“I can tell you the basics. I won’t share the classified information or tell you specifics of how it works.”
That made sense. Her voice was stronger than it had been earlier. Talking about her work was easier than talking about her feelings.
“That was the first actual outdoor trial. It wasn’t bad for a first attempt.”
“What worked?”
As she filled him in, he became even more impressed with that brain of hers. This was Star Trek stuff she was creating, and it was what she did on a daily basis.
They weren’t following any trail Sam could see, but Tansy moved without hesitation as she talked about her project. She climbed over downed trees and twisting roots with equal surety. She knew her land.
It was well past midnight when they returned to the lodge. Tansy locked the door behind them and switched from her boots to the moccasins she wore inside.
“I forgot to ask you about those. I’d like to get a pair for inside as well.”
Tansy moved to fill the kettle and put it on the pellet stove. “I got them at a craft fair in Phail. There are a few local Abenaki and Ojibwe artisans. I’d like to get some blankets the next time I see them.”
If she wanted to keep warm, Sam had much better ideas about how to accomplish that.
“Bella and I have been working on fabrics and I’d like to see if the artisans have ideas for our project.”
“Tell me it’ll smell better than the tree-bark experiment.”
Her eyes lit up for the first time since he’d screwed up. “I hope so. We’ve got a new lightweight material for firefighter clothing waiting for a patent. And prospective buyers once it’s approved by the powers who be in firefighting world.”
“Cinnia take care of that kind of thing for you? Submitting forms and getting approvals?”
Tansy shuddered. “She does. If she didn’t, everything would come to a halt. I can’t bring myself to do all of that, but she enjoys it. Something I’ll never understand.”
“I’m glad you’ve got a good partner there.”
Her eyes dimmed a little, and he gave himself a mental head slap. Probably brought up memories of the asshole. “Did Stephens try to steal credit for that, too? Or is he only focused on the holographic stuff?”
The kettle whistled, but Tansy didn’t move to grab it immediately. Instead, she locked eyes on him. Wary eyes.
But he hadn’t wanted to have any more secrets with her.
“How did you get his name?”
Sam picked up the kettle and moved back to the kitchen. “You dropped his first name earlier. I did some digging.”
Tansy sighed when she followed him into the kitchen and pulled down a mason jar filled with tea leaves and a mug. One mug. She wasn’t in the mood to offer, so Sam grabbed his own.
Tansy grudgingly filled up two infusers and set them into the mugs. He hadn’t a clue what he was about to drink, but it smelled like ginger. Even if he didn’t like it, the steeping gave him a few more minutes with Tansy.
“And I suppose Joe knows his name now as well.”
She didn’t make it a question, but he nodded anyway. “We want to help protect you, Tans.”
“I’m perfectly capable of protecting myself.”
Unless she was distracted by her projects. That’s when she left herself wide open. “Most of the time and with most people, I’d agree. But Joe and I are trained in this. It’s what we do.”
Tansy shook her head. “He hasn’t made any threats to national security.”
Sam leaned against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you sure? Who has he offered your tech to? You’re contracted out to the DOD. If he threatens you, he is a national security issue. I’d like to read his emails.”
“You haven’t done that already?”