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Pushing the memory aside, she concentrated on walking down the driveway. She couldn’t remember a time in her life when she’d ever been this tired. But she’d been strong, Bailey thought. Strong enough to cope with what the day had brought.
The hum of an engine had her moving to the side of the road. But it slowed as it approached, and then pulled up beside her. It was an ATV, and Joe Trainer was riding it.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Bailey frowned at the ridiculous question.
“Walking home.”
“Someone attempted to barbecue you today, then you saw your first dead body. Exhaustion is dogging your every step, and you’re so pale I’m not entirely sure that you’re not a ghost.”
“And your point is?” Bailey yawned.
“For a person with your smarts, you’re not using your head.”
“Are you deliberately trying to insult me?”
“Just get on the back Bailey.”
His hair was standing up off his head, and she saw the exhaustion in his face too.
“I’m tired, Joe, so I’m going home. See you.” Lifting a hand, she started walking.
“Get on the ATV, Bailey. You’re coming back to the main house for a meal, and then you’re staying the night with me. You don’t need to be alone.”
Her stomach made a loud growling noise at the mention of food, but she didn’t think he’d heard that. “No, but thanks. I’m good, Joe. I just need some time to process today, and to do that I need to be alone. Plus, Maggs will be there. You go on back to your aunt Jess, and spend time with her and your family.”
She thought she’d won, because he said nothing else.
“Funny how I never noticed that stupid streak right off.”
Bailey shrieked as he picked her up and dumped her on the back of the ATV.
“Stay!”
Stunned, she didn’t move in time, and suddenly she was grabbing Joe’s waist as he turned them around and headed back where he’d come from.
“You c-can’t just do that!”
“Seems like I can.”
“Take me home then.”
“No.”
He drove up the drive while Bailey argued with him, and then up to his house.
“Okay, we shower here, then go down to the main house for food.”
“Do I get a say in this?” She tried to glare at him.
“Not so much.”
Once inside, he nudged her up the stairs to his bedroom, then into the shower. While he turned on the water, she slumped onto the toilet. Her legs had finally given up working.
“Okay, in you get.”
“Where is Buzz?”
