SomedayMyGoodOleBoyWillCome Read online

  She rolled her eyes. “Did it bother you? Knowing that you were dependent on a woman to get you out from where others had failed?”

  “I would be lying if I said otherwise.” Derek watched her expression and when he saw no emotion, he realized just how much prejudice she must go through. “But that changed when I saw your teammates, all of them, look to you. If they could trust you than so could I.” He stepped into her and stopped her from walking forward. “Look at me.” She lifted her gaze to his. “Thank you for saving my life. I must admit for a while there I thought we were dead.”

  “Glad I could be of assistance. Wish I didn’t have to be, but glad I was. Did you speak to someone about what you went through out there?”

  He clenched his jaw. “No. We all got ordered into the shrink but I only did the required time.” Derek gazed at her, wondering where she was going with this.

  She nodded and skirted around him, the farm house in the distance. She glanced at her watch a few times.

  “That’s it. You don’t have anything else to say?”

  “What are you looking for, Derek? I told you what I could and I need a bit more time to tell you something else. I am not denying my attraction to you, so what do you want me to say?”

  “Well, princess, at least you freely admit you want me. However, I was actually talking about the shrink thing. Aren’t you going to be like my family and tell me I should get some professional help?” He couldn’t help the anger that tinged his voice.

  They were at the porch when Jacey paused and faced Derek, gaze thoughtful and serious.

  “I’m in no position to tell you anything similar to that. I don’t know what you went through out there or how it affected you. You strike me as a smart man so if you don’t feel like you need to talk to a shrink then I’ll take that at face value. However, I will say this.” Her words were spoken so softly he almost didn’t catch them. “If you do ever need to talk, I’m here and willing to listen.” Then she opened the porch door and walked into the house.

  Chapter Eight

  At seven o’clock the rest of the family filed into the kitchen for the morning meal. Jacey had whipped up a fine spread. Scrambled eggs so light they almost floated off the fork. Hot biscuits that steamed when they opened. Crisp bacon, grits, pancakes, milk and orange juice. Fresh cinnamon buns with icing waited for the end of the meal.

  “What a feast. Auntie Ro, you outdid yourself this morning,” Carson said as he sat eagerly before his plate.

  “I agree,” Honey added.

  “Jacey made the meal this morning, not me,” Aunt Ro made the correction.

  “Let’s say grace so we can begin to eat,” Uncle Frank said as he sat down at his normal seat at the head of the table. Auntie Ro sat across from him. Honey and Jacey were on one side and Jacey found herself gazing at Derek across the table.

  The rogue actually winked at her while others were bowing their heads for grace. Jacey narrowed her eyes in response. So much for the truce period, but she held her tongue. I’d like my tongue in Derek’s mouth. That thought made her eyes fly open, only to find the man that invaded her mind had his kingfisher blue stare on her, looking as if he knew her thoughts. And approved.

  He winked again and smiled as she wet her suddenly dry lips. He knew exactly what his effect on her was. They may have agreed that he wouldn’t ask her, but he didn’t agree that he wouldn’t make her squirm.

  Breakfast was a cheerful affair. Conversation stayed upbeat as they spoke about the day.

  “What are everyone’s plans for the day?” Auntie Ro asked.

  “Carson and I have to fix the fence, after I get my car from town. We’re also going to pick up some more supplies like screen, paint, and some nails.” Derek glanced around after he spoke.

  “Jacey and I are going to do some shopping for the cookout tomorrow. Then we should be available to help with some of the touchup work. Other than that, I have to meet David for a short time in the evening. Oh, and he will be coming for lunch.” She smiled. “We have a dinner date.” Her eyes widened as she shot a look to Jacey. “You don’t mind do you, Jace?”

  “Not at all. That will give me some time to catch up with everyone else.”

  “Great. Derek, what’s the matter? You look upset over something.”

  Honey’s question brought Jacey’s eyes back over to the father of her child. He had a horrible scowl on his face, and the look in his eyes was one that Jacey knew personally. The desire to hurt someone.

  Derek looked flustered and didn’t know how to respond. Jacey stepped in, “I think it’s because I took the last biscuit. We all know how Derek loves his biscuits.” She teased with a smile and a nudge under the table to Derek’s leg.

  Fast as a striking snake, her leg was captured in-between his. A sexy half smile crossed his face as his eyes met hers. “Sure, pick on a hungry man. That’s it, cuz, just that she took the biscuit. She saw me going for it and snatched it away.”

  “Well, I did make ’em. And I highly doubt you are the only hungry one in the room.” Jacey tugged to get her leg free from his hold and was denied. She was going to have to create a commotion to get her leg free. He knew it and was waiting to see what her reaction would be.

  “Good to see you smile again, Derek. It has been a long time. David will be coming for lunch, maybe you and Carson could do something with him for a bit.” Honey smiled at her cousin.

  Jacey watched Derek from beneath lowered lashes. It amazed her how easy it was for her to read his emotions. To her he was an open book and right now this book did not want anything to do with his cousin’s fiancé. Not in a good way, that was.

  “I’m sure we could think of something.” A forced smile crossed his face as he glanced briefly at Honey before looking at Jacey.

  Gallantly Jacey offered up half of her biscuit across the table to Derek. “Here, Derek. I wouldn’t want to be the cause of any discomfort for you, so have half of mine.”

  The legs holding hers tightened. “Well thanks, princess—” his eyes held a silent meaning just for her—“I would really like it all, but if this is what you are willing to give I guess I can be happy with that much.”

  “Princess?” Carson interjected. “What is going on between you two?”

  “Nothing. Derek is just being a pain. He knows how to irritate me and has to do it. Just like when we were younger. Can’t help himself. If y’all will excuse me, I will begin to clear the table.” Jacey stared at Derek the whole time, knowing full well that he would have to let her get up or answer as to why he was holding onto her leg.

  “No, dear. I will clean up. You cooked, let me clean,” Aunt Ro said.

  “I’ll help,” Honey added. “Jacey, you cook up a mean meal.”

  “Amen.” Uncle Frank wiped his mouth.

  “I agree.” Derek’s two cents. Again his legs tightened around hers.

  “Thanks, Jace,” Carson supplemented.

  “Well, I may not have picked up a lot of things from my mama but I can cook. That was the one thing she made sure of.”

  “Well, you sure would make your mama proud with this meal.” Carson gave her a thumbs up.

  “Maybe.” Jacey picked up her plate and, with a look accompanied by a pointed stare at Derek, who took the hint and let go of her leg, removed herself from the table. “If you will excuse me, I’ll go change.”

  Carson rose as well. “Let me walk you.”

  “Why, Carson,” she drawled. “How gentlemanly of you.” She held out her arm and continued, “Shall we?”

  ♠

  The small office in the back of the police station was sweltering, and had been all morning. There were four people packed in the tight room. The commissioner of Leeburg, a reed thin man named R.E. Davis who went by the name Red. His sheriff, a portly man named L.P. Jenkins. The other two men were father and son, relatively new arrivals in Leeburg who owned a big contracting company and were in cahoots with Red and Jenkins: Mr. David Miles Turner, Sr. and Jr.

&nb
sp; “The wedding still on?” Red asked.

  “Yes. I think we may have a problem with this Jacey girl. She has huge influence over Honey and I am not sure she likes me. I know that Derek doesn’t, but I am not as worried about him.”

  “Jacey? Jacey Thompson?” Red sounded worried.

  “Yes, she came into town yesterday. I met her at the farm and they had a party for her last night at Rosie’s. There is something about her, I don’t know. I think she is trouble.”

  “Well,” David, Sr. piped in. “We need this deal, Red. You promised us that we would get that land.”

  “Of course, of course.” He held up his hands placatingly. “And you will and I will get my percentage.”

  “So is this Jacey going to be a problem or not?” The senior Turner put his beady eyes on Red.

  “Dad, I don’t want to worry anyone here. Let’s just see how it plays out. The wedding is still on, so let’s just keep on the way we are.”

  “Well,” Jenkins said, “I will be arresting those Moser boys as soon as we are done here, so they will be out of the way.”

  A harsh round of laughter filled the room. “We know that the Mosers won’t have any money to bail them out. Jenkins, make sure you set bail at one thousand each.”

  “Sure thing, boss. No problem. I’m gone.” Jenkins left the room and headed for his squad car. Standing outside beside his car, he found the men he was looking for across the street at the garage.

  “Freeze!” Jenkins shouted across the street as he ran over to the garage, huffing and puffing.

  ♠

  Derek and Carson were picking up Derek’s car from R.J.’s garage when they heard that dreaded word. The boys looked at each other and then over at the sheriff.

  “What did we do now, Jenkins?”

  “Hush, Carson. You just hush. I’m arresting the both of you.”

  “For what?” Derek questioned. “We didn’t do anything wrong, all we’re doing is picking up my car.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Come on, no tricks. Let’s go.” He put cuffs on the Moser boys and led them back across the street and into the police station.

  As they were being locked in their cell, Red walked up and laughed when he saw them. “Well, well, well, what have we here? The Moser boys back behind bars where you belong. Hopefully you will be out by your cousin’s wedding. Doubt it, but you can hope.”

  “Red, you have no right to keep us in here,” Derek snapped.

  “Until you come up with two thousand dollars, I do. And we both know that you don’t have that kind of money.”

  Derek and Carson looked at each other in despair. Two thousand dollars. Red was right; their family didn’t have that kind of money. All they could do was wait for the right moment and escape. They’d done it before and they could do it again.

  “Very well, Red, but you owe us a phone call,” Carson reminded him.

  “Jenkins will call your aunt and uncle and tell them where you are. So make yourselves comfortable, boys, you’re not going anywhere for a long time.” With a wave of his bony fingers, Red and Jenkins walked upstairs to the main part of the station.

  “Damn. Damn. Damn!” Derek swore. “How the hell did this happen? Uncle Frank doesn’t have the money. They barely have enough to pay for Honey’s wedding.”

  “I know. Ever since Red raised the taxes, we have been barely getting by. What are we going to do, Derek? We can’t help at the farm if we are stuck in here.”

  “Chill, Carson. We’ll get out. Just give me a second to come up with a plan.”

  Jacey walked into the room only to lean against the counter with crossed arms, watching and waiting, appearing deceptively relaxed as Aunt Ro took a call which visibly upset her.

  “What happened to ma’ boys, Aurora?” Uncle Frank asked.

  “Sheriff Jenkins arrested ’em.”

  “What for! They didn’t do nothin’ wrong.”

  “Papa,” Honey interjected. “You know Red and Jenkins don’t ever need a reason.”

  “True. Well, let’s go bail ’em out,” Uncle Frank said.

  “In jail? What is this all about?” Jacey stood up from her relaxed position and walked to the table.

  “Frank,” Aurora’s voice was low. “We can’t bail them out. It’s too much.”

  “Bail is usually twenty-five each. We can scrounge up an extra fifty bucks. Don’t worry, Mama,” Honey said.

  “No, Honey. It’s two thousand to get them out. That was all Jenkins said.”

  “Two thousand. That’s highway robbery,” Frank bit off.

  In that second Jacey realized that this was the problem here in Leeburg. Corruption. The Moser farm sat on some prime land. It had river access and some of the most fertile land in the county.

  “We’ll think of something. We always do.” Honey tried to offer support, but as her eyes met Jacey’s the tears were evident.

  Jacey nodded once in her friend’s direction and sent her a silent message that she knew would be understood. Then she left.

  Flipping open her phone, Jacey made a call. “I need some money transferred. To the R.E. Davis Bank in Leeburg, Georgia. It is the only one. Ten thousand. I have a feeling I am going to need it. I want it there within fifteen minutes. Thanks, Howard, I owe you one.”

  Within twenty minutes she whipped up to the bank and shut off her car. Jacey strode into the bank, uncaring of the sight that she presented. She wore jungle fatigues, black boots, and a tight black tee shirt. Her hair was hanging loose and it flowed around her shoulders with every aggravated step she took.

  The bank hadn’t changed a bit, and as she walked in she met the eyes of the only teller in there, a thin woman. “I need to make a withdrawal. Please.”

  “Do you have an account here?”

  “No, but a transfer should have been just completed for me, Jacey Thompson. It is for ten thousand dollars. I would like it all please.”

  The teller’s eyes bugged out at the amount but she nodded. “A transfer did just come in. You don’t remember me, do you, Jacey?”

  “No, I’m sorry I don’t.” Her head cocked to the side as she tried to identify the woman.

  “Put on about one hundred pounds and cut my hair really short.”

  That did it. “Oh my God! Susie Ephram.”

  She laughed. “That’s right. Only it’s Susie Parker now, I married Bubba Parker.”

  “Bubba? The one who wanted to become sheriff?” Bubba Parker was a good ol’ boy with a heart of gold. Those two were just about as opposite as one could get. Susie was a rich dark chocolate color and Bubba…well, Bubba would burn in the sun if he wasn’t careful. “Congratulations on your marriage.”

  “Thank you. Yes, he is one of Jenkins’ deputies. There are only two deputies in Leeburg.”

  “Congratulations, Susie. You look amazing.”

  “Thanks. I was hoping I would make it to your party but I couldn’t leave the kids.”

  “How many do you have?” A wistful smile crossed her face as she thought about her own child.

  “We have two.”

  “Look, Susie, we are having a cookout at the farm tomorrow, so why don’t you and Bubba come out? Bring the kids and we can catch up.”

  A sad smile crossed Susie’s face. “Are you sure? I’m always not sure we are welcome, you know, with Bubba always arresting the boys. That and a few of the people in the town look down on us because of the whole color thing.”

  “I’m sure Bubba is just doing his job. I know the Mosers wouldn’t hold that against either one of you, or your kids. And as far as your other reason, that’s just ridiculous. Say y’all’ll come.”

  “Of course. Can I bring anything?” Susie asked as she continued to count out the money.

  “No. Just your family around one.” Jacey took the counted money and smiled. “Well, actually there is. You can answer one thing for me.”

  “Sure. What?”

  “How often do they get arrested?”

  “Too often. And I am
not sure why. Half the time Bubba isn’t sure either.”

  Jacey nodded. “Thanks, shug. See you tomorrow.”

  “Thanks for the invite. Glad to have you back in town.”

  “Bye, Suz.” Jacey waved over her shoulder as she walked out of the bank. Climbing into her car, she hid the money, except what she was going to need. This town was just not right.

  Chapter Nine

  Parking in front of the jail, Jacey climbed out and walked into the building. Bubba Parker was at the counter. Him she recognized, he had barely changed.

  “Can I help you, ma’am?” came his polite question.

  “Bubba, don’t you recognize me?”

  “Jacey? Is that you? It’s good to see you. Whooeee, girl, you are looking good.” He blushed, looked around then back to her with a question in his eyes. “What are you doing here?”

  “I just talked to your wife and y’all along with your kids are coming out to the Moser Farm tomorrow for a cookout.”

  “You came over here to tell me that?” He smiled, showing crooked teeth.

  “No, not only, I also came. . .”

  “What is going on out here?” Jenkins came out of his office.

  “Sheriff Jenkins.” Jacey nodded in his direction.

  “Well, well, well. Who have we here? Little Jacey Thompson, I heard you were back in town. What are you doing here?” He sauntered over, trying to look more impressive than he really was.

  “I came to invite Bubba to a cookout tomorrow.”

  “You cookin’?”

  “Yes, sir, I am. But I’m also here for the Mosers. I’m bailing them out. Go get ’em, Bubba.”

  “Hold it right there. No. Don’t go anywhere, Bubba, you don’t answer to her. They have a two thousand-dollar bail on their rotten heads, and the Mosers don’t have that kind of money. So sorry, but they will stay right where they are.”

  She narrowed her eyes at the glee on the older man’s face. “Perhaps the Mosers don’t have it, but I do.” She slammed two thousand dollars down on the counter. “Now stop stallin’ and get the boys out.” When Bubba didn’t move fast enough for her liking, Jacey pinned him with a stare that made him move.