Read Online Peace by Shelley Shepard Gray - Free Book Online Page B

Chris’s pleasure, the sheriff immediately hunched over and started unlacing his boots.
    â€œChris?” Beth mouthed.
    He attempted to smile, glad the little task was buying them both some time. Beth looked like she was about to faint from worry. And him? Well, he needed to decide just how much to tell the sheriff.
    Once his feet were clad in only white socks, Mose turned to Chris. “Looks like I’m staying for a while. Have a seat and tell me what in the world you’re doing here. And by the way, you look like you were on the losing end of a good fistfight.”
    â€œI was,” Chris said dryly.
    Beth was hovering by his side. “He should be in bed, Sheriff. He has stitches. And a fever.”
    Mose raised his eyebrows. “Stitches?”
    Chris was thankful that he’d let Beth’s fever comment slide. “They’re nothing to worry about.”
    â€œNot now. But they were before I stitched him up.”
    Mentally, Chris shook his head. Now she was happy about the stitches?
    â€œIf you’ve got Beth stitching you up, I’m guessing you didn’t go to the hospital. Care to tell me why?”
    â€œI couldn’t risk it.”
    Mose leaned back, like he was settling in for the afternoon. “Hmm. It looks like I got here just in time. You’d best start talking.”
    Chris made his decision. He was going to have to trust Mose. “My cover was blown two days ago.”
    â€œWhich is why you’re looking like you do.” Leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees, he said, “Keep talking. I’m confused as to why you’re here instead of somewhere safer. I would have thought you fancy DEA agents would have had a better system for trouble.”
    â€œWe do, but I’ve been ordered to stay in the area until after Christmas.”
    â€œWhy?”
    He shrugged. “They wanted me out of the way so they could pursue all the leads without me being there. I’m a liability now.”
    â€œYou still haven’t told me why you came here and not someplace else.”
    Chris hated revealing how weak he felt—and how alone he was. “I could barely drive. As you can see, I was beaten up pretty good. This place, it’s just about in the middle of nowhere, Mose. At least to most outsiders.”
    â€œThese people you’ve been dealing with, are they working around here? ’Cause if they are, I need to know.”
    â€œThey’re not. They’re farther south. Near Tennessee.”
    Mose stared at him, then at Beth. “Beth, surely this isn’t what you expected when you agreed to look after the place for Frannie and Luke. Are you afraid? Do you want me to get him out of here for you?”
    Chris felt like closing his eyes in despair. Of course she was afraid. Anyone who looked at her could tell she was. And of course it would be best for her if he agreed to leave with Mose.
    But though all of that made sense, something inside him rejected the idea. Quite simply, he didn’t want to leave Beth. Their time together was going to be short enough. Selfishly, he wanted to stay by her side as long as possible.
    â€œI’m not afraid with Chris here.”
    â€œHe’s the reason you should be afraid,” Mose said gently. “I don’t want to scare ya, but this man attracts some of the worst folks you can imagine. They’re desperate, and not a one of them has anything to lose.”
    â€œHe has a gun.”
    The sheriff turned to him and glared. “Well, of course you do. Why wouldn’t you be armed in a country bed-and-breakfast?” Looking irritated enough to spit nails, Mose got to his feet. “Mr. Ellis—or whatever your name is—I think it would be best for everyone if you came along with me. I can put you up at my place. There’s a room up in my attic that you can have until you can be on your way.”
    Wearily, Chris got to his feet, too. “I’ll