Midnight Sons Volume 3 Read Free Page A

hadn’t.
    Mariah continued walking toward her small cabin. As she strolled past Hard Luck Lodge, Karen Caldwell stepped out onto the porch. Karen was four months pregnant, and radiantly happy.
    “Mariah,” she called. “I hear you’re going on vacation. That’s great. Where are you headed?”
    This was one thing about living in a small community that still astonished Mariah. There were few secrets, although people did seem to respect each other’s privacy. It wasn’t as though they were eager to spread gossip; it was more a matter of genuine interest and concern. News waspassed along in a friendly sort of way, often at Ben Hamilton’s place. Almost everyone in town stopped in at the Hard Luck Café at least once during the week, and some more often.
    Mariah joined her friend on the front porch of the renovated lodge, which had once belonged to the O’Hallorans and was now owned by Karen’s husband, Matt.
    “Who told you about my vacation?” she asked, curious to learn how the news had made the rounds.
    “Matt. He had coffee with Ben after John Henderson was in this morning.”
    That explained it. John Henderson was Duke Porter’s best friend. Duke had obviously mentioned he was flying her into Fairbanks, then John had told Ben and Ben had told Matt.
    “I’m meeting Tracy Santiago in Anchorage,” Mariah said. “I’ve been in Alaska over a year now, and I thought it was time I played tourist.”
    “Have a great trip,” Karen said. “But don’t let the bright lights of the big city dazzle you.”
    “Not to worry. This is my home.” And it was. Mariah had no desire to stay in Anchorage—or return to Seattle. Her commitment had been for one year, but she fully expected to settle in Hard Luck permanently. The cabin, for whatever it was worth, and the twenty acres of land promised her in the contract had been deeded to her. Mariah had achieved what she wanted. Nothing held her in Hard Luck now except her love of the community and those in it.
    Especially Christian.
     
    C HRISTIAN WALKED into the Hard Luck Café and slid onto a stool at the counter. Ben Hamilton was busy writing the dinnerspecial on the blackboard. Moose pot roast in cranberry sauce with mashed potatoes and gravy. Christian studied the board intently.
    “A little early to be eating, isn’t it?” Ben asked.
    “Of course it is.” It was only four-thirty, and he generally didn’t have dinner until six or later.
    “You just ate lunch three hours ago,” Ben reminded him.
    Christian knew exactly when he’d had lunch. He hadn’t come into the café for food. He wanted to complain. Sawyer had barely left, and already Christian felt at the end of his rope. Between dealing with Mariah and the increased workload, he’d completely lost his composure. He sure hoped Sawyer didn’t stay in Fairbanks longer than a couple of days.
    “You got something on your mind?” Ben asked, leaning against the counter.
    “Yeah.”
    “Well, I’ll tell you what I said to young Matt not so long ago. If you want advice, it doesn’t come free. Not anymore.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Did you come in here to eat or to talk?” Ben asked curtly.
    Christian had noticed a difference in Ben’s temperament ever since he’d started his frequent-eater program. Apparently he’d decided that from now on, nothing was free. Not even speech. Christian was almost surprised Ben wasn’t charging him for sitting on the stool.
    “How about some coffee?” Christian muttered.
    Ben’s mouth formed a slow grin. “Coming up.”
    Christian righted the mug and Ben promptly filled it. Staring at it reminded him that Mariah had made coffee for him nearly every morning for a year. He couldn’t count the number of times he’d told her he liked his coffee black. Somedays she added sugar, some days cream, some days both. But he could count on one hand the days she’d gotten it right.
    “So what’s bugging you?” Ben asked.
    Christian shook his head. Now that he was