“I could always call her.”
“She’s probably out tending her herd. Really, I don’t mind.”
Lindsey’s neck pulled back. “Her herd?”
He shook his head and smiled. He forgot that Lindsey probably wasn’t used to Jessie’s new life. “She has sheep, goats, horses, dogs, cats, and a cow. So I always say she is out tending her herd.”
“You've got to be kidding me. My sister has farm animals? Why? What for?”
Noah shrugged. “Beats the shit out of me. When she and Will moved back, after he was discharged from active duty, they bought a large tract of land. They built a house and a barn and fenced in several different fields. In no time, Jessie collected her odd menagerie of animals. You really didn’t know that?”
Lindsey shook her head. Her long hair swung to the middle of her back and rested over her shoulder. “No. I mean, I knew about the acreage and house, but I just assumed by ‘animals’ she meant dogs or cats. Certainly not, well, not a farm.”
“No. Jessie doesn’t have a real farm. Jessie would never sell or butcher any of her animals. She’s now a vegetarian, by the way, much to Will’s dismay. The animals are all, every one of them, considered part of her family now. She pretty much works here to pay for their upkeep. Are you still sure you want to go visiting? If you’re not careful, she’ll have you shoveling their…”
He stopped and glanced at Lindsey. She was rubbing one hand into the other, nervously. He was teasing, kidding, joking, but the sheer gravity of her expression along with her fidgeting almost made him take it back. Holy Christ! Lindsey needed to lighten up. Maybe he was simply used to Jessie, who laughed and kidded with him all day long. They always bantered in a playful way. That’s what first made him want to date her. That and she was the first new woman in the area for about a year. He hated to admit it, but anyone new was considered fair game to the locals.
“Jessie, will be thrilled to see you. Shall we go?” He finally prodded gently. Lindsey stood there as if contemplating whether or not to give up her first born.
Finally, she nodded her head with a distinct jerk, as if she silently made her decision and was sticking to it. He held the door for her as she passed through. She offered a shy, soft smile to him before scurrying through and heading toward the car parked out front. There, she opened the door and came out with a suitcase. Noah rushed forward to carry it for her and she jerked back when their fingertips touched on the handle. He stepped back to ease her discomfort. Jesus, she was as jumpy as a shoplifter trying to sneak out the front door. He hefted her black suitcase to the back of his long-bed, red pickup.
“Thank you, Noah. I really appreciate your help. And driving me.”
Clicking his key fob so his truck unlocked, he met her gaze across the hood of the year-old truck. She was intensely serious. And grateful. When in the hell did Jessie’s sister become a stiff, cold, nervous, neurotic, ice sculpture?
Chapter Four
Lindsey slid a glance toward Noah as he downshifted on the steering wheel and spun around to back out. His black, curly hair, a luxurious mop of shiny, glistening tresses fell over his forehead in an appealing chunk that made her imagine what it would feel like to run her fingers through it. He had thick eyebrows that highlighted his bright, intelligent, blue eyes, sparkling from behind the black rims of his glasses. He was a tall man, well over Lindsey’s five-foot-eight. He had a long, lanky, thin build and his clothes always seemed to hang on him. He dressed neat as a pin, but there was something young and boyish about how his clothes seemed to slouch off him. Perhaps, since he was so tall, he bought the biggest sizes he could find and never bothered to shorten them, or see if a smaller size would do.
She had known Noah for five years, ever since the day he brought Jessie to her when Will disappeared. He even stayed over a few nights at her house before going home and leaving Jessie to her real heart’s desire. Lindsey never told Elliot she let another man sleep in the house. He would have been furious. At that point, they had been married just over a year. Her father was still alive, although not in her life like he was before. Elliot had knocked her around a few times at that point, but nothing like what he did to her now. Still, even then, she knew Elliot would have hated having another man sleep in their house, no matter the reason. But even so, she took the chance. It was an agonizing decision for her at the time, although neither Jessie nor Noah ever knew what it might have cost her if Elliot ever did find out. Luckily for her, Elliot, then serving overseas, failed to figure it out. But what else could she do? Noah had flown her catatonic sister across the country. Lindsey couldn’t just kick him out to a hotel, so, of course, he stayed with her.
She found it hard not to like Noah. He was unfailingly polite, at all times, no matter what. Jessie had been dating him, as far as Lindsey could tell, until the exact moment they landed in North Carolina. That was when Jessie realized her heart forever belonged to Will. Noah also realized that, and all on his own, at the same time. Yet, he was never anything but gracious and kind to Jessie, and by alliance, Lindsey, too. He often helped during those few days, with the dishes and serving meals, as well as watching out for Jessie, who was a mess. He was extremely intelligent, on all subjects from politics to current events and surprisingly, strange, abstract topics. Whenever she spoke, she distinctly remembered the way he quietly listened to each and every word she said, thoroughly considering it, before commenting. He had bright, curious, interested eyes that took in the world around him with youthful wonder. She remembered thinking what a refreshing, but almost odd, reaction he presented to the world. His outlook was nothing like the distrustful way in which she saw it, or the injured, broken view that Jessie possessed.
After over two years, during which time Jessie stayed in North Carolina while Will continued serving with the Special Forces, Will’s contract ended. He switched to the Reserves, and finally, Will and Jessie were free to start their new life together. They had, to Lindsey’s complete and utter astonishment, moved back here. They returned to the small, rural, farming/ranching community where Jessie finally began to heal. Jessie also ended up working for Noah again.
Lindsey felt uncomfortable. Not only would Elliot hate it if she accepted a ride from Noah, he would have forbidden it. He would… well… who knows what he might’ve been capable of doing to her if he ever found out. But, after reconsidering it, she decided it was worth the risk. She somehow doubted that Elliot could ever find out. He was miles across the ocean, confirmed by the phone call she made to him. He would never know what she’d done . Her heartbeat accelerated with joy and her hands broke into a sweat as she ducked into Noah’s truck. She felt so rebellious riding beside him, and oddly exhilarated.
Noah leaned forward, pressing the tuning button on his radio. His cuff fell back, revealing his hairy wrist, and long, graceful fingers. Quickly choosing a song, he twisted the volume higher on the country tune he found. She bit her lip. Here, it seemed like country music was a favorite pastime. Silence settled between them for long moments as the countryside swiftly passed by. The landscape was flat and largely unoccupied, punctuated by lots of trees and farms that stretched all the way to the horizon. Strangely, she wasn’t bothered by Noah’s silence, not as she would have been by Elliot’s. Elliot was always brooding over something she’d said or done, or as reported by someone else, and was working up to disciplining her for it. But Noah was simply being quiet.
“So, how is Jessie doing?”
He glanced at her. “Jessie is good. Very good. Don’t you ever talk to her? I know she calls you from the office a lot.”
Lindsey cringed. “She doesn’t talk to me on your long distance dime, does she?”
He shrugged and flashed a smile. “Of course, she does. She doesn’t give it a second thought. She deserves it. It’s the least I owe her. Ask her; she’ll tell you.”
“Doesn’t that bother you? Piss you off?”
He laughed. “Nah, Jessie knows she’s the best assistant ever. And besides, we get e
ach other. She doesn’t usually upset me.”
Lindsey frowned and turned to stare out the window. She tried to imagine if her own spouse was as laid back, kind, forgiving, indulgent, and accepting as Jessie’s damn employer was. Imagine that. But she couldn’t. She couldn’t imagine the ease with which Jessie moved around the men in her life. The ease with which she spoke her mind, and always did what she wanted. She joked around, but demanded fair treatment. Lindsey couldn’t even imagine what it was like anymore to do such things.
“And yes, I do talk to Jessie. But she tends to sugar-coat stuff since I am so far away, and for so long, things were awful with her. I think she always feels fine now to make up for so long when she didn’t.”
Noah sobered as he nodded his head. “Yes, she did have it pretty bad for a long time. I think, however, she really is all right.”
“And Will? Is he okay being off active duty?”
“Yes. I think so. It’s been an adjustment, though. It took him a while to find a job, as I’m sure you know. He worked for the Clapsmiths temporarily, doing odd jobs around their ranch. In case you didn’t already notice, this isn’t a flourishing metropolis. He was lucky Skolfield Manufacturing built a plant in the Carlson industrial park, about five miles from here. They had one of those programs designed to attract new vets. I do know, however, they were hoping you’d get a chance to visit here.”
“I meant to long before now, but we were busy for quite some time with the move from North Carolina to Virginia. Elliot started his own corporation, and that also took a substantial amount of our time. It just never seemed to work out for me to leave and come here. Elliot has to leave the mainland for a few weeks, maybe up to a month, or even more. So, it did work out, for now anyway.”
“Elliot sounds like an impressive individual. I hope it continues to work the way you’d like.”
Nothing worked out the way she liked. She couldn’t even remember what she liked. She arose every morning, got dressed, did her chores, accomplished all the items on the myriad lists that Elliot left, and tried to get through the day. Her goal was always to be free of any flaws or mistakes, lest she incite Elliot’s wrath. That was her primary objective each day, every day. Consequently, she had no idea what she might possibly want outside of that little box. It suddenly dawned on her that she had a few weeks to spend without Elliot lording over her, and it left her feeling almost bereft. What could she ever find to do with herself?
“He is an impressive individual.”
“You must wonder why the hell Will and Jessie moved out here, in middle of nowhere.”
Lindsey shook her head. “I don’t. I think it’s the first place Jessie ever felt normal. Or typical. Or perhaps it was just the first place where Jessie did not feel bad. And I know a lot of those first feelings of decency stemmed from you. So, no, I don’t find it odd in the least that the one place she felt warm feelings about is still the place she wants to be. And Will? He’d do anything to make sure Jessie continues to feel those good things.”
As any husband should. As she wished, prayed, and vainly hoped Elliot might one day feel for her.
The evening dusk started to fade. Noah’s headlights illuminated the empty road until he turned off onto a long, straight, single car-width, paved road. His lights eventually picked up some buildings that emerged from the tangle of cottonwoods and pines that hovered over the road in a lush canopy.
The house before them was a single storied, sprawling ranch house featuring stone along the foundation. The lights shone brightly from the double entry doors with massive windows on each side. The road looped into the house to stop in a covered drive-through. The winters were harsh and cold here, and they often found themselves snowed in. As Noah’s truck braked, the front entry lights flickered on. A head popped out of the cracked front door before it opened wider.
“Noah?” Jessie called out. “What are you doing here?”
Then her eyes grew large as saucers. Her jaw slackened as she flung open the door. “Oh my God! Lindsey? Is that really you?”
Jessie. Lindsey closed her eyes and squeezed her sister as Jessie wrapped her arms around her in a tight, clinging hug. Years and years ago, Jessie needed her. Jessie once looked to Lindsey for help, nurturing, support, care, and love. Now? Now, Jessie was happy, fulfilled, and normal. And Lindsey was the one who needed help, nurturing, support, care, and love. Only she couldn’t find the strength to even make her tongue say those words.
So she clung to her sister, trying to squeeze the tears back into her eye sockets. A few stray drops fell, wetting her cheeks. She’d just pass them off as happy tears. Not relieved, needy, wretched tears from the thrill of having someone touch her with care, affection, and real love.
Jessie pushed back from her, clasping both Lindsey’s hands as her face split into a wide, happy grin. “I can’t believe it’s you! What are you doing here? How did you even get here? And why didn’t you tell me?”
Jessie didn’t wait for an answer, but pulled Lindsey back in for another hug. Her bump of a baby touched Lindsey, and Lindsey’s heart tugged in fierce loyalty.
“Don’t suffocate her before she gets in the door. Why don’t you let her breathe for a moment, wife?”
Lindsey took a breath. Will. That was Will’s voice. She would have to face him. Long ago, way before she ever knew that everything was wrong with her father, and her, as well as her entire life, she tried to date Will. She even admitted she loved him, and tried to steal him from Jessie. She never stood a chance, however, when it came to Will’ s heart and Jessie. It still horrified her, even to this day, that she tried. And although they had long ago, made their peace, and no on else thought another thing about it, Lindsey still felt humiliated.
Jessie laughingly loosened her grip on Lindsey. Lindsey took a breath and her eyes met Will’s over Jessie’s head. He stood in the entry of the house, grinning at her. He held no ill feelings towards her. In fact, he thought what she did for Jessie when Jessie sought treatment for what happened to her, made up for all the years when she did nothing but stand by and let Jessie suffer. It was still not enough in Lindsey’s eyes. She could not ever make up for what she allowed Jessie to endure for so many years.
“I should have called. I was just so excited to get here, and I wanted to surprise you. I thought you might still be at work. Noah gave me a ride over.”
“No, you shouldn’t have called. This is much better. This is the best surprise ever! Noah, why don’t you come in and stay for dinner with us?”
Lindsey glanced at Noah who stood watching them, leaning his elbows against the hood of his truck. He smiled and waved his hand at Jessie. “Nah, I gotta get back to feed the dogs. Have a nice visit. Lindsey, it was a pleasure to see you again.”
“Oh, you too, Noah. Thank you again for driving me here. It was very kind of you.”
He grinned as he lifted out her suitcase and handed it to Will, who took it. “Don’t think a thing of it. See you tomorrow, Jess.”
“I might not come in. I think I want to hang with Lindsey. I’ll let you know.”
Lindsey cringed. Jessie couldn’t actually be announcing to her boss she wasn’t coming in, or could she? “No, I didn’t mean to disrupt your schedule just because I showed up.”
Noah shook his head, still grinning. “You didn’t disrupt anything Jessie does. Don’t worry, I’m used to it. She’ll let me know. Oh hey, Jessie, you’re supposed to call your doctor back tonight. He left a message. Wants to make sure things are okay.”
Lindsey slapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh, no! I forgot! Yes, you were supposed to call tonight. He said you had the number.”
Will’s mouth tightened. Jessie smiled and touched his arm. “It’s okay, Will. I expected the call. It’s not the end of the world.”
Lindsey stared at the small, white hand her sister pressed on Will’s bare, strong forearm. She swallowed the sudden lump that formed in her throat. What was it like? To simply touch in affection? In support? In love? All tho
se years when she believed she was so lucky to be their father’s treasured daughter. But not once did General Travis Bains, touch her with affection, support or love. And Elliot only did on the nights or days after beating her, when he felt the fleeting urge to make restitution; and that’s how real or genuine it felt.
Noah waved goodbye and pulled away. Will gently squeezed Jessie’s hand before grabbing Lindsey’s suitcase and hefting it into the house. He walked out, leaving them alone. Jessie pulled Lindsey’s hand and dragged her inside.
Lindsey paused in the entryway. It was big and airy, with beige, patterned tile that flowed into a large, square living room. It had a long, open kitchen in the back with a cozy nook for the dining table. The setup was one large, open common area. A big, stone fireplace took up the wall opposite the couch, and a large TV hung over it. The furnishings were comfortable and cushy with a pretty beige-and-black design that highlighted the black craftsman-style furniture Jessie selected as the main theme. It was a lovely house, warm and inviting, and so unlike anything she ever thought Jessie would choose. It was nothing like the overdone, stuffy, formal, yet beautiful house that she lived in.
“Jessie, it’s absolutely beautiful!”
Jessie smiled brightly and touched a hand over her stomach. “I never dreamed I’d own such a place. Wait until you see the land, and the views, and the animals. I’ll show you everything tomorrow. Now, come, let’s have some dinner. I’ll call the doctor, get you settled in, and then you have to tell me everything that is going on with you.”
Dinner was a bean with vegetables stew and freshly baked bread that was easily extended to include her. She didn’t eat very much anymore. She would have sworn her stomach just shriveled. But in truth, she never tasted food. It was like ashes in her mouth. She ate to live, never to enjoy the wonderful tastes. But she kept that from her sister. Shuffling her food around, as if eating, she quickly got up to dump the contents in the disposal and conceal the awful sin that she didn’t eat. Then, the three of them talked happily and endlessly for hours. They pushed away from the table after coffee and relaxed in the living room. It was enchanting. Fun. Relaxed. It felt like years since she was relaxed.
The Good Sister (Sister Series, #2) Page 5