Page 76 of The Wayward Son

The two men stood by the trucks as the deputy slowed down, then stopped next to them.

“What happened here? Don’t tell me you two ran into each other.”

Sawyer laughed. “No. J.T. just pulled me out.”

“Did you run off the road?”

“Yeah. Last night. With a little help from Brendan Ford.”

The deputy shook his head. “Stupid bastard. Are you sure it was him?”

“I’m sure.”

“Any damage to you or your truck?”

Sawyer glanced at the truck. “No. She’s fine.”

“I’ll have a talk with Brendan.”

“He might not remember. He was all over the road. I’m surprised you didn’t find him in the ditch.”

“I might need you to put that in writing for me.”

“No problem. I had Jade with me, too. So, she can give you a statement, too.”

“Jade?”

“Emmerson. She’s back in town for a while.”

“Okay. Great. No rush. Just come to the station in the next day or two.”

“Thanks, Jimmy.”

The deputy left and J.T. patted Sawyer’s shoulder. “I’ll see you in a bit, when Dad, Ember, and the baby are home.”

Sawyer spotted a familiar vehicle coming down the road toward them. “Hmm. Looks like we didn’t get out of here quick enough.”

J.T. looked down the road and smiled. “Whoops. So, he doesn't know you had a problem last night?”

“I called it more of a slight issue.”

Jake pulled up to them. “What’s going on here?”

Sawyer smiled. “Hey, Dad.” Ember was sitting next to the window holding the baby, and both Sawyer and J.T. peered in at their new sister.

J.T. shook his head. “Man, she’s so small.”

Sawyer grinned. “A little whisp of a thing.”

Ember smiled at them. “Meet Esty Mariah O’Connell.”

Jake gave them a minute to admire the baby, then cleared his throat. “So, are you going to tell me why you’re both on the road?”

Sawyer nodded. “Ran off the road last night on the way home. With a little help from Brendan Ford.”

“Bastard. Are you and Jade okay?”

“Yeah. We’re fine. The truck’s fine. I just couldn’t drive it out last night.”

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