Chapter 38 Nash
It was Friday night, the day after Thanksgiving.
Jovie had texted to let me know that my dad and her meetings with the buyers in San Angelo had run long, and due to severe thunderstorms rolling through the city, it had been advised that they grab a hotel until the next morning.
I’d missed her tonight in my bed, but I figured I’d throw myself into catching up on a few things around the ranch in the meantime without the distraction of Jovie in place.
Her words continued to ring through my head all night. 'I love you, Nash.' Though I didn’t know what that meant for our future, I couldn’t wait to see how the next seven months panned out.
I fired off a text to her before drifting off to sleep:
Nash: Can’t wait to see you tomorrow. The bed feels cold without you here.
Jovie texted back almost immediately, the dots jumping around, disappearing, then starting up again too.
Jovie: Me too.
****Next Morning****
It was Saturday morning, and I had a long day ahead of me on the Cameron ranch, fixing one of our combines that had broken down. Jovie and I had plans for dinner later tonight, so I slipped my phone into my back pocket and didn’t pay it any mind until around 4 in the evening when I realized the time. Opening my phone, I noticed I had a few missed calls and text messages from Clay. I opened the latest.
Clay: I knew this was going to happen.
I sighed. What the hell was Clay complaining about now?
Nash: What are you going on about now, Clay?
Clay: Jovie.
My heart sunk. What was Clay upset about with Jovie now?
Nash: What happened?
Suddenly my phone lit up with an incoming call from Clay.
"What happened to Jovie?" I asked, panicked.
"Nothing, she's fine, physically. But mentally and emotionally she's not. You messed up the one good thing that happened to our family since Mom. Just like I'd anticipated."
"What are you talking about? How did I mess things up with Jovie?" I demanded.
"She’s packing up, said she’s headed back to Houston and will sign the ranch over to dad."
What the hell? I sprinted towards the gator, tossing my water into the back, and turning it on as I drove down the dusty roads of Cameron Ranch.
"Whatever you do, don’t let her leave Lonestar Junction. Stall her. I’m on my way."