Page 53 of Mustang Summer

“Keep me updated,” Josie murmured to Jesse before she left.

Walking out into the sunshine, she headed in the direction of her car.Time to head home.

Her feet weighed as much as lead bricks and she took her time.A stiff wind fended off the worst of the humidity.She hoped no more storms like last night blew through.

How was Brock doing?

When could she spend another night in his arms?

He liked her.She liked him.So what were they?Would she go back to Waite Park while he hit up the bars and hooked up?Would Cash get him to drop her like the value of a brand-new car getting driven off the lot?

No.Not the way Brock had stood up to him.

She was smiling to herself when the phone rang.Waiting until she was settled into the driver’s seat, she answered.

“Have you left town yet?”Brock’s deep voice rumbled through her like last night’s thunder.

God, she had it bad.And their quickie this morning had only reminded her of how hot it was between him.

“No, I just got done at the jail.How’s your land?”

“Bad.We lost half of the north quarter of canola and we’ll see how much of the corn bounces back.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Not your fault.”

He’d said that before and his tone had been just as literal.He didn’t blame her, but he might not understand how sorry she was for the ill effects of her brother’s momentary insanity.

“Mr.Blackwell called and offered me the Shelby.”Excitement hung on his words and it made her grin.

“All right!You did it.”

“Want to go with me to pick it up?”

“Yes.No.Oh crap.I really do, but my dad is…I don’t want him to find out I passed on it to help you.”

“When are you back here next?”

Her heart sank.“Jesse’s sentencing.”

“I think Dillon said that’d be on August fifth.Do you want to go before or after?”

She chewed her lips and eyed the jail.Jesse hadn’t said a date.Did he not want her present, or was he trying to keep her away from Moore and away from the Walkers?Could be both with him, depending on his mood.

“I’ll call you when it’s closer to see what works best.I doubt Blackwell will mind.”Two weeks away, and she didn’t want to leave in the first place.

Chapter10

“You’re going to see her again?”Aaron’s blue eyes glowed in the sun.

They stood out in the middle of a cornfield.In front of the five of them, giant swaths of corn stalks were hammered to the ground.They’d likely turn brown from the damage and decay, leaving them with much less yield than before the storm.

It was the same story in field after field.Cash had reported their cattle coming through the storm without loss.The horses had found shelter, too, and were safe.Just their crops, their big cash draw—depending on the markets, of course—took a major hit.

“Yeah, I’m going to see Josie again.”Brock shoved his phone in his pocket and crossed his arms.Four pairs of eyes stared at him.

“She’s cute and all,” Aaron continued, “but she’s still his sister.”

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