Just Down the Road Read Online Free PDF

direct her life and the memory of a husband from her teens who’d used her as a punching bag, she’d had enough.
    “I don’t have a phone,” he said. “Never needed one until today.”
    The idea that someone might not have a phone, even a cell phone, was out of her realm of reasoning. She’d gotten her first phone when she was in grade school and carried a cell since high school. “How’d you get to my porch?”
    “I walked. I don’t think it’s a mile between my house and yours. If you skip the road and head across the field, it’s not even that far. When the Rogerses lived here, they’d always ring that bell if they needed me and I’d run over.” He pointed to the corner of the porch as if she might not have noticed the huge bell mounted on the railing. “Course, they were both hard of hearing, so I always said I’d fire off a shot and hit the bell if I needed them.”
    Addison thought of slamming the door. She didn’t have time for small talk. “Look.” She decided to be direct. “You woke me up. I worked a twenty-hour shift and I’m not due back till noon.” She felt for her watch, trying to remember where she’d left it. “What time is it, anyway?”
    “Noon,” he said. “I figured you’d be awake.”
    “Oh no!” She looked past him at the cloudy day. If she’d been guessing, she would have thought it was closer to dawn.
    Running toward the bedroom, she yelled over her shoulder. “I’ll be ready in ten minutes. You can ride along, but I’ve got to get to the hospital fast. I’m already on duty.”
    Addison showered, pulled on clean clothes, and walked out of her bedroom with her hair still wet.
    If she’d thought about it, she might have guessed she’d find Tinch Turner waiting on the porch for her.
    Though all the shutters were open, she saw no sign of him outside, or on the porch. Shrugging, she decided he wasn’t her problem.
    One step more and she halted. The cowboy was standing in her kitchen, a tea towel tucked into his jeans like an apron and his hat pushed back.
    “What do you think you’re doing?” Anger and panic warred inside her. He was in her house! She knew he was wild, probably violent and possibly crazy.
    “Well, Doc, I couldn’t find much in the way of real food, but I made you an egg sandwich.”
    “You’re cooking?” It seemed a strange thing to do before he killed her, but Addison had slept through the few psych classes she’d taken.
    “I figured you’d want to eat something before you go.” He raised an eyebrow. “You planning on leaving with a wet head?”
    “Look, Mr. Turner. I’m not your problem and I’m leaving.” Addison rushed toward her purse. “If you want a ride, you’d better be in the car when I back out of the garage.”
    She knew she was probably overreacting, but she’d had all she wanted of him or any controlling man, and if he was insane, she had pepper spray in her purse.
Somewhere!
    “I don’t need someone worrying about my hair or if I’m eating,” she said as she kept looking and tried not to sound panicky. “I am none of your concern. I can take care of myself, and I moved here with the nearest neighbor a mile away for a reason.”
    She wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d yelled at her and stormed out, and she wouldn’t care. He’d stepped over the line when he’d stepped into her house.
    Gripping the spray can in a death grip, she hurried for the door.
    He met her there, the egg sandwich in his hand.
    She raised the pepper spray and widened her stance, then looked up into laughing eyes.
    “Sorry, Doc.” He held the door for her as he wrapped the sandwich in a paper towel, unaware she’d been ready for an attack.
    With a huff, she stormed past him.
    “I’m guessing you’re not a morning person,” he said, matching her long strides to the garage.
    When she glared at him across the hood and opened her mouth, he added, “I know, none of my concern.”
    She didn’t look at him as she started the car and