Lasting Shadows: Shadows Landing #3

by Kathleen Brooks

  “He’s watching us too,” Granger whispered, now completely weirded out.

  “Yeah, that’s her,” Ridge replied.

  Let me know if you need anything else. I’m sure I’ll meet you at the next Keeneston wedding. Peace out.

  “Who the hell was that?” Granger stated slowly as he covered the phone.

  Ridge chuckled and shook his head. “You never know with my cousin. If he’s a friend of the family, he’s good.”

  “I wonder if he can get me things legally?” Granger asked with a shake of his head.

  Anytime. You have my number.

  Ridge laughed at Granger leaping back as if Kale were reaching through the phone to grab him. “That’s just wrong,” Granger said as he turned off his cell phone.

  “Don’t you need your phone?” Ridge asked as he tried to stop laughing at how freaked out Granger was.

  “They can call me on the radio.”

  Ridge looked back at Savannah and the laughter stopped. The woman he was falling for was in trouble. “Do you think this will be the end of it?” Ridge asked Granger. Not only was Granger the sheriff, but he was Ridge’s friend. And right now Ridge needed his friend the sheriff to be honest with him.

  Granger’s jaw tightened and Ridge was worried he had his answer. “Here’s what I’m worried about. Who is after Savannah? Why? And will they realize this guy failed and send someone else after her?”

  “Are you sure I’m not involved?”

  Granger’s lips thinned, and behind the mirrored sunglasses, Ridge was sure Granger’s eyes were narrowed. “No. At this moment I’m not sure about anything.”

  Savannah finally stopped shaking. Brady and the guys on the crew were doing a good job of trying to distract her. The hot tea the guys had made for her helped too. But right now she felt dizzy, exhausted, and she couldn’t stop trembling. All she really wanted was Ridge.

  Savannah took a deep breath. She’d fought for her life, and she was still standing. The guys, the coroner, Kord, and Granger all told her she didn’t kill that man. She didn’t believe them. And right now she couldn’t decide how she felt about that. The rage, the hurt, and the pure shock of hearing her life was only worth twenty thousand dollars had made her lose control. She’d never gone after a person like that before in her life, much less an assassin.

  And why in hell would an assassin be after her? She was an unemployed ex-housewife with a small bank account, living in a small town. It wasn’t as if she had life insurance that Penn wanted to get his grubby hands on. Was this Bunny crazed enough to kill her because she and Ridge were dating? Well, kinda. Savannah let out a long breath as she imagined the headline, “Killer Bunny on the Loose.”

  If this was all because some spoiled brat lost out on a man . . . well, this time Savannah was older and wiser. She knew the difference between men like Penn and Ridge. Ridge was worth fighting for.

  Savannah watched Granger step away from Ridge as he pulled out his phone. There was lots of nodding and then he hung up and turned to her. Their eyes met immediately. As much as Savannah had wanted to be in his arms, as much as she had wanted to have all of his attention to herself, as much as she wished it was just the two of them, she knew she had to stay put and let him do his thing. He was taking care of her in his own way. Plus, Savannah had seen the look of utter desperation and fear on his face when the bathroom door had been ripped off.

  The only thing Savannah worried about was if Ridge liked her for her or because she needed rescuing. Although, she smiled to herself, she rescued herself today. While her body trembled in the aftermath, she was proud of herself. The feelings she had for Ridge were different. She didn’t think eighteen months would change things, but they had. She felt like a new person after the divorce. She was older, wiser, more mature, and focused on what really mattered in a relationship—love, trust, dependability, partnership, mutual respect, and support. She had that with Ridge. She knew it deep down to the bone. She still felt strong when he was away from her. She felt in charge. She wasn’t afraid of messing up. She wanted to take chances. Because when it came down to it, this person she’d known for a week was more supportive and encouraging than Penn had ever been. And the knowledge that someone had your back was, well, freeing.

  Savannah took a deep breath and stood up as Ridge began to walk over to her. She took the steps down to the grass and waited for him to reach her. “Thank you for handling the police for me.”

  Ridge didn’t say anything. Instead, he simply opened his arms and wrapped her in them. Savannah let out a deep breath as she rested her cheek on his shoulder and hugged him back.

  “That was the most terrifying moment of my life,” Ridge said. His voice was rough with raw emotion.

  Savannah didn’t say anything as Ridge held her tightly against him.

  “It’s not Bunny.”

  At those three words, Savannah stopped breathing. She forced herself to swallow hard as she looked up at Ridge. His face was hard. His jaw was tight. The lines around his eyes and lips showed the stress he was feeling.

  “How do you know?”

  Ridge told her about what this guy named Kale had found out. Bunny hadn’t spent money because she was on a yacht happily being petted by some douche from television.

  “But if it’s not Bunny, who is it?” Savannah felt the fear creeping back in. She had it under control when she knew the face behind it all. But now? She looked around at all the faces. It could be anyone.

  Ridge felt her shiver and ran his hand up and down her back to warm her. “It’s okay. We’ll find out who’s behind this. I’ll keep you safe. I swear.”

  That was part of what Savannah was worried about. She wanted to be safe, but she wanted to be loved. She didn’t want to be seen as a damsel in distress. She still had that nagging fear that Ridge was sticking around only to save her. But what happened after she was safe? Would he still want her then?

  19

  The rest of the day was a blur as Savannah’s house was cordoned off for the investigation. Kord had accompanied her upstairs to pack a bag and then she was escorted off the premises while everyone finished processing the crime scene.

  Ridge had taken her back to his house and locked the doors. For the past hour, she’d been pacing while Ridge worked on sending his crew to another job site for a few days. They’d be back at Savannah’s as soon as the crime scene tape was down.

  There was the sound of footsteps behind her and Savannah turned around to see Ridge. His masculine face was filled with concern. “Sweetheart, is there anything I can do?”

  Savannah let out a sigh and tapped her foot. “Let’s go to dinner.” The thought of getting out of the house perked her up. She was tired of feeling trapped. Trapped in her house. Trapped in Ridge’s house. Trapped by fear. She was ready to be free. And to murder anyone who tried to take that away from her . . . again.

  “I just put a pizza in the oven,” Ridge said. The way his questioning eyes took her in told Savannah he felt her agitation.

  “Then after dinner.” Savannah walked over to Ridge and grabbed his hand in hers. “I can’t let them take my freedom from me. I’m not going to stay locked up for days, weeks, or months on end until the person is caught. The man’s dead. I’m not in danger anymore.”

  She could see Ridge hiding something from her when his eyes suddenly looked anywhere but at her. “What is it?” she asked.

  “We don’t know if the person who hired this man will just send another. So far Granger hasn’t been able to find anything about the man who died today. He’s a ghost.”

  Savannah put her hands on her hips. “And since when has this town been afraid of ghosts?”

  Ridge finally cracked a smile. He took a deep breath and nodded. “We can go to Harper’s for a drink after we have pizza. Half the town will be there and you’ll be perfectly safe.”

  “So will you. I got your back, Ridge.”

  Savannah turned and as she was climbing the stairs she heard Ridge chuckle. Dams
el in distress, her ass.

  Harper’s bar was packed. No one noticed when she and Ridge slipped into the door and fought their way to the bar.

  “It’s time Shadows Landing had a mayor and there’s no one more qualified than I. I’m a doctor and the head of the historical society. I’m tasked with protecting Shadows Landing’s past and I am the perfect one to protect her future.”

  There were groans from the audience and she was pretty sure Miss Winnie had just called the man talking a little prick.

  “Who is that?” Savannah whispered as she looked at the man in loafers, khakis, a starched button-up shirt, dirt brown tie, and tweed jacket with elbow patches.

  “Dr. Stephen Adkins,” Ridge said with a roll of his eyes. “Although, he calls himself Stefan.”

  “What’s he a doctor of?” Savannah asked, looking at him. He didn’t look like any medical doctor she’d ever seen. Maybe pathology?

  “He has a PhD in history. He’s smart, but he’s spent his whole life trying to leave Shadows Landing. He lost his accent and came back thinking he was superior. Education doesn’t mean you’re better than anyone else. Stephen doesn’t see it that way.”

  Miss Ruby stood up and the room hushed. “We haven’t had a mayor in our three hundred years and we don’t need one now. We have a city council and it runs just fine.”

  Stephen scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Just fine? We don’t even have a hotel.”

  “Young man,” Miss Ruby said, and Savannah cringed.

  “He’s a dead man,” Savannah whispered to Ridge, who smiled and nodded.

  “Don’t you talk to me as if your Yankee education suddenly made us all dumb. Unlike you, I have seen the charter that founded Shadows Landing. Our history is unique, but that’s what it is—history. Our forepirates wanted Shadows Landing to be a safe haven. That’s why we still have enough money for roads and upkeep with our low taxes. The money for this town is in the same account it’s been in since the bank was built.”

  Ridge’s lips brushed against Savannah’s ear as he whispered, “The bank is next to the library, which used to be a brothel, and across from the courthouse so you could pull out money to bribe the judge and enjoy a tumble all in ten minutes.”

  Savannah snorted and then covered her mouth and nose with her hand to stop from laughing out loud.

  “And I would love to see that document,” Stephen said, stomping his foot like a child.

  Miss Ruby smiled sweetly. “Maybe if you weren’t such an asshole we’d give you the combination to the documents vault.”

  The whole bar laughed and Stephen turned red. “There’s nothing in those documents saying we can’t develop the town. That we can’t bring in some national restaurants, some other banks, and some hotels.”

  “Actually, there is.” Savannah recognized that heavy twang of Skeeter, who stood up with a beer in his hand. “It states that Shadows Landing should stay a sanctuary to its residents. All businesses must be owned by local residents and there is to be no more downtown expansion.”

  “There is no such thing,” Stephen said with another roll of his eyes. “Pirates wouldn’t have thought of fast food three hundred years ago.”

  “That’s right, they didn’t,” Skeeter said but then smiled. “But the founding document calls for a review of the town rules and ordinances every one hundred years. The last review was done while you were up north. It was voted on and approved by a three-fourths majority town vote. So, in another ninety-three years you can challenge them.”

  “Here, here!” Miss Winnie stood up and thumped a large beer mug that looked to be filled with a Shirley Temple drink on her table. “I say we vote no to the mayor proposal and when my term is up on the city council, I nominate Skeeter to take my place.”

  “And if the measure does pass, I say we vote Skeeter for mayor,” a young woman surrounded by countless children called out.

  Skeeter blushed. “Thank you, Miss Lydia.”

  “Skeeter?” Stephen practically shrieked. “He didn’t even go to college.”

  Lydia shifted the kid she was holding from one hip to the other and gave Stephen a glare that had everyone taking a step back.

  “Uh-oh. Mommy has the Look. You’re going into a timeout,” a little boy with cowlicked hair said as his big brother pulled him close.

  “Stephen Adkins, you have certainly lost your manners. You left Shadows Landing and don’t think for one second we forgot that you never thought we were good enough for you. And when something goes wrong in this town, it’s Skeeter who is the first one to show up offerin’ to help. When Landry is on deployment, it’s Skeeter, Turtle, Gator, and Junior at my house fixin’ loose shingles, getting the gator out of the pool, or teaching Landry Junior how to ride his bike. It’s not you. It’s Skeeter who comes to the school and teaches the history of Shadows Landing. And it was Skeeter who helped Darcy and Wade find that treasure. A Shadows Landing treasure, which is exactly what Skeeter is to us. A treasure.”

  Everyone clapped and beer mugs were pounded on the tables. Gator put his fingers between his lips and let out a loud whistle. Skeeter turned redder than a beet but sent a sweet smile to Lydia.

  “Skeeter! Skeeter!” the crowd began to chant.

  “Skeeter for city council!” Harper yelled over the crowd. “Drinks on me!”

  The place went nuts as Harper lined up over fifty glasses and began pouring beer after beer from the keg.

  “Stupid idiots,” Stephen muttered as he stormed out.

  Ridge shook his head. “If Stephen didn’t think everyone was beneath him and unbent enough to get to know people, I’m sure he wouldn’t be such a bad guy. The trouble is he hated Shadows Landing growing up. Everyone knew that. He complained constantly. Since his return, it seems as if he hated not only Shadows Landing but everyone in it.”

  “Why did he come back?” Savannah asked.

  “I think he thought he’d come back and everyone would bow down to his superior knowledge. He’s a smart guy. But like I said, if he’d spent any time getting to know the residents, he’d see there’re a lot of smart people here with knowledge in mechanics, arts, business, medicine, animals, history, and so much more. It’s a shame really.”

  “Yo, cuz! I could use some help here,” Harper called out.

  “I’ll help!” Savannah answered instead. The place was so alive and her fear was gone. Here, she could live. Here, she could be herself. Here, she could enjoy life.

  “Start handing these out. Thanks, Savannah!”

  Savannah grabbed three pints of beer and started on the far side of the room. Ridge grabbed some more and they worked together to get the free round of drinks handed out.

  “I hear we missed the action,” Ellery said after thanking Savannah for the beer. Ellery and Gavin were the last ones to get a drink as they had just arrived.

  “Yes, it looks like Skeeter might be a politician.”

  “I was talking about you going all superhero and beating up the man attacking you,” Ellery said before reaching out and gently touching Savannah’s arm. “But how are you? I don’t know if you know this or not, but my old boss attacked me and left me for dead. I understand the fear, the anger, and desire to forget all about it at the same time. Just know I’m here for you.”

  Savannah startled Ellery by throwing her arms around the woman’s neck and hugging her. Because that was exactly how she was feeling. To hear that someone understood was the greatest gift Ellery could have given Savannah.

  “Thank you. That helped more than you know.”

  Ellery hugged her back. When she pulled away, she told Savannah about a family dinner they were having in a couple days. “Will you two come?”

  Savannah turned to look to where Ridge and Gavin were talking. “I’m sure we will, but I’ll make sure Ridge doesn’t have anything planned.”

  “Even if he does, you’re welcome to come. I can pick you up if you need me to. Here, let me give you my number.”

  Ellery took Savannah’s phone
and entered her number as Gator took over the jukebox. Country music filled the bar as talks of the mayoral vote, Skeeter, and Bubba the alligator’s latest antics filled the room.

  Savannah took a deep breath as a smile naturally came over her face. This was home. This was where she belonged. She glanced over to where Ridge was now talking basketball with Quad Clemmons, who she’d learned was a standout high school athlete. Ridge talked to everyone with his full attention. He treated everyone with respect, from the oldest woman to the youngest little boy. Savannah’s heart filled as the little boy with the cowlick came over and tugged on Ridge’s shirt. Ridge bent down and scooped the boy up into his arms as he talked to Quad.

  “He’s a good one, you know,” Ellery said quietly as if she didn’t want to startle Savannah from her observations. She liked Ridge. She’d even been in lust with Ridge. But this was more. This was respect. This was trust. And when Ridge turned to her as if hearing her heart calling to him and smiled, Savannah knew this was love.

  “Yes, he is.” Savannah found the freedom of embracing her feelings comforted her like a warm blanket wrapping her in love.

  Ridge talked to Quad about the upcoming high school basketball season as he kept an eye on Savannah. She was talking to Ellery and had a happy little smile on her face that made Ridge feel better than anything else.

  “Mr. Ridge?”

  Ridge looked down and smiled at Lydia’s youngest son, Leo. At four years old he was teetering between toddler and little boy. He still had chubby cheeks and thick legs that let him run all over, terrorizing his six older siblings and causing his mother to have an untold number of panic attacks.

  “Yes, Leo?” Ridge asked as he bent down and scooped the boy up into his arms.

  “Do you think that lady over there is pretty? My momma said she was and that she was your cigarette lover.”

  Quad bit his lower lip to keep from laughing as Ridge looked over at Savannah and smiled. “I think you mean significant other.”