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KIM BALDWIN. hundreds of acres of state forest but within easy reach of the two small villages she frequented

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hundreds of acres of state forest but within easy reach of the two small villages she frequented. Pine River, F ve miles southeast, had the nearest grocery store, and Meriwether, seven miles west, had the nearest pharmacy, where she worked.

Erin’s place wasn’t exactly on her way home. It was a good ten-minute detour off her fastest route back from Kalamazoo. But she took the back roads there anyway, as if seeing what was left of the place would somehow preserve her connection with its owner.

Although the lot had been cleared and leveled, Gable was disappointed to discover that no construction was underway. She nearly stopped at the Blue Moose motel next, convinced suddenly that seeing Erin would put an end to her irrational F xation. But she needed to shower and change before coming face-to-face with the woman she longed to see, so she swung home instead, prolonging the torture.

She tried on various outF ts, eventually settling on jeans, a white shirt, and her leather jacket. She was so nervous her palms were sweating. She brushed her hair until it shone, feeling every bit like she was on a very important F rst date, though she knew that wasn’t the truth.

Stomach churning, she headed to the Blue Moose. Once she’d parked in the lot, she took a moment to control her breathing, then wiped her palms on her pant legs before she went into the ofF ce.

“Hi, I’m here to see Erin Richards,” she told the bespectacled older gentleman behind the counter. “Can I have her room number or can you ring her for me?”

“Erin Richards, you say?”

The man typed the name into his computer using only two F ngers.

Who knew what could happen if he hit the wrong key? Clearly, he was terriF ed. He would look at the keyboard, searching for the letter. Strike it with painful deliberation, then peer at the monitor over his reading glasses to make sure it was there.

Gable bit her tongue to keep from telling him to hurry. Finally, he announced, “I’m sorry, we have no one here by that name.”

She stopped breathing for an instant. “Not here?” she repeated.

Was she here? Can you tell me that?”

He looked back at the computer screen, then called over his shoulder, “Martha! Can you come out here a minute?”

There was an open door behind him that led into an inner ofF ce.

After a moment a diminutive woman with gray hair and a ready smile

• 40 •

 

FORCE OF NATURE

emerged.

“Hi.” She greeted Gable. “What’s up?” she asked the man behind the desk.

“Erin Richards. Does that name ring a bell with you?”

“Yeah, that’s the teacher that was in fourteen for a couple of days. Lost her house in the tornado?” She directed the last sentence to Gable.

“She was only here a couple of days? Did she say where she was going?”

“Don’t think so.” The woman cocked her head slightly. “I remember her because her pickup was all caved in on one side, and I asked her about it. She told me what happened. Hey!” Her face lit up with recognition. “I bet you’re Gable, aren’t you?”

Gable couldn’t help the faint f ush of embarrassment that warmed her cheeks. She talked about me! The realization made her a little giddy with happiness. Apparently she’d made an impression on Erin. “Yes, I’m Gable,” she said.

The woman held out her hand. “Martha Edwards. Nice to meet you, Gable.” They shook. “She’ll be sorry she missed you. She told me how you sat up all night keeping her sane.”

“I’m sorry too,” Gable said. “Thanks. It’s been nice meeting you.”

She sat in her Jeep for a moment, drumming her hands on the steering wheel. She didn’t want to go home. She was too keyed up. She decided to drop in on Carl Buckman, a poker buddy who ran a bait and tackle shop when there were no emergencies demanding his attention.

Carl was a volunteer F reF ghter too, as well as the local 911 director.

The store was only a few minutes away and Gable spent the drive time practicing normal-sounding conversation.

“Gable! You’re back!” Carl waved as she walked in the door.

“Missed a good game last night. I won twenty bucks off ol’ Don Baum.”

She chuckled. “And did he pay up?”

“He promised to bring it in today.”

She laughed harder. “Keep dreaming. You’ll be lucky to get a free haircut out of him.”

Carl shrugged. “Say—I know what I was supposed to tell you.

You know that woman you sat up with the night of the tornadoes?”

• 41 •

 


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