Private North Read Online Free

driving.” He glanced over at the walking stick that jutted out from a mound of slush. “Could you hand me that.”
    I crunched through the ice and plucked out the walking stick. Someone had carved the intricate head of a dragon on the top, and it had been worn smooth by his hand.
    I handed it down to him. “I’m really not a crazy driver. I just didn’t see you.”
    He jammed the end of the stick into the half frozen ground and with more effort than someone his age should have needed, he pushed to his feet. I was tall for a girl, but he towered over me. He could not have been much older than his early twenties, and yet he needed the walking stick for support.
    He stared down at me. “Yeah, I’m pretty easy to miss.”
    “You’re right. I looked away just for a second, and when I turned back, you were there. I feel awful about the whole thing. You look really wet.” The front end of my car was wedged into the snow bank. “Can I give you a ride somewhere?” As stupid as it was to ask a complete stranger, and a very large one at that, to get into my car, guilt outweighed caution in this case.
    He looked over at my car. “Thanks but I think I’ll take my chances on the road.”
    The warmth in my face assured me that I felt properly embarrassed about the whole thing. “I’m really not a crazy driver,” I said lamely. “Well, if you’re all right then I’ll be off.”
    He didn’t say another word as he watched me trudge back to the car. It started easily, and I sighed with relief as I backed out onto the road and took off. He was still watching me as I glanced up into my rear view mirror.
    My enthusiasm for my new adventure had waned, and I was feeling sick from the whole incident. Fortunately, he hadn’t been hurt, and I would never have to see him again. I just needed to push the whole thing from my head.
    I gripped the wheel harder than usual, and my eyes stayed fastened to the road. I was still completely shaken by the mishap, and I was completely convinced that my mom had somehow managed to send a big dose of bad karma my way because I’d refused to go to France.
    As I turned onto the road that would eventually lead to the professor’s house, a wide, funky looking building with striped, snow flocked awnings and a shabby exterior of yellow paint and used brick loomed in the distance. The faded sign standing high in the parking lot said Karl’s Emporium . As I neared it, I could read the small print on the sign— good food, sundries, and an old-fashioned saloon. The only emporium I’d ever been to was the Candy Emporium at Disneyland, but I was fairly certain a store with sundries would carry a toothbrush. I pulled into the lot and parked. Some of my frayed nerves had smoothed, and I was starting to feel better again.
    It was astoundingly crowded inside a store that seemed to be located in the middle of nowhere. There was an arrow pointing around a corner to the saloon. The lights were out, and I could only assume that the bar was not open for business yet. It was still quiet early, even for the most dedicated saloon goers.
    A pretty girl wearing a uniform style waitress dress with the same stripes as the awnings waved from behind a diner counter. “Hey honey, are you here for breakfast? There’s a new batch of cinnamon rolls baking.”
    I smiled. “Yes, I can smell them, and as much as I hate to pass up a freshly baked cinnamon roll, I’m expected for breakfast somewhere else. Do you have any toothbrushes?”
    “You bet.” She pointed to the farthest corner of the building. “Try aisle seven next to the magazine rack.”
    “Thanks.” I headed toward aisle seven and decided to stop and pick up a few magazines. The professor’s house was remote and with the amount of snow at this elevation, I could only assume that there would not be any cable. I wasn’t great about sleeping in strange places, and a few magazines would help me doze off.
    I perused the somewhat limited selection for ten