Jacob's Ladder: Gabe (Jacob's Ladder #1)

“You’re doing a tow on a Sunday? Who is it, the governor?” Kennedy asked incredulously.

I laughed as I got my keys. “Not quite.” Pointing at Linc, I said, “Listen to Aunt Kennedy. When you finish your box, you can watch TV. Not until then, understand?”

Linc didn’t look up from painting Saturn’s rings. “Yes, Mom.”

Turning my pointer finger to my sister, I said, “And don’t you be going behind my back and letting him watch television instead of doing his work.”

Kennedy rolled her eyes. “You’re such a killjoy.”

“It’s called being a parent,” I called over my shoulder as I started for the door.

At Linc’s laughter, I knew Kennedy must be making some sort of face or gesture at me. I decided to be the bigger person and ignore it. She might’ve been a year older than me, but it always seemed like I was the older sister. Since we were only fourteen months apart, it sometimes felt like we were twins. Where I was the somewhat mature and responsible one, Kennedy was the wild child. Regardless of how crazy she could be or how much she got on my nerves, I loved having her for a sister. I even loved sharing a house with her. Both Kennedy and Ellie had been my lifelines while raising Linc.

After pounding down the back steps, I slid into my Honda Passport. I drove past the residential area of Main Street and down into the business section. I’d lived in Haysville all my life. I’d had big plans of escaping for college at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on a soccer scholarship, but those plans had changed when I got pregnant with Linc. Instead of going out of state, I’d gone to the community college in the next town. When I graduated with honors in business management, it was a nice way to thumb my nose at all the naysayers who said I would never graduate high school, let alone college.

It was then I went to work for my dad. Although I could have earned more money other places, it was the best fit for me and for Linc since I could bring him to work with me. At first, I only handled the billing and payroll. Slowly, over the years, Dad immersed me more in the physical side of the business. While I wasn’t out welding on new bumpers, I did know how to price parts and services as well as handling some minor repairs. After two years of me working for him, he had all the signs redone and the wreckers and trucks repainted to pronounce that it was no longer Hart Wreckers, but Hart and Daughter.

It wasn’t exactly an easy transition for the people in town, and to be honest, it wasn’t for me either. Sure, we were just a small-time operation, but having that sort of affirmation from my dad? The gesture touched my heart more than anything else ever would. Even after some of my missteps, Dad believed in me, and it was the best feeling in the world to have his support—well, next to the feeling of being Linc’s mom.

After making the second turn off Main Street, I coasted down the road that dead-ended at Hart and Daughter Collision. Once I punched in the numerical code on the keypad, the barbwire fence slid open and I drove inside the lot. Usually at this time of day, the place was teeming with both workers and customers. Not only did we have an immense collision center, the property also included ten acres of land, and some of those acres were used as a junkyard. Thankfully, they were the ones on the back side of the property, so it wasn’t such an eyesore.

Once I parked my car, I hopped out and started over to one of the empty wreckers. At the sound of a friendly woof, I turned around to see Demo—short for Demolition—running toward me. Demo had shown up in the demolition yard about two years ago, and we had decided to let him stay. In true junkyard dog form, he was a wiry pit bull with a nick in his left ear and part of his tail lopped off. “Hey boy, I’m just picking up one of the wreckers.”

After scratching his ears, I patted his head and then hopped on up in the wrecker. Once I put the location Candy had given me into my navigation app, I started off to rescue the lost star.





Just as I was about to call Candy to check if I had the right location, I finally located Gabe’s Jeep. “How in the hell did you manage to get yourself way out here,” I muttered under my breath. Considering that the Jeep’s tires were completely immersed in the water, there was no way in hell he would have ever been able to get it out on his own.

After easing the tow truck to a stop just before the road during into a stream, I threw open the door and hopped down. Shielding my eyes from the sun, I surveyed the damage before letting out a low whistle. “Looks like you got yourself in a real mess, city boy,” I called out as Gabe approached me. As I got a better look

at him, I sucked in a breath. Although I wasn’t sure how it was possible, he was better looking in person. Even with his disheveled hair and whiskered face, he melted my thong. Get a grip, Rae. You’re here to do a tow, not have an afternoon delight.

“Did Candy tell you I was from the city?”

“No, but she wouldn’t have had to tell me. Anyone from around here would know you don’t take Cutler’s Ridge after a rainstorm.”

After glancing around, Gabe asked, “Is that where I’m at?”

I nodded. “The road’s really only passable in ATVs when it’s been consistently dry for a few days.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

I opened one of the boxes on the wrecker and pulled out a pair of waders. “Excuse me for a moment. The call came in so fast I didn’t have a chance to change.”

“Wait a second, you’re seriously Ray?” he demanded incredulously.

“Um, yeah, that’s me.”

Gabe scratched his head. “Huh, I was expecting some guy named Ray.”

“I’m R-a-e, not R-a-y. It’s short for Reagan. But, don’t worry—it’s not the first time someone has confused my name and my gender.”

“Let me get this straight: you’re going to get my Jeep out.”

Tilting my head, I smiled sweetly up at him. “Let me guess, you don’t think little ol’ me can get your big bad Jeep out of the mud.”

Just like it wasn’t the first time someone had confused my name and gender, it wasn’t the first time some sexist man didn’t think I was capable of doing my job. After years as the lone female in a male-dominated business, I was used to having my credentials questioned. While I’d grown accustomed to it, it still stung a little. It also pissed me off.

“I’m sorry for being surprised, but for a minute there, I thought you’d been sent as a joke or something.”

I swept my hands to hips that were encased in the waders. “Just why in the hell would someone do that?”

Gabe shrugged. “I don’t know. It wouldn’t be the first time someone did something weird to meet me.”

“While this might hurt your overinflated ego, I’m not a fan. I’m a businesswoman who is doing your ass a favor by coming out here on her day off.”

My declaration sent Gabe’s head snapping back. He stared at me for a moment before a slow smile spread across his face. “First, let me extend my sincere apologies for underestimating you, as well as for my assumption that you might be an overzealous fan.”