THE HARVEST

CHAPTER THREE: TWO GHOSTS, PART ONE THE GATHERING STORM       p. 12 

South of Radium Hot Springs on the Kootenay Highway, the Two Ghosts came to a 'Y' in the road, and they stayed to the left. Steve saw a car pull out from a cut-through road directly behind them. Steve said to Kittie, "I believe I see our inspector's car behind us."

Kittie said, "Yeah, I saw that unmarked car just sitting there in the cut-through back at the 'Y'. I wonder what they are waiting for; it will soon be dark. Perhaps they want to pull us over at a truck stop and feed us. Canadians, from what I hear, are very hospitable."

Steve replied, "Doubt they're going to feed us. Probably they'll soon be done with us. I think I saw a sign for a scenic overlook up ahead. I imagine they will wait for that." The fourth pullout was a rest stop, and the car tailing flashed its lights, and the two vehicles exited. As they came to a stop, the two RCMP officers got out of their unmarked car and approached them from each side. The sun dipped down behind the westward mountains as night descended into the Kootenay Valley, while the tall Canadian Rockies' mountaintops to the east were still reflecting the sunlight into the valley, giving a weird glow to the area—twilight times two, you might say. The inspector walked up to the left door and tapped on the window. Steve rolled down the window as the officer shined his flashlight on both of their faces, starting with Kittie first and then Steve. "Welcome to Canada. I am Inspector Trembley of Division E of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. I take it you have business here, eh?" The officer spoke slowly, like he wanted to make sure he pronounced each letter, but Steve could hardly detect an accent, except for the inflected 'eh' at the end of the sentence.

Steve replied, "Yes, Inspector Trembley, we are just two wayward ghosts on our way up to the hot springs for our honeymoon." He grabbed Kittie's hand and lifted their clasped hands, with no wedding band on her left hand. Steve saw the error and added. "We eloped; we planned on buying rings here." He tried to smile, but it turned into a grin. The two Mounties conferred on the Dodge Caravan and then returned to the doors.

The Sergeant Major, Alex Landry, asked Kittie to get out of the car. He said, "Head down on the hood of the car and spread your legs, and put your hands behind your back, stretch out your legs as far as possible." The sergeant major performed a thorough body search and shook his head as he glanced at the inspector. The same routine was performed on Steve before they asked the two to follow them back to their vehicle. Inside the RCMP car, Inspector Trembley said, "Sorry about that, and he pointed at the camera. We have a report to fill out and need to make this look legit, because only the two of us and the commissioner know about this little charade. We can meet down the road at Tim Hortons and have a Double-Double. Just follow us into town."

On the way back to their car, Kittie asked, "What's a double-double?"

Steve replied, "What's a Tim Hortons?" They shrugged and walked on to their van.

They knew they were close, but they had not been using GPS tracking, and they didn't realize that the town of Radium Hot Springs was just up the road. At St. Mark's Street crossing, they turned left and then took another left on Main Street, where the unmarked car was parked. The Two Ghosts left their vehicle and followed them to the Tim Hortons place of business. Inside, they could smell the rich coffee and the smell of deli foods. As they read the selection from the menu, Hortons seemed to be across from a Starbucks, a Dunkin' Donuts, and a deli sandwich shop. Kittie wondered why they had not expanded yet into the U.S. It was a great idea for a business. On the menu was a double-double with an emblem of a coffee cup beside it. Kittie thought, ah, a double-double is Double-Double coffee, a proper name for some sort of coffee mixture. If I take it black, they may look at me strangely. I'd better order it and see what's in the mix.

Steve said, "Tell me what you want, and I will order for you."

She replied, "I'm a big girl. I've ordered my food at every stop so far. Why should I stop here?"

Steve answered under his breath. "Beeecaaauuussseee..." and he gestured his head toward the Mounties.

She replied in a whisper, "Get a grip. This isn't our first rodeo, and they know we are spies. I am ordering my food, so quit being a jerk." Steve looked a bit dejected as they moved a step closer to the cashiers.

The Mounties finished ordering their meal and turned and gestured. "We are paying for this couple; whatever they want, you give them. They are my second cousin's friends up from the states on their honeymoon and are going to spend a few weeks in the town." The inspector placed too much money in the young cashier's hand as he looked her in the eye. Kittie and Steve both noticed that the Inspector and this young teenager have a definite bond, as they lovingly looked at each other.