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John Crowell sipped his coffee and toyed with the chocolate cake he’d ordered from the café in the neighboring town. Tim Worley hadn’t arrived yet. Not anything unusual for him. Damn the man for sounding off at the board meeting, but he hadn’t been much better himself. He wanted to wring Jessica Allen’s neck. Because her dead husband’s family had been leaders in this town since its founding didn’t mean she could mess with his plans. Too bad she won the election. He could’ve manipulated Palmer Northcutt with his eyes closed.
The door opened and Tim hurried in, brushing snow from his shoulders. “Man, it’s rough out there. Not certain the roads will be open much longer.” One hand rattled the change in his pocket, a nervous habit that set John’s teeth on edge.
“Coffee and apple pie, Babe,” Tim told the waitress, who rushed off to do his bidding. “Are you sure we needed to meet?”
“You think we should ignore your outburst at the meeting the other night? I’d like us not to have to mess with Jessica Allen because she’s a royal pain in my keister, but we can’t announce it at a board meeting. That was too stupid for words.”
“So, what do we do now?”
“We should disappear the woman before the issue comes up at the next board meeting.”
“Jeez, John. You really mean get rid of her?”
“How successful have you been at making her change her mind, Tim? You’ve tried scare tactics, and nothing works. She’ll never forgive or forget what happened to her nosy husband.”
“Guess you’re right. How do you think we should make this happen?”
“Well, up to now, you haven’t accomplished the task of with getting her to back off. I figure it’s time to hire it done. Hate to spend the money, which will come out of your share, by the way, if we have to go in that direction. But we’ll never push this project through if she remains on the board. And I want you to get this job.”
“I agree, John. We should be able to pull in a hefty pile of dough. We can find a dozen or more ways we can cut corners on this one.”
“We’re agreed. I’ll make it happen. In the meantime, keep your trap shut. Don’t do anything else to call attention to yourself. When it happens, I don’t want them coming to look for you. I’ll key you in on the time to make sure you have an alibi. Both of us should have one. Solid, no way they can pin anything on us.”
“Okay, if you think you can handle it, John. I kind of liked the idea of taking her to Maine and dumping her into the ocean from one of the rocky cliffs. That was going to be my next thing to try. But if you’re going to handle it, that’s fine with me. I’m heading out.” He rose and shrugged into his coat.
“Yeah. I’ll drink another cup of coffee to go with my cake here, and then I’ll follow you.” John signaled the waitress and settled back on the bench as Tim walked out of the café
♦♦♦
“LEAVE YOUR CAR AND let Bob drive you back to the shop, Mom. The roads are treacherous. Or better yet, you can stay here.”
“I’ve got good snow tires, Kathy, and I’ve been driving on this stuff for thirty years now. I’ve got this. I will take the thermos of coffee you prepared with me, and I’ve always got extra blankets in case something happens. Anyway, we’re only talking a mile. I drove because I didn’t want to walk in the forecast blizzard. Unfortunately, the storm came in way earlier than expected.”
“Here’s your coffee. I know it’s not your choice, but it will do in a pinch. And call me when you’re safe in the apartment. If I don’t hear in a reasonable time, I’m calling the sheriff.”
Jessica couldn’t stop the giggle from bubbling out at the idea of Kathy calling on the sheriff to ride to the rescue like in some western movie. “Thanks for the thermos, and I’m sure I’ll be fine, Kathy. I won’t take any chances. I appreciate you’re worrying because you love me. I love you, too. Tell Lori not to come in to work tomorrow. Depending on what the weather does, I may not open in the morning, but I’ll be able to handle customers if anyone is willing to brave the cold temps.” She tugged her white wool knit cap down over her ears, pushed her hands into heavy leather gloves after zipping up her puffy coat. Smart she’d worn boots when she left the shop. She hugged Kathy longer than usual and made her way outside. The wind bit into her exposed skin. It wouldn’t take long for her cheeks to be rosy from the cold. Cautiously stepping down the stairs, she trudged through the drifts already piling up, though she hadn’t been at Kathy’s long.
The wind made opening the car door a challenge. Straining her arm muscles, she kept the door open long enough for her to scramble inside the car. As she dragged in her left leg, the door blew closed, barely missing her foot. The car had grown cold, and she didn’t have far enough to go to reach her home for the heater to warm up the car. The downside of driving short distances. After turning on the ignition, she cranked up the heat anyway and punched the buttons for the seat warmers. Such a brilliant invention. Warmth enveloped her in an instant, and she wiggled her bottom against the car seat. If she’d walked from town, she’d be forced to stay at her daughter’s. Not a dreadful occurrence but getting home to her own place seemed important. They’d probably all be hunkered down for two or three days. The possibility of losing power seemed likely. Her store and apartment had a generator. She’d be all right once she got there. One of the additions they’d done in the renovation she’d been grateful for a couple of times. It only took one week-long power outage to make the expense worthwhile. The refrigerator and the HVAC kept working. But first, she had to make it to town, the store, and her apartment.
Carefully looking both ways, Jessica left Kathy’s and drove out on tires seeming to float above the road, she had so little traction. Wow, possibly the worst road conditions she’d ever driven in. She hoped not to need the emergency coffee, and she fully expected to get safely to her warm apartment, but the trip would definitely take longer than usual. She couldn’t risk skidding. The image of the fire glowing in the hearth with the warmth streaming out, and her sitting with a cup of hot tea made her smile. She could hardly wait.
Lights in the rearview mirror blinded her for a moment. Looked like she wasn’t the only idiot out on the road. She struggled again to keep the car from sliding. Her fingers in gloved hands tensed on the steering wheel. Why hadn’t she agreed to stay with Kathy and Lori? Would’ve been way smarter. Not her best thinking. Periodically, her car slid, the tires not gripping. Each corrective action she took, led to the car moving another way, and not the way she intended. Each slip and slide had her heart jumping out of her chest. Her fingers tightened on the steering wheel when the car, truck, whatever behind got closer and closer. Surely he didn’t want to pass. On such a narrow road, if another vehicle came toward them, they would have no space for error. Jessica took her foot off the gas and gently tapped the brake. Maybe the red lights would remind him to back off. Her windshield wipers had trouble keeping up with the snow as it poured from the clouds in giant flakes she would’ve appreciated in any other situation but now were making visibility difficult.
They were close to town, maybe a quarter of a mile. She drew in a deep breath and tipped her head to lessen the tension in her neck. The truck, dark in color, slowed down. Thank goodness. She only had a little way longer before she made it home. And that’s all she wanted to do. Arrive safely home. Between the lights in the rearview mirror and her own lights reflecting off the snow, sparkles bounced around in her eyes, the rainbow reflections making her struggle to see.
Clunk. Her car jerked; her head jerked. The truck had plowed into her bumper. What was the matter with him? Had he lost control of his vehicle? Did his brakes go out?
Clunk. Again. Harder this time, sending her car into a skid and then spinning three sixty degrees and pulling an imitation of a tilt-a-whirl at an amusement park. Her heart battered to get out of her chest when the car slid across the road. A scream tore from her throat as the car left the ground and sailed into the air before plunging into a ditch. Everything went dark.
♦♦♦
“OH,” JESSICA MOANED. Cold. So cold. Why was she cold? Prying her eyes open took effort, but she did it. What was that? Did a large tree branch break through the passenger side front windshield? She must be dreaming. Her hand reached out, expecting it to sail through the air. The sharp bark of a real tree limb scraped her fingers, drawing blood and surprising her. Wow. The branch had crashed right through, all right. She’d be dead if it had come through the driver’s side. Shudders shook her body, and it wasn’t from the cold. Or only partly. She carefully swiveled her head to the left and then to the right. Yes, everything seemed connected. Based on how much she ached everywhere, she was alive. A good place to start. Vapor puffed from her mouth.
The airbag had deployed and deflated.
What time was it? Had she lost her phone? No. Thank goodness. She grabbed for it still sitting in the cup holder. Looking a second time, she was amazed to find an hour had passed since she left Kathy’s. Her daughter must be worried sick. Would she have called the sheriff? Jessica should call anyway. Carefully she grasped her phone, removed one glove to type in Gary Halbert’s number. However, her fingers, numb from the cold, wouldn’t work correctly. She couldn’t get a connection. Should she stay in her SUV? With the hole in the windshield, the car didn’t provide much shelter from the cold. Could she climb out? Should she? Less than a quarter of a mile wasn’t far. But in this blizzard? Staying on the road would make the trek doable, but....
“Gut up, Jessica.” Her words though not loud, spurred her on. She could do this. Walking would help her stay warm. It wasn’t far, but the conditions were horrific. Before she made any attempt at getting back to town, she drank half the thermos of hot coffee. Grimacing at the bitterness. How could people drink it, and especially with nothing in it? However, the warmth traveled right down to her toes, making her sigh. The caffeine gave her a jolt of energy she needed.
Taking a deep breath, she unhooked her seat belt, which fortunately wasn’t jammed, clasped her hand on the car door handle, and shoved. Nothing happened. Oh, no. She had to make it work. She shoved with her shoulder again. Still nothing. Would the car start? She could roll down the window and crawl out that way. She twisted the key still in the ignition. The car turned over, sputtered, and died. What now?
All of a sudden, she remembered the emergency tool she’d gotten to use to break out the window if she ever lost control of the car and ended up in a lake. She kept it in the center glove box. It took her a couple of times to pry open the box, and she rummaged around searching for the instrument. The box contained too much junk. Finally her gloved fingers connected with the tool. Thank God. Now she needed to break the window. Could she do it? Guess she’d find out how good the tool was.
She positioned the tool in the corner of the window and hit it hard, and yes, the window cracked, and she carefully pressed it out.
Could she crawl out? Remaining in the car and waiting to be rescued didn’t seem right. She twisted around to reach the spare blanket she kept in the back seat, tossing it out the window. Next went her small shoulder bag she carried everywhere, followed by the thermos. Her cell went into her coat pocket, and after a struggle she closed the zipper to keep the phone secure.
The only thing left was her. Go out headfirst or feetfirst? Feetfirst. Shifting her weight, she curled up her legs close to her chest then thrust them through the opened window. This would be the world’s hardest sit-up. She wriggled and wriggled, scooting her bottom closer to the door and extended her legs farther through the window. Next she grasped the top of the window for leverage. Maybe she should’ve taken off her coat first, but the idea of doing that in the deep-freeze temps hadn’t entered her mind, and it was too late now. She’d wedged herself half in the car and half out. This had to work. She had no other options.
The good thing was, nothing seemed to be broken, or she wouldn’t be able to play this contortionist game. With one last giant effort, she thrust herself through. Yikes. Despite the several layers of clothes, she probably skinned her back sliding through the opening. Whoa. She spread eagled on her stomach when she landed on the blanket protecting her from cutting herself on the broken-out glass, which had made a crunching sound as she landed. Dragging in a deep breath, she struggled to her knees and stumbled to her feet. Okay. She lifted the thermos and stuffed it in the other coat pocket. Her shoulder bag slung over her head, with the strap crossing her body. Next she picked up the navy blanket, shook it out several times to remove the snow and glass, and draped it around her shoulders for extra warmth.
Now she only had to trek into town. Only. She stumbled up the incline to the road. Her breath came in big gulps and vapor billowed out in front of her face. “I can do this. I can do this. I can do this,” she whispered like The Little Engine That Could, a book her daughters had loved when they were kids, and she’d read to the twins.
No cars passed on the road. What did she expect? Only she and the crazy truck driver who made her lose control of her car were stupid enough to be out in this storm. She’d never hear the end of this from Kathy. How many times would she utter the words, I told you so? And rightfully, so. This was stupid. She’d never live this down. On the other hand, she was alive. What happened to the truck and the driver? Why didn’t they stop to help? Everybody stopped to help someone in distress. That’s the way people behaved in rural areas.
The wind howled, like something from a scary movie. The snow blew straight at her, making her cheeks sting. The cold slithered right through the scarf she’d wound around her neck and lower face. The fingers of both hands burned from the cold. What would it be like if she didn’t have on the gloves? She folded her hands into fists and pulled them up into the sleeves of her coat.
One foot in front of the other. That’s all it took. One foot in front of the other, and she’d make her way home. Home. Her eyes watered, making it hard to see. The moisture trickling down her face froze. So not good. Shivers shook her whole body. Snow had slithered inside her boots during one of the tumbles, and she trudged forward on feet with giant blocks of ice attached. It took all her determination to pick up one foot and set it in front of the other. Hard to balance on the numbness in her feet, and she lost her footing, tumbling onto the road and rolling into the ditch. She landed on her back staring at the bare branches while icy snow pelted her face. She lay there a moment struggling to get her breath. Could she do this? But she had to. She had family she wanted to get back to. Closing her eyes, she drew from some internal well of strength, forced herself to roll over, and pushed up on her hands and knees. Then began another precarious climb up the incline. Taking deep breaths, she drew in much needed oxygen, but the cold seared her throat and lungs like a menthol cough drop.
After each fall, the struggle grew harder to get her feet back under her body. She had to keep going. If she didn’t, she’d freeze out in this storm. She trudged for what seemed like ages but must not have been because she hadn’t made it to town yet. Suddenly up ahead, lights flashed in front of her. She moved to the side of the road facing the traffic. Help. Finally help. Pulling one hand from under the blanket she waved. The vehicle slowed to a stop not far from her, and the door opened.
A man got out and slipped and skidded toward her.
“Jeff.” No one had ever looked as good to her as Jeff Hudson did to her at that moment.
“Jessica. Jessica.” His arms clasped her close. “Are you all right?” He set her away enough to look at her and with a gentle touch knocked the ice from her cheeks.
She nodded. “Y-yes. Now, I am.”
He settled an arm around her shoulders and guided her toward the passenger side of his SUV. “Let me help you inside where you can warm up.” He boosted her into the car. She couldn’t find the muscles to pull up her legs to climb in on her own.
“Th-thanks.” She barely pushed the words past her trembling lips.
Jeff hooked the seatbelt for her. A good thing, her fingers wouldn’t have managed the task. He went around the front and climbed in, closing out the cold. He flicked the blower on high.
“Oh, that feels wonderful.” She held out her hands in front of the vent where warm air streamed forth, rubbing her gloved hands to encourage the feeling to return. Return of feeling to her fingers brought pain, and tears stung her eyes. “Oh, my. That hurts.”
Jeff concentrated on turning his car and heading back to town. She let out a deep sigh when he accomplished the tricky maneuver on the narrow road. All the questions bubbling around in her mind, she kept to herself, not wanting to distract him. Why was Jeff here? What had happened to the sheriff?
“Kathy. I better call Kathy. I’m sure she’s worried sick.” Jessica fumbled with getting her phone out of the zippered pocket. Though warmer, her fingers wouldn’t work. Tears of frustration formed in her eyes. “I-I can’t dig it out.”
“Hang on, Jessica. Use mine. Can you remember the number?”
She smiled. “Kathy’s had the same number since she turned sixteen and worked at the local pizza shop. It’s the only number I have off the top of my head.”
“Tell me, and I’ll put the call through.”
Jessica repeated the numbers, and Jeff used the voice activated system to call her daughter who picked up almost instantly.
“Hey, Kathy. ... Yes, I’m...I’m sorry. ... Yes, I should’ve listened to you. I’m okay. ... Jeff Hudson found me. ... Did you call Sheriff Halbert? ... Oh. I understand. ...I guess I’m going home.” She cut her gaze at Jeff. He nodded. “Yes, I’m going home. Yes. I’ll talk with you later.” She disconnected.
“Kathy told me a big traffic accident happened out on the freeway, and that’s where Sheriff Halbert is.” She rubbed her hands together to keep the warmth moving. “How come you’re here?”
“I arrived in town right before the full brunt of the storm set in.”
Jeff’s wipers struggled to keep the snow from piling on the windshield and sticking. That would be bad. He wouldn’t be able to see. They still could end up in a wreck beside the road. Jessica shivered.
“I stopped by the sheriff’s office to check on how everything was in town at the same moment Kathy’s call came through saying she hadn’t heard from you. I told the deputy I’d go look for you. By the way, there’s hot tea in that thermos.”
“Oh, good. Thank you.” After a couple of unsuccessful attempts, she unscrewed the cap and poured the steaming brew into the attached cup and eagerly sipped. “This is sooo good. Thank you.”
“When you’re ready, can you tell me what happened?” Jeff’s gaze cut in her direction.
Jessica finished her cup and put the cap back on the thermos. “To begin with, I’m incredibly pig-headed. Kathy told me to stay at her house, and I insisted on getting out in this mess and driving home. I will always regret my decision.”
After a long breath, she began her story. “While it was bad out, I’ve been driving in this for thirty years and expected I’d be fine. And I would’ve been if that truck hadn’t come up behind me.”
“A truck?”
“Yeah. He rammed my bumper. I guessed he’d lost his brakes, but then he dropped back. And I breathed a sigh of relief. But the relief didn’t last long because the driver sped up and rammed me again. That’s when I lost control and spun around. Like completely around.” Her voice trembled when the pictures replayed in her head, making her dizzy. “My car sailed off on the other side of the road. Everything went black. When I came to, I found a tree limb stuck through my passenger side window.”
“Wouldn’t the car start?”
“No. The engine sputtered, and then it died. Staying in the car seemed a way to make sure I froze to death. A giant tree limb had gouged a huge opening in my windshield on the passenger side. Oh, I think maybe I said that already. Anyway, I’m not much for sitting around, waiting to be rescued.” She glanced at him and extended her arm to stroke his. “Not that I wasn’t relieved for you to arrive. I am grateful. A quarter of a mile is not far except when you’re trudging through a blizzard.”
Ahead on the road Tidbury appeared through the snow. “Thank goodness. What a beautiful sight.”
In moments, Jeff angled his SUV into a spot in front of her shop. He hopped out and came around to help her out. Her legs gave out when she tried to stand. Jeff scooped her up and carried her to the front door where snow had drifted. He lowered her but kept his arm around her.
“Can you find the key?”
“Yes. But keep holding me while I dig it out of my bag. My balance is off.” After a few moments of frustration, she gave up. “Oh, I can’t do this either. Will you please? She shoved her bag at him. After he retrieved her key, he returned it to her.
She fiddled with the key to get it to unlock. “I can’t make this work. Can you try?”
Jeff worked with the key, but the lock stubbornly resisted. “It’s not unlocking. Has this happened before?
“A couple of years ago a doozy of a cold front blew through with temps dropping to zero for several days, and the lock froze up.” She looked at Jeff. “I can’t get inside. Out on the road, I kept imagining being in my safe, warm apartment, sipping tea. And now I can’t get into my own home.” Tears of frustration welled in her eyes.
Jeff pulled her in for a hug. “It will be all right. Let’s go back to the car to drive to the inn. Normally we’d walk from here, but not in this weather. You’ll have to stay there. Probably better for you to be around others anyway until we’re certain you’re all right.”
Jessica didn’t argue, a testament to how shaken up she was. She nodded and pivoted toward Jeff’s SUV. “Okay.”
Jeff traveled the two blocks in the blinding snow but passed no other cars on the street and no one walking. He stopped the car in front of the inn. “Okay, you’ll feel better once you’re inside warm and dry.” After helping her out, they lurched up the front steps, and he opened the front door, using both hands to shove it closed against the wind.
“I was expecting you earlier, Mr. Hudson, so your suite is ready.” Penny Torbett, owner, manager, and head chef of the Tidbury Inn greeted them.
“What can I do for you, Jessica? You don’t look too good if you don’t mind my saying so. Do you want a cup of hot tea?”
“Jessica had an accident returning to town from her daughter’s house. I found her and brought her back to town.”
“I’d love a cup of your special blend, Penny. The lock in the front door of my store is frozen shut, and the key wouldn’t work. Jeff suggested he bring me here. Do you have a spare room I can crash in until this weather breaks, and I can go back to my apartment above the shop?”
“You’re welcome to rest in the parlor, Jessica, but we’re all filled up. We had a couple of extra people caught in the storm show up, and they took my last rooms.”
“Oh.” What in the world could she do now?
“We’ll figure out something. At least the electricity has only flickered twice. We have a generator for the inn if we lose power, but we’ll have to be careful and conserve so it will last as long as necessary.”
“That’s why it’s darker in here than usual.” Jeff glanced around at the lamps. Only half of them were on. “Penny, can you find any dry clothes for Jessica? We’ll go up to my suite. Can you fix us hot tea, hot soup, and a couple of sandwiches?”
“Sure, Mr. Hudson. And I’m sure I’ve got something that will work for you, Jessica. I’ll bring it upstairs.”
Jessica looked at them both. “I can’t go up to Jeff’s room.”
“It’s important you climb out of those wet clothes and into dry ones. Then you need warm food in you.” Penny brushed aside Jessica’s words and walked from the main room to the back part of the inn where her personal quarters were.
“Come on, Jessica, let me help you up these stairs. This is temporary until it’s safe to return to your place.” He took her elbow and guided her toward the stairs.
“Okay.” What else could she do?
She clasped one hand on the railing and limped up the stairs with his arm around her waist.
Jeff let them into his suite.
“Oh, you’ve got the room with the fireplace.”
“Yes, and I’ll light it in just a moment.” He guided her to a comfy chair and then flicked the switch which started the fire.
“Yes.” She sighed and rested her head on the back of the chair.
A knock at the door drew Jeff there. He swung it open.
“I’ve found dry clothes for Jessica. And I’ll put that food together right away.” Penny pivoted to go.
“Penny, thank you,” Jessica called out to her.
“You’re welcome. Do you want me to ask the doctor to check on you?”
“No, thanks. I’m sure she’s tied up with the accident. I don’t think anything is broken. Ibuprofen will knock out most of the soreness.”
“I’ll have that food ready for you soon.” Penny waved a hand over her shoulder and eased out of the room.
Jeff closed the door and carried the clothes to Jessica. “Can you manage getting into these by yourself?”
Heat rushed through her body at the idea of Jeff helping her undress. She looked away. “I’ll manage.”
“Well, I’ll head down to pick up our food and give you a chance to change. I’m sure you’ll be more comfortable once you’re out of those wet clothes.”
Jessica nodded. Jeff walked out the door and closed it quietly behind him.
She drew in a deep breath. Somehow she needed to do this on her own while Jeff was out of the room. Wouldn’t do to be half clothed when he returned. Her body grew hotter. What was the matter with her? Jessica took off her coat and hung it on the coat tree. What did Penny bring her to put on? Anything warm and dry would be welcome.
Ah, drawstring warm-ups and a giant sweatshirt. This would be perfect. Penny had remembered socks, too. Never mattered how many layers she wore, if her feet got cold, so did the rest of her. Moving quickly, which wasn’t quick at all because her fingers still weren’t working well, she dragged off her clothes and climbed into the soft, fluffy outfit Penny provided. Jessica settled on the hearth and let the warmth crawl up her back. Ahhh.
A quick tap followed Jeff’s words, “You decent?”
“Yes, come in. Not fashionable but warm and dry. Do you have hot tea?”
Jeff opened the door. “Yes, and hot tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Penny did us up proud.” He glanced at Jessica. “And not only with the clothes.” He set the tray with the containers on the coffee table in front of the fire. “This seems to be the best place to eat.”
She scooted over to make room for him on the hearth, and he settled next to her. She realized the touch of his shoulder gave her a sense of security. Ever since the election and all the incidents, her sense of peace had vanished. She wrapped her hands around the mug of soup. The warmth slipped from her finger to her hands up her arms. Ahh, wonderful. She drank half the soup before she paused to set down the mug. The tangy touch of hot spice was perfect. Next she sampled the grilled cheese. “Oh my, this melts in my mouth. Comfort food doesn’t get any better than this.”
Jeff laughed. “Sounds like you’ll survive after all.”
“I think so. I’ve got aches and pains making themselves known, but yeah, I think I’ll be okay. And Jeff, if you hadn’t come, I’m not sure I would’ve been.”
He slipped an arm around her shoulder. “I’m relieved I found you, but I bet you’d have made it to town. Judging by your handling of Worley, you’re not someone who easily gives up.”
She smiled and leaned into him. His strength and warmth gave her courage, which she seemed to crave right now. “My family has accused me of being stubborn.”
“Eat the rest of the soup while it’s still hot.”
She’d eaten the last bite of her grilled cheese and swallowed the last of the soup when her cell beeped. Pulling it from the pocket of her sweatpants, she looked at the name. “It’s Kathy. Hey sweetie. Yes. Well, we’re at the Tidbury Inn. The lock froze up at the store. ... Yes it did it once before. ... Jeff brought me here to the inn. Penny supplied me with warm dry clothes, and she made scrumptious tomato soup and her special grilled cheese sandwiches. So, I guess I’m here until the storm breaks. You’re okay? ... Good. Yes, I’ll keep you posted.” She disconnected. “Kathy says the blizzard has gotten worse than expected, and now they’re saying we could be socked in for a couple of days.” She glanced at him and away. “I’m afraid you may be stuck with me for a while.”
“There’s not any place I’d rather be, and I had no plans to leave you alone after the ordeal you went through. You’re better off here with others than at your apartment anyway.”
She sighed and leaned into him more. Such a comfort. “Thank you. It seems since you found me, those are the only words in my vocabulary.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll take those wet clothes down to Penny and ask her to wash and dry them for you. Tomorrow will go better if you’re in your own clothes.”
“That’s thoughtful of you.”
“I’m a thoughtful kind of a guy. My dad insisted on it and made sure I knew how to treat a lady.” He leaned close and kissed her forehead. “I’ll take our dishes downstairs, too, and bring back another pot of hot tea. I can make coffee in here, but you’re a hot tea gal. Penny will provide that.”
“Thanks for remembering my preference. When it’s cold like this, I live in a teacup. Except I really appreciated the hot coffee I drank in my car before starting the trek here.”
Jeff scooped up her wet clothes and headed out the door.
My goodness. Now what. If she’d been able to enter her shop and her apartment, would he have stayed with her there? She didn’t want to be alone right now. She wrapped her arms around her middle and leaned closer to the warmth of the fireplace. The pictures of her trip from Kathy’s toward town played out in her mind. The truck lights coming up behind blinding her. The shock of him running into her. And the second time. She shivered. Had he intentionally run into her? She was beginning to feel like a cat with nine lives, and some of her nine lives were getting used up in these near misses.
A tap at the door heralded Jeff’s entrance. He carried a carafe and a plate. She drew in a deep breath, recognizing the special blend of tea Penny used. Jeff kicked the door closed and set everything on the coffee table. “Penny threw in her snickerdoodles. I thought you wouldn’t mind.”
“Oh, my goodness, no. Her snickerdoodles are known far and wide. Seriously, folks travel to Tidbury for them.”
“How do you drink this?”
“Just plain black tea.”
“Can you manage the carafe?”
“I think so. Would you like a cup?”
“No thanks. I’m sticking with my coffee.” He fixed a cup using the in-room unit and then settled next to her and reached for a cookie. He took a bite and his eyebrows rose. “You weren’t kidding. How have I missed them when I’ve stayed here before?”
“I don’t know, but you’ve always been pretty busy when you’ve been here, working to convince a board of selectmen candidate to support your project.” She took a bite of the cookie. “Yes. These are scrumptious. Lots of folks swear by sugar cookies for the approaching holidays, but I’ve always been a snickerdoodle person. My mom made incredibly good ones. They melted in your mouth with the perfect amount of cinnamon and sugar. I think Penny uses Mom’s recipe.” She took another bite. “Yeah, these remind me of Mom’s.”
♦♦♦
JOHN CROWELL GLANCED at his cell. Tim Worley’s name showed up. “Why are you calling, Tim?”
“I fixed her.”
“What do you mean fixed her? If you mean Jessica, I told you I’d take care of the problem when we both had an alibi.”
“Driving back into town, I recognized her in the SUV in front of me. What are the odds of me finding her out in the middle of a blizzard? I couldn’t figure how she happened to be there, but I took it as an omen and grabbed an opportunity too good to pass up.”
“What specifically did you do? And when? It’s important for us to both have alibis.”
“I rammed her SUV and ran her off the road. Wow. I must’ve hit her in the exact right spot, because she spun around completely before sailing off the road and ending up in the ditch off to the side.”
“Are you sure she’s dead?”
“I climbed out of my truck and trudged over and took a better look. She sat slumped over the steering wheel, and a tree had poked through the windshield. The airbags deployed but didn’t appear to do her much good. She should freeze to death, and it will look like a natural accident. I reversed and drove back the way I’d come and checked into the small motel in the next town over. Everyone’s snowed in. Who knows when they’ll find her?”
“Good job, Tim, and our problems are behind us. Okay, we’ll talk again after the blizzard’s over.” John disconnected and smiled. Yes, now their problem in the shape of Jessica Allen existed no more. A great Christmas gift.