Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 139029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 695(@200wpm)___ 556(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 695(@200wpm)___ 556(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
Leaning forward, she watched as he went down the hallway to the bedroom where he kept the two gun safes. Going after him, she stood in the doorway as he opened the safes and meticulously counted the guns. She then saw him fiddling with the back of the combination before closing one, then going to the second one.
“What are you doing?”
“Changing the combinations,” he said unrepentantly, closing the other door.
“What’s the combination?”
“I forgot.”
“You forgot?”
“Yes.”
Jessie held on to the doorknob to keep from going after her brother and tearing him apart limb from limb.
“When Logan leaves, can I have that combination?”
“No.”
“Yes! If you don’t, I’ll just go into town and buy myself one.”
“Not without a car, you won’t.”
She lost it.
Running at him, she pounded on his chest with her fists.
Holt caught both fists, holding them against him. “Jessie, you don’t need a gun to protect yourself. No one is getting into this house. I can guarantee that. Knox hired extra deputies to place at the bottom of our driveway, and the cousins are camping out in the woods. We know no one is going to get past the Porters’ property to get to ours. You’re safe, sis. I swear on my life that no one is going to touch you again.”
Jessie laid her forehead on Holt’s chest, crying softly. “I don’t even know who to be afraid of.”
“It doesn’t matter because, unless it’s family or one of the Porters watching over you, you won’t be left alone.”
She raised her head to stare at him incredulously. “Since when do you trust the Porters?”
“Since he saved you. It’s kind of hard not to like a man who saves the most important thing in your life.”
Jessie stepped back from her brother, carefully brushing her tears away. “Did I mess up my makeup?”
“Jessie, you look as pretty as a picture.” Holt’s hard face softened as he looked at her.
Her big brother wasn’t well-liked in Treepoint—none of the Hayeses were. Her father had been responsible for creating the ill will. Then, after he died, Holt and Asher hadn’t cared enough to change the opinions the others had about them, content with what money they could get growing pot and working odd jobs. Nine times out of ten, they would quit those jobs, unable to be bossed around. He didn’t have the patience to pretend to be nice to others, but with her, he had never lost his temper, always showing the affection and care their parents hadn’t been capable of.
“I’m sorry I hit you.”
“Anytime you need a punching bag, I’m here for you,” he joked as they left the bedroom. “I’ll be back in a few hours.”
“Where are you going?”
“Having dinner at the diner with Asher. You want me to bring you something?”
“No thanks. I’ll make myself something after they leave.”
“If you change your mind, just text me.”
“I will.”
Fiddling with one of the rugs in front of the fireplace, she was finally satisfied with the way the house looked. It was a small home with just three bedrooms. The living room was the size of a postage stamp, and the galley kitchen was even smaller. The small dining room was the largest room. Her father built the house to accommodate the large wooden table that had been her mother’s.
She was nervously straightening the glasses on the buffet when she heard the knock on the door. Smoothing down her hair, she went to open the door, looking through the peephole first.
She was nearly bowled over by the little boy who wrapped his thin arms around her hips.
“Miss Jessie, are you okay?”
Jessie leaned over, hugging Logan back. “I’m fine, thank you. You’ve grown so big! Before much longer, you’re going to be as tall as your dad.”
“I’m going to be bigger!” Logan boasted. “Dad said I’m already taller than he was at my age.”
Jessie opened the door wider, motioning for Logan and Dustin to come inside. Then she pretended to study the boy. “You are, by at least a couple of inches.”
“Really? By that much?” Logan’s eyes were filled with joy.
“Yes. Dustin was short at your age.”
At that, Logan strutted toward the couch.
“God, he’s so much like you,” she murmured to Dustin as Logan picked up the television controller and started flicking the channels.
Dustin stared proudly as his son, his chest puffing up just as Logan’s had. “Don’t I know it? He never lets me forget it when he gets in trouble. I had to threaten Rachel to keep her from telling him the things I got into at his age.”
Jessie sat down on the couch with Logan as Dustin took the chair off to the side.
“How’s school, Logan?”
“I’d rather be back in school with you, but Dad won’t let me.” He moved closer to her, dropping the controller onto the floor. “I could help you pass out snacks.”