Free Stranger in Cold Creek by Paula Graves

either.”
    â€œWe can dust the place for prints,” Taylor said, “but I doubt we’ll get much, and all it’ll do is make a bigger mess for you to clean up.”
    She couldn’t argue with that. The destruction of property might end up being a misdemeanor, but she couldn’t see that anything had been stolen. Probably a couple of kids, doped up or, hell, maybe just bored and looking for something to do. “I called my insurance man, but he’s out on some weather-related calls, so he said he’d trust me to just take some photos of the destruction. Although he’s not sure off the top of his head how much will be covered by my homeowner’s policy.”
    â€œHave you found the cats yet?” a quiet voice asked from the corner of the room.
    Miranda looked past the sheriff to lock gazes with John Blake, who’d insisted on following her to her place earlier. He’d settled there in the corner, keeping out of the way while Miranda, the sheriff and Coy Taylor had taken a look around the house.
    â€œThey’re hiding under the bed,” she said, blinking back hot tears that burned behind her eyes. “Once everything settles down, they’ll come out.”
    â€œHoney, if you need me, I can call Mary to cover the shop—”
    Miranda put her hand on her father’s arm. “I’m fine. It’s just a matter of cleaning everything up, and I can handle that on my own.”
    â€œI’ll help,” John said.
    Miranda’s father looked at the man in the corner, his eyes narrowed in mild speculation. Miranda tugged at his arm, drawing his attention back to her. “Go open the shop. If you leave now, you won’t be late.”
    Gil gave her a kiss on the uninjured side of her forehead. “Don’t overdo. And when you tire out, your bed’s still waiting at the house.” With a nod to the sheriff and Coy Taylor, he left the house, his boot thuds heavy on the wooden front porch.
    Sheriff Randall gave her a thoughtful look. “I could call some of the guys off duty to come give you some help—”
    She nearly recoiled at the thought. It was hard enough to be seen as an equal without having to turn to the boys for help. “I’ve got it covered, sir. But thanks for the offer.”
    â€œLet me know if you change your mind.” Randall nodded for Coy Taylor to follow him out. The desk sergeant turned and flashed a sympathetic smile at Miranda before he left, closing the door behind him.
    She let go of a deep sigh and looked at John. “You don’t have to stay and help. It would be asking too much.”
    â€œYou didn’t ask. I offered.”
    â€œYou know what I mean.”
    He stepped out of the corner and met her in the middle of the ravaged room. “You should be resting, but you won’t. So I’m going to stick around and make sure you don’t undo all my first-aid work from yesterday.”
    Her lips curved at his dry words. “Your work, huh?”
    He just let the corners of his mouth twitch upward as he nodded at the sofa. “I think that’s a loss.”
    â€œMy bed, too.” She quelled the urge to cry. “Just the mattress and box springs, though. I think the frame is still fine. I guess I need to make a trip to Plainview to pick up a new set.” Her savings could handle replacing what she’d lost, though it would make a pretty big dent in her nest egg.
    â€œI’m not sure you should drive to Plainview by yourself while you’re still concussed, especially with the roads still messy for the next few hours. Why don’t you take up your dad on his offer of a place to sleep tonight? Tomorrow, if you’re feeling better, you can drive to Plainview and pick up a new mattress set.”
    â€œYou have no idea how easy—” She clamped her mouth shut, appalled by how much personal information she’d almost revealed to a virtual stranger.