Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“Can do,” he said from over his shoulder as he went to open the old wooden gate and Silas herded the cow inside the pen.
Running to where Ginny had shown her where the water hose was kept, she turned the spigot on, holding the hose where the metal met the rubber tubing, the way Ginny had shown her to because the connection was old and needed to be replaced. Carrying the hose, she ran back, waiting for one of the men to show her where to put the water. Her cow was probably thirsty after the ride across two mountains.
“There’s an extra trough in the equipment building,” Silas told Matthew, seeing her waiting with the hose.
“I’ll get it,” Alanna offered as Matthew started to open the gate so he could get out of the pen.
“It will be too heavy—”
Shoving the water hose at Matthew, she forgot to hold the connection until he took it from her hand. Matthew automatically reached out to take the nozzle, and when he did, water blasted him in the face.
“Oh my God.” Alanna tried to grab the hose again, but Matthew had crimped it closed with his hand as he stared at her accusingly.
“You did that deliberately.”
“I di—” She gurgled with laughter at seeing water drip off the tip of his nose. “Did not.”
Matthew turned the hose in her direction.
“Don’t!” she screeched.
Water hit her in the mouth.
She put up her hands up to protect her face, but the water was immediately shut off.
“Sorry, I didn’t think about your hand getting wet,” Matthew apologized.
“There’s some gauze in the first-aid kit in the storage building,” Silas said, closing the gate to look at their soaked clothes. “I’m going to head out while I’m still the only one dry.”
Seeing the mischievous glint in Matthew’s eyes at Silas’ bragging, Alanna blocked Matthew from showering Silas. “Don’t you dare.”
“You’re no fun. It wouldn’t hurt him to get a little wet.”
“I don’t think there was anything little about what you were planning.”
“Come on; let’s get that wet bandage off.” Taking her by the wrist, he went to turn the water off before heading to the storage building. He released her wrist and turned on the light. It took the two of them searching to find the first-aid kit shoved on a top shelf.
“Just how many first-aid kits does your family have?” Alanna asked, taking a seat on a stool that Matthew showed her.
“A bunch. With all our homes spread out, Silas likes to be prepared in case of emergency.” Matthew opened the first-aid box before unwinding the soaked gauze covering her hand. They both stared down at her hand. There wasn’t a burn mark. Her skin was unblemished.
“Wow, you healed fast.” Closing the box, he wadded up the gauze and threw it into the trash can by the freezer.
Alanna twirled her fingers, not even seeing the thin skin peeling where the blisters had popped.
Frowning down at her hand, she couldn’t understand how it had healed so fast when it had been infected yesterday. Maybe the cream in the first-aid box was stronger than the cream she had been using.
“I bet I know how my hand healed so fast.” Alanna looked up from her hand, catching Matthew’s worried expression.
“How?”
“Greer must have used some of that oil they can get from pot.” She nodded knowledgeably.
Matthew frowned. “What kind?”
“You know, that hemp oil.”
His eyes started twinkling with laughter. “I think you mean CBD oil?”
“Whatever.” She waved her hand, showing it didn’t matter. “I wish he hadn’t. What if the sheriff wants a drug test?”
“Why would the sheriff want a drug test?”
“I don’t know. Don’t they drug test all felons?”
“I guess, when they’ve been arrested on drug charges. You were arrested for kidnapping.”
“Oh …” She stood, considering what he had said, then came to a conclusion. “You might be right, but if I do get a surprise drug test, Greer is going down with me.”
“You’re on a first name basis with him?”
When had she stopped thinking of him as Deputy Porter? The simple thought shook her enough that she had to sit back down as Matthew shrugged out of his wet shirt to sling it down on the freezer. Bending down, he lifted a bushel of potatoes and placed it in a dark corner.
“Can I ask you something?” she asked as he bent down to pick up another bushel of potatoes.
“Shoot.”
“Are you flirting with me because you know I will be leaving town when my court case is over?”
Matthew set the bushel back down with an angry frown. “What made you ask that?”
Alanna ran a hand through her damp hair, not meeting his eyes. “Silas said you get most of your orders from customers away from here.”
“So?”
“You could be flirting with me and every other girl in or out of town. You say you’re waiting for your soul mate; that could be your pickup line for all I know ‘cause it worked on me.”