Forbidden Falls (Virgin River #9)(17)

“I did,” he said quietly. A bunch of them, if possible. And so did Merry—she wanted them right away. “I think this little town church is going to be my kid for a while.”

“Sometimes I think the deal I got with Arnie was just what I deserved. I married him because I thought he was safe for me and the kids. He seemed all right, he made a decent living, he was okay that I had children while a lot of guys run for their lives when they find out you come with kids. I wasn’t attracted to him, I wasn’t in love with him. So maybe that’s what I deserved, huh?”

Noah didn’t have to consider it. “Never think that,” he said. “No one deserves cruelty of any kind. Not on their worst day.”

Just then, the door opened and Mel came into the bar. She went first to Jack, lifting herself up to lean over the bar and give him a kiss. Then she turned and looked at Noah and Ellie. “Mel,” Noah called. “Got a minute?”

She walked over to their table. “Mel Sheridan, this is Ellie Baldwin. She’s helping out in the church for a while.”

“Nice to meet you,” Mel said, putting out her hand. “Jack said there was someone new in town. How’s it going over there?”

“It’s my first day, so it’s looking pretty ugly,” Ellie said honestly.

“Well, it’s not my first day, but Ellie got more done this morning than I’ve managed in the last week. She’s a whirlwind.”

“Good for you. Very cute top, by the way.”

Ellie looked down, then lifted an eyebrow toward Noah before she said, “Thanks. Target. Under twenty bucks.”

“Really? I need to get over there one of these days. They usually have good buys. So, Ellie—where do you live?”

“I’m in Eureka now, but I have to find something closer—I can’t afford the gas. Would you happen to know of anything? Nearby?”

Mel pulled up a chair. “I can sure ask around. What are you looking for?”

“My kids are with my ex-husband right now, so all I need is a bed and a roof. Really, one room would do it for me. Something cheap, but not scary. His Holiness here doesn’t exactly pay a lot.”

Mel laughed. “I know one thing that qualifies as cheap and real nice, but I think it might flunk the scary test. Right at the end of the block, nicest house down there, Jo Ellen and Nick Fitch have a great one-room efficiency over the garage. I don’t think they’ve rented it out in a long time. Jo Ellen’s a doll, a very nice lady. But she’s married to a groper.”

“Is that so? How serious a groper?” Ellie asked.

“The first time I met him, he treated me to a major butt grope while I had my back turned.”

Hearing this exchange, Jack put a cup of coffee in front of his wife and used the pot to refill Ellie’s and Noah’s cups. “Mel drop-kicked him,” Jack inserted. “It was a beautiful sight. I think that’s when I really fell in love with her.”

Ellie grinned widely. “What did you do to him?”

“I got lucky, that’s all. I took a little self-defense course in college, I didn’t think I even remembered any of it. But he snuck up on me and I just reacted. I threw him an elbow in the gut and then under the chin. One little swipe behind his heels and he was flat on his ass. Sorry, Noah—I meant to say butt. Butt’s okay, right?”

Noah looked up at Jack. “The women in this place are rougher on the language than the men.”

“Tell me about it,” Jack said. “We now have a swear jar at home. David’s college education will be paid for and we’ll have a trip to Bermuda by the end of the year.”

“I might have to put a swear jar in the church,” Noah said.

“I could teach you that move,” Mel said to Ellie, taking a sip from her cup.

“Thanks. I have some moves of my own, too. So, this guy—is he dangerous? Or just frisky?” Ellie asked.

“I don’t think he’s dangerous, but I couldn’t guarantee it,” Mel answered. “I’d hate myself forever if you came to any harm from him. But, as the gossip goes, he’s been slapped down by several women in this town. Too bad Jo Ellen hasn’t hit him over the head with a big club. I can’t believe she puts up with that behavior. Really, she’s such a nice person.”

“Nick might have ideas all the time, but I think he’s only frisky when he drinks,” Jack said. “His problems usually come up during a party. Most of the time, when the town gets together, they do it here, they have food and drinks, and Nick loses his head.”

“It’s out of the question, Ellie,” Noah said. “You can’t even consider it.”

“It could work,” Ellie said. “Mel, would you be willing to introduce me to them, be there when I ask about the room? I’d have to have a look at him, too. See if I think I could take him.”

“This isn’t happening,” Noah muttered.

“Sure,” Mel said. “I’m positive he’s still scared of me. I know he’s been slapped, but I hold the sole distinction of taking him down.”

“And she put a boot on his chest to hold him down while she threatened his life,” Jack said. “I’m telling you, I almost exploded with lust. I had to marry her.”

Ellie sipped her coffee. “Well, I’m bigger than you are,” she said to Mel. “And I have Mace.”