A Heart's Desire - Book 1 of the Crossing Midian Series - A Christian Romance

Chapter 7

The next Monday, Coop only had a half-day of classes. When they were over, he went to the feed store. He had just sat down on the stool behind the register and was reading his favorite book, The Outsiders, when he heard the door open.

Coop looked up to see a dark-haired man, dressed in black slacks and a button-down shirt standing just inside the door.

"Afternoon." Coop greeted the man. "Can I help ya?"

Coop thought he looked nervous, with the way he kept looking around, his eyes finally settling on Coop as he ambled towards the counter.

He opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it. He took a breath and cleared his throat.

"I'm looking for Emmett Cooper," he said finally..

Coop raised an eyebrow. He wondered what this strange man could want with him. "You found him," he answers slowly. Coop stood up and walked to the end of the counter.

He sighs and smiles softly. "I thought so. My name is—"

"Emmett, I need you to—"

They both turned at the sound of Hank's voice as he came in the side door.

"Oh, hey, Pops." Coop said as he gestured to the stranger. "This is—" But he stopped himself when he realized he hadn't actually gotten his name yet.

That didn't matter to Hank though, because he said, "I know who he is."

Coop looked back at Hank and noticed he was staring with great intensity at the man.

"You do?" He asked.

"Go outside and help Sean unload the stock truck. He just pulled in with it."

"Pops?" Coop questioned, looking between them. "What's goin' on?"

Hank took a step forward, placing himself between Coop and the other man. "Go on, Emmett. Sean's waitin'."

Coop still didn't move, and when Hank turned back to face him, he saw something in his eyes; an anger that Coop was sure Hank had never directed at him before in his life. Anger was radiating off of Hank in waves. It was as if the air had an electric current flowing through it and he could feel the static from it. Hank's jaw clenched tight and his brown eyes were dark beneath eyebrows that were knit together. He stood rigid, with his feet set wide apart and his arms crossed over his chest.

Hank jerked his head towards the door.

Coop sighed and reached his hand up to rub the back of his neck.

"Alright. Alright, I'm goin'," he murmured.

Coop walked back behind the counter, but just as he opened the door that led to the back, the man spoke up again.

"It was good to meet you."

Coop glanced back and saw Hank glaring at the man as if he had said something wildly inappropriate. He nodded once before walking out to help Sean.

Hank waited for the door to shut behind his grandson, then he turned his attention back to the man. "Get out, Jack." He said, his voice low and angry. He pointed towards the front door, but Jack remained standing in front of him.

"Hank, I just-" he started as he took a step closer and held his hand up, as if showing that he meant no harm.

"Get. Out," Hank repeated. "Go back to whatever hole you crawled out of and don't ever come back!"

Jack shook his head. "You don't understand."

"I understand all I need to," Hank said sharply.

"You only think you do." Jack said, "Just give me five min—"