A Hidden Truth

Gossips and Lechers

[Jaxon]

    We walked to the café and could see him and Marie-Rose from the hostess stand. Telling her we were with them, she guided us to the table and handed us menus. Hank and I shook hands, Marie-Rose hugged Juniper.

    All three had fake smiles and cheerful voices. I made sure Juniper was seated between Marie-Rose and myself. It seemed to relax her to be further from him, even if it meant facing him.

    “You wanna order first? Then we can chat.” Hank said pleasantly.

    “I know what I want already.” Juniper smiled.

    There was a little mischief there. It was a smile I wanted to see more often. I wondered what she was going to do.

    “I’ve never been here. What are you getting, sweet?” I asked.

    “The double cheeseburger with no onions and double fries. I think I’d like a coke with it. I’m famished.” She responded sweetly.

    That did sound pretty good. I’d been so preoccupied with trying to make myself busy, I’d totally forgotten breakfast.

    “You’re gonna get fat if you eat like that.” Hank said in a low, quiet voice.

    “Then I’ll be fat. It’s not your business how I eat, now I’m an adult.” Juniper chided.

    “I think I’ll get fat, too.” I told her, closing my menu.

    Juniper giggled.

    The waitress returned and took all of our orders. Marie-Rose ordered a salad and Hank had an open faced roast beef sandwich. We sipped our waters as we mentally organized ourselves. 

    “I heard Remy got in another fight. Who was it this time?” Juniper asked her mother.

    “Buck Jensen. I don’t know what to do about that boy. He seems to rise to anyone’s bait. You were like that when you were little. How did we get you to stop? I can’t seem to remember.” She chuckled.

    Juniper smiled. “I wasn’t allowed to ride if I got in a fight. Maybe you should get him into something he won’t want to give up. There’s gotta be something he’ll want enough to stop fighting. Maybe karate? He likes thinking he has ninja moves. They teach restraint and responsibility in those classes.”

    I glanced around. The tables near us had filled up and people were listening. It was fairly quiet. I put my hand on the table over Juniper’s and she almost jumped before taking it. Some whispers started from behind us.

    “I’ll have to look into it.” Marie-Rose said thoughtfully.

    “I can have a talk with Buck when I get home tonight.” I offered. “He shouldn’t be getting in fights. Maybe you and Bobbi should get the boys in the same class. They could learn together and fight together. It might help them with the antagonism.”

    “Do you think it would help?” Juniper asked.

    “Yeah. Boys are like that. They’d have an experience outside of school to bond over.” I smiled.

    “How’s Teddy doing with his new job?” Hank asked.

    “Red says he’s completely reorganized the office. Wouldn’t listen to a thing the current business manager said until it was done.” I replied.

    “He’s always been particular. He redid the offices at my dealerships years ago, and they still run way more efficiently than before.” Hank responded. His eyes weren’t on me, they were on my hand and Juniper’s. “I thought you were datin’ Teddy.”

    I chuckled. “Oh, I felt a little bad about that. I pretended to be gay and interested in Teddy because I wanted him to meet my friend Gary. I didn’t know any other way to tempt him out of the house. Juniper told me so much about him, I thought they’d hit it off. You met Gary the other day, right?” I asked.

    Hank nodded. “Yeah. Bought a truck from me. Cash outright. That’s pretty impressive. He had some good hagglin’ skills, I barely made anythin’ off the sale. Said he saved money and invested half of every paycheck into stocks that paid out regularly.”  

    “They’re pretty happy together. Gary’s already talking about a future in town. It’d take a lot to get him to give up being a bounty hunter. He loves his job. Guess Teddy’s the one.” I squeezed Juniper’s hand and she gave me a huge smile.

    “Make sure he calls his mother more often. You know she worries about y’all.” Hank told Juniper.

    “Sure thing, Hank.” She said.

    “How did the doctor appointment go?” Marie-Rose asked.

    “Same as always. Came out all healthy. Blood tests will be back in a few days, but Dr. Grayson doesn’t think we’ll see anything significant. Standard yearly check-up.” Juniper said. “Excuse me for a moment, I have to powder my nose.”

    I stood and pulled her chair out, then tucked it back in. She retreated to the ladies’ room. I was left to maneuver a conversation that seemed to be diagramed and rehearsed. Things were stiff and I could tell the ladies around us were eating up the awkward silence.

    “Jaxon, how’s your mama?” Marie-Rose asked.

    “She’s doing well. Very excited to meet Juniper. I’m planning to take her up to Boise in a couple weeks.” I replied politely.

    Anger flashed in Hank’s eyes for a moment. He didn’t like that one bit. Marie-Rose looked pleased as punch, though.

    “I was hoping the two of you would hit it off well. You have so much in common.” She smiled.

    “We definitely do. My best friend is coming to town to meet her. With how much I was fearing my sister’s matchmaking, Kenny thought I’d run screaming back home after a week.” I chuckled.

     “Oh my, I hope it wasn’t all that dreadful.” Marie-Rose put a hand to her chest and reached out with the other. It was something I’d seen my mother do. Such a familiar gesture made me relax a little.

    I looked past her when I saw a flash of yellow. Juniper was coming from the restrooms and was stopped by a couple men. They took a few steps forward until she was backed against the wall. I stood up and walked over. As I got close, I could hear what they were saying.

    “Come on, baby. We’re fun guys.” One of the men said.

    “Yeah, we can have a lotta fun, together.” The other snickered.

    What the hell? This was like one of those hidden camera things. I thought these guys only existed in fiction.

    “My family is waiting for me, please move.” Juniper said softly.

    “We’ll get ya back to ‘em in a bit, baby. Come look around the market with us. I know a quiet place we can all go to talk.” The first man reached for her arm.

    “Juniper.” I said. “Let’s head back to the table, sweet.”

    She tried to move past them and the one reaching for her grabbed her arm.

    “Let go of my girlfriend. Now.” I ordered.

    “We just want her to walk around with us.” The second man said with a smirk.

    I turned and looked at Hank. He whispered something to Marie-Rose and stood, walking toward us. I wasn’t as imposing as Hank was. Though we were the same height, and I wasn’t exactly a slouch, he looked like the type of guy who could break a man with one hand tied behind his back. I didn’t want to have the confrontation turn physical while Juniper was in the middle of it.

    “Get your hands off my daughter.” Hank growled when he got close enough.

    They looked like they were trying to figure out if they could take both of us. Juniper pulled back from the one holding her wrist and, when he turned, she punched him in the stomach and kneed him in the face when he doubled over. She kicked the other between the legs when he tried to grab her, then dove into my arms.

    Hank grabbed them both by the shirt collars as the manager approached.

    “What’s going on here? One of my servers said a girl was being harassed.” His eyes landed on Juniper who was shaking in my arms. “Are you okay, miss?”

    She nodded, but kept her face pressed into my chest. Her whole body was trembling.

    “We can kick them out. I can call the police.” The manager offered.

    “Call the police. I want to press charges on that little bitch.” The second man snarled.

    “Yeah. Call the police. I think it’d be hilarious to see in the papers how two grown men were harassing a high school girl, then got their asses kicked by her. Doesn’t that sound funny, Hank?” I snickered.

    “Sounds pretty fuckin’ funny to me. Maybe we should call. Her brother’s a deputy after all. I’m sure he could find somethin’ to charge them with.” Hank smirked.

    “We’ll go. Don’t listen to my friend. He’s just mad.” The first man said.

    The manager and Hank took them out and ejected them from the property. I tipped Juniper’s face up. Her shaking hadn’t been fear. She was laughing. I raised an eyebrow.

    “Having fun, sweet?”

    “You know how I told you I thought of you the last time?” She murmured.

    “Yeah.” I said curiously.

    “I thought of him this time. It felt amazing. That guy kept calling me ‘baby’ and sounded just like him. I’ve wanted to hurt him for years. I’ll fix my face. Just give me a second.” Juniper pressed her face into my chest again.

    When she pulled away, she looked a little solemn and scared. It made me realize, she probably did something to Becca. Perhaps, Juniper goaded her in a way she knew would make the girl try to attack. Her mother said she used to fight a lot when she was young. Maybe she wasn’t entirely trained out of it. It made me smile a little.

    Hank came back and looked her over. Juniper had tears remaining from her laughter that made it look like she’d been crying. He pulled out a handkerchief and gave it to her. She dabbed her eyes and handed it back.

    “Thank you both for coming to save me.” She whispered.

    “That was a hell of a punch, Juni.” Hank grinned and patted her shoulder.

    “Tammy’s been teaching me self-defense for when I go to Austin.” Juniper replied.

    We headed back to the table and I tucked her back into her seat before sitting in my chair. Our food arrived shortly after we did. The burgers were huge. It was adorable to watch Juniper try to squish it down enough to eat. Her mouth was so small, but she managed it.

    Through the meal, we were mostly quiet. Our conversation tended toward the quality and flavors of the food. Juniper told me the café is stocked almost exclusively from the vendors in the market. She explained all of the different items for sale, including homemade lotions, soaps, and shampoos, quilts and pillows, knickknacks, and candies were local.

    When we’d finished, Juniper leaned over to me.

    “Jaxon, can you take my mother somewhere for a little bit? Hank and I have a play to put on and it only needs two people. We already figured it out over the phone last night.” She whispered.

    “Are you sure you’re okay alone?” I asked quietly.

    “Yes, we need about ten or fifteen minutes. Can you manage it?”

    “Of course.” I replied.

    We went back to our drinks and chatted for a bit. Juniper squeezed my hand as a sign that she was ready. I hated leaving her with him, but they were in public. I had to assume he wouldn’t try anything.

    “Miss Marie-Rose, would you mind coming with me to one of the stands that sells lotions? I’ve got these callouses starting on my hands and I don’t know what to buy for it. Juniper says you know skin care stuff really well. Could you help me?” I requested with a smile.

    “I’d be happy to help, Jaxon. Hank, will you two be alright without us for a bit?” She turned to him.

    “I’ll miss you, but I trust Jaxon to keep you safe.” He chuckled.

    “Promise to come right back?” Juniper said stroking my shoulder.

    “Of course, sweet. Hank will take care of you until we get back. No getting in anymore fights.” I winked.

    She giggled and slapped my shoulder playfully. “Fights come to me. I can’t help it.”

    I stood up and kissed her on top of her head. Walking to the other side of the table, I helped her mother up and wrapped her arm around mine. I turned to look back before we headed to the market’s entry.

    “He’s not going to run off with her, Jaxon.” Marie-Rose said quietly. “They know better. Are you really dating her?”

    “Yes. And I plan to marry her, too. Since you disowned her, I don’t need to ask for your blessing. Teddy and Carson have already granted theirs.” I replied coolly.

    “I would’ve given it. It was her rejectin’ you that made me angry before. You keep her happy so she stays away from my husband. That’s all I want.” She told me as we walked.

    I fought back a scowl and managed to keep my face pleasant. “She never wanted your husband. You’re just blind to what a terrible person he is. I’m not having this argument. You keep your husband away from my girlfriend. I may be a northerner now, but I have far more pull in this town than a shut-in.”

    “That’s accurate, judgin’ by the people who came to help move my daughter out of the house. I’m more than happy to step back. Let’s go get you some lotion or someone will see through our story. Did she tell you how long they needed?” She asked.

    “About fifteen minutes. I don’t want him alone with her any longer than what they absolutely need.”

    “Agreed.” She smiled and we went into a stall called ‘Lotions and Potions’.