Chapter three
The fair was in full swing – music, screaming voices and machine noises competed with the smells of candyfloss and cooking meat for Blair's attention. His head was pounding and his leg was aching, but he continued flipping burgers and hotdogs. Burgers had never been his favourite food and he was certain that after this he wouldn't even be able to stand the smell of them ever again. He longed for an algae shake or a simple vegetarian meal, but out here in the 'boondocks' meat was eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
They'd been there for five days and frankly he didn't know how long he could continue. He'd lost weight again as his appetite was capricious. Not because of his depression, which at long last seemed to be easing, but because of his physical exhaustion. As a grad student, TA and sentinel's assistant he'd spent weeks of little sleep and had thrived on the challenge. Now, however, the last three months were catching up with him; the emotional stress, the sense of worthlessness he felt and the physical beating he'd experienced when leaving Cascade. He needed a break.
One thirty in the morning and he could finally hang up his apron. Maria and Vinnie took one look at him and nodded at each other.
"BS," Vinnie put a big hand on his shoulder and stopped his forward shuffle, "stop a moment." Blair turned up his bloodshot eyes and tried to focus them on his employer's face. "Tomorrow's Tuesday and usually there're fewer people."
"And it's supposed to rain," added Maria.
"Take the day. Sleep in late and relax. We'll be able to manage without you for once."
"No, it's okay. I can…"
"Blair, stop. You're exhausted and exhaustion can be dangerous."
"But, you need… I need…"
Maria took his face in her hands. "Don't worry. We'll be okay and we don't want to lose you. We'll pay you for tomorrow as well. Now, go. Bed. And I don't want to see you before ten tomorrow. All right?"
Blair looked from her to Vinnie who nodded. "Thanks. Thanks for everything." He exited the trailer almost falling down the steps. He dragged his aching body to his tent and flung himself onto his sleeping bag. He managed to pull off his boots and wondered for a moment whether he had the energy to brush his teeth. Before he'd even finished his thought he was asleep.
He woke up the following morning strangely troubled. Blearily, he peered at his little clock: 9:47. Certainly, he felt more rested, but his sleep had been disturbed by dreams of blue jungles and roaring big cats. He remembered very little of the actual content, but the feeling of expectation that had pervaded them, remained. Opening the tent he stared out at the miserable weather and shivered. Pulling on his boots and rain slicker he grabbed his toiletries and a change of clothing and dashed through the rain to the Parisis' caravan.
The door was pulled open before he could knock by Maria.
"See, I told you it would rain. Come on in."
He shook out his slicker and left it and his boots under the awning protecting the steps. "Good morning. I know it's not ten yet, but is it all right if I'm here now?"
"Don't be silly. Breakfast'll be ready by the time you're out of the shower. Oatmeal and honey okay?"
"Maria, it's a shame you're already married."
"Get on with you! Go, go."
Twenty minutes later and feeling 100% better, he left the tiny bathroom to find Felicia drinking tea with Maria at the pull out table. Maria quickly stood up and gently pushed Blair to the bench.
"Sit, sit." She placed a mug of tea before him and went to dish up the oatmeal.
"Good morning Blair." Felicia leant forward and placed a light kiss on his cheek. Both the women ignored the slight blush that infused his face.
"Good morning, Fel. How are you? Miserable today isn't it?" He gratefully took a sip of the hot brew and smiled at the healthy dose of honey that sweetened it.
"Maria told me that you're not working today. I'm taking some of my pieces to one of the jewellers in town this morning and I was wondering if you wanted to come with me?"
He glanced up at Maria who was studiously avoiding the two of them. "If Maria's sure that I'm not needed…"
"I told you already, we're okay. I can't see too many people coming today."
"Then I'll come, with pleasure."
"Great! How about I pick you up from here in about 40 minutes?"
Sheridan was a pretty town just outside the Bighorn National Forest. With a population of around 14 000 it was large enough to have most of life's everyday amenities without losing its identity. It was proud of its heritage and had a number of old buildings and museums. In summer it was full of tourists who were taking advantage of its position near Yellowstone Park as well as its 2 400 kilometres of trails through the Cloud Peak Wilderness Area, an area where no motorised vehicles were allowed.
Blair and Felicia arrived at the jeweller's just before lunchtime. After twenty minutes Felicia and the shop owner shook hands. Felicia had a big smile on her face and she took Blair's arm as they walked out.
"You must be my good luck charm! That was the best deal I've made in months. Let's go celebrate, my treat. Apparently, there's a really good lunch place in the historic quarter."
"But I've just had breakfast," protested Blair.
"Call that breakfast? You need more substance on your bones. Anyway, I heard that they do really good salads as well as the best chocolate fudge cookie ice-cream in the state."
"Okay," Blair smiled, "but I can pay my share." As long as it wasn't too expensive.
"No, no. I insist or we go back straight away."
"But…"
"No buts. I'm not listening." She put her hands over her ears and walked down the street. "La la la laaa, la la la…"
Blair caught up with her laughing and pulled her hands down. "All right. You win. At least let me pay for the drinks."
"Done."
After lunch they were in no hurry to get back to the fair ground. Although the rain had stopped the sky was a sullen grey and the low-lying clouds toppeed the nearby mountains. Wanting to avoid the commercial district of the town they decided to go and visit the Sheridan County Museum. Walking round the exhibits that told tales of the ranchers, railroaders, miners, soldiers and Indians that had lived in the shadows of the Big Horn Mountains, Felicia was struck at how Blair seemed to know an awful lot about what they were seeing. For the first time since she'd seen him he was totally relaxed and in his element. She watched mesmerised as his eyes sparkled behind the gold-rimmed glasses he'd put on to read the notices and his hands danced as he explained something making the exhibit come to life.
She and Maria had often discussed the mystery that was Blair Sandburg. That he'd been hurt in life, both physically and emotionally, was evident. That he was running way from something was also evident, from what though, he'd given no hint. Seeing him like this only deepened her desire to know him better. She was afraid that she was falling for him; the first time she'd felt any hint of attraction since her husband's death. She also knew that his stay with the fair was only temporary and she steeled herself against falling too deeply. She would take what today had to offer for who knew what tomorrow would bring.
After two hours of walking she saw his limp becoming more marked and decided to call it a day for the museum. Not wanting to end the comfortable time they were having together she suggested that they go have a drink somewhere.
"Umm, don't you have to get back to the fair?" Blair looked at her, his blue eyes wide open in question.
"Not really. I've made a good sale today, so I can treat myself to some time off."
"Oh, okay. I umm… well, really…" Blair came to a stop. How to tell her that he had no more money for drinks? There was no way he was going to allow her to buy drinks as well as lunch. He'd spent almost all of his allowance for the week paying for the courier service and replacing a few needed items such as a toothbrush and shampoo. He'd had enough for the drinks at lunch but it had left him with only $3 and some change. Certainly not enough even for two coffees and a tip.
Felicia saw his embarrassment and guessed the reason for it. "I've got a better idea," she said gaily. "I've got some more of that homemade lemonade. Why don't we go back to my caravan and you can tell me more about the Indians that lived here before we horrible white people came and ruined their lives?"
Blair hesitated and looked into her eyes. However, he could only see unfeigned interest and pleasure swimming in their green depths. And maybe a promise of something else? He made up his mind. "That would be great. I'd love that."
"Good." She took his arm and they chatted of inconsequential things as they made their way back to her parents' little car. The fairground was on the outskirts of the little airport and as they driving past a private plane came to a halt in front of the small terminal. Blair watched as the door opened and a set of steps folded out to the ground. A group of people slowly made their way down them. Although he couldn't see their faces, he felt a cold hand run down his back and he shivered. He looked harder to see if he could recognise them but by that time the car had moved further away.
"Are you all right?" Felicia stopped the story she was telling about a mishap that had fallen her brother as a child when she saw Blair shiver out of the corner of her eye.
"Yeah. Someone must have walked over my grave." He rolled his shoulders and smiled. "So, what did your mother say?"
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Jim gratefully shook out his legs as he walked down the plane steps. He'd dozed on and off through the flight but his sleep had been plagued with glimpses of something blue that he couldn't get a handle on. Walking across the tarmac he gazed across the wet airfield to the cloud-shrouded mountains when suddenly a cold feeling of apprehension made him shudder. He stopped and looked around himself to see if he could spot something out of place.
"What's up, Jim?" Simon stopped beside him and looked around as well. "Can you sense something?"
"I don't know," Jim sighed. Since Sandburg had left his senses had become more and more erratic up to the point that he hardly used them anymore. He had to admit to himself that it was a mixed blessing. He'd hated how they'd controlled his life but on the other hand, they did come in use at a crime scene. "Maybe someone simply walked over my grave."
Simon clapped him on the shoulder and they followed the others to the small terminal. Once inside Simon walked up to the information desk where a young woman was on the phone. As she saw him approach she hung up and turned a bright smile towards him.
"May I help you, sir?"
"My name is Banks and I believe there are some vehicles waiting for me?"
"Oh, yes. Simon Banks? Could I have some ID please?"
Simon pulled out his driver's licence not wanting to use his police ID.
The woman examined it carefully then handed it back to him. "Thank you. I don't know about any vehicles but this letter was left for you."
Simon took the letter, thanked her and moved over to where the MC group was standing. Opening it he quickly read the contents and then looked up at his expectant colleagues. "Apparently, there's a delay with the off-roads. They won't be ready until late tomorrow morning. We've been booked into the hotel across the street. "
"Typical," groused H. "Feds couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery."
"Well, Rafe," smiled Banks, "it looks like you have a stay of execution. One more night in a real bed."
"And hot water," sang out Megan.
"And television," added Brown.
Once settled into their rooms they met again in the hotel lounge.
"It's only 6:30 and I know I'll go stark raving mad if I have to wait around this dump until tomorrow. How about we go into town?" suggested Henri.
"Oh, it's not that bad," Rafe objected.
"No, I know babe, but it don't have ALL the comforts of home, you know?"
Megan jumped in before the two men could get into another friendly dispute. "The receptionist told me there's a fair on just the other side of the field. There are rides and stalls etc… Why don't we go there?"
"A fair?" Rafe declared indignantly. "How old do you think we are?"
"Great idea, Connor," laughed H. "I haven't been to one in years. I challenge you to a shoot out, Rafe."
"What do you think, sir?" Megan looked over at their captain her eyes shining.
"Well, I think you should stop calling me 'captain' while we're on this little trip. And I'm not too sure we should leave this hotel or split up. Joel, what d'you think?"
Taggart looked around the little group and spotted Ellison. Although sitting with them, he seemed both miles away and caught up within himself at the same time. Sitting around doing nothing didn't seem a good idea. "I can't see any harm in going for a few hours. As long as we stay together and get back early enough."
"Yes!" Megan and H gave each other a high five while Rafe buried his face in his hands.
As they went back to their rooms to get their waterproof jackets Jim walked up the stairs with Simon. "Uh Simon, I don't really want to go."
"Sorry, Jim. We've got to stay together and anyway, it could be fun."
"I'm not really in the mood."
"It's just for a couple of hours. Keep the kids happy, okay?"
Jim sighed and nodded. Perhaps a couple of hours of distraction would help him get his thoughts into order.
"Good. I'll even buy you some cotton candy."
Once at the fair, Jim was pleased that his senses were behaving as the noises, smells and flashing nights could have played havoc with them. However, the feeling of apprehension he'd experienced at the airport was back and it was making his back itch. He trailed behind the others watching their antics and cursing the mud that sucked at his boots. He ignored Megan and Brown's efforts to get him on some of the rides and refused Simon's offer of cotton candy.
An hour into the visit he could feel a headache building up and the itch in his back was becoming an irritation. Following the others again he nearly walked into Joel's back before he realised that they'd stopped. His heart jumped into his mouth when he heard Megan's shout.
"Sandy! My God, it's Sandy."
He pushed past his colleagues until he could see what they were looking at. A small caravan could be seen behind a fortune-teller's tent and a stall selling magic tricks. In the soft light over the caravan entrance they could see a blond woman leaning out of the door kissing the curly-headed man standing on the caravan steps.
Before he could stop himself, Jim bellowed, "Sandburg!"
The man jerked out of the woman's arms and whipped his head round. His face paled as he stared into the flashing blue eyes of his Sentinel. For a moment time stood still as he hesitated and the detectives were frozen in shock. He then murmured something to the woman and started to limp slowly towards the group. The woman stared after him for a second and after a long look at the detectives she went back into the caravan closing the door behind her.
As he came closer Megan rushed forward and threw her arms around him in a tight hug. That broke the spell and Rafe and H joined her.
"Hairboy, what you doing here?"
"What happened to your hair, man?"
"Where've you been? You're limping. Are you hurt?"
"Hold on a minute," called Taggart, "let the man speak." As the three detectives stood back Blair looked at the small group avoiding Jim and Simon's eyes.
"Hello, everyone," he smiled grimly, plainly uncomfortable, "what a surprise."
In the silence that followed Jim could hear the music from the dodgems behind him pound into his head.
"When I saw you at the street fair, you called out my name
Didn't you, now? Didn't you?
You said we could start over, try and make it all okay.
Didn't you, now? Didn't you?
So our past has been rewritten and you threw away the pen.
You'd said that I was useless, but now you'll take me in again
Well Jesus loves me fine.
And your words fall flat this time.
Was it my imagination, or did I hear you say,
'We don't have a prayer between us.' "