Page 32 of Legends: Easton (Legends of Fire Creek #3)

Bailee tossed the stick high enough for it to arc through the air.

Roxy scrambled after it, lining up to snatch the stick between her teeth.

She sprinted back, her tail wagging furiously.

Jax clapped and cheered beside Bailee, and Roxy responded to the praise by dropping the stick at the little boy’s feet.

“Can I frow it, Bai? Pweeze!”

Bailee felt her heart melt at the little boy’s garbled speech. She smiled and nodded.

“Go for it.”

He picked up the stick, not at all bothered by Roxy’s drool covering the bark.

With a mighty heft, he tossed the stick farther than Bailee expected, though not as far as Roxy was used to.

The dog misjudged the distance, so she didn’t catch the stick in the air.

Instead, she pounced on it as soon as it hit the ground, and Jax’s laughed at her antics.

Bailee joined him, her laugh more because of the boy’s infectious excitement than for Roxy’s theatrics.

“I want to too,” Jax told her, jumping up and down.

“You want me to throw it to you, too?”

He nodded rapidly. “We chase it.”

Bailee hesitated before agreeing. “All right, but be careful not to let Roxy run over you. She may be watching for the stick instead of watching out for you.”

“I’m okay.”

She retrieved the stick while Jax ran over to stand beside Roxy. Giving the stick a toss, she was careful to keep the distance a challenge for them both while giving Jax a fighting chance to reach it before the much larger, much faster dog.

The two chased after the stick, but they seemed more concerned with running with each other than catching their target.

The stick fell to the ground between them.

Jax dived after it, and Roxy nudged her nose underneath him to try to grab the stick.

The two started to tussle, and Bailee almost broke it up until she heard Jax’s laughter ring out.

Roxy barked at him and danced around, and the back and forth continued.

“Those two have become best friends very quickly.”

Bailee turned to smile in Reagan’s direction.

Dressed in shorts and a plain T-shirt, Reagan looked like she stepped off a Paris runway.

Her legs were slender and long, her features angular and beautiful without any enhancements from makeup, and her hair was long, dark, and shiny as it fell over her shoulders.

Next to her, Bailee felt every bit the tomboy she was with her hair thrown up in a messy ponytail and her clothes chosen more for comfort than style.

“It’s good for Roxy to be around other people besides me. She needs to learn that not everyone will hurt her the way her previous owner did.”

“Poor thing. She’s a good one. I hate to think of anyone hurting her. Jax will be heartbroken when you and Roxy head back to Louisville.”

Bailee’s heart constricted in her chest. “I might be a little heartbroken myself.”

It’s the first time Bailee voiced the thought that had started to plague her of late.

She knew what awaited her in Louisville.

A job she loved in a precinct where she was considered persona non grata.

A home that was sufficient for her needs since she spent little time there.

No true friends since she hadn’t cultivated relationships yet.

No family. The only thing waiting for her was a case that endangered those she cared about. Why was she in a hurry to get back?

“This town will do that to you. Believe me, I know.” Reagan’s words pulled Bailee out of her head.

“You a transplant too?”

“Oh, yeah.” Reagan stood beside her with her hands resting on her lower back as she watched Jax and Roxy play. “I never intended to set foot in Fire Creek.”

Bailee glanced at her curiously. “That surprises me. I grew up coming here in the summer. I loved it here, but I guess that was more due to Gran and Pops.”

“It’s a long story, but my biological father lived here. I hated him for leaving me and my mother. So I never wanted to come here, even if it was just to pass through. But then he got hurt, and I was called here to make medical decisions on his behalf. Whoever hurt him came after me and my mother.”

Bailee blinked. “Wow. Let me guess. You got help from Easton and his brothers, and that’s how you met Jackson.”

“Jackson is the one who came for me when English was hurt. They didn’t know I existed, so they had lots of questions.”

Bailee took a moment to process the information Reagan told her. Then she turned her whole body to face Reagan, assessing the woman’s casual expression. “English is your father. Jackson is his son. You are married to Jackson. Damn.”

Reagan scowled. “It sounds unsavory when you put it like that. Jackson is not his son. English never adopted any of them. He took them in, so at the very most, Jackson is his ward. I did get help from Jackson and the boys, though. You got that right. I fell in love with Jackson in the process, and I love the life I’ve built with him here. ”

“And you and English?” The subject wasn’t any of Bailee’s business, but she figured since Reagan brought it up, she was free to ask about it.

“That’s complicated, but we’re making it work. He’s good with Jax, and he and my mom have made amends. He and I…we’re getting there.”

“And now I’ve come bringing trouble to your door.”

“Not you. And just so you know, trouble has a way of finding those boys without any help from anyone.”

Bailee chuckled. “I can relate to that, unfortunately.”

“Then it’s no wonder why you fit in so well around here. And why you and Easton connected from the start. He’s a good one, you know. People don’t always take him seriously, but that’s their mistake. He’s as smart and savvy and loyal as they come.”

“I like him. Maybe too much.” Bailee was surprised to hear herself admit it, but considering she had very few people to confide in lately, she guessed she could understand why she wanted to trust Reagan.

“Even though there may not be much worth going back to in Louisville, I still have to go back, which means leaving him and whatever this is between us.”

“I went back to my life, too, once we figured out who was after me and my mom. Just because you go back doesn’t mean you can’t return here if it’s the right thing for you.”

“I’ve done the right thing, and it keeps biting me in the ass.” She kept her voice low, not sure if Reagan wanted Jax to overhear her using harsh language.

“You need to stop this pity party you’re throwing.

You’re not responsible for your CI’s death.

You’re not responsible for the guy coming after you.

Choosing to do the right thing was not a mistake.

Choosing to live in the moment with Easton was not a mistake.

Choosing to stay here and see this through is not a mistake.

A mistake is hiding, waiting for trouble to find you.

You don’t strike me as the type to sit back and let things happen.

You strike me as the type to take action. ”

Bailee’s anger flared. “I wasn’t aware I was throwing a pity party.”

Reagan grinned. “Sure, you were. And you’re allowed, at least for a bit. But now it’s time for action.”

Bailee drew in a deep breath and blew it out through her nose. “You don’t pull any punches, do you?”

“Nobody has time for that. I have an idea if you want to hear it.”

“Why not? I have a feeling you’re going to tell me either way.”

Reagan laughed. “I like you, Bailee Maxwell. Even if things don’t work out with you and Easton, you and I are going to be great friends.”

“Even if I break his heart?”

Reagan sobered. “I hope you don’t, but Easton is a big boy. He could just as easily break yours. It has nothing to do with the two of us.”

Bailee nodded. “Fair enough. So what’s your idea?”

“We’re going to the bar tonight. All of us. Jax will stay with Becky and Darby Anne.”

Bailee shook her head. “Do you think this guy will take chance to come after me at the same place twice? He seems smarter than that.”

“Oh, he’ll be smarter this time, but he won’t pass up an opportunity to get you alone.

We’ll keep it as relaxed as we can and hope he believes we feel safe enough there to let loose and blow off some steam.

Easton will work the bar. Jackson will work the grill.

Luke and Ben will hang with us and Melody.

We’re going to eat, drink, and dance. And we’ll all be armed, and you will have a tracker on you.

I think he’ll use the noise and the chaos at the bar to get to you without anyone realizing.

Before he didn’t know you had people to watch out for you.

Now that he does, he’ll be prepared, but so will we. We’ll be one step ahead of the fool.”

“Set myself up as a guinea pig, you mean.”

Reagan shrugged. “It’s why you decided to stay in town, right? To draw this guy out. So let’s do this.”

“It’s not a terrible idea. Except where you and Melody join me.

I can hang out at the bar without you. You could get caught in the crossfire if you’re with me.

Same with the boys. It doesn’t make sense for all of you to put yourself in harm’s way for me.

And if Melvin is watching me, he’s going to be suspicious if we’re all together. ”

“If he’s been watching you this whole time, he’s going to be suspicious if we’re not together. He knows we’re watching out for you. If we stop suddenly, he’s going to smell a set-up.”

Bailee crossed her arms over her chest. “Anyone ever tell you that you would make a good detective?”

Reagan shrugged. “I write murder mysteries for a living. It’s practically the same thing.”

Bailee laughed. “Riiiighhht.”

Jax and Roxy came running up to them, dirt and debris tangled in their hair. They were breathing hard but grinning from ear to ear. Bailee never knew a dog could grin until she saw Roxy’s unmistakable smile herself.

“Mom, we’re fursty and hungry. Can we have a snack?”

“So Roxy told you she’s thirsty and hungry?”

Jax rolled his eyes, and Bailee did her best to hide her amusement.

“Mooommm, Roxy can’t talk. Sometimes you just know. Can we?”

Reagan shared an amused glance with Bailee. “Yes. Go inside and make sure Roxy has water and kibble in her bowls. Then ask your dad for some lemonade and a snack.”

“Thanks, Mom. Come on, Rox.”

The two went running toward the house while the women smiled after them.

“He likes calling her Rox because he says it rhymes with Jax,” Reagan explained. “We’re going to have to get him his own dog when you two leave. As much as I hate to admit it, a boy needs his own dog. It’s a rite of passage.”

“I could always leave Roxy here,” Bailee said. “Being a detective doesn’t exactly give me a lot of free time to take care of a dog like Roxy.”

Reagan shook her head. “No, you and Roxy found each other for a reason. You need her as much as she needs you. But if you ever need anyone to take care of her, you know who to call.”

They started walking toward the house, but before they stepped inside, Bailee caught Reagan’s arm.

“Your idea is a good one. I’ll do it, but know you and Melody or any of the boys don’t have to. I’ve been taking care of myself for a while. I can keep doing it.”

Reagan grinned. “I’m glad you’re on board, but if you think for one minute we’re sitting this out, you are sorely mistaken. Come on. I need to make sure my son has what he needs, then I need to decide what to wear tonight.”

“Good thing I travel light. Makes the decision of what to wear easy,” Bailee joked.

“Choosing the right clothes is never easy,” Reagan drawled as she stepped inside.

Bailee laughed. She had a feeling the rest of the day was going to be pretty interesting.