Mary Jane Abernathy was at her cabin using it for what she built it for. There were papers scattered on a folding table, on the couch, and her computer was on the dining table. She came up in the middle of the week to work on the "AL" Project. MJ was almost finished after spending almost a month on the assignment. She was looking forward to the paycheck coming from her work. One of the methods she used to concentrate was burying her phone in her backpack so it wouldn't tempt her. MJ was able to come up with a marketing plan for AL Corp's. new product and spent the remainder of the day building a PowerPoint, explaining her ideas.
"Oh, joy another flight to Pueblo," She thought
Dede was trapped at home with several investigations. When MJ left, she extracted a promise from Dede to join her at the cabin on the weekend. MJ tried to work at home but there were too many distractions and Dede's schedule made her worry. She also had to fight the need for Dede's attention. When she was at the cabin she could concentrate on the project.
She was relieved that her brother's trip to Denver was delayed several weeks. She decided to encourage her Sister to come out at the same time to meet her wife. Dede would be up tomorrow, so in between her work on the project, she busied herself getting the cabin ready.
Located on the kitchen counter was a large case. MJ had gone through the US and Colorado bureaucratic procedures to purchase a handgun and it was sitting in the case. She took delivery of the pistol as she was leaving to come up to the cabin. She thought that Dede will get a laugh looking at the blue anodized pistol with pink grips. There were several boxes of ammunition sitting next to the case. This was a full-size pistol not like the compact gun Dede kept in her boot.
MJ heard a noise of a badly out of tuned engine coming up the road. Dede was scheduled to come up tomorrow and that wasn't her SUV. MJ moved to the couch and liberated the shot gun and went outside to see what was making the noise. A pickup truck pulled to a stop near the front door and an older man got out.
"You make it tough to get here," said the man.
"By design sir. This land is private what are you doing here?" said MJ.
"You can put the shotgun down ma'am, I'm harmless. I just want to talk."
"What can I do for you, sir" said MJ with a little more force who kept the gun at the ready.
"I am a gold prospector and wanted to look on your land for gold. I have waited for weeks to contact you so we can discuss terms."
"Sir I don't want people on my land digging and tearing it up. So, I would decline your offer, and wish you a good afternoon," said MJ with a finality indicating that the conversation was over.
"But ma'am if we could talk more, I am sure that I could convince you that it would be in your best interest to allow me to work your land," said the man.
"The tone of your voice makes that sound like a threat, and I don't like people threatening me,"
In the background MJ heard another vehicle coming towards the cabin. She was beginning to feel like she was at Grand Central station. An Eagle County Sheriff's SUV pulled up and two deputies got out.
"Jimmy, I doubt that Ms. Abernathy is interested in whatever stupid offer you want to make! I would advise you to leave now!" said the older deputy.
"Sir we are through talking," said MJ, directing the comments to Jimmy and bringing the shotgun up to underscore the point.
Jimmy got the message and got back in his truck and left. MJ turned the shotgun away from the two deputies and thanked them for being there. She asked if they were looking for another body as a joke.
"Ma'am Capt. Watson seems to have a lot of pull in Greene and Eagle counties. She contacted us because she could not get a hold of you and asked us to come by to see if everything is alright," said the senior deputy.
"Can I offer you coffee or tea I have hot water ready," said MJ.
"Thank you, ma'am, but no thank you, we will be on our way. Be warned Jimmy is a flim flam man he has conned several landowners, but we can't pin anything on him. Please contact Capt. Watson ma'am I'm tired of listening to my boss," said the senior deputy.
MJ started to laugh and realized that Dede could be very insistent at times. She remembered watching an interview between a witness and Dede when she was at Dede's office. The woman didn't have a chance she remembered. The two deputies got in their SUV and moved back down the road. Mary Jane moved back inside the cabin. She looked in her backpack and found her phone and noticed that there were several text messages from Dede. She found Dede's listing and touched the number that launched a call.
"Capt. Watson," said Dede.
"You knew who this is. I have had half of the Eagle Count Sheriff's department up here looking for me because of you. By the way I love you and can't wait to see you," said MJ.
"I was concerned when you didn't respond to my texts," said Dede.
"My phone was buried in my backpack so I could concentrate on my project, which I finished. Now when should I expect you, darling," replied MJ.
"Sooner than you think I am pulling on the road now. I want to be in your arms the moment I get to the cabin."
"The sooner you get here the sooner I can kiss you," said MJ.
The connection ended and MJ started to move the papers into folders and the folders into her briefcase. She heard Dede's SUV pull up and park next to the shed, as she finished packing her computer in its case. She walked out the back door and waited for Dede to get out of the car. It was fall and the weather was turning colder. So, Dede was dressed in a uniform jacket. The weather was not conducive to walking out naked, and MJ had a large fire going in the cabin's fireplace.
"What is this?" asked Dede pointing at the case on the kitchen counter, as she walked in the cabin.
"Open it," commanded MJ.
Dede opened the case and started laughing. She picked up the pistol and checked to see that the weapon was empty then put it back in the case. She turned to MJ and brought her lips to her wife and the pair kissed.
"I can't believe you bought a gun that looked like that. You pull that on someone, and they will die laughing before you can shoot them," said Dede as she kissed her wife again.