Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent Read Free Book Online Page B

couldn’t have picked a worse place to stand, I figured, seeing as how Walt was likely to want something like that. I watched from my place behind the cans, hoping Walt wouldn’t see either of us.
    “What can I do for you, Walt?” Mr. Hanley asked as he finished packing my order. “Need anythin’ particular?”
    “I’m comin’ in for them traps I ordered. Can’t keep them critters out of my crops for nothin’.”
    “Just got them in,” Mr. Hanley said as he rechecked my list. I prayed hard that Mr. Hanley would help Walt before he’d finish with me, but it wasn’t to be. “Here you go, Miss Jessie,” he called, holding the list up in the air. “I’ve got your order good and filled.”
    I took a deep breath, and determined not to be intimidated by a big oaf like Walt, I walked around the stack of cans with my head high. “Thank you, Mr. Hanley,” I said stoutly as I dug in my pocket for the money Daddy had given me.
    Walt watched me for a minute like he was trying to recollect who I was. As I took my change from Mr. Hanley, Walt pointed at me and said, “You’re that Lassiter girl, ain’t you?”
    “Depends on who’s askin’,” I charged.
    “You sure talk like a Lassiter.”
    “Can’t say as I noticed.”
    Mr. Hanley hurriedly brought my sacks around the counter, realizing that trouble could be brewing. “Jessilyn, you need any help carrying these things? I can get Dale to help you out if you need it.”
    “I’m okay,” I told him, taking the bags from him. In truth, they were too heavy for me, and it took all my strength to carry them, but I just smiled as best I could and began walking from the store. On my way out, I caught Gemma’s eye and nodded for her to get out the door fast.
    But Walt was too interested in me to not see Gemma as we started out the door. “You’re the Lassiter girl, all right. You’re the one who took the colored girl in.” He snorted and said wickedly, “Just like your daddy to go helpin’ worthless niggers.”
    I whirled around to glare at him, my fear gone on the heels of my anger. Gemma tugged at my arm to get me out, but I was stubborn. “If my daddy were like to help someone worthless, no doubt you’d be first on his list.”
    “You got a smart tongue on you, girl.”
    He took a few steps toward me, and as much as I wanted to run, I stood still, almost challenging him. “Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that.”
    “There is if it gets you hurt.”
    “Are you threatenin’ me?”
    Mr. Hanley walked between us very cautiously. He was a nice man but a weak one, and I knew the last thing he wanted was trouble in his store. “Jessilyn,” he said, “why don’t you head on out before those sacks get too heavy for you?”
    “You should give them sacks to that one,” Walt said, referring to Gemma like she wasn’t even human. “That’s all she’s good for anyway.”
    Now, Daddy had told me time and time again that talking back to people who don’t have any sense doesn’t make any sense, but I had never learned that lesson. I did try to follow Daddy’s advice at first. I pushed Gemma out the door and was about to leave and make my momma proud when Walt had to go and say that one more thing that plucked my last nerve.
    “Just look at you go, girl,” he said. “You run faster’n your daddy, and he’s the biggest coward I ever done seen. He ran from me like a scared chicken.”
    He could make fun of me all he wanted, but picking at my daddy was taking things too far. I spun around and narrowed my eyes into slits, saying, “Any man would run from a face as ugly as yours.”
    Walt took that as something of an insult, I guess, even though I saw it more as truth than anything. He grabbed his package and started toward me, mumbling something about me being a rotten brat.
    I dropped the bags and ran out the door like a shot, nearly crashing into Gemma on the other side. “Get out of here,” I told her breathlessly. “Quick!” I caught her hand and