“Jodi.”
“Grandaddy,” she whispered as if she didn’t believe what she was hearing. When her name was called again, she leapt to her feet.
“Grandaddy,” she called, running for the trail.
“Hey, wait,” I yelled after her, not wanting her to get lost again. “This way,” I said, taking her by the hand again. I led us back up to the main trail where the calls became even louder.
“Grandaddy,” Jodi shouted when we spotted three men come around the trail’s bend. She immediately pulled her hand from mine and began running in the direction of one of the men.
The oldest one out of the three men also began rushing toward Jodi. I stopped short when he caught her as she jumped into his arms. He held onto her tightly, his shoulders shaking. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was crying.
I stood there, confused. Jodi had talked about her grandaddy a lot the night before, but never did I think he’d look like this. The way they clung to one another, it was apparent they were family.
“Jo-Jo, what happened to you, girl?” the man asked as he pulled back enough to see Jodi’s face, while still holding her in his arms.
“I had to pee and got lost. Micah let me stay with him.” She turned back and pointed to me.
That was when her grandaddy’s eyes landed on me.
“Micah.” He moved closer, still holding Jodi. “You’re one of Joel Townsend’s boys, aren’t you?”
I nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“You live miles from ’round here. Do you need a ride back into town?”
I shook my head. “I know a shortcut back home. I come out here all the time.”
He pinched his lips and nodded. “Thank you for looking after my Jo-Jo.”
I shrugged. “Don’t mention it,” I responded casually.
He smiled. “Come on, girl. Let’s get you back to the campsite.”
“Okay.”
He turned, but Jodi suddenly yelled, “Wait.” She pulled something out of the pocket of her sweatpants. It was the rope from the night before.
“This is yours.” She held out the cord to me.
I shook my head. “You keep it. I got plenty more.”
She smiled, displaying the two front missing teeth of hers that I’d noticed the night before. “Thank you.”
I watched as her grandfather carried her away, down the trail. The whole time Jodi continued fiddling with the black rope I’d given her over her grandaddy’s shoulders.
I waited until the four of them disappeared around the bend to hightail my butt home myself. Mama would be pissed if she found out I stayed out all night. Somehow, though, I didn’t mind the idea of Mama yelling. If I hadn’t been there, Jodi would’ve been in those woods all night by herself.
“Better me than someone else,” I whispered to the empty forest. I’d have to take my chances at home. I grinned to myself as I ran down the shortcut I knew that led back home. Yeah, Mama and Joel would be pissed, but it was worth it.
Chapter Ten
“I was grounded for a month after that night.” He chuckled before pinning me with his gaze.
I straight ignored the hungry gleam in Micah’s eye to will myself to hang on to my anger.
“You should’ve said something,” I stated curtly, cutting into the memory of the first time I ever laid eyes on Micah Townsend.
“I knew you’d eventually remember.” He moved around the table and pulled my chair out for me, so casually.
