Rocky Whitaker has a bumpy past and a bumpier present. She's a former Navy Seal with her fingers in a lot of shady pies. When the only mother she ever knew dies, she runs smack into SAMCRO and their enforcer, Happy Lowman.
Happy has always led a sol...
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Happy was walking by the hardware store on his way to meet Jax and Chibs at the barber shop when he spotted Jessie in the window. He frowned, wondering what the little one was up to as he turned and pulled the door open.
She seemed to sense his presence as her head popped up and she looked in his direction. He grinned as he thought that she reminded him of a deer, all watchful suspicion covered by an air of innocence.
She smiled when she recognized him and it took his breath for a moment. He wasn't attracted to Jessie, far from it, but even he couldn't deny what that smile could do to the right man.
He liked Jessie, probably the most except for Rocky, but she was another story altogether. With the little one, he felt an almost brotherly need to protect her. If he was going to be honest, he'd admit that it was mostly her size that brought that out in him. She might stand five feet tall, if she were lucky, but she also carried an air of frailty, as if she would break if a stiff wind blew.
He frowned as he looked around and saw that they were standing in the lawn care department.
"What are you up to, little girl?"
Jessie sighed as she looked up at him. "I need a lawn mower. Would you know anything about them? I just don't know which one to choose."
He looked around at the various models before finally pointing to a riding mower that he thought was small enough for her to handle.
"That one."
Jessie nodded and smiled at him again. "Thank you, Mr. Lowman. I would have been here all day trying to decide."
Happy shrugged as he turned back to the door. "It's not a problem, and the name's Happy, little one."
He didn't wait for her reply as he moved toward the door, intent on getting to the barber shop. When he walked into the shop, Jax and Chibs both nodded as Jax grinned.
"What took you so long? Find a girl to flirt with?"
Happy smirked and shook his head before he took a seat beside Chibs. "Nah. Saw little one in the hardware store and stopped to see what she was up to."
Chibs frowned. "Jessie? Wha' was she doin' there?"
"Buying a lawn mower. I found the smallest one I could for her. She should be able to handle it."
Chibs shook his head. "Ye should 'ave 'ad a prospect go mow her grass. She dinnae need to be doin' it."
Happy shrugged. "I can't tell her not to. She ain't my old lady, man. Besides, she can handle it."
Jax chuckled as Chibs glared at his friend. "Speaking of old ladies, you heard anything about Rocky lately?"
Happy turned a dead stare toward that younger man, who grinned unrepentingly. "No, and she's not my old lady either."
Chibs shook his head. "I think we need Juice to check her ou'. Maybe he can find out what she does when she leaves town, yeah?"
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Rocky looked up from her phone when Jessie's beat up Volkswagen van pulled to a stop in the driveway. She grinned as the other woman got out and held her arms out from her sides for a hug. As she was squeezed by Jessie, she couldn't help but feel a sense of homecoming.
"It's about time you came home! Come in and I'll make some tea."
Rocky nodded as Jessie preceded her into the house. "I was hoping that I could hole up here for a few days. I'm not quite ready for everyone to know I'm here yet."
Jessie nodded as she filed a tea kettle with water. "That shouldn't be a problem. Not many come out this way." She shrugged. "Well, unless they need something."
Rocky felt a flash of guilt at her words, not that Jessie meant for her to. The smaller woman was right though. People, even those she considered family, tended to forget about her unless something happened and they needed her assistance or a shoulder to cry on.
She sighed as she watched Jessie pull down tea cups. "You have always been the mother of our group, Jess. We depend on you for that and it's not fair."
Jessie looked over her shoulder and gave Rocky a soft smile. "It's fine, Rocky. All of us have a purpose, after all."
Rocky nodded as Jessie opened a cookie jar on the counter and placed some freshly baked ginger snaps on a plate. "I know, but... who takes care of you, Jess?"
Jessie chuckled as she shrugged and pulled the whistling kettle from the stove. "I take care of myself, I suppose." She set the plate of cookies and the tea kettle on the small kitchen table before returning for the cups, spoons, and honey. After she had poured for both of them, Jessie grinned. "Now then, why are we hiding?"
Rocky grinned as stirred her tea. "I'm not really hiding so much as... I need a place to think. I have some re-evaluating to do."
Jessie reached over and patted her hand. "Well, you take all the time that you need to. I'll make sure that nobody bothers you." She took a sip of her tea baggie winking at Rocky. "I tell you what. After you get settled in your room, we'll order a pizza and watch Netflix."
Rocky stared at her in surprise. "You have Wi-Fi out here?"
Jessie snorted on a giggle and nodded. "Rocky, I may be a witch and a little scattered, but I'm not an animal. I like to look at Rick and Daryl as much as the next girl."
