Better to rest Read Free Page B

What else?
    “John offered him his old job back.
    “His old job?
    “Uh-huh.
    “His old job, as in, his old job in Anchorage?
    “Uh-huh.
    “Oh.
    “So you see.
    “I sure do. Where can I buy a gun?
    “Jo.
    “If he dumps you again, Wy, I swear Ill
    “He didnt dump me last time; I dumped him.
    “He could have left his wife, and he didnt.
    “He had a baby son at the time. He couldnt leave both of them.
    “He could if hed loved you enough.
    “He could if he was a total slimeball, Jo, and that wasnt the guy I fell for. Now knock it off. Im done with that, and you should be, too.
    A brief silence while Jo battled her baser self. “So whats he going to do?
    “I dont know.
    Jo raised an eyebrow.
    “What? Wy said. She knew that eyebrow.
    “You havent asked him.
    “He hasnt said.
    “You havent asked him? Jo said, making it a question this time.
    “I dont think he knows.
    “You havent asked him!
    Wy gave a quick glance around to see who was listening. “Stop yelling. He hasnt given John an answer, okay? And John asked almost a month ago.
    “Ahuh. Well. Jo put her hands on her hips and surveyed Wy from head to toe. “Things must be pretty tense around the Chouinard household. You let Liam move in yet?
    Wy hunched a shoulder.
    “Right. Why not?
    Wy didnt answer.
    “Yeah, Jo said. “So, getting so much in the way of solid commitment from you, naturally he would leap at the chance to blow off his boss offer of promotion and spend the rest of his life in Newenham.
    Wy was as affronted at this turnabout on the part of her first, best friend as she had been annoyed at Jos attack on Liam. “So now youre on his side?
    “Somebody has to be, poor bastard.
    “Up yours, Dunaway.
    “Backatcha times two, Jo said promptly. “Okay, enough with this. You go get Tim, Ill go get Gary, and dont worry, all will be well. She waved all-inclusive hands. “Leave it to me; Auntie Jo will fix everything.
    “Thats what Im afraid of, Wy said, but she was saying it to Jos back going away.
    November 30, 1941
    A C-47 came in today with the heat exchanger out. One of the passengers kept his feet warm with a blowtorch all the way from Watson Lake. Man Im glad I wasnt on board that flight.
    The airstrip isnt even paved and everytime we land we kick dirt and ice up against the fuselage. I hope none of that stuff is making it up into the props or the engines.
    To cold today to snow. Gray overcast about ten thousand feet. Saw a dozen moose laying next to a frozen river southwest of Anchorage. They looked like theyd laid down to die and I dint blame them but theres an old Eskimo guy who hangs around the base doing odd jobs for cash who says the moose are conserving energy and that they dont move around much in the winter.
    He says hes a gold miner and that he sells it to Russians because their money is no good and they pay more than Americans will. He has to be careful because its illegal anymore for private citizens to own gold. Im wondering what the Russians buy the gold with if their money is no good but thats what he says.
    THREE
    Liam and Diana were still recovering from the fit of giggles caused by the vampire-disposal kit when they pulled up in front of the small square building with the Last Frontier Bank sign over the door. A burly man waited for them on the steps. He had a belly like a beer barrel, a head like a rectangular bullet, hair that stood up all over it in stiff white bristles, and a scowl carving lines into his cheeks and forehead. He wore button-fly jeans and a blue cashmere sweater with a button-down collar peeking out from underneath the crew neck. Liam suspected that the laces on his boots were ironed. “Brewster, he said as he stepped out of the white Chevy Blazer with the badge of his service emblazoned on its door.
    The burly man gave a curt nod. “Campbell. Took your time getting here.
    Liam felt rather than saw Diana stiffen. “We had some things to take care of at the post. He hitched up his gun belt. “Molly