Chapter 5

Haisley suppressed a shudder as they drove past the Baptist church. If only she had power, she could take down the man and all of his cronies protecting him. She was nothing, and men like him knew exactly how to hold their foot on her neck to make it look like she was the aggressor and they were innocent victims.

The grocery store wasn't too far from the church, so she had to get her emotions under control quickly. Robert parked and hopped out before she could get her door open. Surprisingly, he was there to help her out. A weird feeling slid through her. Why was he being so nice?

She wasn’t used to men being decent, but the more time she spent with Robert, the more she liked him.

They entered the grocery store, and she glanced around, nervous about being in public. She tried not to go out when other people who might know about her situation would be at the store. The last thing she wanted to do was run into someone who would attack her.

They started shopping, and her worry grew as Robert filled the cart. He'd said he would only be in Georgia for a few days, but he was buying way too much food. They were done with their primary shopping and were on the frozen food aisle when she spied the pastor's wife.

Haisley thought of turning and running, but Robert asked her a question. She paused and slowly peeled her eyes off Kirsten as she tried to focus on Robert.

She blinked at him, trying to remember what he’d said. “I’m sorry, what was that?”

“Do you want ice cream?”

“I-I don’t know. I’m not?—“

"So what do we have here?" Kristen said in her way too syrupy voice. "Did you hook your claws into him, you little slut? Did you tell him how you whored yourself around and blamed everyone else for parading around half-naked? What are men supposed to do when you act that way?"

“Leave me alone.” Haisley was tired of dealing with people like this. Would Robert be reasonable and listen to her explanation of what happened, or would he believe this woman because she was the wife of the Baptist preacher? It hurt to think so many people believed the word of her attackers just because of who they were in the community.

“You should be run out of town, you whore. I hope you rot from the inside.”

“Hey, leave her alone,” Robert said.

Kirsten’s nose wrinkled as she looked Robert up and down. “Why don’t you do that?” Kirsten asked before she whipped around and stalked away with her cart.

Robert didn’t take his eyes off the woman until she was gone from the aisle. Then he turned to face Haisley and put his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t listen to people like that. She’s wrong.”

The pain and embarrassment of what happened wrapped around her, and she wanted to flee. She had to move away from this town.

“Can we just get out of here?” Haisley asked.

"Sure. Let me pay, and we'll go."

Haisley stood close to Robert, hoping no one else came up to verbally assault her. She wasn’t paying much attention, and Robert was paying before she had time to pull out her wallet.

“I’ll pay you back,” Haisley said as they stepped outside.

She was looking up at him when she saw his eyes narrow before he pushed her behind him. Something splashed over his shoulder and onto her forehead. It smelled sweet like a soda.

“You’re both going to burn in hell!” Kirsten yelled before she raced off to her van.

Haisley was close enough that she could feel Robert's muscles tighten as if he were agitated. She couldn't believe this was happening. Every time she'd gone into town, she'd insisted that Ellen take her right when the stores opened or almost at closing time. She stayed inside and minded her own business. Coming out in town with Robert had been a mistake.

“I’m so sorry,” she apologized, not sure how she could help. Sticky soda dripped off his face and down his shirt.

“Don’t apologize. It wasn’t your fault.”

“I didn’t mean for you to get involved. I just?—“

Robert put his arm around her shoulder and guided her out to his car while pushing the basket. “You didn’t do anything.”

She shook her head as fear and guilt swirled in her belly. “I shouldn’t have come to town with you.”

“No, that woman shouldn’t assault people. Should we call the sheriff? ”

Haisley shook her head. “No, he’ll just arrest me.”

Robert’s eyes narrowed as he stared at her. “Why would he arrest you?”

She blew out a breath and waved him off. “It’s not important.”

She’d learned long ago that few people cared. Ellen and John had been the only people who’d offered to help her in a long time. And now they were gone.

Robert put the food into the car and then made sure she was inside before he took off out of the lot. He looked angry. How long would it be before he hit her or did something else to make her pay?

The man was strong, though every time he'd touched her or grasped her arm to keep her from falling, his touch had been gentle. She eyed him, trying not to be too obvious that she was looking at him. He was very good-looking. He reminded her of that popular actor who was in some of the hottest movies. His blond curls made him look very carefree, but based on how sharp the look in his blue eyes was, she knew he thought deeply about things.

He wasn’t at all what she’d expected. He seemed more trustworthy and much deeper than she thought a young man could be. Like he could probably solve all of her problems if she gave him the chance.