Free Last Chance Harbor by Vickie McKeehan

showing up. In fact, for the last three months I’ve felt as though someone keeps watching me. One night last January I almost grabbed my service pistol. Last night I saw him again, came right into the living room without so much as a knock on the door.”
    Cord’s brow eased, a smile tipped the corners of his mouth. “You saw Scott? Scott Phillips?”
    “I know he’s some kind of local hero around here. But I don’t know the man.”
    “I did. We served in Iraq together when I was there with the Guard. It was messy and deadly, a time I’d rather forget. I was there the day an IED blew Scott out of a Humvee.”
    “That’s the problem, Cord. I don’t believe in ghosts.”
    “You will,” Cord said as he paced off several steps in front of the gate and back again. “I haven’t seen him in months, not since my wedding day. He’s all over town though.”
    “I’ve heard the rumors since I got here. For the last week, the guys have been running their mouths. I thought since I was the newcomer, they were just doing it for my benefit.”
    “I wish I could say that explained it. The thing is if you see him once, you’re likely on his list for whatever reason.”
    “What kind of list? Why me? I’m not bothering anyone. I live a quiet life here, the way I want it.”
    “He goes after troubled people. Scott must think you’re in need of help.”
    “You’re kidding? But I don’t need help. And I’m hardly in the troubled category.”
    Cord narrowed his eyes, stared long and hard at Ryder. “You’re sure of that, are you?”
    “Positive.”
    “Yeah? What about Bethany? What about the fact she took off with everything you ever owned.”
    “What about her? She’s long gone. Sure, I’m pissed off about what she did. I think of it every single day. Who wouldn’t? I’m working my ass off to stash some money aside like I had before she came into my life. You think I don’t know that if it hadn’t been for you loaning me the tools, I wouldn’t even be able to take this job.”
    “That’s ridiculous. Logan wouldn’t let that stand in the way of giving you the job.”
    “Still, I appreciate it. It’ll take me years to catch up to what I had before Bethany. But I’m game.”
    “I know you are. But if you want to find this woman, stick with Scott.”
    “Come on, Cord. Talk about ridiculous… That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard of. We were in the same unit together.” Ryder pushed up the sleeves of the hoodie he wore, held out his bare arm decorated with the bl a c k- a nd- re d A r m y Ra n g e r b a nd ca p p e d o f f w ith a skull a nd cr ossbon e s. He tapped it with his other hand. “We got these together after training in Fort Benning. This says we’re a band of brothers. I’ve trusted you with my life in combat.”
    “And you think I’d lie to you about this now? Lead you down the wrong path, give you erroneous info now? Is that it? Look, if it weren’t for Scott I wouldn’t be standing here today. That’s a fact. I’d be dead by now or in prison.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “If Scott hadn’t intervened it might be me who ended up a ghost haunting this town. But I changed my life into what makes me happy. After Nick and Ben dragged me here from a jail cell in Houston, I was messed up.” Noticing the confused expression on Ryder’s face, he added, “I tried to commit suicide, Ryder. Twice. I was so screwed up back then over what happened with Cassie I couldn’t think straight. I couldn’t see anything straight, feel anything but the guilt I was carrying around. Scott was the first one who clued into my depression and saved me. Then I met Keegan. She rescued me from my second attempt.” Cord nodded toward Smuggler’s Bay and the water beyond. “I got drunk one night, waded out too far into the water. I didn’t want to live, Ryder. But Keegan saved me,” he repeated.
    “You’re serious about this?”
    “I am. There’s a reason you’re on Scott’s