he knew, even as his good sense warned him it was a bad idea, that he was going to find out.
* * *
BERING STROLLED INTO the Cozy Caribou an hour later and spotted Tag already sprawled out in a booth at the back of the restaurant. The Cozy Caribou was more than a restaurant; it was a family-oriented establishment and an unofficial gathering spot for the community. There were booths running along both sides of the wide building with tables scattered between. The place was essentially two sections divided in the middle—one part restaurant one part bar. Huge chunks of a spruce tree—cut, sanded and polished smooth, then formed into a U-shape—served as the divide between the restaurant and the bar.
A wide doorway complete with a set of antique saloon-style swinging doors led into the back, where alcohol was served. Stools carved from the same spruce trees were set into the floor around the bar, one side for diners and the other for drinkers. It was Tess’s rule that drinkers could dine but diners couldn’t drink. She was very strict about this and didn’t even allow drinkers to use the same door as diners.
“So, you finally came up for air, huh?” Tag asked as Bering slid into the seat across from him.
“Mmm,” Bering answered vaguely. He took a sip of the water that was already waiting for him.
“How’s the patient doing?”
“She’s going to be fine. Or she will be if she starts taking care of herself. But after talking to her assistant, I have my doubts about whether that’s going to happen.”
“Man, she’s sweet, huh? No wonder you were holed up in that hospital all weekend.”
He scowled. “Yes, she’s beautiful, but it’s not that. Something’s not right. Emily is—”
Tag flashed his cousin a quick grin. “I was talking about her assistant. Amanda, right?”
Bering nodded absently. Funny, he couldn’t really even recall whether Amanda was good-looking or not. And then he remembered that he’d definitely thought so on Friday before he’d met Emily.
“Do you know if she’s married or anything?” Tag asked.
“No, Amanda said she was involved with someone fairly recently, though. I got the impression that was part of the reason she was here.”
The waitress appeared and delivered two heavy frost-covered mugs of root beer. They placed their orders.
“To see him?” Tag asked.
“No, to get away from someone or something...” He shook his head. “She wasn’t really clear on that. She seemed a little uncomfortable talking about it.”
“Do you think she’d go out with me?”
Bering choked on his swig of root beer. “What? Tag,” he sputtered, “I don’t think that’d be a very good idea. I don’t even know if she’s out of the hospital yet.”
“Amanda was in the hospital, too? What, was it something contagious?”
“Funny,” he said with a chuckle, finally realizing what his cousin was up to.
Tag let out a booming laugh.
“I don’t know, though, Tag. Something is wrong. I’m worried about her. She’s, um... I want her...”
Tag’s smile disappeared along with his teasing tone. “You want her?”
Bering looked annoyed. “I want her to get well, Tag, is what I’m saying. She needs help.”
“Well, you’re definitely not the one to give it to her, Bering. You know that, right?”
“I do. I know that, but I can tell she’s having a really difficult time here. If you’d have seen her, and Amanda said—”
Tag interrupted, “Bering, I did see her, remember? I was the paramedic who treated her. The woman was dehydrated. She was drugged and exhausted. But what does that have to do with you?”
Bering shrugged and tried to look nonchalant. “Nothing, except that if you’d seen her in the hospital... There’s just something about her that I...”
“Bering, snap out of it, man. Need I remind you that this woman works for Cam-Field Oil & Mineral? You remember Cam-Field, right? The ‘corporation of environmental corruption,’ I believe I’ve heard you call it on more than one occasion. The fact that this woman is sad is not your fault, is not your responsibility and has nothing whatsoever to do with you.”
“Uh-huh,” Bering said absently.
Tag shook his head and said slowly, “Oh. No.”
“What?”
“You are asking for trouble here, Bering. Mark my words. Stay away from this woman.”
“Trouble, Tag? Don’t you think that’s a little dramatic?”
Tag was frowning. “No, Bering, I don’t. It’s not your job to help her. And under the circumstances, I don’t even think you should go near her.”
Bering took another drink of his root beer and then plopped his mug down on the table. “Don’t worry, Tag, I know exactly what I’m doing.”
CHAPTER THREE
THE NEXT MORNING Bering ignored the twinge of guilt. He decided it wasn’t taking advantage of an unfair situation to visit Emily under these circumstances—even though she had just been released from the hospital and she was certainly not 100 percent physically. She probably wasn’t even thinking clearly. He reminded himself that it didn’t matter. What was at stake was what mattered: his livelihood, the livelihood of his community, the integrity of the environment and that people were counting on him. He also ignored the nagging curiosity that had him wanting to see for himself that she was going to be okay.
And maybe a more informal meeting could serve a double purpose: checking on her and talking some sense into her—into Cam-Field. He knew the latter was unlikely, but at least maybe he could learn something about what he was facing. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer—wasn’t that how the old saying went? He’d never heard anyone specify as to exactly how close but he’d figure that out as he went along.
He took a quick shower and then dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt. He bundled into his down jacket, pulled on his boots and hat, and stepped outside. He started his pickup and let it warm up while he called the Cozy Caribou. He ordered two breakfasts to go, along with two large coffees.
He drove the short distance to the restaurant, picked up his order, then made his way across town and parked in front of the duplex where Amanda had told him that she and Emily were staying. He knocked softly on the door.
A tired-looking Emily opened the door wearing only, from what he could see anyway, a very thin bathrobe. Memories of her scantily clad body swam before his eyes.
“I hope I didn’t wake you. I just thought I’d come by to see how you’re feeling.” He held up the bag he was carrying. “And I brought you some breakfast. The doctor said it’s important that you
