Page 19 of Bridge to Safety

She pulled a dishtowel from a nearby drawer. “You really think it was only Rachel’s imagination?”

He arched a brow. “Don’t tell me you believe in Bigfoot.”

“No, but it could’ve been a man. Duke, maybe.”

“I didn’t see anything.” He studied her worried face. “You want to come home with me and Rachel? I could sleep on the couch.”

“No, I’ll be fine with Peanut.”

“Can you shoot a gun?”

She nodded. “I don’t have one, though. Guess that’s another expense I should invest in?”

“I have one you can use in the meantime. I’ll bring it by after school tomorrow.”

He and Rachel left after finishing the dishes, but instead of heading straight home, he drove to the back side of Shiloh’s plot to where an old road, overgrown with weeds now, had once been another way into town. Until the bigger, safer bridge had been built. “Let’s take a hike.” He opened the door for Rachel. “Just a short one, then home to do homework.”

“We’re looking for Bigfoot, aren’t we?” She slid from the car and dashed into the trees.

“Slow down. I don’t want you going in there without me.” He rushed to catch up with her, then took her hand.

“What if we find him?” Rachel whispered.

“We’ll just watch him. He’s shy, remember?” Rowan probably shouldn’t be encouraging her, but his mind was on other things. With a sharp eye, he studied the ground around them, noting the disturbance of some dried leaves, the scuff of what looked like a boot, and a full print near a tree. Rowan stood exactly as he thought someone else had. Someone who had had a very clear view of the back of Shiloh’s house.

The cameras couldn’t arrive too soon for him.

Chapter Eight

Having completed herfull first week as a Misty Hollow elementary teacher, Shiloh bounded out of bed Saturday morning. “Come on, Peanut. We have a busy day ahead of us.”

Saturday would bring a new roof, if the parts came in. The security cameras would be installed, and the painting crew would start on the outside of the house. As for her, she’d start planting flowers and bushes in the garden. “Very busy weekend for sure,” she said to no one but herself. It was all coming together.

With all the renovations, s could almost forget the childhood spent within these four walls. Almost. Not quite. It might have been peaceful at one time, but as far back as Shiloh could remember—from the age of five—her home had been tumultuous. Making it a better place one nail at a time would help her to heal.

She put on a large pot of coffee and carried all but one of her ancient, stained cups left behind in the house and set them on a small table on the porch. There were cookies, but there was also a big dog who’d eat them before the workers arrived. The snacks would have to wait. That taken care of, she fed Peanut and popped a couple slices of bread into the toaster. Shiloh wasn’t a big breakfast eater, but she’d need fuel to plant her new foliage. She finished as the first truck rumbled into her yard. Hurrying into the house, she carried the tray of cookies to the porch, set them on the railing, and then went to greet Deacon. “I’m very happy to see you.”

“Eager for that roof, are you?” He turned to see a van park next to his truck. “Security people?” Something like worry flitted through his eyes.

“Just an extra precaution for a woman living alone.”

“I’m going to put some stronger locks on that house. Install a better door. A small child could kick that one down.”

She turned and studied the heavy oak door with clear glass where once there had been a stain where her father had thrown a bottle through it. “Can you get one as close to that one as possible, but stained glass instead of clear?”

“Absolutely. Let me check the back door while we wait for my men to show up.”

“Thank you.” She headed for the security van. “You have the plans for where I want them?”

“Yes, ma’am. Won’t take us but an hour to finish this job.”

Shiloh frowned. “If all this hooks up to my Wi-Fi, why are you carrying a large coil of wire?”

“Uh.” He pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket. “You’d have to speak to a…Mr. White? These cameras will be wired to your house.”

Her principal? She pulled her phone from her purse and stepped away from the others to make her call.

“Everything okay?” His worried voice came through the airwaves.

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