Page 94 of Nashville Cowboy
He couldn’t argue. “I need to go straighten this out with Eve right now.”
“First give her a head start. She needs to cool down and a ride alone usually does that for her.”
Groaning, Jackson accepted that. He’d give her a head start, then he and Taco would follow, and he’d explain everything. By tonight they would be back in his bedroom again for another mind-blowing night together.
He took a seat and shoved a hand through his hair. “I didn’t tell her because I didn’t want to upset her. I didn’t anticipate Winona would play her head games with Eve. What could she hope to accomplish? Did she think I’d bemorewilling to help her out now? I wasn’t angry with her for suggesting the idea, but I am now. She doesn’t get to treat Eve like this. I’ll have words with Winona.”
“Good,” Mima said, sitting next to him. “But you should realize something. You were right, and I was wrong.”
That’s something he didn’t get to hear around here too often. “Yeah? About what?”
“I told you that Eve was a different woman now, and you said you’d have to remind her of who she is.” She patted his hand. “That flash of anger and temper? Look at our girl go. Eve’s allowing herself tofeeleverything again and I bet that’s scary for her.”
He hadn’t considered that. Eve had come a long way in the past weeks. She wasn’t fighting her anger any longer. He’d say the tipping point was the day of the wedding and how she’d come apart with memories.
And then she’d put herself back together again. She amazed him every day.
“I think I’ve given her enough of a head start.”
When Jacksonfinally caught sight of Eve standing next to Thimble at the edge of the creek that ran through both the Carver and Truehart properties, he slowed Taco and headed their way. Thimble drank from the creek, and as soon as Jackson unsaddled, Taco joined her. But as he passed Eve, he snorted unhappily. Safe to say Taco still didn’t care much for Eve. Loyal to the core, his gelding.
Eve crossed her arms and jutted out a hip. She threw him a stony look.
He moved to stand beside her but didn’t even try to touch her. “I know I’m in the doghouse. Go on and let me have it.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” She huffed. “Jackson, you’ve got to stop trying to protect me! You should have told me beforeshedid.”
“The whole idea was so nuts, I didn’t want to bother you with it. You have enough on your mind.”
“She sure takes a lot of liberties with you!” She kicked the ground. “I have to wonder why she’s still so connected to you after all this time.”
“Sheisn’tconnected to me.”
“Why would she even think to ask you such a thing? Have you encouraged her?”
“No! That’s just how she is. She got used to having people do what she wants. She said it’s her last chance to have a baby.”
“She should go to one of those banks!”
“That’s what I suggested.” He winced and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“And she told me that you two talk every week. Your divorce didn’t stop you from being together afterwards.” She held up air quotes.
Now he was livid. He’d been kind to Winona but that would stop. Some people took kindness for weakness and it surprised him to realize that he hadn’t known that about Winona until now. Or understood just how desperate she’d become.
He should have.
“She’s a damn liar.”
“I know.”
The boulder that had taken up residence on his chest eased up. Thank the Lord she believed him. He actually let out a breath. “You believe me.”
“Of course, I do,” Eve said. “I know you, and now I think I know her. This might never happen in Stone Ridge, but I recognized something she tried. It used to happen a lot at the university. I’d see other women do it to each other sometimes, over a man. She was trying to intimidate me, trying to plant a seed of doubt in my mind.”
“You didn’t let her.” But in the next moment, confusion pulsed through him. “Then why are you so mad?”
“Because youshouldhave told me! You can’t keep trying to protect me from anything that might be uncomfortable. Or…weird.”
