Page 17 of The Way Back Home
Clearly, Mona thought he was capable of influencing Teagan’s decision. “I’ve already explained whyshe’d be better off sticking around, at least for the day. She didn’t agree.”
“Yes,” Mona agreed. “She can be a tad stubborn.”
Noah snorted softly. Understatement of the year, that. “What’s going on, Mona?” he asked quietly. “What kind of trouble is she in?”
“I don’t know, but I know it’s worse than the petty theft Bill’s claiming. She doesn’t strike me as the type to get spooked easily, so whatever she’s running from, it’s bad. Uh-oh. Looks like Bill’s coming out of the woods and headed this way. He doesn’t look happy.”
“Mona—”
“Hush now. Do whatever you have to do but keep her there and out of sight until I can get rid of Bill. Shouldn’t take too long. I’ve hidden the baked goods.”
“I’ll do what I can.”
“Thanks. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
The call disconnected, and Noah was left staring at his phone. He knew no more than he had before, but he was suddenly a hell of a lot more invested.
CHAPTER NINE
TEAGAN
Teagan braced one hand against the wall and ducked her head under the hot water. The heat soothed the stiffness in her muscles and dulled the sharper edges of pain while bits of dried leaves and pine needles swirled around the drain at her feet.
From the sheriff showing up to her waking up in the doc’s bed—half undressed, stitched, wrapped, and wearing his shirt—it had been a hell of a night.
Not her worst. Not by far.
Her injuries, while painful, weren’t life-threatening. She was able to move under her own power, albeit slowly and with care.
Also fortunate: the doc had found her before the sheriff—or the wild animals that called the forest home.
Noah Ziegler. The quiet doc who kept to himself outside of working hours.
Teagan had watched him from afar, just as she did with everyone on the ranch. Knowing the people around her and acquainting herself with their behavior was a key component of self-preservation.
Mona seemed to like him, as did the patients who came for therapy, but Teagan wasn’t able to read him as easily as she did most people. The situation—namely his search and rescue at Mona’s behest—rang a few warning bells, buthedidn’t.
She was intrigued but not threatened by him.
On the outside, he came across as quiet and competent, but she sensed more beneath the surface. It was in the shadows that ghosted through his hypnotic amber eyes, a darkness that he kept locked away where no one else could see.
Well, that was something they had in common.
None of her business, though.
One thing she did know: Mona had been smart to hire him. He was a good man to have around if someone fell off a horse. Or out of a tree. Whatever.
Teagan recognized the fresh woodsy scent of the soap as the same one that clung to the doc, scent that she would now associate with him and his kindness. Bonus—the simple act of getting clean revived her somewhat.
A knock on the door interrupted her brief respite.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, fine. I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Coffee’s done. Oh, and fair warning: Mona will be here in fifteen minutes.”
Teagan finished up and rinsed off, then eyed the fluffy extra-large towels Noah had set out for her with appreciation. He was a big guy. Tall. Strong too, if he’d carried her dead weight to his cabin. Regular-sized bath towels probably wouldn’t span those broad shoulders of his.
