Mountain Secrets by Elizabeth Goddard (good books to read for teens txt) 📕

homes. They hadn’t been back here in months. News of the Wilsons’ early arrival couldn’t have gotten out that fast. Not even her boss knew the Wilsons had had a change of plans. She hurried from the kitchen but walked a little slower as she approached the front door.

Through the window by the door, she could see a man with a clipboard. Her heart raced a little faster as she swung the door open.

The man offered her a warm smile. “Afternoon, ma’am. It seems there’s been a gas leak at one of the homes under construction. We’re advising all nearby homeowners to vacate their premises until we can be sure there is no danger.”

Though she remained calm on the surface, a hurricane of suspicion raged through her. “What construction?” Isabel managed to hide her fear by squaring her shoulders and lifting her chin. A posture she had practiced in the mirror for hours. The way she dressed and how she carried herself were pieces of the professional image she’d taught herself to project so no one would ever guess her dark past.

“Up the road. I’m with the county. This is just a precaution.” There was something genuine about that smile, but she wasn’t about to be taken in. Charm was an inch deep. What if this man had come to rob this place, thinking it was going to be empty, and now he was trying to get rid of her? She had a responsibility to the Wilsons.

There might be construction up the road. She had no idea. Silver Strike was booming and people were willing to pay for building even in the winter. She knew there were other houses around here. The area was actually considered to be a subdivision, though each property was at least five acres. She angled her head to look past him. His van seemed somewhat official, though there was no logo on it.

He ran his hands through his dark hair and flashed blue eyes at her.

Trust your gut, Izzy.

She wasn’t about to be dazzled by his good looks or his blue eyes. That always led to heartache. It had taken her seven long years to rebuild her life after falling for the charming petty criminal Nick Solomon when she was a teenager. Trusting a man on any level was never a good idea.

“You said it was just a precaution.” She read his name tag, which was visible beneath his open coat and zip-front sweatshirt. “I’ll take my chances, Mel.” She lifted her hand toward the door to close it. “I have work to do.”

“Work?” Now his voice sounded suspicious. He put his foot between the door and the frame.

The aggression of his move set off alarm bells for her. “Yes. I work for a property management company. I have to get the house ready for clients.” She was pretty sure there was no gas leak. Her priority needed to be with her job. Mary Helms, the owner of Sun and Ski Property Management, had taken a chance on her in the first place. Though she’d turned her life around and over to God, Isabel had a criminal record that made employment tricky.

“Please, I think you need to leave the house...just for a short time. What is your name?”

“Isabel...” She stopped. It was none of his business who she was. She lifted her head to meet his gaze. The tone to his voice had been almost desperate. Though there was nothing plastic about his expression or the pleading look in his eyes, she was pretty sure he was up to something. He was probably just a very good actor—that was why she had doubts. Most men were good at pretending to care. “Thank you, sir, for the warning, and have a good day.” She pushed the door into its frame so he had to step out of the way.

Hands shaking, heart racing, Isabel pressed against the wall by the door and took in a prayer-filled breath. What if that man meant to rob this place? She just didn’t buy the gas-leak story.

I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.

She peered through the window by the door, watching the man’s van pull out of the driveway. She didn’t like being here alone.

Tension coiled tight in her chest. What should she do? She hurried to the entryway table where she’d left her purse and phone. The Wilsons didn’t have a landline. What if she was totally wrong? Other than her gut feeling, she really didn’t have any evidence the man was up to something. It would not be good for Sun and Ski’s reputation to have police swarming a client’s property for no reason.

She clicked open her purse and felt for her phone. Maybe the smart thing to do would be to call her boss first.

She stepped back into the living room and stared at her phone, prepared to dial Mary’s number. She hit the first number.

An arm wrapped around her waist and a knife pressed against her neck.

“So you and your partner are trying to horn in on my good fortune.”

Her heart raged in her chest as her body stiffened against the prospect of having her throat slit.

The man pressed his cheek against her ear. The voice was not that of the man in the van.

Isabel jammed her elbow hard into the man’s stomach. He grunted and loosened his grip on her. She twisted free of his hold and hurried toward the kitchen. She had only a few seconds’ head start while the man recovered from the blow. Stepping into the large pantry of the kitchen, she slipped behind a shelf of canned goods, hoping the darkness would hide her from view. She knew the layout of the house well enough. This was probably the best hiding place on the main floor.

She’d lost her phone in the struggle. Closing her eyes, she listened to the raging of her own heartbeat, praying that the man with the knife only glanced into the dark pantry. If