Page 68 of The Coppersmith Farmhouse (Jamison Valley 1)
“You’re learning, Sheriff,” I said, patting his arm.
I was glad the garage debacle was over. Jess followed me inside and I toed off my shoes.
“Football game starts soon. We’ve got to get moving,” he said.
“Huh? Football?” I asked. I had planned to have a nice relaxing night at the farmhouse. An unplanned trip to town wasn’t at the top of my list of Friday night fun activities.
“Yeah. There’s a home game tonight at the high school,” he said.
“Let’s just stay here. In case you haven’t noticed, honey, the Ellars girls are not really the sporting event type.”
“Think of it as a social event then. We need to leave in forty-five. We’ll just get hot dogs at the game for dinner.”
“How is a football game a social event?”
“Whole town comes out to watch and gossip. Lots of folks have seen us around town but lots haven’t. You and Roe will be the center of attention. She’ll love it,” he said.
“Ah . . . I thought you were trying to sell me on going. I’m not too keen on being tonight’s gossip topic. That isn’t helping your argument.”
“I have to go. People expect the sheriff to participate in town events. Also expect the sheriff’s girls to be with him.”
I opened my mouth but he cut me off.
“And I’m not selling you on going. I’m telling you you’re going.”
“Now you’re making me mad, Jess,” I said, fisting my hands on my hips. “You don’t get to order me around.”
I was sick to death of Jess telling me what to do. It was like the garage situation all over again. Well, kind of. Sure, this was just a football game and nothing to get worked up about. It was the principle of the matter that had me angry.
He didn’t listen. Instead, he started unbuttoning his shirt. “Get changed. Dress warm.”
“Hold it. I don’t want to sit outside in the cold, watching a game I don’t understand. We’re not going.”
He huffed. “Fuck, you can be difficult.”
“I’m not being difficult!”
Jess ignored me and tilted his head toward the stairs, bellowing, “Rowen!”
“Yeah?” she yelled back.
“Want to go to a football game?” he asked as her little feet pounded down the stairs.
“Yeah!” she screeched.
“Good. Me too. Your mom doesn’t. Guess it’s just me and you,” he said.
I inhaled a deep breath and closed my eyes, trying to slow my racing heartbeat. I was not happy that he was ordering me around. And then using Rowen to guilt me into going? I wasn’t getting any happier here.
“Why don’t you want to go, Mommy? I want to go with Jess,” Roe said.
Traitor.
I inhaled and reminded myself not to snap at her just because I was angry with Jess.
“Well, baby girl, I’m tired. It’s been a long week and we haven’t gotten to spend much time with Jess since he’s been working so much. I thought it might be nice to stay home, just the three of us.”
“If you come to the football game with me and Jess, then it will be the three
