by Marla Monroe
* * * *
School breezed by the next few weeks as she concentrated on the kids and her lesson plans. The men called her every day after work to find out how her day went. She grew to depend on those calls, as being away from them had been harder than she’d realized it would be. Now that they’d all confessed their feelings, she wanted to be with them more and more. Where would all of it lead?
They’d missed having their Saturday the last weekend since she’d gone with Brenda to help her pick out her wedding dress. They’d spent the day in the city choosing shoes, lingerie, and discussing the wedding reception. Jessie had had an amazing time, but she’d missed the guys.
By the next Friday she was anxious to see them, but they’d planned for Saturday afternoon. She’d suggested going riding, but the guys had vetoed that idea since the person who’d shot her was still out there somewhere. She shivered at the thought of her two men outside with the bastard still at large.
She and Brenda planned on meeting up at the pizza place that night to catch up. She couldn’t wait to tell her the news. She was sure the other woman would be happy for her. Her only worry was that Brenda would start planning a wedding for her. That was still down the road if it happened at all. Secretly, she hoped it would, but she couldn’t help but wonder who she’d marry if they asked.
“So how was your week?” Brenda asked.
“Long, but good. What about yours?” Jessie asked.
“Same here. My dress came in, and it was the wrong color. I ordered candlelight, and it came in off-white,” the other woman said.
“Oh my God. What did you do?”
“I sent it back and told them they better get it right and put a rush on it. I was so upset.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t call me. I know you were devastated to see it.”
“I didn’t want to bother you about it.”
“That’s what friends are for. That’s what your maid of honor is for,” Jessie reminded her.
“I know. I know.”
“Are you getting wedding jitters already?” Jessie teased.
“No. Yes. I don’t know.” Brenda waved her hands in the air. Tears glistened in her eyes.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Jessie reached over and took one of the other woman’s hands.
“I don’t know. I’m just worried I’m making a mistake.”
“Why would you think that?” Jessie asked.
“We’ve only known each other for eight months. What if he decides he doesn’t really love me?”
“Are you kidding me? He’s head over hills in love with you. The way he looks at you is proof enough. You’re his world, Brenda.”
“Really? You think so?”
“I know so. I can see it when he looks at you. What started all of this?” Jessie asked.
“I’ve been trying to get him to help make choices about the wedding, but he doesn’t seem all that interested in it,” Brenda said.
“Brenda, most men don’t want to have anything to do with planning one. It’s a woman thing, not a guy thing. They could care less about colors and flowers. You know that.”
“I know, I know. I guess I’m overly sensitive with everything coming up so soon. I’m afraid I won’t be ready, that I won’t have everything done by the time it gets here.” Brenda leaned back when the waitress brought their drinks.
“Tell me what you need me to do. I haven’t done much to help you. That’s not right. I’m supposed to help and take some of the pressure off you.” Jessie felt guilty. She’d been so caught up in dating Cole and Wesson that she’d neglected her best friend.
“You’ve been wonderful. I don’t think I could have gotten through this without you. There really isn’t all that much left to do. I’m just panicking. That’s all.”
“Nonsense. Do you need me to work on the reception some more? Have you hired the musicians?” she asked.
“That’s all done. I actually got Steve to help me with that part. He knew a band he liked and asked them to play at the reception,” Brenda told her.
“Great. See, he’s helped. I know you’ve already picked out the flowers, but what about the decorations for the reception? Is everything we picked out turning out okay? Has any of it come in yet?” Jessie asked.
They discussed the reception up until their pizza came then concentrated on eating with a word here and there about colors and food. Jessie was antsy to tell her friend her good news but hesitated since Brenda was having a mini-crisis. It could wait.
By the time they’d finished eating, Brenda seemed back to her old self, laughing and smiling as they exchanged work stories.
“What about you and the guys? How is everything going between you three?” Brenda asked.
“Really good.” She debated about telling the other woman about what they’d told her, but she was so excited she couldn’t keep it in.
“They told me they love me,” she blurted out.
Brenda’s face exploded into a smile so bright Jessie was sure it rivaled hers.
“Oh my God! That’s perfect. Did you tell them back? Sure you did. I know you love them.”
“I did. I can’t believe they said it though. It still feels like a dream,” she admitted.
“Do they call you during the week?” Brenda asked.
“Every night,” Jessie admitted.
“That’s love. They can’t stand to be away from you. That’s wonderful news. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me right away,” the other woman gushed.
“I was too worried about you. My news could wait.” Jessie patted the other woman’s hand.
“Have they asked you to marry them yet?” Brenda asked.
“No. It’s too soon. I don’t expect them to do that yet. I mean I hope they will one day, but it’s too soon. We haven’t known each other very long at all,” Jessie said.
“Long enough for them to fall for you. This is wonderful news.”
They talked for another thirty minutes, and then they agreed that it was time to go. Brenda said that Steve was supposed to come by later that night. She seemed much more relaxed and happy after their talk.
“Don’t forget that the fitting is next Saturday at ten a.m.,” Brenda said.
“I won’t. I can’t wait to see everyone all dressed up.”
They said good-bye and parted ways outside in the parking lot. Jessie drove home feeling light and relaxed. Brenda had been her best friend since grade school. They’d always gotten along and were so much alike that she felt like a sister to her even more than her best friend. Seeing Brenda distressed over the wedding had worried her, but now that the crisis was past, Jessie thought about how she’d feel if the guys asked her to marry them. Would she get as frazzled as her friend?
I’m jumping ahead of myself. They might not ask me. They may just want to keep things like they are.
That worried her for a few minutes. She brushed it away. She couldn’t marry two men, so they might not want to get married at all. They might just want to move in together. That would mean she’d move in with them since they had a ranch to run.
Thinking of that made her wonder about the person who’d shot her and how the guys didn’t want her out riding with them. They were worried that she’d be shot again. Why would someone want to shoot people, much less live stock? It was sick and wrong in so many ways.
Jessie brushed the thought aside and relaxed in her favorite chair to read before bed. She’d just about decided to head to bed when her phone rang. She smiled as Wesson’s name greeted her when she picked up her phone.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said by way of greeting.
“Hey, you. How are you and Cole doing?” she asked.
“Good. What about you?”
“Great. I miss you two.”
“We miss you, too. How was your diner with Brenda?” he asked.
Jessie glossed over their meal together, leaving out the other woman’s worries and talked about her wedding plans instead. To her surprise, Wesson was more inter
ested in it than she would have believed.
“What about the guy who’s been shooting at the cattle and horses? Any word on who it is?” she asked.
“Not yet. The sheriff is working on trying to find out who it is.”
“I hope he does soon. I want to go horseback riding with you two again. I really enjoyed it.”
“We want to go, too, but not until this asshole is caught. It’s too dangerous. We’re not risking your life like that.” Wesson’s voice had grown hard.
“Do you think they’ll ever catch him? Has he shot anything else lately?”
“They’ll catch him. But no. He hasn’t as far as we know.”
“I just can’t understand anyone who’d shoot defenseless animals. That’s just cruel,” she said.
“He shot you, Jessie. He obviously doesn’t care about anyone but himself.” Wesson’s voice had grown cold.
Jessie could hear Cole on the other end saying something. Wesson spoke with the other man then sighed.
“Cole wants to talk to you. Hold on,” Wesson said with some reluctance.
“Hey, darling. Don’t let Wesson dampen your mood. We’re both worried about you and don’t want to see you hurt again,” Cole told her.
“I know. I worry about you guys out working, as well. He could shoot one of you, you know.” Jessie wanted him to know she worried about them, as well.
“We’re fine, hon. So are you up to going out Saturday night?” he asked.
“Sounds great. Where are we going?”
“How about to eat fish at the fish house over in Searcy?”
“That sounds yummy. I love fish.”
“Great. It’s a date.”
They talked for a few more minutes then hung up with Jessie feeling on top of the world. They’d both ended the call by telling her they loved her. She couldn’t stop her face from splitting into a broad smile the rest of the night. She refused to let anything dampen her happiness. Not even the bastard who was still out there preventing her from riding with her men.
Chapter Seventeen
“Well, the two men you gave me are clear. They were both working when the attack on Jessie happened,” the sheriff told Wesson and Cole.
“Are you sure? Was there any way one of them could have slipped away?” Wesson asked.
“I’m sure. They were both working for a ranch almost seventy-five miles from here and were surrounded by the other ranch hands as they rounded up some cattle for sale. No way either one of them could have been here from that far away,” the sheriff said.
“What about the drug? Have you figured out how he got it?” Wesson asked.
“I checked with the doctors surrounding us, and no one is missing any of their supply. It’s possible he could have gotten it some other way, but I haven’t figured out how at this point,” the sheriff said.
“Damn. We’re back to square one,” Wesson said.
“Don’t get too involved with this, guys. It’s a law enforcement job. Not yours,” the sheriff said.
“The bastard shot Jessie. She’s our woman. There’s no way we’re not getting involved. We’re already involved,” Wesson said with vehemence.
“I don’t want you guys mixed up in this. It’s dangerous and could jeopardize the investigation,” the other man said.
“We’re not standing by while someone takes potshots at our ranch and our woman,” Wesson said again.
“Damnit, Wesson. Don’t make me arrest you for interfering with an investigation.”
“I’m not interfering, just keeping my eyes open,” Wesson said.
Cole nudged him. “We’re not going to do anything that will risk letting this guy get away.”
“See that you don’t,” the sheriff said then walked back to his vehicle and climbed in.
After the sheriff drove off, Wesson cursed and jabbed his hands on his hips. They were nowhere with catching this guy. Who the hell could it be? Why was he doing it in the first place? He couldn’t help but believe it was someone who didn’t like the threesomes cropping up all over town.
“What are you thinking?” Cole asked him.
“I still think it has something to do with our lifestyle. The only ranches that have been hit are those with a threesome relationship or that are open about wanting one,” he said.
“I agree with you on that. The problem is, how do we figure out who it is? There have been several people who’ve been public about their disapproval.”
“I think it’s going to be someone who hasn’t spoken up in public about it. They’re too cowardly to be obvious about it,” Wesson said.
“Maybe you’re right, but that doesn’t get us any closer to figuring out who it is.”
“I know you’re right, but it’s the best I can come up with.”
Wesson wanted to approach everyone in town and demand to know how they felt about their dating Jessie but knew it wouldn’t do any good and would only stir things up with people who didn’t feel one way or another about their relationship. It was a crazy idea at best. But he couldn’t stand to do nothing. There just had to be something they could do.
“I have a feeling the only way this guy is going to get caught is when he messes up, and that might not be in time to save someone from being seriously injured or worse,” Wesson said.
“I’m afraid you’re right. If he’s careful, he could still be out there this time next year.” Cole jabbed his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “I’ve got the hands keeping their eyes open for anything suspicious, but I don’t expect them to see or find anything. Let’s just hope he’s stopped screwing around and has given up. Maybe the sheriff poking around has him scared and he’s stopped.”
“You don’t believe that any more than I do. He’s still out there plotting his next move. It’s only a matter of time before he strikes again,” Wesson said.
“You’re probably right, but I’m hoping I’m right instead.”
“I’m almost afraid for Jessie to even come home with us on the weekends. How do we know he won’t come closer to the house and shoot her while she’s here?” Wesson asked.
“I don’t think he’s going to risk getting too close.”
“I hope you’re right about that. I don’t want anything else happen to Jessie. That took years off my life seeing her lying there unconscious.” Wesson turned toward the house. “I need a beer. Want one?”
“Yeah. That sounds pretty damn good right about now.” Cole followed him inside.
“Is it too soon to think about asking Jessie to marry us?” Wesson asked.
Cole stopped just inside the kitchen and stared at him.
“What?” Wesson asked.
“You’re talking about marriage. That’s not like you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re always the one to put the brakes on in our relationships,” Cole said.
“I love Jessie. I don’t want to do that with her. I want her here with us for more than a night or two here and there.”
“I’m with you on that, but I’d feel better if this guy were caught before we ask her to marry us. Having her here full time just increases the chance that she could get hurt again,” Cole said.
Wesson knew his brother was right. With the bastard still at large, having her at the ranch all the time outside of her job increased the chances he’d shoot her again. And the next time might not be with a tranquilizer. No, Cole was right. They needed to hold off on asking her for now. It grated on him though.
“You’re right. I don’t want to take any chances with her life. Doesn’t stop me from wanting her near us though.” Wesson turned up his beer and drained it before tossing the empty bottle into the recycling bin.
“I feel the same way. She makes me smile even when I’ve had a tough-as-shit day,” Cole said.
“Yeah. That about sums it up,” Wesson agreed.
* * * *
Jessie stood outside the cafeteria watching the kids file in to eat. She smiled at the ones who called out to her and nodded
at them. She loved her job, but there were days when she got frustrated with the troublemakers. Today, two of her older boys were disruptive in class by being sarcastic about the reading they’d had for class that morning. It was obvious they hadn’t bothered to read it, but they’d trashed it as if they had.
“This is all stupid. What does some old-as-hell story have to do with the world today?” one of them had asked.
“It’s all just dumb stories about lame people who act like wimps,” the other boy had said.
The entire class had erupted into chaos, choosing sides and turning her normally quiet classroom into a battleground of sorts. It had taken her the rest of the period to calm everyone down and a trip to the principal’s office with the two unruly teens.
Now, as she stood just inside the doorway of the cafeteria, the assistant principal strode up with a sour expression on his face. Jessie knew trouble when she saw it.
“You seem to be having a hard time keeping your class in order, Jessie,” he said by way of a greeting.
“There will always be a couple of kids who act out. Literature isn’t something most boys enjoy,” she said.
“They don’t respect you. I wonder why that is?” he asked.
“What do you mean?”
“The kids looks up to us to direct them in life. We’re supposed to be morally good adults so that the kids will grow up with strong morals and a good work ethic,” he said.
“What is that supposed to mean? I have a great work ethic and good morals. What are you suggesting?” she asked again.
“Dating two men isn’t good morals, Jessie. You’re teaching these kids that they don’t have to follow the rules. That’s not a good thing to teach young impressionable teenagers when they’re already exploring their sexuality,” he said.
“My personal life doesn’t have any bearing on my teaching skills. None of the kids have even mentioned who I’m dating in class. I seriously doubt it is a big deal to them considering that it is so prevalent in town anyway.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that. Kids talk, and teenagers talk even more. You can bet they’re discussing it behind your back and in the hallways. As your assistant principal, I’m warning you that pursuing this type of relationship will harm your career plans. I’d think twice about continuing down the path you’re headed,” he said.
