Swept Away Read Online Free PDF

paper plates, napkins, and plastic silverware. Then he grabbed a gallon of milk and a box of Life cereal.
    Ella rang him up and bagged the food. He asked, “What do you know about Mad Mags?”
    “The ghost story?”
    “Yeah.”
    Ella shrugged. “It’s this island’s version of the Lady in White. I think every town has one. She’s said to walk the path down near where you’re staying. People say they’ve seen her. Hear her sea shells tinkling in the middle of the night.”
    “Sea shells tinkling?”
    “Yeah. Don’t ask me what it’s all about. I’ve never really paid much attention to the ghost stories. I’m more into the stories about the living.”
    “The ghosts were once people too, I guess.”
    Ella laughed. “If you say so, soldier. Here.” She flipped his receipt over and wrote down a phone number. “Give this lady a call. She’s a bit of a nut, but she’ll be able to tell you all about Mags.”
    Tucker gathered up his groceries, visited the housekeeper for his bag of sheets and towels, and headed back to the cottage. Josie was curled up on her front porch rocker reading a book when he pulled up. As he stood there, staring and debating what to do, she looked up at him and blushed.
    “Hey,” he said.
    “Hey to you too.” Josie carefully tucked a folded sheet of paper into the book before setting it down on the table next to her chair.
    “I had to get some groceries,” he said, feeling stupid as he hugged the paper bags.
    “You go to Ella’s?”
    “Yeah. She said it was the best place to shop.”
    “She wasn’t lying. It is the best place, even if she does ask a lot of questions,” Josie said with a little laugh.
    “She is curious. Says she’s a writer.”
    “Really?” Josie sounded intrigued.
    “Yeah, says she has some book she couldn’t get published.”
    “Well, that’s sad. She’s never mentioned it to me, but then I try to avoid her as best I can. I mean, she’s nice; it’s just all those questions.” Josie rolled her eyes and grinned.
    Tucker was sure she had the prettiest smile he’d ever seen. He wasn’t done admiring it when she said, “See you later, Mr. Tucker.”
    “It’s Boone. Tucker is my first name.”
    “All right. Mr. Boone.” She grabbed her book and an empty glass from the table and opened her front door.
    “It’s just Tucker…I mean, call me Tucker. Not Mr. Boone.”
    She nodded and was gone. He had the urge to follow, but he fought it and made a mental note to never bug her with questions.
     

Chapter 5
    Tucker settled in, laptop on the dining table, notepad to his right, and a cold beer on the left. Turning on the laptop, he quickly realized he didn’t have any internet. “Shit,” he said aloud to the empty space.
    He went to the workshop to find Murray and see if he needed a password or something, but the old man was nowhere to be found. Tucker went outside and looked around. The shop was unlocked; surely Murray was here somewhere.
    A screen door squeaked open, and a woman yelled, “What the hell you snoopin’ ‘round for?”
    Tucker turned slowly. The woman addressing him was huge; dressed in a bright red muumuu, she leaned heavily on a cane as she stood in the door of the house.  “Name’s Tucker Boone, Ma’am. Murray hired me this morning.”
    “He did, did he?” The woman sighed and shook her head. “You’re not here about the girl, are ya?”
    Tucker’s brows drew together, but he didn’t have a chance to open his mouth before she added, “Last guy had to be fired. He never did a lick of work, too busy trying to chase the girl all over the property. She’s a good girl. Minds her own business. She doesn’t like to be bothered much, and we respect that. I suggest you respect that too.”
    “Ma’am, I can see where a guy would want to chase your niece around, but that’s not what I’m here for.”
    Pointing to her eyes, she assured him. “I’ll be watching you, remember that.”
    “Yes, ma’am. You have anything you