entire distance. In theory, the trailer had been sealed by the collector and would not be opened again until I signed off on it. Certainly not the most efficient or cost effective method, but the most secure, provided the driving team — a married couple who preferred the nomad lifestyle — was honest and vigilant.
It was the freight company’s job to vet their drivers, and they had an excellent track record. It was the most subtle and protected form of transport we could get without bulletproof plating. I also suspected the drivers were armed, if informally. It’s not at all uncommon for long-haul drivers, regardless of their cargo, to carry a gun or two, just because they see long stretches of lonely road and plenty of sketchy characters on their travels.
My laptop pinged as an alert message popped up. The drive team was making excellent progress, and their estimated time of arrival was bumped up to Tuesday afternoon.
Tomorrow!
I jumped up, banged my knee on the support under the table and sat back down fast. “Ow.” I massaged the sore spot.
“Babe?” Pete stuck his head around the door seal.
“Clumsy.” I grinned at him. “Tomorrow’s the big day.”
“Didn’t we just have the big day?”
I scooted off the bench in proper form this time and went to him. “It was the best day—” I stretched up, wrapped my arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his cheek, “—ever. But the shipment’s arriving tomorrow.”
Pete’s hands found their perfect spot in the small of my back. “We might just beat the odds this time. I haven’t heard a peep around town,” he murmured against my neck.
“Good.” I sighed and relaxed into his chest. “We can’t afford to have anyone know about this shipment, at least not until I’m ready to put it on display — and the foundation’s finished, and we have a security system installed. Rupert’s working on the new insurance policy, but I don’t think he has it finalized yet. This is crazy,” I whispered. “Like walking a high wire tightrope.”
“It’ll boost the number of visitors.”
“I sure hope so.”
“Then maybe the museum can afford to hire more staff and you can take a vacation — with me.” Pete’s hands moved into tickle territory.
“The vacation’s non-negotiable,” I said, wriggling. “Just as soon as the shipment’s reasonably secured, we’re out of here.”
“Amen to that.” Pete laced his fingers through mine. “Want to see your new bedroom?”
Just before I fell asleep, lying in the gently rocking dark, listening to the Columbia’s rolling waves slap against the side of the tug, I murmured, “I’m glad we were here — to be with the Tinsleys — even though we haven’t had a honeymoon yet. If we’d been gone—” I turned my face toward Pete on the pillow we were sharing.
“Yeah, Babe,” he whispered, “we’re home. This is exactly where we belong.”
oOo
The next morning over bacon and mushroom omelets — Pete’s specialty — we discussed who would do what. It was a first for me, this sharing of responsibilities — and decided that we could pick up Tuppence together, but Pete would have to shuttle the Tinsleys by himself since the truck only held three adults in semi-comfortable condition. Besides, I had some preparation to do at the museum before the shipment arrived. I was loving how sweet mundane tasks were turning out to be when done in his company.
Next week, Pete would be back to work as well, with days- or weeks-long trips on the Columbia-Snake river system, and he’d be busy at least until the end of harvest. I’d be on my own a lot then. But he had a great crew, and he’d be able to finagle a three-day weekend for an official honeymoon as soon as I could leave the museum.
It was already another scorcher, and we rode with the windows down. My truck is far too old to have such a modern convenience as air conditioning. Freckles had popped up all over my body, not just across my
It was the freight company’s job to vet their drivers, and they had an excellent track record. It was the most subtle and protected form of transport we could get without bulletproof plating. I also suspected the drivers were armed, if informally. It’s not at all uncommon for long-haul drivers, regardless of their cargo, to carry a gun or two, just because they see long stretches of lonely road and plenty of sketchy characters on their travels.
My laptop pinged as an alert message popped up. The drive team was making excellent progress, and their estimated time of arrival was bumped up to Tuesday afternoon.
Tomorrow!
I jumped up, banged my knee on the support under the table and sat back down fast. “Ow.” I massaged the sore spot.
“Babe?” Pete stuck his head around the door seal.
“Clumsy.” I grinned at him. “Tomorrow’s the big day.”
“Didn’t we just have the big day?”
I scooted off the bench in proper form this time and went to him. “It was the best day—” I stretched up, wrapped my arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his cheek, “—ever. But the shipment’s arriving tomorrow.”
Pete’s hands found their perfect spot in the small of my back. “We might just beat the odds this time. I haven’t heard a peep around town,” he murmured against my neck.
“Good.” I sighed and relaxed into his chest. “We can’t afford to have anyone know about this shipment, at least not until I’m ready to put it on display — and the foundation’s finished, and we have a security system installed. Rupert’s working on the new insurance policy, but I don’t think he has it finalized yet. This is crazy,” I whispered. “Like walking a high wire tightrope.”
“It’ll boost the number of visitors.”
“I sure hope so.”
“Then maybe the museum can afford to hire more staff and you can take a vacation — with me.” Pete’s hands moved into tickle territory.
“The vacation’s non-negotiable,” I said, wriggling. “Just as soon as the shipment’s reasonably secured, we’re out of here.”
“Amen to that.” Pete laced his fingers through mine. “Want to see your new bedroom?”
Just before I fell asleep, lying in the gently rocking dark, listening to the Columbia’s rolling waves slap against the side of the tug, I murmured, “I’m glad we were here — to be with the Tinsleys — even though we haven’t had a honeymoon yet. If we’d been gone—” I turned my face toward Pete on the pillow we were sharing.
“Yeah, Babe,” he whispered, “we’re home. This is exactly where we belong.”
oOo
The next morning over bacon and mushroom omelets — Pete’s specialty — we discussed who would do what. It was a first for me, this sharing of responsibilities — and decided that we could pick up Tuppence together, but Pete would have to shuttle the Tinsleys by himself since the truck only held three adults in semi-comfortable condition. Besides, I had some preparation to do at the museum before the shipment arrived. I was loving how sweet mundane tasks were turning out to be when done in his company.
Next week, Pete would be back to work as well, with days- or weeks-long trips on the Columbia-Snake river system, and he’d be busy at least until the end of harvest. I’d be on my own a lot then. But he had a great crew, and he’d be able to finagle a three-day weekend for an official honeymoon as soon as I could leave the museum.
It was already another scorcher, and we rode with the windows down. My truck is far too old to have such a modern convenience as air conditioning. Freckles had popped up all over my body, not just across my
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