Quite the Catch by Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy Page B

remained in the
truck floorboard.
    “That
was stupid,” she said aloud. If she’d heeded Joshua, she wouldn’t have put
herself in harm’s way. For one moment, she considered not telling him but
realized she couldn’t. He needed the information she’d gleaned so she would
confess all, but Tina figured he would scold her. I deserve it and I’ll try not to fuss.
    At
the cabin she unlocked the back door and entered. The clean dishes were lined
up in the drainer but the kitchen loomed empty. “Joshua?” she called.
    When
he didn’t answer, she put away the groceries and picked up the bag with the
items he had requested. Tina walked into the living room but he wasn’t there. She
peeked into the bedroom and bathroom. Perplexed and more than a little anxious,
she mounted the narrow stairs and checked the upper floor. Nothing. “Joshua, where are you?”
    There
was still the basement, and if he wasn’t there, she had no idea where else to
look. Maybe he decided to leave but Tina doubted it. He wouldn’t go without a word or a note or something.
    As
she descended the steps into the living room, a clatter from the kitchen caught
her attention. Panic struck as she remembered she’d left her gun inside her
purse, now resting on a kitchen chair. Afraid the men had followed her back to
the cabin, although there wasn’t any real reason why they could have guessed
she was connected, Tina picked up a heavy book as she passed a shelf. It would
make a better weapon than her bare hands, if necessary.
    Tina
took position outside the closed kitchen door and listened. Heavy footsteps
moved across the floor, then she heard someone open a
cabinet. Water gushed from the faucet, and judging from the series of sounds,
someone filled the percolator. When the robust smell of coffee reached her
nose, she pushed the door open a crack. Joshua stood with his back to her as he
plugged in the pot. Her relief lasted about ten seconds, then shifted into irate irritation.
    “Where
were you? I looked everywhere except the basement,” she cried. “I was afraid
those men found you or something.”
    Joshua
wore one of Gramps’ flannel shirts over the sweats. When he turned around and
grinned, Tina almost melted. “I went outside for a walk around the perimeter,”
he told her. “I wanted to get a feel for the place, to see how close we are to
the road. I saw you come back so I headed for the house. I didn’t mean to upset
you.”
    After
a few hours apart, she’d almost forgotten how damn good looking he was. “Well,
you did. I’m a little upset anyway, after what happened to me.”
    Joshua’s
smile faded. “Tell me.”
    Tina
balked. Like a child trying to avoid being scolded, she changed the subject. “I
got the witch hazel and some comfrey. Do you want to apply it now or wait until
after lunch?”
    His
dark eyes narrowed. “First, tell me what the hell happened. You look spooked.”
    She
probably did and when she glanced down, Tina realized she still clutched the
book in her hand so she placed it on the table. “I am a little, but promise not
to yell at me, okay?”
    “I
can tell I’m not going to like this,” he said. He glowered at her but the stern
expression served to make him more desirable. Then he leaned back against the
counter as if he needed the support.
    “Are
you okay?” Her concern was genuine but the question bought her a little more
time.
    Some
of the harsh lines softened. “Yeah, I’m fine, just tired and a little winded. And
sore. Any muscles that didn’t hurt before do now. I’m a little chilled, that’s
why I’m making coffee. Now, explain.”
    Feeling
like the hapless Lucy from the classic sitcom, Tina sighed. “All right, but
you’re not going to like it. On the way to town, I checked the river and didn’t
see anything out of the ordinary. Coming back, I swung around again and at one
of the public access points, there were three guys.”
    “And?”
    “I
pulled in and parked to see what they were