Page 13 of Cole

Douglas cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. He gave the total to Janice, and she pulled out her credit card. The university paid for everything up front, and she just had to keep receipts for the final accounting when she went back to Seattle.

She paid and loaded her bags back into the cart, mind racing. So the locals had noticed problems too. That could be helpful information, or it could just be confirmation bias. People always find something to blame when the water naturally changed with the seasons. But her scientific training said otherwise. "Thanks. Stay warm during the storm."

"You too. Be careful out there."

She loaded the groceries into her truck and drove the short distance to the Bear Paw Tavern, the town's only restaurant. The burger and fries she'd been dreaming about all week waited inside, along with human company and the comforting noise of other people's conversations.

The tavern was busy for a Wednesday afternoon. The storm had brought people into town for last-minute supplies and the chance to socialize before being snowed in. Janice snagged a stool at the bar and ordered from Donna, the owner's daughter who'd been waiting tables here since high school.

"The usual?" Donna asked with a smile.

"Please. And whatever pie you've got."

"Apple today. Fresh this morning."

The burger arrived ten minutes later, gloriously greasy and topped with all the fixings she'd requested. Janice ate slowly, savoring every bite. Real food, cooked by someone else, eaten while sitting in a warm room with other people. Simple pleasures she'd taken for granted before moving to the cabin.

Donna refilled her water glass. "How's the research going?"

"Good. Interesting." Janice wiped ketchup from her fingers. "Lots of wildlife activity this time of year."

"Must get lonely out there."

"Sometimes. But I like the quiet."

The tavern door opened, bringing a gust of cold air and several people in work clothes with Northern Summit Resources patches on their jackets. Janice glanced up automatically, then froze. Three men and one woman, talking and laughing as they claimed a booth near the window.

Donna followed her gaze. "The mine workers come in pretty regular. Good tippers, I'll give them that."

Janice forced herself to look away and focus on her burger. But she was hyperaware of the group, catching fragments of their conversation, but nothing of consequence. One of the men had a deep voice that carried across the small space, complaining about the weather forecast and how it would slow them down.

“Hey, Vet-lady,” a growly voice came from behind.

She turned and grinned at the older, bear-of-a-man who entered and sat near her. “Hi, Walter. How are you?”

“Can’t complain. Fishin’s good, so that keeps me and Ruthanne fed.”

Walter and Ruthanne were home-grown Cantwell citizens, and she’d met the couple the first time she’d come to town. Ruthanne drove a school bus and helped at the closest elementary school. Walter was a fisherman by trade and offered fishing tours to tourists who wanted to try river fishing while in the area. He looked up at Donna and placed a to-go order. “Ruthanne is recuperating from a cold, and I told her I’d bring her lunch.”

“You’re such a sweetie,” Janice said, smiling at him. He looked like a gray-haired, bushy-bearded bear, but was a softie on the inside.

“Don’t know about that, but I got me a good wife, and I’ll take care of her.” After Donna left to place his order, he turned back to Janice. “How’s the wildlife you keep an eye on?”

“Interesting. I’ve seen most of the animals I expected and a few that I didn’t.” Suddenly, she thought, “Hey, have you seen any changes in the fishing lately?”

His heavy eyebrows lowered into a V. “Can’t say I have. Why?”

“Oh, just something Agnes said about the fish tasting funny and her grandson didn’t like it anymore.”

“Don’t know about that. I live way south of town, not anywhere near her. So my fish are still tasty.” He laughed while bragging.

She grinned, although she regretted asking the question, considering Walter’s voice was usually at a booming level, and she didn’t want everyone to hear. Deciding to change the subject, she said, “Hope the storm won’t keep me snowed in.”

He nodded and then moved to the topic of the upcoming storm. “It shouldn’t be too bad. Couple of days of snow.” He looked back over and added, “But as remote as you are, you need to get all your supplies today.”

She nodded and finished her last French fry. After paying, she said goodbye to Walter, asked Donna to wrap her pie to take with her, and then headed to the ladies’ room.

The bathroom was small, just two stalls and a sink with a mirror that had seen better days. As she washed her hands, the woman wearing a jacket with the mining company logo entered. Their eyes met in the mirror’s reflection.