by Lynda Chance
“Okay,” she agreed mildly.
Josh turned to Ethan. “Keep her with y’all, okay?”
Ethan’s eyes tracked Jesse leaving the restaurant. “Sure, dude. Don’t worry about the girls, but don’t do anything stupid.”
“I won’t. I’ll catch up to y’all after while.” As Josh turned and walked from the restaurant, Hannah felt the blood drain from her face as she looked over at the confused expression on Ava’s face.
****
As Josh pulled away in his truck, following Jesse and Mandy but not nearly close enough for his comfort, he didn’t waste any time. He dialed the three-digit number for emergencies and decided he’d take whatever flack was owed him if he was in the wrong about this.
He damn sure hoped he was wrong.
“Redwood Falls emergency. Do you need fire, ambulance or police?”
“Police. I need the sheriff.”
“I have Deputy Wallace here now.”
“I want Sheriff Thompson.”
“Hold on and I’ll see if I can get him”
A few seconds later, the sheriff came onto the line. “Thompson.”
“This is Josh Turner. I hope like hell I’m not overreacting.”
“What you got?” the other man barked back, worry in his voice.
“Jesse Whitaker just left the diner with … a girl. I’m following them now.”
“Did she look to be under duress?”
“Not really, no sir.”
“Okay, well, where are they headed?”
“West of town, just past the cemetery now.”
“You need to wait until I can get there, Josh. Don’t confront him over something that might not transpire and might get you into trouble. If she showed no duress—”
Josh concentrated on keeping the truck in his line of vision as he interrupted, “It’s Mandy.”
There was dead silence on the end of the line. “My Mandy?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m five minutes behind you. Don’t lose them,” the sheriff barked with both anger and entreaty in his tone.
Josh was trying to hang back far enough so Jesse wouldn’t notice his truck, but he was new at this ‘following’ shit, and the main thing was, he didn’t want to lose him. Jesse’s truck was too far ahead and when Josh saw the truck in front of him disappear up ahead where he knew there was no intersection, he grimaced. “I won’t. I’m pretty damn sure he’s pulling into the dirt path behind that old abandoned house next to the J.C. Long place … you know where I mean?”
“Yeah.”
“You better get here fast because I’m not in the mood to put up with anymore of his bullshit.” And then he added, “Sir.”
“Hold him off for five minutes, Josh. Don’t let that bastard hurt my girl. I’m right behind you.”
Josh ended the call and eased his truck into the rutted path leading behind the old, ramshackle house. The roof was falling in and there were weeds head-high in the drive that made the going slow. Josh couldn’t see the truck anymore and he was scared shitless he’d made a mistake and they hadn’t pulled in this way.
And then he saw Jesse’s truck, partially hidden behind an old barn. Relief surged through him. His first thought was to pull up right behind Jesse’s truck and lay on his horn. He knew the noise would stop Jesse from doing whatever he’d intended long enough for the sheriff to get there. He wouldn’t be able to leave because Josh had him blocked in.
But Josh knew he might not ever have a chance like this again. He wanted to beat the shit out of Jesse. He wanted it so badly he could taste it. And he’d wanted to do it since the night that Jesse had raped Katie and changed her life forever. She’d been a happy, outgoing girl and Jesse had changed her into a girl who was afraid of her own shadow. He’d changed her into a girl who didn’t date anymore; he’d changed her to an introverted, unhappy person.
And Josh finally had a reason he could get away with beating the shit out of Jesse without any repercussions. Jesse had been so goddamn stupid, he’d driven off with the sheriff’s daughter. And Sheriff Thompson wouldn’t say a damn thing about Josh bringing blood in defense of his own daughter. Josh was as sure of that fact as he was as sure of his own name.
It was too good an opportunity to pass up. Rage and anticipation boiled in Josh’s bloodstream.
Without any more thought, he slammed out of his truck and within seconds, he was standing at the door of Jesse’s truck and hauling it open. Josh registered a look of shock on Jesse’s face and an expression of relief in Mandy’s eyes as she saw Josh. She already had tears streaming down her face and if Josh had been pissed before, it only intensified when he saw the fear on Mandy’s face.
He grabbed Jesse by the collar and pulled him bodily from the truck and threw him to the ground. Josh slammed his fist into his face, satisfaction running through him hard and fast when the skin broke on Jesse’s cheekbone and Josh felt the scrape on his knuckles and then the spurt of Jesse’s blood on his skin.
Jesse’s head fell back and Josh pulled him back up and slammed his fist into his stomach three times in rapid succession. He heard the other boy groan and then Jesse turned over as he began to retch violently into the weeds beside him. Josh heard the patrol car drive up and growled down at Jesse, “You’re lucky the sheriff’s here, motherfucker. Three more minutes, fuckwad, and you’d be eating your food intravenously. But I’ll get another chance, I promise you that. You remember what I told you before, ‘I’m always watching you.’”
Josh released Jesse’s collar and stood to his feet, brushing his hands off. As the sheriff walked up to the scene, pushing through weeds and brambles, Josh moved away from Jesse and looked in on Mandy. “You all right?”
The girl was openly crying now. “Yeah, I guess.”
Josh studied the girl and realized, thankfully, that she was more scared than hurt. “Nobody told you he’s a fucking scumbag?”
“I didn’t believe the rumors. He always seemed so nice and I’ve known him for so long.”
As her father walked up and opened the passenger door to check on his daughter, she began sobbing in earnest.
Josh looked at the sheriff. “You got this?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay. I gotta get back to town. I left something important in the diner.” He turned to go.
As the sheriff held his daughter, his gaze caught and held Josh’s. “I owe you one, kid.”
Josh nodded once and answered, “No problem.”
****
Josh made it back to the diner within minutes and inhaled his food while he was bombarded with a million questions. The questions came from Ethan and Ava, while Hannah sat next to him silently, a worried expression on her face. He reached down between them and squeezed her hand, and then continued eating.
He wasn’t going to start disparaging Jesse in front on the other two, because then he’d have to bring Katie’s name up and that wasn’t going to happen. The only thing he’d told Ethan and Ty had been that Jesse had scared Katie, so badly that she never wanted to talk to him again. Ethan and Ty had taken that at face value, and they’d both lost respect for Jesse that day.
Josh had no idea what the conversation had been while he’d been gone, but he changed the subject now and Hannah and Ethan both helped him steer the conversation away from why he’d left so abruptly. He swallowed his last bite. “What do y’all want to do now?”
Ava’s face brightened. “My dad’s got something going on in the garage. He won’t let us go in there, but I think he’s almost finished. We could sneak behind the house and check it out.”
Ethan frowned. “What’s he doing?”
“I think he’s making something for us … for me and Ty.”
Ethan narrowed his eyes on Ava. “And you want to spoil the surprise?” The question was coolly disapproving.
Ava sat back with a huff. “It was just an idea. You don’t have to get your panties in a twist.”
As soon as the words were out of her mouth,
Ethan’s mouth twisted in an unpleasant line and his frown deepened as he raised one eyebrow at Ava. Ava’s lips tightened and her features were schooled as if to betray nothing of her annoyance.
Josh watched the other couple, as if watching a train wreck about to happen. This could all blow up in their faces so easily. It had been the three of them for so long: Josh, Ty and Ethan. The longer Ethan and Ava were together; it would only make the break-up worse when it finally happened. Ty would side with his sister, and Josh would be put in the middle, right between Ty and Ethan. And truthfully, Josh didn’t see Ethan and Ava lasting long-term. He damn sure didn’t see marriage in their future with the two of them playing house and having babies, but he’d been wrong before.
With a suddenness that dismayed him, a vision of Hannah moving gracefully around a kitchen slipped into his thoughts. He didn’t deliberately form the image in his head, it came to him almost like déjà vu, as he saw Hannah in a soft white nightgown, and the image turned vivid as she poured milk into a child’s cup and fastened the lid on top. Josh saw this as if from a distance, but with a familiarity that was haunting as he not only imagined himself somewhere in the unknown house, but he knew, without a doubt, that he was there. As the picture was firmly established in his mind, peacefulness radiated, not only in his thoughts, but also around the home in his head that seemed so real it had a lifeblood of its own.
Swallowing deeply, Josh brought his brain back into sharp focus. He gave himself a metaphorical shake, knowing what he’d just envisioned was probably beyond logic and reason. But it had felt so real, not quite an unexplained memory, and not quite a glimpse into the future. But whatever it was, even though it lacked clarity, in that moment, it became real, solidifying in Josh’s heart. He wanted what he’d seen. He wanted Hannah just like the picture in his head, and from this moment on, he’d hold on tight and make sure nothing could separate him from his purpose.
****
They ended up going to the Andersons for maybe half an hour, but they stayed away from the garage and that subject wasn’t broached again. Mrs. Anderson clucked over them, and to Josh’s amusement, she plied them with milk and chocolate-chip cookies as if they were six years old.
It was seven-thirty when Josh pulled up in front of Hannah’s house. He saw the movement of a curtain in the front room, and knew they were being carefully watched. He cut the engine, and looked down at her slender fingers entwined with his. “Somebody’s watching us from the front windows.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m sorry.”
“It’s no problem. Obviously, this is new for them.”
“Yeah.”
“I’ve got to work after school everyday this week.” As Josh spoke, he fiddled with Hannah’s hand, a sudden vision of a gold band on her finger. “And I’ve got mid-terms to study for, and at some point, my uncle and I have to find the time to move the herd to the north pasture.”
“I know, it’s okay. I’ve got to study, too.”
“I don’t want you to think I’m blowing you off or anything, because I’m not. I get off at eight on Friday night. You think your dad will let you stay out later since it’ll be a weekend?”
“He’d freakin’ better.”
Josh couldn’t help it; he chuckled at the ferociousness in her tone. “Or what? You’re going to run away from home?”
“Only if I can run to yours,” she quipped.
Her voice was so serious, so full of blunt honesty that temptation slid down his spine and coalesced in his groin. There was that picture again, of Hannah, living with him, of belonging to him as he protected her and provided for her. He steeled his guts to keep from kissing her, knowing they might still have an audience. But he couldn’t help his finger sneaking up and touching her bottom lip, dragging it down a bit, and feeling the soft, wet plumpness of her inner lip. Need shooting through him, he watched her carefully, her heavy lidded eyes trying to remain open as she managed to hold his, but only barely.
An emotion passed between them, and he tried to keep his voice gentle as he spoke, but was afraid he wasn’t even mildly successful. “Someday, Hannah.” He didn’t mean for the words to be a threat in any way, but from what was left unsaid and the wild look that eclipsed her expression, he knew that’s exactly the impact they’d had on her. Well, maybe not a threat, maybe her look meant she’d taken his words as a promise.
Her nostrils flared and she closed her trembling lips over his finger, kissing him so softly and innocently but with such a look of profound trust in her beautiful eyes that he was almost unmanned. He cleared his throat, made his vocal chords work with effort, and continued, “Someday. Someday, you’re going to be just mine—you’re going to belong to me and not to your parents. And I won’t have to feel this knot in my gut anymore. You’re never going to have to go home, because your home will be with me. I won’t have to be careful that someone is watching us … I’ll be able to touch you when and how I want. Nobody will be able to tell me what I can and can’t do to you, not the law … and not your father.” Josh paused just long enough to let his words sink in and to make sure she understood the point he was driving home. “You’re going to belong to me, heart, body, and soul, and I’ll touch you when and how I want, and you’ll let me, won’t you?”
Chapter Ten
Hannah’s insides were melting under the fire of both Josh’s words and his exquisite fingers on her lips. The simple touch of his hand on the lines of her mouth felt both intimate and enthralling. How could such a small gesture feel so intimate? The answer was simple: because it was. Nobody else had ever touched her mouth the way he was doing; it was the touch of a lover, and even though he wasn’t claiming her body yet, with his words and his touch, he was making his position known. She tried for a moment to imagine some other guy from school doing and saying the things that Josh was saying to her. But it was impossible. Josh was … different. Intense but quiet, he did something to her that no one else would ever be able to. She felt her feminine response to his demands, she wanted to do nothing more than agree to any terms he put in front of her. He made her feel butterflies in her stomach, a tingling between her legs, and a spinning in her brain. Her world had become better since Josh had entered it, the clouds were fluffier and the sky was a deeper shade of blue. She didn’t want to call it love, because that would be silly, wouldn’t it? She was only sixteen, and surely love was something one could only feel when one was an adult? So maybe it wasn’t a fully grown-up emotion, but somehow, without a doubt in her mind, she knew that what she felt for Josh was as ‘in love’ as a sixteen-year-old girl could possibly be.
There wasn’t another guy like him that she’d ever met, and she seriously doubted she’d ever meet another man like him again. Because, suddenly, it occurred to her that Josh was already a man; he was grown-up in the fullest sense of the word. How many guys wouldn’t be trying to rip her pants off right now? She was old enough to know that for the most part, the answer was, none. Josh always tried to do the right thing, he always focused on the future, and she was blown away that even now, he was making demands that she be in his future. A river of pleasure cascaded through her system. His eyes were intent, watching her, waiting for her answer. Desire, hot and exciting, settled in the pit of her stomach at the expression in his dark green eyes. “Yes, whatever you want.”
His eyes flared with satisfaction and his fingers moved to sink into her hair. “And you don’t even know what that is, do you?”
She licked her lips and shook her head. She knew he meant making love. The fact that Josh wanted sex from her in the future was more than obvious. But what else was he intimating?
“And even without knowing, you’ll agree to whatever I want and you’ll mean it, won’t you, princess?”
She didn’t have to think about it for long. Yes, she’d agree to whatever he wanted. And she didn’t care if that made her a pushover or a sissy or a wimp. “Yes, Josh.”
“Why?”
“Because … because I trust you.”
“Because you trust me and you know how good it’ll be, don’t you?”
She nodded her head, her gaze glued to his. “Yes,” she whispered.
His eyes dropped to her mouth. “And it’ll be good, I swear to God. It’ll always be good between us. Don’t make the mistake of thinking it would be the same with someone else … because it wouldn’t be.”
“No, I know that.”
As he studied her, some of the intensity left his expression and his words lightened. “You know the waiting is going to kill me, don’t you?”
“Do we … do we have to wait?”
“Don’t ask me that again, baby. Okay? Yes, we have to wait.”
“All right.” She agreed, but she couldn’t hide the disappointment in her tone.
“Good girl. Let’s get you inside before your dad walks out here with a gun.” Josh opened the door and helped Hannah down from the truck.
As he began walking her up the pathway to the front door, she asked, “Are you coming in?”
“No, just walking you to the door.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I do, Hannah. A guy is supposed to walk a girl to the door, right? And it’s dark, there could be a snake.”
“There’s not a snake.”
“There could be.”
At the door, she put her hand on the knob and twisted only slightly before looking up at him. “So, Friday night?”
“Yeah. I’ll pick you up as soon after eight as I can get here.”
Hannah felt a moment of mortification that her father would make her be home ridiculously early. “I don’t know how long they’ll let me stay out yet.” Her chin dropped. “I hope you don’t think that it’s not worth it.”
He reached out and lifted her chin. “I don’t care if it’s half an hour. You’re worth it. And remember what I said before. This is more about establishing our relationship … getting everyone used to us being a couple … it’s more about that than anything else. It might not be easy, but trust me, the last thing you have to worry about is not being worth it.”