Marcy looked up from her notepad. “So similar to the man you’re defending. Did you know he put a reporter in the hospital? The guy was in a coma for three days.”

My gut twisted as I stared at the gravel, unable to look at Caelyn, afraid I’d see fear or disgust. I’d been young and stupid, at my wit’s end and going just a little bit crazy. And the reporter in question had made my life a living hell for years. He’d somehow been able to turn any person I’d gotten close to.

“Well,” Caelyn began, “if they were anything like you, I can see why.”

My head jerked up, and I took in Caelyn backing Marcy towards her car, using the basket of baked goods to do it. Caelyn gave her another little shove. “Get lost.” Pulling out her phone, she snapped a photo. “This is going to the sheriff.” She glanced back at me. “Should I take her driver’s license, too? Give it to Raines?”

“Get off me, you crazy bitch. You can’t touch me or my wallet,” Marcy blustered.

Caelyn’s eyes narrowed. “That’s where you’re wrong. I can do whatever I want as long as you’re on this land. It’s your choice whether you stay or go. But I’ll warn you now, the sheriff here doesn’t take kindly to outsiders bothering his citizens.”

Marcy’s eyes widened a fraction. “You hick island people are insane.”

“You remember that before you think of coming back,” Caelyn called as Marcy climbed into her car.

Gravel flew as Marcy tore down the drive. I yanked Caelyn away from the vehicle. “Shit! Are you okay? Gravel didn’t get you, did it?”

The tension went out of Caelyn. “I’m fine.” She looked down the drive and then back at me, her eyes widening. “Did I just threaten her with my muffin basket?”

A grin split my face. “Honey, you scared the crap out of her with that basket.”

A small giggle escaped Caelyn. Then another. And soon, she had dissolved into laughter. “I just threatened someone with baked goods. Who am I?”

I watched Caelyn carefully, unsure if she just thought it was funny or if she was losing it. “Are you okay?”

She straightened, the tears from her laughter brimming her eyes. “This has been one seriously messed-up day.”

I stiffened. “What else happened?”

Caelyn shook her head and wiped at her eyes. “Nothing.”

“It doesn’t sound like nothing.” A mix of anxiety and something like fear gnawed at me. Worry, I realized, for a woman I shouldn’t be growing to care about.

“You have enough to deal with.” Her gaze traveled back to the driveway. “Is she going to write a story about you?”