CHAPTER 13
“Goddamn it!” Blake yelled when he saw Jessie’s reaction after quickly parking his own vehicle.
He knew Jessie had followed him all the way there and had no idea what she was about to encounter. There was no way to warn her at that point. She hadn’t answered her phone after several attempts to call her and tell her to go back. Seeing the color drain from her face after taking in the scene had his stomach in knots. He knew she was already blaming herself for this, knew that she took it as a calling card left by her attacker.
Quickly making it to her side, he reached over her to make sure her car was in park and to turn off the ignition before holding her hair back for her while her torment had its way with her.
“Deep breaths,” he said, “it’ll pass.”
He hated to see her like this, so vulnerable, shaken, broken even. He’d much prefer her smart mouth and angsty demeanor. She shouldn’t be here
, he thought. She should be as far from this as possible
. Given her reaction, she was owning it, feeling responsible, and she should feel anything but.
“Go, I’ll be fine. They need you,” she said in a lacking tone. “Find out what happened.”
Blake shook his head, squatting in front of her, “I’m not leaving you like this. You’re pale, getting sick…not a chance, not happening.”
“I’ll be fine. What if he…” she paused, clearly off her game and nearly saying far more than she wanted to in that moment. “What if whoever did this is…still in there.”
“Jessie, it was an accident. Just a fire in the mess hall,” he assured her, but she wasn’t convinced.
“Who is he
? Who do you think did this, Jess?”
Here was her chance to confide in him, but he could already see her retreating. Hiding behind that façade of hers. This game was getting old. He needed her to be straight with him, to be honest, so he could really help her. Ready to broach the subject himself, he started in on her, not caring if it pissed her off that he already knew and that he had looked into her past – reading her case, learning what she went through, and what ultimately led her to McKenzie Ridge so many years ago.
But, before he could, Logan pulled up beside where Jessie had stopped her car so abruptly and was at Blake’s side before he could wave him on.
“Are you okay?” Logan questioned, seeming alarmed. “I was at the hospital, having lunch with Carly, when the call came in. She was called down to the E.R., so I came here to see if I can help.”
Scanning the scene for the first time since arriving, a look of astonishment cleared his face. “Wh-what happened?”
“Not sure. Stay with Jessie while I check it out. Don’t leave her side until I get back or I send someone.” Blake stood, taking one of Jessie’s hands in his while he scanned the turbid scene. “I can’t pull anyone right now.”
Logan passed an odd look between Blake and Jessie, “Am I missing something here?”
With a marked eye roll, Jessie asserted, “No! I’m fine. Just, go.”
With a quick glance at Logan, Blake affirmed, “Don’t leave her; that’s an order.”
Before Jessie could protest Blake’s demands, he was gone. As he ran off, he heard Logan ask Jessie to scoot over, and he moved her car to an area that was less obstructive so the emergency vehicles could better maneuver the parking lot. Logan was a good kid, reliable and genuinely cared about the same individuals Blake did. He was glad to finally have him in McKenzie Ridge, especially now because he knew Logan would take care of Jessie in his absence, no questions asked.
The fire was out, for the most part, when Blake entered the old brick building. The scene inside, however, was just as disordered as it had been outside. Several people passed by in teams, the uninjured helping the injured, assisting the first responders’ efforts. He had seen plenty of disaster zones in his extensive military career. He was the guy who went guns blazing into hell, but he had never seen anything of this magnitude during his civilian career. Especially not in McKenzie.
Even without flames, the smoke was thick, making it hard to see and breathe. A ventilation mask found his grip when Colton Sparks came up beside him. Colton explained the scene as it had been interpreted so far, mostly still speculation. The mess hall was the primary location most affected and was believed to be the result of a microwave mishap. It was still too hot to investigate and find the true source, but the brunt of the fire, the hottest point, was where it started, and that happened to be by the microwaves.
There were a dozen or so actual fire injuries. The mess hall hadn’t been as crowded as it typically was at any given moment. There were far more minor injuries that were sustained as a result of panic – people rushing to get out – not caring who they ran over in their path. Panic makes people do odd things and act out of character.
Much to Blake’s surprise, Logan stepped up next to him. “Lou Shaw and Stone Williams just showed up out there. They’re getting her and her car home. Lou said to tell you that they’ll stay with Jessie until you get there.”
“Good. If anyone can get Jessie to stay put and listen, it’s that old woman,” Blake said.
“She pulled out a metal flask of something – told her to drink up, it was medicinal
.” Logan laughed.
“That sounds like Lou, alright,” Colton added before slapping Blake’s shoulder and heading back into the mess hall to work.
“They’re both packing heat,” Blake said, referring to the older couple. “She’s probably safer with them than here right now.”
“Is everything okay? This is twice now, that you have needed my help with Jessie. Dawson and Sam’s and now this – this is pretty damn big,” Logan inquired, “What aren’t you telling me, Blake? Is Jessie in trouble?”
Colton was in earshot and turned at the naming of his partner and trouble. “Something’s going on with Jessie? She okay?”
“I don’t know yet – something about all this isn’t sitting right with me.” Though Blake knew more than he was letting on, it wasn’t his place to share Jessie’s story, and he wasn’t being dishonest. Something really wasn’t sitting right with him – this didn’t feel like a fluke
– this wasn’t an accident.
“Do we need to get the gang together?” Colton asked as that seemed to be their protocol any time something went awry.
“Not yet
.
”
Lou drove Jessie’s car back to her house while Jessie sat in the passenger seat, her head resting against the window – Stone followed them in the truck he and Lou originally arrived in.
“You take another swig of that there thermos if ya need to honey,” Lou said, nodding Jessie’s direction.
Jessie replied with a weak snort, “It’s a flask, Lou. With booze in it.”
“It’s medicinal! Now, take you another drink. It’ll calm the shakin’,” Lou defended sternly.
Jessie complied, taking a nice long pull off Lou’s medicinal
flask, and let the slow burn of the fiery liquid do its job. She couldn’t help the emotion that threatened when her eyes welled with tears.
Quick to turn her attention back to the window as if it could hide her tears, she said, “He’s here, Lou. I know
it. I feel
it.”
“I suspected as much. Does Blake know yet? You tell him? Anyone?” Lou questioned.
Panic crept into Jessie’s voice at the idea, “No! Did you? You didn’t…please say you didn’t.”
“Ain’t my story to tell honey – your secret’s safe with me…for now. That boy wants to help you – he cares ‘bout you, ya know.”
“Pfft. Blake Cooper cares about his town and bossing people around.”
“And you,” Lou corrected. “He can’t help you if he doesn’t know how to. I know it’s hard, but ya gotta let someone in, honey. If there’s anyone to have on your side, its Blake Cooper.”
Overwhelmed didn’t even begin to explain how Jessie felt. Between her own personal fear, what was happening all over town, and trying to decide if she could really share her circumstance with Blake, in its entirety, it was all just too much in that moment. Guilt was beginning to settle in, too, and that was matched only by how terrified she was for herself and everyone else. And the sobs escaped her, one after another, in a hiccupping pattern that she didn’t recognize. Jessie didn’t cry; she didn’t get scared; she didn’t sob.
“I don’t even know what to say, how to say it.” She turned to look at Lou. “Or, how to look him, or anyone, in the eye once it’s out.”
“That’s enough of that. None of this is your fault, girl, and you have nothing to be ashamed of. You know we all love each other like blood and take care of one another,” Lou scolded, “We all found each other for a reason. Don’t write us off yet – especially that boy. Blake has his own past to face someday – he certainly won’t begrudge you for yours.”
Jessie’s head rested against the window again, and she rode the rest of the way home that way, mulling over what Lou had said. Deep down she knew she wasn’t to blame for anything that had happened or was happening – she was a victim – but she hated that word. Wanted nothing to do with it and couldn’t stand how weak it made her feel.
It was time she forgave herself for her perceived weakness and moved on – maybe even told Blake…everything
. Depending on his response, maybe she could tell the rest of the gang too. If he really was in town and coming for her, she owed it to all of them so they could protect themselves.
This secret had been eating at her for the better part of a decade – God knew she could use a clean slate.