The man just gave her bad vibes.
Could he have been the person following her earlier?
She pushed her chill away.
When she glanced at Max, she saw him scowling. “Everything okay?”
Max’s gaze followed Travis a moment longer before he turned back to her. “It’s fine. I just don’t like that guy.”
“Naomi’s mentioned him. Sounds like he’s caused a lot of trouble for Refuge Cove.”
Max nodded as they started toward his truck. “He thinks Sarah and Richard stole the land from his family when they bought the place.”
Hadley frowned. “Stole it?”
“That’s what he tells people.” Max opened the passenger door for her. “Truth is that the property was foreclosed on. Sarah and Richard bought it, but they made sure the Hendersons got to keep part of the land—the part where their family home was. She didn’t have to do that.”
Hadley smiled as she climbed in. “That sounds like Sarah.”
“It does,” Max said as he shut her door and walked to the driver’s side. “She was a good person—unlike her no-good husband.”
A moment later, he slid behind the wheel and started the engine. Warm air slowly began to push through the vents as he pulled away from the curb.
He glanced over at her. “Were you and Sarah close?”
Hadley rested her hands in her lap. “We were . . . but she was six years older than me, so growing up that made a difference. She was already off doing her own thing while I was still figuring out which lip gloss was my favorite.”
Max nodded, listening.
“I loved hanging out with all my cousins. Sarah was the responsible one. Naomi always came across as serious, but the two of us used to have the best giggling fits together. Then there was Rowan. She was the fun one who always had ideas for crazy adventures.”
“I’ve heard a lot about Rowan. I saw her at the funeral, but we didn’t really speak. I know Sarah was really proud of her.”
A small smile touched Hadley’s lips. “She’s been in a few TV movies, and she’s had some guest appearances on some TV shows. I’m glad she was able to follow her dreams. All she ever wanted to be is an actress. She had the lead role in every school play.”
“Sounds like she’s done well for herself.”
“She has.” Hadley’s gaze drifted out the window as they passed the edge of town. “I haven’t seen her in a few years. I keep hoping she’ll come home for a visit.”
“Hopefully she’ll be able to do that soon.”
Hadley looked back at him. “What about you? I don’t know much about you other than the fact you worked for Sarah. How did that even come about?”
Max’s hands appeared to tighten on the wheel. “I met her in town at the hardware store. Travis Henderson’s dad was there.”
Hadley’s brows drew together. “I don’t like where this is going. What happened?”
“He was worked up about his old property and was still convinced Sarah had taken something from him. He got in her face, loud and angry and accusatory.”
Her lungs tightened as she pictured it playing out. “What did you do?”
“I stepped in and told him to back off.”
“And he did?”
“Not right away.” Max’s jaw shifted. “But I wasn’t going to let him touch her. He realized that and backed down.”
Hadley studied him and saw the conviction in his gaze. She admired that. “That could’ve gone badly.”
