“Come on, I hated this town. Let’s get out of here.”
Jesse watched them until they were on their horses riding out. He despised men like that. Men who didn’t appreciate or take care of women, but rather, wanted to harm them. Hurt them when they didn’t get their way.
There was no place in town for men like that. Now he needed to get back to Mary and see if he could learn what had set her off screaming like someone was after her.
“Something happened with Mary,” Jesse said. “She must have seen the man hit Rose and when I came down the stairs, she was frozen staring at them, screaming. She was terrified.”
Andrew sighed. “You know she acted a little upset when I tied her up the other night. She needs to tell us what is bothering her.”
It was true, she’d seemed a little spooked, but Jesse just thought it was because she was new to this.
“Let’s get her and go home. Those assholes have ruined the evening,” Jesse said.
When they walked into the house, his aunt was cradling a crying Mary. “It’s all right. They’re gone.”
When she saw Jesse and Andrew, she ran to them. “Take me home.”
“We were just thinking the same thing,” Andrew said, holding her in his arms.
Jesse stared at how Mary was trembling in Andrew’s arms. She was clearly frightened. He gazed around at the room full of men and women who were stunned at what happened.
He hugged his aunt. “Thanks for dinner. I’m sorry the evening ended this way.”
“Me too,” she said. “Jackasses. Oh wait, I have a letter for Mary.”
Walking over to a desk, she reached inside and pulled out a letter. “This came for her yesterday.”
Mary’s face went white.
“No…” she wailed. “No, make it stop.”
Brow raised, Jesse glanced at Andrew. What was going on?