o take care of you. She knew Dad too well,” Jessy said sadly.
Lily leaned her head on Jessy’s shoulder, her voice was filled with sadness. “You were too young to have that burden placed on you. You should have been wild and irresponsible, not an adult working your ass off for us.”
“I don’t regret it at all, sis,” Jessy swore, and she meant every word. She did what she had to and she would never regret it. Their trials made her strong and confident to handle her life. Too bad she couldn’t say the same about her father, who turned to alcohol and gambling instead of cherishing his two daughters. “And you’re right. I am going to look into online classes. I was close to finishing up. Then I can get a regular nine to five job. Although the tips at the bar aren’t peanuts, I am tired of the bar scene, the fights, and the drunks.”
“Good,” Lily said with satisfaction, putting the movie on pause. “I’m getting a water. Want one?”
Jessy nodded and grabbed some popcorn. She was going to focus on the movie and relax. Tomorrow was soon enough to worry about her problems. “Hurry back so we can find out if Hannah will win Frank’s heart back. If you ask me, men are more trouble than they’re worth, though.”
Lily laughed and went into the kitchen. Jessy grabbed a couch pillow and hugged it, waiting for her sister to come back. Suddenly, she heard Lily scream loudly.
Jessy jumped off the couch in record speed and ran to the kitchen with her heart ready to jump out of her chest. “What the hell happened, Lily?”
Lily stood frozen in front of the unopened fridge. She had tears rolling down her cheek and pointed at the back door. “There was a man peeking in. Oh God, they found us, Jessy. Jagger is going to kill us.”
Lily sounded hysterical so Jessy shook her. Lily’s emerald colored eyes were glossy and unfocused. “Call the police, then lock yourself in the bathroom. I’ll check this out.”
Lily snapped out of her trance, she grabbed Jessy’s arm. “Come with me. We’ll call from there.”
Jessy grabbed the heavy aluminum bat she hid by the pantry. “Go. I will make sure no one kicks the door down. The front door is solid and I put the deadbolt on it. I knew I should have done the same for this door.”
Lily ran from the room while punching in numbers into the cell phone. Jessy turned the back porch light on and peeked out the window, ignoring the knots in her stomach. She was terrified but doing her best to not fall apart. Maybe facing Jagger would be for the best. Running hadn’t solved her problems with him. She turned the back porch light on. She couldn’t see any figures out there, and it was a small yard with a small shed by the back fence. Unless he was hiding behind the large oak tree in the middle of the yard.
Jessy went to the front door, waiting to hear the sirens. It didn’t take too long for the loud sirens or the flashing lights to come blaring down the street. Jessy didn’t loosen her tight grip on the bat though. Not yet. She saw a large man jump out of the first car, but she was so relieved it wasn’t Lincoln. She did not need the aggravation she felt whenever he was around. She didn’t know this man and that was better. A second car pulled up behind him.
Jessy let out the breath she had been holding. She opened the front door, ready to fall into the officer’s arms and sob.
“There was an intruder?” he asked with his hand on his gun. He was tall with black hair and tanned skin. Jessy immediately saw the resemblance to Lincoln and knew this was the sheriff.
“My sister saw a dark figure peeking into our backdoor window.” Jessy’s voice was trembling, but she did not want to burst into tears and scare her sister further. The sheriff gestured for the other officer to check out the backyard. The front porch light was on and it illuminated some of the front yard. She could see some of the neighbors standing on their porches.
Lily came out of the bathroom with red-rimmed eyes. She was clutching her cell phone in her hand. “Is it safe yet?”
Jessy finally put the bat down and hugged her sister. Lily was twenty-one, but was often mistaken for a teenager. She was petite and very thin. “This is Lily, my sister.”
The sheriff’s fierce expression immediately softened. “Hey, Lily. You know my sister Melanie, right?” he said gently, as if talking to a child. “Tell me what happened here.”
Lily sucked in a breath and wiped her eyes with her hand. “I went into the kitchen for a drink. I just happened to glance at the back kitchen door. A man was peeking in the window and smiled when I saw him. Then I screamed and called you.”
“Did you see what he looked like?” the sheriff asked, his brown eyes growing hard.
Lily shook her head no, clinging to Jessy’s arm tightly. “He had a black hoodie but he was a white male. His eyes were dark, but the hood shadowed his features.”
The other officer knocked on the back door. The sheriff went to open it, letting the man in.
“There are deep footprints in the dirt by the window over the sink. Someone stood there for a while in order for it to leave such a deep imprint,” the young officer reported, looking grim. “Also saw some cigarette butts lying on the ground. Whoever he was is long gone.”
The sheriff ran his fingers through his hair, looking upset. Jessy guessed this was not a common occurrence in this small town. Had they brought their troubles with them? She sincerely hoped not.
The sheriff gestured for the girls to sit at the small kitchen table. He pulled out a chair, too, and took a seat. “Have any idea who it could be? I know you’re new in town, but have any problems with anyone?”
Jessy swallowed and shared a look with her sister. Should she tell the sheriff about Jagger and her trouble in New York? She was scared he’d contact the New York police, and Jessy was sure Jagger had dirty cops on his payroll. Jagger would not hesitate to kill anyone in his way. She wasn’t sure if this small town was equipped to handle Jagger and his mean group of men always tagging along with him.
“No,” she whispered nervously, hoping her sister did not blurt out Jagger’s name. Jessy wasn’t sure how much they could trust the sheriff yet. He could turn out to be just as unreliable and ornery as Lincoln. “I had trouble with a customer harassing me last night. He was drunk, but I am not sure if he would go this far.”
The sheriff asked for the name so he could look into it. Jessy gave it to him. “I know Gary. He does like his whiskey and beer. I’ll look into it.”
“I know Gary pretty well. He likes to fight,” the other officer, Sam, spoke up. “He doesn’t smoke, though.”