Page 92 of Sheriff's City Girl

Mason

“Idon’t know why she’s so worried,” I muttered, just as Jackson put the cruiser in park outside my house. “I’m just fine.”

“Well, quite honestly, you look like hell,” Jackson chuckled. “And I think it’s nice to have someone who cares enough to get all worked up over your wellbeing. That means she cares—and I think she cares a whole lot about you.”

I glanced over at him, unable to argue with that. “Yeah, I guess to some degree, it’s nice to have someone to keep up with me. I guess I’m just used to only having Jess. It takes some time to get used to someone always fussing over me.”

“But it don’t take no time at all to get used to someone cooking all your meals. I bet that’s heaven, right there. I’d love to have someone at home like that. Instead, I have to feed myself—and that’s the worst... Because I can’t cook worth a shit.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “I don’t really care if she cooks at all. It’s just nice having her there every evening. It’s like she makes the house complete.”

“Damn, you’re starting to sound like a romantic, Mason,” Jackson burst into laughter, tipping his head back as I glared at him. “It’s a good thing,” he added quickly. “I really couldn’t be happier for you and Jess.”

“Speaking of,” I unhooked my seatbelt and reached for the door handle. “She’s probably about to give me a good verbal lashing, too. I sent her a few texts, but I know she was in school—and now she’s probably just pissed at me for not staying home and resting.”

“Ah, to live in a house full of women,” Jackson cut up, so amused that it made me wanna smack the smile right off his face.

“You’ll see one of these days,” I grumbled as I slid out of the car. “And you’ll see that you wouldn’t have it any other way.” I slammed the door of the cruiser and headed for the front porch steps, a searing pain shooting through my chest as I made my way across the pavers to the bottom of the steps. With a pained grunt, I grabbed the railing and slowly—but surely—made my way up the steps, hoping that Jackson wasn’t watching.

I had overdone it, but I wasn’t about to admit that to anyone. I needed to put eyes on those cattle when Ron had called, because it seemed too good to be true…

But it wasn’t.

The Calvin’s cattle would be home before the sun set, and that was a win—though I had to admit that it was bittersweet. We still needed to find Lucas’s herd, and they should’ve been easier to find because there were so damn many of them missing…

But they’d proven to be elusive.

I unlocked the door and let myself into the cabin, surprised that all the lights were still off. “Jess?” I called, flipping the light switch in the living room. “I’m home.”

But there was no answer.

What the hell? Where is she?

I headed to her room, just to make sure that she hadn’t decided to take an early evening nap or something. I pushed the door open, and much to my dismay, she wasn’t there. Trying to keep my anger at bay, I pulled out my phone and called her, hoping that she was just with Dara at Lily’s.

But Jess didn’t answer her phone.

“You gotta be kidding me,” I muttered, shaking my head. As much as I wanted to be just angry with her, part of me was already beginning to panic… I didn’t need another person I loved to go missing. My chest ached as I paced the kitchen floor, pulling up Lily’s number next. Thankfully, she answered immediately.

“Hey Mason.” Her voice was bright and warm.

“Hey, is Jess there?” I sounded much less enthused.

There was a beat of silence. “Um, you know, she’s not here, actually.”

“Is Dara there?”

“Yeah, she is. Are you sure she’s not at school working on anything? I know they have a big science project coming up for Mr. Henry’s class. There’s a chance she might have stayed behind for it. She and Dara didn’t get put on the same team.”

I nodded, a glimmer of hope igniting in my chest. “I haven’t checked, but I’ll do that now.”

“Make sure you don’t drive?—”

“Thanks, Lily,” I hung up before she could finish. I had to drive. I rubbed my chest, and grabbed my keys to the Bronco, heading to the front door. I knew that I wasn’t supposed to be driving for another few days, but I wasn’t on any pain medication that impaired my abilities. The only hindrance I had was the occasional stabbing pain in my chest still…

And apparently that might be around for a while.

My footsteps were heavy on the porch steps as I eased my way down them, trying to tell myself that I would drive to the high school and Jess would be there… But what if she wasn’t? What if she was off with that Cody kid and he kidnapped her? I shuddered at the thought.

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