Page 20 of Legends: Easton (Legends of Fire Creek #3)

Bailee shifted her position on the chaise until she was more comfortable and then closed her eyes as she waited for the dizziness to pass. She had been relieved to wake that morning feeling better, her symptoms more tolerable.

The back of her head was sore where the man struck her, and she still battled fatigue and bouts of nausea from the concussion.

Otherwise, she felt none the worse for wear.

The doctor agreed with her assessment because he’d discharged her with strict instructions on monitoring her condition and contacting him if her symptoms worsened.

Darby Anne had been at the hospital when Bailee woke. She had arranged for English and Becky to take them home. While she appreciated their help, she wondered where Easton was.

She mentally chastised herself for expecting him to be at the hospital when she was released.

He’d helped her, but that didn’t mean he was required to stay by her side.

The disappointment she felt pissed her off.

The one thing she didn’t want to happen had happened.

Easton Hargrove had gotten under her skin, and dammit if she didn’t miss him.

Bailee closed her eyes as a breeze passed through the trees and caressed her skin. Her arm dropped to the side, her fingers tangling in Roxy’s thick fur.

She wondered if the dog sensed she wasn’t at her best because Roxy’s usually excited behavior was more reserved.

The pet stayed by Bailee’s side, which wasn’t unusual, but she didn’t attempt to sit in Bailee’s lap or encourage her owner to play fetch.

The dog merely kept a vigil close to Bailee.

She felt comforted by her pet’s presence.

A faint creak caused her eyes to pop open. She tilted her head to the side and found herself smiling at Easton as he stepped out of his house. He returned her smile as he crossed the yard to stand beside her, his broad shoulders blocking out the sun and casting her in shadows.

“Hey,” she said, hating herself for being so thrilled to see him.

He was dressed in his usual jeans, T-shirt, and boots, and his dark hair was styled in the same disheveled look she was used to.

Yet, he was a sight for her tired eyes. He didn’t look any different, but her reaction to him was.

Her body warmed as she remembered how soft his hands had been touching her face and her hand.

The concern in his eyes had made her feel cared for, and now the way he watched her made her feel special.

“Hey,” he returned. “Mind if I sit?”

She motioned to the outdoor chair next to the chaise. He rounded the front of the lounger, avoiding Roxy’s outstretched paws, and relaxed on the cushioned chair.

“I’m surprised to see you sitting out here alone.”

“I was feeling a little…smothered inside the house. Since today didn’t seem as humid, I convinced Gran to let me enjoy being outside for a while. But I’m not alone. Roxy has been attached to my side like Velcro, and Gran is certainly watching us from the window.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t at the hospital when you were discharged. I wanted to be, and I wanted to be there when you gave your statement to Tater.”

The police chief had waited until she was settled at home before coming by to question her about the attack. He’d been thorough but respectful with his questioning.

“You didn’t have to be there. You were right about the Chief. He seems like a solid officer. He promised to keep me in the loop on any intel he finds.”

“He will. How are you doing?”

“Better. Not great, but better. It’s not the first concussion I’ve ever gotten and won’t be the last. I just wish I knew why I have one.

I called my contact with the ATF once I got home and filled her in.

She’s checking into any connection with my attack and the case, but she wasn’t optimistic.

The guy’s picture never registered on facial rec, so we don’t have any leads on him. Yet.”

“Does the name Clive Melvin ring a bell?”

Bailee stared at Easton for a long moment, trying to read his closed expression.

Her stomach dipped with an eerie sensation that he knew more about her and her case than he let on.

Not that he couldn’t find out the basic details just from an internet search, but he spoke as if he was involved with the case, not just someone looking in from the outside.

Pushing her paranoia away, she shook her head.

“No. Should I?”

“He’s the man from the grocery store. The one who attacked you at the bar.”

Bailee’s eyes widened. Shock started in her chest and radiated throughout her body until it reached her fingers and toes.

“How the hell could you possibly know that? The Chief told you, right? How did he find out, and why would he tell you before he told me?”

“Tater didn’t tell me. He wouldn’t compromise an investigation like that unless he had no choice. My brothers and I found out. Luke is sharing the information with Tater, and I wanted to give you a heads up before Tater came to you with questions.”

She was sure her confusion showed on her face because she didn’t think she could hide it if she tried. “I don’t understand.”

“I told you that my brothers and I have skills that could come in handy in watching out for you and Darby Anne. I get that it’s hard to believe since we’re blue-collar guys, but it’s true.

We’ve been asked to help out with situations in the past when law enforcement exhausted all avenues at their disposal.

When you told me about the guy at the grocery store, I asked Luke to check into it.

He used his resources to discover the guy’s identity.

He shared it with me yesterday before I started my shift at the bar. ”

Bailee scowled. “You never said anything.”

“No, I didn’t. I wish I had. If I had thought for a minute that he would attack you, I would have. I swear. Hell, if I had thought he was lurking around the bar, I wouldn’t have let you leave by yourself.”

“It’s not just that. You had no business interfering in my affairs when I told you to stay out of it. You want me to trust you, but you go behind my back to do the one thing I asked you not to. Then you don’t tell me something this important. That’s bullshit, Easton.”

“You’re right.” He looked away, but not before she saw the regret reflected in his eyes. “I’m hoping you’ll let me make it up to you.”

He pulled a folded piece of paper from his front pocket and handed it to her.

When she unfolded it, she realized it was actually a couple of pages — a printed dossier on Clive Melvin including a headshot that was obviously taken several years ago.

The much younger man in the pic had no beard, but the deadly glint to his eyes and hard slant to his mouth were just as she remembered from her two encounters with him.

Easton remained quiet as she read through the printout. The man was a criminal, but there wasn’t anything in the intel that would connect him to her, the gang, or to Jimmy.

So why was he here? Why come after her in Fire Creek and not Gainesville when she visited her parents?

Why attack her at a public place? Granted, she had been the only one in the parking lot at the time, but there was always the risk of someone coming out of the bar.

Why was it a risk he was willing to take?

“He’s not a contract killer.”

Her head whipped toward Easton, and she immediately regretted the move when her head spun and nausea overwhelmed her. She closed her eyes and fell back against the chaise.

“Bailee?”

She held up a hand. “I need a minute.”

She felt something warm and heavy on her leg. Opening her eyes to slits, she saw Roxy staring up at her from where she rested her head on Bailee’s leg. The sick feeling passed quickly, but she was careful when she moved to stare at Easton.

“Why would you tell me that?”

He shrugged. “I figured that’s where your mind went. That’s where mine went. You don’t have an obvious connection to the guy, so if he was a contract killer, then he could have been hired by someone you’re connected to. That’s why he tracked you to Fire Creek. Only—”

“He’s not a contract killer,” she finished for him. “And he had a chance to kill me at the bar and didn’t. He wanted me compliant, but not dead.”

“The bar’s security cameras showed him entering the parking lot not long after you, Reagan, and Melody arrived. He drove a gray SUV. Nothing that would look out of the ordinary around here.”

“I wasn’t followed. It’s habit for me to check, even around here. How did he know where I’d be? I didn’t decide to go to the bar until the last minute. Hell, I didn’t even decide to visit Gran until a day or so before I left. And only two people know where I am.”

“I don’t know how, but he’s tracking you somehow.”

“I suppose he could have put a tracker on my car without my knowing.”

Easton shook his head. “My brothers checked before they brought it back here from the bar. It’s clean.”

“Then I don’t know how he found me, but what scares me more is that he knows about Gran. He saw me with her. He could use her to get to me. I’ll take her to my parents’. It’s probably better if I keep them all together where my brother and I can protect them.”

“How certain are you that this is related to your case?”

Bailee sighed. “I’m not. Not really, but it has to be.

I’ve been undercover for the last year, and the evidence I collected took down a major gang operation and a decorated police detective.

If it’s not related to that, then I have no idea why this man is coming for me.

Before I figure it out though, I have to make sure my family is safe. ”

“I can help with that. I have another option for you besides leaving town with your Gran.”