“Faith’s kids use the bedroom when they come over. And Nathan will be back, eventually. Besides, I don’t plan on being in town forever. Once you’re feeling better, you can take over at the office.”
“I don’t know. These painkillers make me woozy.”
“You’ll be off them soon enough.”
Her mother picked at a snagged piece of yarn hanging from her sweater sleeve.
Bending over, Grace placed a kiss on her mother’s cheek. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“I’ll be here,” came the terse reply.
Grace had just made it to the front door when her mother stopped her. “Wait. I forgot to ask. Did you hire the man who came to the office today?”
Turning, she said, “Yes, despite not running his references first.”
“Myrna down at the coffee shop said he stopped in and is just the most polite young man.”
“You’re going by her word?”
“I’ve known Myrna and Delroy for twenty-five years. They wouldn’t steer me wrong.”
“Maybe not, but I still put in a request to speak to HR at his job.”
“Last job, you mean?”
“No, current. Sort of. He’s on a leave of absence.”
Her mother frowned. “Odd.”
“He works for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.”
Wide-eyed, her mother gasped. Yeah, cops weren’t a favorite in this house since Daddy’s arrest. “Tell him never mind.”
“I will do no such thing. I hired him on your say-so. We need help and he looks more than capable for the job.”
Capable was an understatement. More than once this afternoon she’d pictured him, broad shoulders, blue-gray eyes that captivated and drew her in, wondering who he was and what had happened in his life to bring him to her door. Or why her heart sped up when he smiled. Those dimples. Yikes. Then, just as quickly, she chastised herself for thinking about him. She wasn’t in the market for a romance, no matter how handsome he was. Besides, she worked with lots of handsome men, she reasoned, even as an inner voice said, Yeah, but they’ve never affected you this way.
“But Gracie...”
“No buts, Mama. Unless he’s done something heinous, he stays.”
Her mother crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. It was all Grace could do not to laugh. “If you don’t like my decisions you can return to the office and take over.”
Wanda Sue dropped her arms. “Fine. He’ll do.”
“That’s what I thought.” She softened her voice. “Keep your phone nearby, okay? I love you, Mama.”
“I love you, too, Gracie.”
As she stepped outside, a breeze chilled her skin. She tugged her lightweight jacket closer. The month of May could still be cool in Golden, especially as the late-afternoon sun lowered in the sky, although it was beginning to stay lighter longer in the day now. She glanced at her watch and hustled to her car. She had enough time to hit the store and make it up to the cabin before dusk.
After power walking the small local grocery, she drove the five miles north of town to Golden Cabins. Her uncle Roy still owned and maintained the fifteen structures while the Put Your Feet Up office booked the rentals. This afternoon Grace had reserved the last available unit—the family cabin—just in time. By the end of the upcoming three-day holiday weekend, the vacation season would officially be under way.
She pulled off the main drag to the entrance. A wooden sign with bright gold letters welcomed guests. Gradually, the pavement receded to gravel and dirt. At the fork she turned left, leading her to the two cabins the family owned and used personally. Uncle Roy lived in one, and Grace’s family used the other, renting it when it wasn’t occupied. The rest of the rental units were to the right of the fork, away from the family. Spread out across ten acres, all the cabins had access to Golden Lake, which was within walking distance. Worn paths lined the property from years of tourists meandering through the majestic woods. At the very center of the property, where the river emptied into the lake, nature lovers could find a small waterfall. Even though Grace wasn’t much for the outdoors after an ill-fated camping trip in high school, the falls were her most favorite spot on the entire planet.
With the window down and cool air rustling her hair, the ground crunched under the car tires until she pulled up to the dark cabin and parked. Removing her groceries, she noticed Uncle Roy’s place was dark, too. He’d mentioned something about fishing until the guests arrived, so he still had a few days away.
Juggling her keys and groceries, she moved through the screened porch and unlocked the front door, then swiped the wall until her hand connected with the light switch. A bright overhead fixture illuminated the living room. Kicking the door closed with her foot, Grace carried the bags to the small kitchen and dropped them on the counter, then switched on another light before tossing her purse on the table and putting away the food that needed refrigeration. Once done, she opened the window to usher in the clean air. Her uncle had been gone when she’d called so the cabin hadn’t been aired out. It still retained that closed-up smell.
She’d just opened the living room window and kicked off her shoes when the sound of shattering glass jolted her. Curious, she hurried to the window and peered outside. Only the hazy twilight greeted her. Shaking her head, she turned to go into the bedroom to change when she heard a loud thump. This time she went to the door and opened it.
The waning sun disappeared behind the mountains, causing shadows to linger over the densely wooded area surrounding the cabins. Just enough light flittered through the tree branches for her to catch sight of a particular shadow on the far side of her uncle’s cabin.
She watched for a beat. Just as she was about to go back inside, she noticed a flicker of movement. Could it be a raccoon getting into mischief? Highly likely. She held her breath. Waited. Sure enough, the elusive movement caught her eye again. She blinked just to be sure, but something had stirred out there. She was certain of it.
Enough was enough.
She rushed straight to the utility closet in the kitchen and grabbed the best weapon she could wield, a broom. Yes, she was going next door to give those critters a piece of her mind. She’d sneak over and scare the party animals back into the woods where they belonged.
Holding the broom handle in a firm grasp, Grace detoured to her bedroom for a pair of flat shoes, then stormed through the screen door, down the steps and...stopped. What was she missing? Oh, yeah, a flashlight. She retraced her steps to find one, then came back outside. After the day she’d had, she was ready to do battle.
The air had cooled even more since she’d been inside. Shivering, she gulped in several deep breaths of pine-scented air, debating the wisdom of her actions as the night grew darker. She rounded the corner of the cabin, heard a thud and a deep groan.
Okay, that was no animal. A burglar?
Quickly turning, she began running back to her cabin to call for help, something she should have done from the start, when she collided with a solid human body.
* * *
DEKE GRUNTED AT exactly the same time the woman who’d barreled into him screamed.
“Hold it,” he yelled, hands outstretched as he saw an object moving toward his head. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
The woman took a step back, brandishing