“Uh…yeah. Yeah, he did.”
“How did it go?”
“I had a chat with him,” I say. “I told him about those hunters who were at your store at the same time. Convinced him that she hitched a ride to Yellowknife with those guys. I don’t think they’re going to come back here.”
“Oh, sweet! I felt like shit when I realized what I’d done. Glad it worked out.”
“It worked out.” I swallow hard and glance at the rocks in the distance. “Everything will be fine now. Thanks for your help.”
“Anytime, dude.”
I put the radio down, and Seri stares at me.
“Do you think people will believe that?” she asks.
“I hope so.” I take a deep breath and reach over to pull her closer to me. I kiss her head and then release her. “I will get some things that will make you more comfortable. I could even look into a generator or something for electricity.”
“I don’t need any of that,” she says. “I just need you.”
“Oh.” I swallow, not really knowing how to respond to that. “Um, I guess that’s pretty easy.”
“I love you, Bishop,” she says. “I don’t want to be anywhere else.”
“I love you, too.” I grip her hand once more. “My Serenity.”
She blushes and looks away.
“What,” I say, “you don’t like it?
“I’m not sure what I think of that.”
“I guess it doesn’t really count as a pet name or anything.”
“Probably not.” She bites her lip and smiles at me. “I think I like it. At least, when you say it.”
I bring her hand up to my lips and kiss her knuckles.
“How long will it take us to get back to the cabin?” she asks.
“Ten minutes,” I tell her, wondering why she’s asking but then realizing we’ve been in the car a long time. “If you need to get out to pee and can’t wait, we can do that.”
“No, no,” she says. “It’s not that.”
“What, then?”
“I’d just like to get you back inside where it’s warm, and then you can build up the fire until it’s too warm to be wearing your shirt…or pants…”
I glance over, wondering if I would see a glimpse of Iris returning, but it’s just Seri—Seri with a much dirtier mind than I recall her having before.
“Oh really?” I raise an eyebrow at her.
“Really.”
“See that handle right above the glovebox?”
“Yes.” Seri scowls at me, confused.
“Hang onto that.”