Page 32 of Maple Mountain
“I’m glad you did.”I smiled and hugged her.“How are you?”
“I’m good.Nothing new.Speaking of new...”She held out her hand to Lenni.“Muddy told me about you.Lenni, right?”
Lenni blinked and took her hand.“Right.”
“I’m Lucy,” the woman explained.
“This is Muddy’s best friend, Poet’s landlord, and the owner of General Mercantile,” I said.
“Those sodas you like came in last week,” Lucy announced as she dropped Lenni’s hand.
“Last week?”I asked in confusion.“But how did?—”
“Muddy had a feeling you’d show up.”She winked.
“Muddy,” I muttered.
“Anyway, didn’t mean to stop you two.Carry on.Come in and see me when you can.Nice to meet you, Lenni.”
We scooted out of the way of the front door so Lucy could enter Sweet Teeth.
“People sure are friendly in these here parts,” Lenni teased.“Reminds me of Georgia.”
“Oh yeah, that Southern hospitality thing.It’ssonot that way in New York.”I flipped up the collar of Lenni’s coat.“Come on, let me show you around.”
We headed toward The Diner.The sign on the door readclosed, but there were men with tool belts moving throughout the space.
“What are they doing?”Lenni inquired.
“A few months ago, there was a grease fire in The Diner.I thought for sure the repairs would be done by now, but I guess not.It’s really the only restaurant in town.The Copper Mule serves amazing barbecue, but The Diner wasthebreakfast spot.Especially for cowboys and ranchers who get up super early.The Diner is a staple.”
A puff of cold wind chilled my face.I grimaced and looked over at Lenni who’d hunched lower into her coat.
She made a garbled noise, like she was trying to catch her breath.
“Forget this,” I muttered.“Let’s get to Elk Ridge and hang out with Muddy until your dad is done.”
“Sounds good to me.”
We hustled our way back toward the beast of a truck.Lenni ran to the passenger side door and scrambled into the seat.
I hoisted myself up into the driver’s side.Even though I was tall, Archer was taller, so I’d still had to make some seat and mirror adjustments.
“Is it weird that I miss Mildred?”Lenni asked as she buckled herself in.
“Nope,” I said.“She’s been my shadow for months.I usually take her with me wherever I go.It was easy with her in the city.She loves the subway, actually.”
“Yeah?”Lenni asked with a flicker of a smile, but then it wobbled.“I’ve never been to New York.Mom and I were going to ...”
I pressed the truck’s start button and the engine rumbled to life.
“Press that button,” I said, pointing.
Lenni did as I commanded and a moment later her eyes widened.“My butt is warm.”
I grinned.“Seat warmers.”
She wiggled down in her seat.“What’s New York like?Do you miss it?”
