Page 12 of A Christmas Duet

The driver parked his truck alongside her car. The door creaked when he opened it. He kept his headlights on, focusing on the front door.

Although the light was dim, Hailey had a good view of the man. It didn’t take more than two seconds to recognize this was no hillbilly. Jethro had the physique of a lumberjack: tall and handsome didn’t begin to describe him. He was gorgeous, with wide shoulders that tapered down to narrow hips. He wore jeans with a thick winter coat.

“Wowzer,” she muttered under her breath.

Standing in front of his headlights, Jethro turned to her and asked, “I’m sorry, did you say something?”

Embarrassed, Hailey was too tongue-tied to respond. Instead, she pointed toward the cabin and managed to squeak out a single word: “Help.”

Chapter Six

Although the weather was well below freezing, Hailey could feel the heat fill her cheeks. Generally, her head wasn’t turned by an attractive man. Something about his rugged good looks and his smile got to her in ways she found hard to understand. She supposed it was because he was nothing like what she’d expected. Jethro Cantor took her completely by surprise. Quickly looking away, she shook her head and managed to mumble, “It was nothing important.”

Jethro nodded and glanced toward the cabin. “Mom said something about a rabid raccoon chasing you.”

“I…don’t have much experience with raccoons, no experience, if the truth be known, so I can’t be sure if it was rabid or just ticked off that I’d invaded its territory.What I do know is that he reared up on his hind legs and hissed.”

“Not exactly the welcome you’d expected.”

“You can say that again. By the way, I’m Hailey Morgan. I really appreciate you helping me, Jethro.”

Jethro grimaced when she mentioned his name. “Please call me Jay. My mother and a few of the locals are the only ones who use my given name.”

“I will say you don’t look much like a Jethro.”

From the look he gave her, Hailey had the feeling she wasn’t the first one to mention it. “Jethro was my grandfather’s and great-grandfather’s name. My grandparents only had daughters, so Mom felt it necessary for me to carry on the family name.”

Although she didn’t say it aloud, Hailey thought,Lucky you.

“Is the house locked?”

In her rush to escape, Hailey hadn’t thought to relock the front door.

“No…frightened as I was, I didn’t…”

“No problem. It’s doubtful anyone would break in around here.”

“Other than forest creatures,” she reminded him.

What followed was a short laugh. “Point taken.”

Hailey smiled in return.

“Okay, stay here, and I’ll go inside and do what I canto convince Mr. Raccoon to find other housing arrangements.”

Hailey expelled a sigh of gratitude. “I really appreciate your doing this…Only would you mind checking to be sure no one else from the animal kingdom has taken up residence?”

“Sure thing.”

Armed with thick gloves and a flashlight, Jay entered the house.

Because she was curious, Hailey ventured onto the porch. Stepping up to the large front window, she leaned forward and framed her face with her hands to see what she could make of Jay’s progress.

At first all that was visible was the beam from his flashlight. The light swept the room and then disappeared. Hailey gasped, afraid Jay had fallen or been overcome by the raccoon. Unsure what to do, she was about to brave the beast herself when the electricity flickered on. Greatly relieved, she placed her hand over her heart. Jay must have found the panel Thelma had mentioned. It had probably been out of her line of sight.

Even with the lights on, Hailey couldn’t see Jay. An eternity seemed to pass, long enough for the cold to seep into her bones and for her to start to worry. Hailey wrapped her arms around her middle, far more interested in what was happening inside the house to worry about the cold.

All at once he came into view. Hailey hurried to the front door just as Jay openedit.

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