I had my alarm set for six, and when it went off, Jake grumbled grumpily on the couch adjacent to mine. I quickly got dressed, carefully did my hair in a low knot at the back of my neck, and applied my makeup with attention to detail.

I had on dark blue skinny jeans, a short sleeve ivory blouse, and a navy blue and ivory striped cardigan I could shed as needed. I found brown suede ballet flats in one of the shoe bags I hadn't unpacked yet, then carefully walked over to the couch to peer at Jake. It was only beginning to get light out but I could see his eyes were shut.

What will make him less mad- waking him up to drive me or driving myself?

I bet on waking him to drive me, but before I did, he spoke with his eyes still shut.

"Ready?"

"You don't need to take me if you're still tired", I pointed out.

He sighed, opened his eyes, and flung off the blanket.

"Woman, that ain't what I asked", he said, sitting up and running his hand over his head.

"I'm ready", I said quietly, "but I can drive myself if you don't want to".

He shook his head, stood, and walked into the bathroom.

I felt nervous this morning so I didn't dare eat or drink a thing until my stomach settled. Plus, there was food and coffee there if I needed something later. However, Jake might want something. I decided to make him coffee.

When he emerged from the bathroom, I asked, "Would you like some coffee to go?"

"Yep'", he replied.

He stepped into his large clunky boots and started lacing them up.

I poured half the pot into a black thermos that used to be my grandpa's.

"You drink it black?", I guessed.

"Yes, ma'am".

I handed it to him. He took it, stood, glanced behind me, then peered down at me curiously.

"You ain't gonna eat nothin'?"

"I'm afraid I'll get sick".

"Why?"

"I'm nervous".

He raised one eyebrow.

"I've never had a job before", I elaborated, feeling my cheeks burning.

"Yer gonna do just fine", he said sternly. "You eat somethin' there later so ya don't pass out".

"I will", I assured him.

"Come on then", he said.

I got my keys out and locked the door behind us then handed them to him. His face was surprised.

"In case you need to do anything here while I'm gone. You're coming back for me, right? I don't need them".

He took them silently.

"Wait here", he said, starting up the brush hill between our houses.

Where's he going?

My question was answered when I heard his truck start next door. I walked to the end of my driveway and waited. He pulled to a stop next to me, reached over, and popped open the door.

With some difficulty, I climbed inside.

"You can drive my car if you want", I told him as I got my seatbelt on.

"Absolutely not", he snapped. "We gotta get rid of that thing before the snow flies. Unless ya want me to drive ya everywhere".

I checked his face quickly. He didn't seem annoyed.

"I don't know how to...sell...
Would I sell my car? And purchase a new one? Jake, I don't know how to do that", I said, hearing my voice break as I considered the daunting task.

I hated myself for sounding so pathetic and weak. I couldn't help it. Here was one more thing for me to do that I had no idea where to start. I hated being so helpless.

His large, warm hand dropped to my leg.

"You really think I'm gonna expect ya to do that alone? I know you ain't done nothin' like that before. You'll get an excellent trade on the car and we'll getcha a nice four wheel drive SUV that'll keep ya real safe".

He gave my leg a squeeze and a pat, then put his hand back on the steering wheel.

"Ain't gonna abandon ya, kiddo", he said calmly. "Stop thinkin' that. If I say I'm gonna do somethin', I do it, and I ain't got nothin' better to do than help ya...so let me".

He glanced at me then and I nodded.

"I don't know how to thank you", I said. "You've already done so much for me and I've done nothing for you. I feel like such a burden".

"You ain't that", he said sternly, glancing at me again. "I don't wanna hear ya say shit like that. Yer good for me, kid. Hate to admit it, but helpin' you is helpin' me. I don't drink as much around ya, which keeps me productive, and I ain't feelin' bad for myself when I got shit to do".

Really??? Helping me was helping him?

I felt a warm glow spread through my chest.

"Why don't you drink as much around me?", I asked curiously.

"Don't wanna scare ya".

"I do prefer you sober", I told him tentatively. "You are a lot nicer".

He glanced at me. "Yeah, I know. I'm real sorry 'bout that".

"That's all right".

We pulled up in front of Deb's cafe. The lights were on inside but the open sign wasn't hanging in the window yet.

Jake exited the truck right with me and confidently opened the front door of the cafe, holding it for me as I walked through.

Eddie came barreling out of the kitchen, beelining for Jake, who immediately squatted and began scratching him roughly all over.

"Hey, buddy", Jake said. "How ya been?"

Eddie clearly loved it, his tail wagging and his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth as he doggie-grinned in adoration at Jake.

Deb emerged from the kitchen, smiling warmly.

"Morning, darlin'", she said brightly. "Hello, Jake".

If she was surprised to see him, her face didn't show it.

"Ma'am", he said, nodding at her as he straightened.

Eddie looked up, clearly disgruntled that the attention had stopped, and leaned up against Jake's leg instead.

"Riley here's had some adventures over the weekend", Jake continued. "She can tell ya 'bout it but she ain't 'sposed to be goin' nowhere alone. You call me or Travis if anyone hangin' around here lookin' suspicious. Specifically two young white trash men".

Deb's eyebrows raised but she simply nodded.

"Her right knee's got a gash in it. Don't let her overdo it 'cause she ain't gonna tell ya if she needs a break, and she ain't ate nothin' yet today".

I felt my cheeks burning as I stared at the ground, mortified as he tattled on me.

"I'll take good care of her", Deb assured him warmly.

"Yes, ma'am", he agreed. "What time should I come back for her?"

"How about three?"

"I'll be here", he said. "Call if ya want me sooner".

Then he was gone.

"My word", Deb said, "I've never seen him up this early before. He's your neighbor, isn't he?"

"Yes, and my personal guardian angel", I said.

"Well, I've heard him called a whole lotta things, hun, but an angel isn't on that list! Let's get set up here and then I want to hear all about it. He called you Riley, didn't he? Do you go by Riley?"

I laughed lightly. "He's got a thing about nicknames and said I needed one. He came up with it. I actually like it".

She smiled. "I do think it suits you", she said. "It's a lovely name but so is Rillian. What do you prefer me to call you, dear?"

"Riley", I decided.

It felt right. A new name for a new life.

...........................................................................

Jake slept another couple hours at home after dropping off Riley at work. Then he got some shit done around his shack before heading off to the woods, fully armed.

He combed the ground all over the area where he had first seen the men, the patch he followed them through, and the place they were parked. There were cigarette butts on the forest floor but that was the only evidence he found. Using the corner of his flannel shirt tail, he picked up the butts and dropped them in a plastic sandwich baggie he had brought with.

At quarter to three, he drove to town to collect Riley. When he walked into the cafe, every table was occupied, and she was bustling around like a professional, with rosy cheeks, her sweater off, a smile on her face.

She hustled over to him hovering at the door as soon as she got the chance.

"Would it be possible for you give me a little longer?", she asked politely. "I'd prefer not to leave her when it's this busy".

"No worries, kid. I got all the time in the world. You come find me at that bar when yer done".

He pointed to Sam's bar, Venom, kiddy corner out Deb's front door.

"Thank you!", she exclaimed, beaming at him. "I'll see you soon!"

Jake popped in the ranger/police station before heading to Sam's, only long enough to give Travis the evidence and hear that there were no leads.

...........................................................................

In between setting up for our day, learning how everything operated, and actually assisting the real customers which came in, Deb and I had many discussions. She was really easy to talk to, kind-hearted, and wise.

She even came up with a unique perspective on the perpetrators following me, and after I heard it, I felt that it could definitely fit the situation.

"Does your ex have enemies?", she had asked.

"Oh, yes, loads of them in business competitions and unfair practices giving him an advantage over other companies".

"If someone didn't know you had divorced, or even if they did, they might still consider taking you for leverage to get back at him", she mused.

"That definitely could be! I'll bring that up to Jake".

"How do you feel about him?", she had asked, watching me out of the corner of her eye as she added an egg to a batch of muffin batter.

"I think he's really suffering from his wife dying. He loved her so much he doesn't know how to function without her. He's awfully kind when he's not drinking and he's saved my life multiple times. He's helped me consistently since I arrived. He's a good man".

"Hun, I believe ya", she said, smiling. "I always thought he was, too, I just never met anyone else who saw it".

I smiled back at her. I really adored this woman.

By lunchtime I had a firm grasp on how to assist customers. At two, we randomly had an influx of customers, and Jake was at the front door before I knew it.

At four, Deb thanked me for my help, congratulated me on a great first day, and told me to come in for the same shift tomorrow so I could practice the tasks we did today.

I was elated!

Walking on the clouds of my accomplishment, I nearly skipped over to the Venom bar to find Jake. It was warm out, unseasonably so from what I recalled about Tennessee weather.

I opened the door to a darkened atmosphere but quickly spotted Jake at the bar with a glass of the amber colored liquid I recognized as the whiskey he typically drank.

He nodded at me as I approached.

"Deb said I did well!", I exclaimed in barely contained excitement.

He chuckled. "Of course ya did. I had no doubt".

"Well, I did!", I laughed.

Then I noticed a tall, dark haired woman staring at me from behind the bar. I recognized her as the woman who had been giving me the creeps from the bar doorway before.

"Hello, I'm Riley", I said, extending my hand to her.

She simply continued to stare at me, immobile and silent. I could feel my cheeks burning.

"Don't mind her, kid. She's a bitch", Jake said to me, standing, tossing a bill on the bar, then grabbing my elbow to steer me out.

He opened the exterior door and held it while I stepped through, then quickly got ahead of me and opened the truck's passenger door for me, as well.

I stared at my knees to avoid looking into the bar and accidentally making eye contact with anyone who had witnessed that interaction.

I heard Jake get in and start his truck. He reversed, backed out of the parking lot, and had started driving before I glanced over at him.

He spoke up without taking his eyes off the road. "She's a giant fuckin' bitch, kid. For real. I wasn't jokin'. She don't like no one. Don't you give her one more thought. You hear?", he asked, finally looking at me.

"Okay", I replied, completely unconvinced.

"Riley, huh?", he suddenly asked.

I checked his face. He was smiling, and when he glanced at me, his blue-gray eyes were twinkling.

"I decided I might as well embrace a new name for my new life", I admitted. "Besides, I do like it".

He smiled smugly and kept driving silently.

"Deb had a thought which I agreed might make sense".

"About what?"

"The men following me. What if it was someone who had a vendetta against Harrison, and either didn't know we were divorced, or thought it might hurt him anyway?"

"He was an asshat, right?", Jake clarified. "Lots of people he wronged?"

"Of course he did, yes".

"Could definitely be. Should give Travis some names of people you know might be especially pissed".

"All right".

...........................................................................

Samantha was writhing with anger on the inside, but on the outside she was a statue. Her Native roots blessed her with the ability to remain perfectly still and silent.

Jake had come in, she had supplied him with whiskey, as usual, and then she inquired where he had been. She hadn't seen him for a week.

"You been logging?", she asked, assuming that's where he'd been.

"Nope", he responded, taking a seat on a stool and not elaborating.

"What then?", she pressed, feeling annoyed that she should need to ask him to elaborate.

"Busy".

"Busy doing what?", she snapped.

"All kinds'a stuff", he replied, taking a sip.

She knew if he were going to elaborate further, he would have. She was peeved but she let it drop. Jake didn't owe her any explanations, he simply wasn't usually secretive, so this difference in behavior grated on her nerves.

Then the only other customer in the bar finished his beer and left. Samantha pushed her annoyance aside and asked, "You wanna head upstairs?"

That motherfucker had the nerve to say 'no'! He had literally never turned her down before.

"Why the fuck not?!?", she asked, hearing the dangerous edge to her own voice.

"Waitin' for someone", he replied calmly.

So, she let it go and got herself calmed down.

But then, when she came waltzing into her bar like she was the one who owned the fucking place...and Samantha realized it was her he was waiting for...

Samantha had watched her exquisitely perfect beautiful face, glowing with positive enthusiasm, enter into Jake's line of sight. She saw the soft smile hit one corner of his mouth before he caught it. She saw the light in his eyes as he listened to her talk, and she knew exactly what that motherfucker had been doing with his time.

That little bitch. How fucking DARE she? In MY fucking bar?!

And Jake...how dare he take that bitch's side and call her a bitch...

How dare he bring her into MY fucking bar!!!

She was going to get back at both of them...real soon...she just had to think of a way to do it.

..........................................................................

Will continued to call Rillian and stop by daily. He spent time questioning locals about the suspects and their truck. He continued to hound Travis' ability to hound the other precincts for any kind of leads.

Jake was always with her and she seemed to idolize him. She thought he was her knight in shining armor and Will knew he wasn't. He felt sick about the whole situation. He actually would have felt better about Jake being mean to her- at least then she wouldn't be so disillusioned.

Or would she?

She had stayed with her husband for eight years of being treated badly. The girl didn't grasp reality when it came to other people's intentions.

She had called Travis with a hypothesis that the guys might have wanted to kidnap her for someone intending to get back at her ex, someone he might have wronged. She had a few names that she knew of people he had especially screwed over, but based on what she said, the possibilities were endless.

That hadn't given them much to dig into.

Thursday morning, Will strode in to his office and Travis greeted him at the door with a grin.

"Little town outside of Atlanta has one of 'em!", Trav said excitedly. "I'm headin' down for questioning. Plan to be back yet today unless we can locate the other, might take longer. Those two idiots robbed a gas station and the clerk took down the license plate. It's our guys!"

"Thank God", Will breathed. Rillian was safe. "I'm coming with".

"Son, you can't. You ain't PD. You can't be present. They won't give you information. Hold the fort here and I'll keep you in the loop. Don't worry. In fact, why don't you tell Rillian the good news?"

Will felt his spirits lighten at that prospect. "Yes, sir!", he agreed, heading for the door.

"Wait, son, it's only six thirty!", Travis called after him.

"I don't care. This is something I gotta tell her in person!"

...........................................................................

Deb gave me Wednesday and Thursday off as she wanted me to work all weekend. Wednesday was a very enjoyable day spent learning how to load and shoot various guns with Jake. I mean, I was completely terrified, but I trusted him and did what he said. It was very rewarding to sometimes hit the things he had me aiming at! We did this three separate times during the day for about an hour each. It was very muggy and I was very sweaty, which I didn't much care for.

"Why do we need to keep doing this?", I had asked.

"So it sticks", was his reply.

He did some tasks at his house but he brought me with him. I found myself staring at the picture of him and Liv again as he pulled some meat out to thaw on the counter. There was such a drastic change from that photo to the man he was today. He was so free in that picture, so happy, completely unburdened. To think someone could have that much impact on another! I was desperately envious of their love.

He appeared at my side.

"How long were you together?", I asked.

"Ten years total, married for eight. You?"

"Married six, together eight, but we've never taken any pictures where we looked like that. Obviously we weren't actually in love. I see it now".

"Well, you were, right?", he asked.

"I thought so. Did you two not want children?"

"What makes ya say that?", he asked, rather sharply.

I immediately felt my breath catch and my cheeks flushing.

"I'm sorry, that was invasive", I immediately replied, checking his expression. "You don't need to answer".

"I'm good", he replied. "Just curious 'bout why".

"Well", I began quietly, squirming in embarrassment, "you two were together longer than Harrison and I were, and I guess I was curious because by that amount of time people typically do have children that want them...I mean, other than me, I suppose. We tried. I did...everything they wanted...but it never happened so I guess I'm not meant to be a mom".

I felt my face burning which made me even more embarrassed. Oh, why had I ever brought this up!

"What'd ya mean 'they wanted'?", he asked slowly.

His face was completely unreadable to me.

"Harrison, his parents, my parents", I explained, my voice getting quieter. "I was a disappointment. They all wanted an heir".

"What the fuck!", he sputtered. "This ain't the sixteen hundreds!"

I looked at the ground.

"Maybe it ain't you", he added. "Can ya imagine that asshat bein' a father? Maybe it was God's way of preventin' that".

"No, it's me all right. I had embryos placed right inside of me and they wouldn't take".

"You talkin' IVF?", he pressed.

I met his eyes. "Yes...How do you know about that?"

"We had difficulty, too", he admitted. "We couldn't afford that and we had considered adoption...but then, miraculously...it happened. Pretty much no one knows this but Liv was five months pregnant when she died. Barely showin'".

I felt my heart stop. Literally stop. I was frozen in horror. Then I felt my eyes tear up as he looked away.

"No", I whispered, barely able to form the word. I felt like I was strangling. "No...Jake, I'm so sorry. That's too much. It's too much...for one person. I am so...so sorry".

He met my eyes again, his shining with unshed tears. "We had just found out we were havin' a little girl", he said in a low voice, "and had decided we were goin' to call her Hope".

"It's a beautiful name", I said, fighting against my tears. This was his pain, not mine, and I didn't have a right to cry about it.

"Thank you", he said.

No wonder he was devastated! He lost his entire family that day, not just the wife he adored, but a long-awaited child! I couldn't imagine how I could function if I had lost my child after trying for all that time.

"Jake, I can't...can't even imagine what you went through, what you are still going through...I am so sorry".

"Well, kid", he said softly, "from the look on yer face, I'd be willin' to bet ya can imagine what that'd be like an' I appreciate it".

I bit the inside of my bottom lip and nodded, refusing to cry. I settled for stepping close to him and wrapping my arms around his waist.

He exhaled roughly then wrapped his arms around me, as well. We stood there silently well past the point where I no longer felt on the verge of tears.

"Come on", he finally said, releasing me. "You gotta go with me to check traps but I won't let ya look if somethin's in it".

I glanced up at him to see if he thought that was silly or annoying, but he was smiling with his blue-gray eyes twinkling.

Jake stayed at my house every night, and every night I fell asleep on the smaller couch before he was even laying down on the long one. Despite the situation, I slept well knowing he was there. In fact, I think I slept better than I could ever remember doing so before. Jake's presence filled me with an unexplainable peace, and the more time I spent with him, the more time I craved.

Thank God he wasn't getting sick of me yet.

...........................................................................

Will pulled into Rillian's driveway, his heart racing. He dashed up the porch, opened the screen door, and knocked aggressively on her solid wood front door.

It pissed him off when a clearly-had-been-sleeping Jake answered instead of the petite person he had been expecting.

"What the fuck", was Jake's surly greeting.

Will didn't bother acknowledging him. He simply brushed past him roughly.

"Girl, I got news for you!", he called out as she was emerging from the bathroom, appearing pale and tired.

"Okay?", she asked apprehensively.

"We got one of 'em!", Will announced proudly. "Only a matter of time before we catch the other!"

Relief flooded her perfect features.

"Oh, yay! Thank you, thank you, thank you!", she exclaimed, throwing her arms around his waist.

He beamed with happiness. This is exactly why he had to tell her in person.

"How?", Jake asked from behind him.

"Idiots robbed a gas station near Atlanta and the attendant got their plates-".

"So, when you say 'we got 'em', what you really mean is them Georgia boys did", Jake cut in.

Will felt himself bristling as Rillian pulled out of his arms and peered up at him, questions in her eyes.

"Correct", Will replied through clenched jaw.

He noticed both couches to his left had bedding on them, which meant she was sleeping out here next to that Godless heathen.

He felt himself growing angrier.

"Travis is heading there to question the one in custody", he told her. "You should be safe now. They're in Georgia. I'm sure Jake doesn't need to stay here anymore".

Damned if her beautiful little face didn't look disappointed! Will's heart nearly broke in two as she said, "Oh, all right". Her tone was definitely disappointed.

"Can I take ya out to celebrate tonight?", Will asked quickly. "Dinner and movie, my treat?"

"Um, sure", she agreed without much enthusiasm.

"I'll pick you up at five thirty", he said. "You need anything in the meantime?"

"No, thank you", she said, giving him a little polite smile. "Thank you for coming to tell me. This is really good news".

"Agreed", he said. "See ya tonight".

He glared at Jake as he walked out, feeling better about the situation. Jake had to leave her alone now. There was no reason for him to be there, and if he continued to push himself on Rillian, Will would snap his heathen neck.

...........................................................................

Jake was downright pissed by Will's behavior, but he saw no reason to give him the satisfaction of reacting to it, so he let it go. Once the asshat left, he met Riley's light green eyes.

"I can stay if that's whatcha want", he immediately told her. "He don't dictate my life, or yours. You don't feel comfortable, I don't leave. You know I ain't got no commitments".

He noticed some relief flash across her face as her forehead relaxed.

"Thank you so much for saying that", she told him. "I think I'll be all right but it's really nice to know I can still call on you if I need to".

"Anytime", he pressed. "Day or night, it don't matter. Don't be afraid to ask".

"I'm not scared of you", she said, smiling sweetly.

Damn impressive, Jake mused. Who'da thunk it. Most'a the damn town's scared'a me but not this timid lil' gal here.

He chuckled out loud.

"What?", she asked.

"Of all the critters yer scard'a, I'm the only one you should be, an' you ain't".

She smiled and flushed. "I disagree", she simply said.

"You still up for some shootin' today before you head out for yer date?", he asked.

"It's not a date", she said, the smile dropping and the blush deepening.

"You better tell that ol' boy then", Jake pointed out.

She simply shook her head slightly and stared at the ground.

"So...shootin' or...?"

"Yes", she answered decisively, meeting his eyes again. Hers seemed troubled. She obviously couldn't see, or wouldn't accept, that Will had feelings for her beyond friendship.

...........................................................................

Jake had Riley shoot a couple more times and was encouraged by her progress. She was getting better aim, but wasn't getting better with her confidence handling the weapons.

When she checked the time on her phone and said she better get ready, Jake distinctly felt a wave of disappointment.

What's with that?

He had been alone for so long he hadn't even realized he might be missing interacting with people.

He was fairly disgruntled to identify this weakness in himself.

He watched her petite frame walk down through the brush hill between their homes, confidently striding through in her new hiking shoes.

He chuckled to himself in amusement and continued watching until she disappeared through her front door.

He suddenly realized that he was still standing there like a gaping moron with a stupid smile plastered across his face. He scowled, shook his head, then started packing away his guns.

He was starting supper while surreptitiously watching out his kitchen window as Will pulled up in his Ranger F-150. Jake immediately scowled and continued watching as Riley almost immediately bounded out the front door, locking it behind her while Will held the screen door out of the way.

He watched her walk to the passenger side and wait patiently as Will opened the door for her, taking in the black jeans which fit her like a glove, the shiny black pumps, the black purse, the rose colored short sleeve blouse, and the black sweater hanging over her arm. Her auburn hair was hanging in perfect shiny waves down her back.

He watched Will drive away with Riley in the passenger seat, he calmly ate his supper, then he pulled out the whiskey and poured himself a full glass. He listened to rock music on his porch and drank his whiskey in the sticky night air until Will returned her around eleven, way later than Jake cared for. As Will's lights bounced up the gravel road they shared, Jake stood unsteadily and ducked inside before they could see him. He quickly locked the door behind him, out of habit more than anything. He wasn't even consciously aware of doing it, but he always locked his front door when he was drunk or sleeping.

He stumbled to the sink, watched Will walk her to her front door, hug her, and then watched her walk inside, shutting the door behind her. He watched Will run a hand over his perfectly groomed, short black hair, still standing on her porch.

After a long moment, Will walked back to his truck and left.

Take a fuckin' hint, asshole. She ain't interested!, he thought viciously in his head.

He then attempted walking to the couch but ended up against the end of the kitchen counter instead. He launched himself from there, caught the back of the couch, and rolled himself over the back of it, landing on the cushions. He promptly fell into a deep sleep.

...........................................................................

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