by Lee Rose
Jackson held in his smile as he massaged her tense shoulders and kissed her grumpy face. She was even cute when she was grouchy. “I know, baby. It’s hard for me, too, and Billy looks like he’s ready to kick some ass. He’s done at least a hundred push-ups trying to show off his muscles even though there’s no one here for him to impress.”
Jackson and Billy had gotten along well once Grace made sure there was no jealousy between the two men.
Billy had been looking out the window and only saw Deputy Stan Warren patrolling outside. He closed the drapes and smirked at Jackson who was trying to comfort Grace. “I’m always ready for a good fight. I can’t wait to get my hands on this asshole. I may not have been here for you the first time around, Grace, but I am now and he’s not getting by me.”
“I know, Billy,” Grace replied. “I don’t mean to be so grouchy. My nerves are getting the best of me. I trust you all to protect me. I just want it all to be over.”
Just then the radio went on. “I hear noises behind the restaurant, sheriff. Going to investigate,” Deputy Warren radioed in from outside where he was parked in front of the café.
“On my way,” Ben radioed back. “Be on alert, Billy and Jackson. This could be it.”
Grace gasped and sat on the couch, nervously wringing her hands. “Oh God, I shouldn’t have said anything. Now I’m scared.”
Jackson smiled and sat next to her and grabbed her hand, not liking the fear that radiated out of her. “Don’t worry. It’s probably a stray cat or dog. Either way, James can’t get past all three of them, baby, and I’m staying here with you.”
“I’m going to check outside,” Billy said, grabbing his gun and leaving the radio on the table. He looked at Jackson in a silent signal. Jackson nodded, letting him know he was ready to protect Grace in any way.
They sat in silence, anxiously waiting for a clear signal. “Jackson, you’re needed out here for a sec.” Billy’s voice came over the radio, sounding strange but not scared.
“Stay put, Grace, no matter what,” Jackson said, getting up and going outside, wondering why Billy would call him away from Grace. It didn’t make sense.
Grace opened the door just a crack to listen to any noises outside. She could hear a woman crying. It sounded like Kelly but that made no sense. What would Kelly be doing here?
Chapter 15
As soon as Jackson went down the stairs he saw a hysterical Kelly being hugged by Billy. When she saw Jackson she threw herself in his arms, sobbing loudly enough to wake the whole town.
“Kelly? What the hell is going on?” he said, confused at why she would be here, and looking over at Billy for an explanation.
“I was walking home from the bar when a man attacked me. I saw his picture earlier at the grocery store. It’s the escaped convict,” she cried. Tears were streaming down her face and her hair was messy and her shirt sleeve was torn. “He is down the street,” she said, pointing opposite the café.
“Deputy Warren went to check it out,” Billy said, pulling out his revolver. “Take her upstairs and lock the door. Ben is on his way.” Billy took off running down the street and left Jackson to deal with a hysterical Kelly.
“I was so scared but I know you’ll protect me, won’t you, baby?” she cried, hugging him and grabbing onto his shirt with her long red nails.
“I’m taking you upstairs until the sheriff comes, but cut the crap, Kelly. Grace is upstairs and if you say one bad thing to her, I’ll throw your ass out,” he said firmly, rolling his eyes when she started crying louder.
Grace opened the door, looking worried. “What’s going on, Jackson?”
“Kelly here says James attacked her. Billy and the deputy went to check it out. Ben is on his way,” Jackson explained as a crying Kelly hung onto his shirt, refusing to let go of him when he was trying to pull out of her grasp.
“Are you okay, Kelly?” Grace asked, feeling bad for the girl. Kelly was a bitch but she didn’t deserve to be harmed by James.
Kelly nodded but didn’t let go of Jackson. Grace walked over to the door to lock it when it was kicked open. Grace screamed and stepped back when she saw a wild-looking James in the doorway holding a gun in his hand.
Kelly screamed and hid behind Jackson while Grace stood frozen in shock.
James looked at Grace, pointing the gun and grinning at her. “Finally, my love, I’ve found you.”
“James?” she whispered, still in shock, covering her mouth with her shaky hand. This could not be happening. She had hoped she had seen the last of him.
“They did their best to keep us apart, but now we can be together,” he said, grabbing her by the hand and pulling her toward him, circling her waist tightly with his arm so she wouldn’t move.
Jackson went to move toward James but Kelly was still behind him, hanging on like glue and holding him back.
“Uh-uh,” James said, shaking his head at Jackson. “You’re Kelly’s boyfriend, right? I am taking Grace away from here. She’s been a bad girl from what I hear, breaking you two up and causing nothing but trouble. Tsk tsk, Gracie.”
“What?” Grace said, looking at Kelly in disbelief as she realized James knew Kelly. “I thought you said he attacked you? Why would you help him, Kelly? He’s an escaped convict.”
Kelly straightened up, no longer crying or cowering, putting her hands on her hip and glowering at Grace. “Because Jack is mine and you got in the way of us being together!” she screamed at Grace then looked over at James, not at all scared of his gun. “You weren’t supposed to tell them you knew me, you jerk.”
“I can’t believe you, Kelly. Are you crazy?” Jackson yelled, pushing Kelly away from him in disgust.
James laughed crazily and dragged Grace out the door, pointing the gun toward Jackson who made a move toward him. “Don’t move, mister. I wanted to shoot you for touching my girl but I promised Kelly I wouldn’t. Isn’t that right, sweetheart? If I see you coming out that door I will shoot Grace first then you so don’t be a hero.”
Kelly gave James a dirty look but said nothing back, grabbing Jackson’s belt when he tried to move toward James. “Don’t move, Jack. He really does want an excuse to kill you.” She hissed. “That bitch isn’t worth it.”
In that moment Jackson learned that fear was a living, tangible thing you could feel. His heart pounded loudly in his chest, making his ears ring, and he couldn’t hear Kelly’s words. All he could think about was Grace being in the hands of a madman with the help of his devious ex-girlfriend. He turned and gave Kelly such a hate-filled look that she gasped and stepped back from Jackson.
Jackson growled. “Get the hell away from me before I kill you. I can’t believe you would be so desperate to get your way that you’d help an escaped convict.” He grabbed the radio and told Ben that James now had Grace.
Grace went with James down the stairs, feeling petrified but not wanting Jackson to get hurt. Where is everyone else? she wondered, looking around the dark buildings. Should she take a chance and run or would James shoot her? She wasn’t ready to die. She would just have to count on the men to save her.
James dragged her by the arm down the street and shoved her into a little white car that she recognized as Kelly’s. This was her worst nightmare being with James again. Kelly was a spoiled person but she never would have thought she’d go this far just to get back at her.
“Where are we going?” she whispered, shaking from fear and looking into the dark streets but seeing no one around. The town was eerily quiet and empty. She couldn’t panic if she wanted to get out of this alive and she did. She had a wonderful family and boyfriend, she just had to keep her wits and stay calm.
James started the car and shrugged. “Who knows? Far from here so we can start our lives together. I know you love me, Grace. I didn’t mean to hurt you before but you made me mad by ignoring me. Just behave yourself and I won’t have to hurt you. I don’t want to. I love you.”
Grace wrapped her arms around herself and closed her eyes,
praying for someone to hurry up and catch them before he drove too far. They were still on the main street of town. Grace reached in her pocket and felt Jackson’s cell phone, remembering she hadn’t given it back to him after talking to Hannah earlier. All she needed was an opportunity to use it and call for help. James was concentrating on the road. It was dark and he wasn’t used to driving down such dim country roads.
“The roads all look alike and would it kill them to light up the streets a little?” James grumbled, looking into the darkness and not paying attention to her. She looked out the window, trying to come up with a plan.
“This road doesn’t lead to out of town, James. You’re going toward the ranches and it’s all gravel roads going who knows where.” She told him, recognizing they weren’t too far from the Lazy J. “Turn around and go back the other way or we’ll get lost.”
“Shit!” James said, slowing the car down and looking down the dark gravel road undecided. “How do I know you’re not lying to me?”
“Because I don’t want to be lost out here in the dark. It’s scary. I’ve never been away from town,” she answered him. She knew she was close to Jackson’s house. Maybe she could jump out and make a run for it. Were there wild animals out here? She had never thought to ask. Why hadn’t she asked?
James thought for a moment and started to turn the car around. When he slowed down Grace opened her door and jumped out, falling on her knees in the gravel but getting back up and running. She ran into the dark fields toward the trees. She heard James yelling loudly and giving chase. Her knees hurt but she kept going. She needed a good hiding place to stop and call for help. She saw a small hill with a huge tree trunk. She sat behind the trunk, out of view and tried to slow her breathing down. Her chest hurt from all the running. Grace sat and listened for a moment and couldn’t hear any footsteps or James yelling. Maybe she lost him. It really was dark out here and she prayed there were no wild animals around, only bunnies or something equally cute. She took out the cell phone and dialed Hannah’s number since it was on speed dial.
“Grace?” Hannah answered. “What’s wrong?”
“Thank God, Hannah,” Grace whispered, her voice breaking from the tears clogging her throat. “James kidnapped me. Call for help. I jumped out of the car and I’m somewhere by your house but I don’t know where exactly. It’s so dark and I’m scared.” She could hear Hannah telling Ida to call Ben and Jackson.
“Ida is calling Ben right now. Stay calm, Grace. I know it’s dark, but look around you. Is there any clue of where you are?” Hannah said in a calm voice.
Grace looked around. “No, I’m hiding behind a tree trunk on a hill and I hear water. Am I by the creek?”
“Yes!” Hannah said excitedly. “I’ve hid behind that tree trunk when playing with Ben and Jack. I’m getting the horse and coming for you, Gracie. Hang on.”
“No, Hannah. James is out here with a gun. Wait for the sheriff,” Grace said, feeling terrified. If something happened to Hannah she’d never get over it.
Hannah snorted. “My gun is bigger,” she said hanging up the phone and heading to the barn for Goldie and her rifle.
* * * *
“What?” Ben yelled loudly into his cell phone and gave Jackson a mean look. “Just so you know, I am killing your sister.”
Jackson arched his eyebrow and looked at his friend and then at Billy who shrugged in confusion. Deputy Warren had taken a hysterical Kelly to jail before Jackson could strangle her for her part in all this and they set off to find James and Grace, knowing Kelly had given him her car, too.
“That was your aunt. That idiot James went the wrong way, toward your house, and Grace jumped out of the car and called Hannah for help. Now your crazy sister took Goldie and is going to rescue Grace all by herself.”
“What!” Jackson yelled, jumping in his truck and starting it up, feeling the panic rise in him. “You won’t have to kill her, Ben, I will!”
The three of them jumped in Jackson’s truck and Ben told him where the girls were hiding, muttering about crazy women all the way.
“When this is all over your sister and I are having a long talk about our relationship, Jack,” Ben said in a voice that invited no arguments.
Jackson just nodded and agreed.
* * * *
Grace was too scared to move until she heard Goldie’s neigh and galloping footsteps. She peeked over the tree trunk and saw Hannah. Hannah spotted her and Grace’s eyes widened at the rifle Hannah had in her hand. Hannah looked like some western outlaw of times past with her long blonde hair flying behind her like a golden cape and a rifle in one hand.
Grace got up and ran over to the horse. Hannah leaned down and grabbed Grace’s hand and pulled her up on Goldie.
“You are one crazy girl, Hannah Hawthorne,” Grace whispered softly, hanging on for dear life. “But I am so glad to see you. I wasn’t sure if James would find me or some wild animal would eat me. Do you have wild animals here?”
Hannah turned Goldie around and started back for the house. “Some snakes, no big deal,” Hannah answered without mentioning the wild boars that sometimes wondered around here at night.
“Don’t worry. The guys are on their way. Ida called them and told them where we were,” Hannah reassured her calmly.
They could hear James yelling in the distance, calling Grace’s name out. “Oh God, he is close by and he is crazy, Hannah,” Grace cried out in a panicked voice.
Hannah clicked her tongue at Goldie and Goldie galloped faster. As they were riding away they heard a loud crack that barely missed them. “Oh God, he is shooting at us!” Grace screamed. “What do we do?”
Hannah stopped by the creek where they had brought Grace riding the first time. She slapped Goldie’s side and Goldie took off running scared from the loud noise for the ranch. Hannah didn’t want James to shoot her horse. She cocked the rifle and looked at Grace. “I never miss a shot. Let the bastard come toward us and I’ll shoot his balls off.”
Grace cracked a smile despite the overwhelming fear she was feeling. “Jeez, you Texans are bloodthirsty creatures.”
“Damn right we are. Haven’t you heard—don’t mess with a Texan,” Hannah stated, giving Grace’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “If I know Jack and Ben then they are driving over here like maniacs to save us.”
“I hope so.” Grace whispered back, glad to have Hannah by her side.
A few seconds later James came out from behind the trees yelling loudly and waving his gun around. “You actually thought you could get away from me, Grace?” He smiled crazily at them, looking like a madman with his hair all messy and his T-shirt full of dirt. He must have fallen. “I finally found you, now get over here or I will shoot your pretty little friend for all the trouble you are causing me.”
Hannah pointed her rifle at James and yelled back, “Not if I shoot you first, you asshole!”
Grace could see three shadows coming slowly and quietly behind James and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. The cavalry had arrived. It would be okay now. Hannah saw them to but kept her gun pointed at James until she was sure they were going to be safe.
“Fine, let’s do this the hard way,” James said, smiling and pointing his gun toward Hannah and cocking it. “Remember, Grace, that this is all your fault. I have to shoot your friend to show you I mean business here. You can’t get away from me.” James never got the chance. Billy fired one shot from behind him and shot him in the back of the head. James groaned in disbelief, dropping his gun and falling to the ground.
Grace sank to the ground with a cry, her shaky legs refusing to hold her up any longer. Jackson came running up to them with Ben following. Jackson looked at Hannah sternly, kissing her head. “We are having a long talk, young lady.” He pulled Grace up from the ground, hugging her and kissing her while she sobbed in his arms. She couldn’t even speak she was so happy to still be alive and in his arms once again.
“Jackson!” she cried, wrapping her arms around his waist as if never l
etting go again.
“Did he hurt you?” he replied, hugging her so tight she couldn’t breathe. “I’ve never been so scared in my life and I never want to go through that again.”
She was so relieved to be away from James that she couldn’t stop shaking. Her body was cold and her legs felt weak but she didn’t want to let go of Jackson yet. “I’m okay, just relieved.”
Ben was alternating between shaking Hannah and hugging her. “You beautiful, crazy brat. Don’t you ever do anything that dangerous again or I’ll paddle your ass. When he pointed that gun at you and cocked it I almost had a heart attack. Thank God for Billy’s quick thinking.”
Hannah gasped, pushing herself out of Ben’s arms. “You can’t talk to me like that, Ben! Tell him, Jack.”
Jackson let go of Grace for a second and looked over at his sister and Ben. Ben looked scared to death. “I think he can, sis. Maybe he can handle you better than I can,” he said, nodding at Ben and giving him a silent signal that gave Ben permission to date Hannah. Ben smirked at Hannah with superiority and kissed her, swallowing all her protests.
* * * *
Billy came running up to them out of breath. He had stopped to check James out but he was dead and he really couldn’t feel bad about ridding Grace of her attacker once and for all. “Everyone okay here? James didn’t make it.”
Grace sagged with relief, feeling the tears dripping down her face and Jackson holding her up. “I should feel bad but I don’t. I always would have been afraid he would escape again one day. Does that make me a bad person?”
Billy hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead. “No, Grace. He chose his own path in life and you have no reason to feel bad about anything. He would have shot Hannah with no remorse and hurt you again. I don’t feel bad for ridding the world of him.”