Page 22 of Rush Turner
Jack just barked out a laugh. “Hey, Rush—got any goat hair stuck in your zipper?”
“Shut up,” I said, but I was grinning. Couldn’t help it.
When they realized how serious I was, they finally let up.
Didn’t matter. I’d take the ribbing a thousand times over. Because last night, and Jessa?
She was worth every second.
17
Jessa
By noon the kids were outside playing with the smallest goats. Aunt Marie was inside, cursing about flour prices and humming to the radio. I finally had five minutes to breathe and check my phone while the house was blessedly quiet.
I nearly dropped the phone when I saw the notification.
One new message — Kyle.
I hadn’t seen that name pop up since he was arrested. My stomach flipped, sour and sharp, and my thumb hovered above the message.
I told myself not to open it. I opened it anyway.
Hey beautiful. Miss me? You’re gonna pay for what you did. See you soon.
I read it twice, hoping my brain would magically change the words into something harmless. It didn’t.
My breath came in short, ugly gasps. The room spun just a little.
“Jessa? You okay?”
I flinched so hard I nearly threw my phone. Joseph stood in the doorway, a smear of mud on his cheek, his eyes wide.
“Yeah, buddy. Go back outside, okay? Tell your sister to watch the girls. I’ll be right there.”
He didn’t look convinced but ran off.
I sank down on the kitchen chair, fighting the tremble in my hands. How did I forget about him? I’d spent so long pretending Kyle was locked up forever, that he couldn’t touch me or the kids ever again. I should’ve known better.
The screen lit up again. Another message.
Don’t bother calling the cops. We both know they can’t protect you.
I slammed the phone face-down on the table. My mind raced. Who did I call first? The cops wouldn’t do anything until he showed up on my porch with a gun.
I needed Rush.
Rush
I was under the hood of a classic—she purred fine but something about her oil filter bugged me—when my phone buzzed in my pocket.
I almost ignored it. But something told me not to.
Jessa: Can you come here. Now. Please.
Thatpleasemade my chest tighten. I wiped my hands on a rag, tossed it to Max without a word, and was in my truck before any of them could smart off.
I madethe drive in record time. My boots hit the porch steps before the engine even stopped ticking.
