Stranger in Paradise

“I’d guess Crow,” Jesse said. “Solved a lot of problems that way. He’d double-crossed Francisco twice. That meant Francisco would try to arrange Crow’s death. Also frees up Amber here from fear of custody or kidnapping.”

“You think that’s why he did it?” Amber said.

Jesse looked thoughtfully at her for a moment.

“Yeah,” he said. “I think so.”

She smiled for maybe the first time since Jesse had met her.

“Okay,” Molly said. “Gotta go home. We’re cooking supper in the fireplace. It’s a family tradition. Every year, first snowfall, we cook supper in the fireplace.”

“Hardy pioneers,” Jesse said.

“You bet,” Molly said, and turned up her collar and left.

The three of them were quiet. Jesse walked over and put his arm around Jenn.

“Molly and Crow?” he said.

Jenn looked up at him and winked. Jesse nodded. Jenn lifted her face toward him and Jesse kissed her.

“Jesus,” Amber said. “Can you wait until I’m out of the room to start necking.”

“Guess not,” Jesse said. “You want supper?”

“Yeah,” she said. “Okay, if you people don’t start doing it on the kitchen table.”

“Promise,” Jenn said.

Jesse picked up his drink and they walked into the kitchen. Amber sat at the table while Jesse and Jenn put out the food that Daisy had packed.

“God,” Amber said. “Crow is so cool.”