Aimee Thurlo - Homespun Christmas

By the time Myka returned to Josh’s truck, she found that his mood had soured considerably.

Once Will drove off, Joshua put the truck in gear and pulled out. “I don’t know why he’s got a problem with me. I haven’t seen him in years.”

“You got into a lot of trouble back then, though you were usually provoked. I’m not apologizing for him, but with his brother gone, Will’s looking out for family,” Myka said. “He’s rough around the edges, sure, and he tends to go overboard sometimes. Hopefully he won’t act like such a jackass next time you meet.”

“I promised Betty I’d take a look at the inn, but I may have spoken too soon, considering Will’s attitude. I won’t take his bull, cop or not.”

“I’ll be there, and I can stop his nonsense without having to throw a punch. What if I buy you a cup of Mabel’s coffee, then we’ll both cross the street to the Blue Spruce Inn? Betty can cook breakfast burritos that are second to none, but her coffee’s just awful.”

“Mabel’s was my favorite haunt. I’m glad to hear it’s still there. Even when I was broke, I’d stand out on the sidewalk so I could enjoy the scent of fresh coffee and those incredible tiny doughnuts.”

“She only serves coffee these days but, yeah, Mabel’s is still there and her coffee’s better than ever. Money’s tight for everyone, but we all consider her signature blends a guilty pleasure.”

“Okay, then. You’re on. What time do I pick you up tomorrow?” he asked.

“How about we get an early start? Seven too early, city boy?” she teased.

He laughed. “By that time, I’d already battled traffic and was sitting at my desk.”

It didn’t take long for them to get home. As he parked in Myka’s driveway, she spotted movement by the juniper hedge. “Bear!”

She bolted out of the pickup and ran toward the dog, calling his name, but the animal vanished back into the dark.

“Are you sure that was him?” Joshua asked, catching up a heartbeat later. “It could’ve been a coyote.”

“Coyotes aren’t that big, and there aren’t many left around here these days,” she said, still trying to peer into the darkness.

“Bear!” she called again, but there was no response.

“If that was him, then it’s clear he stuck around. He’ll probably come back when he’s ready. All the activity around Dad’s house might have made him nervous, not to mention Dad’s absence. Once things settle down, I’m sure he’ll be back.” He walked her to her door. “Myka, one last thing...thanks.”

“For what?” she asked. The only thing she’d done was lose his father’s pet.

“For being Dad’s friend when I wasn’t around,” he said and gave her a quick hug.

His arms were strong and his chest rock solid. It felt good to lay her head against his shoulder and feel the beat of his heart. As his warmth enfolded her, her pulse quickened.

Realizing the danger, she stepped back. “No thanks are needed,” she said. “Do you mind if we postpone getting coffee till around eight tomorrow? That’ll give me time to feed my sheep and see if I can spot any sign of Bear.”

“I’m a lousy tracker, never was much of a hunter either, but I’d be more than happy to help any way I can.”

She laughed. “Thanks, but no. He’s more likely to approach me if I’m alone. Tonight, I made the mistake of running after him, and that probably scared him even more. Let’s meet back here a little before eight, and then we’ll head out, okay?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

* * *

THE FOLLOWING MORNING Joshua waited while Myka searched for his father’s dog. It took her forty minutes to return home, and her expression told him she hadn’t made any progress.

“Don’t let it get to you, Myka,” he said, meeting her in the driveway. “You’ve done your best. The next move belongs to Bear.”

She nodded silently. “Let me get my purse and we’ll go.”

Five minutes later they arrived at Mabel’s place on Main Street. As they stepped through the front doors, Joshua looked around. The coffee shop was a lot smaller than he remembered, but a rich aroma still filled the air and brought back pleasant memories. Even the best coffee houses in San Francisco hadn’t been able to rival Mabel’s premium blend—at least to his taste.

After placing their order, they went to one of the small, circular wooden tables scattered around the room.

Joshua smiled as Mabel brought him a large hazelnut coffee topped with whipped cream and hazelnut sprinkles. As he stood to say hello, she gave him a big hug, welcoming him back to town.

Still standing, he took a sip of his coffee and sighed happily. “Mabel, you’ve outdone yourself. This is incredible.”

“Coming from a well-traveled city boy, that’s quite a compliment,” she said, then with a mischievous smile, she added, “or was it that you didn’t expect the old lady’s coffee to be as good as you remembered?”

He laughed. “No way. You’re still the standard.”

Mabel, a tall, stately looking sixty-year-old, beamed. “Good answer. That might earn you a second cup at half price. Now take your seat again and enjoy.”

As she walked off, Myka smiled. “Mabel’s something else, isn’t she? Did I ever tell you that a Seattle coffee chain wanted to buy the secret to her special blend, but she turned them down? She said she liked offering the people of Independence something that would always say ‘home’ to them.”

As Josh looked around he saw the chairs were starting to fill up. “I’m glad to see she still does a steady business. I can’t imagine Independence without Mabel’s.”

“I’m hoping that eventually Betty will cut a deal and serve Mabel’s coffee over there. Her own...” She cringed. “Motor oil would probably taste better. Just don’t tell her I said so.”

He laughed. “So is that what it takes to be a silent partner?”

She shrugged. “I’ve got my hands full processing wool, selling my yarn and managing my online store. Betty needed something positive to focus on, too, besides her daughter, and that’s where the Blue Spruce comes in.” She paused, then added, “Will uses his welding in much the same way.”

“Being the Independence police chief isn’t enough for him?”

Myka took a moment before answering, measuring her words carefully. She wanted Joshua to understand, but she didn’t want to violate any confidences. “Will knows better than most what’s happening around here. He was a cop in Albuquerque for four years, then returned home after Sheriff Mercer died because he felt needed here. He wants to spend the rest of his life in Independence, but things have continued changing, and not for the better. Now, we’ve got a part-time mayor, and the town can only support a three-officer police department, which includes one volunteer.”

“There used to be a dozen officers—plus IVA security,” Joshua recalled. “Who’s the backup now?”

“Will. He’s on call full-time and he gave up a pay increase to keep at least one officer active 24/7. When we lost our fire marshal, he took on that job, too, pro bono, so everyone’s insurance rates wouldn’t skyrocket. He works ten or twelve hours a day, sometimes more,” she added.

“I didn’t know that.”

“Few people do. Will’s stretched pretty thin, and he’s doing his best to protect what’s left of the community. He’s on edge, so go easy on him.”

He nodded slowly. “You have nothing to worry about. The kid you knew who got into fights at the drop of a hat finally grew up. That’s not who I am anymore.”

“Good.” She finished the last of her coffee. “Now let’s go to the Blue Spruce and see what Betty has in mind for the inn.”