“She needs help. She looked exhausted,” Willa stated simply.
“Who’s going to help you?” Lucky’s expression tightened.
“I can handle it. I have a secret weapon.”
“You do?”
“Yes, it brings the girls to a stop for at least a good hour a day.”
His mouth twitched. “What’s that?”
“Peppa Pig. I’ve recorded every episode,” Willa said fervently.
He burst out laughing as he stopped long enough to pay the check.
Feeling the center of attention again, Willa fled outside to wait, practically running into the man and woman about to enter the diner.
“Watch where you’re going!”
Willa came to a sudden stop at Jenna’s harsh command.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t see you.” She tugged Caroline closer to her to give Jenna and Curt Dawkins enough room to pass.
Curt held the door open for Jenna as she walked past her, deliberately knocking Willa back a step.
Willa gasped as Caroline fell down.
Jenna didn’t pause, throwing a gloating look over her shoulder, and a flash of fury struck Willa.
“Leanne, take Caroline and Charlie to the car.”
Before the girl could say anything, Willa went through the door after Jenna and Curt.
Lucky was turning away from the cash register, giving her a questioning look as Willa moved in front of Jenna, blocking her.
“If you don’t like me, that’s fine, but don’t you dare touch one of those children again.”
Jenna cast a wary glance toward Lucky. “It was an accident.”
“Usually, when you have an accident, you apologize.”
No apology was forthcoming from her, and Willa could tell she wasn’t about to get one.
“If you have a problem with me, take it out on me, but don’t ever think I’ll stand by and watch you hurt someone I care about to get back at me.”
“I don’t have a problem with you, Willa. You’re not that important to me,” Jenna said cuttingly.
“The feeling’s mutual.” Willa brushed rudely past her, for once happy that her weight came in handy. She knocked Jenna against an empty table, and Jenna would have fallen if Curt hadn’t grabbed her arm. Willa waited for Jenna’s reaction, stubbornly refusing to leave before Jenna could.
The woman regained her footing, giving her a hateful glance.
“Let’s go eat, Curt.” With that, the pair moved away.
“You want to go after her and beat the shit out of her, don’t you?”
Willa took a shuddering breath at Lucky’s amused question.
“Don’t cuss in front of Chrissy,” she reprimanded.
“Yes, ma’am.”
She gave him a frustrated glance before going out the door. It was his fault the woman hated her guts. Jenna had been a cordial, if not friendly, neighbor before the day his motorcycle had been spray-painted. Willa believed Jenna blamed one of the children for the damage. For all she knew, Jenna might think she had done it.
“What did she do to make you so mad?”
“She knocked Caroline down,” Willa answered, her concern for the little girl alleviated when she saw her standing next to Leanne.
“Why would she want to hurt Caroline?”
“She didn’t. She wanted to hurt me.” Willa picked up Caroline, brushing her hair away from her damp cheeks. “You okay, sweetie?”
Caroline nodded, placing her thumb into her mouth. “I want my blankie.”
“As soon as we get home,” she promised.
Lucky buckled the girls in while Willa climbed into the front seat. When Lucky settled into his seat, he paused before starting the SUV.
“I’ll talk to Jenna and make sure she doesn’t bother you anymore. You don’t have to put up with her much longer. She’s decided to move away.”
“Don’t bother. It will just make the situation worse. She already thinks I’m the neighbor from Hell. That’s probably why she decided to move.”
“I doubt that’s the reason, but if she tries to touch you again, she’ll find out exactly what Hell is.” Lucky’s vehemence brought a fleeting moment of concern for Jenna until she realized she was being ridiculous.
Lucky may have been hanging around The Last Riders lately, but the pastor constantly preached about violence during his sermons. She seriously doubted he could harm a fly. She tried to ignore the voice at the back of her mind that reminded her he had also preached against promiscuity.
Chapter 12
Lucky walked to the front of the crowded church. With every pew filled, he felt conscience-stricken at the welcome the parishioners were giving him.