Page 10 of Cautious Love

I try to wave my hand and tell Tatum not to tell Greer where I am, but she doesn’t see it.

“She’s in the clinic.”

“Okay. I will, thanks, Greer.”

Tatum hangs up and slips my phone back into my purse. “Alright Shiloh, you do have a mild concussion, so I’ll let you rest for a little while and then we can talk about everything. Alright?”

I nod and my eyes fall closed before she leaves.

“I’ve seen it before, Ledger. I know what domestic abuse looks like. That’s why I called you.”

“But did she say that?” a man asks.

“No. Can you please just talk to her. If that asshole did this to her, he should pay.”

He grunts and I force my heavy eyes open to find Sheriff Ledger Hayes, standing in front of me, clad in a tan cowboy hat, a crisp white button-up shirt tucked into his dark blue jeans with a belt buckle shiny and proud around his waist. I spot his badge clipped to his pocket, and his firearm on the other side. He clears his throat, and I lift my gaze to his serious brown eyes.

“Ms. Sullivan, I’m Ledger Hayes.”

Chapter 4

Ledger

“Oh,Iknowwhoyou are, and I’m sure you know who I am,” she mumbles.

“I do,” I tell her.

Shiloh glances at Tatum, and she smiles sadly. “I’ll give you two some privacy.”

Shiloh rolls her eyes and winces as she takes a breath.

“Do you want to tell me what happened here?” I ask her gently.

She purses her lips and gives me an ‘are you serious’look despite her swollen lip.

It takes everything in me not to smile.

Her curly blonde hair messily frames her face, and one eye might be swollen shut, but her hazel eye drills into me with challenge.

Shiloh Sullivan has always been a little brash, but tough. Everyone knew when her parents divorced, and being raised by a single dad, I’d imagine she had to figure out a lot on her own.

“What do you think happened?” she asks. “I fell down the stairs?”

“I don’t know? Did you fall, and then somehow punch yourself in the face and cut your head open?” I ask her.

She huffs. “I was jumped by some random people.”

I stare at her for a moment. Yes, we’ve had more crime issues recently, but not like this. I know she’s lying, but the bigger question is why? She’s been dating Grey since we were in high school. I suspect he did this, but if she won’t tell me I can’t really do anything.

“Do you have any descriptions?” I ask her.

“No, I didn’t get a good look at them as they were kicking me in the ribs,” she says.

“I see, and where did this occur?” I ask her.

“Behind the diner,” she says.

“Did anyone help you? Did you call for help?” I ask her.