Chapter Three
Mia
A few days later, I watched from the stands as Jackson prepared for his event at the rodeo. The anticipation in the air was palpable, and I felt a mixture of pride and worry for him. I knew how much he loved bronc riding, but I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling something was wrong. A prickle of unease had washed over me off and on all day. Carter had been quiet since Cooper punched him. Too quiet.
“Jackson!” I suddenly heard someone shout, panic evident in their voice. My heart leapt into my throat as I saw him struggling with his rigging, which looked like it had either broken or been cut.
“Get him down!” another voice bellowed, and several cowboys rushed to his aid, grabbing hold of the rigging and carefully lowering him to the ground. I clutched the railing in front of me, barely able to breathe until I saw him standing safely on solid ground.
“Jackson.” My voice quivered as I called out, trying to get through the crowd to reach him. “Are you okay?”
“Shaken up, but I’ll be all right,” he replied, his eyes filled with concern. “But, Mia, that rigging was cut. Someone did this on purpose. Looked like someone sawed through it, just enough it would have snapped if I’d stayed on any longer.”
“Is it Carter?” I asked, my suspicions growing stronger. It all seemed too convenient -- a flat tire one day and now sabotaged rigging. Or could it be someone who felt threatened over his position for nationals?
“Maybe,” Jackson admitted, his jaw clenched. “We need to stay alert, darlin’. He’s trying to create chaos in our lives. Either that, or I’ve pissed off the wrong person.”
“Jackson,” I whispered, gripping his arm tightly. “Please promise me you’ll be careful. I can’t lose you.”
“I promise, Mia,” he said softly, pulling me close. “I’ll do everything I can to keep us safe.”
As we left the arena, I couldn’t help but look over my shoulder, feeling the weight of unseen eyes watching us. My heart raced with fear and determination -- whatever Carter had planned, we would face it together.
The sun dipped low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the dusty rodeo grounds as Jackson and I sat on the tailgate of his truck.
“Jackson, I really think Carter is behind all these incidents,” I said quietly. I hoped he could hear me over the distant sounds of bucking bulls and cheering spectators. “I mean, I get that it could be a coincidence, but I don’t feel like it is. He was clearly waiting for me when the tire went flat. And then after he finds out we’re engaged, your rigging gets cut?”
Jackson’s jaw clenched, and I knew he was considering my words carefully. His eyes were filled with a mix of concern and determination as he finally responded. “I’ve been thinking the same thing, Mia. As much as I don’t want to believe Carter could do something like this, I think you’re right. The moment I saw him yelling at you, and realized he’d hit you, I knew he wasn’t the man I’d thought he was.”
“Then what do we do?” I asked, my heart pounding in my chest. “How do we protect ourselves from someone who knows our every move? There are only so many rodeos left. The odds we’ll keep running into him are high, especially if he gets a good enough score to make it to the national rodeo.”
“We’ll need to come up with a plan.” Jackson’s hand found mine, squeezing it tightly. “We won’t let him win, Mia. We’re stronger than that.”
“Is there anyone we can turn to for help?” I questioned, feeling a sense of desperation growing within me.
“Maybe the Dixie Reapers,” Jackson mused, his gaze turning thoughtful. “My dad’s club has dealt with threats like this before. They might be able to offer some assistance.”
“Would they really help us?” I asked hesitantly, uncertain about involving an outlaw motorcycle club in our lives. He’d mentioned them a few times when I’d been dating Carter. At the time, I hadn’t thought much about it since it didn’t concern me. Now it was a different story. If they were so great, why hadn’t he taken me there to meet them yet? I knew he was from Alabama. Our current rodeo was probably within a day’s drive of his hometown. We could have gone there instead of the cabin.
“Trust me, darlin’, they’d do anything to keep their own safe,” Jackson assured me, his tone confident. “Even if I didn’t want to prospect for the club, I’m still family. And now, you and the baby are too. I’ll make a call and see what they can do.”
As he pulled out his phone and dialed a number, I couldn’t help but feel a little bit of relief wash over me. The thought of having the Dixie Reapers on our side was intimidating, but their reputation for loyalty and protection gave me hope that we might stand a chance against Carter.
“Hey, it’s Jackson,” he said when the call connected. “I need to talk to you about something serious. But first, I need to know you won’t share this conversation with anyone, Wire.”
I didn’t know who Wire was, but I listened as he explained everything we’d been facing. I noticed he’d left out the part where we planned to get married, or the fact I was pregnant. Part of me felt hurt he wanted to keep our relationship a secret, but on the other hand, I understood. I knew he valued his reputation, and getting engaged to a pregnant eighteen-year-old probably hadn’t been his greatest idea.
“We think Carter’s trying to hurt us, and I don’t know what to do.”
I listened as Jackson talked a bit more about the different incidents to the person on the other end of the line, his voice steady and determined. My heart swelled with gratitude and love for this man who was willing to face any danger to keep our family safe. My cheeks flushed. Love? No. I liked him and felt grateful. That’s all it was. Right?
“All right, thanks,” he concluded, hanging up the phone and turning to me with a reassuring smile. “Wire is going to help us figure out how to handle Carter. We’re not alone in this, Mia. The man is one of the best hackers in the world, so he’ll probably try to find proof of what Carter’s done.”
“Thank you, Jackson,” I whispered, tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“Anything for you, darlin’,” he replied, pulling me into his strong arms. As we held each other in the fading light, I knew that together, we would find a way to overcome the darkness threatening to consume us. Carter’s attempts at hurting us might seem mild right now, but I knew firsthand it could get much worse. I truly believed he was capable of killing us.
“Maybe we should head home,” Jackson suggested. “We’ll be safer there, behind locked doors.”
“Are you sure?” I hesitated. “I don’t want to ruin your night.”
“Hey,” he said softly, cupping my face in his rough hands. “Your safety is more important than any rodeo event. Let’s get out of here.”
As we rode back to the cabin, I wondered if I should learn how to defend myself. Jackson couldn’t be with me all the time. What if Carter cornered me when I was alone again? I didn’t want to be helpless.
“What’s on your mind?” Jackson asked as we pulled up to the cabin.
“Just wondering if I should learn how to protect myself.”
He nodded. “Not a bad idea. Since I hadn’t planned to leave for a few more days, we can research a few options. We can either lengthen our stay here or find something at our next stop.”
“I’m fine with either. I just don’t like feeling like I have to rely on other people to keep me safe all the time.”
Jackson lifted my hand and kissed the back of it. “Whatever you want.”
* * *
I stared at my reflection in the full-length mirror, my hands clenched into fists by my side. The woman looking back at me appeared worn down and vulnerable, but deep within her eyes, I could see a flicker of determination. I refused to be a victim any longer. If Carter thought he could terrorize me and my family, he had another thing coming.
“All right, ladies, let’s get started,” called out the self-defense instructor. I took a deep breath and focused on her words as she guided us through various techniques designed to fend off attackers. Each move made me feel stronger, more capable, and it fueled my resolve to protect those I loved.
“Hey, Mia, you’re doing great,” said one of my classmates, a woman named Laura who had become a friendly face during our sessions. “You’ve come a long way since we started.”
“Thanks,” I replied with a small smile, appreciating her encouragement. “I just… I need to know I can protect myself and my baby.”
“Girl, you’ve got this,” Laura assured me, giving my arm a squeeze. “No one’s going to mess with you after this class.”
As our session ended, I felt a newfound sense of empowerment coursing through me. I may not have been a skilled fighter like Jackson, but I was no longer helpless. I could stand up for myself.
Jackson met me outside the gym, leaning against his truck with that easy grin that always sent a flutter through me. “How’d it go?”
“Better than I thought,” I admitted, allowing myself to sink into his embrace for a moment before pulling away. “I’m starting to feel more confident, like I can actually do something if Carter tries anything.”
“Good,” he said, his eyes softening. “I’m proud of you, darlin’. I knew you had it in you.”
“Thanks,” I said, feeling my cheeks warm at his praise. “But we’re not out of the woods yet, are we?”
“Unfortunately, no,” Jackson admitted, his expression darkening. “Carter’s still out there, and he’s unpredictable. We need to stay vigilant, but I promise you, Mia, I won’t let anything happen to you or our baby. And Wire is doing everything he can to track down the asshole and get proof he tried to hurt the both of us. Although, once he finds it, I doubt he’s going to turn the bastard over to the law.”
“Is he not still competing?” I asked.
“He is, but he’s been sneaky about it. He’s signing in the day of the event, staying only long enough for his ride, then he’s gone. The times he’s won, no one could get to him fast enough. He’d already gotten his prize and taken off by the time Wire got someone over there. Then he goes off the grid again, which means he’s using cash and being careful about cameras.”
The weight of our situation hung heavy between us, but I found solace in Jackson’s presence. He was my rock, my protector. Even though the rodeo at this location had ended a week ago, he’d stuck around so I could keep taking classes.
“Come on,” he said, opening the truck door for me. “Let’s go home.”
I wondered if he’d ever say that phrase and mean an actual house that was ours, one where our baby could grow up and make friends in the neighborhood. Maybe if he became a national champion like his dad things would change.
I’d also begun to think about what our lives would be like as a married couple. Not once had Jackson done more than kiss my cheek, forehead, or hand. He’d never tried to really kiss me. Hadn’t made any other move either. Did he find me the least bit attractive? He’d called me beautiful before. What if he hadn’t meant it? Or what if he found me pretty but I wasn’t the type of woman he was sexually attracted to?
“Are we still getting married?” I asked.
“I was thinking we’d do it in Vegas. I know that’s not the most romantic wedding, but…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “There’s a not-so-legal way, but our marriage would look legit. But if we do that, it involves the club. I’d rather have a real wedding, even if it’s just at a Vegas chapel.”
“It’s the least amount of fuss,” I said. “I’m fine with that, but when are we going to Las Vegas?”
“As soon as your classes are done. We’ll drive there, get a nice hotel room for a few days, get married and have a short honeymoon.”
My cheeks warmed. “Honeymoon?”
He glanced at me. “We can sightsee or do whatever you want.”
So, he didn’t mean a real honeymoon. He still didn’t plan to touch me. Why did I feel so disheartened by it? He’d held my hand easily enough. Even seemed to freely offer hugs. Was that all we’d ever have between us? I wanted a kiss from him, not just one on my cheek or forehead. Part of me worried I was signing myself up for a passionless, loveless marriage. It would still be the best option for me, and for the baby. But was I wrong to want him to desire me? How did he see me? As a friend? Sister? Did I even rate that high? Why couldn’t Jackson look at me like I was the most beautiful woman in the world?
As the thoughts bombarded me, I felt guilty. He was giving up so much to marry me. I should be grateful instead of wanting more. I shouldn’t be so greedy.
“Sure, sightseeing sounds great. We can see shows and eat at those fancy buffets.” I forced a smile.
“Do you know when your last class will be?” he asked.
“I think I have two left. So, we should be able to leave in the next few days. Don’t you have another rodeo in order to qualify?”
He shook his head. “I have enough points I’m guaranteed a chance at the championship. Right now, I’m top three. It wouldn’t hurt to go to one or two more, but we have more important things to do right now. If it looks like I’ll drop out of the top fifteen, then I’ll hit a few more.”
“But still… The extra points would help, wouldn’t they?” I asked.
“Mia, I’d give it all up if that’s what it took to keep you and the baby safe. Now, stop worrying about my qualification score, and think about where in Vegas you’d like to get married. They have some themed chapels, but also regular ones.”
Why was he willing to give up so much for me? There were times I wondered if he saw me as… more. Then he’d say something that proved he’d drawn a line in the sand, so to speak. I didn’t know where I stood with him.
“I think I’d prefer something more traditional. But I don’t have a dress.”
He kissed my cheek. “Let me worry about that. I’m not exactly broke. My dad still puts money in my account from time to time, even though I’ve been an adult for a while now. It’s not going to hurt me financially to buy you a wedding dress. We can even get pictures taken. Most of the chapels offer packages.”
Another cheek kiss. What would happen if I turned my face at the last second and our lips met? Would he be horrified? No. Knowing Jackson, he’d take it in stride. Maybe even apologize. That alone would break my heart. He might be sweet, but part of me wondered if he’d have done this for another woman in the same situation. Was any of it really for me or just because he wanted to be someone’s hero?
“How do you know all this?” I asked, suddenly wondering if he’d been married before.
“I know a few people who’ve gotten married there. Two cowboys I met on the circuit, and one of the barrel racers. They all eloped to Vegas when they decided to get married. Although, I don’t think any of the relationships lasted. Doesn’t mean ours won’t.”
Right. Because a marriage based on nothing more than me being in trouble was sure to end with a happily ever after. Now I knew for sure he was a dreamer. Either way, I was going to grab hold of Jackson and never let go. He might be settling by choosing me, but I knew I was getting the better deal out of this. Any woman would be lucky to have a man like him.
“All right. Let’s get married in Vegas.” It didn’t really matter where or how we did it. The important part was the fact we’d be married afterward.