Page 43 of Don't Back Down

Jack was embarrassed and apologetic as he approached the travel trailer.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude. I’m just making the rounds to notify all of the active campsites that we’ll be closing up for the winter by the end of the month. I can help you find a new location, though.”

Kevin shoved his hands in his pockets and made himself smile.

“No thanks. I’ll figure it out. I’m just sorting data anyway.”

Jack knew from the way Vanzant was shifting from one foot to the other that he was hiding something, and he didn’t like secrets, but Vanzant ended the conversation by returning to the trailer and firmly shutting the door.

Jack was already bothered by the fight he’d witnessed, but this odd comment didn’t set well with him, either. He jumped back in his golf cart and sped away.

***

Leslie was hurt and confused. She’d just seen a side of Kevin she didn’t know existed and it scared her. For a moment there, she’d felt threatened. Like he wasn’t going to let her leave. Jack Barton’s arrival had given her the opening she needed to get away.

She kept looking in her rearview mirror all the way back into town, afraid she’d see Kevin driving up behind her, but it didn’t happen. Her day off had taken a really nasty turn, and she didn’t quite know what to do with what she’d seen. Something about it didn’t feel right, although there really wasn’t anything to tell. It wasn’t illegal to take pictures of tourists in a town full of them. But instead of going home, she drove through Jubilee and headed up the mountain. She needed her mama’s arms around her, and Granny Cauley’s wisdom to settle her nerves.

By the time Leslie pulled up in her parents’ drive, she was feeling easier. She’d never been scared like that before. Her arms were still tingling from the grip he’d had on her, and she needed hugs to replace the fear.

Their old hound, Blue Boy, was lying on the front step, but when she got out of the car, he managed to raise his head and bugle once to let everyone know there was a visitor in the yard.

Her father came out on the porch as she was walking across the yard and then came down off the steps to greet her.

“Hey, sugar!” Wade said, and wrapped his arms around her. “Come in out of the chill. Your mom and Granny are cooking up a batch of pear preserves.”

“I can smell it from here,” Leslie said, and walked inside with her daddy’s arm around her shoulders.

“We’re in the kitchen!” her mother shouted.

Wade walked in with Leslie. “Look who’s here, Granny.”

Sheila Cauley looked up, pleased by her granddaughter’s unexpected visit.

“Hello, sweetheart,” she said.

“Hi, Granny. It smells good in here,” Leslie said.

Rita took one look at her daughter and frowned.

“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you at work?”

Leslie slid onto a stool at the kitchen island. “Dr. Sam got hurt last night so we closed up for the day.”

“Okay,” Rita said. “But why do you have that look in your eyes?”

Leslie sighed. “I guess because Kevin Vanzant just scared the crap out of me and I ran home like the big baby I am.”

Wade’s smile went south. “Are you talking about the college boy you’ve been seeing? The one who’s been staying out at Jack Barton’s campsite?”

Leslie nodded. “Since I had the day off, I drove out to see if he was working at the campsite today instead of traipsing through the woods as usual. He was there and acted all weird when he saw me. We had a discussion that turned sour, and as I was getting ready to leave, I saw his laptop was open and the screen was covered with photos of women and children. All close-ups of their faces. He lied about why he had them and I called him on it. When I started to leave, he grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go. I jerked free and ran out of the trailer with him right behind me. Then Jack Barton drove up in his golf cart, and I kept running. But I had a weird feeling and kept looking behind me all the way into town. Did I overreact?”

Rita was horrified. “No, you didn’t overreact. No man should put his hands on a woman like that.”

Wade was furious. “I’m going to have a talk with him.”

Leslie shuddered. “No, Daddy. Just let it go. I don’t want anything to do with him again. Anyway, he’s leaving soon.”

Wade didn’t comment further, but he didn’t like the implications of those photos on the laptop, and after Leslie had gotten all of that off her chest and settled into helping with the canning, he left the house and headed for his workshop. He wanted to call the police and have them check the man out, but if he did, then that would involve Leslie, and she’d already made her feelings clear. And then he thought of PCG’s board of directors. They dealt with the business of Jubilee, and Cameron was the CEO, so he called him.

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