easier on the eyes. She was popular and respected. On the other hand, no one would ever mistake Jeffers Grimm for Colton’s finest son.
But then, gripped with one hell of an idea, he’d stepped inside Silas Aldridge’s store and seen her true, maybe for the first time.
Ever since, he’d become obsessed.
Jeffers knew she was too good for the likes of him, but he didn’t give a damn. It wasn’t as if he wanted her hand in marriage. Maddy was pure, an example of all that was admirable and good in the world. He’d watched her talk to folks come down out of the hills, filthy degenerates without a pot to piss in, and do so with respect. As remarkable as she was, all Jeffers wanted to do was grind that goodness out of her, to make her as disreputable as he was.
He wanted her to belong to him.
Jack Rucker had been a fool to give her up. Most folks, Jeffers included, could see that Maddy was still pining for him. Though almost seven years had passed since Rucker left Colton, there was still a part of her waiting, maybe even expecting him to return, but Jeffers knew there was a better chance of hell freezing over. Better than most, he understood Rucker’s leaving; Jeffers wanted the same thing, to get away to something better, somewhere more , to leave Colton behind forever.
Until that day came, he’d set his sights on having Maddy Aldridge. Looking at her now, how beautiful and untouchable she was, all at the same time, only made his desire greater. The whores who shared his bed couldn’t hold a candle to her; whenever he rolled off one, he was usually too disgusted to look at her for long. He doubted he’d feel that way with Maddy beneath him.
We’re gonna find out soon…whether she wants to have me or not…
Jeffers felt the stirrings of a smile tug at the corners of his mouth as Jared Wilkinson hurried to get out of his way, the legs of his chair scraping loudly against the floor as he shot to his feet. Without a look back, the old man practically ran toward the bar. Years before, Jeffers had lent Wilkinson some money; unbeknownst to him at the time, it had come with a high rate of interest. When the former lumberjack protested, it had taken a late night visit to help keep him paying. Even though the money had been fully paid a few months back, the man’s fear remained.
Amused, Jeffers was reminded of one of the reasons he’d become attracted to Maddy; unlike Jared Wilkinson, she had a backbone.
When Jeffers had first approached her about using the mercantile’s basement as a speakeasy, he’d come away impressed that she’d turned down his offer so determinedly. Though he’d seen the fear in her eyes as plain as day, she’d stood her ground. Very few people would have dared to defy him. It was at that moment Jeffers began to see her differently. He’d become attracted to her. The irony was not lost on him; the last thing he would’ve ever tolerated from someone like Sumner was backtalk.
The second time Jeffers had come to her, he’d been far more determined, not just because he’d needed the space but also because by then he wanted her . Rather than threatening her, he’d tried to make her see reason, going so far as to drag her sick father into it, anything to make her relent. Slowly, Jeffers saw her resolve weakening. When she insisted on being involved in running the tavern, it was obvious she’d expected him to argue; when he hadn’t, confusion flashed across her face.
If only she knew the truth.
Jeffers walked into the thick, dark shadows at the rear of the cellar. Crates, sacks, and barrels of unsold merchandise had been stacked in piles in order to make room for the speakeasy. Weaving his way through the mess, Jeffers came to a locked door set into the rear wall. Pulling a key from his pocket, he unlocked the padlock he’d installed, stepped inside, and flipped the light switch.
The storeroom wasn’t half the size of the rest of the cellar, but its ceiling was higher. In the far
But then, gripped with one hell of an idea, he’d stepped inside Silas Aldridge’s store and seen her true, maybe for the first time.
Ever since, he’d become obsessed.
Jeffers knew she was too good for the likes of him, but he didn’t give a damn. It wasn’t as if he wanted her hand in marriage. Maddy was pure, an example of all that was admirable and good in the world. He’d watched her talk to folks come down out of the hills, filthy degenerates without a pot to piss in, and do so with respect. As remarkable as she was, all Jeffers wanted to do was grind that goodness out of her, to make her as disreputable as he was.
He wanted her to belong to him.
Jack Rucker had been a fool to give her up. Most folks, Jeffers included, could see that Maddy was still pining for him. Though almost seven years had passed since Rucker left Colton, there was still a part of her waiting, maybe even expecting him to return, but Jeffers knew there was a better chance of hell freezing over. Better than most, he understood Rucker’s leaving; Jeffers wanted the same thing, to get away to something better, somewhere more , to leave Colton behind forever.
Until that day came, he’d set his sights on having Maddy Aldridge. Looking at her now, how beautiful and untouchable she was, all at the same time, only made his desire greater. The whores who shared his bed couldn’t hold a candle to her; whenever he rolled off one, he was usually too disgusted to look at her for long. He doubted he’d feel that way with Maddy beneath him.
We’re gonna find out soon…whether she wants to have me or not…
Jeffers felt the stirrings of a smile tug at the corners of his mouth as Jared Wilkinson hurried to get out of his way, the legs of his chair scraping loudly against the floor as he shot to his feet. Without a look back, the old man practically ran toward the bar. Years before, Jeffers had lent Wilkinson some money; unbeknownst to him at the time, it had come with a high rate of interest. When the former lumberjack protested, it had taken a late night visit to help keep him paying. Even though the money had been fully paid a few months back, the man’s fear remained.
Amused, Jeffers was reminded of one of the reasons he’d become attracted to Maddy; unlike Jared Wilkinson, she had a backbone.
When Jeffers had first approached her about using the mercantile’s basement as a speakeasy, he’d come away impressed that she’d turned down his offer so determinedly. Though he’d seen the fear in her eyes as plain as day, she’d stood her ground. Very few people would have dared to defy him. It was at that moment Jeffers began to see her differently. He’d become attracted to her. The irony was not lost on him; the last thing he would’ve ever tolerated from someone like Sumner was backtalk.
The second time Jeffers had come to her, he’d been far more determined, not just because he’d needed the space but also because by then he wanted her . Rather than threatening her, he’d tried to make her see reason, going so far as to drag her sick father into it, anything to make her relent. Slowly, Jeffers saw her resolve weakening. When she insisted on being involved in running the tavern, it was obvious she’d expected him to argue; when he hadn’t, confusion flashed across her face.
If only she knew the truth.
Jeffers walked into the thick, dark shadows at the rear of the cellar. Crates, sacks, and barrels of unsold merchandise had been stacked in piles in order to make room for the speakeasy. Weaving his way through the mess, Jeffers came to a locked door set into the rear wall. Pulling a key from his pocket, he unlocked the padlock he’d installed, stepped inside, and flipped the light switch.
The storeroom wasn’t half the size of the rest of the cellar, but its ceiling was higher. In the far
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