"Bold Moves"

The drive from Sydney to Coffs Harbour was a quiet one, to say the least. Although Kate had assured him that this was the right move for them, Colin still couldn’t help his apprehension. He’d already had one failed business in the past, and he didn’t know if he could handle it if the new one didn’t succeed. Not that he had much else to lose, mind you. But still, at least his life in Sydney had been pretty secure since his release from prison and meeting Kate. It had been 5 months since he first got the invitation from Bridgid to open an auto repair shop in The Glen, and finally – after much discussion and planning - their new house was completed and ready to move into.

"Turn here," Kate told him, pointing to a small dirt road; an unfolded map of Coffs lay across her lap.

"Are you sure this is it?" Colin asked, reaching for the map.

"Of course I’m sure," she replied, quickly placing one hand on the wheel of the car to steady it. "You just stick to driving, okay? And let me do the navigating."

He smiled, kissed her forehead, and took back the steering wheel. "Hold on then," Colin told her, turning the wheel a bit too sharply and causing Kate to gasp as she slid into the passenger’s side door.

"Good thing I had my seatbelt on," she commented, pushing herself upright. Colin couldn’t help but to giggle out loud. He loved to tease her like this, delighted in it whenever he got the chance.

"Oh, you think that’s funny do you?" she laughed, and then slapped him on the arm. He giggled more, as he sped down the dirt road. "Well, just wait ‘til we get to our new home…we’ll see whose laughing when you’re sleeping on the couch!"

"Only if you’re sleeping there beside me, Luv," he flashed a devilish grin at her. A wide grin spread across Kate’s face, and she reached over and kissed his cheek.

Moments later, they were pulling up in front of Steve and Millie’s boarding house, where they would pick up the keys to their new home and business. Colin had made arrangements with the builders to leave the keys there for safe keeping until he and Kate were able to make the trip up.

"Well, this is it, I guess," Colin told Kate, pausing for a moment before turning off the engine to his car. She looked at him, slowly placed a hand on the side of his face, turning it towards her. "You can do this. We can do this," she assured him again. He nodded, took her hand in his and gave it a slight squeeze.

"I hope you’re right," he said, then opened the car door, slid out of the driver’s seat, and slammed the car door shut behind him. Kate followed suit and together they walked arm-in-arm through the main entrance of the boarding house.

Once inside, they who they nearly collided with what appeared to be the town’s sheriff – a big bear of a man, with a warm, friendly smile – apparently on his way out the door.

"Oops! Sorry Mate," Colin quickly apologized.

The sheriff smiled, "No problem. Just on my way out. Didn’t see you two walking in." He extended his hand to Colin, who quickly did the same and shook it. "Name’s John Biebe…I’m the sheriff here in The Glen," he told them.

"Nice to meet you, Sheriff," Colin said, "I’m Colin…and this is my girlfriend, Kate."

"I don’t recall seeing you two here before. Are you new around here?" Biebe asked them, studying their faces.

"Yes….yes we are," Kate spoke up, placing one arm around Colin’s waist.

"Ah, well then, will you be staying here in town at the boarding house?" Biebe asked, smiling at them.

"Actually, we’re just here to pick up the keys to our new house," Colin answered, a bit too quickly. Sheriffs made him nervous, and this one seemed to be asking way too many questions for his comfort. "Can you point us in the direction of where we might find Millie?"

Sheriff Biebe stared at him for a moment, and then nodded, "Um…yeah. She’s over there, behind the bar… in the pub."

"Thanks, Mate," replied Colin, then turned to head into the pub.

"Nice to meet you," added Kate, quickly following behind Colin. "Hope to see you around."

Biebe watched as they walked away, calling back to them, "Yes, I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other again real soon." He paused for a moment, and then made his way out of the boarding house.

Colin and Kate made their way up to the bar and took a seat, where they were soon greeted by Millie.

"I’m so glad you two finally made it here," she told them, shaking their hands. "Stay right here and I’ll go get your keys for you." As she headed out of the bar, Millie called back to a young man clearing off tables, "Andy, please watch the bar for a moment. I’ll be right back."

Andy nodded, quickly finished clearing off the table, and took his place behind the bar. "Can I get you something to drink? Beer maybe?" he asked, as he gave the bartop a quick polish with his dishrag.

"That’d be great," said Colin. "Two VB’s please."

"Here ya go then," said Andy, handing Colin and Kate their beers.

They thanked him, and then sat quietly at the bar, drinking their beers. The pub was mostly empty, except for a few people scattered about, deep in conversation with one another. Over at the far end of the bar, however, a strange man sat alone - his lips curled up into a slight grin as he watched Kate pick up her bottle of VB and put it to her lips. Colin looked up just then, his eyes meeting that of the stranger’s. He set his beer down on the bartop, glared at the man.

"What’s wrong?" Kate asked, concerned with Colin’s sudden outward appearance of anger.

Colin lit up a cigarette, took a long drag, then replied, "It’s that bloke over there at the end of the bar…"

Kate turned her head towards the man.

"Don’t look!" Colin told her, and she quickly looked away. "I don’t like the way he’s been staring at you."

Kate smiled, leaned in close to him. "Jealous much?" she teased, giving him a peck on the cheek.

Colin tried his best to smile back, "Can you blame me? Besides," he said, peeking around her shoulder and glaring, "That bloke gives me the creeps."

Kate was just about to open her mouth to comment when Millie walked up to them holding their keys. "Here you go! I just know you two are going to love it here at The Glen."

"Thanks," Colin replied, taking the keys from her and quickly pocketing them. "I’m sure we will." Taking Kate by the hand, he walked out of the pub – the strange man at the bar watching as they left.

TBC…