*This story is told from both characters points of view and is clearly noted for readers to follow.*
*****
--JESSIE--
I must be a crazy girl, moving all the way from the Pacific Northwest to the state of Georgia alone, I thought to myself. I hadn't traveled much out of Oregon and Washington, so when I got the call that my distant uncle had died and left me his home and land in Georgia, I figured it was a good time for me to experience some new places and meet new people. I had decided to break up with my boyfriend, the relationship had been lacking passion anyways. I wasn't going to be leaving behind much, as both my parents lived in other states as well. I'm still young, 26 to be exact, and just graduated with my associate degree in Office Administration from my local community college. I'm hoping I can find some sort of office job near my uncle's land and be an independent woman here in the south. I saved some money from my previous bartending job, which should get me through for a couple months. I had driven my Volkswagen Jetta all the way from Washington state over the past few days, and finally arrived in this small town in Georgia where my uncle's land is.
As I drove through the small town, I noticed many old buildings and not many stores open. A gas station, a hardware store, and a veterinarian's office (the first place I might look for a job, I noted). I stopped at the gas station to get something to drink, as the heat and humidity in Georgia was like nothing I had felt before. The gas station was small and inside there was a seemingly friendly old man behind the counter that smiled at me as I walked in.
I grabbed an unsweet tea out of the cooler and went to the counter when I heard someone behind me say, "Ma'am, if I may say so, the sweet tea from the jug over there is much better. Gabe here makes it himself fresh every day."
I turned around to see a tall, over 6'0 and fairly handsome man standing behind me, motioning towards the old man standing behind the counter. The man that had spoken was smiling and had a deep southern drawl that I had never heard before, but surprisingly I found it attractive. I couldn't help but look him up and down before answering him. He was wearing big square toe boots, a sweaty white t-shirt that showed his solid physique, and boot cut jeans that were just tight enough to reveal his bulge. He had dirty blonde hair, obviously sun bleached, and bright blue eyes that were looking right at me.
"That's okay. Where I come from, we always drink unsweet iced tea with lemon, maybe add some sweet n' low," I replied with a little attitude and a smirk, as I turned back around to pay for my drink. I didn't need someone telling me what tea to drink when I had just made the choice to be independent and take this adventure for myself, even if he was good-looking.
I began to walk out the door when he replied in that Georgia accent, "I understand ma'am, but soon you'll realize that everything is sweeter in the south." He gave me a smile with a wink before the door shut behind me. I was blushing a little from his comment, wondering what else is sweeter around here.
I got back into my car thinking that maybe this small town in the south wouldn't be so bad.
--JACK--
I owned a cattle farm and had just finished with my work, driving through my small town in Georgia, thinking to myself that much hadn't changed around here since I was a kid. I was born here, lived here all my life, and would die here. Don't get me wrong I loved my small town, but there isn't much excitement to speak of. We had one local bar and restaurant and I already knew everyone that lived here in town. All the woman I had grown up with in school with and none of them had caught my interest, as far as marriage goes. Right now, I was headed to Gabe's Country Store. Gabe has the best sweet tea in town, and there's nothing better than a sweet tea on a hot day after working since 5 AM.
There was a red Volkswagen I had never seen before outside of Gabe's. Washington plates, yep definitely someone I had never seen before. We didn't get too many outsiders. I walked in the store to see this pretty little thing in tight shorts, flip flops, and a black cleavage showing tank top. She had long wavy brown hair and hadn't noticed me looking at her yet. I came up behind her as she was paying and spotted that she had gotten an unsweet tea instead of trying Gabe's famous sweet tea.
"Ma'am, if I may say so, the sweet tea from the jug over there is much better. Gabe here makes it himself fresh every day." I motioned towards Gabe behind the counter as she turned around and gave me a once over. Her big green eyes, tan skin, and large breasts stuck out to me right away. I couldn't help but notice that she was very petite and had to look up at me. She smirked, saying something about unsweet tea and that nasty sweet n' low stuff I had only tried once before realizing that it didn't belong in tea, or anything at all for that matter. As she walked out, I couldn't help but give her a little bit of a smart-ass comment for her yankee attitude about how she'd soon find out that everything is sweeter in the south. I wasn't exactly sure what I meant by that comment, but I knew I would love teaching her and that yankee mouth all about it.
"I think that might be the niece of Mr. Sillars that passed away a few weeks ago. I heard she was coming to town to take over his house and land," Gabe stated as we watched her through the window getting back into her car.
"Well isn't she just a little peach," I responded thinking that hopefully she was in town to stay.
--JESSIE--
After getting lost in the country a few times, my GPS finally lead me to the right house. I had only ever met my uncle a few times, but he had no other close living relatives, and I was grateful he chose me to leave his house and land to. It was a cute little country house, it needed some updating, but overall seemed like a peaceful place to live. There was a long driveway leading up to the house, a large pond behind it, and a good number of trees cleared to have a decent sized yard. The rest of the land was wooded, and you could not see the house from the nearest road, nor could I see any neighbors. I was a little worried about my safety and figured soon would be a good time for me to learn how to use a gun. My favorite part about the house was the screened in front porch. That was a perfect place to drink some coffee in the morning and smoke the occasional joint. What? You didn't think I was a goody good, did you? I am from Washington state where it's legal now. Anyways, I think I am really going to like it here, I just need to find some things to keep me busy.
I spent a few days cleaning up the house and making it feel more like a home for a young woman. I finally felt satisfied with it and needed a break. I searched on google to find that this town had one single bar and restaurant, the Pork N' Cork. I thought it sounded pretty redneck, but I might as well try to fit in. I figured I should wear the one and only pair of cowgirl boots I owned for the occasion.
It was about 7 PM on a Friday night when I arrive at the Pork N' Cork. It wasn't a fancy place, but it had that small-town charm to it. It had rustic decor, a couple of pool tables, a few booths, and the occasional mounted deer head. I sat down at the bar, seeing as I was alone and could get a good view of everything from there. I ordered a beer with a shot and decided to try some fried pickles, that were actually very good. I figured that I had no where else to be so ordering a few more shots would be okay. I didn't usually drink much but tonight I felt like celebrating. I was getting a buzz and having a good time talking to some of the old town fogies that seemed to be good people, when that man from the country store walked in. I recognized him right away, I mean who wouldn't, but I didn't want him to see me. I had a few too many drinks tonight and might end up doing something I regret. I took a moment to gander at him in his ball cap, well-trimmed facial hair, black t-shirt, and those same tight jeans he was wearing a few days ago. Yes, the ones that showed the bulge... I tried to keep my face hidden by looking down and playing with the few fried pickles I had left.
Welp that didn't work. Here he comes walking right towards me with that smile.
--JACK--
It was Friday night, meaning everyone in town would be at the Pork N' Cork. It was, after all, the only place to have a drink and play some pool in this town. When I walked in, I saw the usual crowd, but then she caught my eye. Sitting at the bar, obviously trying to avoid making eye contact with me, was little miss yankee. I couldn't help but walk over to her just to make her squirm a little.
"Hi their little lady. Remember me from the country store? I tried to talk you out of that nasty stuff you call tea."
"Yes, I remember you. Do you always try and tell people you don't know what to do?"
I couldn't help but laugh a little at her response. She had spunk; she was feisty. I liked that in a woman, those were the best ones to play with.
"Yes. Do you always have a little attitude with people you don't know? I might have to teach you some southern manners." I laughed, deciding that I didn't want to seem like an ass or come on too strong.
She blushed a little before smiling. "No, I'm sorry. I just moved to town and I guess I have my guard up?"
"That's alright, can I buy you a beer?" I motioned towards the bartender, who was a friend of mine, to get me my usual, times two. The bartender set down two draft beers and poured two shots of whiskeys in front of us.
"There you go telling me what to drink again," she giggled as she took a sip of beer.
"That's just the way I am. I like to be in charge." I winked at her making her blush again, she had very smooth tan skin, so you only saw it slightly change a shade of pink. I finally got to check her out for a moment. Her big lips looked soft, just like her wavy brown hair. She was wearing a pink V-neck shirt, some ripped up tight jean shorts, and black cowgirl boots. Damn, she looked good. I would love to see her in nothing but those boots someday soon.
"My name's Jack, by the way," sticking my hand out for her to shake.
"Jessie." I liked that I thought too myself as her soft small hand shook mine.
We talked about how her uncle, that she barely knew, had left her that land and house. I let her know that my land was not too far down the road from hers, if she ever needed anything. She told me that she had just graduated from college and I told her that my cousin was the Vet around here and I would see if he needed any office help. Then we took some shots of whiskey. She seemed interested in hearing about my cattle, but that's an old subject for me, same with old relationships. We laughed and joked about the cliché of a city girl moving to a small town in the south, but she said she liked it so far. She told me that her real dream was to own a bookstore someday, because reading was one of her favorite things to do. Then we took some more shots... Something about her I really liked, maybe it was that she wasn't like anyone I had met before. She was young, but smart and mature. I started to think that maybe I wanted to get to know her more than just taking her home to my bed.
"So how old are?" She asked, pulling me out of my thoughts of her in my bed...
"I'm 32. What about you?"
"I'm 26."
"Does that make me too old for you?"
She smiled and laughed saying that she had friends of all ages. By this time, the bar was closing, and she had drunk too much to be driving. I was okay as I started drinking coke an hour ago, so I offered her a ride home.
"Should I take a ride from a stranger?"
"I don't think we're going to be strangers, or friends."
"Why not?" She pouted with those big lips of hers.
"Because I'd really like to get to know you better than that."
She blushed, as I opened my truck door, helping her get up in the cab. I took her home; she was surprised that I already knew where to find her house. I let her know that in a small town everyone knew everything about each other. I pulled up to her house and said goodnight.
"Aren't you going to come in?"
"Not tonight."
