Free Bad Penny by Sharon Sala Page A

to be happy with going downstairs.
     
    Art Ball had seen the video of her rescue and called her every day since. He wasn’t just her boss, he was her friend, and she’d hated the thought of letting him down. After speaking to him last night, she’d been relieved to learn that he’d hired another bounty hunter full time. Although he’d assured her that she had a job with him any time she wanted it, they both knew her bounty hunting days were over.
     
    The phone was ringing as she started down the hall, and she thought of Art again. Following the murmur of voices, she joined the rest of the family, who were already in the kitchen. Carter was standing outside on the porch with the phone to his ear, and when Wilson saw her, he came to meet her with a good-morning kiss.
     
    “Morning, Tinkerbell. How are you feeling?” “Tinkerbell?”
     
    “She flew. You flew. The only difference between the two of you is her wings.”
     
    Cat ignored him, but Dorothy took umbrage.
     
    “Wilson, for heaven’s sake. Don’t tease her about that.”
     
    “Can’t help it, Mom. If I don’t keep things on the light side, I’ll wind up bawling all over again,” Wilson said, as he pulled a chair out from the table so Cat could sit down.
     
    “It’s okay, I’ll get him back. I’m good at waiting,” she said as she settled herself slowly into the seat.
     
    Wilson thought of all the years she’d bided her time, waiting to avenge her father’s murder. She was a formidable enemy, and he considered himself lucky they were on the same side.
     
    At that moment, Carter walked back into the kitchen. “Hey, if I’d known you were up, I would have passed the phone to you.”
     
    “Why?” Cat asked.
     
    “That was some journalist wanting to talk to you.” Cat frowned. “No.”
     
    “That’s pretty much what I told him,” Carter said. “However, you get to tell the next one yourself.”
     
    “Next one?”
     
    “They’ve been calling by the dozen ever since that video aired,” Wilson
     
    said.
     
    Cat’s expression tightened. “And they’ve seen all of my naked butt they’re going to see. All I can say is I’m really glad I was coated in muck. It covered a multitude of sins.”
     
    Dorothy chuckled. “You crack me up, honey. I love a woman with a sense of humor.”
     
    The phone rang again. Everyone turned to Cat.
     
    “Don’t look at me,” she muttered. “I’m eating breakfast.”
     
    She got up and moved to the counter to put a slice of bread in the toaster, while Dorothy poured her a cup of coffee, leaving Wilson to answer the phone.
     
    “Hello?”
     
    “This is Turner’s Body Shop. That you, Wilson?” “Hey, Greg. Yeah, it’s me.”
     
    “Dang, man. I seen you and your girl on the TV the other day. Real glad that turned out okay.”
     
    “Me, too,” Wilson said. “So…is Cat’s car ready?”
     
    “Yep. The insurance adjuster was the only thing holding us up. As soon as he came and went, we got right on it. You can pick it up anytime.”
     
    “We’ll be in before noon,” Wilson said.
     
    “See you then,” Greg said.
     
    Wilson disconnected, then looked at Cat. “Your car is fixed.”
     
    She sighed. “We’ll see how long I can keep it in one piece. I sure didn’t do your truck any good.”
     
    Wilson couldn’t bring himself to joke about the truck, because it just reminded him of how close she’d come to dying.
     
    “That tornado was not your fault. Besides, as long as you didn’t go into the pond with it, I could care less.”
     
    Cat carried her coffee and toast to the table, and sat down. Wilson took the chair beside her, kissed the side of her cheek, then whispered against her ear, “Love you, baby.”
     
    She paused with the toast halfway to her lips, then surprised herself by turning her head and meeting his lips halfway.
     
    “Love you, too,” she said softly.
     
    Wilson grinned, then leaned back. “I’ll sit with you while you eat, then Dad