Desperate Measures. Christy Barritt

      

      FRAMED FOR MURDER

      Accused of murdering her estranged husband, widowed mother Samantha Rogers panics and flees. But the real killer is now after her and her son. She’s desperate to find a safe haven where her past is secret. So when John Wagner offers her room and board in exchange for work on a remote island in the Chesapeake Bay, she moves to Smuggler’s Cove. Samantha longs to tell her handsome boss why she’s always looking over her shoulder. But when danger arrives on shore, the truth may put John in a killer’s crosshairs.

      “Someone wants me dead,” Samantha said.

      She paused, then continued, “I just need a place to lie low for a while. I don’t want to cause any trouble.”

      John watched her carefully. “Maybe I can help.”

      “I appreciate that, but the less you know the better.”

      Why couldn’t Samantha trust him?

      “If you say so.” He took a step toward the door, realizing he wouldn’t get anything else out of her. It was her choice, and he could do nothing about it.

      “John…”

      He paused and looked back. “Yes?”

      Samantha’s eyes brimmed with tears. “If anything happens to me, will you make sure my son is okay? I just need to know that someone will watch out for him.” Her voice cracked.

      His heart ached at the vulnerability of her words. “Absolutely.”

      He paused another moment. He didn’t want to leave, and he wasn’t even sure why. But his throat squeezed with pressure, and his feet seemed rooted where they were.

      CHRISTY BARRITT

      loves stories and has been writing them for as long as she can remember. She gets her best ideas when she’s supposed to be paying attention to something else—like in a workshop or while driving down the road.

      The second book in her Squeaky Clean Mystery series, Suspicious Minds, won the inspirational category of the 2009 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Suspense and Mystery. She’s also the coauthor of Changed: True Stories of Finding God in Christian Music.

      When she’s not working on books, Christy writes articles for various publications. She’s also a weekly feature writer for the Virginian-Pilot newspaper, the worship leader at her church and a frequent speaker at various writers’ groups, women’s luncheons and church events.

      She’s married to Scott, a teacher and funny man extraordinaire. They have two sons, two dogs and a houseplant named Martha.

      To learn more about her, visit her website, www.christybarritt.com.

      Desperate Measures

      Christy Barritt

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      MILLS & BOON

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      I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.

      —Psalms 91:2

      This book is dedicated to everyone who likes adventures off the beaten path and long for a place where time has stood still.

      Contents

       Cover

       Back Cover Text

       Introduction

       About the Author

       Title Page

       Bible Verse

       Dedication

       ONE

       TWO

       THREE

       FOUR

       FIVE

       SIX

       SEVEN

       EIGHT

       NINE

       TEN

       ELEVEN

       TWELVE

       THIRTEEN

       FOURTEEN

       FIFTEEN

       SIXTEEN

       SEVENTEEN

       EIGHTEEN