Page 5 of Little Girls Sleeping

“You don’t seem surprised to see me,” she said.

“Nope.”

“Why?”

“The sheriff.”

Katie gathered her wits. Of course her uncle would have told people she was back. “Is this your truck?”

“Yep.”

“What happened?” she asked.

“This big brown-and-white dog—probably some type of St Bernard or mountain dog—ran out in front of me. I swerved to miss him and got stuck. I went to see if I could catch him and make sure he wasn’t injured, but he was long gone. Little bastard.”

“Did you call a tow?” she asked.

“Tried.”

“No cell signal?”

“No, they won’t be available for more than two hours—big wreck over on the 99.”

Katie walked back towards her Jeep. “Well, do you want me to tow you out?” she said over her shoulder—almost as an afterthought.

“If I had to choose… yes.”

“Got chains?” she asked.

“Sure.”

“Make sure no one else comes barreling around the corner while I get my Jeep hooked up.”

Chad jogged around the corner as Katie moved her Jeep into place. She took the chain from the truck bed and hitched the pickup to the Jeep, then climbed back into the driver’s seat.

Chad gave her a dramatic thumbs-up sign.

She eased the Jeep into four-wheel drive and hit the gas pedal. At first the car didn’t move, so she pressed the accelerator harder. The engine whined, and then suddenly she was able to pull the truck onto the roadway. She put her car in park and jumped out, but Chad had already unhitched the chains.

“Bravo,” he said. “Quite impressive for a little Jeep. I have the bigger version at home.”

“Yeah, it may be small, but it’s definitely strong.”

Chad moved closer and said casually, “So you haven’t asked me what I’m doing back in town.”

“I figured it’s your business,” she said coyly, though she was surprised that he had come back.

“Well, the forestry department needed some volunteer firefighters. And you know me.”

Katie laughed. “Yes, I sure do. Not much has changed, I see. Always the guy ready to help in any type of situation.”

“But you’ve changed,” he said seriously.

Katie didn’t answer and averted her gaze, feeling conspicuous and remembering the close relationship they had once shared.

“You have the determination and confidence to take on the world,” Chad said. “I admire that.”

“I don’t know about that.”