Page 5 of Jackson's Redemption
“No,” she said, then she squeezed my arm even tighter and I had to suppress a groan. “I mean it. Not everyone would have even come over to see if I was okay. I’m not going to forget that, Jack. If we ever end up being on the same campus at some point, you should come find me. I’ll repay you with a beer when you’re old enough to drink.”
“Deal.”
That’s right. At some future point in my life I was going to go out on a date with Kate Lazio.
I shook my head not quite believing any of this was happening. I hopped out of the car and made my way to where she was waiting for me to help her down. Again, she put her arm around my shoulders, and this time I was a little more confident in putting my arm around her waist, taking her weight onto me.
“You make an excellent crutch, Jack.”
“Good to know. I’ve got a few more damsels who need to be saved today.”
She laughed again, and I felt it through my whole body. Then her front door opened, and a large, physically imposing man stepped out onto the porch.
“What the fuck are you doing with my daughter?”
“Dad! Please. Obviously, he’s helping me.”
“Why is that?”
“I twisted my ankle,” she explained. “I can’t put any weight on it.”
Then I watched him walk toward us with a hard glare at me. He swooped her into his arms like she weighed nothing, and I thought about how pathetic I was because I couldn’t do that. He was walking her toward the house, and I wasn’t even going to be able to say goodbye to her.
“Thanks again, Jack,” she said over her father’s shoulder. “See you on campus!”
“Yeah, see you again.”
I stood there awkwardly as they disappeared inside the house. Then I remembered the car key in my hand. I should just leave it on the front porch. I took a few steps when the Chief emerged.
“You’re a Warner?”
Kate must have told him my name. I nodded.
“Your father is a drunk and your brother is a scumbag. And from my experience, when you’ve got a few rotten apples, they spoil the whole basket.”
I said nothing. I just tossed him the key to her car and he caught it out of the air.
“You lay eyes on my daughter again and we’ll have words.”
The next time I ran into the Chief of Police, we didn’t have words. Other than him reading me my rights.
2
Hope’s Point,Alaska
Present Day
Kate
The plane jostled a bit as it hit the runway. But finally, we were down and this ten-hours of flying was finally over. My heart jumped into my throat. Not for the first time did I wonder what the hell I was doing here in Hope’s Point, Alaska.
A dating contest? Did I really sign up for that?
Obviously I did or my ass wouldn’t be sitting here in this Cessna on a runway, where I could see no other buildings around.
The pilot got out and set up a step ladder for me. I tossed my backpack over my shoulder and got out.
The views that greeted me from the ground were no less stunning than from the sky. Snow-covered mountains that seemed to touch the sky. About as different from southern Arizona as it could get.
