Jason nodded. “Not only that, but they don’t run. They’re domesticated. Shooting a steer in a pasture takes no skill at all. It would be easier than shooting a sitting duck.”
“Do you hunt?”
“My grandfather used to take me hunting for feral hogs and javelinas. That’s how I learned to shoot.”
“And track.”
He nodded. “If you want a successful hunt, you have to know what the animal wants, where it’s going, what it needs. You have to anticipate its movements, know the landscape, and learn to be patient. That’s as true for people as it is javelinas.”
It struck Winona that Jason had probably spent most of his life on the hunt. “I’m sure people are the more dangerous prey.”
“For sure.” He shrugged his right shoulder. “I caught a round in the shoulder a couple of summers ago. I have friends, fellow Wolves, who’ve been shot—and killed.”
“I’m sorry.” Winona hurt for him.
“It goes with the job—but thanks.”
“I can’t imagine doing what you do and dealing with that kind of danger every day. A criminal held me at gunpoint once, and I still haven’t gotten over it.”
John Charles Ready had done more than that. No, he hadn’t raped her, but he’d talked about it, saying filthy, racist things to her. Then he’d tried to kill her. If not for Lexi, he would have succeeded.
Jason reached over, took her hand, his touch comforting. “I’m sorry, Win. I hope they caught him.”
“He’s dead.” She shivered. “That’s when we met Zach. Chaska helped track him. I’m not sure why I told you that. I don’t usually talk about it.”
“We were talking about bad guys doing bad things.” He released her hand. “I can see why it came up.”
She tried to let it go, to shift the conversation back to safer paths.
“We’ll need to leave an hour earlier tomorrow. You can stay at my place if you want.” The moment her words were out, she worried he might get the wrong impression. “I’ve got a spare room. You can get an extra hour of sleep. But if you think that would make your fiancée uncomfortable, I understand.”
“My fiancée?” A dark eyebrow arched. “Who told you I had a fiancée—or is that your way of asking whether I’m attached?”
Heat rushed to Winona’s face. “Kat said you’re engaged. I—”
“Oh. Kat doesn’t know. That relationship ended a while back.”
This revelation took a moment to sink in.
He’s single.
Her cheeks burned hotter. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“Don’t apologize.” He seemed to find her blunder amusing, the hint of a smile on his lips. “You could only believe what Kat told you.”
There was a moment of awkward silence—or at least it felt awkward to Winona. It had been one thing to feel attracted to him when she’d believed he was already in a relationship. It was something altogether different to know that he was available.
Just because he’s available doesn’t mean he’s available to you.
“Thanks for the invitation, but don’t you want to hang with your family?”
“I’ll probably visit Naomi and the baby, say hello to her parents, check on Grandpa, and then reheat Jack’s chili. You can come with me or just hang out at my place and watch TV. I have cable.”
“It’s a good thing I brought my gear. I’ll call McBride and let him know.”
* * *
Jason followedWinona into her house, the sweet scent of her skin teasing him, her windblown hair making his fingers itch to touch it.