She was only a half-mile or so away from Lachlan’s house. Even with the sun low in the sky, Jessie could make it there no problem. He could either help figure out what was going on, or he could drive her back into town and bring it to the shop in the morning.
Just great. Jessie groaned as she grabbed her purse and got out of her car.
Her phone chimed.
Hawk:
Please tell me you’re on your way home. I miss you and Bee.
Oh, my sister and Stone stopped by. Mae said she wants to talk about doing a girls’ day again, so just be ready for that when you come home.
Home. Jessie looked back up the driveway and over the open field to the old house that sat back in the distance. She’d always dreamed of that being her home one day, but her heart was shouting that home was now wherever Hawk was. She smiled and typed her reply as she trudged down the road.
We miss you too. She was just rolling like crazy. Probably because she’d rather be curled up in bed listening to your stories than walking up to Lach’s house right now.
Three dots popped up, before disappearing. And then her phone rang.
“What do you mean ‘walking up to Lach’s house.’”
“Not even going to say hello?” she teased.
“Not when I’m worried. What are you doing?”
“Exactly what I said. I’m just walking down the road a little bit and then I’ll be back on the ranch, safe and sound.”
Jessie sighed. There wasn’t a single car on the road, nor did she anticipate seeing one.
“I don’t want you to worry. Everything really is fine. It’s just that Joey started acting wonky, right as I got out on the main road. I’m just going to yell at Lach and get a ride backinto town. It’s only across a couple fields to get to his place. He needs to come figure out what’s wrong with Joey because she was supposed to be fixed.”
“Jessie—”
She rolled her eyes, even though she knew Hawk couldn’t see it. “I’m already on my way. I’ve done this walk a million times. We’re safe.”
“Go back to your car. I’m on my way.”
“Honestly.”
“I’m not joking. Get your pretty—and very much in trouble—ass back to your car, Jess. Or at least back to your parents’ house. I’ve seen trucks fly down that road. I’m going to have a fucking heart attack before I get out there if I don’t know you’re sitting in the car safe, with all your doors locked.”
“No heart attacks. I grew up out here, remember.”
“I’m still on my way.”
“I hear you, Chief. Thank God it was only the breaks and not the AC that went out. You’d have to worry about finding me faint out here.”
“Jessie,”Hawk groaned.“Are you not feeling okay? I’ll call 9-1-1 right now.”
“Oh my gosh. Don’t you dare. I’m fine.” She opened the car door and sat down in the driver's seat, turning over the engine and immediately feeling better as the cold air washed over her. “I’m inside the car. The doors are locked. Come get me, please. I’m tired and I just want to nap again.”
“Again, huh?”
“Maybe Lucky wasn’t the only one who fell asleep for a bit,” she laughed.
Hawk stayed on the line with her until his truck was pulled up right alongside hers.
“Thanks for the rescue, handsome.”
“No problem, mama.” Hawk’s hand landed on the hoodof her car. “Pop the hood for me and then we’ll get you situated in the truck.”
