“Hey, MJ.”
Lucky arrived at Aunt K’s in a white truck with government plates. A lock of brown hair fell into his eyes when he got out.
MJ flashed him a grateful smile. “I really appreciate this.”
Aunt K was becoming weary of driving MJ everywhere her counselor dictated. She lifted herself onto the passenger’s seat. Then she glanced at the safety rules pasted on the glove compartment.
“Sarah said this would be OK?”
“I don’t typically give rides to the public,” Lucky grimaced but slid into the driver’s seat. “But the USFS wouldn’t dare contradict Sarah Nash. Nor would anyone.”
MJ’s eyes laughed at Lucky.
He tucked his head like a puppy. Like that day MJ met him at The Mountain Pantry with Amber and Co watching. He started the engine.
“Thanks,” she said.
On the Farm to Market Road, they passed a fed in a sedan staked out to watch Aunt K’s place. MJ waved to the confused young man in the suit.
“Jesus MJ,” Lucky snorted.
“What?” MJ piped. “Doesn’t matter what I do. My mom and dad are gone. There’s nothing I do can do to bring them back.”
He tossed her a look—something like compassion. Or… truth. He saw the truth in her.
Her eyebrows were probably furrowed, she realized. She’d caught herself before, staring out Aunt K’s front window, at the fed on the crossroads, or while thinking of her parents, or thinking of her future. Her eyebrows raised, pinched, and became pencil thin. Her mouth serious. Like a movie, she was suddenly beautiful, older looking, and exhibiting… duress? Was that what she looked like to Lucky?
He cleared his throat. “We’ll be there in a few minutes.”
There was snow on the road. It was compact and bright, but not slick. Lucky drove with confidence.
She took a big inhalation. “So, what points of forest safety are you covering today? With meditators? Fire safety?”
Of course, the forest was blanketed in a deep layer of snow that would last to spring. She suppressed a laugh. He threw her a look.
“Mostly I let them know the USFS cares for the forest.” He kept one eye on the road and one eye on MJ. “What are you doing out there?”
She glanced at her hands. “Trying to meditate, I guess. Maybe get my sh*t together.”
He contemplated, “It’s a beautiful place to think. The yogis did find one of the special places.”
MJ eyed him. “There’s other places?”
“So many, MJ, you wouldn’t believe it.” He spoke before he seemed to think about it. She liked the way her name sounded in his mouth.
He watched her.
“I’d love to see some of those places. Someday.”
His lips raised. “I hope you do.”
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