Chapter Nine

Bella

Tad was good looking and muscular but I didn't like his eyes, they were hard and cruel so I avoided him as much as possible. The next day again no Jasper and I felt kind of hurt, I'd really wanted to see him. Work was busy and again Tad was there leering at me, I ignored him and his friends took the mickey out of him which only infuriated him more. Billy was off and I was working with Jon who wasn't as friendly although he helped me out when I got stuck. When he wasn't serving he sat on a stool in the corner reading.

"What's your book?"

He lifted it so I could see the title,

"Great Expectations? I like that story."

"Yeah, I like Dickens. I'm doing an on-line course in English Literature. Maybe then I can get out of here"

"You don't like the town?"

"I don't like some of the people."

He shot a look at Tad,

"Yeah I know what you mean."

When I finished my shift Tad was waiting out back and grabbed me so I ran my shoe down his shin and he gasped in pain letting me go.

"Back off. I'm not interested Tad."

I ran up the stairs and locked myself in my room. Was he going to be a problem? I hated the fact he was spoiling things for me, I'd started to like the job and the people I worked with but there was always an ass hole to spoil it.

I went in the Feed Store with a list from Cy the next day and as I came out I bumped into a solid object coming the other way. I looked up into Jaspers smiling face.

"I'm sorry Ma'am. Can I make it up to you with a coffee."

We went to the same place as last time but this time he was full of news about the new horse. I understood very little but got lost in his Southern accent and golden eyes and it was with a start I heard him at last

"I have to go. Can I walk you back to the store?"

I looked at my watch, Cy's stuff should be ready to pick up by now so I agreed and he left me at the door with another dazzling smile.

"See you Sunday Bella."

I watched him drive off then went inside and picked up Cy's order taking it back to the bar and seeing Tad's car parked in the lot. He was talking to Cy who was shaking his head and I heard the tail end of the conversation,

"No Tad, she works behind the bar, leave her alone."

I groaned, he was still in hot pursuit. He turned hearing my footsteps and smiled brightly

"Well here's the little lady herself, why don't we ask her? I thought you might be better off the other side of the bar but Cy tells me you don't want to"

"True. I like the bar work"

"But you're so pretty you'd entice more customers if you were waiting on tables"

I shook my head,

"Not interested but thanks anyway."

He wasn't happy but he slouched off to nurse a beer in the corner by the pinball machine.

"I'm sorry Bella, he's got a thing about you. Be careful"

"Is he dangerous?"

"No but he tends to think everyone thinks the same way he does."

I smiled,

"I've seen that before, I'll just avoid him."

I tried very hard but it was so difficult, he kept popping up. I even stayed after my shift to avoid him loitering about waiting out back for me. By Saturday I was sick and tired of him. I was working earlier for a change and had hoped to avoid him altogether but no, there he was and more persistent than ever. In the end I lost my temper,

"Tad, go away, leave me alone I'm not interested."

His friends sniggered and I saw his temper rising so I steered well clear glad I was off the following day. As my shift finished we heard shots and everyone ran out to see what was happening. Some one drove up from the direction of the Feed Store.

"There's been a robbery. Girl got shot and it looks bad."

Some of our customers ran off to see for themselves and I found myself alone in the lot with Tad. I moved to pass him and he grabbed me, keeping his shins clear,

"Now Bella, try being nice to me, you might enjoy it."

"Piss off Tad"

He smiled and pulled me close to him. I tensed and brought my knee up but he turned so I only caught him on the thigh.

"Oh you want to play? Good, I like that in a woman."

This felt like deja vu and I couldn't believe it.

I struggled but he was too strong and he was getting more excited by my fighting. I couldn't relax hoping he'd ease up on me and the next thing I knew my head hit the huge metal rubbish bin at the back of the bar and I saw stars. Tad's hand was inside my shirt pawing me and I tried to fight him off again but he slammed me back into the bin again. I felt blood trickling down my neck and as his mouth touched mine I spat at him and he brought his hand round hitting me across the face with the back, his ring cutting into my cheek as it hit. Then he brought it back and hit me again, my head bounced off the metal once more and the world started to spin as I fell. I felt his hands on my clothes ripping at them in his eagerness and I brought my hand up poking my finger straight into his eye.

He fell back with a scream of agony and I curled into a ball holding my tattered clothing around me. I felt his boot connect with my ribs and felt a crunching as my breath was knocked out of me then as if from a distance I heard a shout and running footsteps. There was a final kick and I heard Tad run off then hands rolled me over and I opened one eye to see Billy looking down at me cursing.

"I rang 911, hang on Bella. I saw it, I saw who did this to you."

He held me until the ambulance and police arrived telling them what he'd seen. Then I was accompanied by a police officer in the ambulance to the ER. I heard voices as I drifted in and out, something about the shooting at the Feed Store and the girl being dead. It seemed I'd been lucky, if I'd got that job that might be me in the morgue instead of here on a stretcher. I felt the ambulance come to a halt and felt my self slid onto another trolley and wheeled through the doors. I tried to open my eyes but only managed one and could only see blurred lighting as it flashed overhead. Other voices mumbled in the background and then I felt the sting of a needle and the pain floated away with my senses.