Hunted

Farm Fresh Eggs

"Shortcake." I tapped Jessie's shoulder lightly. She didn't move. "Shortcake, wake up." I tried putting some warmth into my words. I didn't want to her blow up at me again. "Shorty." I shook her shoulder. "Wake up."
She groaned in response and flung her hand out to shoo me away. Only my quick reflexes saved me from getting a poked eye.
"Shorty," I told her more seriously. "Seriously, get up."
Jessie opened her bright green eyes-eyes that anyone would have a hard time not admiring-and stared at me sleepily. "What's wrong? Why are we stopped?" She asked, sitting up slightly and referring to the fact that we were parked on the side of a country road.
I sighed. "One of the back tires blew out."
Jessie groaned. "I knew I should have replaced the tires last month." She muttered. "Now what?"
I shrugged slightly. "I was going to see if there were any houses nearby and see if we could borrow a truck or something to get a tire."
Jessie nodded. "Okay." She unbuckled and opened the truck door.
I grabbed her wrist to stop her. "Are you sure you want to come? I mean, you don't have to if you don't want to." I trailed off, not sure if I was going to make her mad or anything of the sorts.
Jessie yanked her wrist away, but not in an angry way. "If you think I'm going to stay in the truck by myself for the next few hours bored out of my mind, then you are an idiot. I'm coming with you. Where are we anyway?"
I didn't want to argue so I let her step out of the truck. "Somewhere in Missouri." I told her when I had walked over to her with my backpack slung over my shoulder. "I don't know the town."
Jessie stretched. "Well," she yawned. "Which way should we go?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. My phone died. I don't know even where the closest house it."
Jessie shrugged. "Let's go left."
"Why?"
"Because why not." Jessie told me as she began walking. It can be more than an hour walk to the next house or something. Let's get started. Maybe we can get a tow truck here before lunch. I'm hungry."
"You're always hungry." I complained. "How do you pack it all away in that tiny body of yours?"
Jessie rolled her eyes. "I'm not that tiny." She tried to inform me.
"You're like five feet tall!"
"Yeah! And I weight a hundred and twenty pounds." Jessie snapped.
I whistled. "You're a solid little amount of muscle aren't you?" I teased her.
Jessie crossed her arms as she walked. "Just because I'm little doesn't mean I'm not capable of anything you can do." She muttered.
I felt like I struck a nerve, and for a fleeting second, I saw everything from her point of view. This little feisty ball of sarcasm's dream was to be a police woman, but there was no doubt that she was looked down upon because of her size. She was a woman, and she was small. All the odds were against her.
I stuck my hands in my pockets awkwardly. "Just because you're small doesn't mean you're not capable of anything you put your mind to." I assured her.
I felt like a sappy girl. This was gross. Being kind and assuring and all this crap is not my cup of tea.
Jessie shrugged, not noticing my awkwardness. "Thanks. Anyway," a mischievous grin broke out on her face. "Have you ever taken any physical training?"
I snorted. "I can do anything you can think of."
Jessie raised an eyebrow. "Really?" She asked me.
I nodded uncomfortably. What was she getting at?
"Race you!" Jessie took off at a sprint.
"What?" I yelled before I ran after her as fast as I could. "To where?"
"The closest house!"
***
After twenty-five minutes both of us were extremely sweaty and breathless. We had given up on racing and just decided to run as fast as we could so we could get there as soon possible. I could give Jessie credit though. She was fast. I never felt myself slow down for her. I wondered how long she could keep the killer pace up, but we were already in the driveway of the farmhouse.
"Okay, just let me do the talking, okay?" I told her.
Jessie shrugged. "Whatever Princy."
I paused. "Princy?"
Jessie smirked. "Yeah, I don't like it either, but I don't know what to nickname you yet."
I rolled my eyes. "Or you could call me Hunter." I told her.
"And you can call me Jessie." She told me.
I shrugged. "Yeah, not happening Shortcake."
Jessie shrugged. We were at the door now. The air smelled like animals. Yep is was obviously a farm.
I took a deep breath and knocked. After a few minutes a little old woman answered the door. She blinked up at me. "Can I help you?" She asked me helpfully. "We are selling fresh farm eggs if that's what you're looking for."
Jessie didn't stick to the plan that suggested I talk. "Oh I would love some fresh eggs!" She told the woman eagerly.
I put my hand out in front of her and gave her a warning look. "Actually," I told the woman. "I was wondering if I could use a phone. Our truck broke down a few miles away and my phone to dead so I can't call a tow truck.
The woman gave me a look of complete hospitality. "Oh of course." She told me. "But I'm afraid you're going to have to wait outdoors until my husband gets in from the barn. Last time I let a couple of teenagers in they turned out to be nothing but trouble and we had to fill out so many court files because of the damage I caused them and it was quite a bother. So I promised my husband I wouldn't let anyone in until he was home." She shook her head. "They just don't make kids the way they used to." She told us.
I felt my face get hot. "Yes, ma'am, I understand." I told her respectfully.
She brightened up at me. "Well in that case I'll make you some fresh eggs while you wait. My husband won't be home for another couple hours."
I shifted uncomfortably. "Do you have any neighbors I could ask?" I asked desperately. "We really need to get on our way."
The woman paused. "No neighbors twenty miles in every direction. You chose a bad place to break down." Then she smiled and closed the door, going to make us some farm fresh eggs Jessie was excited for.
"We are screwed!" I groaned to Jessie and slumped against the door.
Jessie shrugged. "Well, there's nothing you can do about it." She sat down next to me, close enough so our shoulders brushed. "Just look forward to your farm fresh eggs that are free."
I groaned in response.