Frannie pulled away. She winced at the frown that marred his features.
“What?”
She shook her head. “I’m okay now. Thanks.”
“That’s it? You just needed a hug?”
“Maybe you give really good hugs.”
The worry dispersed from his face. “Will you let me know if you need anything else? I’m not good at figuring out what women want. I have enough sisters to know there’s no hope of understanding you.”
Frannie curved her lips into a small smile. “You want me to make this easy for you?”
His lips compressed. “Of course you’re not going to do that.”
“No way.” She laughed.
Matthias chuckled, never releasing her from his gaze. “A guy can hope.”
Frannie blew out a breath, remembering her earlier thought about wilderness summer camp. “You know what I really need right now?”
“What?”
“A s’more.”
“I was going to fix your plumbing tonight, but I could be persuaded to join you.” He paused a beat, suddenly looking nervous. “You want to come back to the ranch with me, and we’ll make a fire?”
Chapter 9
Matthias loaded the supplies for s’mores into his backpack along with a picnic blanket. It might be chilly on the mountain. They couldn’t stay out late, not when both of them had to be up early, but it would get dark quickly so they had to be prepared.
A date. They were going on an actual date. Mostly only because a killer had made contact with her. Not a great reason, but he wasn’t going to pass it up.
Matthias pulled two cans of soda from the fridge, fumbled and dropped one. It hit the toe of his boot and spun across the floor. When he retrieved it, the top had popped out. Great. That was going to fizz like crazy when it was opened, and these were the last two. They’d have to share.
Matthias sighed and put the still-good can in the backpack. He zipped it up and turned to the door.
Bolton was leaning against the doorframe, one boot crossed over the other at his ankles and a smirk on his face.
“What?”
Bolton tried to look innocent, which made Matthias wonder why he even bothered. It never worked, probably because Bolton didn’t have an innocent cell in his body. “Not a thing, brother. How’s Frannie?”
“Frannie is fine, thank you.”
“I’m sure she is.” Some of Bolton’s humor bled from his face. “If you’re worried, I can take up some of your jobs, and you can stick closer to town for the time being.”
Matthias nodded. “I was going to ask you about that. I can get most everything done early and be in town mid-morning at the latest. You’ll just have to manage Diego and Sean the rest of the day.”
Bolton nodded. “I know how to crack the whip.”
“I know you do.” Matthias chuckled. He’d had to get in line, several times, after Bolton showed up, when the man decided they were going to do things his way. But his respect for Bolton had only grown because of it.
“Hot date?”
Matthias narrowed his eyes. “None of your business.”
Bolton mock-sighed, shaking his head. “S’mores and soda? You can’t figure out something better than that?”
“It’s what she wanted.” Matthias shrugged. “It’s not like there are any upscale restaurants in town I can take her to. There’s only Sam’s diner, where everyone’s going to see us, and I won’t get a minute’s peace to talk with her.”
“Thought about this a lot, have you?”
“Of course I have.” This was Frannie, after all. It wasn’t worth messing up, not when he thought he knew how good it could be. “I’m going to use the grill so the fire isn’t big, and we’re just going to hang out. Maybe I’ll introduce her to Danser.”
Bolton shook his head, like Matthias was the biggest disappointment he’d ever seen. “Take her to Rush.”
“We can’t hike to the hot springs in the dark.”
Bolton smirked. “Clearly you know nothing about women. First, yes it’s a treacherous path. She’s going to need you to hold her hand over the tricky spots. And the hike is worth it to get to the hot spring. Then you can make a fire in the clearing, thereby confirming your man card is firmly in place.”
Was there doubt about that? Bolton had some random ideas about women if he needed to make a real fire instead of just using the barbecue. Matthias wondered how many women had succumbed to Bolton’s tactics. “You sort of scare me.”
Bolton smirked. “Back in the day, I had some major game.”
“I’m not even sure what that means.”
Bolton laughed. “It means I know what I’m talking about. Stay here, I’m going to get something. You’ll need it.”
Matthias heard him sprint upstairs and grabbed the flashlight that sat by the front door in case the power went out. Bolton came back downstairs carrying two champagne flutes.
“For the soda?”
Bolton said, “Works every time. Pickings are slim in Sanctuary, but Frannie’s definitely a winner.”
Matthias supposed that was a complement, although Frannie might not have seen it that way. “Thanks.” He checked his watch. “She should be here any minute. I’m going to wait on the porch.”
She was riding her bike to the ranch, even when he’d offered to pick her up. Maybe she’d figured it would make this seem less like a date. She either needed that reassurance and with it less pressure, which was fine with him, or she just didn’t want him picking her up from her house, where her mom and sister would be.
Bolton said, “Have fun. Stay safe.”
Matthias laughed. “Later.”
Bolton turned down the hall to what was the dining room, where he kept his computer. All the camera feeds he’d set up on the perimeter of town showed up there, and the rancher spent his evenings making certain the town remained safe. The integrity of their security over the internet was monitored by the NSA, but part of Bolton’s job was to maintain their physical security.
It had taken weeks, but eventually Bolton had been given clearance to read the new sheriff in to his assigned task. John had been grateful Bolton and Matthias would know if there was ever a breach of the mountain range. The peaks were high enough it would take days of treacherous hiking to scale them, but it wasn’t impossible for someone to enter Sanctuary that way—if they knew what they were looking for.
Something about Bolton, and his situation, made him the perfect candidate to sit for hours at a computer and watch trees on the off chance someone tripped one of their sensors.
Matthias looked down at the thin glasses in his hands. Congratulations. They were the kind of champagne flutes a person drank out of at their wedding.
Matthias glanced at the empty hallway. Had Bolton been married before? The man never talked about his past, but he also never used the internet connection in town and had told Matthias it was a security precaution. He had more concessions than anyone else—like his truck. He guarded the perimeter, and the military had granted him every piece of equipment he’d asked for. Bolton was the only person in town who was allowed weapons.
It wasn’t the first time Matthias had wondered who this former DEA agent really was. Maybe he would never know; maybe Bolton wouldn’t ever feel like it was time to share with Matthias about his past. It wouldn’t be a commentary on their friendship, just a condition of what was likely Bolton’s emotional recovery. That was something which happened a lot in Sanctuary. People either over-shared or they never shared at all.
Like Frannie.
The white frame of her bike was the first thing he spotted. Back-lit by the orange glow of street lights from Sanctuary she rode down the ranch’s mile-long driveway. Her skirt floated around her knees as she pedaled, and the shirt she wore had no sleeves. Thankfully she was wearing canvas shoes, since sandals or flip flops would have nixed the whole hiking idea.
She smiled wide as she stopped the bike in front of the porch and hopped off, a little out o
f breath. “Hi.”
Matthias watched her walk to him, her red hair glinting in the porch light.
She giggled, taking the glasses from him and looking at them. “Special occasion?”
He slipped the backpack from his shoulder and put the champagne flutes in the folds of the blanket. She didn’t know? He’d figured it was pretty well written on his face, and probably had been ever since he’d stood with her behind the counter of the bakery talking about his nephews.
Matthias settled the backpack back on his shoulder and flipped on the flashlight. “Ready for a little walk?”
Frannie’s eyes were wide, and she cleared her throat. Maybe she had seen it. “Sure. That sounds good.”
Matthias didn’t wait for her to need his help, he held his hand out right then. They crossed the field to the path through the trees that led up the mountain. Rush was a twenty minute walk along switch-backs and over fallen trees downed in last winter’s storm. He noted a couple more they’d need to remove before winter so they could have firewood and the path would be secure.
They were almost there when he began to hear Frannie breathing harder and harder. She wasn’t out of shape, even working in a bakery. She clearly exercised, given the ease with which she’d ridden her bike to the ranch. When she coughed, he stopped.
“Are you okay?” He studied her face. “We can stop here, if you want.”
The path was well grown with trees and bushes crowding them on both sides. There was nowhere to sit, so it wasn’t ideal, but he wasn’t going to push her if she couldn’t make it.
Frannie pressed her hand to her front and sucked in a breath, coughing it out. “It’s been happening all afternoon. I just can’t catch my breath.”
“We’re almost there. We’ll take it easy, okay?”
She nodded, and they continued walking at a slower pace. “I thought I’d be okay once I got some fresh air.”
Matthias said, “Are you allergic to anything?”
“Only kiwi, and Dan doesn’t grow it.”
Matthias didn’t like that she wasn’t feeling well. If she’d told him, they could have stayed at the ranch. There wouldn’t be much privacy between Bolton, Diego and Sean. But they could’ve still had a good time. Now he felt bad she was struggling up the mountain because of Bolton’s stupid idea to—
Frannie gasped. When she pulled back on his arm, Matthias stopped. They’d entered the clearing that was Rush. At the far end of what was essentially a giant shelf on the side of the mountain, a twelve foot high fall of spring water tumbled down into a small pool.
“A hot spring?”
Matthias nodded. “It’s why they decided to put Sanctuary here. The hot springs mean geo-thermal energy which means we don’t need power lines. In terms of electricity, the town is completely self-sustaining with the added bonus of being off the power grid. Secure and energy efficient.”
Frannie laughed, which turned into a small cough. “Win, win.” She let go of his hand, wandering to the edge of the pool where she sat and looked around. “It’s beautiful here, Tias. I’m glad you brought me.”
He smiled at the sight of her sitting there. “I’m sorry you aren’t feeling well.”
She waved off his concern. “Don’t worry about me. It’ll go away. I don’t have time to be sick.”
Matthias wasn’t going to argue with that. Frannie was a formidable woman—that much was clear. She’d have to be, considering she ran a business at her age that was successful both in terms of product and financially. Frannie had to bake well, and understand accounting. It made Matthias even more proud to get to be the one who gave her the space to relax and be herself even just for a little while.
**
Frannie pulled the poker from the fire and blew out the flames on her marshmallow. “I meant to do that.”
Matthias’s grin was infectious. “Sure you did.”
“It tastes better crispy.”
“Whatever you have to tell yourself.”
Frannie nudged his shoulder with hers. The trees were still, and the stars were bright. The fire and the moonlight made it so she could see almost as if it were day. Matthias had done nothing but smile at her all evening, like they shared a delicious secret and he loved that it was theirs alone.
She mushed the marshmallow between the crackers and bit down, loving the taste of chocolate in the middle. “Way better than cupcakes.”
“Maybe you should sell these in Sweet Times.”
She grinned. “S’mores are pretty good in the oven. I haven’t made them for a long time, though. I guess I just associate s’mores with the outdoors and a fire.”
“You did that when you were a kid? Camping, and stuff like that?”
She laughed. “Uh, no.”
“You didn’t?”
“Only one time. It was a wilderness camp. I was thirteen I think, and I had to beg my dad for weeks to let me go with my friend Julia.”
“I know your mom isn’t, but your dad wasn’t the camping type either?”
Frannie swallowed, feeling the scratch in her throat that hadn’t gone away all day. Her nose burned, and there was this weird taste in her mouth she couldn’t get rid of. She was trying to ignore it right now, or Matthias would think she wasn’t having fun.
She looked at the flames, trying to figure out why watching them was so mesmerizing. “My dad was a mobster.”
“As in…the mafia?”
She nodded. “La Cosa Nostra. It means, “This thing of ours”. Which pretty much sums it up. The family.” A spark popped from the fire, and Frannie brushed the ash from her skirt. “I hardly saw him, and when he was home he was always on the phone. It would ring, and he’d rush out no matter what time it was. Family comes first, just not the one at home.”
“What happened?” Matthias’s voice was quiet.
“He killed my uncle in our living room and then tried to kill me. The FBI raided the house, and I just…decided I wasn’t going to live their way anymore. That I had to make my own choices, control my own destiny and all that.”
Matthias had gone very still. Frannie looked at him, and for the first time she saw something dangerous in Matthias. Everyone was capable of violence if they were pushed hard enough, but even with it there in his eyes she knew she would always be safe.
Only his lips moved. “He shot you?”
Frannie took his hand and lifted it to her shoulder, usually covered by her sleeve. She traced his fingers over the thin scar where the bullet had sliced through skin.
“Thank God he missed anything important.”
She squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m not sure God had anything to do with it.”
He was quiet for a second. “If God hadn’t been with you, then your dad might not have missed.”
“Maybe.” Frannie mulled it over. “I used to think God was part of everything, but only because it was my father justifying the monster he was when he left our house to do who knew what. Now I don’t know. If I believe God is there, then will I just be using Him to justify myself?”
“He is there.” Matthias lowered his hand, keeping her fingers with his. He intertwined them, and held her hand down by his leg. “Lately I’ve been wondering if He shouldn’t be part of everything, you know? Like if He really is who I believe Him to be, then I should live like that’s true. I should talk to Him all the time, about everything.” He stopped, and Frannie looked at him. “Maybe you don’t want to know about all that.”
Frannie shook her head. “I like that you want to share personal things. It’s real to you, Tias. That makes it something I want to know.”
His lips pressed into a small smile. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” She nudged his shoulder and then looked up at the sky. “I think being up here has helped. I haven’t coughed once, even with the smoke.”
He’d moved the log they were sitting on so the smoke didn’t end up in their faces. Which didn’t work perfectly when the wind kept changing direction, but he’d considered he
r. At least they could have an actual fire up here, where the smoke wouldn’t get trapped in the basin the town occupied. In the lower elevations they were restricted to grills, not open flames.
Matthias squeezed her hand. “I’m glad.”
“So how do you feel about the play?”
Frannie wasn’t sure she wanted to know what her mom had said and done at rehearsal. Matthias hadn’t mentioned it, but she couldn’t forget the way he’d looked at her and told her she was everything more than her mom. Did he really think that was true?
He said, “I think it’ll be good to get the play over with, so I don’t have to do it again for at least two years. And then maybe it’ll be some tiny part with no lines.”
Frannie laughed. Her throat caught, and she had to cough. “Shoot. I was doing so well.”
He motioned to the trail with a nod. “We can head back, if you want.”
She shook her head. “Not yet. Please.”
Matthias touched the back of her head and leaned close, pressing his lips to her forehead. “Whatever you want.”
Frannie looked aside, smiling to herself. It was almost too good to be true. Or was that her nature, assuming the worst was always going to happen to her? She shut those thoughts off before they could birth a whirlpool she’d have trouble climbing out of. Instead, she looked up at the trees.
“Someone should build a cabin up here,” she said. “Rent it out as a vacation spot so people can get away for the weekend. Everyone needs to feel like they can escape life, even here where no one leaves except for a court appearance.”
“If I was going to build a cabin up here, I’d live in it. I don’t think I’d build one and then let other people use it.”
“But you could make some serious money with a get-away spot.”
Matthias grinned. “There’s the entrepreneur in you.”
“Hey, it’s not being shallow. It’s just good business.” She laughed, and coughed.
Sighing, Frannie got up and walked to the hot spring pool. She sat on the edge of the rocks and skimmed her fingers in the warm water. It didn’t smell good, but it wouldn’t matter if she was up to her chin in the soothing water.
Sanctuary Buried WITSEC Town Series Book 2 Page 11
