planned to raise her before the bottom had fallen out of their world. This Alaskan town was beginning to feel important to her in so many different ways.
“That means a lot to me,” she acknowledged, biting her lip to keep herself from tearing up. These days it felt as if she was on an emotional roller coaster. Ever since the death of her mother, Sage felt like all the nerve endings in her body were exposed.
“My truck is parked back on Main Street, so why don’t you get behind the wheel and drive us into town,” Hank suggested. “We should get going. I wouldn’t want you to be late for your tour with Beulah. Just take it nice and easy since you’re not used to snow-packed roads.”
Sage nodded and seated herself behind the wheel while Hank motioned for Astro to jump down from the back of the truck. She felt a bit nervous about driving in such wintry conditions, but having Hank by her side in the passenger seat gave her a boost of confidence. It seemed as if nothing bad could happen on his watch. He radiated an air of calm authority, alerting her to upcoming curves in the road or slick patches to watch out for. It felt nice driving a truck since it was bigger and sturdier than her small coupe back home.
“Should I drop you off at the sheriff’s office?” Sage asked as they came upon Main Street.
“No. It’s not necessary. I can walk over. Take the left on Forrest and then the factory will be straight ahead on your left,” Hank instructed. Sage followed his directions, and within a few minutes, the factory rose up to greet them. It was a large brick structure that didn’t quite fit in with the small-town vibe. Although she’d gotten a look at it the other day, her nerves had been all over the place and she hadn’t really taken in any of the details.
Sage parked in the designated lot and turned toward Hank.
“That wasn’t so bad,” she said, letting out a sigh of relief. “Other than a few slippery spots it was pretty straightforward.”
“I’m impressed,” he murmured, nodding approvingly. “Don’t forget it gets dark early, so you might want to head back to the inn while there’s still daylight.”
“Good point.” The last thing she needed was to get lost on a dark and remote Alaskan road with caribou and black bears running around. Being in O
wl Creek was an adventure, but she wasn’t looking for that type of excitement. “Thanks again for setting me up with the truck so I can explore on my own without bothering Trudy.”
“You’re quite welcome. To be honest, you’ve given me an excuse to go inside,” he said, his expression sheepish. He reached into the backseat and held up a loaf of home-baked bread inside a cellophane bag with a bright red bow on it. “I have a peace offering for Beulah. Pumpkin is her favorite.”
“You bake?” Sage asked, delighted at the notion of the handsome sheriff making baked goods in his kitchen. She wasn’t used to meeting many men who were accomplished bakers. Hank Crawford really was a Renaissance man.
He appeared to be pleased with himself. “I sure do. Trudy wasn’t sending out a son into the world who didn’t know how to fend for himself.” He let out a little groan. “She said it was her duty to my future wife.”
Sage tried to stifle her giggle, but she couldn’t stop the sounds of mirth coming from her mouth. The more she tried to rein it in, the louder she laughed. Hank joined in on the laughter and the truck was filled with sounds of merriment.
“We’ll be having our annual Owl Creek cook-off competition soon. You won’t want to miss it. I think I’ll give Mama and Piper a run for their money and make my famous corn bread.”
“I’d like a front-row seat for that competition,” Sage told him as images of Piper, Hank and Trudy vying for the trophy danced in her head. She found herself looking forward to it.
“Ready to go in? It’s about that time,” Hank said, tapping his watch.
Sage rubbed her hands together. She felt like a little kid. “Yes. I’m so excited. I feel like Charlie going to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.”
“Just don’t go falling into any chocolate rivers,” Hank quipped, the corners of his mouth twitching with amusement.
