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water to the house.”
    “Thanks, Mrs. Webb. I’ll see you in a few.” Tess disconnected the phone and looked at Megan. “The kitchen is flooded. I need to find a plumber.”
    “I’ll find someone to cover your shift,” Megan said before moving away.
    Jo slipped off her stool. “I can help until you get another bartender to come in.”
    “I appreciate both of you so much.” Tess looked at her sister and friend gratefully.
    When Jo stepped behind the bar to put on an apron, Tess searched the local business directory via the Internet on her phone and called the first plumber listed.
    The first one had no openings until tomorrow afternoon and the second was short-staffed and couldn’t get anyone out until the following day, too.
    “I need a plumber as soon as possible.” Tess gripped her cell phone as she spoke to the third plumber she called. The only remaining plumber in the directory.
    “We can make you an appointment for tomorrow afternoon,” the woman said and Tess nearly groaned.
    “Don’t you have any appointments available for today?” Tess had to press her fingers to one ear to block out the noise in the bar.
    “Sorry, ma’am. Nothing until tomorrow,” the woman said. “Would you like me to book that appointment?”
    “I’ll call back.” Tess braced one hand on the wood bar. “Thank you.”
    She disconnected the call and groaned. She pinched the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger as she closed her eyes. Seemed like everyone was having plumbing problems this fine Monday afternoon.
    “You okay, Tess?” came a deep voice and a thrill went through her despite everything.
    She looked up and met Gage’s eyes. “Not really,” she said, frowning at him.
    He studied her. “Why don’t you tell me what’s going on?”
    “I don’t have time to go into it.” And no time to deal with him having gone to Jo-Jo’s to follow her. She ruffled her curls with her hand in an agitated motion. “I have to find a plumber. Mrs. Webb called a few minutes ago and we have a busted pipe or something. She called a neighbor who turned off the main, but in the meantime I have a flooded kitchen and no water. I need to get home.”
    “I might be able to help.” Gage pushed away from the bar. “I may not be a plumber, but working with pipes and water is my business. I happen to be pretty handy around the house, too.”
    “Do you really think you can help?” Despite her irritation with him, Tess felt a rush of relief as he nodded. “Give me a moment,” she said to Gage, “and I’ll grab my purse.”
    When they walked outside, she gave Gage her address and he said he’d meet her there before he left to head to his truck.
    She hurried home and let herself in through the garage door after parking in the garage. She found Mrs. Webb had laid old towels over the kitchen floor and they were all soaked. Towels were stacked where the tile met the carpet, keeping more water from seeping into the carpet. The refrigerator had been pulled away from the wall and towels were behind it, too.
    “What a mess,” Mrs. Webb said when she saw Tess. “Glad to have made it here early.”
    “So am I.” Tess looked at the disaster and sighed. “Do you know what’s wrong?”
    “I don’t know much about plumbing, Tess honey, but the neighbor, Mr. Bagby, said the line to the ice maker busted and he couldn’t get the valve to turn—it’s busted, too.” Mrs. Webb braced her hands on her plump hips. “Then he couldn’t get the water to the house shut off—frozen or something. Finally, he had to turn the water off at the main.”
    Tess shook her head. “We’re fortunate that Mr. Bagby knows how to turn off the water. It could have been worse.”
    “When is the plumber coming?” Mrs. Webb asked.
    “I couldn’t find one,” Tess said. “But Gage McBride said he knows something about pipes and water and what have you, so he’ll be here soon.”
    Mrs. Webb limped toward a mop propped up against the wall.