Danger in a Small Town. Ginny Aiken

Чтение книги онлайн.

      MILLS & BOON

       Before you start reading, why not sign up?

      Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

       SIGN ME UP!

      Or simply visit

      signup.millsandboon.co.uk

      Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

      But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them…

      —Psalms 5:11

      To two classy ladies and excellent editors,

       Melissa Endlich and Emily Rodmell.

      CONTENTS

      CHAPTER ONE

      CHAPTER TWO

      CHAPTER THREE

      CHAPTER FOUR

      CHAPTER FIVE

      CHAPTER SIX

      CHAPTER SEVEN

      CHAPTER EIGHT

      CHAPTER NINE

      CHAPTER TEN

      CHAPTER ELEVEN

      CHAPTER TWELVE

      CHAPTER THIRTEEN

      EPILOGUE

      QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

      ONE

      “So they kicked you out,” Tess Graver said into her cell phone, her breath labored from jogging.

      Uncle Gordon sputtered, “I tell ya, I’m fine. And now that I got ’em to put a cast on my leg, I’ll prove it. You didn’t have to quit your fancy-pants job in Char lotte just to come babysit me.”

      Tess slowed; she’d run close to three miles. “Let’s talk about that later. I’ll see you after supper, once I’ve showered, and then tomorrow morning I’ll spring you from the hospital.”

      After a few more “Hmphs!” Tess’s great-uncle hung up. She’d have to tell him about the thefts at Magnus son’s Department Stores soon enough, but not over the cell phone while jogging. The situation at her last job had affected her more than she would have thought. She’d been under suspicion for a few weeks. Even after she was cleared of all wrongdoing, her fellow workers had withdrawn, and the odd looks had kept on coming her way.

      She could no longer manage the Finer Footwear department under those conditions. Uncle Gordon’s accident had given her the push to quit the job she’d once loved, and come back home—

      “Oooof!”

      Tess flew when a body hurtled out of the dense woods on the side of the road and crashed into her. She held her hands out to brace for the fall, then landed in a muddy patch, the ooze sliding between her fingers.

      “Hey, come back and help me up!”

      Footsteps pounded down the road toward town.

      Disgusted, Tess took stock. Nothing hurt more than what she could expect from the fall. The worst part of her predicament was the thick mud on her legs, belly, chest and hands. Fortunately, she’d kept her face up and only felt muck on her chin.

      With slow, measured movements, she got to her knees. As she rose to her feet, she heard a rustling in the woods, more than the balmy, breezeless day warranted.

      What was going on?

      First a jerk had knocked her to the ground, and now…now she heard what sounded like a whimper. A shiver ran through her.

      Should she go check? She had no idea what she might walk into.

      Should she call the police? She might look like a fool if the sound came from an injured squirrel or something? Did squirrels cry?

      Another whimper. More thrashing leaves.

      Something was there. Maybe the guy who’d hit her had dumped a dog.

      Maybe a child was hurt.

      Tess couldn’t just walk away. She eyed the heavy layer of vines, fallen twigs, branches and last fall’s СКАЧАТЬ