two minutes went by and fleeting thoughts that he was the brunt of a rather clever practical joke one in which she never came back out , at least until hed taken his beat-up boat out of sight - went through his mind , when she appeared around the carport side of the house with a spray can in one hand , looking at the ground as she walked to make sure she didnt step on anything barefoot , walking tiptoed a little , throwing the weight onto the balls of her feet , tightening up her calf muscles .