“I know, this might be a quick run. Hopefully, they got the message about the buckets and plumbing supplies Luis wanted.”
Angelica nodded back and they headed in.
“Mrs. Castiglione,” the manager said upon seeing her, “your supplies are staged outside and ready to load up. I have a guy ready to get it going right now.”
“Perfect. Did Rob get his call in for the plumbing supplies?”
“He did. I had enough for the first order, but I need to get a transfer from another store to get enough bulkhead fittings for what he wanted added on. You want to pay for it all now, or split the order and pay for what you are picking up today?”
“Let’s go ahead and pay it all now,” Anna told him. “Listen, is there any chance you have more of those feed bags?”
“Actually, we have two extra pallets worth,” he said smiling when he saw the ladies' faces light up.
“Good, we’ll take those too.” Angelica told him.
“I thought you might,” he said, and handed them a printout.
The ladies went over it and saw they had everything but the extra bulkhead fittings on the list. “Will all of this fit on the cube van?” Anna asked him.
“Sure, but not with the empty pallets Rob asked for, I can send what we can fit today and then the rest tomorrow or the day after, when the rest of the supplies come in?”
“That sounds perfect.”
Anna, Angelica, and the manager went to a register where they paid the bill. Anna was carefully counting out cash when the ATF agents took note of them, and the bulges in their t-shirts. They sauntered over, whispering into a radio.
“Thank you for the business,” the cashier told them as she made change.
“Any time. Are you guys getting hit hard with the shortages?”
“It’s been—”
“Excuse me, miss,” a voice said from behind Anna.
She turned to see two men in suits, some sort of badges on their belt.
“Yes sir,” she said sweetly, her bubbling charm already coming out.
“I noticed you’re…” he pointed to her side, “carrying. Can I see some identification?”
“Sure, let me put the money in my purse,” she said, putting it on the counter in front of them and moving slowly.
They were tense, but watched as she put the change up and pulled out her driver’s license and her CPL, being careful to keep her hands slow and away from her pistol.
“Here you go, sugar,” she cooed.
Angel rolled her eyes, but she was grinning, seeing the effect her friend had on the men and women around her. Angel didn’t roll that way, but when Anna turned on the charm, she even doubted herself sometimes. Not by much, just a smidge.
“Thank you, ma’am, and you?” the agent asked Angel.
“Sir, I have my license and CPL in my right rear pocket near my firearm. Would you mind if I moved and got it slowly?”
“Not at all, thank you for letting me know ahead of time.” The agent gave her a smile, the second man was still entranced by Anna.
Angelica got her ID out, being careful to make exaggerated movements, and turning her rear end towards the man so he could see she was only going for her rear pocket. She pulled a small stack of cards out and turned back to him, flipping through them. She found her ID and CPL and handed them over as he checked them.
“Thank you,” he said after a glance, handing Angelica back her IDs. “What are you ladies up to?”
“We’re just picking up supplies for the farm,” Anna answered, and the other agent handed her back her IDs as well.
“Ahhh, oh, I see,” the one in front of Angelica stammered.
“Is there something we can do for you agents?” She finally realized they were ATF agents, probably there to do their yearly checkup.
“I, uh… Can I have both of your autographs?” the agent who had been staring at Anna asked, grabbing a magazine off the rack next to the registers.
“Sure thing, Hun,” Anna said, pulling a pen out that had been clipped inside of her shirt.
The agent nearly dropped his radio.
Anna signed it, then handed the pen and magazine over to Angelica who looked at Anna in puzzlement. Anna nodded to the magazine and pen she offered, and Angel finally got it. She took them and signed it ‘Angel’. The man was grinning ear to ear when Angelica gave it to him. Anna leaned over and gave him a brief hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“Thank you two for everything you do to keep us all safe here in America.”
“What she said,” Angel said, now utterly baffled as she watched Anna play the two men.
“Can, uh… I get an autograph too?” the agent who had asked Angel for her ID asked.
They repeated the process, with Angelica giving both men a hug and a kiss on the cheek that time. They left the dumbfounded agents at the register, reminding them they had to pay for the magazines, and skipped out of there. Both were glad to see the truck and trailer had been loaded up. The kid who they had first dealt with was out there, struggling with large rolls of greenhouse plastic and shade cloth. They were about to offer to help when he got the several hundred pound roll slid in where he wanted it. Then he tossed a strap over, and another store employee started cinching the load down.
“Mrs. Castiglione, Mrs. Little, you two should be all set when Trav there gets it cinched tight. What time do you want the rest of the supplies staged for tomorrow?”
“How about say, noon?” Anna asked.
“We have market day tomorrow,” Angel reminded her. “How about we try for the afternoon, or evening?”
“Oh yeah, duh!” Anna said, smacking her head. “Would that work ok for you guys?”
“That’s fine, ladies.” He grinned and gave them a quick nod.
“See you boys’ tomorrow,” Angelica said. “Thank you very much!”
The ladies got in the truck after making sure themselves that things were cinched down and locked up
