Chase tried to smile, but winced from the split lip. He couldn’t believe Addie was still speaking to him, let alone caring for his wounds. And she was the one responsible for the light reprimand. When the cops showed up trying to figure out who to arrest, Chase had been targeted as starting the whole thing. Addie had stepped forward and said something to Officer Jenkins. Then she rose up on her tiptoes and whispered in the cop’s ear.
The man’s face turned as red as a lobster and he immediately arrested Bubba. That was seriously his name. Bubba was outraged and let loose another string of profanity. Officer Jenkins had actually gagged the man before hauling him away to the police station.
Beau moaned and Chase turned to see Sydney helping him. His friend looked worse than Chase did. One of his eyes was already swollen shut.
Jackson and Drew came back in after loading the last of their equipment. The two of them hadn’t gotten caught in the foray. Drew had still been out back talking to his wife when he heard the sirens. Jackson had tried to help, but he ended up protecting Sydney and Addie, getting them safely outside. By the time he got back in, the police had broken everything up.
“Okay, boys,” Jackson said with a smirk. “Let’s get you both home.”
Home. Chase dreaded going there. That was the problem with being a twenty-eight-year-old man living at home. He still had to answer to his parents. Particularly his mother. He winced as he stood up. “Sorry we couldn’t help. Do you have my keys?”
Jackson pulled them from his pocket and dangled them out in front. Addie snatched them out of his hand. “I’ll drive Chase home. Can you guys get poor Beau home?”
Beau grunted. “Yeah, since I don’t have a girlfriend or a mother to coddle me.” Beau’s family had relocated to Florida. Beau had stayed behind, mainly because of the band.
“You can come home with me,” Chase said. If he had Beau with him his mother might not get as mad. “My sisters will take care of you. Taylin volunteers at the hospital, so she sort of knows what she’s doing. And we all know Ashlee would jump at the chance to take care of you.” He liked teasing Beau about his little sister’s crush.
“I think I’ll pass. Your kid sister is cute, but way too young.”
Sydney helped Beau up. “You’re coming to our house. Jackson and I will take care of you.”
Beau didn’t protest as the McCalls helped him out to their truck. Addie put her arm around Chase’s waist. “Ready?”
He nodded his head. “Yeah, although I can’t believe you’re still even talkin’ to me.”
She paused and looked up at him with troubled eyes. “Why would you say that? I’m the one who got us into this mess.”
He snorted then winced from the pain. “You know that’s not true.”
Her chin went up defiantly. “Maybe you don’t know the whole story?”
Oh, he knew the whole story all right. She was a nice girl from Idaho who thought she was in a “nice restaurant” and said hello to a few men who were waiting for any kind of signal. He met her gaze. “Are you telling me you wanted those men to hit on you?”
Her eyes widened. “Of course not.”
“My point exactly.”
“But—”
He rested his forehead against hers. “Baby, please don’t argue with me. My head hurts and I need to save my strength for when I get home. My mama is gonna yell at me the second she sees my face.”
Addie brought a hand up and gently cupped his jaw. “Don’t worry about your mother. I plan on telling her she raised a pretty wonderful man who defended my honor.”
Despite the split lip, Chase grinned. His mother wouldn’t be able to refute that kind of talk.
Addie reached up and kissed him on the uninjured side of his mouth. “By the way, I never got the chance to tell you how much I loved the song you wrote. It was beautiful.”
Suddenly, his injuries didn’t hurt as much. Addie loved his song. The way she gazed at him right now, he dared to hope she might love him too.
Chapter Twenty Three
Addie hung up the phone after telling another person they couldn’t come and search the property for the buried treasure. The newspaper article in the Sunday paper had generated a lot of interest, particularly to those with metal detectors.
Aunt Janie hadn’t had time to rent one and didn’t want other people digging up her yard. She wasn’t in any hurry to make the discovery, especially this week as the Macon Cherry Blossom festival kicked off its nine-day event. Aunt Janie had volunteered to help with the Senior Center float, and would be riding on it with some of the other members in today’s parade.
The newspaper article also sparked Addie’s renewed interest to solve the mystery. She’d spent all morning thinking about the letter, wondering if she’d missed any obvious clues. Focusing on the letter served as a great distraction, keeping her mind off of her last few days in Georgia.
She felt the week closing in on her just like the crowd of men at Gracie’s Haven on Saturday. Only this time Chase and Beau couldn’t fight off the bad guys. She had to return to Idaho—to her job and her family. She and Chase hadn’t really talked about what would happen after she went home. Neither of them had any answers. So, by some unspoken rule, they’d decided not to talk about it.
The one thing they did know was the music rep hadn’t been able to make it to the performance at Gracie’s Haven. Chase didn’t feel too bad, especially since the second half of the show was cancelled after the fight broke out.
She slid the plate of fresh-baked goodies toward her and took another chocolate chip cookie. They were for the parade today, but she’d already eaten two. Telling herself this was the last one, she took a bite and savored the taste, wishing it would take away the anxiety she felt as her time in Georgia grew short.
Popping the rest of the cookie into her mouth, she reached for a copy of the letter she’d discovered behind the photo. The clue had to be in this letter. She scanned over the spidery writing, searching for a key word. Nothing jumped out at her. Except the scripture reference. Her eyes flickered back up to the middle of the letter. John 4:11-14. Addie had looked it up before and assumed Marianne was trying to remind her sister of eternal life. But maybe she had missed something.
She scooted the chair away from the table and went in search of a Bible. Once in the living room, Addie pulled an oversized Bible from the bookcase. She sank down into the couch and carefully turned the pages until she came to the fourth chapter of John. Her fingers skimmed down the page until she came to verse eleven.
The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou has nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
Unable to glean anything from the words, she moved on to the next verse. Before she could get very far, she was interrupted by the doorbell. Glancing at her watch, she grinned. Chase was thirty minutes early. It was perfect timing. Maybe between the two of them they could come up with something.
Laying the Bible down on the coffee table, she jumped up from the couch and rushed to the foyer. “You’re early,” she squealed, flinging the door open wide.
She just about launched herself into his arms when she realized it wasn’t Chase. Not even close.
The man standing before her had dark, long hair pulled back in to a ponytail. His face was covered with a full beard that looked like it could use a trim. He wore a pair of denim overalls, emphasizing his protruding stomach.
The man grinned and revealed yellowed teeth, stained with tiny black flecks of something gross. “Howdy. Is Ms. Janie Caldwell at home?”
Addie was alone and she was getting some major bad vibes from this guy. Instinctively, she took a step backward, and remembered what she’d been taught as a child. “My aunt can’t come to the door right now. May I help you?”
The man’s eyes took on a gleam of expectation. “I hope so. My name is Ernie Claxton and I’d like to offer y’all my services to help Ms. Caldwell locate the family’s buried treasure. I’ve got my equipment with m
e and could get started right away.” He grinned again, as if trying to win her over with his charm.
Addie could now see a slight bulge in the man’s bottom lip. He confirmed her suspicion he was chewing tobacco when he turned and squirted a stream of black spittle on the porch. She swallowed, trying not to throw up the cookies she’d just eaten.
“I’m sorry. Several people have already called and my aunt has told everyone the same answer. No.”
The man’s beady eyes darkened and he spit again. She was appalled but didn’t want to call him on it. “I’d like to speak to Ms. Caldwell. I’ll wait until she’s available.” He said the word to let her know he was calling her bluff.
She swallowed again. He knew she was alone.
Still, she tried not to show her growing alarm. “My aunt is busy getting ready for the Cherry Blossom festival in Macon. She won’t be coming to the door. If you leave a business card, she can get back with you when she has the chance.”
Janie wouldn’t call this man and he knew it. He took another step toward her. Addie didn’t know if she should try and shut the door or run past him so she was at least outside. He bent forward, bringing him close enough that Addie caught a whiff of his unkempt body.
“Why don’t you just let me have a look around,” he said in an intimidating voice. “If I find anything, Ms. Caldwell can have seventy percent.” He stared at her intently, almost daring her to refuse him access to the yard.
Frozen in place, Addie offered a silent prayer. She wanted Chase to come and rescue her again. She felt her heart rate accelerate and the air felt thinner. She absolutely could not hyperventilate. The other night at the bar Bubba had scared her, but she hadn’t even come close to having a panic attack. This guy was scarier because, for one thing, she was all alone.
Maybe she should just let him start looking. She could call the police. Maybe even Officer Jenkins would show up.
Before she could say anything, a car turned into the driveway and stopped. Addie squinted to see who it was, but didn’t recognize the car. She raised her hand as if she knew them, hoping Mr. Claxton would leave.
Ernie spit again and looked over his shoulder at the idling vehicle. Then he turned and gave her another greasy smile. “Well, I guess I’ll just try’n come back when your aunt can come to the door.” He backed away. “You have a nice day now, Miss.”
The stairs groaned under his girth and Addie let out the breath she’d been holding. Her heart rate returned to normal as Ernie started his truck and backed out. The unknown car at the end of the drive backed out as well. Either they were lost and just getting their bearings or her guardian angel drove a four-door sedan.
She watched Ernie’s truck disappear from her view before going back inside the house. Her fingers shook slightly as she locked the door. Then she grabbed her cell phone and called Chase. He didn’t answer so she left a message and then sent him a text. Can you come early? Some creepy guy was here and I’m alone.
Right after she sent the message, she felt guilty. He was going to get the text and probably think she was a basket case. Ernie Claxton was probably a harmless, but uncouth treasure hunter.
Five minutes later Chase called. He definitely sounded anxious. “Hey, I just got out of the shower. Is that guy still there?” He sounded a little out of breath, like he was dressing while running.
“He’s gone. I probably just overreacted. I’m fine now.”
“I’m on my way over. Did you lock the doors?”
Addie wandered back toward the front door. She reached out and pulled the curtains to the side, peeking outside to look for Ernie’s truck. “I did and I’m looking out the window right now and he’s gone.” She shivered. “I didn’t mean to alarm you, he just gave me the creeps.” She went on to explain the many phone calls they’d received since the article had come out in the paper.
Chase made her talk to him as he drove over to get her. While she waited, she went back into the kitchen and ate another cookie. “You better hurry. The cookies are dwindling fast.”
He laughed. “I better not speed. I have a record now and the police probably won’t go easy on me again.”
“You do not,” she said with a giggle. “But I don’t want you to speed.” She pushed the plate of cookies away. “I promise not to eat anymore.”
A few minutes later the doorbell sounded. Just to be safe, Addie checked to see who it was before she opened the door to let Chase inside.
“Hey,” she said, feeling her mouth go dry. Chase wore a pink, V-necked tee that stretched across his broad shoulders. It was tradition for cherry blossom festival goers to wear pink. “I like your shirt.”
“I like yours too.” His eyes skimmed appreciatively over her matching pink T-shirt they’d bought for the parade. Always the gentleman, he brought his gaze back up to her face. The snug fitting tee felt a little too tight, but Aunt Janie hadn’t agreed. She said if she had a figure like Addie’s she’d show it off too.
“Thanks.” She studied his handsome face, relieved to see he didn’t look as bad as he had yesterday morning. In the two days since the fight, the swelling was gone, leaving a dark bruise on the outside of one eye. The split lip had healed quickly with only a tiny crack at the corner of his mouth.
“You should see the other guy,” Chase joked.
“I was there, remember?”
“I remember.” Chase tugged on the bottom of her T-shirt, bringing her close enough to thoroughly kiss. His phone chimed an incoming text, ending the kiss too soon.
While Addie collected her thoughts and got her breathing back under control, he glanced at his phone and rolled his eyes.
“We’re meeting my parents in Macon for the parade, but Ashlee wasn’t ready on time and my parents actually followed through with their threat to leave her. She’s begging me to come and get her.”
“What are you going to tell her?”
“I should tell her no.” He started typing a reply.
Addie grinned, knowing full well he would rescue his sister again. “Let’s go get her then. I don’t want to miss Aunt Janie’s float. She actually dyed her hair pink this morning and I haven’t seen her yet.”
Lifting an eyebrow, Chase looked up at her. “What makes you think I said yes?”
“Because you’re a good big brother, and I’ve noticed that every time your sisters get into some kind of trouble, they always turn to you.”
She wanted to add, “That’s one of the reasons I fell in love with you.” But couldn’t bring herself to say it out loud. It would break their silent agreement to avoid the defining the relationship talk.
Instead, she gave him a quick kiss and moved toward the kitchen. “I just need to grab my purse and the cookies.”
Chase followed her into the kitchen. Before leaving to get his sister, he stole another unforgettable kiss, and then he stole a cookie.
* * *
Cradled in Chase’s arms, Addie sat on the curb of the sidewalk with her back pressed against his chest. The last float of the parade slowly passed by, and the MC announced a number of upcoming activities.
“You smell good,” Chase said, nuzzling the side of her neck. She shivered when he placed a kiss just below her ear.
“What was that for?” she asked, tilting her head to look at him.
“Do I need a reason to kiss you?”
“Absolutely not.” Her eyes darted from side to side. His family seemed to be engrossed in watching the last float pass by. She leaned in and kissed him on the mouth.
Now it was his turn to grin. “What was that for?”
She twisted and lightly skimmed her fingertips across the fading bruise next to his eye. “For coming to my rescue again.”
“The guy was already gone.”
She shrugged. “Okay, let’s go with because you look so hot in pink.”
Grinning, he leaned in and gave her another kiss.
“Okay, you two,” Taylin said, standing over them. “Enough kissing. It makes me miss Ryan.”<
br />
She and Chase laughed as his father’s face contorted into a scowl. “Taylin,” Charles said. “Don’t ruin my fantasy that my girls are still ten and think boys are disgusting.”
Ashlee stood up and patted their dad on the back. “They are disgusting. Especially hot drummers.”
Charles groaned. “Stop it. Beau is too old for you.”
“But, Daddy,” Ashlee said, laying her head on his arm. “That’s why he is the perfect guy for me to fall in love with. He sees me as his little sister so nothing will ever happen.”
A smile lit Charles’s face. “You have a good point.” He put his arm around Ashlee’s shoulders. “Now, who wants pulled pork? I’m buying.”
“Me,” Addie said as she popped out of Chase’s arms.
It was no secret now how much she liked southern food. They stayed at the festival until it grew dark. She and Chase trailed behind his family all evening, holding hands and stealing kisses.
Later, when he took her home, he gave her another long kiss good-night. As the moon cast its silvery glow over them, Chase drew back and peered into her eyes. “I have to work in the morning, but I’m planning to get off early so we can go to the concert in the park.”
Their hands were linked, neither one wanting to break the connection. “Sounds good.” She gave him a playful grin. “Then you can buy me another barbeque pork sandwich.”
He tugged on her hands and wrapped his arms around her. “Deal.” He placed a kiss on top of her head. “I better go before I start kissing you again.”
They both knew her aunt was waiting inside. “All right. See you tomorrow.”
“Have a good night, and dream of me.”
“You and the barbeque pork.”
He laughed and opened the door for her. “Whatever it takes.”
Addie couldn’t dream about Chase because she couldn’t fall asleep. Maybe she should’ve asked her aunt for one of her sleeping pills. Aunt Janie was dead to the world and wouldn’t wake up if a freight train went through the house. Addie knew this because the other night she had tripped on a rug and fell against a table, smashing a vase full of silk flowers. Aunt Janie hadn’t heard a thing and it was right outside her door.
Under a Georgia Moon: Georgia Moon Romance Book 1 Page 23
