Read Hope Callaghan - Garden Girls 03 - Smoky Mountain Mystery for Free Online Page B

the sidewalk as Margaret and Gloria took a step back and watched helplessly.
    The purse snatcher twisted and turned as he frantically tried to escape the weight of the larger person on top.  It looked like their rescuer had the upper hand when suddenly the purse snatcher grunted loudly and with a forceful move, managed to break free.  He jumped to his feet and darted out into the dimly lit street. 
    Gloria watched in horror as a sports car came speeding down the road towards the intersection.  There was no way the driver of the car could possibly see the purse snatcher as he raced across the road. 
    The vehicle was mere feet from the man before the headlights finally illuminated his darkly-clad figure.  The car slammed on the brakes, tires squealing as the driver tried desperately to stop the car and swerve away but there wasn’t enough time. 
    Gloria squeezed her eyes shut as the red sports car hit the shadowy figure head on.  She opened them just in time to see him fly up onto the hood and crash into the windshield before sliding back down and landing on the ground near the front tire.  He sat hunched over on the asphalt for a long moment before picking himself up off the ground.  Gloria could barely make out his bent figure as he limped the rest of the way across the road.
    The driver hopped out of the car.  “Are you alright?” he hollered loudly.  The would-be thief either didn’t hear the man or completely ignored him since he never slowed his pace.  Seconds later, he disappeared down a small alley and into the darkness.
    “Are you two alright?”  Their rescuer was standing directly under the street light.  Gloria could see it was a young man and he was wearing a security guard uniform.  She squinted as she read his nametag - Eric .  The young man bent over and brushed off dirt and debris from his pant legs.   
    Margaret’s legs were shaking as she grabbed onto the chain link fence beside her.  “That man must have followed us from the casino.”
    Their young hero nodded.  “He sure did.  I watched him follow you two out of the casino and then wait for you outside the restaurant.  When he followed you out the front door and started down the sidewalk behind you, I knew he was up to no good.”
    He went on.  “You need to be careful in places like this, especially after you win.  Plus, it’s dark,” he added.
    Gloria nodded.  She was deeply disappointed in herself.  She should have known they would be a target.  And for two women to walk back to their hotel in the dark in an unfamiliar area was just plain reckless.
    She reached in her purse and pulled out a $20 bill.  “Here, I want to give this to you.”
    The young man shook his head and took a step back.  “No ma’am, I can’t do that.  I was just doing my job,” he explained.
    He looked around.  “Where are you staying?”
    Gloria pointed across the street in the direction of their hotel.  “Over there.”
    He nodded.  “I’m going to wait here until you make it safely back to your hotel.”
    The girls were grateful for his watchful eye as they hurried back to their room.  Gloria turned and waved to him as she opened the door.  He waved back before turning on his heel and heading off in the direction of the casino.
    Mally was waiting just inside the door.  She wagged her tail and began sniffing Gloria’s hand.  “You smell some goodies, huh.” 
    She reached inside her purse and pulled the carefully wrapped napkin out.  Mally let out a low moan as she patiently waited for Gloria to set the treat on the floor.  After quickly gobbling it up, she walked over to the door and gently pawed. 
    Gloria followed her outside but they didn’t wander too far off from the room.  One never knew if the would-be thief was still lurking nearby.  Mally didn’t fuss too much about not getting to run around.  She obediently followed Gloria back inside a few minutes later.
    Gloria was wound up from the frightening attack