the”—another hand gesture—“stuff and make it all, what do you call it? To Easton.”
“I heard that too,” the bartender said.
“But, here’s something you didn’t know. There’s an outsider. Some business hothead. Probably from”—he waved his hand, indicating distance—“and he wants to talk to East. You know how that’ll go. They’ll be a lot of…” The guy’s eyebrows rose, finishing his sentence for him. Yet, not.
Did anyone in this town speak properly? The guy knew those weren’t complete sentences, right?
The bartender seemed to follow without a hitch, agreeing and looking concerned. Maybe it was just me.
“I wanna find out who this guy is and see if I’m right. If there’s gonna be change, people have a right to know. If that guy walks in and is all, you know, with Easton? It’s gonna be … I don’t even wanna think about it.”
“It’s just rumors. You don’t know anything for sure.”
“Call it a hunch. I know I’m right. Have you seen any non-tourists around who don’t belong, who might have that, you know, about them?”
The bartender’s gaze flicked over his buddy’s shoulder and landed on me. My spine stiffened. Blazer man glanced back, lazily sizing me up and down again before a smile bloomed across his face. It was a hungry smile layered with ten flavors of curiosity and intent.
He shifted back to his friend. “We doing that thing tonight?”
“Yeah. My place?”
“Sure. I’ll bring the stuff, and we can … you know.”
“Sounds good.”
Blazer knocked on the counter and waved goodbye to his friend. Chin high, eyes laser-focused on me, the man approached with a confident swagger I had to respect. Closer to my table, he appraised my growing array of empty glasses. He didn’t sit, but threw a hand out, adopting a sultry, bedroom worthy gaze.
“Josiah Nipissing.”
I studied the outstretched hand but decided not to take it. The day I let a man have the upper hand was the day I might as well lay down my cards and quit. This guy was aiming for control, and I didn’t give up control to anyone.
Blazer guy—Josiah—was nothing more than amused. Retracting his hand, he held the strap on his shoulder bag instead. “You’re not from around here.”
“What gave me away?”
“Well, most folks in this town don’t”—he nodded at my choice of clothes—“like that. Also, Lucky got that whole”—he made a circle around his face with a finger—“which said it all.”
“Wow.”
“What?”
I laughed and shook my head. “Nothing. You people around here are just…” I couldn’t find the word that adequately described my befuddlement.
“I know.”
And of course, the guy understood me fine. “I’m sorry, Josiah, was it? Can I help you?”
“Are you the guy from Edmonton who works for that”—he waved a hand—“who wants to deal with East?”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“You see, I was chatting with Rosa at the lodge. Her husband heard from his brother who works at the stables that East got a visitor, and it was all very … you know.” Josiah nodded his head like I should know.
“Wish I could help you.” Advertising my purpose in town wasn’t going to help, especially when I’d barely had a chance to meet with Easton.
“I know things.” Josiah leaned closer, lowering his voice. “We should talk. Can I join you?”
Was it a loaded question? I couldn’t decide if he was another town-folk looking for gossip or if he was hitting on me in some strange way.
“You know, I was enjoying the peace and quiet.”
“We could go somewhere else and … you know. Either now or if there’s a better time today, you can—” He nodded as though I somehow knew what he was thinking. “What do you think?”
I scrubbed the back of my neck and chuckled. “Buddy, I don’t know if talk is a euphemism or if you actually mean talk. You’re throwing me mixed messages, and there is a distinct lack of structure to your sentences.”
He smirked. “Why are you here in Jasper?”
“Why are you here?” I waved a hand around the bar.
“Investigating what’s going on in my small town so I can”—he shrugged—“you know.”
“No, I don’t know. I don’t have a clue what the hell you’re saying. You have barely completed one sentence since you walked in the door.”
Josiah shrugged again, unaffected by what I said. “No matter. I’ll find out. I have my ways, you know.” He winked and flipped a business card from his pocket, placing it on the table. “In case you change your mind.”
Then he strolled away.
I spun on my chair to watch him. “Change my mind about what?”
But