The Alpine Winter

by Mary Daheim

  Suddenly I could breathe. The pressure was off my throat, even though Curtis still lay on top of me. He lifted his head just enough so that I could see his wretched face. His eyes were wide and his mouth was open. I was so traumatized that I must’ve blacked out for a few seconds. The next thing I knew, I no longer felt his weight. When I dared to open my eyes, Milo was kneeling beside me.

  “You’re safe,” he said in a ragged voice before speaking into his cell. I caught only “ambulance,” “backup,” and “Doc.”

  Milo was still on his knees. He rested his forehead on one hand and took a deep breath. “Can you move?” he asked hoarsely. “I have to stay with the perp.”

  Dazedly, I saw Curtis twitching and whimpering on the floor a few feet away in my bedroom. One wrist was handcuffed to the leg of the bureau. The sheriff’s King Cobra Magnum lay not far from my shoulder. I couldn’t speak, let alone move. Milo glanced at the miserable mess that was Curtis before carrying me to the sofa. Wordlessly, he returned to the bedroom. I was still shaking all over when I heard the first of the sirens.

  Jumbled thoughts raced through my chaotic brain. The door. Locked? Deputies. Medics. How would they get in? Was I really alive? Had I imagined seeing Milo?

  “Ms. Lord!” Dustin Fong cried. “Are you okay?”

  I’d never heard Dustin raise his voice before. I was vaguely aware of Jack Mullins and Sam Heppner on his heels. They both ran through the living room and disappeared. Dustin asked where he could find a blanket for me. I waved in the direction of Adam’s room. The deputy left just as Tony Lynch and Del Amundson arrived with a gurney.

  Del stopped on the threshold. “We’re here for …?” I motioned toward the hall. He told Tony to wait until he talked to the sheriff. A moment later, Del reappeared, beckoning to his partner to bring the gurney.

  Dustin returned with a Hudson Bay blanket and carefully put it over me. “Can I get you something before Doc comes?” he asked.

  “Doc?” I said, speaking for the first time.

  Dustin nodded. “Dodge insists. He’s really upset.”

  I groaned. “He’s upset?” I flung an arm over my eyes and shuddered. “It’s my fault.” I hid my face against the sofa’s back.

  “Hey, Ms. Lord, don’t, it’s not …” He stopped.

  I heard Milo close by. “Go ahead, Dustman, ride in the ambulance. I’m freed up. I handed my weapon over to Heppner.”

  “Yes, sir,” Dustin said. “Bye, Ms. Lord. Take care.”

  I rolled onto my back. Milo knelt by the sofa, his hand on my head, his face buried on my breast. “Jesus,” he said, muffled. “Jesus.”

  I flung an arm over his shoulders. “I thought you were dead. I didn’t care if I died, too.”

  “Oh, Emma …” He lifted his head. “Damn, I don’t deserve you.”

  I couldn’t quite smile. “We deserve each other.”

  He just looked at me for so long that it seemed like I could see into his soul. “What happened?” I finally asked.

  Milo took a deep breath. His voice was still a bit ragged. “I saw fresh footprints, not touched by the new snow. I got out of the Cherokee and followed them. Then, just when I went through the carport, I heard glass breaking. It sounded like it came from the Cherokee. I’d never put my hat back on, and when I’d gotten out, I’d propped it on top of my seat. The perp threw the bomb in there. The next thing I knew, the whole damned thing exploded. I hit the ground.”

  I shuddered. “Curtis thought you were still in the car.”

  “I told you it was an amateur operation—thank God.” He shook his head. “Anyway, I followed the footprints to your bedroom window. Curtis had jimmied it. I saw … You know what I saw in the hall.” He touched my cheek. “It all happened in what? Not more than five minutes?”

  “It seemed like forever.” I took his hand and held it to my breast. “Your poor car.”

  “No big deal.” Milo was beginning to sound more like himself. “I’ve been thinking about a new one. And I’m glad about the hat. I want to do away with those things. They make me look too damned tall.”

  “You’d look good to me in a dunce cap.”

  Milo smiled wryly. “I should get one for this case.”

  “Get two. I don’t know why I never thought about Curtis. I suppose I spent too much time trying to forget him.”

  “Main Cure,” Milo muttered. “Curtis Mayne. Now it makes sense. Damn! I never heard back from Andy Cederberg about that PO box.”

  I didn’t get a chance to respond. “Which one’s the patient?” Doc Dewey inquired in a bemused voice as he entered the house with Vida at his heels like a hound dog on the scent.

  “Goodness!” she cried. “Didn’t I say they were both insane? Now see what a fine mess they’ve gotten themselves into. Oh—here comes the gurney. Who …” She sucked in her breath. “Curtis? No! I feel faint!”

  Milo had looked up. So did I, just as Vida fell into the easy chair.

  “Vida!” Doc cried. “Let me help you.”

  The sheriff got to his feet. “You take care of Vida, Doc. I’m getting a couple of stiff drinks for Emma and me.”

  “Bring two more,” Doc called. “We’re skipping Alf’s funeral.”

  I realized Doc was wearing a dark suit and tie. I sat up, huddled under the blanket. Vida’s head was between her knees while Doc hovered. Her hat was on the floor—not the desert number I’d seen in what seemed like another life, but a black froth of feathers and net.

  “I’m fine,” she declared waspishly, even though Doc was taking her pulse. “I’m merely stunned. Who would have guessed …”

  “Hush,” Doc said softly. “I’ll take your blood pressure.” He reached into his kit that he’d set down by the easy chair. Noticing Milo arrive with two drinks, Doc warned me not to take even a sip. “You’re next, Emma.” He turned back to Vida. “Roll up your sleeve, please.”

  “Oooh … such a fuss!”

  Doc scowled at her. “Vida …”

  Milo set our drinks on the end table. “I just talked to Bill. REI sold those boots to Curtis.”

  Vida’s head shot up. “Billy?”

  “Damn, Vida,” Doc said, putting the cuff on her arm, “be still!”

  “Mind your language … Ow! That’s too tight!”

  “I should’ve put it over your mouth,” Doc muttered. “Remind me, Vida, the next time I get an emergency call just before a funeral starts, you aren’t coming with me. You’re not a nurse.”

  Milo had gone back to the kitchen. Doc finally got his reading. “You’re almost normal,” he said to Vida, shaking his head. “You have the constitution of an ox.”

  “I should hope so,” Vida retorted. “I was just shocked when I saw that crazy ninny on the gurney. Did he really cause all this trouble?”

  I shrugged. “I guess so. He always wanted to be famous. Now he will be. Thank God there’s a law to prevent him from profiting by a book he might write in prison. Assuming, of course, he doesn’t die.”

  “He won’t,” Milo said, returning with the other drinks. “I shot him in the ass.” He handed Vida what appeared to be a screwdriver. Like Milo, Doc drank Scotch. “Where do I put yours, Doc?”

  “By that other chair. Don’t sit too close to Emma. I have to check her out,” Doc said. “In fact, you don’t look so good, either.”

  “I’m fine now,” Milo said. “Fifteen minutes ago, I wasn’t so sure.”

  Doc put the cuff on my arm. “If you could aim your weapon exactly where you wanted to,” he said to Milo, “you’re probably in better shape than most people. But you know the aftershock can be rough.”

  “Right,” Milo agreed, still standing. “It’s not the first time.”

  I kept quiet while Doc examined me. “Your throat’s bruised,” he said. “This Curtis didn’t inflict any other injuries that I can’t see?”

  I understood his discreet inquiry. “Milo shot him before he could do anything else.”

  Doc patted my arm. “All things consi
dered, you’ll be fine. I’ll call in some prescriptions for you.” He looked at Milo, who’d sat down next to me. “You take good care of her.” It was a statement, not an order.

  “I almost didn’t,” Milo said with remorse.

  “ ‘Almost’ doesn’t count,” Doc said, going over to the side chair. “You did what you had to. I’ll drink to that.” He raised his glass.

  Fifteen minutes later, Doc and Vida left. They could still make the reception. I asked Milo if he should attend, too.

  “Are you nuts?” He had his arm around me. “I’m not going anywhere. In fact, I can’t. I’m on leave. I shot someone, remember?”

  “Oh. Yes.” I closed my eyes. “I can’t even think.”

  “Don’t.” He kissed the top of my head. “My hands-off policy didn’t work so well for either of us, did it?”

  “It made sense at the time,” I said, opening my eyes. “At least I remembered the damned boots and you took me seriously. But I’d rather not do it again. Maybe we could act like grown-ups. In public.”

  “Maybe.” He tapped my chin. “You’re beat. You need a nap.”

  “You look tired, too. How did you sleep on the sofa?”

  Milo chuckled. “Damned little. I bought it after Mulehide left, so I never had to sleep on it. Besides, I was trying to think. Without you.”

  “Let’s both …” I gasped. “Adam! Ben! Do they know?”

  “Probably not. Do you really want to deal with them now?”

  “I don’t think I can,” I admitted.

  “I figured as much. I’ll put you to bed.” He grimaced. “You’ll have to sleep in the spare room, though.”

  “Why?”

  “That prick bled on your bedroom rug after I cuffed him. The room has to be processed. Doe and Jack can do that, but now we’re shorthanded with the cemetery escort and my …” He shook his head. “Curtis caused a freaking mess. Bernie Shaw may want to kill both of us with all our insurance claims.”

  “Don’t say that!” I cried.

  Milo looked chagrined as he smoothed my hair. “But it’s over.”

  I was able to smile. Finally. “Yes,” I said, “it is.”

  NINETEEN

  IT WAS ALMOST DARK WHEN ADAM AND BEN SHOWED UP. I’D JUST awakened, having heard the arrival of Doe and Jack a few minutes earlier. The door to Adam’s room remained closed, but I recognized the voices even if I couldn’t make out what was being said.

  The truth was I didn’t care. I ached all over and still felt drained. Hungry, too, realizing I hadn’t eaten since morning. My watch said it was five-ten. I’d slept for over three hours. The horror of what had happened overcame me. I didn’t want to budge.

  It was Adam who cautiously opened the door a few minutes later. He tiptoed into the room, apparently thinking I was still asleep. I called his name. “Mom!” he cried, hurrying to the bed. “How are you?”

  “Wretched,” I confessed as he took my hand. “I’m an idiot.”

  Gingerly, he sat on the edge of the bed. “Dodge told us what happened.” His face was grave. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Don’t say anything. I just need time to collect myself.”

  “No kidding.” My son’s expression was ironic. “Just from a bomb and a homicidal rapist nut? You should toughen up, Mom.”

  I felt as if I was smiling, but couldn’t be sure. “Oh, Adam!”

  He squeezed my hand. “Dodge had me pick up prescriptions for you on the way over. Tranqs and painkillers. You want a handful?”

  “Just the painkillers. I’m hungry.”

  “You’re not supposed to eat the painkillers, you’re—”

  Milo was in the doorway. “You’re awake,” he said.

  “Yes.” I smiled at him. “Dr. Lord is getting my meds.”

  Adam took his cue. “Be right back,” he said, making way for Milo.

  The sheriff came over to the bed, but remained standing. “I should’ve come inside with you.”

  I raised my head. “No! If you had, Curtis might’ve thrown the bomb in the house. It’s my fault for not thinking of him. He was what kept eluding me. I’ll bet the fire was meant for you, too. Maybe he’d seen your car at my house Tuesday night and thought you might be here again Wednesday. You said we might both be targets when we thought the Nelson kids acted on their own. I fired him, you humiliated him. After you booted him out of jail, he left town without coming back to the office. The Canon we use is the one he left behind. That’s why the other camera kept bugging me.”

  “You must feel better. You can’t seem to shut up.”

  I slumped back on the pillow. “Sorry.”

  He knelt on one knee. “Hey—it’s fine. Damn it, I can’t take care of you even when I’m taking care of you.”

  I touched his cheek. “I’m still alive. If not for you, I’d have been dead a long time ago. You’ve done everything including kill for me.”

  “You’re worth it.” He looked away. “Back then, I shot that perp not just for you, but for Honoria.”

  I was stunned. “No!”

  He nodded. “She thanked me.”

  I couldn’t help it. I was angry and hurt. “You never told me that!”

  His hazel eyes shifted back to my face. “I knew you’d get mad.”

  “Did she thank you all the way from California?”

  “She wrote me a note. Hell, the perp was the guy who turned her into a cripple.” Milo’s color had darkened. “Why wouldn’t she thank me? We’d gone together for three years. Are you still jealous of her?”

  “Of course not! Was I ever?”

  Milo ran a hand through his hair. “Jesus, you practically threw me out of the house when I finally told you I was seeing her. You and I weren’t even dating back then.”

  “I was mad because I spent so much money on your damned lamb chops,” I said, still angry. “Why would I be …” I lowered my head. “Okay, I was jealous. But I didn’t know why.”

  “God, but you’re slow.” He frowned. “Anyway, she told me in the note she knew I’d always been in love with you.”

  “Oh.” I bit my lip. “Oh, dear!” I covered my face with the sheet.

  “Hey, Mom, here’s … where is she?” Adam asked.

  “Under the sheet,” Milo said. “You got any reasonable pills from Doc? Your mother is the biggest pain in the ass I’ve ever met.”

  I peeked out in time to see Milo disappear. “Ignore him,” I said. “He’s the most aggravating man on planet Earth.”

  “You guys will be really happy together,” Adam said, handing me a glass of water. “Who referees? Vida?”

  “Just give me the damned Percocet or whatever.”

  “Here,” Adam said. “Take two.”

  I obeyed. “What are Jack and Doe doing to my poor house?”

  Adam glanced into the hall. “Doe’s sweeping. Jack’s watching.”

  “That sounds like the sheriff’s staff. Can you fix me a sandwich? By the way, where’s your uncle?”

  Adam seemed uncomfortable. “He doesn’t want to talk to you until you feel better.”

  “Tell him to get his butt in here right now. I mean it.”

  Adam surrendered. “Okay. What kind of sandwich?”

  “Ham and Havarti.”

  A couple of minutes passed before Ben entered, looking bleak. “Hi.” He gazed around the small room. “I should get a chair.”

  “Sit at the end of the bed,” I said. “I’m short, remember?”

  He sat. “How are you? I mean, all things considered.”

  “I’m alive, thanks to Milo.”

  “Don’t rub it in.” His eyes kept roaming the walls before settling on me. “I have my own confession to make.” He sighed, though it didn’t seem to relieve the tension in his stiff posture. “Is Adam more mature than I am? Maybe more than you, too?”

  “Yes. I told him so.”

  “He is.” Ben relaxed a little. “I was out of line. I gave you hell about Dodge because I never thought you’d get m
arried. You and I seemed destined to be single. I had this idea that when we got old, we’d be together, like when we were kids. I’d retire around here, sub for absent priests, you’d sell the paper, we’d be back where we started, a damned nice thought.”

  I reached out to take my brother’s hand. “Oh, Ben, I never guessed what you were thinking. Now I feel sad.”

  “Don’t,” he said, squeezing my fingers. “Hell, I can still hang out with you and Dodge. When you dropped your bombshell, I couldn’t believe it. I figured it was a wild hair, like accepting Tom’s proposal. But Tom was so unpredictable that I never took it seriously. I didn’t know him very well, but you seemed nuts about him and I felt it’d be nice for Adam’s parents to get married. I do know Dodge and I like him. In some ways, like his attitude toward you, he reminds me of me.”

  That had never occurred to me, not even when I’d lumped Milo and Ben together for making me feel like a clumsy idiot. “I had no idea!”

  He uttered a small laugh. “No, Sluggly, you wouldn’t. That’s part of your charm, I guess. Here’s your waiter with a sandwich.”

  Adam had also brought a can of Pepsi and a glass. “My tip’s still at the mall. This looks like deep stuff here. Door open or closed?”

  Ben shook his head. “Just keep out the riffraff. You included.”

  My son left. Ben slapped his hands on his knees. “That’s pretty much it. I overreacted. Yes, I can try to get Dodge an annulment. It’ll take time, though, and there are no certainties. Does he know that’s a possibility?”

  “He knows what an annulment is,” I said, “no thanks to you for not mentioning it, but Adam did. There hasn’t been time to explain everything to him. But we’ve waited fifteen years. What’s another decade or so?”