Winds of Danger

by Christy Barritt

  “What do you mean by bad?” Paige was honestly curious now. Had Wes just been a player? Or was there more to this story?

  Her stormy gaze met Paige’s. “I mean, he actually broke my car window when I tried to tell him to leave me alone.”

  “What?” Paige’s voice climbed in pitch. That didn’t fit the image she knew of Wes. Besides, Ty and Cassidy trusted him. That said a lot about his character. Still, she kept listening.

  “I know, it’s crazy, right? He started off so normal. But there’s a psycho hiding down deep inside him.” She shivered again.

  “He smashed your car window?” Paige repeated, certain she hadn’t heard correctly. She’d wanted to give Wes the benefit of the doubt this morning but . . .

  “Why do you say it like that? Wait . . . did he do the same thing to you?”

  This morning’s events flashed back to her. “My windshield was smashed. Wes was the one who happened to drive past and discover it. I thought it seemed like too much of a coincidence.” That had been her gut reaction, but she’d ignored it. Was that a mistake?

  “I’m telling you, it’s all a game to him. He covers it up really well, though.”

  Paige’s stomach twisted. She didn’t want to believe that was the truth. She wanted to believe that Wes was the fun-loving guy she’d met. That he was a hard worker with a wicked sense of humor and tender eyes.

  But her dad had always told her if something seemed too good to be true, it probably was. It looked like her father was right again.

  “By the way, I never caught your name. Mine’s Paige.” She studied the woman another moment, waiting for her response.

  The woman smiled. “You can call me Jen.”

  Chapter Eight

  Paige stood as the realization hit her, her knee smacking the table and rocking water over the top of her wobbling glass.

  This woman was Jennifer. Wes hadn’t told her the woman was now married. True, he may not have known or the woman could have been lying. Still, at the same time, Paige felt like she’d been tricked.

  Wes had made the woman sound like poison. Was that what this woman was doing? Planting destructive seeds in her mind? Or had she been speaking the truth?

  “I know about you,” Paige murmured. “You’re the one who smashed my windshield.”

  Jennifer’s expression hardened as she raised her chin. “That’s what Wes told you, isn’t it? You only heard half the story.”

  Paige shook her head, not willing to believe anything else Jen said. “I don’t need to hear anymore. The fact that you’re here on this island speaks for itself.”

  “Like I said, I came here for vacation with my husband. I never expected to see Wes. And, when I did, I almost left. I didn’t want him to see me. Then I saw he had someone else in his snare, and I changed my mind. I knew I had to warn you. It was my duty, woman to woman.”

  “I don’t believe you.” Paige started to take a step away. She didn’t need to hear anything else. Wes was not the bad guy here.

  “He’s not the person he claims to be,” Jennifer said.

  “He’s a good person.” Despite their history, she’d seen Wes in action. He’d selflessly acted to help save his best friend’s life when Ty had been abducted. He’d filled in for Lisa and helped her deliver meals to the homebound here on the island. He even helped a stray dog find a new home.

  He wasn’t a psychopath.

  Jen let out a snort, as if Paige had just told an unbelievable joke. “I wasn’t going to tell you everything. I was hoping the CliffsNotes version could do the trick. But you need to stay away from Wes. I’m telling you this for your own good.”

  “Why?” Paige leaned closer, not one to be easily scared off. “Are you going to hurt me if I don’t?”

  Jen stared at her a minute before shaking her head. Her shoulders softened and a somberness washed over her. “Is that what he told you? That I was the crazy one?”

  Her words caught Paige’s attention. What did she mean by that?

  Paige said nothing, only waited. She didn’t want to know, yet she did.

  Jen pulled out her phone, hit a few buttons, and then showed Paige the screen. “This is what happens when things don’t go according to Wes’s plan.”

  Paige gasped when she saw the picture there.

  It was Jen. With blonde hair, just like in her social media photos.

  But gone was her smiling face. Instead, one eye was bruised. Her lip was cut. Her gaze was lined with fear and grief.

  “What are you saying?” Paige asked, her voice now trembling. “That he did this to you?”

  “That’s exactly what I’m saying. I tried to break up with him, and this is what happened. He told everyone that I was the crazy one. That I’d done it to myself. A lot of people even believed him. It still makes me sick to my stomach to think about.” Tears filled her gaze.

  Paige shook her head and sat back down, determined to hear more and figure out the truth. “I can’t believe Wes would do this to you. He would never hurt a woman.”

  Jen wiped her eyes with a napkin from the table. “That’s what he wants people to believe. But it’s not true. You can try to convince yourself it is. But you’re just going to end up being the victim in the end.”

  Paige leaned back, still reeling from the conversation. “Thanks for your concern, but . . . I can’t take things like this at face value. Those are some pretty big accusations.”

  “Then maybe you’ll believe this.” She pulled up another photo on her phone and showed it to Paige.

  Paige glanced at the screen. It was a police report. For Wes.

  He’d been arrested for assault and battery.

  Paige’s stomach sank. No, that couldn’t be. But she’d seen the evidence with her own eyes . . .

  What if Jen was right? What if all of this, everything that had happened, was just a ploy by Wes to manipulate her?

  She swallowed hard as nausea churned in her stomach.

  Had Wes lied to her? Not only that, but had he beaten another woman and then tried to paint her in a bad light?

  If that was the case, Paige had to figure out what to do.

  Because she could be dealing with someone dangerous here.

  Wes had spent the day working various plumbing jobs and remaining alert for any sign of Jennifer.

  He hadn’t seen her.

  But every time he thought about Paige’s windshield, both a shiver of fear and a bolt of anger seemed to move parallel inside him.

  He had to find Jennifer if he was going to put an end to this craziness. He wanted to locate her, make sure she was taken into custody for the vandalism of his kayaks and Paige’s car, and then he wanted to move forward. With Paige. To tell her how he really felt. To explore the possibility of a real relationship further.

  He never thought he’d feel like this again. But he did. He liked Paige. He really liked her.

  After working, he’d gone back to his place and began the task of patching his kayaks. It would take some time, but he hoped to have them operational again by this weekend. He’d already canceled tonight and tomorrow night’s excursions.

  He couldn’t afford to cancel much more or his business would be a wash, costing more to operate than it brought in. It had never been a big money maker—instead it had always been a labor of love. He truly enjoyed showing people the beauty of Lantern Beach from a different perspective while out on the water.

  Finally, after working on six kayaks, he decided to take a break for the evening. He didn’t mind working hard, but there also needed to be time to relax and have fun. Otherwise, he should have stuck with his nose-to-the-grindstone job in advertising.

  He changed into some shorts and a T-shirt and grabbed his keys. As he climbed into his truck, Paige’s image filled his mind. He’d love nothing more than to go to her place and talk. To really talk. To explain things.

  But he resisted, reminding himself that she was safer without him near. There would be time for that in the future—he hoped.r />
  Instead, he headed over to Ty and Cassidy’s for a game of sand volleyball.

  He liked to squeeze in hanging out with his friends whenever he could. Several of them had met at a Bible study at church, and the group had grown from there.

  Of course, now almost everyone in the gang was married or paired off.

  Ty and Cassidy had their whirlwind romance.

  Austin and Skye had finally declared their feelings for each other after years of being best friends.

  Lisa and Braden had discovered they were perfect together.

  Even Pastor Jack, who was a late addition to the group, had found love after losing his first wife.

  Wes was now the odd man out.

  That was okay. Wes didn’t mind standing alone.

  At least, he hadn’t until he met Paige. Somehow, she’d changed everything for him. She’d made him wonder what life would be like with someone by his side.

  He’d held out for only the best. He’d wanted someone he could have fun with. Have an intelligent conversation with. Someone who made him laugh. Who had a good work ethic when needed and knew how to kick back at other times.

  Paige had been all of those things.

  He sighed. There was no use thinking about it now.

  He drove across the island to the other end, where Ty and Cassidy’s home was. He pulled into the driveway and then climbed the dune.

  His friends played volleyball on the other side as the ocean waves crashed behind them. Not everyone was here. Their work schedules hadn’t allowed that. But there was a good two-on-two game going on that he wanted to join. It would be good to burn off some stress.

  “Hey, Wes,” Ty called from his position as referee. “Glad you could make it.”

  “Of course.” He pulled off his shirt and walked toward the sand volleyball court. “I’m ready to win some games.”

  “One more serve, and you’re in,” Austin said, holding the ball next to his hip.

  He stood on the sidelines, watching the game and thanking God for such a good group of friends. As he did, Lisa walked up to him, a sweaty glass of lemonade in hand.

  “Hey, you!” she started. “I saw Paige today.”

  He swallowed back a moment of regret at how things had transpired between him and Paige. “Is that right? Did she come into The Crazy Chefette?”

  “She did. A friend met her there.”

  His muscles tightened as an ominous feeling stirred in his gut. “A friend?”

  “Yeah, this woman with dark hair and glasses. They seemed to get along really well.”

  Wes froze. Dark hair and glasses? That didn’t sound like Jennifer—unless she’d changed her look. Still, something didn’t sit right with him.

  “But it was weird,” Lisa continued. “I brought their food, but they were both gone. They left some money on the table for me, of course. Something must have come up. It got me a little worried, though.”

  “Did you catch her friend’s name?”

  “No, I didn’t. Why?” Lisa frowned. “Is something wrong?”

  Wes pulled his shirt back on. “I need to find Paige.”

  “Did I say something?” Lisa asked, looking confused.

  “No, but I’ve got to go. Tell everyone I’m sorry.”

  Chapter Nine

  Paige felt sleep trying to claim her as she lounged on the couch in her RV after work. She wanted to get outside. Wanted to enjoy the weather. Maybe go kayaking or do something to keep her mind occupied with subjects other than her conversation with Jen.

  But her muscles weren’t cooperating, and all she wanted to do was remain on her couch in a nearly comatose state.

  She hardly ever felt like this. She was Ms. Outdoors. Ms. Energetic. Ms. Active.

  But not right now.

  Maybe the emotional struggle of the past couple months was catching up with her. Or she was coming down with a virus. That was the only thing that made sense.

  Most likely, it was that conversation with Jennifer. Every time she thought of those photos, she felt the life drain from her.

  She couldn’t have made those things up, right? They’d looked real. Jennifer had looked sincere. She’d cried even.

  Paige closed her eyes, tired of fighting how sleepy she felt. Maybe she should just rest. Maybe her body was trying to tell her that’s what she needed.

  Before she could drift off to a restful place, a loud knock sounded at the door.

  She flinched. Who in the world was here? Maybe she would ignore the sound. Sleep seemed so much better than getting up.

  “Paige, it’s me. Wes. Open up.”

  Her eyes flung open. Wes. Was he here to convince her he was innocent in all this to manipulate her into believing him? She might have fallen for that before. But not again.

  “Go away,” she yelled, willing her voice to sound louder, tougher. But she didn’t have the energy to make it happen.

  “I need to talk to you. Please.”

  “I don’t want to talk.” There was nothing he could say. Paige had seen the proof of his actions with her own eyes. She’d never be able to forget.

  “Paige, please. I need for you to hear me out. I think you could be in danger.”

  “From you?” Cynicism edged her words.

  He paused for a minute before saying, “What?”

  She wanted to tell him to go away again. But maybe she would confront him about his lies. Otherwise, he would keep doing what he was doing and hurting more people.

  She remembered the picture Jen had shown her with her face bruised and swollen.

  No woman should have to go through that.

  And that was exactly what Paige was going to tell Wes, even if there were consequences.

  She dragged herself off her couch. Her limbs felt heavy as she lumbered toward the door and threw it open.

  As soon as the fresh air wafted inside, a second wind returned to her. Her head suddenly seemed clearer. Her thoughts less fuzzy.

  Holding onto the doorway to steady herself, Paige stepped outside into the darkening evening and took another deep breath. She tried to form her thoughts, but they were still blurry. Her lips weren’t cooperating.

  “Are you okay, Paige?” Wes touched her arm, a concerned look on his face.

  She flinched and pulled away a little too hard. She nearly fell back into the RV. What was going on with her? Something felt off.

  “I’m fine.” Her words slurred.

  Wes’s eyes narrowed “You don’t look fine.”

  “I was just resting.” That was it. Paige was tired. Wes had pulled her from her slumber. No other explanation was needed.

  He glanced behind her before taking her arm. “Have a seat on the deck for a minute.”

  “Are you trying to boss me around?” Her words slurred again.

  “Please, Paige. Just listen to me.”

  She didn’t have the strength to argue. He led her to the chair, and she nearly collapsed there. Her head spun as she sat on the wooden slats.

  Once she was secure, Wes walked around the outside of the camper. She had no idea what he was doing, but worry kicked in. Something was wrong with her, but she had no idea what.

  Wes returned with a grim look on his face and the phone to his ear.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  Wes had found something, hadn’t he? She couldn’t imagine what.

  Wes said a few more things before putting his phone away and turning back to her. “Someone connected a hose to the exhaust of the RV next door, the one you said was unoccupied. They ran the hose into the window of your RV and left the engine going.”

  “But that would give me . . .”

  “Carbon monoxide poisoning. Yes.” He took her arm and tugged her to her feet. “I need to get you to the clinic.”

  “I’ll be fine—” She just needed some fresh air.

  “Please, don’t argue. We need to have you checked out.”

  “But—”

  “Paige, please.”

  The
earnest sound of his voice stopped her arguments in their tracks. Paige nodded. Maybe she should be checked out. Because she didn’t feel like herself right now.

  And she needed to feel like herself if she was going to confront Wes about his lies.

  Wes sat outside of Paige’s room at the clinic as Doc Clemson examined her. When they’d arrived here, she’d had her blood drawn. Then she’d been given an oxygen mask and would need to stay on O2 for several hours to get the carbon monoxide out of her bloodstream.

  Three hours had already passed.

  Meanwhile, Cassidy had gone to Paige’s RV to check out the hose and question Paige’s neighbors. Wes was waiting to hear what she’d learned—and hoping that Cassidy would share anything pertinent.

  But Wes already knew the truth.

  He knew that Jennifer was in town, just as he’d suspected. That she was the one who’d run that hose from an RV into Paige’s. If he hadn’t gotten there when he did . . . he didn’t even want to think about it. Just as before, Jennifer was escalating—and that thought terrified him.

  Doc Clemson stepped out of Paige’s room a few minutes later. The man was in his sixties with ruddy skin, yellowish orange hair, and a twisted sense of humor. He also worked as the island’s medical examiner.

  “She’s going to be fine,” Clemson said. “You found her in the nick of time. That’s the good news. But she will need another hour or so on the oxygen. She can take a little break, if need be. You’re welcome to see her . . . if she’s okay with it, of course.”

  “I’m not!” Paige called from the other side of the door.

  Wes resisted a smile. Paige was feisty. That must mean she was feeling more like herself.

  But his grin dimmed as he remembered the conversation they needed to have. Jennifer must have filled her head with lies. Why else would Paige be so abrasive right now?

  “I’ll leave you two to work things out.” Clemson raised his eyebrows. “Let me know if you need anything—except a mediator. That’s not in my job description.”

  “Got it.”