Chapter 36

Chapter Thirty-Six

I t took everything Bailey had to wait until Jenny stopped the car before flinging the back door open. She reached out for Jordan and together they ran to where Nate was holding Seth. Bailey threw her arms around them both and allowed the tears to flow freely. "Praise God, you're both okay." She picked up Jordan who put his arms around his big brother.

Bailey threaded a hand through the hair at the base of Nate's neck. "Thank you." She leaned in and pressed a short kiss to his lips before hugging all three of them closer.

The sounds of burning wood and crackling fire were punctuated by sirens as fire engines and an ambulance made their way into the clearing around the barn.

The next few minutes were a whirlwind as EMTs checked Nate and Seth for smoke inhalation and decided that they didn't need to be taken to the ER. Bailey sagged with relief. Things could've ended so differently. She refused to let her mind consider the possibilities.

Jenny came up and nudged Bailey's arm. "Rachel's asking to talk to you. She says she needs to tell you something because you'll understand. It's okay if you want to refuse."

Bailey's first instinct was to tell her no, but immediately afterward, she knew she would always wonder if she didn't talk to her. Nate looked over the boys' heads in concern.

"I'll speak with her, but I want Nate to come with me."

"Of course. You two go, and I'll stay with the boys." She knelt at their level. "We're going to watch the firefighters put out the fire, aren't we?"

They both nodded. Each of them took one of her hands.

Jenny looked up with tear-filled eyes. "She's in the back of Baker's car."

Nate put an arm around Bailey's shoulder and leaned in close. "You don't have to do this."

"I know." She leaned her head against his as they walked to Officer Baker's car. He gave them a nod and rolled a window down enough for them to see Rachel sitting in the back seat.

Rachel had clearly been crying, and she suddenly looked much older. She turned her body to face the door. "Bailey, I'm sorry. So sorry. I never intended for the boys to get hurt." Her voice cracked, and a sob escaped.

"But they were. They trusted you, Rachel, and so did I. Seth could've been killed in that barn."

Rachel shook her head. "I only wanted the police to let Jeremy go, and I was going to give the boys back. I promise I never would've harmed them. I didn't realize Jer…" Her voice trailed off, and she swallowed back a sob. "I was protecting my son. Surely you can understand that."

Bailey shook her head, words failing her. Of course, she'd do anything to protect her kids. But take someone else's and put them in harm's way? She'd like to think she'd never cross that line. "Did you know he murdered that girl? "

The older woman used her sleeve to wipe her eyes and nose. She nodded, unable to lift her gaze from the floorboard. "He said it was an accident. I chose to believe him, but I knew… He was so angry when she broke up with him. He wouldn't stop talking about her and how he was going to make her pay for leaving him." She raised her chin then, and regret shone in her eyes. "He buried her under the floorboards in the storage room of the barn."

Bailey fought back the nausea that bubbled up in her stomach. It was bad enough that Jeremy murdered that girl, but Rachel had helped him cover it up all these years. Officer Baker, who was standing nearby, exchanged a look with Nate and moved away.

Bailey's eyes narrowed. "That's why you wanted the job working for me."

Rachel nodded and had the good sense to look ashamed of herself. "I thought I could keep an eye on the place. Jeremy had gotten married and started a family. He'd turned his life around. All I needed was for the truth to stay hidden, and he could have the normal life he deserved."

It was all Bailey could do to not scream at the woman. The normal life he deserved? What about Sophia? Her life had been stolen from her.

Rachel continued to talk. "I kept hoping you'd sell the place, and then I could buy it, and I'd never have to worry about it again. And then the watch turned up, and you started talking about having the barn demolished." She hung her head again. "When I told Jeremy, he got angry. He told me that since I hadn't taken care of things, he was going to have to do it."

Take care of it how? Make things so horrible that Bailey was forced to leave? Or had he intended on eventually killing her? Everything would've gone to Seth and Jordan, and no doubt the farm would've been sold and the money kept in a trust for the boys. If it'd gotten that far, Jeremy just might have gotten what he wanted. The sad thing was, Rachel still probably didn't believe he was capable of such a thing.

She shivered, and Nate placed a protective hand on her back. With a glance at him, she shook her head. That was about all she had in her when it came to Rachel. She wanted to get back to her boys.

Bailey started to turn away when Rachel called out to her.

"Don't act so high and mighty. You would've done the same thing." She raised her voice. "The same thing!"

Bailey accepted the hot chocolate and noted the four marshmallows floating on top. She glanced at Nate over the rim of the mug and smiled. "I feel spoiled. Thank you."

Nate kissed the top of her head and took a seat across the table from her, his own mug in his hands. "Are you kidding? After the day you've had, you deserve to be pampered." With a flourish, he pulled a package of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups from the front pocket of his denim jacket and handed them to her. "This seemed like a double chocolate kind of night."

"You, sir, are not wrong." She opened the package and handed one to him. "I'm just glad the boys went to sleep okay. I wasn't sure if they'd be able to after everything." They were probably too exhausted to fight it tonight. She suspected nightmares would come, though, and prayed she was wrong .

Minnie wandered over and rested her chin on Nate's knee.

Nate ran a hand over her head. "Sorry, girl, no chocolate for you."

"You know, you don't have to stay here tonight. You and Minnie could go home. Sleep in an actual bed. You've got to be tired of the couch."

He shrugged. "We'll need to go back tomorrow, but I'm not in a hurry tonight." When he looked at her, there was no missing the worry in his eyes. "I don't want to leave you and the boys alone after everything you've been through today."

She reached across the table for his hand. "I appreciate that." The candy tasted amazing, and it was even better when she washed it down with a sip of her hot chocolate. "You went through a lot today, too. It's probably better for you to be around people."

"Yeah, it is." He set his mug down and gave her hand a squeeze. "When I was running down that path to find Seth, I was so worried I wouldn't be able to get to him in time."

"You were thinking about Lana."

He gave a short nod.

"But you did find him, Nate. And you got to him in time. Thanks to you, my son is asleep upstairs in his own bed." Bailey's voice broke. "I can only imagine how horrible that case must have been. It would permanently scar anyone. But you were an amazing police officer. Joe could never say enough good things about you. If you ever decide to go back, this town and everyone in it will be better because of it. Because of you."