Knotted Roots - Part 15

I woke up early, my body aching from the heartbreak of Pa’s passing mere hours ago. Jane lay sound asleep beside me. She looked so peaceful, perfect. Her long brunette hair covered her shoulders as she lay on her side. I slipped out of the covers and quietly made my way downstairs, eager to feed the insatiable hunger rumbling in my stomach. I wasn’t sure if I even ate anything yesterday, and it felt as if I hadn’t eaten in a week! I found a box of cereal and poured it into a bowl, splashing the top with milk. I sat in silence, peering out the windows as dawn broke over the mountains, a cool breeze in the air. It looked as if there was hope in the air, a fresh morning with clear skies and birds chirping in the distance. It would be a morning my father would have enjoyed. He would’ve been enjoying the newspaper, the window open, and his coffee sitting nearby. I stretched as I stood from the old wooden chair, and I washed the bowl, leaving it atop a towel to dry. I poured myself some coffee and made my way to the porch, breathing in the new day. “Don’t worry, Pa, no one’s taking this ranch from us. I’ll make you proud.” I said aloud, in a low, steady voice as I leaned against a post. And then I heard the grumbling sound of that old mustang, followed by a dust cloud. Great! Just when I thought I’d find peace. If it’s a fight he wants, it’s a fight he’ll get. Greg slid his mustang to a halt in front of the porch. “You!” Greg seemed annoyed and angered. “You can get back in that pretty lil car of yours, ain’t nothin’ for ya here.” Sipping on my coffee, I eyed him like a predator watching its prey. “You’re the reason Grace broke off our engagement.” “I think that was a long time comin’.” Greg stormed towards me, huffing and inches from my face. I didn’t flinch, I embraced the moment! “I’m coming for everything! You hear me! Everything!” “He told you to leave. I suggest you do just that.” Jane’s voice broke the tension and surprised both Greg and I. She shouldn’t be out here. This was my battle, yet I’m starting to realize Jane is a lot tougher than anyone gives her credit for. “What’s this? You just sleeping with all the women in town?” Greg sneered, my anger boiling, my muscles tensing as he was getting too bold. “Wait til Grace hears about this! Or maybe, I should just take this lil beauty!” Greg’s perverted smirk caused my soul to twist in anger. I violently grabbed Greg by his shirt, yanking him upwards, piercing into his empty soul like I was about to devour it myself. “Watch your tongue, snake!” I gritted, shoving him off the porch, causing him to stumble to the ground. “Hey! You’ll regret that.” I stepped forward, blocking his eyesight of Jane, “Jasper…” I heard Jane whisper my name, her arm slinking around me. It caused me to relax just slightly, comforted by her confidence. I held my eyes on Greg; the clear annoyance on his face was satisfying. “I suggest you refrain from returning here, Greg, for your sake.” I threatened, as he scowled and scurried into his mustang, whipping it around, leaving Jane in and I in dust on the porch. “What was that all about?” “Nothing. He and Grace had plotted about getting their hands on my farm. Ever since they found out about Pa’s health.” “Grace?” “He told me everything, Jane. And Grace, well, she can’t be trusted.” “Jasper, you’ve never spoken like that about her.” I thought Jane would’ve been glad to hear about my displeasure with Grace, how I had finally begun to see how manipulative she had been. “Jane, you don’t understand the tricks and games she tormented me with.” “Perhaps, but I still find it hard to believe Grace agreeing to something so vile.” “It doesn’t matter now, Jane.” I embraced her, my hand cupping her sharp jawline, as I kissed her softly.

—

I couldn’t believe Jasper was willing to cut off everything. Our childhood, our friendship! His words echoed in my mind. He said something about begging for my attention. He was begging? For me? How could I have missed that? Nevertheless, I knew things were shaky at best right now. There had to be a way to right my wrongs. To create a sort of truce with Jasper. Perhaps, I could take down Greg’s idea of sabotaging Jasper’s ranch! But how? I figured the best place to start was the bank. I slipped into a sharp cocktail dress, heels, and prettied up my face for the bigwigs downtown. “Ma, Pa, I’m heading into town!” I hollered, not waiting for their response as I jumped into the pickup truck. As I parked near the bank, I saw Greg’s car. Dread filled my chest as I hadn’t anticipated him being here, at least not this early. I swallowed the lump in my throat and gave myself a reassuring breath as I cut the engine. As I walked on a mission to the bank doors, I ran into Greg. “Grace? What’re you doin' here?” He asked, taken aback at my presence. “You look gorgeous, as ever!” He smooched until his eyes landed on my bare finger. “Where’s your ring?” Greg’s face turned cold, his brows furrowed in anger. “I’m not doing this right now, Greg.” “I think I deserve to know why my fiancée isn’t wearing her ring, Grace!” “Hush! You’re going to cause a scene!” Greg raised his arm, and for a second, I was scared he was going to slap me, but he restrained himself. I ran past him, eager to escape his vile gaze. I heard Greg slamming his car door and revving the engine as the tires squealed as he pulled away. The bank had polished tile flooring, a marble top desk, and people dressed in suits. I walked towards someone, unsure of who I needed to talk to. “Excuse me.” The man peered up from his paperwork, my outfit piquing his interest. “Ma’am. How can I help you?” “I need to speak to the advisor for Greg Combs.” “Ah! You must be his fiancée! Please, come to my office! The name’s Tucker, Tucker Williams.” He introduced himself, taking my hand in a firm shake. “Pleasure. I’m…” “Grace Withers, I already know all about you.” All about me? What did he mean? How? That didn’t matter right now; what mattered was calling Greg’s bluff! “Here we are!” Tucker chivalrously pulled the seat for me to sit in, and then walked around to the other side of the desk, as he leaned on his office armchair. “Now, tell me. What would the beautiful Grace Withers ask of me?” “I want to know more about Greg’s plan for the Black ranch.” “Ah, you’re aware of that? Nevertheless, since you signed the paperwork, no harm in sharing the details.” I signed the paperwork? What was he talking about? I never signed anything! “Greg’s pulled a very large loan to cover some, well, his gambling problem. He’s hoping to use what’s left of that loan and investment offers from our financial team to buy out the Black’s property and create rental properties. Good income, debt-free, and prosperous futures for you both!” “And, what if I wanted out of the deal?” “Are you saying you want to revoke your name as a co-signer?” “I want to cut the deal entirely. Or at least, my part in it all.” “Well, unfortunately, that would require a lawyer…” “Please!” I blurted, my hand slapping against his wooden desk, “Sorry, I…” “Is everything alright, Ms. Withers?” His eyes darkened, his playful tone replaced by genuine concern in his voice. “I, I just don’t think this is going to be… prosperous, as you say.” “You have doubts. As to be expected. Tell me, Ms. Withers, what are you willing to do to erase this problem of yours?” “What are you offering?” “Give me a night with you, and I…well, you can rest assured, the deal is off.” “A night?” “Surely, I needn’t say it so plainly?” The realization that Tucker had been predatorily eyeing me up and down became very clear at that moment! I felt visually violated, but what choice do I have? I needed to save Jasper’s ranch from Greg’s lying hands! With a seductive glare, I stood up, circling Tucker. My hands reach over his shoulders, sliding down his chest. “Why do we have to wait til tonight?” Tucker spun on his heels, kissing me violently and shoving his tongue down my throat! It was sloppy, and I endured every disgusting second of what came after. Tucker was all too satisfied, trying to shake off the dissatisfying and painful intercourse. After Tucker buttoned his shirt, he ran his hand through his hair. He stretched out his hand, “Ms. Withers, consider the deal off. Effective immediately.” I shook his hand, pretending to have enjoyed the sin I just committed. “And, if you ever need to scratch that itch of yours…” “Thank you, Mr. Williams, but I believe I’m done here. Oh! And one last request.” “After that? Anything.” “Don’t tell Greg of my…involvement.” “Understood, ma’am.” I strided with disgust out of the bank and nearly broke into tears in the truck, realizing I literally just had sex for the sake of Jasper Black and his farm, while he’s embracing Jane! Jasper needn’t know what I just sacrificed for his sake, so long as he is happy.

I drove home, seeing a note on the front door from my parents, letting me know they went to their friends’ home for the day. I yanked it off the door, and rushed upstairs and into the shower praying to wash the sin off my skin, to flush the impurity away! That was until Greg’s voice was in the hall. “I hear you in there.” Greg said, a cold calm in his voice as he tested the locked doorknob. “Don’t keep me waiting, Grace.” I was nearly done anyhow, wrapping my wet, nakedness with a towel. My wet hair is clinging to my back. I sighed with annoyance, realizing I forgot to grab a fresh set of clothes to change into. Meaning I’d have to enter my room with Greg eagerly waiting on me. I walked into my room, attempting to avoid eye contact with him. “Grace, you needn’t cover yourself! Show me how beautiful you are. How you were merely playing a joke on me earlier.” He said as he removed the towel from my grasp, revealing my nakedness. His finger forced my eyes up to him. “I don’t need to say what I want, Grace. Hmmm?” I knew what he wanted, and I was not in any position to fight him. “Be a good girl, Grace. You know I’ll reward you for a job well done.” He sneered. My eyes burned with guilt. I had put myself in this position, I didn’t want to shame myself by granting his wish, but I was not able to out run him, to out fight him. My best bet was to oblige to him, just like I had with Tucker. “Greg, I…” “Now!” “Who are you?!” I asked, tears streaming down my face, my arms covering myself from him. “Grace? What has gotten into you!” I couldn’t answer him, I pushed past him and rummaged for a shirt, until Greg yanked me back and threw me onto my bed as he pinned me down. “I wanted to tell you about your friend, the one you think you’re in love with! The same guy you slept with but came crawling to me anyways! I know you used him, Grace! I know how you wanted him to hurt like he hurt you when he left!” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, Greg had known all along, and never said anything. “In fact, I did you a favor! I made sure he watched as I dug myself deep into you that night! Oh, you should’ve seen his face!” “How dare you!” Greg silenced me with a violent kiss, his teeth gnashing against my bottom lip. “I took care of the problem, he has his next victim, and you, well if you’re a good girl and beg for my forgiveness, well, you still have me. I can give you so much more than he can Grace.” I was exacerbated by what I was hearing, and shamed as I lay helplessly on my bed, naked nonetheless. “I hate you.” I whispered, tears soaking my cheeks. “You can hate me all you want, but it doesn’t change the fact that your friend has another girl in his bed already.” Did Jasper and Jane really get that serious in their relationship, that she’d throw her values away at his feet, that couldn’t be. “I saw them this morning, she was in his shirt, probably just as naked as you are now underneath.” “Stop it!” I yelled at him, attempting to break free of his grasp. Finally Greg released me, only to shut my door, and prevent me from leaving. His zipper undone, his pants falling from his waistline. “I’m not leaving til I get what I want.” “You’ll be waiting a long time.” “I don’t mind taking it by force.” He said, grabbing a fistful of my hair and pulling my head back. “Need I say more?” A snake-like smile creeping from his lips, and pushing me to my knees. I was defeated, and with tears I did the very thing I hated the most, submission. When the deed was done, I rushed to the bathroom with a fresh stack of clothes this time and hurled into the toilet. Sick from everything I had just heard and did. Greg had left, I heard his mustang rumbling away as I sat on the bathroom floor ashamed and guilty. How much more suffering must I endure, to right my wrongs? I hope this is all over, I never wanted to see Greg or Tucker again for that matter, all I want is to live a normal, happy life. To forget this heartbreak and turmoil.