by Jamie Begley
Jessie gave a humorless laugh. “Don’t worry, Dustin. I said most of my life, not that I still am.”
“I have to give you credit. You always take the wind out of a man’s sails.”
She let him help her over the fence again. Once they were, she asked the question she had wanted to ask since he had shown up at her window. “Why did you come to talk to me, other than Asher and Holt asked you to?”
She caught his embarrassment before he could hide it.
“How’d you know they sent me?”
“You came to the window. I’m surprised they warned you that I threatened to shoot anyone who showed up in their privates.”
“They’re concerned about you.”
“They’re scared of me.”
“That, too,” he acknowledged.
“Did you videotape them asking for help?” She must have really traumatized her brothers to have had them ask for help from a Porter.
“No, but I can’t guarantee that Greer didn’t.”
“Men.” She rolled her eyes. “Ask a man to buy a box of tampons, and they get hysterical.”
“I don’t think it was the tampons that had them afraid. It’s that you actually took their guns out of the safe and within reach of every door and window.”
“They’re exaggerating.”
“Are they?”
Jessie could hear the doubt in his voice.
“Do they want me to move back into my apartment?” she asked sharply.
“God, no, they don’t expect you to go back to live there. They just don’t want to worry that you’ll shoot one of their dicks off if they forget to tell you it’s them before they come in.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously. But if you feel the need to take out your aggression on them, go for it.”
A small laugh slipped past her lips. “Which one?”
“Asher would be my choice. He’s the only other man in the county who is as aggravating as Greer. But I would prefer you didn’t shoot him. I’d have to attend his funeral, and I hate funerals.”
Jessie kept her gaze on her feet as they neared her house. “Everyone hates funerals.”
If Dustin hadn’t found her, Asher and Holt wouldn’t even have had a body to bury.
“You took off before I could thank you. If you hadn’t found me, it’s no telling how long it would have been before my body had been found.”
“Don’t say that. You would have made it, Jessie. You wouldn’t have given up until you walked off that mountain.”
“No, I wouldn’t have. Just take my thanks and accept you did a good thing.”
“I’ll try. I’m not used to getting thanks for saving someone’s life. Usually, it’s the opposite with me.”
“I never believed you lost your temper and killed Sam. I’m glad they dropped the charges against you.” Reaching down, she started plucking the briars out of her jeans so she wouldn’t carry them into the house. Nothing could hurt worse than accidentally treading on one with your bare feet.
“That makes you and only a handful of others. I worry about when Logan hears the gossip.”
“You haven’t talked to him about it?”
“No.”
“Surely he’s asked about his mother?”
“When he was old enough, Holly and I both talked to him, telling him that Holly wasn’t his biological mother, that she had died.”
“You should tell him before someone else does.”
“That’s what Holly says, too.”
“So, why haven’t you?”
“What if he hates me?” Dustin kicked a rock out of his way, feeling despondent.
“Logan isn’t capable of hating anyone. He may be angry and hurt, but you might as well get used to that—every parent has to deal with those emotions as their children get older.
“Holt and Asher are back. I better go in and put the groceries away. Thanks for stopping by.”
“Would it be okay if I bring Logan by tomorrow when he gets out of school?”
Jessie stopped with her back still turned to him. “Does he know?”
“Only that you were kidnapped, hurt, and left on the mountain.”
“That’s not all he did.”
At his silence, she knew he was aware of what else had been done to her.
“Who told you?” Feeling betrayed that Holt or Asher had told him, she wanted to go inside the house and hide.
“You know your brothers better than that, Jessie. I’m the one who found you. I … could see how badly you were hurt.”
She hung her head down in shame that he had seen her bloody thighs. She had been a virgin that night, naively pinning her hopes that one day, Dustin would wake up and fall in love with her the way she had loved him. The day she had been kidnapped, the fairy tale she had prayed for had ended.
“Don’t you dare be too ashamed to look me in the eyes.” Dustin moved to stand in front of her, lifting his knuckles to her chin to lift her head higher. “The person who did it is the one who should be ashamed. He’s not fit to walk on the same ground as you, much less touch you. That’s why the sick son of bitch had to do it when you were unconscious and couldn’t fight back. When we find out who it was, there isn’t a man in this county who won’t want the chance to kill him, so he’s living on borrowed time.”
He softly cupped her cheek. “I’ll bring Logan over around four. That good for you?”
“Yes,” she managed to whisper through her clogged throat.
“Good. I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
Jessie walked toward the porch, seeing the kitchen window curtain twitch as she went to the door. Her brothers were in there, pretending to put the groceries in the cabinets while giving her wary glances.
She went behind the counter and started to pull the contents out of another bag.
“Did you get the chips?” she asked conversationally.
“Yes.” Asher opened one of the grocery sacks, taking out four bags of potato chips.
“Where are the barbeque ones?”
Holt’s and Asher’s mouths dropped open as they stared at her with frightened expressions.
Jessie couldn’t help laughing. “I’m just joking. I didn’t ask for the barbeque ones.”
“Thank God.” Holt gave Asher a disgusted look. “I thought you were about to make Asher piss himself.”
Asher rolled his eyes heavenward. “Like you weren’t, too.” He took a beer out of the carton they had bought.
Jessie shifted through the empty bags. “You put the tampons in the bathroom for me?”
Asher’s eyes widened over the lip of the beer bottle that he had lifted to his mouth.
“I left a bag in the truck. I’ll be right back.” Holt grabbed the keys off the counter before practically running out the door.
“Why did he take the keys …?”
Jessie could hear the gravel from inside the house as the loud-pitched squeal of the truck being floored out of the driveway sounded.
Asher froze as she leaned across the counter to take the beer out of his hand, giving him a satisfied smile when he flinched as she chose one of the bags of chips and ripped it open.
“You’re lucky you didn’t forget the chips.”
13
“How do I look?” Jessie dipped her head to the side so her hair would fall forward, hiding the side of her face.
Holt turned a page of the newspaper he was reading at the kitchen table before raising his gaze to her. “I’ve told you three times already that you look good.”
“But do I look the same? Can you still see the swelling?”
“You can’t see anything under that makeup you plastered on.”
Jessie went to the round mirror in the living room, where she critically studied her face. Despite what Holt had said, she felt like herself with the makeup camouflaging the skin that was still red and puffy. She was going against orders not to wear makeup, but she couldn’t bear for Logan to know that she had been hurt badly enough that
the effects were still visible. Nor was she willing to admit to herself that she wanted to look pretty for Dustin, which was why she put on a pair of light grey jeans and a cute pink and gray striped shirt that had long sleeves.
“Where did Asher go?” Turning from the mirror, she picked up Holt’s boots that he left by the couch, placing them beside the door.
“He went into town. He’s meeting up with Bubba and Bud.”
Straightening the chairs at the dining room table, she stopped to sit next to Holt. Bubba and Bud were their cousins. The men hated going into town unless it was to get supplies.
“Why is he meeting them?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Please don’t tell me not to worry about something. I don’t like it.” Holding her temper in, she straightened the pretty placemat that she only set out when company was coming over.
“There isn’t much you do like anymore.”
“What does that mean?” Puzzled, she took the newspaper away from him and folded it neatly.
“It means that you have me and Asher walking on eggshells to keep you happy. And don’t tell him I’m telling you this, but he’s a little afraid of you.”
“Afraid of me? Why?”
“It’s hard for a man to relax when he’s constantly worried about you shooting him.”
“You’re being ridiculous.”
“No, you’ve been outside, target practicing every day in the backyard. You’ve got guns stashed everywhere … By the way, did you make sure you put the guns back in the safe with Logan coming over?”
“Of course. You know me better than that to think I would ever endanger Logan.”
“I’m just checking … A man can’t be too safe.”
Holt rose from the table, leaving her alone.
Leaning forward, she watched as he went down the hallway to the bedroom where he kept the two gun safes. Going after him, she stood in the doorway as he opened the safes and meticulously counted the guns. She then saw him fiddling with the back of the combination before closing one, then going to the second one.
“What are you doing?”
“Changing the combinations,” he said unrepentantly, closing the other door.
“What’s the combination?”
“I forgot.”
“You forgot?”
“Yes.”
Jessie held on to the doorknob to keep from going after her brother and tearing him apart limb from limb.
“When Logan leaves, can I have that combination?”
“No.”
“Yes! If you don’t, I’ll just go into town and buy myself one.”
“Not without a car, you won’t.”
She lost it.
Running at him, she pounded on his chest with her fists.
Holt caught both fists, holding them against him. “Jessie, you don’t need a gun to protect yourself. No one is getting into this house. I can guarantee that. Knox hired extra deputies to place at the bottom of our driveway, and the cousins are camping out in the woods. We know no one is going to get past the Porters’ property to get to ours. You’re safe, sis. I swear on my life that no one is going to touch you again.”
Jessie laid her forehead on Holt’s chest, crying softly. “I don’t even know who to be afraid of.”
“It doesn’t matter because, unless it’s family or one of the Porters watching over you, you won’t be left alone.”
She raised her head to stare at him incredulously. “Since when do you trust the Porters?”
“Since he saved you. It’s kind of hard not to like a man who saves the most important thing in your life.”
Jessie stepped back from her brother, carefully brushing her tears away. “Did I mess up my makeup?”
“Jessie, you look as pretty as a picture.” Holt’s hard face softened as he looked at her.
Her big brother wasn’t well-liked in Treepoint—none of the Hayeses were. Her father had been responsible for creating the ill will. Then, after he died, Holt and Asher hadn’t cared enough to change the opinions the others had about them, content with what money they could get growing pot and working odd jobs. Nine times out of ten, they would quit those jobs, unable to be bossed around. He didn’t have the patience to pretend to be nice to others, but with her, he had never lost his temper, always showing the affection and care their parents hadn’t been capable of.
“I’m sorry I hit you.”
“Anytime you need a punching bag, I’m here for you,” he joked as they left the bedroom. “I’ll be back in a few hours.”
“Where are you going?”
“Having dinner at the diner with Asher. You want me to bring you something?”
“No thanks. I’ll make myself something after they leave.”
“If you change your mind, just text me.”
“I will.”
Fiddling with one of the rugs in front of the fireplace, she was finally satisfied with the way the house looked. It was a small home with just three bedrooms. The living room was the size of a postage stamp, and the galley kitchen was even smaller. The small dining room was the largest room. Her father built the house to accommodate the large wooden table that had been her mother’s.
She was nervously straightening the glasses on the buffet when she heard the knock on the door. Smoothing down her hair, she went to open the door, looking through the peephole first.
She was nearly bowled over by the little boy who wrapped his thin arms around her hips.
“Miss Jessie, are you okay?”
Jessie leaned over, hugging Logan back. “I’m fine, thank you. You’ve grown so big! Before much longer, you’re going to be as tall as your dad.”
“I’m going to be bigger!” Logan boasted. “Dad said I’m already taller than he was at my age.”
Jessie opened the door wider, motioning for Logan and Dustin to come inside. Then she pretended to study the boy. “You are, by at least a couple of inches.”
“Really? By that much?” Logan’s eyes were filled with joy.
“Yes. Dustin was short at your age.”
At that, Logan strutted toward the couch.
“God, he’s so much like you,” she murmured to Dustin as Logan picked up the television controller and started flicking the channels.
Dustin stared proudly as his son, his chest puffing up just as Logan’s had. “Don’t I know it? He never lets me forget it when he gets in trouble. I had to threaten Rachel to keep her from telling him the things I got into at his age.”
Jessie sat down on the couch with Logan as Dustin took the chair off to the side.
“How’s school, Logan?”
“I’d rather be back in school with you, but Dad won’t let me.” He moved closer to her, dropping the controller onto the floor. “I could help you pass out snacks.”
Her eyes flew to Dustin’s.
He shook his head. “Logan, I told you that you’re too old to go to Jessie’s school. I thought you liked your new teacher?”
“She’s all right.” He shrugged, leaning back to pout unhappily at the television. “She’s not Miss Jessie.”
“No one’s like Jessie.”
She lovingly looked at Logan. “I remember when you first came to my daycare. You would cry after Holly left until you would make yourself sick.” Reaching out, she took one of his hands, linking their fingers together. “Holly would stand outside the window of the toddler room, watching you, crying just as hard. Do you remember that?”
“No.” Now curious, his pout faded.
“Well, you did. It was because you enjoyed being with Holly. And gradually, you started enjoying spending time with me and the other children in the daycare.
“Every stage in your life, you’re going to have periods of when you want to go back to the way things were, like when you were older and I let you help me pass out snacks and show the other children how to do their work at the learning stations. It was because it was familiar to you. Each grade you go in higher in school, you�
��re going to feel the same way. But it’ll be easier and won’t be as frightening because there are other boys and girls who feel the same way you do. You just have to find them and make friends with them, and then you won’t be so unhappy.”
“Everyone is too scared of Fynn to be my friend.”
“Fynn? He’s a boy in your class?”
“Not anymore.” Dustin rose a booted foot to rest on his other knee. “I had Logan switched to another classroom. He’s Silas Coleman’s half-brother.”
Dread filled Jessie. The Colemans were notoriously mean-tempered.
“You could homeschool Logan. It worked for me and my brothers.” Just because Logan no longer went to her daycare, didn’t mean that her protective instincts weren’t on the alert.
“I’m not homeschooling him. You can’t run from your problems. I’d rather Logan learn how to deal with Fynn now than when they’re older and Fynn thinks he’s going to bully Logan every time he goes into town.”
She hated that Dustin was right. If Fynn grew up to be as frightening as Silas, then Logan would be better off learning how to deal with him now.
“So, I’m not going to be homeschooled?” Disappointed, Logan crossed his arms over his chest, angrily staring at his father.
Dustin’s lips twitched in humor. “No.”
“I’m sorry, Logan. I shouldn’t have suggested that without talking to your father first. I don’t have the right to butt in—”
“Fynn called Darcy a whiney face, and Anna ugly.”
Logan’s outburst had her nearly offering to homeschool all three children. However, Dustin’s warning look had her stopping before she would have to give another apology.
“If you talk your father out of going to school, who’s going to be there to make them feel better when Fynn calls them names?”
Logan’s stubborn expression fell. “You’re right. I didn’t think of it that way.”
“A good friend always makes you feel better,” she told him solemnly.
“Listen to her, Logan. It’s sound advice. Who wouldn’t want a friend around when you need them the most?”
The cryptic message sailed right over Logan’s head, but it didn’t hers. The jerk was making a dig at her.
She had been ignoring several friends who were constantly texting her, despite her not responding. She hadn’t wanted to see her friends, preferring to stay holed up in her house, regardless that she knew how concerned they were about her.