Jo ignored the men’s presence, turning on her heel, climbing back into the tow truck, and driving away.
Rider stood frowning as she pulled away. “She’s not very friendly, is she?” he complained.
“Depends,” Rachel said, getting back in her car and rolling her window down.
“On what?”
“On whether you’re a man or woman.”
“That explains it. All the good-looking women are always lesbians,” he said, turning on his heel in disappointment before going back to his bike.
“Is he really that big of an ass?”
“Yes,” Cash admitted, leaning in her window. “You sneaked out again last night.”
Rachel looked down at her hands on the steering wheel. “I wanted to get home to Mag.”
“Then I’ll make sure I get someone to spend the night with her tonight.”
Rachel started to argue but was cut off when his mouth covered hers. “I’ll pick you up at eight.” He walked away without another word.
“I bet being an asshole is a prerequisite to being a Last Rider,” Rachel said to herself as she put her car in drive.
When she finally made it to work without another catastrophe happening, she unlocked the door to the store, coming to a stop; she sensed someone was inside. Swallowing back her fear, she closed the door behind her.
Carefully, she surveyed the room and saw a tiny movement to her left. Sensing fear, she closed the door.
“I know you’re there. Come out, and I won’t call the sheriff.”
Several moments passed before a figure stepped out of hiding behind a rack of clothing. Cal Harris stared at her with both fear and bravado.
“What are you doing in here, Cal?”
She could see the desire to lie to her, but she guessed his pride didn’t outweigh his needs.
“I’m sorry for breaking in. I’ve only been taking what we need. My mom and dad have been laid off and haven’t found jobs yet. They won’t ask for any help…” His voice trailed off in embarrassment.
Rachel blinked back tears. The proud, young man needed help, not her pity. It was for families like his they had opened the church store.
“You’re the one who has been breaking in?”
Cal nodded. “I kept messing with the air conditioner so you would leave the back window unlocked. I would climb in after everyone left.”
“All you had to do was ask,” Rachel gently reprimanded.
“Dad says we can’t take any handouts,” he replied proudly, clearly mimicking his father’s words.
“What did he say about stealing or destroying someone else’s property?”
His red face answered her question.
“Are you going to call Knox?” His bravado hid his discernible fear.
“No, I’m not going to call Knox, on one condition.”
“What?”
“That you take a few items I’ve been trying to get rid of.” Rachel bustled around the room, picking several items she knew Cal’s little sister could use with the warmer weather approaching. She had seen her the other day with her mother.
Picking out some dresses and t-shirts, she made a large bag full of clothes, hoping she was gauging the right size. She critically surveyed Cal, placing several jeans and t-shirts in another bag for him. When she finished that task, she got a large box and began putting grocery staples into it until it was packed to the top. Setting the two bags of clothes on top, she pushed the box on the counter toward Cal.
“Here you go.”
Cal looked like he was going to refuse, so Rachel picked up the telephone with a raised brow. When he picked up the box, she lowered the phone.
“What am I going to tell my parents?”
“Tell them you helped clean the store for me, and I paid you in merchandise.”
He looked relieved at her excuse, obviously wanting to take the items. “Thank you, Rachel. I’m sorry I broke in… I…”
“Come back next Friday, and I’ll have another box ready for you.”
Cal nodded, hesitating, about to say something when the door opened and Lily came in. His expression shuttered and he closed his mouth, leaving.
“I didn’t know his family had applied for aid,” Lily said as she came behind the counter.
“They didn’t.” Rachel told her what had happened, and that she had given him the items from the store.
“You did the right thing. I know his family won’t like it if we offer any help.” Lily bit her lip.
Rachel sat, thinking for a moment, before a solution finally occurred to her. Picking up the phone, she called her cousin; he picked up on the third ring.
“Drake, did you know Cal’s parents both lost their jobs?”
“Jace mentioned it.”
Rachel bit back her anger; Drake required deft handling. “I thought, since Cal was the one to pull Jace out of the lake last summer when he almost drowned, and he was also the one that kept him from getting his ass whipped by half the football team, and he also—”
“Rachel, I get your point. I’ll see what I can do.”
“I’m glad to hear it, cousin. We Porters always pay our debts.”
Drake’s laughter sounded over the phone. “I almost feel sorry for Cash. I’ll take care of it today. Satisfied?”
“Yes, but be discreet,” she clarified.
“Okay. Anything else?” he inquired mockingly.
“Nope. Thanks, Drake.” Rachel hung up, happy her cousin would help out Cal’s family.
Lily smiled at her. “I was going to ask Shade to help them out, but this works out better.”
“Why?” Rachel asked curiously.
“That way I can save it for the next time I need a favor.” Lily’s happiness was almost tangible as she talked about her husband. Her confidence that he could solve any problem was heartwarming.
The sound of Brooke’s heels on the tiles in the hallway warned of her approach. Rachel braced herself for her presence; she was really beginning to dislike the woman. There wasn’t a day she didn’t come by to ask for help with some task she needed done. She was passing off her duties of being a minister’s wife to both Rachel and Lily while she took all the credit from her husband and the congregation.
“Hello, girls, how are you both doing today?” The false sweetness in her voice had Rachel wanting to heave. “I’m having a small dinner for the wives of the deacons. Would it be possible for you to do the grocery shopping for me, Rachel? I would do it, but Jeffrey is teething and running a small fever.” As she held out a list, Rachel reached out and took it. It would take over an hour to do the shopping for the large list.
“I’ll do it during my lunch hour.”
“Perfect. I knew I could count on you.”
Rachel thought she would leave since her purpose had been achieved; instead, she lingered, leaning casually against the counter.
“Lily, I have several maternity outfits that I no longer need. If you’d like, I could give them to you. I noticed yours are getting tight.” A long, manicured nail tapped the counter. “You may want to watch your weight. Baby weight isn’t easy to get rid of.”
Rachel couldn’t believe the bitchy remark. Lily was smaller at eight months pregnant than Brooke was now.
“I bought my maternity clothes in Atlanta. They aren’t as tacky as the ones you’ll buy in Treepoint.”
Rachel almost smacked Brooke when Lily self-consciously ran her hand over her blue-jean maternity dress that she looked gorgeous wearing.
“I don’t think it’s the clothes that make a person pretty, but the person wearing them,” Rachel told Brooke sharply, moving protectively closer to Lily, who was sitting on a stool behind the counter.
Brooke’s eyes lowered to Rachel’s simple, blue dress, letting her distaste show. “I’m going home to Atlanta next week. I could pick up a few things for you, Rachel.”
“No, thanks. Clothes are clothes to me. I don’t place much importance on them. You can turn shit into fertilizer, bu
t it still smells like shit.” Rachel had dealt with enough of Brooke’s snide comments, and she wasn’t going to tolerate her attitude any longer. She wanted to give her the grocery list back and tell her where to shove it, but she was afraid she would get Lily to do it instead.
“If you change your mind, let me know.” Brooke didn’t let her comment bother her. The plastic expression on her face didn’t change. “I need to be getting back to Jeffrey.”
“I’m really starting to hate that woman,” Rachel stated once she had left.