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“She’s currently avoiding me because of my issues,” I admitted. “I haven’t talked to her in a few days.”

Jack frowned. “She’s avoiding you?”

I nodded. “I can’t really blame her. I have all this.” I gestured toward the air around me vaguely. “Going on. An investigation on my conduct is ongoing. And she doesn’t need that kind of drama in her life.”

Jack hummed. “I think you’re delusional. That girl doesn’t know how to protect herself. If she’s staying away from you, it’s to protect you and not herself.”

I leaned back in my chair. “What makes you think that?”

Jack grinned. “Had a horse need lookin’ after. Had the beautiful Holly the veterinarian make a house call. She had a lot to say about you and our girl. She also thinks that she overheard a conversation between you and that president of yours. When Holly asked her man what y’all were talking about before Jessamy left, he shared with her. And then Holly put two and two together.”

“And how did you get all this information, Jack?” I asked, studying the old man.

“Apparently, I’m known through town as being a ‘supporter’ of Jessamy Darling.” He walked out. “Maybe you should formally join the resistance. Open your eyes to what that poor girl suffers through every time that she walks into a business in town.”

With that, he left, leaving me reeling.

Was she treated that badly and I didn’t see?

I would find my answer a couple of hours later when I went to Hopps for dinner in Sawtooth and she showed up looking for takeout.

I spotted her the moment she walked through the door, looking uncomfortable.

She was wearing tight leggings that looked to be fleece-lined, unless she’d gained a significant amount of weight in the last couple of days that gave her a rounder booty and thicker thighs. She had on a hoodie that was two sizes too big, likely over several other layers of clothing based on how thick her middle was.

Then there was the cute little hat that didn’t fit the rest of her outfit.

It was bright pink with a white pompom on top.

Her black hair escaped the hat, layering down the length of her back and shoulders.

Her eyes didn’t scan the room.

Nor did she talk to a single person that she passed on the way to the order station in the back right corner of the bar.

She stopped a polite distance away from the waitress currently standing at the counter that you placed the orders at and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Eventually, I heard Jessamy say, “Excuse me.”

The waitress continued to ignore her, playing on her phone instead of looking up.

Jessamy didn’t say “excuse me” again.

She continued to stand there, shuffling from foot to foot.

“Donna!” Hopps barked down the length of the bar. “Get off your fuckin’ phone and take her order!”

Donna got off her phone and looked up as if she was surprised that Jessamy was standing in front of her.

Except, Donna had clocked Jessamy the moment she walked through the door and had glared hard at her.

Needless to say, she’d known she was there.

“What can I get you, sweetie?”