Page 21 of Forever Country (Forever Bluegrass #24)

Annaleigh filled Maddie in on everything and Maddie filled Annaleigh in on everything since the charity gala. Then they went over all the documents Maddie had brought with her and the business proposal she’d started.

Maddie had gone into Annaleigh’s office yesterday and taken all of Annaleigh’s personal files.

She left behind the work computer, but backed it up on a portable hard drive.

Since Annaleigh didn’t have an employment contract and she certainly didn’t have a non-compete, she could legally take everything she’d created.

She left behind anything Astore Entertainment either owned or created.

Then Maddie marched down to Drew Astore’s office and handed in her resignation.

“I’ll show you the cute apartment I’m staying in, then we can go to the meeting.

My friends helped set it up along with Miles Davies, who is another local businessman.

Miles owns a business that brings family farmers together to better compete with the conglomerate, factory farms. He’s also Morgan’s husband.

And oh my gosh, I have a total girl crush on her,” Annaleigh said as they began to walk down the street.

“Is she as badass as they say?” Maddie asked.

Annaleigh was about to answer when she heard an engine revving. She turned to look behind her just as an SUV with tinted windows jumped the curb and headed straight for them.

“Maddie!” Annaleigh screamed, shoving her friend behind a huge tree.

The SUV’s side mirror slammed into Annaleigh’s shoulder, sending her spinning into a giant rhododendron. Pain shot through her shoulder and down her arm as Maddie screamed so loudly that she was sure the entire town heard her.

Annaleigh groaned as she tried to move. Her shoulder felt as if it were on fire. Branches poked her and ripped at her skin when she tried to move. She’d landed so hard she was stuck inside the bush. “Annaleigh! Oh my god! Are you alive?” Maddie was screaming as she ran toward her.

“I’m alive,” Annaleigh groaned through the branches that surrounded her.

Annaleigh heard tires screeching to a halt and hoped it wasn’t the person coming back to finish the job. “Ma’am! Are you okay?” a deep voice called out as she heard feet running toward her.

Maddie turned and stepped aside, so Annaleigh figured they were there to help.

The face of a man in his thirties appeared in a gap between branches and then another face in his twenties.

The thirty-something man had rich brown hair and deep green eyes.

The other had brown hair that was so dark it could be black, but still had hints of brown that shined in the sun.

His eyes were also green, but looked to be mixed with gray.

“Ma’am,” the older one said. “I’m Nolan Flynn and this is Jack Calloway. We’re from the Keeneston Fire Department.”

The sound of sirens was heard in the distance and Annaleigh wanted to groan. She didn’t want this attention. “Can’t you just get me out of this bush?”

“We will, but we want Flint Adler, our EMT to look you over to make sure it’s safe to move you. Your head snapped around pretty fast when you were thrown,” Nolan told her.

“Did you see who hit me?” Annaleigh asked as the sounds of sirens grew silent as vehicles came to a stop. She could see the flashing lights from her position deep within the rhododendron.

“No. They’d removed the license plate,” Nolan explained before looking up at the newcomers. “Flint, check her out before we move her. One of those big truck side mirrors hit her shoulder. It barely missed her head. Her neck snapped hard to the side when she was spun and tossed.”

Then another man in his twenties appeared.

This one was carrying a stethoscope and had black hair and brown eyes.

Maddie sucked in a breath and Annaleigh agreed.

This man was sexy. Yet, he didn’t carry himself that way.

There was no peacocking as he got to work asking her questions and checking her blood pressure by reaching through the flowering shrub.

Being sexy was apparently a requirement for the Keeneston Fire Department.

“What do we got?” another man asked, this one with a deep country accent who was built like a linebacker. “Chief is on his way.”

Jack began talking to the other firefighter as they held some of the branches to the side so Flint could finish up his exam.

“I don’t think you hurt your neck, but to be safe I’m going to put this collar on you while we work to get you out of the bushes.

Doc Jace will be here soon and he can check you out,” Flint told her.

Flint maneuvered a collar on her and then a face she recognized appeared. He was Cady’s husband. He cursed under his breath when he saw who she was. “Status,” he snapped as he pulled out his phone.

“Shoulder is banged up and will need an X-ray. I don’t think there’s any head or neck injuries, but I need Jace to verify so I’m implementing all spinal safety protocols until then,” Flint reported.

“Miss Astore, I’m Colton Davies. My wife is very much looking forward to your visit for girls’ night. I’ve already texted Holt the update so he knows your status. Nolan is reporting to Sheriff Matt Walz. Now, how do you feel about getting out of the Rose sisters’ rhodie?”

“If you could just give me a hand, I’d happily get out of it. Every lumpy branch is hurting me more than getting hit did, especially these by my face.”

Every man grimaced. “We have to do it. She’ll understand,” Colton whispered.

“I ain’t telling her,” Conley whispered back.

“There’s only one way to settle this,” Flint said and they all suddenly put their fingers to their noses.

“Guess Nolan lost,” Colton said, glancing to where Nolan was still talking to Matt. “He can tell Miss Lily we had to cut her rhododendron down.”

“Hold still, Miss Astore,” Colton told her. “It’ll get a little loud.”

Conley came back with a chainsaw, which was probably overkill, but it worked because within minutes she was extricated from the rhododendron’s embrace and easily picked up by Jack and set on the stretcher.

She glanced back and grimaced when she saw how they’d had to butcher the beautiful flowering shrub.

It hadn’t been more than five minutes, but the street was lined with people. The Rose sisters, Poppy, and Zinnia were there. She saw Holt’s truck racing up the street with Morgan right behind him.

“Miss Astore, I’m Sheriff Matt Walz. Do you feel up to giving a statement while Dr. Davies looks you over?” Matt asked, gesturing to the man next to him.

He smiled and told her that his wife, Stella, also couldn’t wait for girls’ night.

“Annaleigh!” Holt called out as he sprinted through the firemen wrapping up the scene. “What happened? Are you hurt?”

The worry on his face made her heart hurt for the fear she’d put him through. “I’m okay. Just a little banged up.”

“Holt,” Matt said gently, “I know it’s hard, but if you could just hold her hand and hold your questions until Jace and I are done, I’d appreciate it.”

Holt was by her side, his hand holding hers as Matt began to question her.

“Did you see who hit you?” Matt asked.

Annaleigh frowned. “No. I heard the engine and turned. I saw a black hoodie and that was all. I couldn’t tell you if the driver was male or female. Could you, Maddie?”

“I couldn’t. I didn’t know what was happening.

I heard the engine, but I didn’t have time to really do anything else when Annaleigh shoved me out of the way.

I heard the impact and saw her flying through the air.

” Maddie got choked up and started to cry.

Holt reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder to comfort her.

Annaleigh was grateful that he was reassuring her best friend when she was too busy being poked and prodded to do so herself.

“Did you see any kind of license plate, stickers, rubber ducks on the dash, or anything to make the truck stand out?” Matt asked her and Maddie.

Maddie shook her head and Annaleigh closed her eyes trying to remember. “I’m sorry, I didn’t see anything.”

Matt looked at her as if evaluating her then nodded to himself. “Call me if you think of anything. Holt has my number. I’m going to call Nashville and report this.”

“You think it’s related?” Annaleigh asked. “You think it’s my stalker?”

“I do,” Matt answered instantly. “I think those pictures with Holt in the media made him madder than he already was. Plus, it wouldn’t take much to find you here.

He could investigate Holt or he could have simply followed Maddie.

Luckily, no one knows Holt stays at the apartment downtown, other than locals.

The police and fire stations are right across the street.

We’ll also keep an eye on you. I expect more attempts to reach you or harm you will be coming if he or she can figure out where you are. ”

“I led him here,” Maddie said as if the knowledge was ripping her soul. “I knew I was being followed, but I told myself there were a million black SUVs. It would dip in and out of sight, so I thought it was different people. I’m so sorry, Annaleigh.”

Jace stepped back as Annaleigh moved to hug her friend. Holt was rubbing her back as Annaleigh embraced her. “It’s not your fault. Like the sheriff said, one quick Google search and they would know Holt was from Keeneston.”

Maddie nodded and sniffed as she wiped away her tears.

Jace quietly maneuvered Annaleigh so he could continue his exam.

“I think you’re very lucky, Miss Astore,” Jace told her several minutes later.

“Your rotation is good on your arm and your neck appears to have had no injury to it. Let’s snap a couple of X-rays at my place and I’ll write a couple prescriptions for you too.

I want your arm in a sling for a couple of days to allow the soft tissue to heal without the pull of the weight of your arm on it.

The bruise is going to look nasty, so don’t be surprised when it feels worse tomorrow than it does now. ”

“Thank you, but can I come for X-rays after our meeting?” Annaleigh asked.

“Sweetheart,” Holt said “I already told Morgan. She told Miles. The meeting has been pushed until later. Miles will call you.”

“No!” Annaleigh said quickly. She had a fear that she couldn’t push this meeting off. “It’s clearer than ever that I need to separate from my parents’ company sooner rather than later. I need to have this meeting happen today.”

Holt looked ready to argue, but didn’t. “They’re probably still at the office. Why don’t you get your X-rays and then meet them in thirty minutes?”

“Make it an hour,” Jace said. “Doctor’s orders.”

Annaleigh nodded in agreement. She had finally gotten the courage to start her own company. She was not going to let this person derail her plans.