Page 30 of Bad Decisions & Back Roads

“After Mom died from that stroke last year...and with Dad in prison...”His mouth twisted.Then, almost absently, he added, “And with the only woman who ever understood him running in the other direction, he's got no reason to come home.”

“I’m calling him.”

Mark shrugged.

I yanked my phone out before I could think better of it and hit dial.The line clicked.

“What?”Nothello.Notwho is this.Just one flat, irritated word that sounded like it came from an echoing tunnel.

“I’m going after Jimmy McClary,” I said.“Need your help.He’s threatening the family.”I glanced at Mark.“Mark’s crawling out of his cave and might even put on real pants for the occasion.You in?”

For a second, all I heard was static.

Jackson’s tone had taken on a hollow, deadly sound that put me on edge.“I’m not in the country but I can possibly make it happen to be there.What do you need?”

“Everything.”I paced toward the window, staring out over a creek that branched off the lake and crawled by the house.“I want you digging into every corner of his life.Accounts.Friends.Mistresses.Habits.I don’t care.Find me the thing he’d crawl through broken glass to protect.”

Jackson made a disappointed sound.“Aw, hell.Was hoping for something simpler.Accidents are easier and faster.”

I tightened my grip on the phone hard enough it creaked.“Accidents let him off without suffering.I want him awake for the hurt.”My voice dropped.“Help me find his weak spot.It sure as hell isn’t his wife.It ain’t his dying daughter or Gia or the farm.”I swallowed the bitterness coating my throat.“Every man loves something.I want to know what it is.”

Silence.

Jackson made a noncommittal grunt.“Jimmy McClary has always been gunning for us.What’s lit a fire under your ass?Why should I go AWOL over what might be another disappointing dead end to get him?”

“He put his hands on Gia again.Bruised her up.”Softly I added, “She’s back.”

There was a long pause before he said low, “I’m in.No one fucks with the family or Gia.”

ChapterEleven

GIA

Once we gotthe cow into the leg restraint I swiped sweat off my forehead.I tied the bandana on to keep sweat and hair out of my eyes since this was going to take a bit of work.Then I returned to excavating debris and washing off her hoof to assess the damage.

“Well, Mr.Almond, I found the problem,” I announced.“There’s a nail in her, but it’s not in her hoof.It’s above it.”I leaned back and sighed.“This is a problem.She’s got a pretty severe infection in the coffin joint.I need to take a radiograph…I mean, I need to x-ray the hoof to see if there’s damage to the bone or a fracture.How much do you want to spend on her?This could be expensive to treat.”

“What?”The sixty-something farm owner leaned in.This was one of his show heifers.He needed her sound for a show in a few weeks.“I’ll be damned.”

I glanced at the cow nibbling hay who seemed undisturbed by what we were doing.“Where do you think she found a nail?”

“Horse farrier, maybe.I try to keep the cows clear of the horse area, but those 4-H kids were playing with the old horseshoes last month.”

“I’ll clean it up and wrap it.I don’t know that she’ll be sound in time for the show, though.”I glanced at Mr.Almond.

“All right, do it.Are you good for a few minutes?I’ve got to go talk about selling a tractor.”

I nodded.When I finished the films and didn’t find a fracture or bone infection behind me I heard, “As I live and breathe, is that Dr.Gia?”

I straightened with a grin.“Dr.Hudson Raynes.I thought you moved to Illinois or something.”

“I could say the same.”He pulled me into a hug and laid a kiss on my cheek.“I’m seeing a lame show horse over at the horse barn.Heard you finally ditched that lowlife you married.Hate to say it, but I told you?—”

“Then don’t say it,” I cut in.Hudson had been an intern with me at the University of Tennessee.He’d been in equine medicine with my ex as one of his supervisors, whereas I’d been more focused on farm medicine.

“Oh, I’m saying it.”He stretched the words out dramatically.“I warned you.But you got distracted when you knew damned well I was always the better-looking option.”He preened with his broad shoulders thrown back, acting as shameless as ever.Hudson probably still kept in shape by using his free time training his horses.

“Look at you sporting a beard now.”I laughed when he rubbed a hand along the tight cut beard, then caught himself and ruffled the hand through his wavy brown hair.He was just as adorable as always.To me, he wasn’t necessarily sexy, but cute.“Why are you in North Carolina?”