Page 29 of Trailer Trash

“I can’t come home, Rose.”

“Ever?” She sounded panicked.

That was a good question. If things were as bad as I feared, I’d have more to worry about than how Rose and Joe would take the truth. I’d be evading a warrant for my arrest. “I don’t know.”

“You come home right now, Neely Kate Rivers!” she demanded in a voice so sweet it was almost comical. “You come home, and we’ll come up with a plan together. You can’t do this alone.”

“I’m not alone.”

She hesitated. “Who’s with you? Witt?”

I could see why she might think I’d turn to my cousin, but Witt didn’t know any more than she did. “No. Not Witt.”

“Then who?”

I looked up at the man across from me, and he nodded.

“Jed.”

Rose was silent for a second. “Jed?How did Jed end up with you?”

“It’s a long story, Rose, and I’ll tell you later. Once this is taken care of.”

“Come home, Neely Kate.”

It hurt not to tell her yes, especially since I loved the sound of that—home—but I knew I couldn’t give her what she wanted. Not yet. “I love you, Rose.”

“You let me speak to Jedright now!”

I held the phone down. “She wants to talk to you.”

He grimaced, but his lips were tipped up in a slight smile. “I heard.” He reached out and took the phone. “Rose.”

I heard her voice, although I couldn’t make out all the words, but it was obvious she was giving him an earful.

Finally, he said, “Rose. I’m watching out for her, and if you have any doubts, just remember how I watched over you.”

She was silent for about five seconds; then I heard her say something else, something much too quiet for me to hear.

He said, “I promise,” then handed the phone back to me.

“Rose,” I said when I returned the phone to my ear, “I know you don’t understand, but this is something I have to do.”

“I know.” Her voice broke and she sniffed. “Do you have any idea how much I love you?”

I started to cry. “Yes.”

“No,” she said insistently. “I don’t think you do; otherwise, you wouldn’t have run off without me. But you listen here: if you’re not back by next Sunday night, I will come to Oklahoma and find you and bring you back myself.”

“I never said I was in Oklahoma.”

“I’m no fool, Neely Kate Rivers. I will come find you. Do you understand?”

I laughed through my tears. “Yeah. I understand.”

“Promise me that you’ll stick with Jed.”

I glanced up at him. “I promise.”

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