Lavender Beach by Vickie McKeehan Read Free Book Online Page B

mashed potatoes Nick explained what happened. “I used to see Scott all the time. These days, not so much, unless he has something specific to say. Having said that, about two months ago I got up at two a.m. to let the dog out, and there he was standing right over there in the corner of the kitchen. We stayed up until four a.m. talking about you.”
    “Me? That doesn’t make sense.”
    “I admit in all these years I hadn’t bothered to give the pilot who flew me to a hospital that day, a second thought. After all, if it wasn’t for you…” Nick’s voice trailed off giving him time to compose his thoughts and emotions. “I was kept alive during what the medics call the ‘golden hour,’ that dangerous period after a life-threatening injury when they can’t stop the bleeding and shock sets in.”
    She’d certainly heard of the golden hour. She’d lost her share of soldiers during the ride, those whose injuries were so severe they hadn’t made it through that window to reach the hospital in time to get treatment.
    “You were lucky,” Eastlyn finally uttered.
    “I won’t argue with that assessment. But when the stars align and you live through something like that, you better pay attention, correct the things in your life that have gone wrong. You realize that same luck needs to be spread around to others. Scott told me you were in trouble. Ben did the recon. We cooked up this idea that he would go to Bakersfield to scout out a job. While he was there, he found out that what Scott said was true. I had to make a decision. Drive there myself to bring you back or let you spiral further downward.”
    “Why bring Cord along?”
    “Because we did the exact same thing with Cord. And this time Cord wanted to be a part of it. It was his choice, despite what he told you. Scott didn’t have to twist his arm or haunt him by rattling around chains until we got to Bakersfield.”
    Eastlyn smiled. “I see. So Scott likes to save people from themselves.”
    “Something like that.”
    “Last night Scott knew things about me most people wouldn’t know. In fact, he said I was here to help someone else. Bringing me here wasn’t about me. Any clue what he meant?”
    Nick shook his head. “Get used to Scott’s vagueness.”
    “That’ll get annoying real quick,” Eastlyn proclaimed. “Scott also said something big was about to happen. You’re the town banker. You have your pipeline into everything that happens in this town. So what do you think Scott’s talking about?”
    “I honestly have no idea.” Nick tossed a glance at Jordan. “What about you?”
    Jordan frowned. “I guess Scott wouldn’t be referring to the fact that the Memorial Day parade is coming together or that his daughter is about to complete her first year of school.”
    Jordan tilted her head to study Eastlyn. “No doubt you fit into the grand scheme of things. You’re here so that you’ll be a critical part of whatever it is that’s about to happen.”
    Eastlyn’s face showed her disappointment with that assessment and Jordan added, “Sorry. But you already know that none of us have the kind of prescient ability Scott does.”
    “No offense but Cord says you guys are supposed to be the experts.”
    Nick chuckled. “That’s news to us. We’re usually as much in the dark as the rest of the town, although you could go talk to Wade Hawkins, the retired history professor. He’s done so much research that he’s written a book about Scott.”
    Jordan chortled with laughter. “Everyone in town bought a copy when it came out last January. Wade even held a book signing at Hayden’s bookstore last month. If you don’t have the time to look him up I’ll let you have my copy. It’s actually informative.”
    Jordan scooted around the table and disappeared into the dining room. While she was out of the room, Eastlyn stared at Nick and held up her index finger. “Don’t even suggest I should thank you for dragging me to the Outer Limits