Packard probably should have
stayed in Rock Harbor after delivering his last haul and gotten Bud Nelson to look at the engine on Sophie. It wasn't running smoothly, but he’d wanted to get back. He'd been out fishing for a few
days and wanted to check on
Annie. Knowing
that Bo was out there nearly every day helped, but Packard had gotten into the habit of making sure his young neighbor was safe
and helping out whenever he
could. He nursed
Sophie back up the bay, figuring he
could solve the engine problem
himself the next
day.
When Packard pulled into his
dock, he noticed an unfamiliar boat in one of Annie’s slips. Instinct took over
as he headed up his pier. People didn't visit by boat this time of year and
certainly not at this time of night.
Following that instinct, he made
a quick detour to the house and grabbed his father's
shotgun. It wasn't loaded, and Pack hadn't fired it since he was fourteen. On
his first and only hunting trip, he’d
brought down a Canada Goose, much to his father's pleasure.
However, when his dad pushed on the poor dead bird's chest and the escaping air
made a honk, there was no joy in it for young Packard. He never hunted again.
I
shouldn't have left her alone for so many days, Pack chided himself while crossing the field, feeling foolish carrying an unloaded
shotgun. But if his gut was telling him
the truth, and Annie was having a problem with an unwelcome guest, at least he could give the intruder a good whack on the head with the
butt of the shotgun.
"Maybe you could use some
help around here?" Pack heard the man’s voice as he rounded the back of Sunrise Cottage. He held back, though,
giving Annie the chance to
handle it
herself if she could.
"No, I don't," Annie
said.
"Ah, come on. You must need
a hand. I could use a job, but I'd be happy to work a deal."
Packard's hands tightened around
the shotgun. "I'm not hiring
anyone."
"Well, then. Why don't you
show me your cottages? Maybe I'll rent one," he added.
"We're all booked."
"That surprises me since
I've seen your advertisement."
"Look, if you're really
interested, come back in the daylight,” Annie said.
"So you're not all
booked?"
Annie didn't respond.
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