Chapter 13
Piper pressed too hardon the accelerator and fishtailed in the loose gravel of the road. Ham slid across the back section of the SUV and thumped into the side window. Why was he sitting all the way at the back staring so intently out the rear window? Was he watching Ian?
She smiled at Ham's reactions to Ian. The poor thing was desperately jealous. She believed he was picking up on her strong feelings every time she got in close proximity to the man.
And it drove her nuts. She was so conflicted about him. Still hurting and hating; and yet wanting to have him back again at the same time. To have back those wonderful feelings of being the only woman alive that he'd always made her feel.
She shook her head, trying to shake the thoughts. Those were not material right this minute. No. The more burning question was what was Daddy and Ian cooking up between them. And why had Daddy warned her to steer clear of Ian and then gone to have some kind of secret meeting?
Her cell phone rang. Glancing at it in the cup holder between the seats, she saw it was her cousin, Jason. She sighed. Jason was such a geeky pain in the rear. Daddy was forever admonishing her to be nice to her only cousin. Daddy felt sorry for his nephew, but Piper wished he'd never come to Mississippi looking for them. She almost let the call roll to voicemail, then changed her mind quickly. He'd at least be a distraction from her circling worries and thoughts.
"Hey, Jason."
"Hello, Piper." Jason said. "I was wondering if you're busy?"
"What did you have in mind?" She asked. No point in telling him she wasn't busy until she found out what he wanted. Then, if she wasn't too bored by the thought of spending time with him, she'd tell him her status.You were raised better than this, Piper.Besides, you should mind your Daddy. Whispered the memory of her mama's voice, making her wince.
"Are you driving while we're on the phone, Piper?" Jason asked in a concerned voice. "Do you have hands free on your car? If not it's illegal to be talking. Not to mention dangerous. Maybe I should call you back later."
Oh, Lord. Please let them figure this out now. She didn't want to have to deal with a second call later.
"I'm pulling over, Jason. So we can talk now." She considered just driving on, but figured somehow Jason would figure out she was lying. It was tough to find a spot to pull over on this old gravel road with a non-existent shoulder, but she manage to find a spot a bit wider than the rest and eased over. Hopefully no one else would come along until she finished this call.
