Page 75 of The Wayward Son

“I don’t think I want to risk that. What if his reaction is to run away? Far, far, away.”

Sage smiled. “Then you run after him.”

Jade shook her head. “He’s pretty damn fast.”

Chapter twenty-two

"You and your junk food."

When J.T. arrived at the ranch, Sawyer was waiting for him on the porch. When he got into the truck, J.T. smiled at him.

“I drove by the truck. You weren’t kidding. So what the hell happened?”

“Brendan Ford happened.”

“I heard he lost his license after his second DUI.”

“I’m sure he did. He had to be loaded last night the way he was driving. Swerving all over the place. He headed right for us on the unplowed side of the road.”

“Are you going to report it?”

Sawyer sighed. “I guess I better, before he kills someone. But first, let’s get this beast out of the ditch before Dad comes along.”

“So you didn’t tell him?”

“Not specifically, no.”

When they got to the truck, J.T. took a moment to assess the situation. “If we clear snow behind the back wheels, I should be able to pull it out of there. The road’s not too icy.”

Sawyer went to the bed of the old truck and took out two shovels. J.T. took one from him.

“How’d you get home? Did Sage come get you?”

Sawyer dug his shovel into the snow behind the tire. “Neither Jade or I had our phones.”

“Jade was with you?”

“Yeah. She ahh…likes to tag along.”

J.T. laughed. “So do I. But I don’t think I would’ve ventured out last night in this weather.”

“Yeah. She’s sorry she did, now. We walked home.”

“Jesus.”

“I know. Damn near froze to death.”

They worked on removing the snow for twenty minutes. When they’d cleared a dirt trail from the tires to the pavement to give the tires better traction, J.T. attached the winch to the undercarriage of the truck.

He looked at Sawyer. “Get in and put her in reverse. Just don’t back into me when she pops out of there.”

“It’s not my first time pulling a truck out of the snow.”

Sawyer got into the truck and when J.T. gave him a wave, he put it into gear and gave it a touch of gas. The tires spun for a moment, then made purchase with the dirt on the side of the road. J.T. backed his truck up and pulled the old truck until all four wheels were on the pavement.

They both left their trucks and J.T. unhooked the tow strap. “That was easier than I thought it’d be.” As he was putting the strap away, Sawyer patted his shoulder.

“Here comes Deputy Stevenson.”

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