sniffed and ordered another drink. “Not for long.”
Mina shook her head at Mike the bartender and he nodded, pouring Courtney a cup of coffee instead. Courtney dropped her head onto Britann’s shoulder.
“Make that three problems we need to fix,” Britann said as she wrapped her arm around Courtney and held her, offering her some comfort.
“What is this group really?” Seana asked, suspiciously.
Mina handed her another beer. “We’re the Real Housewives of Dutch Harbor and we keep this town running.”
“By meddling in other people’s affairs?”
“That’s one way to look at it.”
“If you plan on meddling in mine, that’s how I’m going to look at it. I’m also going to tell you to butt the hell out.”
“You ever live in a small town, Deputy Chief?” Mina asked.
“Fairbanks isn’t a huge metropolis.”
“Compared to Unalaska, it might as well be New York,” Greta said.
That was stretching it a bit.
“We take care of our own,” Mina continued. “There isn’t anyone else we can depend on. The men outnumber the women ten to one. Most of the time they’re out fishing, and there isn’t anyone to take care of us but each other. We’re a close knit community.”
“That’s all fine and good, and I commend you for watching out for each other, but that doesn’t mean you’re saddling me with Treat Devereux.”
“Not saddling,” Mina stressed.
“Though I’d like to ride him,” Courtney added, straightening and taking a sip of her coffee. Greta and Britann gave a nod in agreement.
“Hooking you up,” Mina said. “Big difference.”
“Not the way I see it. And I don’t need hooked up or saddled with anyone. My life is fine just the way it is.”
The housewives shared a disbelieving look.
“I mean it.”
“We hear you,” Mina said.
But she didn’t think they did.
“I do have something you can help me with,” Seana said, almost laughing as all eyes brightened with expectation. Wow, a town with no entertainment, and these women had found something to keep them occupied. “I need a place to live. The hotel isn’t working out.”
“Oooh.” Mina frowned and shook her head. “Not a lot of properties available.”
“Like none,” Courtney added. “Just trying to get Aaron in a new place has been impossible.”
“Most of the properties are privately owned,” Britann said. “Processors stay in the bunk houses. Just how picky are you?”
“I need plumbing, heat, and a roof.” Was that too much to ask for? By the tilting and shaking of their heads it seemed as if it was. “Seriously? It’s that bad?”
“The last newcomer to town had to live in the Grand Aleutian for six months until ol’ man Gerritsen died and the family rented his house out,” Mina said. “Charged him more than it was worth too.”
Seana imagined the newcomer had been happy to pay it, too, as the hotel was driving her crazy. “I need a quiet place to sleep. I’ll give up plumbing if I have to. I can shower at the station.”
“Hmm, I might have a place in mind.” Mina tapped her lips with her finger. “Give me a couple of days.”
Chapter Nine
“A boat?” Seana regarded the sailboat moored next to the dock with interest.
“You didn’t say anything about it having to be on land,” Mina said. “The guy who owns this is restoring it. He has other boats and is willing to let you live here for a reasonable amount until something else opens up.”
“How reasonable?”
Mina named a price that seemed more than fair. Cheaper than the hotel, and as Seana stood there on the deserted dock, she embraced the quiet. Seagulls squawked overhead, and eagles perched regally on the cliffs north of the dock.
This wasn’t an industrial area with a lot of boat traffic. The Bobby Storrs Small Boat Harbor Dock was more set up for smaller fishing boats and pleasure craft. Dutch Harbor seemed to have as many docks as it did city streets. The water was still and glass-like as it cradled the
Mina shook her head at Mike the bartender and he nodded, pouring Courtney a cup of coffee instead. Courtney dropped her head onto Britann’s shoulder.
“Make that three problems we need to fix,” Britann said as she wrapped her arm around Courtney and held her, offering her some comfort.
“What is this group really?” Seana asked, suspiciously.
Mina handed her another beer. “We’re the Real Housewives of Dutch Harbor and we keep this town running.”
“By meddling in other people’s affairs?”
“That’s one way to look at it.”
“If you plan on meddling in mine, that’s how I’m going to look at it. I’m also going to tell you to butt the hell out.”
“You ever live in a small town, Deputy Chief?” Mina asked.
“Fairbanks isn’t a huge metropolis.”
“Compared to Unalaska, it might as well be New York,” Greta said.
That was stretching it a bit.
“We take care of our own,” Mina continued. “There isn’t anyone else we can depend on. The men outnumber the women ten to one. Most of the time they’re out fishing, and there isn’t anyone to take care of us but each other. We’re a close knit community.”
“That’s all fine and good, and I commend you for watching out for each other, but that doesn’t mean you’re saddling me with Treat Devereux.”
“Not saddling,” Mina stressed.
“Though I’d like to ride him,” Courtney added, straightening and taking a sip of her coffee. Greta and Britann gave a nod in agreement.
“Hooking you up,” Mina said. “Big difference.”
“Not the way I see it. And I don’t need hooked up or saddled with anyone. My life is fine just the way it is.”
The housewives shared a disbelieving look.
“I mean it.”
“We hear you,” Mina said.
But she didn’t think they did.
“I do have something you can help me with,” Seana said, almost laughing as all eyes brightened with expectation. Wow, a town with no entertainment, and these women had found something to keep them occupied. “I need a place to live. The hotel isn’t working out.”
“Oooh.” Mina frowned and shook her head. “Not a lot of properties available.”
“Like none,” Courtney added. “Just trying to get Aaron in a new place has been impossible.”
“Most of the properties are privately owned,” Britann said. “Processors stay in the bunk houses. Just how picky are you?”
“I need plumbing, heat, and a roof.” Was that too much to ask for? By the tilting and shaking of their heads it seemed as if it was. “Seriously? It’s that bad?”
“The last newcomer to town had to live in the Grand Aleutian for six months until ol’ man Gerritsen died and the family rented his house out,” Mina said. “Charged him more than it was worth too.”
Seana imagined the newcomer had been happy to pay it, too, as the hotel was driving her crazy. “I need a quiet place to sleep. I’ll give up plumbing if I have to. I can shower at the station.”
“Hmm, I might have a place in mind.” Mina tapped her lips with her finger. “Give me a couple of days.”
Chapter Nine
“A boat?” Seana regarded the sailboat moored next to the dock with interest.
“You didn’t say anything about it having to be on land,” Mina said. “The guy who owns this is restoring it. He has other boats and is willing to let you live here for a reasonable amount until something else opens up.”
“How reasonable?”
Mina named a price that seemed more than fair. Cheaper than the hotel, and as Seana stood there on the deserted dock, she embraced the quiet. Seagulls squawked overhead, and eagles perched regally on the cliffs north of the dock.
This wasn’t an industrial area with a lot of boat traffic. The Bobby Storrs Small Boat Harbor Dock was more set up for smaller fishing boats and pleasure craft. Dutch Harbor seemed to have as many docks as it did city streets. The water was still and glass-like as it cradled the
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