Chapter Two
Mia
I clung to Jackson, my knuckles white as I gripped the fabric of his shirt. My body trembled against his, betraying the fear that seeped into every crevice of my being. The scent of leather and horse filled my nostrils, a soothing reminder of the man holding me tight. It had been a few weeks since I’d told Carter about the baby. Even now, I was worried he’d try to hurt me or the baby.
“Hey,” Jackson murmured softly, his breath warm on my ear. “It’s going to be all right, darlin’.”
I wanted to believe him, but fear had its claws in me, and it refused to let go. I couldn’t shake the feeling that Carter was lurking somewhere, waiting for the right moment to strike. And with our baby on the way, the stakes were higher than ever.
“Jackson, I… I don’t know what to do,” I whispered, my voice so low even I could barely hear myself.
He pulled back slightly, just enough to look me in the eye. His gaze was steady, full of determination and something else I couldn’t quite name. But it made me feel a little more grounded, like maybe there was hope after all.
“Listen, Mia, I’ve been thinking,” he began, his drawl comforting me like a warm blanket. “I know things are tough right now, and this whole situation with Carter is far from ideal. But there’s something we can do to make sure you and the baby are safe.”
“Anything,” I said, desperate for any solution that would keep us out of harm’s way. Thanks to Jackson, I’d earned my GED, but I didn’t feel very much like an adult. With all the moving around, chasing one rodeo after another, I hadn’t had the chance to get a job. Right now, I had nothing to my name. No bank account. No cash. The clothes I had were the things Jackson bought me.
“Marriage.” Jackson’s declaration hung in the air between us, heavy with meaning and unspoken promises. “If we get married, it’ll give us some security. We can build a life together, a good one, for us and the baby. Our baby.”
The way he’d said our made my heart race. Would he seriously claim the child as his own? We’d never been more than friends. I’d been so focused on Carter, I’d never really noticed the other men around me.
The thought of marrying Jackson, of becoming a true family, sent a shiver down my spine. It wasn’t that I didn’t like him -- I did, more than I could ever put into words. But the idea of tying ourselves together in such a permanent way felt like a leap of faith, one that had the potential to either save us or drag us both under.
More than likely, he’d be the one to suffer for it. I knew what people would think when they saw us together. I’d been underage when Carter got me pregnant. While I’d just recently turned eighteen, Jackson was six and a half years older than me.
“Jackson, are you sure?” I asked, searching his eyes for any hint of doubt. “I don’t want you to feel trapped or like you have to do this because of the baby.”
He shook his head, his expression resolute. “No, Mia. I want this. I want the baby to grow up knowing they have two parents who love them. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep the two of you safe.”
My heart swelled at his words. Maybe this was the answer we’d been searching for, the key to keeping Carter at bay and ensuring a stable future for my child. And as I looked into Jackson’s eyes, I realized that I couldn’t imagine facing this journey with anyone else by my side. He’d already done so much for me.
“All right,” I whispered, daring to let myself believe that things could work out. “Let’s do it. Let’s get married.”
Since Jackson and I had never shared more than a hug, I had to admit to feeling anxious over the idea of having an actual relationship with him. I had no idea what his expectations would be. I should have asked, but part of me was too scared. What if he wanted a true marriage? Was that something I could give him?
“Come on,” Jackson said. “I rented us a cabin near the next rodeo. It won’t start for another week, but we can get there early and have a bit of a break. I’m sure you’re tired of motel rooms.”
“A cabin sounds perfect. Thank you, Jackson.”
He flashed me a smile, and I felt a fluttering in my stomach. If I wasn’t careful, I’d end up falling in love with him… which wouldn’t be awful, unless he never felt the same about me.
* * *
The sun dipped below the horizon as I stood on the porch, the evening breeze carrying with it a hint of jasmine from the nearby flowerbeds. The scent calmed me, if only for a moment, before my thoughts inevitably drifted back to Carter and the danger he posed. I could feel the weight of the decision Jackson and I had made settling heavily on my shoulders.
The rodeo started in two days, and I’d spotted Carter in town earlier. I didn’t think he’d noticed me, but if he did… I didn’t feel safe knowing he was nearby.
“Hey,” Jackson said softly, stepping up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist. “You okay?”
I leaned back against him, grateful for his support. “Just thinking.”
“About what?” he asked, his breath warm on my neck.
“Everything. Carter, the wedding, the baby…” My voice trailed off as I tried to find the words to express the whirlwind of emotions inside of me.
“Hey, look at me,” he urged, turning me gently to face him. His eyes searched mine with a tenderness that made my heart swell. “We’re going to get through this, Mia. I promise.”
His certainty was contagious, and I found myself nodding. “I know. It’s just… hard not to worry, you know?”
“Of course,” he acknowledged, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. “But we’re taking control of the situation. Getting married will hopefully give you a layer of protection from Carter. We’ll make sure our baby has a safe, happy life. Maybe if he realizes I’m going to claim the kid as my own, then he’ll realize he doesn’t have anything to worry about.”
As the next two days passed, my fear of Carter intensified. Every shadow seemed to hold the possibility of him lurking there, every creak in the house sent shivers down my spine. I knew it was irrational, that he couldn’t be everywhere at once, but the thought of him coming after us consumed my every waking moment.
“Jackson, do you think he knows?” I asked one night, unable to keep the worry from my voice. “About the baby, I mean. He told me to get rid of it, but I didn’t.”
“Maybe,” he sighed, his arms tightening around me. “But we can’t let that control our lives, darlin’. We’ll take whatever precautions we need to and stand up to him if it comes to that.”
“I just don’t want anything to happen to you or the baby,” I whispered, my eyes filling with tears. “You’ve been so good to us. I feel like I don’t have anything to contribute.”
“Hey now,” he murmured, brushing my tears away with his thumb. “We’re going to be okay. Remember, we’ve got each other, and if I think he’s going to make a move, we can always go back to my hometown. I told you my dad is part of the Dixie Reapers MC. I know they’ll help watch our backs.”
“Thank you, Jackson,” I said through the tears, allowing myself to soak in the comfort he provided. I knew marriage wouldn’t magically make everything perfect, but it would give us a fighting chance against Carter’s potential harm. And for now, that was enough.
* * *
I gripped the steering wheel tightly, my knuckles turning white. The rain pummeled down on the roof of the truck, each drop sounding like a tiny drumbeat and nearly blinded me as it came down hard on the windshield. I glanced at the rearview mirror and shuddered. All I could see was darkness swallowing the road behind me.
The rodeo had been rained out, which ended up being a good thing. Jackson had a fever so I’d left him at the cabin and ventured out to find medicine for him. If only I’d realized how bad the weather would be, I may have asked him to ride with me. I heard a sudden pop and the wheel nearly jerked from my hands. Squinting, I looked in the sideview mirror and realized the tire was now flat. Had I run over something?
Frustration welled up inside me. I hadn’t had any issues going to the pharmacy. Was this really just an accident? At least the rain had eased up.
“Need some help?” a voice called out, startling me. Carter approached from the darkness, I hit the button to make sure the doors were locked. “Don’t have your guard dog with you?”
Why had I never noticed the evil lurking in his eyes? The man was a monster. He banged his fist against the window, smiling at me.
“Go away, Carter!”
“Is that any way to talk to your boyfriend?”
Was he serious right now? “We broke up. I’m not yours anymore.”
The smile slid from his face. “You might want to rethink the way you speak to me, Mia. We’re all alone in this storm, and it looks like the truck isn’t going anywhere. Guess you better let me give you a ride.”
I shook my head. I had a bad feeling he’d hurt me if I got out. But since I had Jackson’s truck, he didn’t have a way to come look for me. How was I going to get back to the cabin?
Right when I was contemplating the best way to get away from Carter, I saw another set of headlights. A familiar red truck stopped beside me, leaving Carter between the vehicles.
“Hey, Bales! That’s not your girl. Think you need to move along.” The cowboy glaring at him was a friend of Jackson’s, and relief flooded me. I knew Cooper wouldn’t leave me alone with Carter.
“This isn’t your business,” Carter said. “Move along.”
“I don’t think so. Jackson won’t be happy about the fact you’re harassing his fiancée.”
Carter faced me again, his eyes narrowing. “What the fuck is he talking about?”
“Jackson and I are getting married, Carter. I need you to leave me alone.”
He slammed his fist against the window again and I yelped, shrinking back. Now I was certain the flat tire wasn’t an accident. Carter must have put something in the road, then waited for me to come back through here.
Cooper got out of his truck, then dragged Carter off by his collar. After landing two punches, he used his booted foot to shove Carter to the ground, then spat on him. When Cooper knocked on my window, I rolled it down partway.
“Come on, Mia. I’ll give you a ride to the cabin, then come back and deal with the flat tire. Most likely, it’s going to need a new one.”
“Thank you, Cooper.” I rolled up the window, shut off the engine, then got into Cooper’s truck. I hit the button on the key fob to lock the doors, and eyed Carter as we drove past him. Would this be the end of it? Was I finally done with Carter?
“You need to tell Jackson what happened,” Cooper said.
I held up the bag from the pharmacy. “He’s sick. It’s why he didn’t go with me.”
“He still needs to know, Mia. If you don’t tell him, then I will.”
I sighed. “All right.”
We pulled up to the cabin, and I rushed inside. Jackson still slept on the couch, and I hurried over to check on him, wincing when I felt how hot his forehead was. I changed into something dry and got him a bottle of water.
“Jackson, can you wake up for a minute? I have your medicine.” He moaned and struggled to open his eyes. I helped him sit up, gave him the pills, and made sure he swallowed them. “The truck got a flat. Cooper gave me a ride back and said he’d take care of the tire.”
His eyes opened wide and he sat straight up. “What? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine!” I swallowed hard. “Um. Carter was there. He scared me, but I stayed in the locked truck until Cooper passed by. He hit Carter and told him to leave me alone. He also told him we’re getting married.”
Jackson ran a hand down his face. “I’m sure he’s pissed. You okay, darlin’?”
“I’m fine. Really. Just get some rest and get better.” I kissed his forehead. “It’s my turn to take care of you.”
He gave me a tired smile and lay back down. I had to hope this was the last time Carter would cause any trouble. But I had a really bad feeling… He wasn’t the type to back down. If he thought I was happy with Jackson, he’d do whatever he could to ruin our lives. I only hoped he wouldn’t do anything to cause either of us physical harm.