Will
Chapter Six
“You’re a hard man to track down.”
The last person in the world I was expecting to see when I pulled myself out from under Tom Dawson’s car was that redhead. Elsie. Standing there, with her hair all glittery in the sunlight.
Annoying.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, wiping the sweat out of my eyes as I squinted up at her.
“Well, I have a problem, Will,” she said, hand on her hip.
Of course she did.
“Is that so?” I sighed, raising myself to lean against the car.
“It is.” She nodded. “And I know I said I wasn’t going to ask for your help, but it’s not my fault that everyone keeps pointing me in your direction.”
That was true. It wasn’t her fault that I’d become the go-to fix-it man for any town issue that might arise.
“You’re right.”
“I am?” She startled. “I mean, I am. Thank you.”
I dusted my pants off, dropping my tools beside me before standing up to my full height.
“So, tell me your issue then.”
I fought a laugh as she tried to reposition herself, as if fixing her posture might make up for the size difference between us.
“First off, some guy you hired is at my house right now mowing my lawn.”
Shit, I thought. I forgot to tell Wayne that someone had moved in.
But still, why the hell did it upset her so much to have free yard work done, anyway?
“You’re mad at me because someone is mowing your lawn for free?”
“No,” she retorted. “I’m mad because he came through my back door without announcement, informing me that apparently the lock doesn’t work.”
I had forgotten to fix the lock. I didn’t bother, considering the house had been empty for so long, with no inkling of a future tenant in sight.
Until this girl.
“I’ll handle it.”
“I’m not asking you to handle it,” she said. “I’m asking for you to lead me in the direction of someone who can.”
“Well, I’m the someone who can, so take it or leave it.”
“Are you going to overcharge me?”
“Yup,” I told her. “Newcomer fee.”
“Really?”
“No, not really.” I shook my head in disbelief. Was I actually having this conversation right now? “Listen, I’m booked for the rest of the day, but I can stop by tomorrow and fix the lock.”
It shouldn’t take too long at all. I’d stop at the hardware store; I was going there anyway to pick up some things for Mr. Watson’s kitchen sink.
Plus, her place was on the way to Jean Hall’s house, where I had to bag up those leaves she raked and then threw her back out halfway through piling them up.
“And you’re sure it won’t be a bother?”
“No bother,” I said honestly.
At least, no more of a bother than any of the other things on my to-do list. And really, fixing a broken lock was the least time-consuming thing on that list.
“Well, since it seems I can’t get too far in this town without you, then I accept.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow then?” she said hesitantly.
I doubted that. I would be over there and gone before she even noticed. But instead, I just nodded.
There was something dangerous about engaging too long in conversation with this girl. I didn’t know exactly why, but I felt it. And I trusted my instincts enough to know there must be a good reason for that.
But even still, I couldn’t stop myself from watching her walk away.