Page 67 of The Wayward Son

“I will. And I’ll check in first thing in the morning and let you know how things are going.”

“Good. I’ll let Sage and J.T. know it’s happening.”

“Thank you. Let them sleep tonight, though. Tell them in the morning.”

Sawyer laughed. “Sage will kill me if I wait until morning.”

“You’re right. You better let her know when you get home. But let J.T. and Joey sleep. Call them in the morning.”

Sawyer gave Jake a hug. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

Jade hugged Jake, too. “I can’t wait to meet the new little O’Connell.”

“Me either. You guys drive safe now.”

“Yes, sir.”

Jake nodded, then headed back to Ember and Dr. Curtis. Sawyer looked at Jade.

“I guess we’re headed home.”

“Thank you for letting me come.”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

She took his arm. “Just say you’re welcome.”

“You’re welcome.”

It was snowing hard again, and Sawyer was glad they’d be driving the big truck. It would take a lot to stop it. He pulled onto the street and drove slowly through town. The streets were still empty since it was only two o’clock. But that was a good thing. He was fine with being the only vehicle on the road.

As they left town, he lowered the plow blade. He’d cleared the side of the road coming into town, but now he had to clear it going in the other direction. The snow was still falling and even with the defroster going full-blast, the windows kept fogging up.

Jade glanced at him. “Well, this isn’t very fun.”

“We’ll take it slow. It’ll be fine.” He tried to sound confident. But she was right. It wasn’t very fun at all.

A few miles out of town, Sawyer saw light coming toward them. They seemed to be approaching fast and a bit erratically.

Jade put a hand on Sawyer’s leg. “Is that guy…?”

“Going way too fast and heading right for us? Yes.” He slowed down, but didn’t want to put the truck into a skid. He was sure the old truck was bigger than anything else on the road. But he still didn’t want to take the chance of hitting the other vehicle.

When it appeared the other guy wasn’t slowing down or moving into the correct lane, Sawyer pushed on the brakes a little harder and felt the rear wheels loose traction on the icy road. He had two choices: slide into the other lane, or go off the road. He turned the wheel toward the snow-covered trees.

“Hold on.”

The truck sped by as Sawyer’s truck went off the road and into a three-foot bank of snow. The truck bumped into a large pine tree, causing the snow on its branches to shower down on top of it.

Sawyer took a breath. “Shit. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

He looked over his shoulder at the receding tail lights. “Stupid bastard, son of a bitch.” He turned to Jade. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

She nodded. “Yes. Are you? And is the truck?”

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