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“That boy has me ordering your books as fast as they come out.”
    “Really,” Chloe answered dejectedly. She grew apprehensive. Surely she wasn’t married to a fanatical admirer. Her stomach began to churn with nausea. Over the weeks the sultry image of chiseled muscles had dissolved into scrawny arms with a machine gun and hatchet.
    “Well, you never mind that. Everest has me ordering him all kinds of books.” Grandpa smiled and shook his head. “What are you wanting with our Everest? Hey, is he going to be in your next book? Wouldn’t that be something?”
    “Maybe. I haven’t thought about it. There’s something I need to discuss with him.” Chloe lowered her voice as the bell tinkled behind them at the front door. Two elderly ladies walked into the store. The man lifted his hand to them in greeting. Ignoring the women, she hushed, “Of a personal nature.”
    “Personal, eh?” Grandpa leaned forward, his tone growing suspicious. “How personal? You don’t want to cause him trouble, do you? Are you in the family way?”
    “No, I am certainly not. Please this is between Everest and myself.” Chloe looked painfully at the two ladies and leaned closer. It was obvious that he wasn’t going to let up. She whispered just so the old man could hear her. “I’m his wife.”
    “Everest is married?” Grandpa shot back loudly. “Well, I’ll be! Did you hear that Gladys? Everest finally went and got himself a wife!”
    Chloe flinched as Grandpa waved over one of the women who milled quietly near the entrance. Turning her pleading gaze to the old man, she begged, “No, please, don’t… do that. It’s just a misunderstanding.”
    “Well, I never!” exclaimed Gladys. She was a woman in her late fifties who patted her bouffant hairdo into place as she approached in her waitress uniform. “He was just in town a couple weeks ago and didn’t mention it.”
    “There is nothing to mention. It’s a simple mistake,” Chloe persisted. She gripped her purse to her hip in aggravation. “I’m here to get some papers signed to clear up the confusion. Honestly, it’s all a misunderstanding.”
    “Divorce, she means.” Gladys raised a disapproving eyebrow toward Grandpa, who nodded his head in silent understanding. “That’s what they all mean these days when they call marriage a mistake. Can’t seem to make them last. Not like we did, anyhow. Back in the old days we knew ‘til death do us part’ meant just that. You were going to be together until one of you croaked, in some cases longer.”
    Chloe backed away, feeling like she was cast into the middle of a bad fifties movie. Grandpa and Gladys stared after her. “Excuse me. I should be going. I really must find him.”
    “Wait a minute, child,” said Grandpa before turning to Gladys. “You hush up. You don’t know if that is the case. Maybe she’s here to straighten things out with him. Could be she’s here to make the marriage work.”
    Both of them turned their head to her in expectation. Chloe slowly moved back to the counter. She silently pondered the fact that both of them might be in need of a good hearing aide. This was not how she wanted the conversation to go. She hadn’t planned on anyone finding out about the fake marriage. Everest would no doubt have a lot of explaining to do when she left. She was sorry for it, but there was nothing she could do about it now.
    “I have a load of supplies I have to take up to Everest’s place tonight. It’s a good hour’s ride from here. You’re welcome to come with me in the jeep,” Grandpa offered. “Your car won’t make the trek into the mountains.”
    Chloe turned to glance out of the front window. Her car could be seen through the dusty pane of glass. Already snowflakes were covering the hood.
    “That would be fine,” Chloe nodded when she once again faced them. “And I’m afraid that the car is a rental.”
    “Anyhow, it won’t make it.” Gladys chimed in as if she hadn’t heard