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Austen let his gaze rest on Jess. She stiffened beside me, and from the corner of my eye, I saw her chin lift. She was staring him down, asserting the iron I’d always known was in her blood. She was usually so sweet and gentle that most people didn’t realize that she could also be fierce when she had to be.
Austen looked down, and he never looked at her again. “Fine. At least take Shep back. You trained him. He won’t listen to me.”
I nodded. “I’ll pick him up on the way home. And I’ll send some help to run your place until you sell it. Did you want to pay for the labor in cash or trade some of your cows?”
His cheek flinched. “Guess you know how to play hardball, after all.”
“When I have to. Usually, I’ll just take a man’s word and give him the benefit of the doubt. Unless I get burned.”
He rolled his eyes. “Whatever. I’ll cut you a check when the place sells.”
“Good enough.” I tightened my hand around Jess’s and started to turn away but stopped. “I hope you heal up soon.”
Austen’s gaze tightened, and his head tilted. “Why would you even care?”
“Because that’s what decent folks do around here.” I replaced my hat and tipped the brim. “Take care of yourself.”
We walked out of that room together, my love and I, leaving all the hurts of the past behind us. Jess laced her fingers through mine and wrapped her free hand around my elbow. I had a feeling she’d have more to say to me once we got out to the truck.
But the hospital room door opened before we touched it, and a tall woman with a dark brown Brazilian blowout stepped inside. She spared us little more than a swift glance, then marched toward the bed. “Well, well. I finally found you, Michael.”
Jess and I jerked to a halt together and spun around. “Michael” was about the color of his sheets, and his eyes were round as dinner plates. “Rachel!” He cleared his throat. “Uh… what are you doing here?”
“Wondering where my child support check is. You’re six months behind, and I have a lawyer.”
“I sent the check! What, did you and your boy toy lose your apartment and move again?”
She stuck her finger in his face. “We bought the house a year ago, and he’s not my boy toy. Ryan and I have been married for two years!”
“Only after you left me for my best friend.”
“And you know what? If I’d been thinking clearly, I’d never married you in the first place. I’d have picked him first. I can’tbelieveI fell for your crap!”
They kept bickering, and I couldn’t help rubbing my eyes. Was I really seeing this? Jess leaned close and whispered, “I think I dodged a bullet.”
I couldn’t make any response. I just gaped as Austen… Michael… grabbed the papers on the hospital tray, the ones he’d tried to give me, and flung them in his… ex-wife’s? face. And I knew I’d never get paid for keeping his cows fed until his place sold.
But I’d do it anyway, because it wasn’t about Austen… or whatever his name was. It was about doing what was right; sometimes, you just stick your neck out there and let the chips fall where they may.
Jess tugged at my arm. “You know? I think we should leave. Now.”
I nodded, but I’m sure my mouth was still hanging open. “Good idea.”
Jess
Two weeks later
I leaned on the door frame of the garage and closed my eyes. I could listen to those voices forever. But five minutes would do. Five minutes to just soak it all in, and then I’d walk in and interrupt.
“So, how do you plan get your horsepower up? Bore the engine, or are you going to put a pipe on it?” Dusty’s head was under the hood, while my dad’s feet were sticking out from behind the tire.
Dad laughed. “Are you kidding? Both! But first, I think we ought to put a lowering kit on it.” The creeper rolled out, and Dad sat up. “Add some low-profile tires and custom rims. What do you think?”
“I’m not the person to ask. Everything I drive has to be able to cover potholes and muddy back roads.”
“Well, you gotta have at least one car just for fun, right?” I heard Dad getting up, and one of them cracked the top off a bottle of soda. “Hey, don’t tell Jess, but I’ve been thinking of painting it yellow.”
“Why? The red is beautiful!”
