Page 34 of Gotta Dig Deep
“I got plenty of anything you’d be interested in.” His hand snapped forward and Glenna caught his wrist in one hand, holding him at bay with effort. “And probably some you wouldn’t.”
“Stop it.” Her voice was slightly breathless, but she wasn’t wooed, more alarmed. He’d never resorted to physical violence before.
Without warning his other hand was on her breast, groping roughly, the sharp pain levering her to her toes. “Or maybe you would.”
“Ow! Jackson, stop it. Let me go.” She spoke over his words, pushing back as hard as she could.
“You’re the one keepin’ me here.” He leaned in closer, mouth opened in a slash, his intentions clear as Glenna shifted on her feet, trying to slide to one side and avoid the kiss. She was straining to hold him off her, Jackson not even appearing to recognize the effort he had to be applying to hold her in place. “I know I’ve got a powerful interest.”
“I’m not interested in anything you’ve got to offer.” Finally getting her balance again, Glenna lifted a knee sharply, catching him on the inside of his thigh. “Now”—she shoved hard, wedged as she was against the side of the truck—“get the fuck off me, asshole.”
“Everything okay over here?”
Jackson’s head whipped to the side and Glenna saw the doctor had stopped on the stoop of his office across the street, one hand on the doorknob.
“Right as rain.” Jackson’s call came as he backed away, one hand drifting towards the wrist she’d held in an aborted movement. “Me and Glenna are just having a friendly conversation between neighbors.”
“Get away from me, Jackson Snyder. Get away and don’t you ever put your hands on me again.” Glenna raised her voice to ensure their audience of one caught every word. “Get the fuck away from me and keep my damned name out of your mouth. You touch me again and I’ll make one call.” She’d leave it up to him to wonder who that call would be to. “You sicken me.”
“Glenna, you okay?” Doc Martin had left his stoop and was halfway across the street. “You need anything?”
“She’s fine. Like I said, we were just talking.”
Jackson couldn’t seem to know when to walk away. Glenna glimpsed a couple of ranchers towards the front of the building who’d paused in the act of getting into their vehicles, giving them a larger audience.
She raised her voice again, nearing a shout. “I said get away from me, Jackson Snyder. Don’t touch me again. I don’t want anything to do with a man like you. Scum.” She spat to the side and watched the anger flare in his eyes again.
“Bitch.” His single word response wasn’t as quiet as he’d thought, because the ranchers and Doc Martin all moved quickly towards where they stood. “I want you. I’ll take you. No way you can fight me off forever, Glenna. Remember, you live way out there in the boonies, with a lot of miles of shared fence with my land.”
“Snyder, you should shut up and get gone.”
Glenna didn’t know who’d given the instructions, but Jackson reacted immediately, taking two long steps away from her truck. He didn’t say anything else, just spun on a well-polished boot heel and stalked out of sight around the feed store.
“You okay, ma’am?” One of the men lifted a hand as if to support her elbow and Glenna nodded as she moved away.
Shamu was still barking furiously and when she turned her head, Glenna was shocked to find he’d forced the window down another few inches, almost enough to allow him to come through. His head snaked towards the man who’d offered the assistance, teeth snapping together threateningly.
“Stop, Shammy.” Pulling in a breath that was shakier than she wanted to let on, she tried to smile at Doc Martin. “He’s protective. And yes—” She took another breath that came in much smoother. “I’m okay. Jackson’s all talk and hot air.”
His manhandling of me didn’t seem like empty talk.
Another breath filled her lungs. She gave them another smile, and like the air in her throat this expression came much easier. “I’m good, gentlemen. Thank you for the rescue, though. I’d never turn down chivalry like that.”
“If you’re sure.” The frown on Doc Martin’s face reminded her of the last days of Penn’s life. As his time had gotten shorter, the lines on the doc’s brow had deepened. “Might not hurt to stop and talk to the county sheriff. That was a clear threat he laid down. We all heard it.”
“All talk. I’ll give the sheriff a call if he does anything else, though. Don’t worry. My grandma taught me not to suffer fools.” Glenna patted the hand Doc had laid on her arm. “Now I should get into the store and place my order before Shammy tears his way out of the truck.”
“Maybe have him on a leash next time. Bring him out with you.” One of the ranchers suggested as he tugged the front of his hat down in respect. “He’d make any man think twice about layin’ a hand on a pretty lady like you.”
“Good point.” She laughed as lightly as she could manage, given her insides were still quivering in fear. “He’s a good companion for me.”
“If you say so, miss.” The other rancher nodded his goodbye and the two men returned to their trucks, chatting as they went.
“I’d never thought about you being all alone out there. I’m gonna worry about you now, Glenna.” Doc Martin turned his hand over and clasped her fingers. “Don’t be a stranger, sweetheart. Keep me in the loop if that Snyder boy doesn’t mind his manners going forwards.”
“I’ll do that, Doc. I’ll do that,” she lied as she gave him a squeeze and turned to the truck, using one hand to push Shamu’s head back through the window as she opened the door. Two cranks later, the window was set at the previous level and Glenna was on her way into the store, digging in her pocket for the list she’d made this morning.
A glance showed Jackson nowhere in sight, and when she cautiously looked around inside, he wasn’t there either.
