Page 21 of Wanted by the Lawman

CHAPTER 7

WYNN STARED AT the floor, sipping her coffee as Zander checked the outside for footprints. She wasn’t sure if she was more angry or fearful. Her peace of mind was off kilter. She didn’t know anyone in town, and the thought made the loneliness burrow deeper into her bones.

Zander came back in, swiped his feet on the mat and looked at her with apprehension.

“Did you find any clue as to who could have been here?” she asked.

He gave his head a shake, took off his hat and held it against his chest. “Sorry.”

Wynn dropped her arms to her sides and fought back the need to allow emotions to take over. She hadn’t felt the need to cry until she saw Zander and the platform of his chest that looked good enough to fall against.

“You’re sure you didn’t hear anything?”

“No, nothing. Did you?”

“I didn’t get home until after one. What time did you go to bed?” he asked.

“Eleven.”

“So that gives us a time frame between elevenish and twelve-forty-five.”

“How do you know? How can you be so precise?”

He placed his hat back on his head. “Susie-Q would have alerted me to any unwanted activity at my house and yours.”

“By the way, because you’re always gone, who watches your dog? You don’t leave her alone, do you?”

“On occasion.”

“Look, this might be a little presumptuous, but I thought maybe I could help out, take Susie-Q for walks, dog-sit. It’s the least I can do to say thank you.”

“For what?”

“Considering your furnace guy friend gave me a deep discount and I now have heat and wood to last all winter, I think I owe you something.”

“I didn’t say I had anything to do with either.”

“Yes, you did. It was in your expression.”

“I think you’re reading something that’s not there.”

“But did you?” She met his gaze, holding it, finding herself wanting to swim in the ocean of those blue pools.

“Yeah. I did. Remember, I told you, hospitality is alive and well here in Crooked Creek.”

“So then, I’m offering to help you in return. I love animals and although I haven’t had one in years, I think Susie-Q took a liking to me.”

“Of course she did.”

He smiled and somehow, some way, it triggered emotion in her, and then something unexpected happened. Tears filled her eyes. Her life had suddenly swung into a whirlwind. “I’m sorry that I bothered you with this. I-I’m just getting used to everything. You’re going to think I’m crazy.”

“Hey, slow down. I know this has caught you off guard, but you’re safe.” His gentle voice soothed her some, but her control gave way. The tears she’d been containing behind a dam broke free. She turned, hopefully before he saw the waterworks. The last thing she wanted was for him to see her weakness or an ugly cry.

Looking through the window, she swiped the arm of her sweatshirt across her cheeks. She finally thought she had her emotions under control until he came up behind her and placed a large, comforting hand on her shoulder. “This probably adds up to me losing my mind.” She laughed but it came out as a sobbing squeak. Swiveling to face him, his hand dropped, and she stared into his gorgeous eyes. Instantly, it was as if her nerves were grated and she didn’t have the strength in her to pretend that she was brave, or that this was just a small setback. “I know this isn’t a biggie. This isn’t the end of the world, but it just seems…well…”

“Like another run of bad luck?”

“Right. I’ve invested a lot in coming here, and lost a lot too. I didn’t expect to find a home badly in need of repair. I-I don’t know if I can do this. I laid down tile for the first time in my life. I hadn’t ever repaired a leaky faucet. But…there’s so much…And it doesn’t help that I’m acting like a blubbering idiot.”

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