12 Naughty Days of Christmas - 2016

by Jenny Plumb

  “This is not a good thing. A woman is to be respected and protected.”

  “A woman is good at protecting too,” she argued.

  “It is a good thing you are not my girl; I would spank you and insist you quit this job.”

  “I would rather talk about you,” she said firmly. “I think you need to spend some time watching television and learning about this world you are in.” She flipped it on, and turned it to a show that was supposed to be funny.

  “Who thinks a child speaking that way to his mother is funny? He needs a trip to the woodshed; he is being disrespectful.” A few minutes later Victor said, “That woman has no respect for her husband! This passes for humor?”

  “You have good taste, Victor. I don’t like these shows either.” She flipped the channel and watched his eyes light up as a rerun of Wagon Train came on. Of course, a few minutes into the show he explained they were doing something all wrong. She reminded Victor that they were actors. He accepted that, and they watched the channel and westerns.

  Jess fell asleep at some point; she had a bad dream and cried out when she was shot.

  “You are all right, Jessica. I am here and I will not allow anyone to harm you,” he stated, holding her protectively. When her eyes flew open, he said, “You were having a bad dream.”

  “I dreamed I was trying to stop a robbery and I took a bullet. I have been having this nightmare regularly,” she admitted, brushing tears from her cheeks. “Thank you for holding me. I feel so helpless and alone when I have this same dream over and over.” She was looking up at him, and he lowered his mouth to hers kissing her tenderly. She was surprised, but the kiss felt remarkable, and she kissed him back, tentatively at first, and then with a passion that surprised her.

  “Oh my!”

  “You are lovely, Jessica. I have feelings for you,” he admitted.

  “You don’t think it is too soon for us to feel this way about each other?” she asked.

  “It might be considered too soon by most folks, but we are the ones falling in love, and it feels just right to me.”

  “I agree.” They kissed again, and then their hands started wandering. “We have to stop, Victor. It is too soon for where this is heading so fast. Come with me. We need to go out so you can see Guthrie now. It will shock you, but it might also help you find your bearings. We will drive. It is the easiest way for you to see the town. Try not to be afraid. I am a very good driver, and I promise I will be careful. Wait! I need to change clothes. I am off duty, and don’t want to get involved in a situation that requires me to be an officer.” She hurried, and came back wearing jeans, a sweater, and flats. She put on a jacket, and then said, “Let’s go!”

  She took him to the passenger side of her old Mercury Sable, and opened the door for him to climb in. Once he managed to get his large frame inside, she showed him how to put on his seat belt. “This is to keep passengers safe, and the law says you must wear them when riding in a car, as the driver or the passenger.” She tested it and once she was sure he was buckled in, she walked around the car and got inside. She buckled up, and then started the car.

  “What is that sound?” he asked curiously.

  “That is the car’s engine. It makes the car go. I am putting it into reverse so I can back out of the driveway.” She went slowly, and looked before she backed out. Then she changed gears to drive and started down the street. “I know that Guthrie is much larger now than when you were the sheriff. The streets you recall are downtown, and you will be surprised to see how much everything has changed. Let’s go and see.”

  Victor couldn’t believe they were going so fast through the streets and half the time he kept his eyes closed and prayed. “It is always so fast?” he moaned.

  “I am driving slowly,” she informed him. “We are now on Main Street. How does it compare to what you recall?” she asked, trying to look at him and drive at the same time.

  “There are similarities, but if you didn’t tell me where we are, I wouldn’t know. How can a town change so much?”

  “Things have changed just since I was a little girl.”

  “You are still a little girl,” he said with a fond smile. “How old are you, maybe twenty-one?”

  “I am twenty-three; how old are you, Victor?” she asked out of curiosity.

  “I am twenty-five. Ma thinks I’m getting old, and she wants grandchildren,” he said with a laugh, and then his dark eyes filled with tears. “If I am dead now, her heart is broken for sure.”

  “I’m sorry. I know how sad my family would be if something were to happen to me.”

  “Your father needs to cut a switch and use it on you until you give up this notion of being a police officer. It is too dangerous for such a sweet little girl.” He wasn’t trying to insult her, just talk some sense into her. Even though no one had told him what he was to do in this strange world, he already knew. He was to take care of this beautiful woman. Maybe he needed to spank her soundly? Maybe he needed to marry her and insist on providing for her himself? He needed to think.

  Victor looked at her when she pulled into a place where there were many cars.

  “We need some food in my house,” she explained. “Please stay with me inside, and do not tell anyone that you are from another time.”

  They went inside, and Victor looked around him in shocked disbelief. “What is this wonderful place? There is enough food to feed the entire town!”

  “Selling food is their business.”

  Victor looked in awe as Jessica picked up items and put them in a cart that she pushed. There were many things he did not recognize, but others that he did know. The prices were atrocious, but Jessica did not seem to mind as she placed things in her cart. Parts of the store were very cold, and other parts were cool, but not freezing cold like a couple of rows. “Can you pay for all of this, Jessica?”

  “Yes. I am sure you are suffering from price shock. These prices are competitive, meaning this is what things cost pretty much anywhere in town we could go to buy groceries.”

  “Where is the band and the singers?” he asked next.

  “There is no band. The music is recorded and played over loudspeakers.”

  “So many songs about Christmas, but few about Jesus?” he asked, disappointed.

  “There are a lot of people who live here who are not Christian in their beliefs. Most stores refer to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve as the Holiday Season. It has become unacceptable to say ‘Merry Christmas’ to others. Most people will say, ‘Happy Holidays’ to others if they don’t know them well enough to say ‘Merry Christmas.’”

  “But, it is Christmas.” Victor was shocked by her words.

  “Yes, it is. Believe me, I love Christmas and what it stands for. We always baked a birthday cake for Jesus every year. Now that we are older, Mom bakes Jesus’ cake with the grandchildren, and my siblings see to it they do the same at home. They all read the birth of Jesus and our family goes to mass together to celebrate Jesus’ birth.”

  “It is more of a family thing to observe than a community?”

  “Yes, the religious part. The community still lights a tree and arranges visits from Santa Claus. The stores have all kinds of promotions and sales, and families spend a lot of money on gifts.”

  “Is that necessary?”

  “We all like to give gifts, but in my family, the gifts can sometimes be very inexpensive if someone is having a bad year financially. I have forty-seven immediate family members that I usually buy gifts for. It gets expensive, so I save money from each paycheck, and then I use that money to shop with. We don’t do expensive items in my family because it would be crazy if we did. A couple of times all of us kids have gone together to give our parents something really nice. It was a lot of fun to surprise them like that.”

  “I like to give my ma something real nice too. She usually makes me a new shirt, and she fixes a roasted goose and pecan pie. It’s a real special day.” He looked sad. “All I want for Christ
mas is to go home.”

  “I would help you if I could,” Jess said quietly, taking his hand in hers and giving it a gentle squeeze. “I wish I knew of something that would help.”

  “You are doing your best to help me, Jessica. I find it crazy that I had to come so far to find a woman who touches my heart in the way you do. You are so special.”

  “It is shocking to me too. How is it possible that we would find each other in such a way? My older brothers would not believe me if I told them the truth. But, it is true. There is something drawing me to you; it is as though my soul recognizes your soul, Victor. I have never wanted a man as much as I want you, and we met just hours ago. I am not of loose virtue, I am not like that. My mother raised me to respect myself, and she said that a man who truly loved me would show me respect. If he wasn’t willing to do that then he wasn’t worth having. I believe that, but I also know that my body cries out for you. And I am standing in the dairy section of a supermarket spilling my guts without the least bit of shame! What is wrong with me?”

  Chapter 3

  “Not a thing, Miss Jessica, not one thing. God sent me here to find you, probably to protect you. Maybe He wanted us to find each other to love? It is Christmas, and miracles happen at Christmas, you know. I promise I’m not going to bed you until I put a ring on your finger. I give you my word on that. My ma raised me to be respectful, especially to a woman I love and want as much as I want you.”

  “Why are you so perfect, Victor? Men like you just don’t exist in today’s world, unless they are my brothers or already married! Let’s go and check out. There is something else we must do tonight – just in case you disappear and I am left wondering if you were real.”

  “I am very real, darlin’.”

  His voice was soft as honey, and warm as could be. He made her ache in her private regions. Suddenly, her attention was drawn to a situation in front of them. A young man was quickly approaching an elderly woman who’d left her handbag in the cart while she looked at bags of candy.

  “Freeze. Police officer. Stop now!” she called loudly, in a voice that left no doubt as to her authority. The young man grabbed the purse and started running, and Jess gave chase. While it was true she wasn’t on duty, she couldn’t pretend not to see a crime when it happened right in front of her. She ran fast, and when she had the young man cornered, he pulled out a knife and turned on her. “Put it down now. You are in enough trouble without making it worse.”

  “I’m going to cut you, bitch.”

  “No, you are going to go to jail. One last chance to put it down before I take it from you.” Jess said quietly, but firmly.

  The boy lunged at her and Jess was ready to take him down when Victor threw himself at the other man. He knocked the guy to the ground, and slammed his hand on the pavement until he let go of the knife. Then he stood up and jerked the much smaller man to his feet.

  “You can’t do that, Victor!” Jess scolded.

  “You are in so much trouble with me, little girl. Haven’t you got more sense than take on someone bigger than you who is armed with a knife when you have no weapon at all?” Victor was very angry. His brown eyes were snapping with fury. “I am going to set your tail on fire!” he promised.

  “You are going to calm down right now.” Jess was finding it increasingly difficult to be patient. She looked at the young man. “It’s your lucky day, kid.”

  “No, it isn’t. I lost my job and my girlfriend is pregnant. I don’t have enough money to buy food,” he tearfully whispered. “Now I’ve gone and done something stupid, and there is no one to take care of Tara.”

  “Stealing is not the answer to your problem,” Victor said firmly. “Do you have a father or brother you can turn to for a loan until you are on your feet again?” he asked.

  “They won’t give me money. I burned my bridges with them. I was into drugs, but Tara turned me around. Her family turned her out when they found out about the baby. Her dad don’t like me none because of my past. People are slow to forgive and believe you kicked drugs, but I swear I have. I just need help until work picks up again. This lay off is just until after the holidays, but we are out of food now. I saw that lady’s purse, and I gave into temptation.”

  “I understand,” Jess told him. “I can put you in touch with agencies that will help you with food. Do you have shelter?”

  “We have a room that ain’t much, but I’m paid up on our rent.”

  “That is good.” She took her cell phone from her pocket and said a name. “Hi Maggie. This is Officer Jess Cosgrove. I have a man here with me who is desperate for some help with food. I know it’s late, but as a special favor to me, could you meet him at the pantry and give him some help?” She listened, then said, “I will send him right over. Thank you so much.” She disconnected the call. “Do you know where St. Mary’s Church is?”

  “Yeah. Mom used to take me there when I was a kid.”

  “Then you know the door around the east side? That is the door to the food pantry there. Maggie Halton will meet you there and help you. I know it isn’t easy to ask for help, but you accept it with humility, and then you pay it forward when you get on your feet again. Everyone goes through a tight time, it’s how you handle those times that makes the difference. Do you hear me?” she asked in a gentle tone. “You are lucky today; I’m not going to haul you in. I would rather see you make something of yourself. I believe you can do that.”

  “Thank you,” he tearfully whispered, his eyes swimming with tears. “Thank you.”

  “May I have the lady’s handbag?” she asked politely, and the young man hurried to pick it up and hand it to her.

  “Tell the lady I’m sorry,” he said. “Tell her I am ashamed.”

  “I will do that. Go on now so you don’t keep Maggie waiting. She was just ready to leave, but is waiting for you to get there.”

  He took off running.

  “You are in big trouble, Jessica.”

  “No, you are the one in trouble, mister. You butt into an official arrest. If I’d hauled him in, he would have been out the second the sergeant learned you, a civilian in this time, tackled the guy. You would then be arrested for assault, and for interfering with an officer during performance of his duty.” Jess started marching back to the store, her sheriff right behind her. She could feel his dark eyes glaring at her!

  A small crowd awaited them. “Did you get him?” the elderly woman demanded.

  “I have your purse, ma’am. The young man isn’t a thief; he is down on his luck, saw your open purse with money sticking out, and he gave into temptation. He is very sorry and begs your pardon.”

  “If he would have asked, I would have helped him,” she insisted. “I hate the thought of anyone going hungry, especially during this time of year. I believe in doing what I can for people.”

  “That is commendable,” Jess said politely. “I am off duty, but I am happy we were able to retrieve your belongings.”

  “Yes, indeed. Thank you so much. I certainly couldn’t have chased after him like you did.”

  Jess found her cart, quickly finished shopping, and went to check out. The purse lady was in line ahead of her. “I want to pay for your groceries for helping me.”

  “No, ma’am. Thank you for offering, but police officers do not accept rewards for helping citizens.”

  “I am the manager of this store,” a man said as he stepped forward. “It would be an honor to give you your groceries at no charge.”

  “No, sir. Thank you, but it is against department policy.”

  “Call it an early Christmas present,” the man insisted.

  “Thank you for the offer, sir, but I really cannot accept. You all have a wonderful and blessed Christmas.” She quickly used her card and paid, taking her receipt and pushing the cart toward the exit and the parking lot. “Let’s get out of here, Victor. The next thing, they will be carrying out a huge turkey or something to give us.” They got the groceries in the car and were driving out of the pa
rking lot when the manager came running outside, carrying a huge frozen turkey in his arms. “I hope this doesn’t end up in the newspaper or I am going to have some explaining to do, and I don’t want you in trouble.”

  “I am not the one who was foolish enough to go after a knife-wielding thief while unarmed. He was bigger than you, Jessica! I am going to blister your butt for being so foolish.”

  “I am a police officer. You interfered. I could arrest you for that. Spanking a grown woman against her will is against the law. You might want to think on that!” Jessica was not happy as she drove home. She knew that she was capable of defending herself, but the sheriff wasn’t used to women like her. She’d grown up rough and tumble with six older brothers. The kid with the knife presented no problem at all. Convincing Victor of that, however, was another matter altogether.

  She changed her mind about going back to her home. She turned instead, and drove out toward her parents’ neighborhood. Victor was in for another shock. She smiled, and then waited for his reaction, which was almost instantaneous.

  “What in the world! What is that place?”

  “Their name is Cassidy, Paul and Eileen Cassidy. They have been decorating their home for Christmas since before I was born. It is beautiful, isn’t it?”

  “Does it cost much?”

  “It isn’t without cost; their electric bill goes up a pretty penny, I’m sure. The real cost is in the time it takes to put it all up and take it all down every year. They built a storage barn just to have a place to put all of their Christmas decorations. Everyone loves to see it all lit up, and it’s become a Guthrie tradition.”

  “At least they have a manger scene. But all of that other, it is too much.”

  “Yes, I agree, but the lights are pretty, right?”

  “Yes, they are,” he conceded. “You can stop stalling about going home. I am not going to forget I owe you a spanking, and dawdling around will only increase my impatience with you.”