Merle

The bar was a whole lot livelier than it had been earlier in the day when I was looking for Kevin. That was the time of day that only die hard and lunch diners were there. Now the little bar was packed and I felt myself thankful for the hand that was on my shoulder. I don’t know why I liked it, but I felt a little protection in a time that I felt like I needed it. I had so many eyes on me; it was hard to think of anything. I was glad that Charlie seemed to know that and pushed me to a table that was perfect for us.

The evening was not what I had expected. The man was a hopeless flirt and I found myself playing along more than I probably should have. It was nice to feel wanted and desired, even if the man was going to be my boss. He had to be a better boss than Kevin was going to be and besides, he said he didn’t go on his own boats that much, so I most likely wouldn’t even see him was how I reasoned it. Maybe it was just the need in me that hadn’t been fulfilled in a long time. Whatever it was, there was something about him that I was drawn to and the more I had to drink, the more painfully aware of that information I became. There was no part of me that wanted to let his innuendos go.

There was a point in the night; after we had did a little dance by the table that I thought he was going to kiss me. The music had stopped and I was still slightly swaying in his arms and our eyes met. It was the perfect time for him to kiss me and I had started to close my eyes, sure that he was going to kiss me, but he never did.

I was a little more irate than I wanted to mention and my cheeks burned with embarrassment. I was sure that he had seen me pucker up, so he knew that I had thought it was for me. When I realized that he wasn’t going to kiss me, I made an excuse and got out of the bar. I needed fresh air and a way to cool down from the embarrassment.

Charlie seemed to notice and offered to give me a ride to where I was staying for the night. But the problem was that I still hadn’t figured that out. Kevin offered me a place to stay with him, but after everything that happened and the fact that I wasn’t going to be working for him anymore, it didn’t seem like a good place to go, especially knowing that I am not going to be there very long.

“I’m just going to see what the hotel has to offer.”

“I doubt you are going to find a room there.”

“Why?”

“It’s always full this time of year. That’s why you have people living in tents out here in the snow. They don’t have anywhere else to go. Didn’t you know that this was going to be this way?”

“Well I was supposed to stay with Kevin. He offered to let me use one of his extra rooms.”

Charlie shook his head and nodded with understanding. It was starting to make sense to him finally and I was glad that he finally got it. I didn’t want him thinking that I was one of those women that just flew by the seat of my pants. While it had been a bit of a leap to come to Alaska to look for gold, I had tried to figure out as much stuff as I could before I came. I was supposed to have a job and a place to live secured. I just didn’t really think about how one was hinged on the other. I hadn’t taken into account that he would be a drunk and he would be dangerous.

“I know that we just met, but you can always stay at my house. I have a sofa that you can sleep on for a bit until you figure out what you are going to do. Most people find someone to share with while they are here mining if you aren’t going to stay the whole year. I’m sure that it wouldn’t be hard for you to find someone to stay with, though you are always welcome here. I would never let someone that worked for me live in a yurt on the beach.”

I didn’t know what to say, but I did need a place to go, at least for the night and since I felt more comfortable with him than anyone else, it seemed like the thing to do. It had been a weird first day in Alaska and the more I thought about it as he waited for me to answer, the surer I was that I was going to accept and see where it took me. I wanted badly to realize that he was just trying to be helpful.

“Well let me make sure that I pay you something. I can’t stay here for free and I will make sure that I am out of here as soon as possible.”

He agreed, but I could tell that he didn’t like the idea of something. There was no telling what was going on in his mind and it was only when he stopped and really looked at me that I could really see him.

“You don’t owe me anything for staying. It’s not much anyways.”

He was humble, but pulled in front of a fairly large house on the outskirts of town. It may not have been much in his eyes, but I knew that it was more than I was used to seeing. Something that big so far out must have cost a fortune because everything had to be brought in. It was a sight and one of the biggest houses around.

“You live here?”

Charlie nodded and got out of the car, going to the other side of the car to let me out. “It is where I live. Welcome to my home.”