“Then we’ll have to kill them.” Josh said.
Jim took a step back. He was so shocked, taken aback, he felt faint. As he played Josh’s words over in his mind, he was relieved to realize that Josh had sounded pained by the idea. He didn’t relish it, but said it as a matter of fact.
“Josh. Not even five days ago you were just the same as Riley and Angus. We all were. And now … now, you want to leave them? Maybe even kill them?”
“Yes. I was like them. And so was Scott. But you weren’t Jimmy. You’ve been trying to get us to see Jessica differently for ages. And you were right. I wish I’d seen it sooner, but I hadn’t. And, I was much worse to her then you were. Now I have to make up for it. And you have to live up to being the man Jessica has trusted and fallen in love with.”
“Josh. I think we should put this on the back burner for now. And you should think about it long and hard. Riley and Angus are our family … and Jessica is our family. I could have taken off with her myself, ages ago. But if I had, would you feel about her the way you do right now? It took a long time, but look where you, Scott, Jessica and I are right now. Riley and Angus can get there too. But we have to lead them there. Do you know what I’m saying?”
Josh held Jim’s gaze for a long time before he nodded.
“I’ll be normal when they get home. And I’ll leave the final decision to you. But please, please Jim … don’t let them hurt her more than they already have.”
Jim nodded, and Josh slipped by him, moving down the hall to the living room.
Jim stood staring after him for a very long time. He felt like he’d been kicked in the nuts. Extra pressure now to get Riley and Angus on board, sooner rather than later. That was fair. It was only fair to Jessica. And then he had the thought he wished he hadn’t. What if he had let Jessica down by not running away with her earlier? What if it was because of him that she’d suffered needlessly? Jim shrugged. There was no what if about it. He had. And now the question was, how much more suffering would he be willing to put her through? He shook his head. The best he could do for now was go one day at a time.
He’d consult with Scott, get his take on things. He felt a knot of anxiety in the pit of his stomach. This was the first time that he could ever remember that he dreaded Riley and Angus’ return.
Jim went back out into the living room. Josh had wasted no time taking his place on the sofa with Jessica. She was sitting up facing him. Touching his face while she was talking quietly, earnestly. Josh was nodding. Jim wanted a drink very badly. Something strong … but he didn’t want to dull his senses. He settled onto a chair near the table and watched Jessica and Josh. They looked so intimate. Jim could tell by the tilt of Josh’s head that he was pressing his cheek into Jessica’s hand. After watching them for a few minutes he began to be curious about what they could be talking about that required so much intensity. He had to go out and update Scott on the new plan anyway. He decided to pass by them on the way out and hopefully overhear the conversation. He tried to act nonchalant but there was no point. Neither one of them noticed him. As he walked by he heard Josh say,
“And what’s your favorite color?” and Jessica replied, “Green … emerald green.”
And without missing a beat Josh said, “And your favorite number?”
Jim rolled his eyes and stared in disbelief. This was what was so riveting?
‘Whatever!’ he grumbled to himself as he went out to the barn.
“Not riding today?” Jim asked when he found Scott cleaning a saddle in the barn.
“No. Don’t want to waste my time unsaddling when they get home.”
“There’s been a change of plans. We’re not going to count on Josh’s break down to distract Riley and Angus.” Jim said leaning against a post.
“What? Why?” Scott demanded.
“Jessica pointed out that Riley and Angus may not take too well to Josh’s little derailment. Who knows what they’d do … but I’m willing to bet he’d end-up in the field and one of them would be here with us in his place.”
“Fucking shit … so what’re we going to do?”
“Josh says he can be normal.”
“Right … normal. Okay.” Scott said with a shrug.
“And, he suggested that if it takes too long for them to come around with Jessica … or they’re too abusive, we should take Jessica and go. And I suggested that Riley and Angus would find us. And he suggested that the only option then would be to kill them.”
“Interesting …” Scott said and he seemed to be contemplating the options.
“For crying out … Scott you’re not supposed to agree! Do you seriously think this is something we should consider?”
“Leaving yes … killing, no. Leaving is an option. One I hadn’t even considered before … but it has its appeal.”
“So we set a deadline? A month, a week, a day … and then we go?”
“I don’t know about the deadline … but I can tell you this for sure. If either Riley or Angus hit Jessica, even once, we’re out of here.” Scott replied.
Jim nodded.
“Are you done out here?” Jim asked. “I need you inside. Jessica and Josh are in there fawning over each other like a couple of love starved teens and it’s making me sick. I need company.”
“Sure.” Scott said. “I can’t concentrate anyway.”
Scott and Jim walked in the door to find Josh laughing so hard that he was rolling on the floor. Jessica sat on the sofa laughing equally hard … tears rolling down her cheeks.
“What’s so funny?” Jim asked as he took a seat on the sofa next to Jessica. Josh pointed at Jessica and looked like he was trying to say something but fits of laughter just kept pouring out. Jessica couldn’t catch her breath much less talk.
“Great, he’s gone into hysterics.” Scott said dropping into the arm chair … and that brought on a new wave of laughter.
“It’s not just him … it’s both of them. We’ll give them a few more minutes and then we get a bucket of freezing cold water … and toss it on them.” Jim said raising his voice, hoping the threat would reduce their laughing enough for them to explain themselves. But it didn’t. After a few more minutes of watching them … Jimmy suddenly got the urge to laugh too. He didn’t know why … they just looked so funny. And as he began to laugh he looked at Scott, who had already been developing a pretty big smile. Before long, they were laughing just as hard as Josh and Jessica.
“Must’ve been a hell of a joke …” Riley said.
He and Angus stood just inside the door, holding their duffle bags.
Jessica, Josh, Scott and Jim looked over in unison … and the laughter began to die down … but not completely.
Riley watched Josh silently roll on the floor, and Jessica press her lips against the thigh of her bent leg and realized that they’d just turned the volume down, not stopped laughing.
Scott and Jim had stopped entirely, eyeing Josh and Jessica and shaking their heads.
“Must’ve been.” Jim agreed, getting up and holding his hand out in a silent invitation to take Riley’s bag for him.
Scott did the same for Angus.
“You weren’t in on it?” Angus asked, watching Jessica struggle to control her laughter. It was good to see her. Despite the apprehension he had about the dreams he’d been having … all about her … all sexual … yet with emotional attachment, he was glad to be home, with her.
“No, it seems to be Josh and Jessica’s own private joke.” Scott said while heading for Angus’ room with his duffle bag.
“You were laughing pretty hard yourselves.” Angus observed, handing Jim his bag.
“Yeah, well, they looked pretty funny.” Jim replied and headed to Riley’s room with the bag.
Riley and Angus shuffled into the living room. They had been away before but since Jessica had been with them it had never been for as long as they’d just been gone. Never more than a day or two … not a whole week. They felt a little like strangers. Josh struggled to his feet, still laughing. Jessica got up from the sofa, and still stifling laughter she went to Riley and pecked him on the lips.
“Hi.” She said, “I hope you had a good trip?”
“Yeah, it was good …” Riley said watching in pleasant surprise as Jessica moved to Angus and kissed him also. But as usual she was not going to get away from Angus that quickly. He held her by her upper arms, so she couldn’t move away.
“I’d like a real kiss.” He said in a low guttural tone. He’d won the straw draw with Riley about who would get Jessica that night and he’d been certain that he could control himself until 10 o’clock. Lord knew he’d whacked off enough to make some semblance of control an attainable goal. But now that she was really there, within his reach, looking so … beautiful … laughing really did something for her, he didn’t think he could hold off.
“Angus!” Jim yelled when he returned from the bedroom and saw him grasping Jessica.
“What?” Angus demanded, startled.
“What’re you doing?” Scott demanded appearing in the hallway just after Jim.
“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m getting my kiss!” And with that Angus pulled Jessica hard against him, planting his lips on hers … moving his hand to the back of her head, lacing his fingers in her hair and holding it firmly in place as his tongue maneuvered between her lips and probed every part of her mouth.
“Angus!” Jim said again and started moving forward. Angus felt Jessica tense for a moment and then soften … melt into him … kiss him back. He was so surprised that he pulled her away from him and stared at her.
“That was more like it!” he exclaimed. He looked like he was going to pull her in for another kiss, but Jessica planted her hands on his chest.
“Could I get you a beer? Angus? Riley?” she asked quickly.
“Ah, okay.” Riley replied, noticeably caught off guard.
“Angus?” Jessica asked , when he hadn’t let go of her, or answered the question.
“You’re going to get us a beer?” Angus asked slowly, as if he didn’t understand the question even though he’d asked it.
“Yes, but you have to let her go first!” Scott all but snapped. He’d moved closer to Angus, just like Jim had and they both stood waiting, ready to physically pull Jessica away from him.
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