I came out with a blanket and a leash. The leash was left over from a friend’s dog I’d dog sat a few months back and never gotten around to returning the leash.
I was standing a few feet away, eyeing the opossum in the darkness as I attempted to sort out how to handle the situation. I heard the sound of another vehicle rounding the bend in the road and hoped that no one bothered to stop. If they did, they would probably think I was crazy.
I considered calling Jackson and Shay because I’d be calling them anyway. Maybe Jackson could tell me how to safely gather up this little guy. When I heard the sound of the wheels getting closer, I noticed a truck slowing and pulling in behind my car.
“Great,” I muttered to myself. “Here’s hoping whoever this is doesn’t think I’m insane, or it’s not some asshole.”
“Jade?”
When I recognized Walker’s voice, I instantly felt my cheeks get hot.
Chapter Eighteen
Walker
Jade stood on the side of the winding highway in a small viewing area with what appeared to be a dog leash and a blanket in her hand. An opossum was on the ground a few feet in front of her. As I approached this rather unexpected scene, I had to fight back the urge to laugh.
“Now, why doesn’t it surprise me that it looks like you’re planning to wrap that injured opossum in a blanket?” I asked when I reached Jade’s side.
I could see the flush on her cheeks from the glare of the headlights I’d left on.
“Well, it shouldn’t surprise you,” she retorted, resting the hand holding the leash on her hip. “He’s injured. I’m going to get him in my car and call Jackson and take him down to the clinic.”
I almost sighed, but I caught myself. Jade was going to do this whether I thought it was a good idea or not. I might as well be helpful.
I knew a bit about wild animal rescue because it was something my mom did on the side. Her expertise was birds, but nonetheless. “Can I help?”
Jade’s eyes widened and then a smile broke out. Her smile was like a lasso cinching around my heart. “You’ll help? Really?”
Taking a breath, I nodded, ignoring the almost rib-cracking kick of my heart. “You call Jackson, and I’ll get this little guy wrapped up in the blanket.”
Jade promptly handed over the dog leash and the blanket. She had her phone out and was calling Jackson as I approached the opossum. The opossum was indeed a male because I could see there was no pouch, but I didn’t know if Jade hadn’t gotten close enough to confirm earlier.
With a little care and some quick work, I had him rolled in the blanket. He wasn’t too thrilled with the state of affairs and snarled at me, but I had him in the blanket before he had a chance to bite me.
“What’d Jackson say?” I asked after I had deposited the opossum into the back of my truck and closed the window to the truck cover.
Jade eyed my truck in the darkness. “Are you sure we should leave him back there?”
“Yes,” I said firmly. “As it is, I don’t have a crate and he could easily get out. This way, he’ll be in the back of my truck and not in the backseat of your car.”
Jade opened her mouth—I presumed to argue with me—but then snapped it shut with a sigh. “I guess you’re right. Jackson said he’ll meet us at the clinic. Can I just ride with you?”
I lifted my phone, tapping the screen to see the time. “We’re closer than he is because he was still at Lost Deer Bar when I left. I don’t think it’s wise for you to leave your car here. We’re about a mile away from your place. I’ll follow you over, and you can ride with me from there. How’s that sound?”
Jade nodded quickly. “Perfect.” Without waiting, she hurried to her car, calling over her shoulder, “Just follow me.”
As if I didn’t know where she lived, right down the road from me.
Only a few minutes later, Jade was jumping into the passenger seat of my truck. “Thank you so much, Walker,” she said as she buckled her seat belt. “I just want the opossum to be okay.”
“I think he’ll be okay. Honestly, considering that someone hit him, he’s pretty damn lucky. It looks like he injured one of his back legs.”
“That’s what I thought.” Jade was