CHAPTER 14
Blake and Morgan were driving through the semi-rural neighborhood, looking for anything out of place, after Dawson’s peculiar phone call, before stopping by Sam’s for their own inspection. There wasn’t much reason to think anything was amiss, other than an unresolved accident report that was doused in mysterious circumstances. Nonetheless, these were their friends and Dawson’s concern was enough for them to react as friends and professionals.
They walked the property before checking in with a knock at the door. With little detail and even less direction to start with, they hiked around the perimeter, searching for anything. Reaching the rear of the house, they came across a broken plant below a rear window that was positioned next to the back door. With only a few divots in the surrounding dirt that could be left by anything from wildlife prints to human, they weren’t specific in appearance. A sketchy clue perhaps, but it was just as likely an odd coincidence. Everyone silently agreed that something wasn’t quite right in their little circle, in their small mountain town, but they had nothing to go on except gut reaction and savvy intuition that was harassing them.
At the end of the trail, nothing left to find or follow up on, Blake and Morgan joined their friends inside where a less than thrilled Sam greeted them with hesitation. She was unaware that Dawson had called in their friends; both irritating and appreciated, she found relief knowing that she had eyes and ears everywhere, looking out for her but was equally annoyed that she had to share details of something that may not have been real. This was becoming embarrassing; good Lord, she wanted to have her crazy moment and nervous breakdown in private.
An anxious vibe brewed and hovered over the group as they compared details of the encounter with what was found both inside and outside. Still nothing conclusive, but there was no doubt that something very well could be emerging, a threat of some kind. But who, what, and why? Sam was struggling with the idea that someone was potentially in her home, targeting her for some reason, threatening her, when Dawson, her rock, grabbed her hand and helped her hold the pieces together. She wasn’t alone, not anymore; he was so good for her.
Sam tried to explain away the details of the morning’s incident as another episode, much like that which happened in the hospital. It was just post-traumatic stress and her body trying to fight off the unwanted memories trying to surface. Blake’s military sixth sense called bullshit after learning about the experience she had in the hospital, followed by today’s events and the possible evidence of an intruder. He started asking hard questions, knowing Morgan would pick up what he was laying down and help him dig up the pieces they were missing.
“I have to ask you this. Is there anyone that could be upset with you, want to settle anything with you?” He asked.
“Blake, no! You know me; my friends are all your friends too, and my circle ends there. My world begins and ends in McKenzie Ridge and the people in it.”
“What about Ellie’s dad? I only ask because, well, no one really knows the story, and he’s obviously not part of her life,” Blake said, being as delicate as he could with such a sensitive topic.
This line of questioning caught Dawson’s attention like a house on fire. He felt that sense of jealousy, almost territorial, a need to protect what was his in that moment. Realizing how barbaric this instinct was, he pushed it down as deeply as he could. He tried to keep his wits about him while they finished the line of questioning as it related to asshole numero uno, Ellie’s dad.
“No. He has no reason to want anything from me. He ran the minute I said ‘baby’. He left town right away, even signed over his custodial rights right away. Haven’t heard from him since,” she replied, a little annoyed that she needed to discuss this, to discuss him
. He was the last nail in the coffin that contained her dating life, a first-class jerk. She could handle the abandonment herself; she was used to it, considering her upbringing, but she would be lying if she said it didn’t hurt her heart a bit for her daughter. She was the sun, moon, and stars in Sam’s world. How anyone could reject such a beautiful soul was beyond her. She couldn’t help but think Ellie wasn’t missing a thing with Dawson in her life, as temporary as it could be.
As quickly as his chest puffed out like a threatened peacock, it fell hard with heartbreak for Sam, but mostly Ellie, at the quick abandonment by that asshole. How could anyone love and leave Sam? This guy was missing out, not having Ellie in his life. She was pure joy, a love he had never experienced. Love…that really was it; he loved that little girl, and she would forever own a piece of his heart, just like her mama. Looks like asshole did him a favor, leaving Dawson the two most important people in his world. He’d have to thank the guy, should he ever have the opportunity.
He understood why Sam was so guarded now, why it was so hard for her to let him in completely. He figured her hesitation stemmed from shitty parents—a dad she didn’t know and a mother who didn’t deserve the title. Hearing about Ellie’s dad shed a new light on why Sam was Sam.
He would show her that she could trust him with her heart; he wouldn’t abandon her, or Ellie, for that matter. What was happening to him? The realization of what he was declaring settled in. This was new territory for him, but what once would have been anxiety that sent him running for the hills, now felt warm and fuzzy. Holy shit, he was a goner, head over heels for these two girls, and he was okay with that…more than okay.
He pulled himself back to the conversation, a satisfied grin at his new awareness, despite Sam’s obvious irritation and distress. She didn’t like what she was hearing; more limitations and babysitting
Sam
is all she heard.
“For now, be more watchful, check your locks, be more diligent about being safe until we know if there is a real danger or not,” Blake added apologetically, seeing the affect this was having on Sam. Knowing her like he did, giving up her independence and looking over her shoulder wasn’t something he thought she would go for, for long.
“Blake’s right,” Morgan chimed in. “I know you don’t like the hovering, but you’re still laid up. I’ll help with Ellie when I can; I ride over at the stables with Rene all the time anyway, or I can hang here with you for some girl
time if Tayler is out. We can talk about boys and eat Cheetos,” she added, entirely serious, especially about the Cheetos, trying to lighten the mood her friend was lingering in.
“I’d rather eat Doritos but…guys, this seems a little excessive,” she argued, not interested in more people sitting watch over her than she already had. “It was probably all in my head, just like at the hospital. How ridiculous was that, seriously? I was suffocating myself! You’re all chasing a ghost. It’s just my head running from remembering that night, that’s all.”
“But what if it isn’t, Sam. What if all of this is connected in some strange way? The accident, the hospital, and today— I couldn’t stand it if something happened and we did nothing to prevent it.” Dawson’s plea was almost desperate, trying to get through to her so she would comply and let them help her until they could figure out if there really was a problem. He really couldn’t stand another incident, if anything happened to her again. He really would struggle with the fall out.
“What if it was an accident, just me having a couple vivid dreams? Maybe Ellie left the door unlocked after she checked her garden and after Gran had already checked the locks. It’s all just me…” Sam defended, not sure if it was because she really didn’t want the attention or because she was afraid to believe there really might be a problem.
“Look, we will step up patrols, watch for a while. If it blows over, it blows over. No harm, no foul,” Blake said, putting it to rest, not letting her dispute their plan. He was with Dawson. He had lost enough friends in his former career, and losing more wasn’t an option.
“They’re right. It can’t hurt, babe. It’s the right thing to do. I’m not going anywhere, and with Morgie helping with El or hanging with you while we are out, it’s just peace of mind until we get past this last hurdle,” Dawson said, approving the plan, regardless of her hesitation.
“Then it’s settled. Tayler is on guard duty, and when he isn’t, Jameson is, and you guys can do your nails or curl your hair and shit. I’ll get patrols going ASAP.”
Matter of fact, GI Joe Blake was good for a joke here and there, his timing always appropriate as it did lighten the mood and everyone carried on with what shade of polish and lipstick they would play with. As irritating as this whole charade was, Sam found comfort in her friends and their genuine care and concern, but most of all, her hero, hot and sexy as he was, ready to rescue her at every turn. He really did make it hard to turn down what he was offering.