„Of course I can.“ The docent shrugged. „I can get another one easily.“
She let him talk her into it. It was only later, as she sank onto a bar stool at Earl’s Place, that she actually considered whether the coin was magic. She put it on the bar in front of her, then picked it up and held it tight. „I wish there was a way for me to stay here.“ The coin felt warm, but then, the place was filled with people, the room overheated, the crowd cheering as they watched the last minutes of a soccer game.
She hadn’t spotted Jim yet, but it hardly mattered. He wouldn’t be interested in anything but the score. Instead she watched as the bartender worked his way to her spot at the end of the bar. Not the usual guy. An extra hired because of the crowd? With a practiced efficiency he took orders, got drinks and made change.
He was nice enough looking, and then he smiled. It changed his pleasant face to fabulous. It was a smile that made the world a brighter place and drew an answering one from her.
„What can I get you?“
His accent was different, not at all suited to a pub. This voice belonged at Eton or Oxford. Or somewhere with Prince William.
She pointed to the wine bottle he held, for some stupid reason not wanting to open her mouth and betray the fact she was an American. She’d forgotten about the magic coin and it fell from her hand, rolled along the bar toward him and onto the floor.
She gasped and stood on the stool, trying to see where it had gone.
„Under the cooler.“ He considered. „Is it important to you?“
„Oh, yes,“ she answered, „it’s very special.“
„Right then.“ He squatted, reaching under the cooler. He looked up at her with a grimace. „Time to do a little cleaning down here.“ He stretched a little farther and with a triumphant „Yes!“ stood up and handed her the coin.
„Thanks,“ she said, „thanks a lot.“
He nodded and held up the wine bottle, and when she said, „Please,“ he poured her a glass. She reached for her purse, but he waved off payment. „Give me a look at the coin. That’s all the pay I want.“
She was about to hand it back to him when the room erupted into shouts and cheers. The game was over and any number of thirsty sports fiends surged toward the bar.
„If you like, I can wait until the crowd’s gone.“
He leaned across the bar and smiled at her. „Great. That’s exactly what I wished you would say.“
The Passenger by Ruth Ryan Langan
For Jennifer and Betty, who know why.
For Nora, Mary, and Mary Kay -
friends and fellow believers.
And for Tom. Always.
One
„Just one more shot, Josh.“
„Josh. Over here.“
The crush of photographers stood elbow to elbow, vying for that one special shot of this amazing athlete who had caught the attention of the world’s media.
A reporter’s voice could be heard speaking into his microphone. „Josh Cramer isn’t your typical athlete. A free spirit, he doesn’t fit into any mold. Having already set a new world’s record for sailing the Atlantic solo, and taking an around-the-world hot air balloon trip, he has now completed his latest adventure, extreme skiing in the Alps. This isn’t for the faint of heart. As our viewing audience can see by the footage that has been released, Josh was launched from a helicopter, skiing through narrow passageways that looked for all the world like ice chambers. Josh Cramer’s fearlessness, as well as his rugged good looks and charm, have brought him international acclaim.“
One of the photographers shouted, „Flash me that winner’s smile, Josh.“
„No problem.“ Josh leaned a hip against the skis propped up against the Swiss chalet and tipped down his sunglasses.
Though this session had run hours longer than anticipated, he managed, through discipline, to keep his smile intact.
A photographer leaned in and adjusted his lens. „Show us the gloves, Josh. The ones you always wear for luck.“
It was a familiar request, and one Josh had fielded a hundred times or more. Still, each time someone mentioned the gloves, he felt the familiar jolt to his heart.
He reached into his back pocket and held them up.
„Is it true that they belonged to your father?“
„Yeah.“ His eyes narrowed as he slipped them on. „That’s right.“
„Now that’s the look I wanted. Dark. Dangerous. A little bit introspective.“ The photographer grinned as he snapped off several quick shots before lowering his camera. „Thanks, Josh.“
A short time later, while the photographers hurried away to file their reports and meet their deadlines, Josh made his way inside the lodge and up the lift to his suite, where yet another crowd had assembled.
His agent, Martin Phillips, was holding court before a cluster of reporters and publicity people who were peppering him with questions.
„What’s next for Fearless Josh Cramer?“
Josh looked over the crowd, recognized the speaker as a reporter from World Sports, and promptly closed himself in his bedroom. Once there he ripped off his ski gear and pulled on comfortable jeans and a T-shirt before sinking onto the edge of the bed.
His head came up sharply when the door was opened. Martin Phillips paused on the threshold. „Good news. World Sports is calling the article ‘Man on the Run.’ They assured me that you’ll be their lead story and have the cover of their October issue.“
„That’s great.“ Josh lowered his voice. „Can we talk, Marty?“
„Yeah. In a minute. There’re some people out here you need to meet.“ His agent caught him by the arm and hauled him to the parlor while calling out to a reporter, „The timing of this photo spread couldn’t be better. You’ll want to end the article by mentioning Josh’s next adventure, which he doesn’t even know about yet.“
At his words, Josh arched a brow.
„How could he possibly top what he’s already done? Don’t tell me he’s about to leap tall buildings and catch bullets in his teeth before spitting them out.“
The reporter’s remarks had the entire room full of people laughing.
Martin Phillips joined in the laughter. „You’ve just described Josh perfectly. He’s always up for something different and challenging. Tomorrow he’s leaving for the ultimate wilderness trek. No electronics gear. No space-age gadgets. He’ll carry a mini-cam and a few basic necessities, but he’ll have to survive on what he can catch or kill along the way, until he joins a camera crew at the end of his journey.“
Suddenly all business, the reporter’s smile faded. „Sounds like something out of a reality television show, without the lifeline of a safety net.“
„Exactly.“ Martin nodded. „I’ve just finalized the last of the details with SNN, the all-sports news network. If the public likes it, they’re hoping to make it a regular series, with Josh in a different dangerous location every month.“
One of the photographers turned to Josh. „You don’t give yourself much time to relax, do you?“
Josh remained mute while his agent answered for him. „Got to make hay while the sun shines. You didn’t call Josh the Man on the Run for nothing. Besides, they made an offer he couldn’t refuse. Now gentlemen, if you don’t mind, it’s been a long day, requiring some superhuman activity. I think it’s time we give Josh some space.“
As the others set down their empty glasses and began filing from the room, one of them paused to ask, „Want to meet us in the bar, Marty? Maybe you could fill in a few more details about this latest adventure.“
„Sure thing. Publicity is my middle name.“ While the others chuckled, he glanced at his watch. „I’ll see you in an hour.“
When the room had emptied, Martin picked up a chilled bottle of water and twisted the cap, draining it in one long swallow before turning to his client.