Bait Shop Blues

by Nancy Pirri

  He parked the truck and paused on the steps, removing his gloves as he stared out at the storm that hadn’t lost steam yet. In the hallway he shook his head and snow flew everywhere. He’d never gotten used to wearing hats, even on the coldest winter day. He moved down the hallway, entered the bathroom, and snatched up a bath towel.

  As he sat in front of his television, he flicked the switch and turned on the mid-day news, thinking about Cassie, as usual. He’d given her plenty of time to miss him, and he’d made the decision to call her this evening and ask her to marry him.

  When the meteorologist gave the weather forecast Leif groaned and slouched deeper into the sofa. My God, more snow! They’d already had eighteen inches in the past six hours. As he rubbed his hair with the towel he paused when he noticed the phone sitting cockeyed on the base. He settled it correctly into the cradle. No sooner did he release his hand then it rang.

  He picked it up. “Leif, here.”

  “Leif!” Maxie shouted. “Thank God you’re there! Your phone’s been busy for hours. I almost got in the truck to come over there.”

  “Must have not hung it up right after my last call. What’s up? You sound sort of frazzled.”

  “Cassie called.”

  Leif’s body stiffened. “She called you? When?”

  “About half an hour ago. She’s driving one of them big U-Haul trucks and she went off the road with it.”

  His heart pounded as he listened to her words. “Where in the hell is she? Is she okay?”

  “About five miles down the road, just before you reach the bridge.”

  He rose and threw down the towel, cursing himself for not having plowed further down the road. “I’m on my way to get her.”

  “God, I hope she’s okay! Hurry!”

  “I will. I’ll call you when I get back and let you know she’s all right.”

  He hung up without waiting for Maxie’s reply and strode down the hallway to his bedroom. He opened his closet, yanked a warm one-piece waterproof suit down, and climbed into it. Then he jammed his feet into a pair of Sorrel boots, snatched up his hat and gloves. In a drawer he found the engagement ring he’d bought for Cassie the very next day after he’d returned home from Chicago.

  He hadn’t a clue as to what he’d do with it if she refused his offer of marriage, but then he grinned, knowing now she wouldn’t refuse him. She had returned home, to him and to Gateway. Suddenly, a heady rush of excitement filled him, body, and soul, and he hurried out the door, slogged through the snow to the shed out back.

  He’d take the snowmobile, knowing he could travel quicker on it through the snow. Then, tomorrow, he’d pull her rental moving truck out of the snow bank. Sitting down on the seat he pulled on a ski cap, gloves and a pair of goggles then started the engine.

  Moments later he was traveling quickly down the road leading into Crane. As he drove the wind howled and snow fell harder. Damn, but conditions were turning blizzard-like.

  He gauged he’d traveled nearly five miles so he was close to the bridge as the wind blustered around him, buffeting the snowmobile. Ice pellets hit his cheeks and forehead as he sped along the shoulder of the road. The howling wind made it nearly impossible to stay centered along the road’s edge and he found he needed to grip the handlebars tightly to keep control of the snowmobile.

  All he could think about was reaching Cassie, praying she was safe, warm and dressed properly. She’d never before experienced a northern Minnesota winter and he prayed she wore enough clothing.

  He saw something moving up ahead. But the flurries of snow blinded him so he came to a stop and removed his goggles, squinting through the snow. A big orange blob stood out against the stark white snow and he put his goggles back on and started up the engine. As he drew closer he recognized the shape of a mid-sized U-Haul.

  Through the blinding snow, a person with a black jacket was trudging through the snow with madly waving hands. He slowed down and grinned when he realized it was Cassie. Even though he’d slowed, he skidded right past her but came to a stop just yards away. He left the engine running, swiveled on his seat and looked at her as she stood in the middle of the road.

  “Where’re your hat and gloves?” he growled when he saw her bare hands and head.

  “In the truck,” she snapped. And then, “Is that all you can say after what I’ve been through the last two hours? If that’s it, then someone else can save me!”

  She stalked back to the truck. The back tires were down in a sloped gully. He was surprised by her anger until he thought about his ridiculous first words to her.

  He turned the snowmobile and sped back to her. Just as she opened the truck’s door he stopped at her side, grabbed her around the waist and hauled her into his arms and onto the seat in front of him. Without giving her any chance to protest he lowered his head and said, “Tell me not to kiss you Cassie-girl. If you don’t want this, tell me now. Because I’ve plans for us, and for Gateway.”

  Tears flooded her eyes and she wound her arms around his waist. “Do you mean it?”

  “I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t.”

  Cassandra cocked her head to the side and stared at him. After a while she whispered, “I believe you.”

  He kissed her then and he knew it was right. He slanted his mouth across hers and warmed her frigid lips until she moaned in his arms. He wished they weren’t dressed with all the layers of clothing, until vivid thoughts of removing the layers entered his mind, but not until he got a ring on her finger. He’d been the reason she’d broken the vow she’d made in the first place, but wouldn’t allow things to get out of hand again. The sooner he got a ring on her finger the better.

  As he ended the kiss he relaxed his grip on her and with one hand dug into a pocket. He pulled out the small black velvet box and shoved it under her nose. “Here. This is for you.”

  She stared down at the box and slowly took it. Then she frowned at him. “What is it?

  His face heated under her gaze. Never had he been more thankful for the biting cold and snow than right now. He had no desire for her to see his discomfort and embarrassment. His voice sounded hoarse to his own ears when he said, “Marry me. Make me the happiest man on earth. I love you.

  He took the box and pulled out the ring, smiling when he heard her gasp of surprise and delight. It wasn’t the biggest, most expensive diamond, but he knew it was exquisite, and different than any ring he’d ever seen from the moment he’d seen it in the Artisan’s Jewelers in Crosby. The ring was fashioned of yellow gold. One round half-carat diamond sat square in the center and on either side sat two smaller white diamonds. The ring was simple but classy, just like Cassie, he thought as he slid it on the third finger of her left hand.

  Cassandra smiled through the tears streaming down her cheeks and searched his eyes. After a while she murmured, “You really mean it, don’t you?”

  “Yup,” he growled, “and I’m not leaving you at the altar. Uh-uh. No way. Get on behind me, honey.”

  Lord, all he wanted to do was to haul her off to the nearest preacher, before she changed her mind.. He frowned at her as she stood beside him, her arms folded across her chest. “Get on, Cassie. I want to get you home where it’s warm.”

  She shook her head. “I’m assuming, since I’ve driven all this way, you’ve decided to agree with my decisions about Gateway.”

  He groaned. “We can talk at home. I’ll build a fire, and we can toast marshmallows.” And we can crawl into bed and stay there for the next half-dozen years or so.

  “No. We talk now, not later.”

  “Why? It’s ridiculous to stay out here in the cold,” he protested.

  “Not to me. You see, if I come back with you, and you still don’t understand my desire for change at Gateway then I’m afraid I’ll just go along with whatever you want, which means no changes.”

  He sighed and lifted his leg over the seat. As he stood before her, hands on his hips, he stared down at her. “Let’s at least sit in the tru
ck.”

  “I’ll go along with that.”

  They hurried to the stuck vehicle and got in the back seat together. Because the truck was lopsided, Cassie slid right into his arms. He grinned. “I think this was a damned good idea.” He lowered his head but just a breath away from her lips she shoved him back.

  “No. Talk first,” she insisted.

  He sighed and hauled himself over to the corner. He pierced her with a steady look and said, “All right. I’m listening.”

  She nodded and rubbed her hands together before inserting them into her coat pockets. “I’ve been thinking a lot about the changes I mentioned and am willing to see your way about a few things. For example, we won’t build any housekeeping cabins, to begin with, but just the lodge with four bedrooms we could rent out and a restaurant. We’ll see how well we manage that. What do you say?”

  A slow grin creased his face. “I can live with that.”

  “Good. Also, there’s just one other teensy-weensy little thing.”

  He watched her curiously when she latched her hand on the door handle, as though she were getting ready to leave. His gaze moved to her face and he noted her apprehensive expression.

  “I’ll bite. What’s that other teensy-weensy little thing?”

  Leif frowned when she opened the door, but stilled when he heard her astonishing words.

  “I want to have a baby as soon as possible, after we’re married.”

  A grin crossed his face. “No problem there, darlin’.”

  “Oh, and one more thing.”

  “Anything,” he said, edging closer to her, anxious to get her home and out of the storm, in his arms and more importantly, his bed, but only to cuddle. He’d been the reason she’d broken her self-imposed vow, but not again. Out of respect for her, cuddling would have to be enough until they said their ‘I Do’s’.

  “I want you to teach me how to fly.”

  He gasped. He felt heat steam over his face at her audacious request, then he tossed his head back and laughed. When his humor diminished he looked at her serious expression and swept her into his arms, just before she jumped from the truck, disappointment plastered on her face.

  “Great idea,” he said.

  Her eyes widened on him and his heart raced a the smile on her face. “You mean it?”

  Before his lips settled over hers he grinned and murmured, “We’ll fly together, to the moon, baby, and back again.”

  Epilogue

  5 months later

  Cassandra stood in the church entryway, ready to walk down the aisle, with no hesitation. Never had she been happier; never had she been so sure of anything in her life. She would walk alone for she had no one to give her away, but it didn’t matter. The man who would be in her life forever was waiting for her. Leif.

  The small Lutheran church was only half full, the guests composed of a few close friends of each of them, Leif’s family, and several shop owners from Crane Lake. It was perfect, she thought, small and intimate, just the way the two of them wanted. She wished her father and mother were still alive to see her marrying, but somehow she imagined they knew of her happiness.

  She sighed as she watched Leif standing near the altar, dressed in a perfectly fitted black tuxedo, white shirt, black vest, and tie. Her handsome groom was shuffling his feet a bit as he moved from side to side, his big hands clasped in front of him, watching her steadily—almost daring her to walk down the aisle—to him. Beside him was his uncle. Walking down the aisle, ahead of her, was Maxie, her only attendant.

  Recalling the tears of joy spilling down Maxie’s cheeks when she’d asked her to be her attendant, made her smile. But the coup de grace was when Cassandra gave Maxie a complete make-over and helped her select a gown to wear—a deep red satin gown that was elegant, ending at the tip of Maxie’s toes. She looked lovely, clutching a single red rose in her hand as she regally walked down the aisle.

  Holding her full bouquet of red roses with white baby’s breath in one hand, Cassandra swept her free hand down the front of her white lace gown, smoothing it, then resumed clutching the bouquet with both hands as she took the first step toward the life she’d wanted for what seemed like forever.

  There was snow on the ground for April was still winter up in the north country. But soon spring would come, and then she and Leif could start rebuilding and making the changes they’d agreed upon for Gateway. Happiness had settled inside her when Leif had agreed to the changes and had even hired the contractor and builder to begin the work as soon as weather permitted.

  As she slowly walked toward Leif—her future—her heart quickened it’s pace at the possibility of him racing out the side door, but then it left her as quickly as it came. Leif wouldn’t leave her. She knew that. He’d been the one constant thing in her life since returning to him and Gateway.

  He would always be there for her.

  Still, she breathed a relieved sigh when she reached him and he took her hand and tucked it through his arm, holding her beside him as they faced the minister.

  Cassandra almost thought she heard the same sounds of relieved sighs from their guests.

  “You look beautiful,” he whispered.

  Her eyes filled with tears as she looked up and met his appreciative gaze. “And you look like my hero in that tuxedo.”

  “Hero, huh?” he scoffed. “Hardly, Cassie girl.”

  “Yes, you are. Thank you for marrying me. I promise, you won’t regret it.”

  “Thank you for having me. I promise, you won’t regret it.”

  “Uh, can we get started now?” the minister whispered, looking at them with a timid smile.

  “We already have,” Leif said with a nod.

  Cassandra nearly laughed out loud, but refrained and squeezed his hand, refusing to let it go through the entire ceremony—even after he placed the wedding band on her finger.

  THE END

  About the Author

  Nancy Schumacher is the owner-publisher of Melange Books, LLC, writing under the pseudonyms, Nancy Pirri and Natasha Perry. Nancy started writing eighteen years ago while raising four children. She is a member of Romance Writers of America. She is also one of the founders of the Minnesota RWA chapter, Northern Lights Writers (NLW).

  Nancy's debut historical romance, THE MACAULAY BRIDE, set in late 19th century Scotland, was published in 2003. The debut book received several contest wins and received a TOP PICK award from Romantic Times Book Club publication in Oct. 2004. BAIT SHOP BLUES is her second full-length novel. She has written five full-length novels, and many stories included in anthologies with Melange Books, LLC.

  www.nancypirri.com/

  www.facebook.com/NancyPirriAuthor

  Short Stories by the author

  To Love A Music Master in Christmas Collectibles Anthology

  Amy’s Gift in Holiday Treats Anthology

  Wishes and Kisses in Summer Sensations Anthology

  To Tame A Gambler in Western Ways Anthology

  Riding Blue Steel

  When Maggie Loved Patrick…then John

  Novels by the author

  A Little Holiday Magic, author anthology

  Make Me Behave with Tara Fox Hall

  Ruined Hearts, writing as Natasha Perry

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  The MacAulay Bride (reissue)

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