Bluestone Song by MJ Fredrick

followed—something she never had to worry
about in Bluestone. And yes, before long, headlights appeared
behind her. She was only so paranoid, but when the other car had
ample opportunity to pass, or turn off, and didn’t, her heart
started pounding again. She tried to remember what she’d read she
was supposed to do. Not go home, for one. Drive to a police
station. Okay. She could do that. No one would be there this time
of night, though. She pulled her purse onto her lap to dig for her
cell phone, slowing and giving the car another opportunity to pass.
It didn’t. She dragged out her phone, pressed the button, and
nothing. Not charged. Damn it, not again. She tossed it on the seat
and thought.
    Maddox’s place. The Barclay cabin he’d rented
was halfway between Lakeside Casino and Bluestone. Yes. She’d go to
Maddox’s. He’d be home, though not necessarily alone. And if she
turned off and the car behind her kept going, well, she’d just turn
around and go home. She accelerated a bit, hope surging.
    When she turned on her signal to the road
leading to Maddox’s, the car behind her did the same. Her pulse
spiked. She had to slow, not remembering just which driveway led to
the Barclay’s cabin. There. She signaled again and turned in.
    Without looking back, she grabbed her bag and
ran on bare feet up the steps to Maddox’s cabin. A light was on
downstairs, and as she approached she heard the drone of the TV
through the open window. She slapped at the door in her panic, and
hoped it didn’t transmit through her voice when she said, “Honey! I
forgot my keys again.”
    Please answer. Please answer.
    Behind her, the other engine cut off, and she
heard the creak of an opening door. Adrenaline spiked, and she
hurried to the open window and looked in on the empty couch in
front of the flickering TV. God. Where was he? She couldn’t get rid
of him most of the time, but when she needed him—
    She turned to see a shadow on the porch. When
her eyes adjusted, she saw it was a Maddox shaped shadow, complete
with white undershirt. His straight hair stood up on his head and
he scrubbed his hand over his face. “Forgot your keys again?” he
asked sleepily.
    Behind him, the other car door closed, and
the engine started. Beth’s knees weakened in relief, and it took
the last of her self-control not to reach for him.
    “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. I didn’t know
what else to do.”
    She saw the minute he became alert, and
turned toward the retreating car.
    “What’s going on?”
    “I—they followed me from the casino. I didn’t
want to go home, and you were close and I was scared and—”
    “Okay, okay. It’s all right.” He caught her
arm and drew her stumbling toward him, into his arms.
    She let her head fall to his shoulder, let
him wrap his arms around her, absorb her trembling. He smelled
good, like fresh air and clean sweat, warm from sleep, and strong
and solid.
    “I’m glad you thought of me. Come in, sit
down, have something to drink. You’re shaking.”
    She didn’t want him to let go just yet, but
her feet throbbed and her knees wobbled. Maybe sitting down was a
good idea. She let him draw her inside, gently, like he was coaxing
a fawn, and sit her on the plush couch, still warm from his body.
She glanced at the infomercial onscreen, proof he’d been asleep.
She couldn’t imagine Maddox Bradley watching an infomercial about a
super-mop. A moment later, he sat beside her and held a glass of
water out to her.
    “Sorry, should be brandy, I guess, but I
don’t have any.”
    “I have to drive home anyway,” she said,
taking a grateful sip.
    “Do you know who those guys were?”
    She shook her head. “I don’t even remember
seeing them in the casino. They were just yelling stuff in the
parking lot, and I ignored them and drove off. I guess they decided
to follow.”
    He shook his head. “I’m glad you were aware
enough, and thought to come here.”
    She shuddered, trying not to imagine