The Secrets of Bailey

Chapter 6

Kaitie, Junior, and Junior’s sons sat around the table enjoying the cobbler and hot coffee to help them warm up. The first thing Kaitie had done was scoop out a healthy portion for Junior to take home to Rhonda. After Rhonda had arranged for her husband and sons to help, it was the least she could do to say thank you.

“Kaitie, what do you think of this numb skull who came into town to go camp in the middle of the storms?” Andy asked.

“He’s a college anthropology professor. According to his social media, he is well-trained and extremely skilled at hiking and camping.” Kaitie paused and said, “I think he is a highly educated man without the common sense that God gave a goose.”

“Have you met him?” Cody asked.

“I have. I met him when I went in and picked up lunch for Allie and me. He was having lunch with the sheriff,” she grumbled.

Junior chuckled, “Why are you upset about him and Buddy having lunch together?”

“I’m not upset about them having lunch together. I am upset because your cousin marked my house on the county map he gave the guy. I don't want some random man, I don’t know, to have a map to my front door. I don’t care if he had a Ph.D. or not. I do not like that,” Kaitie told him.

“Yeah, I can see why you are mad about that. I’m sure Buddy had a reason, but still,” Andy agreed.

“He was probably just telling the guy to avoid you or if he needed help to come here to get patched together,” Matt said.

“If he needs help, he can call for it,” Kaitie huffed as she refilled her coffee cup. “The professor has every gadget known to man, including a satellite phone and an emergency locator beacon.”

“Beth said he was at the hardware store this morning and bought a few more gadgets. She said he seems like a nice guy and knows what he’s doing,” Andy told her.

Kaitie said, “I hope you’re right.”

“I say, give the guy a chance. Maybe he isn’t as bad as you think he is,” Junior said.

“I hope you’re right. I just don’t like him poking around. You all know what lives out here in these woods. The last thing we need is for him to be out there and get real evidence that people believe. Our families have worked far too long and hard to hide them for that man to ruin everything,” Kaitie said.

“I agree with you there, Kaitie,” Junior told her. “Do you want me to go check on him tomorrow after I’m done with the morning farm chores?”

“Thank you, but no,” Kaitie said, shaking her head. “I think it’s best if we just leave him alone and let things play out. If we go out and bother him, he might start asking more questions or looking for things he’s not looking for right now. I did a little checking today and found he is friends with a bigfoot hunter named Robert Norris. I hope he is telling the truth about why he is here and nothing happens.”

“With luck, this weather will have everything hunkered down, and he won’t see anything,” Matt said as he finished the last of his blackberry cobbler.

“We can hope he doesn’t like the weather and he leaves early,” Andy grunted.

Kaitie’s landline phone rang, ending their conversation. She went to the kitchen to answer it and began smiling when the call connected. She held the phone away from her ear as she carried the cordless phone back to the table because the woman at the other end was yelling.

“Rhonda!” Kaitie yelled back, cutting her off as she laughed. “Junior and the boys are still here. Junior smashed his hand and finger, which put them down a man and made it take longer. They also cut down those two dead oaks I told you about, which made things take even longer.”

“That’s all good as long as they got everything done for ya,” Rhonda answered. “Did they at least save a piece of cobbler for me?”

“I dished up a big bowl for you before I let them even taste it. If you don’t get any, it is because they ate it on the way home,” Kaitie laughed.

“How bad is Junior’s hand?” Rhonda questioned.

“Bruised, but nothing broken from what I can tell. I have already given him the instructions to come see me if it gets worse or if he has any problems,” Kaitie told her.

“I will drag him to the clinic by his ear if I have to. Thank you for taking care of him, Kaitie,” Rhonda told her sincerely.

“It’s my pleasure. Junior only whined a little,” Kaitie smirked. “Matt watched the whole thing so he can give you the details.”

Rhonda laughed, “I’ll be sure to ask him. Will I see you for breakfast?”

“Of course, I will be there. I might even be there early, especially if you make cinnamon rolls in the morning.”

“I will take that into consideration,” Rhonda giggled. “I’ll make some in the morning before Big Mike gets there.”

“Thank you, and I will send Junior and the boys home. They’ve all finished their cobbler, so they are happy now,” Kaitie smiled. “See you in the morning.”

“Bye. See you tomorrow,” Rhonda replied before hanging up.

Kaitie put the phone on the table and smiled at Junior. His sons were snickering, knowing Junior was going to be scolded by their mother when he finally arrived home. Junior was smiling and shaking his head.

“I’m in trouble, aren’t I?” Junior chuckled. He knew his wife had called because she was worried about him. The scolding would be her saying as much before giving him a hug and maybe more.

“Maybe. I think heading home with her dessert will get you out of it, though,” Kaitie smirked.

“You’re probably right about that,” Junior agreed as he stood and picked up the bowl of cobbler for Rhonda. “Alright, boys. Let’s get everything loaded and get out of Kaitie’s hair for the night.”

The men all stood and gathered their things. Junior watched as his sons walked out ahead of him.

“Kaitie, if you need anything, even during these storms that are coming in, you give us a call. You hear?” Junior insisted.

“I will, Junior. I promise. And tell Rhonda to quit worrying so much about me. I have lived here my whole life. I know who to call and when to do it,” Kaitie said, smiling.

Junior gave her a nod as he walked onto her porch, and she closed the door after him. She cleared the table and put their dishes in the sink to wash. As the sink filled, Kaitie thought about the professor camping that night. As much as he irritated her, she did not want anything to happen to him. She had to admit that he did seem to be a nice guy, and she could not deny he was attractive. Extremely attractive. As she thought about him more, she began to feel her face flush again.

Katie mumbled to herself, “Get it together. You’re the last thing he is interested in right now.”

-

Jake had been lying in his tent, listening to the wind and the crunching leaves from footsteps nearby. He was sure he was mistaken, but he could have sworn he had been smelling some sort of pie or cake. The aroma or the thought of it had made him hungry, making him regret not cooking anything for the night. Because of that, he had been reduced to eating some trail mix and protein bars.

After he had eaten, he was again lying in his tent, bundled in his sleeping bag, trying to will himself to sleep. He could still hear the footsteps outside his tent, but whatever it was, had not bothered coming any closer while he ate. He let his thoughts drift as he listened to the night sounds. As they had several times that evening, his mind began to linger on the redhead he had met at the café.

Miss Kaitie, the tall redhead with the most striking blue eyes he had ever seen, was well-spoken, intelligent, and drop-dead gorgeous. She was the one he should be questioning about the mysterious animal attack, but that was the last thing on his mind when he was near her. He had never been so instantly attracted to someone before. Something about Kaitie Bailey made him want her in ways he should not have.

Jake smiled as he thought about Kaitie. She already hated the ground he walked on, and she didn’t even know him. He could understand why. From what he could gather, she and others in town had to deal with bigfoot hunters and tourists, often getting lost or hurt. That used up time and precious resources the community and its residents could not afford to waste.

Finally, the footsteps drifted off into the distance, removing his one concern for the night. Now, he could let the sounds of the wind and the babbling stream nearby lull him to sleep. As he dozed off, his mind drifted back to Kaitie. Jake hoped she was content in her bed, and he wished he was with her.