“Not a clue.”She paid for her things and lifted the grocery sack off the counter.“Wish I could be more help, but I don’t know much of anything.”
Paul Walker placed the money in the till.“I don’t mean to be such a gossip.”
The Walkers were nothing of the sort.“I’m sure you didn’t,” she assured him.
“Don’t know what it is about the man.”He paused to rub his chin with a thumb.“Sometimes the Lord gives me certain feelings about people.I took one look at him and could almost see the bitterness.”
Lesley had felt that too.
“But more than that, I sensed he was running—not because he’s in trouble with the law, but running scared from unhappiness and life.”
Lesley noted that, as he spoke, a soft look came over Paul Walker’s face.The old man hesitated.“Cole Daniels needs our prayers.”
She couldn’t agree with him more.
Chapter Two
Lesley carried her small bag of groceries into the house.Cole’s new car was parked in his driveway.What had happened to the flashy sports car she saw yesterday?Had he parked it in the garage?She’d only seen it that one time.And although she wasn’t much of an auto expert, she knew enough to realize it was no ordinary vehicle.
The house felt unusually warm and stuffy.Leaving the grocery sack on the kitchen counter, Lesley immediately opened the sliding glass door.She stood in the open doorway and unfastened the top button of her crisp linen business suit.Appreciatively, she paused to inhale the fresh, country-scented air.Slipping off her pumps, she flexed her toes and pulled her silk blouse free from her waistband.In a matter of minutes the transformation from rising bank executive to down-home country girl—complete with jeans—was complete.
Whistling, she cut the steak into thin strips, added a few vegetables and broth and left it to simmer in the slow cooker.
The garden fork was set against the back of the house.With the weather so unusually warm, it would be a good time to tillunder a portion of the garden.The work was strenuous, and she stopped several times to wipe the perspiration from her brow.Once she felt as if someone was watching her, but when she turned around, no one was there.
Rubbing the palms of her hands on the back pockets of her jeans, she stuck the fork in the ground and walked over to the side of the house to get the hose.
She could hear that Cole was running water.With a satisfied smirk she planned her small revenge.It seemed Cole Daniels was about to receive his first lesson in the problems the duplex had with water pressure.With a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, she turned the faucet as far as it would go.Nothing happened at first, but soon an even flow of water ran from the tap.
She dragged the hose to the area she’d recently tilled and sprayed water over the grass and leaves she’d laid on top of the earth.Not more than two minutes later, Cole stormed out the back door.
“Just what do you think you’re doing?”he demanded.
Startled, Lesley dropped the nozzle and swung around.“What do you mean?”she yelled back.If he hadn’t been so angry, she would have laughed.Cole was dressed in jeans, his feet bare.His shirt was left open and clung to his wet torso.His damp hair was standing straight on end as if someone had electrocuted him.
Rands on hips, she met his furious glare.“Is there a problem?”
“You’re darn right there is.I was in the shower when the water suddenly turned into a cold trickle.”
“You can’t blame me for that.”
“Just whose fault is it, then?”
“The city, the landlord and in some ways the state of Idaho.”
“Don’t get cute with me, girl.”
“Girl?”she fumed.“Well, listen up, bub, how was I supposed to know you were in the shower?”
“You mean to tell me I have to report to you every time I flush the toilet?”
“Now, that’s just a mite different from washing clothes or taking a shower.We’re going to have to work out a time schedule.”
“No way.”
“Fine with me.”Ignoring him as best she could, Lesley swung around, picked up the hose and continued to douse the garden.”
“Turn that off!”he shouted.
