Free Chance of a Lifetime by Jodi Thomas Page B

parked in the garage. The keys were in the seat along with one of his cards. She didn’t know whether to be glad or angry that he’d helped her when she hadn’t asked for it.

Chapter 9

R ICK M ATHESON MOVED INTO W INTER’s I NN B ED-AND -B REAKFAST without going back to his apartment. Hank had packed up a few bags of clothes and loaded them in his truck when he circled by to get Rick in front of the hospital. Anything remaining in his apartment could wait until he was well enough to go back home.
    Dr. Addison Spencer waited with him, keeping up a steady lecture on what he could and couldn’t do. Mostly what Rick heard was, rest for a few days, get the back wound checked by the end of the week, and don’t do anything strenuous.
    Rick assured her lawyers rarely do anything strenuous, but he promised to take no more exercise than walking to work until his body stopped aching. Even knowing someone was out there wishing him harm didn’t frighten Rick. The town was full of people who were related to him by either blood or marriage. No matter where he went there would be someone watching over him…as long as he stayed away from back stairs. Martha Q had been rightabout the bed-and-breakfast having a fine alarm system, so he wasn’t worried about being able to sleep at night.
    Alex told him to keep where he was staying a secret, but he had to tell his mother and she’d tell her sisters and of course they’d tell their children. Rick grinned. If he hadn’t had to worry about being killed, he might find it interesting that he was probably the most talked-about person in Harmony this week.
    Several of the nurses left him their numbers and offered to drop by and check on him, but the last thing Rick needed was women problems on top of all else.
    Hank drove him to Winter’s Inn and helped him up the front porch stairs. Rick had bruises all along his back, making the muscles tight.
    Mrs. Biggs opened the door before they reached the porch. She had his room ready for him and had made a light supper for whenever he was ready. She also explained that Martha Q had gone to Amarillo for a few days of shopping. She planned to be back on Friday for a meeting, and then on Saturday morning she would head to Dallas for her face-lift. Mrs. Biggs said the stress of being beautiful was taking a toll on poor Martha Q’s nerves.
    Rick limped inside as Hank went back for the luggage. He’d made it to the middle of the entryway when Hank handed over his two bags and said good-bye.
    Mrs. Biggs took over helping him to his room.
    “Are you single?” Rick asked when he saw the cozy room, mountains of pillows, fireplace going in the hearth below a big-screen TV with basketball playing. “This is heaven.”
    “I’m widowed, Mr. Matheson,” she said simply. “And don’t try that Matheson charm on me.”
    An hour later he asked her to marry him again when she brought him shepherd’s pie and apple cobbler.
    “Now, Mr. Matheson, you can’t keep asking me that. I’ve got grandsons almost your age.”
    “I know, but they don’t make women like you anymore, Mrs. Biggs. Most of the girls I’ve dated use the oven tostore supplies. Half cuss more than any man I know and none of them wear anything like that sweet perfume you have on.”
    “It’s cinnamon, Mr. Matheson. You’re still under the effects of drugs.” She picked up a book that had fallen from his bed. “I wanted to let you know that one or both of my grandsons will be by every night to check on me. They both said they’re glad you’re staying at the house, but my boys worry about me.” She hid her smile behind her fingertips. “My Border says Martha Q is tough enough to frighten any trouble away, but he’s not so sure about you.”
    Rick laughed. The big grandsons weren’t exactly boys. Brandon “Big” Biggs was at least six foot six and probably weighed three hundred pounds. His little brother wasn’t far behind. Border Biggs shaved his head so all his tattoos would