Easy Silence (16 page)

I arrived back at my grandmother’s and was greeted by Doreen, who was sitting on the front porch with my grandmother. Grammy seemed to be off in her own little world. “Sam, would you mind sitting out here with her for a second? I have to go inside and get her medicine together,” Doreen said.

“Oh sure, no problem.”

I took a seat next to my grandmother and grabbed her hand. “It’s a beautiful day out, isn’t it, Grammy?”

“It’s too hot. I need to water my rose bushes if I want them to win the contest.” She seemed agitated.

“They’ll be fine. They look beautiful.”

She stared at me questionably. “Was Max too busy to come and visit with you, dear?”

“Yes, my father is in Europe right now, Grammy.”

“Well, where is the baby? You know I love to spoil my grandchild.”

“I’m your grandchild, Grammy. I’m not a baby anymore.”

“Brooke, you silly girl. Where is that beautiful baby of yours?”

My jaw dropped. Did my father have another child with Brooke? I dug around in my purse, remembering the bracelet that I had thrown in there earlier. “Grammy, do you remember this bracelet?”

“Brooke, of course I do! Max gave that to you for your eighteenth birthday. How could you have forgotten?”

“I-I don’t know. I guess, I just did.” I played along. I hated using her sickness as a means of finding out information, but this was the only way I was going to be able to start to uncover this mystery. “The baby is sleeping, but - ”

“Okay, Caroline. I need you to take these for me,” Doreen interrupted.

Damn it!
All I needed was a couple more seconds to find out who this baby was.

“Doreen, did you ask my friend here if she wanted some lemonade?” And just like that, I had gone from being Brooke, my father’s high school sweetheart, to some unknown friend of hers. I sighed heavily and walked inside to find Hadley scouring through the kitchen cupboards. “Whatchya looking for?” I startled her.

“Oh, just seeing if I have everything I need to make a blueberry pie. I have everything except the blueberries. So, I guess I will be taking a trip to the farmer’s market.”

“Oh, I can go. In fact, I can do even better. Jenks Pond is loaded with blueberry bushes; I could pick them for you fresh.”

“Sam, why go through all of the trouble when you can just buy them at the market?”

I shrugged. “I don’t have anything else to do.”

“Okay, but I wanted to bake the pie today.” She smirked.

“Okay, okay, I’m going.” I looked down at my ringing phone in my hand and saw that it was Meg, my drama teacher, calling. “Give me ten minutes,” I said to Hadley as I walked off to my room and answered my phone.

“Hi, Meg!”

“Sam, since when don’t you return my phone calls?” she responded.

“Oh. I’m sorry. I’ve just been really busy helping out with my grandmother.” I lied. “What’s up?”

“Well, I was talking to a good friend of mine the other day. She’s a big Hollywood agent. Anyway, she said they are looking for a fresh face, an unknown to be featured in this new movie they are going to be filming in the winter with some big name stars. So, she asked me if I knew anyone between eighteen and twenty three, dark hair, dark eyes, and guess who I immediately thought of? The auditions are going to be sometime in the fall out in L.A I know you will be in school, but, Sam, if you could make it work, this could be an amazing opportunity for you.”

At any other time, I would be jumping for joy at this news, but now, for some reason, it had lost its appeal. “Oh…umm. Yeah, that does sound like a great opportunity, but, you know, I’ve really got a lot going on right now, so I really can’t say if I can for sure.”

“Well, think about it. You know I’ve always told you I could see you with an Oscar in your hand someday, and this may be that shot.”

“Yeah, I will definitely let you know.”

We hung up the phone, and I was wishing that I had never answered it. I hated knowing that my dream was dangling right in my face, and I had absolutely no gumption to go after it now. I wanted to be here. I wanted to be with Jaxson. I knew it sounded crazy, even to myself. We had only known each other for a little over a month, but I felt a connection to him that I couldn’t break. I couldn’t think about it now. Even if I were to entertain it, I knew getting past my father with that wouldn’t be an easy task. I changed into my sneakers, grabbed a basket for the berries, and headed out to the shed to grab my bike. The bike ride to the pond helped to clear my head. By the time I reached my destination, the only thing I could think of was seeing Jaxson later on tonight. I found the spot that Jaxson and I would always go to, knowing the blueberries were in abundance there. I finally spotted a large bush loaded with them and began to fill up the basket. I took a few from the basket and popped them in my mouth as I looked out at the pond. How I wished Jaxson were here with me, sitting by the water in our perfect silence that we created. A rustling in the brush broke me from my daydream. I turned around quickly, hoping to catch a glimpse of a deer. Instead, I froze when I saw two country looking guys approaching. One was tall and lanky, and the other short and stocky. They were focused keenly on me, and a sly grin was plastered across the shorter one’s face. I could feel myself breaking out in an instant sweat, wishing now more than ever that Jaxson were here. My legs were shaking as I tried to take a step forward. I needed to pull it together. I needed to get to my bike and just get out of here. Maybe they were just here to go fishing. I knew that was a shot in the dark, considering they didn’t have any fishing gear in their hands. My wobbly legs finally allowed me to move forward.

“And who are you, pretty lady?” The taller one asked with a deep southern drawl as he spit out a wad of tobacco.

I didn’t respond and continued to walk. Relief washed over me once I passed them but not for long. The shorter one yanked my arm roughly and pulled me back, causing the blueberries and the basket to go flying. “My brother asked you a question, bitch!” I could smell the strong scent of alcohol permeating from him.

I turned my head, and he grabbed my face, forcing me to look at him. “Are you mute?” His skin was covered in acne, and judging by his teeth, he had never been in a dentist’s chair.

“I-I was just leaving,” I stammered.

“That’s not what I asked,” the taller one said. “Who the fuck are you?”

“My name is Sam.” I pulled my arm from the shorter one’s grip, suddenly finding a new found courage.

“Hey, hey, hey, we didn’t say you could leave. Did we?”

“I don’t think it’s up to you whether I leave or not,” I snapped.

They looked at each other and both let out a sarcastic chuckle. “Well, she’s a sassy one, isn’t she, Bo?” the taller one said. I swallowed hard; the burst of courage I had just displayed was fading fast. He squeezed my arm tighter and pulled me into him. “Those blueberry bushes are ours, and since you stole berries from them you’re gonna have to pay.”

“That’s funny because the last time I checked those blueberry bushes belonged to the state of North Carolina.”

He shook his head and chuckled again, taking me by surprise when I felt the sting of his hand across my face. I moved my hand to my cheek, trying to ease the pain. “We don’t like smart-mouth bitches,
Sam
.” I could hear the fury in his voice, and my stomach began to churn. I was outnumbered and outweighed. I cringed, thinking about what most likely was going to happen to me, but I wasn’t going to allow it without a fight. I reached around with my free arm and clawed at his face, immediately drawing blood. “You fuckin’ bitch!” he shouted, letting go of my arm to wipe the blood. I took off as fast as I could, running through the thick brush, hearing the thumps of their footsteps getting closer. The branches snapped back and hit me in the face, but I didn’t care, I just ran faster than I ever had in my life. I was so mixed-up; I couldn’t remember where my bike was. I gasped when I turned around to find the taller one right behind me, backing me into a tree. He shook his head, and a devious grin spread across his face. “You shouldn’t have pissed off Bo, Sam. He doesn’t like that.” I tried my hardest to remain strong when I saw the shorter one approaching me with blood dripping down his face and a huge stick in his hand. He inched closer to me like a cat toying with a mouse. I had nowhere to run. The whole situation was surreal. I was facing my worst nightmare. He finally reached me and smacked me so hard that I fell to the ground. He grabbed my wrist and forced me up, pinning me against the tree. “So, you like it rough, do you?” I turned my head, feeling the bile rising in my throat, just looking at him. “Well, I’ll make sure it’s nice and rough for you.” He tore off my shirt, and I quivered, no longer able to hold back the tears. His lips moved to my neck, and the hairs on my arm stood at attention.

“You are both fuckin’ dead!” I was hoping that I wasn’t hallucinating and that the voice I heard in the distance was really Jaxson.

“Yo, Jax,” the taller guy said. “Look at this pretty little thing we found.” Without saying a word Jaxson approached him and punched him square in the face, knocking him out cold.

“What the fuck, Jax? You’re fuckin’ crazy!” The shorter guy exclaimed, backing off me and seeming a little nervous as Jaxson moved closer with the same blank stare that he had earlier when he saw his mother. “Jax, man, do you know this girl? Me and Lyle were just messin’ with her; we weren’t really gonna—” My entire body was trembling as Jaxson silently inched toward him, and he slowly backed away. “We’ve always been cool, Jax. Don’t—” He held up his hands. I watched Jaxson reach into his pocket and pull out a pocket knife.

“Jaxson, don’t.” I finally found my voice. He lunged toward the guy and grabbed him by the shirt, turning him around and wrapping his arm around his chest while holding the knife up to his neck. “Jaxson, please. I’m okay,” I pleaded, but it was of no use he was zoned out.

“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t slit your throat?”

“I—I don’t—” the guy stuttered.

He walked him over toward me, not letting go of his death grip. “Get a good look at her!” Jaxson shouted. I looked down at the ground not wanting to meet his gaze, my body still trembling in fear. “If I ever see you anywhere near her again, you will be wishin’ that I sliced your throat right now. Understood?” He nodded while still in a choke hold. “Apologize to her,” Jaxson demanded tightening his grip.

“S-Sorry—” he stuttered once again. Jaxson finally released his grip and grabbed the back of his hair, bashing his face into a tree. I gasped when I watched him fall to the ground, cowering in fear.

All my emotions came to the surface, and all I could do was slide to the ground with my back still against the tree and sob. Jaxson bent down and scooped me up in his arms. I buried my head into his shoulder, trying to get what
could have
just happened out of my mind. He carried me out of the woods and to his truck. He opened up the door and gently placed me in the passenger’s seat, moving my hair from my face as I tried to stop myself from quivering. “Samantha, did they touch you?”

“No, they didn’t. Thanks to you, Jaxson.” I threw my arms around him and began to sob once again, knowing what he had saved me from. He kissed me on the forehead, and his eyes instantly switched from flat to full of emotion when he looked down at my swollen face.

“I swear, I want to kill them for doing this to you.”

“It’s okay, Jaxson. Promise me that you won’t do anything.” He didn’t respond. He just hugged me tighter. He waited until I had it somewhat under control before letting go. “What were you doing here? I thought you were working?”

“I was, but it was slow and Pete had too many people working, so I volunteered to leave. I was just coming here to think. God, if I hadn’t—” He shook his head and punched his dashboard with full force. I didn’t want to think of what would have happened if he hadn’t. Just like that day in the ocean, he was there for me when I needed him most.

He grabbed his sweatshirt from his seat and put it on me, hooked my seatbelt, and kissed me on the cheek before walking over to the driver’s side. Once he got in and started up his truck, I grabbed his free hand and looked down at his swollen knuckles, a reminder of what he had just done for me. “Thank you, Jaxson,” I whispered before closing my eyes and falling asleep from mental exhaustion.

I lifted my head from Jaxson’s shoulder and opened my tired eyes as he carried me up the front porch steps.

“What in the world happ—” Hadley opened the front door, covering her face with her hands when she looked down at my face.

“Jax, what’s going on?” Henry, who was standing right behind Hadley, asked.

“Bo and Lyle Felix are down at Jenks pond, probably still knocked out. I pulled a knife on Bo and threatened to kill him. You can arrest me if you want, but first let me get Samantha inside and make sure she’s okay.”

Hadley let out a loud gasp. “Oh my god, Sam, what did those boys do to you, sweetie?”

“Jax, did they—?” Henry’s voice was stern and demanding.

“Almost.”

Hadley led the way into the living room, and Jaxson placed me gently on the couch. Henry immediately got on his phone and walked outside. “Jaxson, don’t go,” I pleaded.