Passion In James County VI: The Predator
Chapter nine
Before Mel Ott began taking advantage of her, Donna loved working at the McIntyre farm. Now she hated to go to work. Every day she was afraid Mel would make more demands for sex, demands she knew she had no choice but to comply with. She couldn't stay away from work because failure to go to work was a violation of her probation, and that would mean she'd go to jail. As horrible as what Mel was doing to her was, she was sure jail would be worse. Things had gotten so bad for the girl that she was growing more and more despondent every day.
"Good morning, Donna," Jennifer said when the girl walked into the barn. "Have you seen Mr. Ott yet?"
"Ah...no ma'am, I haven't," Donna replied.
"Well, I hope he gets here soon," Jennifer said. "I have to run over to Beaverton to get some feed this morning and there are some things I want him to do while I'm gone."
Jennifer had been thinking for some time that hiring the surly man had been a mistake. Ott seemed to be late for work a lot and, although he didn't realize it, she'd noticed that he let Donna do most of the work. Maybe the best thing to do would be to fire him and find a new farm hand. Maybe she should hire a farm manager, someone who would free her of some of aspects of running the farm she didn't like.
"I'm going up to the house," Jennifer told Donna. "When Mr. Ott gets here, tell him I need to see him right away."
"Yes, ma'am," Donna said.
Mel swaggered into the barn about ten minutes later. He let his eyes roam over Donna, who was wearing a loose sweat shirt and jeans, and grinned. "Morning, sweetie," he said. "You're really lookin' good this morning."
"Mrs. McIntyre wants to see you," Donna said. "She's up in the house, in the office. She said I should tell you to come up right away."
"What the fuck does that bitch want now?" Mel grumbled. He turned and stomped out of the barn, headed for the house.
Jennifer heard the door open and heavy footfalls in the hallway, then Mel Ott appeared at the office door.
"You wanted to see me?" he said.
Jennifer noted that the man hadn't shaved, and that he kept his grubby baseball cap on in the house. It wasn't a big thing, but it was one more offensive thing about him she didn't particularly like. For the first time, she was aware there was something menacing about the man and she felt wary. She decided to let him stand.
"You're supposed to be at work at seven, Mr. Ott," she said.
"Yeah, I know," Mel replied, "but the car I got's a piece 'a shit. Sometimes it don't start. Like this morning."
Jennifer took a deep breath. That was it. She no longer wanted this man working for her. "Mr. Ott," she said, "Over the past few months, I've noticed there have been far too many mornings when your car wouldn't start. And ever since I hired Donna, I've noticed that she seems to be doing a lot more work around here than you are."
"Ah, look, ma'am," Mel said, "you gotta understand, there's a lot I do you don't see. I mean, you ain't around all the time, you know?"
Jennifer knew what she had to do. She pulled her checkbook out of the desk, then she picked up a pen and wrote out a check. She tore the check out of the checkbook, stood up, and handed Mel the check.
"What's this?" Mel asked, a little confused.
"That's a check covering your pay through today, plus a week's severance," Jennifer said. "I don't wish to employ you any longer, Mr. Ott. Please leave my farm immediately. If you don't leave, or if you return, I will call the sheriff and have you arrested for trespassing."
"What the fuck do you think you're doin'?" Mel growled, glaring at her. "You can't do this!"
"I can do it, and I have," Jennifer replied. She stepped back to her desk and put her hand on the phone. "Now please leave. Or I will call the sheriff, and you will be removed!"
"Aw, fuck!" Mel said. He turned and stomped out of the building.
Donna saw Mel come out of the house, his face bright red. She was scared. Whatever Mrs. McIntyre had done, it looked as if Mel was pissed. And if he was, he was liable to take it out on her. Her fears eased a bit when she saw that instead of heading for the barn, Mel was heading for his car. He got in the car, the engine started, then the car roared down the driveway, fishtailing and spraying gravel.
Donna still wasn't sure what was going on when Mrs. McIntyre came out of the house and started for the barn.
"Would you like to go along to Beaverton with me to pick up the feed, Donna?" Jennifer asked when she reached the barn.
"Ah...sure," Donna replied. "What happened to Mr. Ott? He looked really angry."
"I discharged him," Jennifer said as they walked toward the pickup truck. "I've been dissatisfied with his work for some time. I think I'm going to hire a farm manager, someone who will come to work on time and do their share of what needs to be done."
Donna breathed a silent sigh of relief. She wouldn't have to put up with Mel's harassment any more; at least not here at the farm. But would he let her alone away from the farm, or would he continue to torment her?
They climbed into the truck, Jennifer started the motor, and they headed down the driveway. "And don't worry, Donna," Jennifer said, "even if I do hire a manager, your job is secure. You can stay on as long as you like."
Mel drove away from the farm angrier than he'd ever been in his life. That rich bitch! Where did she get off, firing him? Who the fuck did she think she was? He wasn't sure what he was going to do, but he was livid and he sure as hell was going to do something.
He wanted someone he could take his anger out on, and the first person he thought of was his ex-wife, Arlene. A cruel grin formed on his face as he turned his car toward his ex-wife's house.
