Page 3 of The Cottage on Plum Island
“Oh, look at that! We’re home!” Jennifer breathed a sigh of relief.
As they pulled up to the cottage, Jennifer frowned, noting a blue pickup parked beneath the old plum tree where she usually parked, sparking a spurt of irritation.
What is it with blue pickups today?
“Oh, Sam’s here already,” Betty said. “Be a dear and ask him to help you get me inside.”
“I can get you inside, Aunt Betty,” Jennifer assured her, unbuckling her seatbelt. “Let me ask Sam to move his pickup, and we’ll have clear access to the front door.”
She looked around as she pushed her door open, glancing at her aunt and asking, “Where is he?”
“He must be assessing what needs to be done to the house,” Betty guessed.
“Wait here. I’ll be right back.” Jennifer climbed out of the car.
“I’m not going anywhere!” Betty pointed at her leg in a thick plaster cast.
She walked around the side of the house, calling, “Sam?” She craned her head and saw two figures disappear around the other side of the house. “Great!” She sighed, looking at her two-inch pumps. “These shoes are not meant for walking in the dirt.”
Jennifer hurried after them.
“Sam!” Jennifer called.
As she rounded the corner, Jennifer skidded in the dirt and flew into a solid wall of muscle. Strong arms clamped around her as she plowed into him like a bowling ball. He flew backward, taking her with him as they landed in the dirt.
“Oh, myword!” Sam said, rushing to help untangle Jennifer from the man she’d plowed down. “Jen, are you okay?”
Sam helped her up as she dusted off her skirt.
“I’m so —“ Jennifer turned to apologize to the man, and the apology froze on her lips.
“YOU!“ The man and Jennifer hissed in unison.
He rose like a bear unfolding itself to tower over her. Aquamarine eyes bore into her.
“Do you two know each other?” Sam looked from one to the other.
“Yes, she tried to run me over earlier!” The man dusted off his clothes.
Jennifer gaped at the man, frozen in disbelief.Was he this tall before?She couldn’t remember.
“Jen?” Sam’s voice broke through her shock. “Are you okay?”
“I’m sure she is!” The man grunted. “She finally finished what she started on the road.”
“Excuse me?” Sam’s brow furrowed in confusion.
“She’s the crazy lady that—.” The man started to talk at the same time Jennifer said, “He’s the crazy man that—“
“Whoa!” Sam stepped between them and raised his hands. “I’m sure this is just a misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding?” The man snorted. “Uncle Sam, she nearly rode me over on the side of the road a couple of hours ago and then left me stranded.”
“I called a tow truck,” Jennifer told Sam as the man’s words sank into her head. “Did you say Uncle Sam?”
“Yes!” Sam nodded. “Jennifer, this is my nephew, Harley.” He looked at Harley. “Harley, this is Betty’s niece, Jennifer.”
“No way!” Jennifer and Harley growled in unison.
