UNBROKEN PROMISE

~1~ LIFE CHANGING

Logan's POV

The old wood floor let out a familiar creak as I pushed open the door to the general store. Folks were talkin’, goin’ ‘bout their business, but there was a commotion near the counter that caught my attention. I squinted, and sure enough, old man Jenkins had a young girl by the arm, draggin’ her like she was a sack of flour.

I made my way over, heart sinkin’ when I recognized her face.

It was her .

“What’s goin’ on here?” I asked, my voice steady as I stepped between ‘em.

Jenkins whipped around, his face red and angry like always. “This girl thought she could steal  from me, and run like a stray mutt. But I’m fixin’ to show her how we deal with thieves ‘round here.”

Now, I knew exactly what he meant by that. Around here, a man could lay a spankin’ on any woman who crossed the line, as long as her Pa or husband didn’t object. Wasn’t the first time I’d seen it, but somethin’ about this didn’t sit right with me.

I glanced at her. She kept her head down, lookin’ about ready to crumble. “What’d she steal?” I asked, hopin’ there was some sense to this.

“She ate a full plate of pie and when I asked her to pay, she tried slippin’ out the back,” Jenkins spat, still holdin’ her tight.

I nodded slowly, piecin’ it together. She wasn’t a thief—she was just hungry.

I looked her over good. She was rail-thin, her face all drawn in, and those eyes—sunken, like she hadn’t had a decent meal in days. Girl looked like she was about to break.

Jenkins, oblivious as ever, started draggin’ her again, headin’ toward the back, probably to give her a whippin' in private. “Come on now,” he growled. She resisted a bit, weak as she was, but he swung her around and landed five hard swats on her backside. The crack of his hand echoed, and I heard a soft whimper escape her lips.

She didn’t dare look up, just kept her head low, like she expected worse.

“That’s enough,” I said, steppin’ forward, my voice firmer now. “I’ll pay for what she ate. Just let her go.”

Jenkins shot me a glare, like I’d just insulted him. “I appreciate the offer, Logan, but this ain’t just about the money. She needs to learn her lesson, and I’m short on help in the kitchen anyhow. She’ll work it off or marry my son—he’s been needin’ another wife.”

The old-timers near the counter burst out laughin’. “He’s already got two wives, Jenkins!” one of ‘em hollered.

“A third one won’t hurt none!” Jenkins shouted back, laughin’ along with ‘em.

I clenched my jaw. “I’ll discipline her myself,” I said, feelin’ like I was runnin’ outta options. I wasn’t about to let her get carted off like cattle.

One of the men leaned forward, grinnin’. “And just how’re you gonna do that, Logan? You ain’t her Pa.”

Jenkins eyed me suspiciously. “Yeah, who are you to take care of this?”

I paused, lettin’ the weight of my words sink in before I spoke.I took a deep breath. There was only one thing I could say that’d make him back down.

“I’m her soon-to-be husband,” I said, my voice steady and low.

For the first time, the girl’s eyes shot up to meet mine, wide and startled. But just as quick, she dropped her gaze again.

The room went dead quiet for a second before the laughter burst out again, louder this time.

“Logan, you ain’t serious!” another man called out. “You just met her, boy!”

“She’d be better off with Jenkins’ son!” someone else chimed in, the taunts comin’ in quick.

I didn’t say a word, just gave ‘em all a hard look—the kind that shuts a man up without needin’ to raise your voice. My eyes locked on Jenkins, daring him to test me. Slowly, the laughter started dyin’ down, and the mood shifted. They could see I wasn’t jokin’.

Jenkins crossed his arms, scowling at me for a moment longer before lettin’ out a grunt. “Fine,” he muttered, “but you’ll pay double.”

I didn’t argue. I handed over the money—more than I knew she owed—and took her by the hand, leadin’ her out of the store.

Once we stepped outside, the cool air hit us, and I took my time lookin’ her over. In the daylight, it was clear as day she was somethin’ special, even under all the dirt and the hunger. Her long, curly black hair framed her face, and those olive cheeks had a sprinkle of freckles. Her face was sharp, with high cheekbones, but it was her eyes—green as a summer field—that really stood out, though they were dulled by all the hardship she’d been through.

She kept her head down, obviously embarrassed.

“You still hungry?” I asked, my voice softer now.

She just nodded, quick and quiet.

“Alright then, let’s get ya somethin’ to eat.” I led her down to the diner at the end of the street, the one with the good cookin’. We slid into a booth, and when the waitress came by, I ordered for the both of us. The girl still didn’t say a word.

When the food came, she hesitated, her hands shakin’ just a bit.

“Go on, miss,” I said gently. “Ain’t no need to be shy. Eat.”

She glanced up at me, then nodded, before diggin’ in like she hadn’t eaten in days. Truth was, she probably hadn’t.

I called the waitress back over, ordered another round. I had a feelin’ that one plate wasn’t gonna be enough for her.

As we both ate, I watched her out of the corner of my eye, takin’ in how she was finally gettin’ some color back in her face. Every so often, she’d peek up at me before lookin’ down again, obviously unsure of who I was or why I was helpin’.

Finally, I cleared my throat. “You’re probably wonderin’ who I am,” I said, keepin’ my voice light.

She slowed her eatin’, her eyes liftin’ to meet mine, cautious.

“You don’t recognize me, huh?” I said with a small smile. She studied me for a moment, then shook her head.

I let out a soft chuckle. “Well, you will soon enough.”

She gave me one last confused look before settlin’ back down to finish her meal. And as I watched her, I knew—whether she realized it or not—her life had just changed, and so had mine.