by Jamie Begley
Dustin’s remorseful eyes met hers. “I’m sorry, Holly. It slipped my mind.”
Holly realized what she had done too late. “I didn’t want you to get angry at Dustin. I was just saying—”
“I know what you were doing. You were trying not make Greer come across as a jackass. Don’t waste your efforts. It’s a lost cause. You’re always trying to protect those you care about, and we don’t deserve it. I saw that tire was bald. I should have changed it myself instead of telling Dustin to do it.”
“He asked me to pick one up for her, and I forgot.” Greer took his own share of the blame.
“It doesn’t matter anymore. It’s fixed. Now, can we go have some fun? Logan, you want to go ride the Ferris wheel?”
“Can we ride the bumper cars first?” he pleaded.
“That works. It’s next to the Ferris wheel. We can ride the cars first then ride the Ferris wheel.”
Holly was relieved when the atmosphere lightened as they threw out their trash then braved the even larger crowd. Cash and Tate both wrapped their arms around their wives’ waists, leading them through the crowd. Holly fell in step beside Dustin as he swung Logan back onto his shoulders. Greer followed behind them, so close it made her self-conscious.
She was a short woman who carried most of her weight in two areas that, despite her best efforts of dieting, didn’t respond by shrinking. She hated her boobs and her butt. Both made her feel like they were the only things men stared at when they saw her, coming and going. When she had enough money saved, she was going to take care of both her problems.
There was a long line at the bumper cars, and the Ferris wheel line wasn’t any better. A thin metal gate separated the two lines.
“Why in the hell would Justin and Curt want to ride the Ferris wheel?” Dustin asked Greer from over his shoulder.
“They look like they’re f …”—Greer moved to the side farther away from her—“roaring drunk. I wouldn’t want to be the one riding under them.”
“I appreciate you watching your language around Logan,” Dustin said.
“No problem.”
Holly saw Greer look away from her knowing smile. The arrogant man wasn’t about to admit to his younger brother that he was afraid of her. Not that he would admit it for a million dollars.
“For a million dollars, he might,” she mumbled to herself after giving it more thought. Hell, for a million, he would sell his own soul. He would steal it back, but he would sell it.
“What’s so funny?” he asked testily.
“Nothing you would find funny.”
“Try me.”
Nothing made Greer more short-tempered than thinking she was laughing at him, and he was itching for a fight. She could see it in his face. He was castigating himself about her tire, not because he hadn’t taken her safety seriously, but because Tate was going to give both him and Dustin hell for not taking care of it.
“Can we please just have one night we don’t fight?”
Her plea went unanswered when yelling from the line next to them had the men turning.
“Justin and Curt are hanging over the side and spitting down on the people waiting,” Tate explained.
“Damn fools. They’re going to break their necks the way they’re leaning over.”
“We’re not that lucky.” Cash moved Rachel farther away from the metal rail.
Holly was too short to see over the crowd, but the anger-filled voices seemed to become louder and angrier.
Tate and Cash were starting to look worried as the rail started shaking as the people on the other side pushed back toward it.
“I’m getting Rachel out of here.” Cash motioned for Rachel to go around Dustin to get out of the line.
“Let’s go play some of the games, Logan. We can ride the bumper cars later.” Dustin tried to turn to follow Cash as the rail started to tilt toward them.
Holly had already started to get nervous at the escalating yells. Then, before she could take a step in his direction, the rail gave away from the surging crowd that was running toward them.
“Son of a bitch!” Greer shouted.
“Holly!” Logan screamed as he nearly fell from Dustin’s shoulders when he was hit from behind from the throng fleeing.
“Hold on, Logan!” Holly screamed, trying to weave her way around them and find an opening. Instead, she was swallowed in their midst. Then she felt herself going down, terror-stricken at the mass that was bearing down on her.
A hard jerk brought her upright, levering her to the side of the crowd and throwing her against the side of the small ticket booth. She could only gasp as she lifted frightened eyes to Greer while he pressed himself flat against her, bracing his forearms on the booth beside her head to keep her from the fight that had broken out amongst some of the men who had sent those around them fleeing to keep from getting involved in the massive brawl.
She tried not to breathe, angling herself to keep her breasts from poking into his chest. It was a lost cause as he pressed harder against her, bearing the flying fists and elbows of the men who were fighting.
She desperately tried to ignore the sensation of his firm chest that had her nipples tightening. She was afraid to move, not because of what was going on around them, but because of the desire that was invading her pussy, aware his dick was pressed against her belly.
She silently prayed the fight would end before she forgot that he hated her and wiggled back against the rigid length that she felt behind his jeans.
“If Knox doesn’t get here to get this under control, I’m going to my truck for my shotgun,” Greer muttered.
Holly ran her hand soothingly across his chest. “He’s here.” She peeked out from under his arm to see Knox pulling the men apart and tossing them at his deputies one at a time.
“Break it up! Break it up, or I’m going to arrest every damn one of you!” Knox bellowed, sending the participants running.
Her eyes widened in sympathy at the man floundering on the ground.
“I’ve never seen anyone Tazed before.”
“Who got Tazed?”
“Justin.” Holly looked up at him, surprised he hadn’t turned to look for himself.
“He deserves it. I hope Knox gives him an extra jolt for spitting on those poor suckers.”
Holly stared at the man in pity. “I think he gave Justin more than one. He peed on himself.”
Greer still hadn’t looked back to watch what was happening at his back.
“You can let me go now,” she stated the obvious.
Greer moved away from her so fast he stumbled against one of the deputies, sending him into men Knox was still trying to break apart.
“Goddammit, who sucker-punched me?” Holt Hayes swung at the first person closest to him.
Greer ducked, his own fist coming out to nail Holt in his stomach.
“I’m going to fucking kill you,” Holt panted, trying to catch his breath.
“Motherfucker …” Greer started toward the man who was trying to straighten out of his bent-over position.
“Greer, don’t.” Holly wrapped her arms around his waist, trying to hold him back. “Please don’t. Logan’s watching.”
His hands went to hers where they were clasped around his waist. She held on tighter, her body tight around him from behind.
“Look. Knox is putting his handcuffs on him now.”
He tried to break away from her again.
“Do you want everyone in town saying that you couldn’t beat Holt in a fair fight?” Holly tried again to calm him down.
Knox pushed Holt down to the ground beside Justin, who was trying to angrily explain that Curt and Justin hadn’t been the ones to start the fight.
“Woman, let me go.” When Greer turned to look over his shoulder at her, she saw he had calmed down enough to release him.
Dustin and Tate came to stand next to them.
“I’m surprised you’re not sitting there with the others, getting arrested.” Tate slapped him
on his back. “You must be getting old.”
“He didn’t fight. He made sure I didn’t get grounded into the dust from those jerks.”
“Damn, Greer, you’re not getting old; you’re getting soft,” Tate teased, putting Greer into a headlock when Greer swung a fist at his laughing face.
“Tate, quit bugging Greer.” She placed herself between the two brothers who loved to fight as much as they loved each other. “You can take all your aggression out on the bumper cars.”
“You still want to let Logan ride them?” Dustin asked, setting Logan down on the ground.
“Of course.” She took Logan’s hand so he couldn’t run ahead of them. “There doesn’t seem to be a line anymore. Where’re Sutton and Rachel?”
“Cash took them and the baby on home.” Tate left it unsaid that neither he nor Dustin would leave without making sure Greer didn’t need their help.
Holly released Logan’s hand at the entrance of the bumper cars.
“You’re not coming?” Greer asked when she moved to the side so that Dustin and Tate could enter.
“Hel—Uh, no thanks. I’ve had enough excitement for the night.”
Holly stared after Greer as he went to find his own car, stupefied by the ironic smile he had given her for the near miss at cursing. He never smiled at her, always giving her a cold shoulder. That smile had lightened his expression, buoying the flickering flame in her heart that one day there might be a chance of something growing between them. A slim chance, but it was better than what she had been living with for the past six years.
10
Kentuckygirl: Did you have fun at the carnival last night?
Sharpshooter: It would have been better if you were there.
Kentuckygirl: Maybe one day, I will.
Sharpshooter: Are you thinking about us being more than friends?
Kentuckygirl: Maybe. Were you able to ride your tilt-a-whirl?
Sharpshooter: My brother recorded my nephew and me riding it. You want to see?
Kentuckygirl: Yes.
Sharpshooter:
Kentuckygirl: Your nephew is very handsome, like his uncle.
Sharpshooter: He looks more like his dad than me.
Kentuckygirl12: Who is the woman?
Kentuckygirl: You sure you don’t have a girlfriend or are married?
Sharpshooter: Sorry, I had to put my dog out. The woman? She’s my nephew’s babysitter. I’d rather shoot off my dick before I went out with her. I’m not going to lie; I date around, but I’m not serious about any one woman yet. I’m looking for that special woman. And I think I’ve found her if you would just give in and meet me.
Kentuckygirl: Why don’t you like her?
Sharpshooter: Like? God says I shouldn’t hate anyone, but with her, it’s hard not to make an exception. If she had it her way, I would have never known my nephew. God grants forgiveness. I don’t.
Kentuckygirl: I see. Wow. I can understand. I’m sorry that happened to you and your family. I need to get busy. My lunch break is over. Take care, Sharpshooter.
Sharpshooter: You, too.
“Can I go play with Noah and Chance?” Logan tugged at Holly’s hand as they came out of the church.
Smoothing his dark hair back, Holly smiled down at the little boy she considered her whole world. “Go ahead.”
She watched him run toward the playground, where the other children in the congregation were playing as their parents talked to each other.
She found a seat on one of the benches where she could watch Logan while surreptitiously watch as Greer made a beeline toward the parking lot. Jo was about to get in her tow truck when he must have said something to her. Holly watched as she leaned against the door, unable to hear what they were saying.
She hated herself. Why should she care what Greer was saying? He had made it painfully clear what he thought about her. Every hope she had harboring in her heart had been crushed and stomped on, and he hadn’t even known. It would have made his year to know how badly it had hurt her when he had said that he would rather shoot off his dick than touch her.
“What has you looking so sad on this beautiful Sunday?”
Startled, Holly looked up at her pastor. “It is beautiful, isn’t it? I enjoyed your sermon, but I think some of the men wished they had stayed home in bed.”
Pastor Dean sat down next to her with a smug grin. “Was I too obvious giving a sermon on Luke 6:29?”
“If most of the men weren’t already regretting being involved in the fight at the carnival, your sermon did it.”
“Were you there?”
“Yes. The ones who could have benefited from your sermon the most weren’t in church this morning.”
“Justin and Curt don’t make a habit of attending church. I’m sad to say that even if they weren’t in jail, they wouldn’t be sitting in church. Those two are walking a fine line of hurting someone bad, or getting killed themselves.”
Holly wasn’t shocked at her pastor’s comment. He wasn’t a conventional preacher. He rode a motorcycle and had built a new home on the property belonging to The Last Riders. He wore suits when he was in church, but outside of that, he wore jeans and T-shirts, having no compunction about showing off the tattoos that were visible. He was so good-looking, many of the women would be so wrapped up in his sermons they would have to sit several minutes before they had realized he had finished.
“It won’t be them. I was close to where the fight broke out. They were the ones who started the fight, but they didn’t have a mark on them. Tate said they’re used to getting in fights and then standing back and watching everyone else go at it.”
“I’m surprised the Porter brothers didn’t join in.”
“Tate wanted to get Sutton out of there, and Dustin had Logan,” Holly explained.
“Greer must not have been there. He would have loved the chance to fight.”
“He was there. He kept me from getting hurt when the fight started.”
Pastor Dean gave a low laugh. “I knew there had to be a reason.”
“He fussed about it for the rest of the night. So did Tate and Dustin. It was a close call between Greer and Holt, but Knox put an end to it. There’s no love between the Porters and the Hayes.”
“I can see them being upset about that. Especially Greer; he loves a good fight.”
“Yes, he does.”
Her pastor’s eyes sharpened on her. “Has he been giving you trouble?”
She looked to where Greer and Jo were still talking. Biting down her jealousy, she went back to watching Logan play. “He hates me.”
“Greer hates everyone but his family.”
He had a point. Greer had something mean to say about most of the people in town.
“Not as much as he hates me. Have you ever done something so bad that someone can’t forgive you for?”
She paled at the look of deep sadness that came across his face.
“Actually, I have.”
“I … I was just speaking for myself. I didn’t mean …”
“It’s fine,” the pastor told her. “I know you meant it rhetorically. You were talking about Greer, weren’t you?”
“Yes, he’s never going to forgive me for not going to the police over Logan.”
“Have you forgiven yourself?”
She answered him honestly, “I tell myself yes, but deep down, I still regret that I handled it wrong.”
“Once you forgive yourself, then what Greer feels won’t matter.”
“Diamond says that, too. I wish that were true.”
“It is. Holly, I nearly lost Willa to a man who hated me so badly he nearly killed her and a young girl. I could have put a stop to him long before he almost killed her, but I didn’t because of the guilt I felt. When we confess our sins to God, He forgives us. You’ve had to walk your road to forgiveness ever since it was discovered you had Logan. Only you know when that road to forgiveness ends. Mine ended the day Willa was hanging over that cliff. You do not
have to travel the road alone, Holly. God is there, beside you, every step of the way, and I’m here if you need me.”
“Thank you, Pastor.”
“You’re welcome. Are you staying for fellowship?”
“I’d like to, but it looks like Greer is finished talking to Jo, and he’s ready to leave.” Holly shot the pastor an apologetic smile when Greer got in his truck and started laying on his horn. Of course, he had waited until Jo had pulled out of the parking lot.
“I’ll see you next Sunday, then.” Pastor excused himself, going to talk to the other parishioners.
When Greer blew his horn again, she jumped up from the bench and called to Logan.
“Why can’t I stay?” Logan complained breathlessly.
“Your uncle Greer is the one who’s in a hurry.”
Logan stopped protesting, meekly running toward Greer’s truck.
“You hard of hearing? What was taking so long?”
Holly helped Logan into the truck, then climbed in herself. “I was talking to the pastor.”
“Like that’s going to do you much good.”
His callous words had her going pale. “What does that mean?” She turned sideways in her seat to see Logan watching the interaction between them.
“You know what it means.”
If he weren’t driving, she would have struck him.
Sitting forward, she mutely stared out the window as Greer asked Logan if he wanted to go fishing.
“Yay!”
“I’ll change my clothes when we get home.”
“Can Daddy and Uncle Tate come?”
“Yep. Your pa should be out of bed, and I’ll call Tate.”
“I’m going to catch a big fish, Holly, just like I did last time. This time, you have to watch me get the hook out of its mouth. I’ll be careful—”
“She ain’t coming.”
“Why not?”
The silence in the cab was tangible.
“Holly?” the little boy asked uncertainly.
“I have some cleaning to do. I’ll ask your father to take some pictures for me.”
The silent journey wasn’t over soon enough for her. As soon as Greer brought the truck to a stop, she jumped out.