Page 8 of Legends: Easton (Legends of Fire Creek #3)

Bailee stirred from sleep, rolling to press her back against the mattress.

The sheet and duvet bunched underneath her, but she didn’t bother to straighten them.

She rubbed her eyes as if that would erase the cobwebs from her mind.

An old-fashioned digital alarm clock told the time in dashed red numbers.

Six-twenty-three. Her late-night run had tired her out enough for her to sleep a good four hours, which was unheard of for her.

Add to that her throbbing ankle, and she was surprised she slept at all.

As soon as she had the thought, the pain in her ankle registered.

Not as severe as when she injured it last night, the ache was enough to remind her it was time for another dose of over-the-counter pain reliever and probably another ice pack.

She loathed to think of what it must look like after a night of tossing and turning.

She still believed it was only sprained, not broken, but she dreaded climbing from the bed.

Without moving around for several hours, the joint had likely stiffened and may not support her weight.

She was tempted to linger, but unlike most women she knew, she never liked to lie in bed just to be lazy.

Her mind never quieted enough for her to enjoy it.

She inevitably thought of all the things she should be doing, which turned into what she wanted for breakfast and possibly lunch, which turned into wondering if she needed to make a trip to the grocery store, and so on and so on.

While her body longed for relaxation, her mind never grasped the concept.

Untangling from the covers, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and sat up.

Her sleep shorts left her tanned legs bare, and her eyes rested on her ankle.

A brilliant gradient of dark blue and purple discolored the skin, but the swelling was noticeably less than when Gran examined it last night.

She pushed herself up, balancing on her uninjured ankle. Then she put a little weight on the other one and was relieved when the pain was no more than a tight soreness that would lessen the more she moved. She hobbled to the adjoining bathroom to take care of her morning needs.

Bailee showered and dressed in shorts and a T-shirt. She left her hair to air dry, toweling the strands until water no longer dripped from the ends. She’d style it later, but with nowhere to be, she had no reason to fuss over her appearance.

Roxy eyed her owner from her large, padded bed in the corner of the room. Though Bailee was an early riser, she’d quickly learned Roxy wasn’t. The fluffy dog would sleep a bit longer before venturing out for breakfast.

Darby Anne was already in the kitchen, sipping her coffee, lost in the text of a newspaper, when Bailee stepped into the kitchen. Her grandmother was one of the few people she knew who still preferred a physical newspaper over getting news on the internet.

“Morning, Gran.” Bailee helped herself to the fresh coffee, muffins, and fruit Darby Anne had placed on the kitchen island.

“Hi, sweetie. How’d you sleep?”

“Fine, once I went to sleep.”

Darby Anne’s head popped up. “Ankle bothering you?”

Bailee sighed. “A little. Usually, a run helps me fall asleep, but the ankle kept me from drifting off right away.”

Darby Anne frowned. “I’m not happy about the late-night run, but I think I understand why you want to tire yourself. Which is it — insomnia or nightmares?”

Bailee waited to sit at the table across from her grandmother before she answered, a frown marring her face.

“Some of both. I knew you wouldn’t approve, but running is the only thing that helps.

The exercise tires me enough to fall asleep, and the exhaustion keeps me too tired to remember the dreams.”

“I’m sorry, Bailee Anne. I hate to think of what you’ve been through that turned sleep into your enemy.”

Bailee nibbled her muffin. “I wouldn’t call it the enemy, but the last year has taken a toll.”

“I understand. I really do, but running so late at night, all alone… It’s not safe, Bailee Anne. Easton even told you that, so you know it’s not just me being a worrisome grandma.”

Bailee speared a pineapple chunk with her fork and popped it in her mouth. Easton. The mysterious neighbor who was nosier than a man should be. He knew nothing about her, so his chastisement of her running alone hit a nerve.

As petty as it was, she was also annoyed that Roxy had accepted him so readily. In the short time she’d stayed with Bailee, she’d been too skittish to let any man get close to her, and yet, she accepted Easton’s attention without more than a few moments of hesitation.

Not that she blamed the dog. If the circumstances were different, Bailee would have enjoyed attention from a man like Easton. Handsome, charming, a little flirtatious. He would be a good time, a fun fling if she was so inclined to indulge.

But she wasn’t. She had enough messing her up right now that she didn’t need a complication like Easton Hargrove to add to it. She had some healing to do before she could consider opening her life up to someone else, even a little bit.

“I’m sorry I worry you, Gran. I’ll try to think of something else to help with the insomnia. Besides, until my ankle heals, I won’t be doing much running.”

Darby Anne sipped her coffee. “Still up for a little work around the house? The hardware delivery will be here in an hour, and I have a brace you can put on the ankle to help stabilize it if you want.”

Bailee raised a quizzical brow. “You just happen to have an ankle brace?”

Darby Anne smiled mysteriously. “I learned after your first summer staying with us to always be prepared where you’re concerned. You were a rambunctious child then. You’re an adult who takes risks now. It just makes sense.”

Bailee returned her smile. Her grandparents were great to let her run wild as a child, enjoying all the outdoor activities a tomboy lived for. It meant she’d grown up with her fair share of bumps, bruises, and broken bones, but she wouldn’t have traded her battle wounds for anything in the world.

“Thanks, Gran. Yes, I can start with little projects. My ankle is only bruised and sore this morning, so with the brace and regular breaks to elevate it, I should be good. I think the distraction of a project is what I need.”

“I’ll ask Easton if he has time, and he can help out with some of the bigger projects, so you don’t overdo.”

Her Gran’s offer had Bailee pausing with her fork poised to place a strawberry in her mouth. “I don’t think it’s necessary to bother your neighbor. I can handle everything myself.”

“He’s more than a neighbor. He’s a friend.

He looks after all of us who are older living in our neighborhood.

He keeps our yards mowed. He helps with home repairs.

He even drives one of the elderly men to the store or doctor’s appointments since the man’s eyesight has gotten too bad for him to drive.

I know he won’t mind lending a hand unless he has an out-of-town trip coming up. ”

Bailee scowled. “That’s nice of him to do all of that, but I don’t think his help is necessary in this case.”

“I know you’re capable of handling everything yourself, but I’m telling you that you don’t have to. You don’t have to do anything alone anymore.”

Bailee realized Gran was no longer talking about the home improvement projects.

“I know, Gran. And while the work around here is something I don’t mind doing alone, the rest of it is something I’m tired of dealing with by myself.

You have no idea how thankful I am to have you, Mom, and Dad in my corner. ”

“Yes, you have us in your corner, but I think you’ll figure out there are others in your life that could be there for you too.

Easton could be one of them. He’s a sweet boy who’s been through a lot and survived.

I’m guessing he’s no stranger to some of the same demons you’re dealing with.

He could be a good friend if you let him. ”

Easton again. Until last night, she hadn’t known he existed.

Since then, it seemed he was never far from her thoughts or her conversations.

Bailee shook her head, eyeing her grandmother suspiciously.

“Gran, please tell me you aren’t trying to play matchmaker here.

The last thing I need right now is a relationship. ”

“I’m not a matchmaker, Bailee Anne. You’re old enough to find your own man. Now if that man happened to be Easton, I won’t complain, but I won’t interfere either. I know you have some healing to do, and my main goal is to help you with that.”

Bailee sighed, a twinge of guilt making her regret doubting Darby Anne. “Thanks, Gran. That’s a relief. My life is pretty complicated right now. Nobody, not even your precious Easton, would want to take that on.”

“Hhhmmm,” Darby Anne murmured as Roxy trotted into the kitchen, her tail wagging. The older woman rose to add food and water to the dog’s bowls before facing her granddaughter again. “Not everyone is like him, you know.”

Bailee again sensed that Gran had changed the subject in the vague way she enjoyed doing. “What him are you talking about?”

“The man in your life. The one who betrayed you. The one who broke your heart.”

Bailee clenched her jaw, feeling a little disconcerted at how close to accurate her Gran’s assessment was. “For the record, you’ve got the heartbreak part wrong. He didn’t break my heart. He broke my trust. The betrayal you mentioned? It’s very real, but I won’t fall for that again.”

“Living life means opening yourself up to hurt and sometimes betrayal. I believe in being cautious when it comes to choosing who you trust, but I don’t believe in being afraid or cautious to the point that you stop living.

Don’t let yourself fall into that trap. Give yourself time to heal and then return to living your life on your terms. It’s what I raised you to do, and it would hurt my heart to see you be any different. ”