by Theresa Hall
“You’re right, Dad. I shouldn’t have come here with her. We need to leave.” He started to stand.
“No, son. Sit down.”
Images of his wife and daughter alive in his parents’ house flashed through his mind. It was getting harder to breathe as the grief filled his lungs. Whoever said time eased the pain had never lost a family.
“Jackson.”
He felt his dad’s hand on his arm. He eased back down on the couch.
His father’s hand rested firmly on his knee, squeezing it to get his attention. “Son, look at me.”
Jackson lifted his eyes to his father’s face.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but I can tell it’s got you a wreck. Stay here for the night. Get some sleep. You’ll be safe here.”
He desperately needed some sleep and some time to think, but he couldn’t stay. “We could all be in danger. Even you and Mom. They keep finding us. This time I didn’t tell anyone where we were going, so we should be okay. I’m on leave so I didn’t check in.”
His dad tapped Jackson’s arm and shook his head to signal him to stop talking.
“Steven and Jackson! Lunch is ready!” His mom appeared in the living room. She watched the two of them for a second, then disappeared back into the kitchen.
“Come on, son. Eat, rest. We’ll talk more later, but not in front of your mother.”
Sleep would give his mind some clarity. He needed to figure out a lot of things, and he needed to check on Devon again while they were here. As he stepped into the kitchen, he saw his mom and Allison giggling like a couple of schoolgirls. Something his mom had never done with Hope. Allison looked up to catch him staring.
“Hey, your mom was just telling me stories about you.”
“Great, Mom. Why don’t you break out the photo albums?”
His mom giggled and winked at Allison. “Too late.”
“You were so cute when you were little.” Allison held up a baby picture of Jackson.
“Say it ain’t so, Mom.” He walked to the table and sat down next to her. He reached out and snatched the picture from Allison’s hand. “Let me see that.”
Jackson studied the picture. It was of a dark-haired little boy about three years old. He was wearing superhero underwear and sitting on a tricycle. He couldn’t help but laugh.
“Mom, that’s not me.” He tossed the picture onto the table. “That’s Eric.”
His mom grabbed the photo and stared closely at it for a few seconds. “No kidding? Wow, you boys look more alike than I ever realized.”
“Allison, where are you from?” his dad asked.
“I grew up in Houston.”
“Any family there?” His mother fired off a question as she plated the food.
Jackson watched pain settle over Allison’s features. He knew she missed her family and her home.
“No, my parents live in New Mexico.”
“That’s nice. Any brothers or sisters?”
“Yes, I have one sister. She lives in Stonewater. She has two little girls. In fact, she had a baby recently. I was supposed to be there for the birth. But I caught the flu and missed it.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that, dear. How about some sweet tea?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Jackson noticed the sadness on Allison’s face. Most women wouldn’t have held up as well as Allison in this situation. He admired her strength.
They all sat down as his mom poured four glasses of tea and set them on the table in front of them. After lunch was over and they had cleared the dishes, his mom showed Allison to a spare bedroom so she could rest. Jackson sat on the porch sipping a cup of coffee with one hand and scratching Sugar’s head with the other.
The front door creaked open and his dad joined him.
“Mind if I sit with you?”
“Not at all.” Jackson scooted over on the porch swing. His dad eased down next to him. Sugar laid her head in his lap waiting for a good ear rub.
“She’s spoiled rotten,” Jackson said. Sugar shot a look at him as if she understood him.
“Allison’s a tough girl. She held it in, but you can tell she’s been through a lot lately.”
Jackson wasn’t the only one who’d noticed Allison’s brave front. “Yeah, she has. She thinks the cartel is after her for accidentally taking a picture of the man in the truck. I didn’t tell her any differently, but if that’s all it was, they wouldn’t be able to find her so easily. I wish I knew why this was happening.”
“Your mother and I will be praying for her. While we’re talking about her, what’s really between the two of you?”
“Not a thing. I was moving her to a safe house when they came after us. One thing after another led us here.”
“Well, I like her.”
Jackson couldn’t help but notice how his parents took to her.
“Mom sure liked her. She was never like that with Hope.”
His dad cleared his throat. “You know why that is, Jackson?”
“No, I really don’t know, Dad. Why?”
“She loved Hope, but Hope was always jealous of you being so close to your family. She didn’t have much of a family, so we bent over backward to include her. I don’t think she meant it, but I think she was always a little jealous.”
Jackson stood from the swing. Sugar moved out of his way to go lay on the welcome mat. “I don’t like you talking about Hope like that, Dad.”
“Come on, Jackson. You need to talk about her. You’ve run away from this for too long now. Allison is a sweet girl. There’s nothing wrong with you having a woman in your life.”
His dad sounded like everyone else. Why was it so important to talk about something that hurt so much?
“Dad, I’m okay. I don’t really need to talk about it. I’ve accepted it as much as any man can.”
His dad stood up and walked to the door, shoving Sugar out of the way with the toe of his boot. “Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. Psalm 37:37.” His dad patted him on the shoulder. “Find your peace, son. It’s time.”
He watched his dad take Sugar inside. He was glad to be left alone. Jackson sat back down on the swing and thought about those words. Maybe his dad was right. It had been years, and he was still wallowing in his self-pity. His heart yearned to talk to God about it, but he still felt too vulnerable. He wasn’t ready to bare his heart to God or anyone else. He closed his eyes to shut the world out. A few minutes later, the creaking front door jarred him back to reality.
“Jackson, can I join you?”
His eyes flew open. Allison’s sweet voice ran down his back.
“Sure.” He moved over to give her space.
“Your parents are really great. They’re so kind.” Her voice cracked. She turned away and cleared her throat.
“Thank you. I should visit them more often. I feel bad that I don’t.”
“I know what you mean. Same here. I miss my parents. The past few days have made me see how much I have taken my family for granted. I hope I get to see them again.”
Her resolve crumbled and she buried her face in her hands. Jackson put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into him.
“I’m sorry this has happened to you,” he whispered. He kissed the top of her head.
She pulled away, wiped her cheeks, then turned to him. Jackson brushed a stray tear from her face with his finger. For the first time in a long time, his heart longed for a woman in his life.
“How do you do it?”
Her question brought him back to his senses. “Do what?”
“Deal with criminals and dangerous people.”
She looked at him, waiting for an answer. Only he didn’t have one. He didn’t want to answer her question. He only wanted to think about what he was feeling sitti
ng in the swing next to her. He pulled her into him and lifted her chin with his finger.
She stared up at him. Confused. Afraid. He didn’t really know what he was seeing in her eyes, but he didn’t care to figure it out.
He brushed a kiss across her lips. The familiar softness of a woman’s mouth made him wonder if he was dreaming. He’d never had these feelings for any woman since meeting Hope. As familiar as kissing a woman’s lips felt, it was also new and exciting. And if he had to be honest, it was scary.
But it felt right.
Allison placed a hand on his cheek and returned the kiss. After what felt like minutes, she pulled back. Her finger traced the line of his jaw as her eyes followed.
“You are the most handsome...most confusing...” She stopped and grinned. “And I must add moodiest man I’ve ever met.”
Jackson laughed. “Then I’m surprised you didn’t slap me for kissing you.”
“Why did you?”
This woman. Why couldn’t she let him feel what he wanted without analyzing his every word or action? Thinking about why he kissed her wasn’t something he felt like doing.
Before he could answer, she sprang from the swing. “You know what, let’s forget that it happened. It’s okay. Really. I know we’re both under a lot of stress right now.”
He pulled both hands down his face and moaned. “Stop, Allison. Please.”
Jackson grabbed her hand and pulled her back down to the swing. “Allison, I kissed you because I wanted to. If you make me think about it more than that, it’ll just make me second-guess everything I say or do from here on out. I wanted to and I liked it.”
He leaned forward and kissed her cheek and then brushed another kiss over her mouth. “And that one is because you wanted me to.” Jackson stood and headed toward the front door. He stopped and smiled when he noticed the flush on her cheeks. “I’m starving.” He winked at her, then went inside.
* * *
A newfound anxiousness swept over her. Unsure if she needed to laugh or cry, she pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. She stared across the landscape, reliving the kiss over and over in her mind.
Somehow, in the middle of running for their lives, she’d fallen for this man. A cop with an attitude as big as Texas. She wondered how this thing between them would end. How this would all end. Deep in her soul she knew she would be all right. Her faith in God was the only thing keeping her going. Even if those lunatics did kill her, her faith told her she’d have eternal life. But if she made it through this ordeal, would she have Jackson?
There were so many unanswered questions, but for now she needed to relax. She stood from the swing and headed toward the door. Something rustled in the distance. Allison stopped, frozen with fear. The pale light of dusk made it hard to see more than shadows. It was probably her imagination. Besides, Jackson promised her no one would find them out here.
“Who’s there?” Her voice shook with fear. The silence felt as if it had swallowed her up whole. The snapping of a twig sent her racing across the porch. Allison threw the front door open and ran face first into Jackson’s chest. His strong arms wrapped around her and held her to him.
“Whoa. What’s got you scared?” His tone was thick with concern.
Her heart hammered in her ears. “I heard something.” She fought to catch her next breath.
Worry etched across his face. “Like what?”
“Rustling. Snapping. I called out to see if someone was out there, but no one answered me. I thought you said no one would find us here.” She fought to catch her breath.
“Stay inside the house. I’ll take a look.”
Allison watched him reach behind his back to pull out a pistol. He obviously knew as well as she did that they weren’t safe anywhere.
“Allison, come in and have a cup of coffee with us before dinner.” His mother motioned for her to come into the kitchen.
Her stomach knotted at the invitation. She didn’t want to tell his mom that her son was in the front yard looking for a killer. Sitting down to coffee wasn’t something she could do while Jackson was out there putting himself in danger.
“Oh, no thank you. I can’t have caffeine this late in the afternoon. I’ll never sleep tonight.”
“Don’t be silly. It’s decaf. I have a chocolate cake to go with it. Come on in here.”
Every second with Jackson out there seemed like one too many. Allison tried to smile as if nothing was wrong. “Thank you. I’d love some cake. Chocolate is my favorite.”
She followed his mother into the kitchen and sat at the table. A mug of coffee and a piece of cake were already waiting for her.
“I don’t know what you like in your coffee, dear. I left it black. We have sugar and artificial sweetener, cream, flavored syrups. How would you like it?”
Allison hardly heard a word as she focused on the sound of Jackson coming through the front door.
“Allison?”
“Oh, uh, black is fine. Thank you.”
Steven Archer’s laughter filled the kitchen. “I read an article the other day about how psychopaths drink black coffee.”
“Steven! That’s rude.”
Under normal circumstances Allison would’ve found that funny. Right now, the only thing she wanted to hear was the sound of Jackson coming back inside.
The back door to the kitchen opened and Jackson walked in. “What’s so funny?”
Allison fought the urge to run to him and wrap her arms around his neck. She let out a breath and sank down into her chair.
His mom piped up. “Oh, you know your dad. His idea of funny isn’t always funny.”
“He thinks I’m a psychopath because I drink my coffee black.”
“You know, I read an article about that the other day.”
Laughter boomed around the kitchen.
“Like father, like son.” His mother shook her head.
Allison couldn’t help but laugh. She liked his parents. It wasn’t hard to tell that he’d been raised in a wonderful, loving home. Jackson walked around the table to take a seat next to her. As he passed her, he leaned down and whispered in her ear.
“It’s all good.” He grinned just before grabbing her plate of cake. “Thanks.” He shoved a big bite into his mouth.
“Jackson, that was for Allison,” his mother scolded him like he was a five-year-old.
Sugar’s bark reverberated around the kitchen and everyone froze. The massive dog barreled from the room with her teeth bared.
Jackson bolted from his chair. “Stay here!”
“I’m going with you. It’s my house,” Steven said.
Jackson grabbed Allison’s arm. “Whatever you hear, please don’t go out there.”
FOURTEEN
“Dad, stay with Mom.”
Jackson went into the living room and peered out of the front door window. Sugar stood next to him still baring her teeth.
His dad emerged from the hallway carrying a hunting rifle. “Dad, no. Stay here with Mom. I’ve got this.”
“Don’t talk back to me, son.”
A scream came from the kitchen. Jackson raced past his dad. Allison met him as she bolted from the kitchen.
“What happened?”
His dad stood behind him with a rifle pointed at the door. “What’d you hear, Lynda?”
“Someone tried to come in through the back door.”
“Are you sure?” Jackson looked at Allison. Fear shone in her eyes.
Lynda nodded. “The doorknob rattled. I always keep it locked. I’m setting the alarm. No one will get in here without us knowing it.” His mom walked to the panel on the kitchen wall and engaged the alarm system. “The code is Archer spelled backward, in case you need it, Jackson.”
A quietness settled over the room. Jackson looked around the kitchen. “Whe
re’s Sugar?”
“Did you let her out?” His dad ran back to the living room.
Panic knotted Jackson’s stomach, and he raced toward the front door right on his dad’s heels. The dog wasn’t in the house.
“Dad, I didn’t let her out. I know for a fact the door was closed. She was standing right behind me when I looked out the window.”
“Turn the alarm off, Lynda!”
“Steven, no!”
“Now, Lynda. Sugar is outside.”
His mom didn’t ask questions. She disarmed the system and stood in the living room, her face pale. Allison hovered behind her.
“Can she open the door?” Jackson felt the door knob for teeth marks.
“She never has before.” His dad shot him a concerned look.
“Stay here. I’ll go find her.”
Jackson opened the front door, his pistol extended as his eyes swept the porch. He stepped over the threshold. “Sugar!” He called out the dog’s name a few more times. Nothing. “Dad, flip on the floodlight.”
The front yard brightened with a soft yellow hue. Jackson eased down the steps. A bump sounded from the side of the house. He swallowed hard. How could they have found them here? If he’d put his parents’ lives in danger, he’d never forgive himself.
Heavy breathing sounded behind him. Jackson spun around. Out of the darkness something knocked him off balance. It took him a second to realize it was the dog.
“Sugar.” Trying to catch his breath, he steadied himself against the dog’s lunges. “Come on, girl. Let’s get you back inside.”
Jackson led the dog into the house and shut the door. This time he locked it. “Turn the alarm back on, Mom.”
“How in the world did she get out?”
Jackson examined the doorknob. There weren’t any teeth marks or scratches, no sign of a dog’s mouth prying its way out.
His dad walked up behind him. “She didn’t get out on her own. Someone had to open the front door and let her out.”
“Mom, Allison, stay in the kitchen with Sugar.” Jackson turned to his dad. “We need to search this house.”
