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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.
