“I didn’t hear a word about it,” Alyssa said.

    “Oh, you know small towns,” Neely said. “They were barely aware.”

    “That’s not what I’m used to,” Sierra said. “I spent half my life in a really small town in Iowa and if there was a flat tire, everyone heard about it. A fatality would have been front page news!”

    “Oh, there was an article, but it was small. He was the only injury and he was taken to Denver. And my friend, his mother, wasn’t from that little town—she was just visiting friends. So—it wasn’t like it was one of their own.”

    “But it was a horrible accident! If a helicopter rescue lands anywhere around here, we’re all asking for details,” Alyssa said.

    “Well, it was the middle of the night,” Neely said. “It was just so horrible, I’m happy it’s over. But I did want to explain my long silence. I know I promised to call...”

    “God, that’s all right,” Sierra said. “I’m so sorry you went through all that. By the way, what brings you to Timberlake? Do you come all this way to get your hair done?”

    “No.” She laughed. “I’m a walk-in today. I was in town looking at some property. There’s a shop at the end of the street—Daisy’s Menagerie. She’s looking at selling. I just wanted to look it over, talk to the owner. I think I told you—I’m contemplating a specialty shop.”

    “What kind of shop?” Alyssa asked.

    God bless her, Sierra thought. Was she going to get that I’m-not-ready-to-talk-about-it line?

    “Possibly local art, not on a grand scale. But I must admit, I’m beginning to be seduced by the new marijuana trade.”

    Sierra almost choked and Neely laughed merrily.

    “I wouldn’t work with the product,” Neely said. “I’d hire someone with experience in the industry. It’s just that it’s making so much money! Of all the privately owned small businesses in Colorado, marijuana is quickly leading the pack. Anyone with an interest in small business has to take that seriously.” She turned in her chair to look at Sierra. “So, you live here?”

    “Sort of. I live outside of town. So does my brother and his wife. I’m new in the area but I work part-time at the diner. And if everything works out, I’d like to stay. My brother’s wife is expecting.”

    “Hey, what’s the town where the accident happened?” Alyssa asked.

    “I think it was Fairplay. Or it was a town right near Fairplay. I don’t know—I never went there,” Neely said. “When my friend called I went straight to Denver to the hospital.” Neely turned to Sierra again. “So, do you have time to grab a cup of coffee after you get finished here?”

    Sierra nearly shook herself in surprise. She did, in fact. But she said, “I’m sorry, I don’t. I’m on the run today.”

    “And let’s put you under the dryer for a few minutes to speed up this color,” Rhonda said. “Girl, you do have the prettiest hair! And healthy! Want me to take off about an inch? Or less?”

    “An inch is fine,” Sierra said.

    She got under the dryer and considered Neely. What a lot of drama, she thought. Then she felt guilty—after all, the woman had just been through what must have been a terrible experience. But Sierra had the worst feeling about her...

    Ten minutes later she was being shampooed and when she got back in the chair, Neely was gone. “She said to tell you goodbye and she’ll give you a call. She had to run,” Alyssa said.

    “Thanks,” she said. Neely wanted to have coffee, but didn’t even have time to say goodbye?

    “Have you been friends for a long time?” Alyssa asked while she was sweeping up the clippings on the floor.

    “No,” Sierra said. “I just met her a month ago.”

    “Really? She said you wanted her to make a trip to Santa Fe with you but she wasn’t sure how she’d find the time.”

    “She said that?” Sierra asked, dumbfounded.

    “She sure did. Why? Was it a secret?”

    “No, it was...” Sierra stopped herself. Better to not make this any more complicated. “No, not a secret. I don’t think I can find the time, either.”

    “She seems like a lot of fun,” Alyssa said. “Weird about that accident, though.”

    “What’s weird?”

    Alyssa leaned on her broom. “I’ve lived here almost my whole life. There were a couple of vacationers from somewhere back East killed on 289 a few years ago. A young couple. Their car was obliterated by a big rig. There were pictures in the paper and on the internet, it was on the evening news. Complete strangers put so many wreaths and crosses and stuffed toys by the side of the road it looked like a monument. Things like that just don’t usually go unnoticed.”

    “Interesting,” was all she said.

    After her haircut she found herself walking across the street to the fire department. She was in a bit of a daze. This was only the second time she’d gone looking for Connie, and this time she found him. He had a rag in his hand and was polishing up the chrome on the fire engine.

    “Well, what a beautiful surprise,” he said, coming out of the open garage doors to meet her. He gave her a little kiss on the forehead. “I didn’t expect to see you today.”

    “I was just getting my hair trimmed and the strangest thing happened.” She told him the story.

    Connie frowned. “She made that whole thing up,” he said. “She know your boyfriend is a paramedic?”