Jacobs' Girl

I felt the heat rush to my face and everything went black momentarily as pappa drove his fist into my cheek. I knew Jacob would be waiting for me in the car outside, he would not step over the threshold of mamma and pappas, say what you like about Jacob but at least he was a gentleman; he knew they disapproved of him so he would never get an invitation to enter the house. So Jacob waited outside fearful for me, but he remained there; He did not believe in entering an abode if not welcome and first invited. My Jacob, the gentleman! It was this knowledge that drove me to my feet to face pappa.

Jacob had just broken out of jail; I was his girl so I was an accomplice. I knew that as soon as we’d left, pappa would be on the phone to the police, I knew that mamma would continue washing the dishes silently, facing the wall to hide the bruises upon her face, she would not intervene. What I did not see as I grabbed my bag and walked out to the car, was the smile of relief that briefly played upon her face as her eyes followed me out.

I threw my bag into the back as I stepped into the waiting car. I could feel Jacobs’ eyes upon me and saw the brief twitch of his fingers, wanting desperately to stroke the pain of my swollen face away. I smiled briefly at him, and he sighed before putting the car into gear and taking off. I had not made the responsible decision, it could only end badly, but I’d made the right decision- I was Jacob’s girl.

I snuck a glance at him as he changed gears, and my breath caught in my throat. Jacob may be a criminal, but he’d never shown anything but care for me and he still remained the most beautiful man I’d ever laid eyes upon. He turned to me, catching the look on my face and grinned at me mischievously before winking and picking up speed. He knew without words what that look meant, and he knew that I liked it when he drove fast; I was after all, Jacobs’ girl. I wound down the window and felt the slap of the wind against my face as we raced through the outskirts of town.

I knew where we were headed, another dingy motel in the middle of nowhere. I hated those places, the walls covered in mould and diseased cockroaches breeding in the corners, but for once I didn’t care. I had chosen this life with Jacob and he’d saved me from a far worse fate; A life, held captive by my fathers rages and beaten into submission until I became my mother. On our first night together Jacob had listened to everything I’d said, hanging on to every word as if it was the most important thing in the world. As we’d lain upon the bonnet of his commodore underneath the stars, he’d turned to me, run his fingertips softly through my hair and said 4 simple words ‘You’re better than this.’ It was at that moment, looking into his eyes under the stars that I’d fallen head over heels in love with him. I knew then that I was his girl, that he believed in me, and above all that I could not live my life anymore. I could not return home and allow all my confidence and dreams to be beaten out of me. From then on my loyalty lay with Jacob and I knew, I’d stay in a hundred dirty motels with him rather than return to that tiny town again.

We slowed down to the speed limit as we drove down the winding roads, a landscape of mile after mile of wheat fields immersed in sunshine. I laughed out loud as I realised the surroundings depicted what was on offer in the town. ‘The signs should say ‘don’t dare to dream because there’s nothing available for you here”, I giggled. Jacob looked at me and smiled seeing my excitement and relief as I left the town behind. We continued smiling happily as we drove down road after road of dirt and wheat, the views an image captured and repeated a hundred times.

Suddenly, coming over the crest of the hill in the distance we spotted the police car. I gasped fearfully and grabbed Jacob in fear. He looked at me casually and stated simply, ‘Be cool’ but I’d caught the flicker of doubt in his eyes. I leaned back into my seat and tried to relax, softly exhaling to calm my nerves and smiled at him casually, trying to assure him. We continued to drive towards the police car, Jacob dropping his speed 10kms below the limit so as not to draw attention to ourselves. The police car coasted past us, the two young officers not glancing from the road ahead. As soon as they were out of view Jacob picked up speed again. We continued, racing up to the peak of the hill from which the car had descended a feeling of relief hanging thick in the air. It was a close escape; we thought we’d gotten away. We weren’t counting on the second patrol car coming over the hill, we were to immersed in the feeling of freedom.

We were doing 80, coming up the hill fast, kicking up the dirt track behind us. As we reached the crest of the hill, the second car came into view. Jacob put his foot down hard on the brakes, trying to slow our pace and disguise the speeds at which we’d been travelling, but it was too late. They’d seen us, they saw the car, saw the speeds at which we were travelling but most importantly they’d recognised us. The car swerved around quickly, kicking up a cloud of dust in its wake and they were in hot pursuit, sirens blazing.

Jacob accelerated again in response and we raced off. It was only when the gunshots rang out and our back tyre shattered upon it’s impact that our car careened to a stop. He looked at me with tears in his eyes, ‘I’m sorry Cassie’ and I grabbed his hand tightly as the officers strode towards the car with their guns aimed at our heads. His hand was ripped from mine as one of the men, dragged him roughly from the car. I went to step out of the car, protesting his innocence, trying to prevent them from hurting him but I was soon looking down the barrel of the second officers’ gun. ‘Step out slowly miss, with your hands above your head.’ I did as he asked, my eyes never leaving Jacob. As the second officer began his strip search of me, his hands invading every inch of my flesh roughly, I watched as the butt of the officers’ gun was slammed repeatedly into Jacobs’ head. I watched him crumble into the dirt, his starched white, and clean shirt turned red as the dust mixed with his blood. The pools of blood grew larger, forming streams down his shirt but as I looked at him, I saw his eyes were upon me, angry as he watched the officer tearing open my dress. Before the heavy boot connected with his skull, I looked deep into his eyes and I heard him hiss at me ‘Run Cassie, Run!’

I shoved the officer hard and taking advantage of his momentary confusion, I ran. I sprinted, weaving through the fields of wheat not daring to look back. I continued to run until it got dark and then I flagged down a passing car. ‘Take me to ‘The Ridgeley”, I said as I got in, knowing it wasn’t far. Plan B came into action- if anything ever separated us or went wrong, I was to go to ‘The Ridgeley’ motel, and check in as Mrs Dundee while I waited. Jacob had always taken care of me and so he’d made sure I carried my ID and at least $100 on me just in case we had to resort to plan B.

There were no questions as I checked in, I raised no suspicion, and I knew how to play it cool in difficult situations- I was after all Jacobs girl. So here I sit, in room 8 of ‘The Ridgeley’ motel. I see the mould on the walls and notice as a cockroach scurries across the dirty carpet, but I no longer care. All I care for is the moment when I hear the knock upon the door and see Jacob stride into the room in his long black suit and starched white shirt. This is the only image playing in my mind as I sit and wait.

- THE END -