by Nicole James
Steve looked at the floor, shaking his head. Then he stood up. “Well, I’m going into town and pay some bills.” He gave his grandfather a quick hug, and then he left.
That night after supper, Steve went up and gave Jessie several hundred-dollar bills to buy a dress, shoes, and anything else she would need for the dance. Summer was planning to drive her into Atlanta tomorrow and check out the malls.
He then crossed the hall and went into the little spare room that he had long ago converted into an office. There was an old wooden desk, but no computer. Steve still managed the business the old fashioned way. The way his grandfather had for years. He used ledgers.
Steve sorted through the fistful of receipts for the payments he had made that day. Then he took out the expenditure ledger, wrote in the payments made, and filed away the receipts.
After paying off all the bills he owed, his bank account was flush with close to eight thousand dollars, but he knew it wouldn’t last long, especially when he was only expecting to break even on the crop this year. Still, it gave him some breathing room. He decided that maybe he would treat Summer to a dinner out and maybe buy her something nice.
Chapter Twelve
Summer finished cleaning up the kitchen after having fed Pop, Steve, and Cary. She fixed a small plate for Jessie and carried it upstairs. She knew Jessie wasn’t hungry and wanted to make sure she fit into her dress, but the girl had to eat something.
She knocked softly on the door. “Jessie, it’s me.”
“Come in.”
Summer walked in, set the plate down on the dresser, then she turned and saw Jessie. “Oh, sweetheart! You look beautiful.”
Jessie smiled shyly. “Really?”
“Oh, yes. Oh, honey, you’ll be the prettiest girl there.”
“Well, I doubt that.”
They had finally found the perfect dress after looking in every store in two malls. It was a silver grey silk with tiny spaghetti straps and rhinestone bugle beading all along the neckline. It was floor length, and the bottom flared out when she twirled. More beading scalloped the bottom edging.
Jessie twirled around for Summer, and the rhinestones flashed. Her hair was pulled up in a French twist with a comb of rhinestones tucked in and matching rhinestone chandelier earrings. She had high-heeled silver sandals and a matching evening bag. A silver voile shawl that was as sheer as a cloud completed the look.
“I’m so nervous, I couldn’t eat a bite, Summer.”
“I understand. I wouldn’t want you to spill anything on that beautiful dress anyway.”
“Thank you for helping me with everything.”
“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t have missed it. I just hope your father doesn’t kill me when he sees this dress.”
“What’s wrong with it? You don’t think the v-neckline is too low, do you?”
“No. It’s not that. It’s just, well let’s just say it shows off all the right curves, honey.”
They both giggled.
“Well, let me go down and try to prepare your father that he’s about to see his little girl all grown up.” Summer smiled and hugged Jessie.
“Thanks, Summer.”
Summer went downstairs and found Steve and Cary sitting out on the front porch smoking.
“Is this the boy’s welcoming committee?” she asked.
“Yup,” Steve replied, taking a drag off his cigarette and looking at her.
“Well, at least you’re not polishing your shotguns.”
“Don’t give him any ideas,” Cary warned.
“Um, Steve. You do realize that when she comes down those stairs…”
“Yes?”
“I mean, she’s all dressed up, and she looks beautiful, but…”
“But, what?”
“Well, she isn’t a child anymore.”
“I know that.”
“What I’m trying to say is, I just want you to be prepared for how grown-up she’s going to look in that dress.”
“You didn’t let her get anything sleazy did you?” Steve said, bringing the rocking of his chair to a stop.
“No! The dress is lovely, and don’t you dare say anything other than that she looks beautiful or I swear she’ll burst into tears, and I’ll…I’ll…”
“You’ll what?”
“I’ll kick you where it hurts.”
Cary snorted back a laugh, and Steve glared at him.
“I’ll be nice. For Christ sakes, she is my daughter.”
“And you’d better be nice to her date, too. I mean it.”
“Yes, ma’am. Damn, you sure are feisty tonight.”
“I just want this night to be perfect for her.”
“Here he comes now,” Cary observed, nodding toward a car slowing down to make the turn into the driveway.
A black Camaro pulled in, stopping in the drive. The door opened, and a boy in a tux got out and walked up the drive. He was carrying a single red rose.
He stopped at the bottom of the stairs, looking at the two men, not sure which was the father.
Steve stared him up and down until Summer kicked the runner on his rocking chair. He glared at her, but got up and extended his hand. “You must be Doug. I’m Jessie’s father.”
The boy smiled and relaxed some. He came up the three steps and shook Steve’s hand. “Yes, sir. Nice to meet you, Mr. Garrett.”
“I’ll tell Jessie that you’re here, Doug. Have a seat.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Summer turned, and went to get Jessie as well as the disposable camera she had gotten to commemorate this night.
A few minutes later she held the screen door open, as Jessie stepped out onto the porch. She would have loved to get a picture of Steve’s face when he saw his daughter.
“Good Lord,” Summer heard Cary murmur under his breath.
Doug stood up and gave Jessie the rose. “You look beautiful, Jessie.”
She blushed and thanked him for the rose.
Summer embarrassed them by making them pose for a couple of pictures. She even made Jessie take one with Steve.
Soon they were driving off.
Summer turned and smiled at Steve. “Well?”
“I was nice, wasn’t I?”
“Yes, you were nice. Didn’t you think she looked beautiful?”
“I can’t believe you let her buy that dress,” Steve turned to Summer, his hands on his hips, one hip canted out.
“Her? I can’t believe you let her go out in that dress,” Cary glared at Steve.
Summer looked from one to the other, then just shook her head and went inside.
Cary looked to Steve. “Well?”
“Well, what?”
“Nothing. I’m going to town.” And he stomped off the porch and drove off in his pickup.
Cary pulled out onto the highway and headed toward town. He was about a half a mile behind the Camaro, and he kept his eyes on it as he drove. There were no other cars on the country road. About five miles down the road, he noticed the car turned off on a dirt road to the right. “What the hell? Where’s he going?”
Cary slowed up as he came up to the turn off. The road was between two cornfields, and he never would have noticed the car, if he hadn’t see it turn off, but there it was about a hundred yards off the highway. Cary watched as the kid pulled off the road and flipped the headlights off.
Cary continued on past the turnoff. He had two thoughts. Either the kid was having car trouble or he was taking Jessie off somewhere to neck. But if he were having car trouble, he would have pulled off on the highway, not down some deserted farm road that led who knew where.
Cary was angry with Jessie. What the hell did she think she was doing going parking on the side of the road with this kid? He had a mind to drag her home. Steve would probably want him to. He wondered if there was any way to handle this situation without embarrassing Jessie or looking like a fool himself. He should just mind his own business and put it down to kids being kids. But Jessie was his business. He h
ad a right to look out for her.
He’d gone about a mile past the dirt road when he made his decision.
“Ah, hell!” he muttered as he made a U-turn in the middle of the deserted highway and headed back. He only hoped Jessie wouldn’t be too angry with him for interrupting their little romantic interlude.
Jessie looked over at Doug. “Why are you stopping here?”
“Why do you think?” he replied, moving over and putting his arm around her.
“Doug, stop. We’ll be late for the dance.”
“We’ll be a little late. This won’t take long.” He pulled her into his arms, and his mouth came down on hers.
Jessie let him have a few kisses, but soon he was pressing for more. She felt his hand slide down and cover her breast, squeezing. Her hands came up to his shoulders and pushed him back. She twisted her head to the side, breaking free of his kiss and gasped out, “Doug, stop. I’m not kidding.”
“Doug, stop,” he mimicked her. “Quit being such a little baby, Jessie.” His hold on her tightened, and he pulled the straps of her gown down over her shoulders. Her bodice gaped down exposing her low-cut strapless bra.
Jessie was so shocked she froze for a moment. Then she did the only thing she could think to do. She shoved him back and slapped him hard across the face. She watched as a stunned look spread across his face and was quickly replaced by one of fury.
“You little bitch!” he snapped, backhanding her across the face.
The stinging blow stunned her for a moment, and she knew in an instant that she was in real trouble now. Doug shoved her down on the seat, as she tried to fight back.
Cary turned onto the side road, cutting his lights and engine off. He coasted up to a stop behind the Camaro. As he glanced through the rear window, he could see the kid reach back his hand and slap Jessie. Although Cary couldn’t see her down on the seat, he heard the resounding crack as he struck her.
Cary yanked on his door handle and practically vaulted out of the truck, an intense rage like nothing he’d ever felt seizing him.
Jessie struggled. “Please stop,” she cried.
Suddenly the driver’s door was flung open, and Doug’s weight was lifted off her. She could see over his shoulder, the dark shape of a man, and then he was dragging Doug out of the car. Quickly, Jessie struggled to get her dress back up in place. One strap was torn and hanging loose.
Cary spun Doug around and slammed his right fist into Doug’s startled face with enough force to slam him back into the side of the car. As Doug tried to regain his balance, Cary followed through with a left to the gut. It knocked the wind out of Doug and doubled him over. Cary grabbed two fistfuls of Doug’s pleated tuxedo shirt and hauled him up. He paused to glance toward Jessie, who had climbed out of the car, to see if she was okay. “Get in the truck, Jessie. Now!”
As Cary’s attention was distracted, Doug caught him with a vicious right to the jaw. It was enough to break his hold on Doug and remind him that Jessie had mentioned that this kid was a high school wrestling champ. Cary could take him, but the kid would probably give him a good fight, and right now Cary didn’t want to drag this out.
Usually, Cary wasn’t one to fight dirty, but the blind rage that was surging through him right now made him want to hurt this kid. Badly. With that thought, he dropped Doug to his knees with a savage kick to the groin.
“That was for Jessie!” Cary growled. Then just for the pleasure of it, he hit him another left hook to the face.
Cary glanced around for Jessie and found her standing next to his truck with her arms crossed in front of her, trying to hold her torn dress together. But it was the frightened look on her face that tore him apart. He turned back to Doug, who was on his knees in the dirt holding his groin and cursing. “You ever come around Jessie again, you ever so much as speak her name to one of your buddies, I’m gonna come lookin’ for you. And when I find you, I’m gonna put you in the hospital. You got that?”
“Go to hell, asshole!” Doug mumbled through split and rapidly swelling lips, blood and spittle running down his chin.
Cary grabbed a handful of his hair and yanked his head back. “You want some more?” he snarled into the kid’s face and watched his eyes widen.
Doug swallowed and replied, “No, sir.”
Cary released him with a shove, walked over to the Camaro, and reached inside for the keys.
“Hey, what are you doing?” Doug asked, spitting into the dirt.
“This,” Cary explained, as he smiled and sent the keys sailing through the dark night. They landed with a distant clink somewhere out in the cornfield.
“Goddamn it! How am I gonna get home?”
“I suggest you find your keys, dickhead,” Cary bit out.
“It’ll take me all night!” Doug whined.
“I sure hope so. I’m gonna enjoy knowing you’re out here all night on your hands and knees,” Cary sneered. “Oh, and one other thing…”
Doug could see Cary’s boots come into the circle of his vision as he stared at the dirt. Slowly, he looked up into Cary’s face, questioningly. He didn’t have to wonder for long.
“This is from me,” Cary whispered and slammed his fist into Doug’s face one last time.
Jessie was silent as Cary climbed in the truck, slammed the door, and started the engine up without so much as a glance at her. He backed the truck up and jammed it into gear, hitting the gas pedal, throwing the truck into a U-turn, spinning the tires, and spraying Doug and his Camaro with gravel.
Jessie studied Cary by the light from the dashboard, as they pulled back onto the highway. She had never seen him like this before. Cary had a pretty even temper. It took a lot to get him riled up. This was the first time in all the years that she’d known him, that she’d seen him this angry and upset.
She watched as he pulled out a cigarette and a lighter, bending his head toward the flame, he lit it and flung the lighter up on the dash. He took a long drag off the cigarette. His right arm was extended, elbow locked, his fist clenched around the top of the steering wheel. She watched the muscles in his jaw clench, and still he didn’t speak to her or even look in her direction.
She didn’t want him to be angry with her. She didn’t want to be the cause of him getting into a fistfight. But, more than anything, she was so glad that he had been there when she’d needed him. And it occurred to her that Cary had always been there for her when she needed him, no matter what trouble she had gotten herself into. She realized she had never truly appreciated that fact until right now.
“Cary,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry.” She knew she hadn’t really done anything wrong, but he had tried to warn her about guys more times than she could count. Was he angry with her for getting herself into trouble again and in turn for needing him to get her out of it once again?
Cary took a hit off his cigarette. He was trying hard to control his emotions right now, and he was riding a thin line. The satisfaction he’d felt when he’d given Doug what he’d deserved was short lived. But when he thought about what could have happened, what would have happened, if he hadn’t happened to see the car turn off, his stomach clenched. God, if he hadn’t turned around…
The thought that some kid like Doug would treat Jessie like that infuriated him. He felt like punching the windshield. The death grip he kept on the steering wheel right now kept him from doing just that.
He hadn’t looked over at Jessie yet, because if he did, and she had that ‘frightened little girl’ look in her eyes, he was gonna lose it. Then he heard her whisper his name, and his hands started to shake.
Jessie watched as he flung the cigarette out the window, pulled to the side of the road, and cut the engine. It was a moment before he finally looked over at her. When he did, it wasn’t anger she saw, as she had expected, but anguish. “Cary, I’m sorry,” she whispered brokenly as she slid across the seat and into his arms.
His arms wrapped around her, holding her close. “Shh, honey. You don’t have anything
to be sorry for. Are you okay, sweetheart?” he asked, leaning down to where her head was buried in his shoulder.
“Yes, I’m okay,” she answered, pulling back to look at him. “You saved me.”
A warm feeling spread through him at her words. Cary’s gaze strayed down to where her hands were holding her torn dress up. He let her go and began to unbutton his shirt. Her eyes flew up to his questioningly, as he shrugged out of it, exposing the blue tee shirt he had on underneath. “Here,” he said, wrapping the soft flannel shirt around her. “Put this on.”
She slipped her arms into the sleeves, inhaling the scent of him that still lingered. A feeling of security enfolded her as easily as the soft shirt he’d wrapped around her.
Cary reached over, took first one hand and then the other, and patiently rolled the sleeves up to fit her shorter arms. When he was through, his fingers tipped her chin up so he could look into her eyes. “Do you want to go to the police station and file charges?”
“No!” she said without hesitation, shaking her head vehemently wanting nothing to do with the police. “No, I couldn’t do that.”
“Why?” he asked quietly, wanting to understand. “He deserves to be punished, Jessie. He shouldn’t get away with this.”
“But he didn’t, Cary. Nothing happened. You came before he could…” she flushed and looked down, unable to meet his eyes.
“He hit you, Jess. I saw him through the rear window. How many times did he do that before I got there?”
“Just that once, Cary. I’d slapped him. That’s when he got mad and hit me back.”
“That son-of-a-bitch. God, Jess. You don’t know how it tears me up inside to think what he might have done to you.”
“But he didn’t. I’m okay. Please, Cary. Just take me home.”
“Alright, sweetheart. Whatever you want.”
Fifteen minutes later, they were pulling in the drive.
“Cary, I’m not ready to face Dad yet,” Jessie said, starting to panic again. “He’d only be full of questions on why I’m back so soon, and I’d rather not tell him what happened.”