Out of the Depths by Valerie Hansen

Author:Valerie Hansen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2006-09-16T04:00:00+00:00

If Cody was surprised by Trudy Lynn’s visit he didn’t show it. He joined her on the porch and dried the pressed-metal chairs with a towel before offering her one. That show of hospitality didn’t impress her nearly as much as the fact he was getting around nicely with the aid of a cane he’d borrowed from Will.

“Jim’s gone,” she said, sinking into the closest chair with a sigh. The cool dampness felt good.

Cody lowered himself into the other chair. “I figured he’d run. So, what now?”

“We wait. Since he stole a canoe instead of taking the ATV, his trail will be easy to follow. Even if he decides to beach the boat downriver and take off on foot his options are limited. When he gets tired of hanging out in the woods with the ticks and chiggers he’ll come back. I know Jim. He won’t rough it for long. He’s spoiled rotten.”

“We have ticks in northern California,” Cody said. “Tell me what a chigger looks like so I can avoid them, too. I’ve heard they really make you itch.”

Trudy Lynn gave him a lopsided smile. “Oh, yeah. If you ever find one big enough to see, I’d like to take a peek, too. The first inkling you’ll have that you’ve been bitten is a little red spot, usually somewhere near your ankles. I put home remedies on my chigger bites, not that anything works very well. You kind of have to tough it out till the itching finally stops.”

“How long does that take?”

“Well,” she drawled, smile spreading, “I’m usually through scratching my summer bites by Christmas.”

“No wonder Sailor’s been acting uncomfortable. We forgot to buy him a flea collar.”

“Or two. I left Widget home so he wouldn’t traumatize your gentle giant again. Where is he, anyway?”

“Inside. Sleeping,” Cody said. “I’ve been thinking.”

“That’s a good sign.”

“Be serious and let me finish, will you?”

“Sorry.” She made a comical face to show she was far from being intimidated.

“Did Widget like Jim?”

“Not particularly,” Trudy Lynn said.

“I wish Sailor had met him.”

“Why? Is he out of tasty snacks or chew toys?”

Cody gave a wry chuckle. “No. But he is intuitive, especially about people he doesn’t already know. I’ve seen it before. He’s the best judge of character I’ve ever met.”

“And he loved me the minute he saw me!”

“You were covered in gravy at the time. That’s hardly a fair test.”

“True. He did seem to like me after that, too, didn’t he?”

“Yes.” Cody blessed her with a grin. “He liked you. I told you he was a great judge of character.”

Her cheeks grew rosy. “Thanks. Widget told me he liked you, too.” It pleased her when that far-fetched comment made Cody laugh.

“So,” he said a moment later, “what’s Plan B? Are you going to call the cops on Jim or let him off?”

“I’m not going to let him get away with stealing, if that’s what you mean. It isn’t just me he cheated, it’s my employees. Too bad none of them questioned their wages.”

“Maybe they did and Jim gave them some lame excuse.

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