Page 5 of Slay Bells

“Look!” she exclaimed with the energy of a Labrador on speed. “I bet that’s yours.”

“Well don’t just stand there, take your ugly bag,” the woman snapped, pushing Gabriela’s suitcase away. “That’s my suitcase.” She pointed at the carousel.

The old woman shoved her aside and toddled to the carrousel. She tugged at a suitcase, but it didn’t budge.

“I think your grandmother needs help,” a teenager stated.

“Ah.” Gabriela couldn’t think of what else to say. Not only was the woman a white-haired Caucasian, but she was also definitely nothing like her Mexican-American abuelita. Deciding it was best to help so that people didn’t think she was mean to her grandma, Gabriela let out a resigned sigh and reached for the woman’s bag.

At the same time, the old woman yanked the bag off the carousel. The woman stumbled backward gaining momentum that sent them both stumbling backwards. Gabriela’s heel hit her luggage and before she knew it, she was on her back, staring at the ceiling.

I’ll be home for Christmas screeched over the sound system.

The old woman looked down at her. “Now, which one is mine?”

Gabriela pointed to the one next to her. “This one.” She sat up and let out a breath, not daring to look around.

“Oh good.” The woman grabbed the handle and smiled down at her. “Don’t sit on the floor dear, it’s probably very dirty.”

Gabriela did her best to get up gracefully. She kept her gaze down as she hoisted the purse strap onto her shoulder. “You okay?”

Her head jerked up. She’d forgotten all about hunky man, who now stood in front of her, with a crooked grin. “Seems you’re having a hard time there.”

“Ah…no…I mean yeah. Thanks.” So much for giving a good first impression. Her words kept coming out as if she’d reverted to eighth grade. “I got it…them…my bags.”

“Okay.” He turned to the older woman. “Ready Aunt Rita?”

The woman gave Gabriela a warm smile before looking to her nephew. “Ready as ever.”

Arms at her sides and shoulders rounded, Gabriela watched the handsome man walk away.

She’d certainly made a grand fool of herself. Good thing she’d never see him again.

Across the carousel, she caught sight of the man she’d tripped earlier. He gave her a wide-eyed look and then turned on his heel and hurried away.

“I hate Montana,” Gabriela muttered lugging the suitcase and carry-on behind her, she made her way to the rental car desk. Hopefully she’d make it to the ranch without any additional incidents.

The drive to the ranch would be easy. It was situated just outside the larger city of Missoula. The owners had given her precise directions, telling her it was about half an hour from the airport.

Once outside the airport, the cold air and snow-covered ground made Gabriela hesitate and look back toward the airport. It had been a long time since she’d driven in snow. As she made her way to stall number eighteen, she kept an eye on the surroundings. Seemed like the streets were kept clear of ice and snow.

Gabriela could take her time deciding where to stop and eat prior to heading out to the ranch. After all, she wasn’t expected until that evening. She’d caught an earlier flight but had not told the couple who owned the ranch about an earlier arrival. This way she could take her time and do a bit of driving around to get a feel for the area before settling in for the evening.

She drove down a side street following her phone’s directions to a chain restaurant when a naked man darted out from behind a dumpster and waved at her. He smiled broadly, acknowledging her with a nod.

It was definitely too cold to be naked. In her rearview mirror, his scrawny body kept her attention since he continued standing in the road.

“Damn it.” Gabriela turned around and pulled to the side. She dialed 9-1-1 and waited for someone to answer.

“There’s a naked man in the street.”

“Skinny and ugly?” The dispatcher sounded bored.

“Ummm, I suppose.” Gabriela gave them the street name and the name of a nearby business she could see.”

It sounded as if someone asked where Detective Hawkins was. The dispatcher told her someone would be there soon to collect the man, who she pronounced to probably be Henry.

Hawkins was the name of the family she was staying with.