“You folks okay?” he asked.
“She’s a bit shaken but we’re okay,” Jackson assured him.
“That’s a fine deer you hit. You and your wife want it?” he enquired.
Jackson noted the man’s camo. “It’s all yours if you like.”
“Sweet,” he grinned. “If you want a lift to town, I can drive you.”
“Thanks, but I’ll just call for a tow,” Jackson said.
The man gave them a nod and called for his buddy to help him with the deer.
“They’re going to eat Bambi,” Katie looked up at him with tears in her eyes.
Jackson swallowed hard and ignored the sucker punch that those blue eyes delivered. “It’s not Bambi. It’s Bambi’s cousin Rodger who is a mean old buck and deserves to feed some poor family with kids who need some freezer meat.”
“I know that’s not true,” she sniffed and rested her head on his chest again. “But it makes me feel better. Thank you.”
“Your welcome,” he said gruffly and rested his chin on her head. He felt the grip of protectiveness for Katie. If the baby’s father didn’t do right by her maybe he should.
Whoa! Wait just a minute, he thought to himself. He had no intention of getting married just yet. Where were these thoughts coming from? He concluded it was Katie. She was a hot mess that would make any man either run or try to protect her in every way possible. It didn’t mean that he should be donning a tie in front of a preacher. Once they were done this book tour and things were back to normal, surely this urge would pass.
Jackson took a deep breath and called for a tow as he continued to hold Katie with one arm. They needed to get the truck repaired or have a rental as quick as possible for more than one reason.
