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“Hi.” He handed her the steaming cup. “Did you manage to get some rest?”
“Enough.” She took a sip. “Thanks. This is better than that cowboy brew you gave me last night.”
“I can improve on that. Come on in the kitchen, and I’ll rustle you up some toast and eggs.”
She hesitated. “What about Trevor?”
“He’s still asleep. We’ll have to wing it.”
“Whatever.” She handed him the empty cup. “Don’t bother with the eggs. I’ll need a minute in your bathroom. Then I want to go into town, look at the damage to my house, and maybe grab a few things I need. Then I should get in touch with the insurance company if they’re open on Saturday.” Her breath caught. “Oh—and Wynette. She’ll be in for a shock. But at least her things should be safe to move.”
“Understood. But I’m going with you. You’re not going into that house alone.”
She frowned. “All right. But I wish you’d get over the notion that it’s your duty to protect me. I can take care of myself.”
Cooper chose to ignore her this time—even though, going on what he knew about her, she was probably right. “Go ahead and wash up,” he said. “I’ll let Trevor know where we’re going and meet you outside. We’ll take my Jeep. It’s got plenty of gas in the tank.”
* * *
In the bathroom, Jess splashed her face, rinsed her mouth, and finger-combed her hair. That would have to do for now. With luck she’d be able to get her toiletries out of her house. Or, if that failed, she had credit cards. She could always buy what she needed.
With winter coming, replacing her roof and repairing the ceilings could take until spring. Meanwhile, she might or might not be able to live in the house. But at least no one had been hurt when the limb fell.
Outside, the morning was clear but cold. Cooper was waiting for her by his Jeep. He could be right about her needing somebody with her. If she went into the damaged house alone, she could get injured or trapped, and no one would be there to help her.
But why did he have to be so high-handed about it? At least the man could’ve asked her if she wanted him along. She was getting tired of his treating her like a helpless female. The next time he did it, she’d be sorely tempted to tell him off.
“Ready?” He held the door for her.
“Did you talk to Trevor?”
“I did. He was half asleep. But at least he should be aware that you’re around. He said something about going to Abner’s to work on the sleigh, so that should keep him out of trouble.”
“Let’s go.” She fastened her seat belt. “I’m not looking forward to seeing my house, but we might as well get it over with.”
“Do you want to tell Wynette first?” he asked her as they drove onto the paved highway.
“It’s early yet, and she works the late shift at the bakery today. Let’s go to the house first. If I’ve seen it, I can tell her what to expect.”
As they drove into town, Jess could see other damage from the wind. Several big trees had toppled, including one of the eighty-year-old spruces in the town park. Power and phone crews were working on the lines.
“Do you think Sam and Grace’s house is all right—and Buck’s next door?” she asked.
“Let’s hope so. At least they don’t have any big trees close by. But Sam must’ve had a busy night. Getting the crews here early would’ve been part of his job.”
Every other street seemed to be blocked by fallen debris and work crews, but eventually they found their way to Jess’s house. The sight that met her eyes made her gasp. “Oh . . . oh, no!”
The limb lay across the smashed roof, as it had when she’d last been here. But there was even more damage now. Sometime after she’d left, the entire tree had toppled. The trunk lay across the lawn, with the limbs resting on the solid cinder block wall that separated her property from her neighbors’. The neighbors’ yard was littered with broken twigs and branches, but at least their house had been spared.
“Where is everybody?” Jess looked up and down the street. “No one’s working here.”
“This is private property,” Cooper said. “You’ll need to get in touch with your insurance company to arrange the work. I’ve got a new digital camera in my glove box. They’ll want some photos of this.”
“Thanks. I’ll look around for the best way inside.” Jess opened the door of the Jeep and climbed out.
“Hang on,” he said. “Don’t go anywhere without me. It isn’t safe.”
He was doing it again—treating her like a child!
