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Jetson stood from where he’d been lying on the floor and walked over to Tessa to nuzzle her hand. She immediately petted the dog.
Tansy patted his back. “I found Jetson in front of your door and he wouldn’t come with me. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Tessa knelt down and wrapped the dog in a hug. “Thanks, Jetson. I’m good.”
Tansy nodded but looked between her and Flynn.
Hugging the dog reminded Tessa of Ginger. “I have to go back to the cabin. I left the stray cat inside and she’s probably destroyed half the place looking for food. Maybe Jetson can come with me in the canoe. What do you think boy, would you like that?”
Jetson licked her face and she laughed.
“Mind if I come along?”
Flynn’s voice had her turning to look up at him. It would be a good place to talk. Private. No worry about being overheard. No fear of strangers finding them.
“That’s a good idea.” Tessa started to straighten and Tansy moved in immediately to support her on one side. Flynn picked up on the cue and had her other arm before she could tell them both she was fine. It was much easier to stand with their assistance, so she nodded her thanks instead. Even if her face was flaming.
Flynn squeezed her arm gently then let go. “Let me just grab my things. I’ll be right back.”
When they were alone, Tansy moved in more closely. “Are you okay? How can I help? What do you need?”
Tears filled Tessa’s eyes but she blinked them away and squeezed Tansy’s hands. “That means more than you’ll ever know. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I have to talk to Flynn and figure things out.”
“You can ask me for anything. I’ll help however I can. So will the others.”
And this was exactly why she didn’t want to leave. For the first time since waking up in a hospital, she had a home, friends who were becoming family. “I’ll let you know when I figure it out.”
Tansy reached forward and pulled her into a hug. Then she whispered. “I can see the chemistry crackling between you two. But I can have the CleanySaurs take him out if you need them to do that.”
Tessa laughed, knowing it was a joke to lighten the mood. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Tessa moved her fully packed bags into the closet, knowing Tansy wouldn’t miss the fact that they were ready to go. She grabbed her workbag that included her tablet and her phone. “Do we have any food that might interest a scared cat?”
“Let’s go see what we can find.”
Flynn paddled from the back of the canoe where he could keep an eye on Tessa. The shadows under her eyes were heavy and she’d struggled to stand from kneeling to comfort the dog.
Tansy’s response had been instinctive, almost as if she expected it. Added to Tessa’s struggle to get out of the canoe and her slow ascent of the stairs, he wanted to know exactly what physical difficulties she had. And he wanted to know why.
Hell, he wanted to know everything.
She paddled smoothly and easily. Turning back to Jetson, who sat in the middle like he was the King of the Lake, didn’t cause her any difficulty with balance or movement.
What was wrong with her legs? And was it related to the explosion?
They didn’t hurry to the cabin, but they didn’t dawdle either. The air was heavy and Flynn wondered if that’s how it felt when snow was expected.
He’d been too preoccupied the night before to pay attention to his surroundings. In the morning light, he realized it was gorgeous. Not at all like the ranch back in Texas, but beautiful all the same. The lake was twisty and unpredictable. The leaves had dropped off the deciduous trees, but there were enough conifers to fill the space, keeping it from being bare.
He’d assumed winter in the woods would feel and look lonely. It was anything but. The few inches of snow made it appear cozy and somehow intimate. He wondered how it would feel when those inches changed into feet. And if he would be there to see it.
Would Tessa?
There had to be a way to convince her to stay. He wasn’t sure if pulling her into his investigation was the best way to do that or if that would send her running.
Flynn didn’t want to endanger her, but he was confident in the ability of the team around them. They could keep her safe. No one was going to do anything to risk her. It was his job to convince her of that and get her to stay here with her friends. And him.
When they pulled up to the dock in front of the cabin where she’d stayed the night before, they each tied a rope to a piling. Jetson jumped to the dock. Flynn followed suit and then moved to the front of the boat and offered his hands to Tessa.
