Safe With You, page 17
Jack didn’t say anything, just listened.
“I ran to my mom’s place, where I’d hid everything.” She could still see her mom standing in her bathrobe, begging her to go back to see if he was okay. “I got on the bus and went as far as I could afford to go. I should’ve checked to see if he was okay.”
He looked straight into her eyes. “You had no other choice. He could’ve killed you.”
She felt a nudge on her leg, and Captain barked. They both looked down. Captain suddenly jumped up on the two of them, licking Jack’s face.
“Ugh, come on, Cap,” Jack said, wiping off the slobber. “That’s not helping.”
Rachael’s anxiety loosened as she watched the two interact. As Jack tried to get Captain to settle down, it only riled him up even more. The dog ran in circles, barking.
“How about a walk?” he asked, but directed the question at her.
“A walk, at night?”
“How else do you see the stars and listen for owls?”
He held out his hand, waiting. She didn’t take it, just looked at it, not sure.
“Take it, Rachael,” he whispered to her. “Trust me.”
She reached out, her fingers fitting perfectly into his.
Sixteen
Jack awoke to Captain licking his face. He sat beside the couch where Jack slept. As the dog’s tail banged against the coffee table, he moaned low in his throat. That little bugger had woken him up. With one eye, Jack peeked at his watch, the sky still as dark as night.
“Cap,” Jack whispered. “It’s still early. Lay down.”
He closed his eye again and shifted on the couch. He listened for Rachael. He didn’t hear anything except another set of low moans coming from Captain.
Jack let out a hushed huff and sat up. Rachael’s door was still open, the light on beside her bed. She lay on her side, facing away from him. She laid still. He grabbed his sweatshirt and tiptoed over to the door. Captain jumped up, looking out. When he opened it up, the dog ran straight to the grass, sniffing around. He definitely had some hound in him.
All the downstairs lights in Maggie’s house had been turned on. The smell of bacon drifted out from inside. The morning was quiet, not a sound besides Captain sniffing around in the bushes. From the east, below the tree line, a soft orange and pink glow rose up. The farm emerged slowly from the night’s shadows. As beautiful as it was, he wished he could hear the familiar rhythm of the ocean’s pulse. The waxing and waning of the water against the rocky coast helped him think, take things in, because his thoughts were wild and out of control.
He understood everything from this point forward would be up to Rachael, but he hoped she’d trust him enough to be open to some of his ideas. There were no reports of a police officer being hurt in the news. No notice of a missing woman from Rhode Island. Nothing about such a crime, or about Rachael, anywhere, at least not on Google.
He thought back to when he went to visit his buddy Alex, hoping he had forgotten about his request to look into Rachael. Alex hadn’t mentioned anything, but Jack knew his friend well enough to know he wouldn’t forget. Now he had to figure out if he should tell Rachael what he asked Alex to do, and risk freaking her out, or talk to Alex first. He might’ve been busy with the storm. He might not have looked into anything yet. He pulled out his phone.
Don’t worry about that favor.
Alex responded right away. No?
Jack responded casually back. All good.
He decided for now, he’d keep this to himself. No need to get Rachael upset for nothing.
RACHAEL STARTED A POT of coffee and watched as Jack ran around in the pasture with Captain, throwing a stick. She smiled as the two played. A bond had developed between them already. She poured a cup for Jack and walked with it out onto the porch.
“Morning.” Her breath billowed out as she walked down the steps, the grass stiff from frost.
“Good morning.” His smile made his eyes glow in the morning rays.
Jack had been a complete gentleman the whole night. He didn’t pressure her into telling more of her story, although she did anyway. When he slept on the couch, he didn’t question why she slept with the lights on. She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow feeling safer than she ever had. She hadn’t slept that deeply in years.
“Did you sleep well?” he asked as she passed the cup of coffee to him, steam rising from the cup.
“Perfect.” She couldn’t keep her eyes off him in the morning sun. Something about his brown stubble and messed up hair made him even more attractive.
He breathed in, and moved closer to her. “You should come back with me today. Finn would love to see you.”
“I can’t.” She shook her head. “Maggie’s going to be in the barn soon, doing the morning chores.”
Jack pulled out his phone and texted. Sliding it back in his pocket, he said, “I guess I’ll have to stay here with you.”
Rachael smiled, but gave him a look. “But what about the restaurant?”
“My mom and dad would love to run things, believe me.”
She looked over at Maggie’s house, then back to him. “That would be perfect.” She leaned forward to kiss him, but startled by the sound of a screen door slamming. All three dogs came charging at them. Captain took off towards them, and she and Jack were smack dab in the middle of their reunion.
“Morning!” Maggie called from the porch. “Anybody want breakfast?”
Rachael bit her bottom lip as she looked at Jack. He kissed her cheek quickly, then waved at Maggie. “I smell bacon.”
He ushered Rachael out of the mob of dogs by placing his hand on the small of her back. His touch was gentle, but she could feel her body heating where he rested his hand.
He opened the door for her as they reached the porch. Maggie gestured at the full table. Pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausage. A glass bottle of maple syrup sat next to bottles of ketchup and tabasco sauce.
“You didn’t forget a thing,” Jack said, pulling out a chair for Rachael.
“It’s nice to be able to cook for someone.” Maggie pushed the plates closer to them. “Well, dig in.”
“Are you staying for the Pumpkin Festival?” Maggie asked, as they filled their plates.
“There’s a festival?” Jack spooned eggs onto his plate, then looked at Rachael. “That sounds fun.”
“You have to go if you’re in town. Thousands of pumpkins lit up along the streets. Half of them are mine!” Maggie paused and said, “Do you mind if I say grace?”
“Not at all.” Rachael put her napkin in her lap and Jack took her hand. Her heart skipped a beat at his gesture, almost leaping out of her chest. She instinctively started to cover her smile, but he squeezed her hand, holding on.
“Thank you Lord, for blessing us with this beautiful morning together with this bountiful food. Thank you for bringing Rachael here to help on the farm along with her friend, Jack. May you bless them with good health and love, always. Amen.”
“Amen,” Jack said back, but held onto her hand, until Maggie asked him to serve the pancakes.
Rachael could still feel his touch as she placed her hands in her lap, tears stinging the back of her eyes. She didn’t want to look up, because she was sure she’d start crying. She’d never been happier in her life. Her emotions spilled over.
“Rachael?” Jack said, as a tear fell into her lap. “You okay?”
Rachael sniffled and nodded, using her other hand to wipe it away. “I’ve never been better.”
JACK SPENT THE WHOLE day following Rachael around the farm, feeding animals, trimming trees. They loaded pumpkins in Maggie’s truck for an emergency delivery to the festival.
“They’re about to break the record!” Maggie sped out of the driveway.
By the afternoon, when the sun started to settle in the distance, Jack stopped her in the middle of the barn and kissed her, like he had all day between chores. Whenever there was a free moment or time to spare, he’d kiss her, breathe in her scent, take in everything about her before he had to let her go and get back to work. “You still want to head into town?”
She stopped shoveling, holding onto its handle. “I don’t know.”
“Come on,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist. “I’ll get you some cotton candy.”
But he could see her worry working like a disease spreading through her blood. The longer she hesitated, the more he worried for her. Living a life of fear would be just as isolating as her life before, with Nick.
“I’ll be there with you,” he said. He could see her sinking further in. He took hold of her hand and squeezed it.
“Okay.” But she looked uneasy about it.
Unable to hold back, he kissed her again, and when they finally parted, he said, “We should probably help with the record.”
“Huh?”
He pulled her out of the barn by the hand, picking up a pumpkin from the patch. “We should carve Captain.”
He heard her laugh, and felt that warm feeling inside his chest. He gave a loud whistle. All the dogs came barreling through the barn door. Barking enveloped them as the dogs bounced around each other.
“Let’s go, Cap,” he commanded, and Captain left the group, following at Jack’s heels. He stopped and kissed her one last time before they went back in. He wanted to keep Rachael as happy as she had been all day. Show her what life could be like together.
After carving what ended up being a ghost instead of a dog, they headed to the festival with Captain. Her lips and her taste lingered on his mind as they drove. Turning the music’s volume up, he played a country song he had never appreciated until that moment about how love could change a man’s life. Never had lyrics spoken to him more than they did at that moment. Sneaking a glance at her, he almost told her how he felt, but for some reason hesitated.
By the time they reached the little town of Profile Falls, the sun had fallen behind the houses. Thousands of glowing jack-o- lanterns lined the main street. After they registered their pumpkin, Jack and Rachael walked hand in hand as they looked at all the different kinds of carvings. Some stuck to a Halloween theme with cats and witches and scary faces, while others had cool designs or words.
“Look!” Rachael pointed to a row of pumpkins that spelled out ‘Will you marry me?’ “That’s so sweet.”
Under a tent, they saw Maggie with some of her friends at the pig roast, and joined them for dinner. Every time Jack noticed Rachael’s body tense up or stiffen, he’d make sure she remembered he was close, either by holding her hand, or giving her a light touch. Something to remind her she wasn’t alone.
After they ate, they sat around talking as the band set up.
“You two dance?” Maggie asked.
Rachael looked out as people cleared the tables and chairs away from the dance floor. “I loved to go dancing.”
Jack took that as an invitation, and as soon as the music began, he handed over Captain’s leash to Maggie, grabbed Rachael’s hand, and tugged her toward the tiny open space in front of the stage. Placing one hand on the small of her back, he took her other hand in his. She stood back, slightly unsure, but he drew her in closer, moving in sync to the rhythm of the music. Soon she fell into step with his lead.
“You can really dance,” she said impressed.
“My grandmother taught us kids when we spent the night at her house. Elizabeth was always my partner.” That made her laugh. He moved her around the dance floor with only a simple two-step. “This is about all I know.”
“It’s perfect.” She gave him a look before resting her head against his shoulder. He wanted this moment to last forever. He made a silent promise that he’d never let anyone hurt Rachael again. He’d do whatever he had to do in order to protect her.
Seventeen
Jack watched as Rachael slept in the crook of his arm on the couch as an old DVD played. He had lost the feeling in his arm at least an hour ago, but he hadn’t moved for fear of waking her up. She actually looked serene, calm. Every time she stirred, he would lean into her movements.
When the movie credits rolled, Jack shifted and shoved his arm underneath her legs, and in one movement he swept her up. Her eyes shot open and she jumped out of his arms, back onto the couch.
“Whoa!” He held out his hands as Rachael caught her breath. “I’m sorry. You fell asleep and I was going to carry you to your bed.”
Her eyes were wide with alarm. “I didn’t realize I fell asleep.”
Captain stretched as he got up from the floor. “I’ll bring Cap outside one last time. I can close everything up when I come back in.”
“You’re staying here, right?”
He nodded.
He kissed her on the forehead. “I’ll be right back.”
He opened the door and let Captain out before he gave away his disappointment. Not that he wanted things to move quickly, but he still didn’t know her feelings. His breath steamed under the porch light. He stepped down onto the grass and looked up to the night sky. The stars felt closer that night than most.
The night air had a bite to it, and he wished he’d grabbed his coat before going out. Captain sniffed along the back of the barn. The night’s silence made him think too much. He knew Adam would be able to help her. He didn’t know the law, but she had a reason to protect herself. If her husband had been hurt or worse, he was sure there would have been news about it. Nick wasn’t on that floor anymore, that was for sure.
It took all he had not to go after Nick himself.
“Hurry up, Cap,” he whispered as the dog moseyed around, finding the perfect spot.
Rachael was already in bed, when he came in from outside, her back to him with the bedside lamp on. He quietly took off his boots and walked toward the couch, which had a pillow and a couple of blankets on it. He sat down, looking at her. Captain moaned as he stretched out on the floor in front of her bed.
He let out a long sigh as he leaned back on the couch and fell asleep.
Before he knew it, he woke to a rooster crowing. Outside, gray clouds covered the sky, but enough light illuminated the windows to give the small cabin’s interior a warm glow. Jack noticed that Rachael wasn’t in the bedroom. He looked around. The bathroom door was open, but the room was empty. He looked outside and saw the lights on in the barn, and Maggie’s house fully aglow.
Stretching as he sat up, he grabbed his shirt before heading to the door. Cold air rushed into the cabin, and he stepped outside quickly. Rubbing his hands to fight the chill, he walked to the barn.
As he passed by Maggie’s place, Captain ran out of the barn and straight at him. Barking ensued from inside the house. The kitchen door opened and Maggie’s dogs came charging out.
“Morning!” Maggie waved from the door.
“Morning,” he said back.
“How’d you sleep?” her tone was mischievous.
“Fine.” Not wanting Maggie to get the wrong impression he added, “The couch is really comfortable.”
She chuckled. “I’m glad to hear it.” She waved again as she closed the kitchen door.
As he rounded the corner into the barn, he stopped as he saw Rachael rubbing the horse’s neck, talking to it. The calm and serene Rachael, not the frightened, wild-eyed woman of last night.
“Hey,” he said, walking up to her.
“I thought I’d let you sleep.” She continued to pet the horse.
He dreaded what he was about to say. “I’m going to head back, probably soon.”
She nodded, stepping slightly away from him... or was he just overthinking? She rubbed the horse’s back.
He followed her. “I was thinking I could come back in a couple days.”
She smiled, but kept her eyes on the horse, stepping a bit further back. She scratched on the horse’s thigh. “Okay.”
He tugged at her hand and catching her eyes. “You okay?”
Her forehead creased. “I don’t want you to feel you have to come back.”
He made a face at her. “I want to come back.”
Her focus went back to the horse, but he noticed tears clinging to the corners of her eyes.
“What’s going on, Rachael?” He moved closer to her. “Talk to me.”
She faked a smile. “I’m fine.”
“I’ll be back here in a couple of days,” he reassured her.
“Yup,” she took in a breath, then blew it out.
“Or you could just come back with me, right now.”
She shook her head. “A couple days?”
He tried to catch her eyes again, but she kept shifting them away before he could really see what was going on. But something had changed with Rachael between last night and this morning.
SOMETHING IN THE PIT of Rachael’s stomach told her to tell him to stay, but instead she shook her head as he got ready to leave.
“Come back with me,” Jack pleaded as they walked to his truck. It had been at least his fifth time trying to convince her.
She wanted so badly to say yes. It would be so easy. Jack would take care of her. She knew he was one of the good guys. She’d be unbelievably happy, but would he?
She took a step back toward the barn. “I can’t.”
She thought of the night before. Jack a complete gentleman, sleeping on the couch, not pushing her boundaries. It hadn’t been easy to lie in her bed, alone, knowing he was only feet away from her. She could feel the heat coming off him even from the other room.
And now he was asking her to come back with him. How come life threw her everything she wanted when she couldn’t have it?
“Jack, please.” She didn’t want to argue.
