Joe eyed me, tilting his head to look at me. “I see you had time to change into different clothes.” He still held my hand in his. My palm began to sweat under his scrutinizing gaze.

“Well, I couldn’t come outside in my nightgown, could I?” I answered defensively.

“No, I’m glad you didn't come out in that little purple thing. That might have gotten the neighbor’s attention.” Joe tried to be subtle, but I saw him turn his head over his shoulder. In the direction of the car.

At least I hadn’t gotten shot yet.

“Muffy’s done her business. Let’s get you inside,” Joe said, moving toward the side of the house.

Muffy took off again, to the backyard. I swore if she started digging up the gun, I was gonna bury her in its place. Instead, she ran to the screen still on the grass, and sat down to wait.

“Rose,” Joe said, alarm raising the pitch of his voice. “Someone tried to get in your house again!”

Oh, crappy doodles. Play along.

“Oh, my goodness!”

Joe grabbed my arm and took off running, dragging me to the other side of his front porch. His legs were longer than mine and I stumbled a couple of times trying to keep up. He pushed me down between his porch and an azalea bush. Muffy lay on the ground beside me. “Hide down here while I see if they’re still inside. Do not come out,” he said, his voice lowering into an order.

“Joe! Wait!”

“What?” He turned to face me, worry lines wrinkling his forehead.

The concern on his face stunned me, momentarily making me forget why I called to him. “Go in the front door. The side door is locked.” Thank goodness I unlocked the front door.

Joe sprinted to the front and disappeared inside. I had to admit I would have been afraid for him if I thought someone was in my house. How could I be frightened for him? More importantly, why did he look so concerned about me?

He returned a few minutes later, his stride stiff with tension.

“Did you find anyone?”

“No, and no sign of anyone being inside.” He looked up and down the street. “I don’t want you sleeping alone tonight. I’m worried they might come back.”

The last thing I wanted was to spend the night with Joe. “That’s so sweet of you, but I’ll be fine. I’ve got Muffy.” I started walking toward the front porch, Muffy trotting next to me.

Joe followed behind.

“Joe, I told you, I’m fine,” I said, walking in the front door. I started to close it on him, but he grabbed the edge.

“You’ve got two choices, Rose. Either I spend the night with you or I call the police to report the break-in. Which is it?”

I usually preferred the none-of-the-above answers, but lately those weren’t working out so well. I sighed, irritated. “Fine, you can spend the night.”

“Don’t sound so enthusiastic.”

It was hard to get enthusiastic about sleeping with someone who hid a gun in your shed.

“I’m gonna go lock up my house. I’ll be right back.”

I peeked out the front window and watched him walk home. When he turned to climb his porch steps, his face looked anxious, not sinister. I began to have second thoughts about his motives.

I put on the ugliest nightgown I could find, which wasn't hard. I had a whole drawer full of them, helping my goal to look as undesirable as possible.

Joe raised his eyebrows when he saw me, but didn't say anything. He led me to my bed and waited while I climbed in. Muffy jumped up and lay down next to me. I expected Joe to get in, but he kissed my forehead instead. “Don’t worry Rose. I’m not gonna let anything happen to you.” He stood up.

“Where are you goin’?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking.

“I’m gonna sleep in your Momma’s room. If someone breaks in again I’m gonna get the son of a bitch.” He left, walking toward the back of the house. He really planned to sleep back there.

I was so confused. Did he want to hurt me or not?

Too wound up to go to sleep, my mind tried to sort everything out. If Joe broke in before, why did he think someone broke in this time? I was no acting coach, but the surprise and worry on his face looked real. And if Joe didn’t really like me and care about me, why did he act so worried? If I hadn’t heard the message from Hilary, I would chalk all my fears up to an overactive imagination, but I couldn’t deny the message.

Everything’s going as planned. We have confirmation she was seen with him. Let me know if you find out anything. Otherwise we stick to the schedule.

I couldn't trust Joe.

Chapter Twenty-One

I thought about running away, but all my escape routes were blocked. The man in the car watched the front of the house. Joe slept in the bedroom impeding my escape out the back.

Maybe that’s why he wanted to sleep there, to keep me from leaving. But my gut instinct didn’t think so. He really thought someone might break in.

Finally, my turbulent thoughts exhausted me and I fell asleep.

When I woke the next morning I thought I was still dreaming. I smelled the delicious aromas of coffee and bacon, only when I sat up and rubbed my eyes, I still smelled it.

Muffy lay on the bed with me, watching the door. Maybe she took her new guard dog role more seriously, although she hadn’t done me any favors running into Joe the night before.

I found Joe in front of the stove. He turned and smiled.

“Good morning. Sleep well?”