Dawson's Stand (Welcome to Covendale Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page B

normal tones, as she finally got around to wondering where Jenny went. “I just don’t like bullies.”
    The man let out a withering laugh. “Well, then. I guess you picked the wrong side.”
    “Oh my God. Dean!”
    The female voice came from behind her. She half-turned and saw Jenny run past her, headed for the other man. The woman shoved one of his friends away and put an arm around him. “Oh, babe, what happened?” She directed a fierce glare at Gage. “What did you do to him?”
    Kyla’s head spun a little. “What…?” she whispered.
    “Long story,” Gage said to her. “Don’t worry about it.”
    Dean shook free of his supporters and stepped forward. “This isn’t over, Dawson.”
    “It is for tonight.”
    The man glared for a long moment, then turned on a heel and jerked his head, stumbling a bit as he walked away. The rest of them followed without a word.
    Gage stayed where he was until the truck peeled out of the parking lot with Jenny at the wheel. When it was gone, he stepped back and leaned against the car, then folded an arm across his stomach and let his head fall forward. “You’re a crazy woman,” he said, panting slightly. “Knew I liked you.”
    Concern drove all the questions out of her mind. “You said you were okay.”
    “I am. Just need a minute.” He drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Son of a…gun caught me off guard. He was wearing both his rings, too.” Finally, he lifted his head.
    There was a deep gash under one green eye, and the skin around it was already starting to bruise and swell.
    “Oh, no. You’re bleeding.” This time she couldn’t keep her hands from shaking as she thrust the Mace back in her purse and found a travel pack of tissues. “Here,” she said, fumbling one free. “Let me…”
    He touched her arm gently and waited until she looked at him. “I’m okay,” he said deliberately. “Trust me, it would’ve been a lot worse without you.”
    “Yes,” she whispered. “I believe it.”
    “Good.” He smiled and took the tissue, wincing as he dabbed at his eye. “Well, that’s going to look real pretty tomorrow,” he said.
    Kyla drew a long breath and forced herself to calm down. “I’ll go in and get some ice from the bartender.”
    “No, don’t.” He glanced at the back door and shook his head. “Matt will just call the sheriff’s office, and with my luck they’d send Dean back here. I’ve had enough of him for tonight.”
    She frowned. “The guy who jumped you? Why would the sheriff send him?”
    “Er. You don’t know…” Gage sighed sharply. “Dean is a cop. A deputy, actually.”
    “He’s a cop ? Were those other guys cops too?”
    “No, they’re just his scumbag buddies. He’s off duty tonight.”
    A shiver traveled down her spine. “Why would a cop try to beat you up?” she said. “And Jenny…I thought she was your girlfriend.”
    A dark look shadowed his features. “She was a mistake,” he said. “One I won’t be repeating.”
    “Oh.”
    “I’m sorry. I must sound like such a jerk.” His face cleared, and he straightened slowly. “I don’t think I actually said this, so thank you. That was about the bravest thing I’ve ever seen,” he said. “And I owe you one.”
    She almost laughed. Brave definitely didn’t describe her, especially what she’d just done. More like stupid. She’d been scared out of her mind—even now, everything inside her hummed and fluttered like a cloud of butterflies. “No, you don’t,” she said. “Anyone else would’ve done the same.”
    His smile was painfully sad. “Not for me, they wouldn’t.”
    “You mean because you’re—”
    “A Dawson?” The smile vanished. “Yeah, that’s right.”
    She stared at the ground. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”
    “Don’t worry about it. I should’ve known Matt would jump at the chance to be first in line for the mud-slinging.” He paused, and when she looked up he was smiling a little. “But you came out