Page 8 of Nashville Cowboy
“If that’s what Mima wants, I won’t argue with you.” Eve crossed her arms, which she couldn’t help notice were shaking. “But it has to be her decision.”
“This is whatIwant. You can’t expect me to stay here with you in my way. Every meal. Everywhere I look.”
She was about to suggest that he could stay anywhere he wanted. But she knew Mima wouldn’t have that. She wanted Jackson home.
“Two weeks. I’ll stay out of your way except at the church. I have to meet you there.”
“Yeah,thatwill be a first.” He scoffed.
For her, the day would be revisiting the worst mistake of her life, one that led to so many others. But no matter what happened, she was going to this wedding to stand beside Sadie.
Even if it killed her. “Look, Jackson, I never got a chance to say this. But I’msorry.”
“Oh, you’re sorry. That’s good. And here I was worried all this time that youweren’tsorry. I guess that’s it, then? You’re sorry, and we’re good?”
Behind him, Thimble was gathering steam. “Calm down, Thimble,” Eve said. “I’m okay. We’re okay.”
“Still talkin’ to horses, yeah?” He pointed to his chest. “Talk to me, Eve. How are we going to do this? Do you leave, or do I?”
She stared over Jackson’s shoulder, gathering strength from Thimble. “Neither.”
“Girl, you are not hearing me.”
The comment sliced through her, hurting her in new places. But he didn’t know. He couldn’t know, or he wouldn’t have made the comment because Jackson couldn’t be that cruel. It just wasn’t in him.
“Iheardyou loud and clear,” Eve said softly. “You forget that Iknowyou. Maybe better than anyone else, and you hate that, don’t you? I’m the only one who realized that you didn’t want to marry me.”
“What?” This was said between gritted teeth. His hands were fisted, his eyes flashing heat.
“N-now who’s not listening?”
She hadn’t spoken to anyone like this in years and the heightened emotions and fear made her breathing ragged and strained. But she’d gathered strength from the true fact that shedidknow Jackson. He might storm out in a rage or at worst kick a chair, but he’d never, ever lay a hand on her in anger.
The back door to the kitchen creaked open and Mima’s voice could be heard both loud and almost roaring like the Mama Bear that she was.
“What is this mess?” She stood, left hand on hip, looking ready to go grab herself a switch.
“We’re talkin’ here,” Jackson said.
“You done talkin’. My chops are a’ getting cold and I’ll have none of this. Eve is stayin’ with me because I don’t want a stranger in my home. Don’t care if he’s a doctor and handsome to boot. Not happenin’. Y’all get inside now before Lincoln eats up all the chops. He’s already started and the boy’s big enough already.”
Jackson growled in frustration, but he stalked past Mima into the house.
“I’ll be right in,” Eve said, turning toward Thimble.
Mima shut the door and Eve walked to Thimble, who strained to get closer to Eve. She pressed her forehead to Thimble’s nose and gave her forelock a rub.
“I’m okay. I’m going to be okay. We’re going to be okay.”
Eve didn’t know if she was saying this to reassure herself, or Thimble.
Chapter 4
For Jackson, dinner was a reminder of some of his first shows in Nashville, where nobody had any idea who thisJackson Carverguy was. Little enthusiasm from the small crowd, no matter how well the band played. Tonight, it was so quiet he could literally hear the sounds of Lincoln’s chewing. But they’d all eaten together, like his grandmother wanted, because she was a good woman and Jackson was trying like hell to be a good grandson.
But Eve hammered on his last nerve.
“Let’s head over to the Shady Grind, yeah?” Jackson suggested to Lincoln after dinner.
