Jackson: The Sons of Dusty Walker (13 page)

He guided her onto her side, with him laying right next to
her. “What happened there, darlin’?” Jackson smoothed her hair away from her
face.

She’d already made a complete fool of herself. Time to
rebuild a little dignity.

“I’m just overtired.” She attempted a smile, but it felt
more like a scowl.

“You rest.” He pulled a pillow and tucked it under her head.
“I’ll talk.”

“What is there to talk about? You have a plane to catch.
Don’t you?” She didn’t dare let herself believe he wasn’t disappearing from her
life forever the moment his boots hit the pavement. She couldn’t let herself
visualize it any other way, or when he did leave, it might just kill her.

Jackson had resurfaced from the blast furnace of an orgasm
to see Rori crying. Now, laying side-by-side with her, looking into those
sky-blue, red-veined eyes, he knew he’d made the right decision that morning.
But now, he had to convince her.

“Darlin’, when you left the house, I wasn’t sure what to do
with myself. Run after you, or let you go and shut you out of my life
completely.” Tracing her cheekbone with his finger, her vulnerability hit him
hard. “So I did nothing, but I took your advice.”

“The letter?” She settled into the pillow, staring at him
like she was getting her fill of him one last time.

“Yeah. Dad talked about what drove his decisions.” He needed
to share this with someone he trusted. “Theresa didn’t want children.”

Rori’s eyebrows shot up. “Really?”

Should he ask her now if she wanted kids? Of course, that’d
probably have her kicking him out the door and wishing him good luck with his
life. “Dad said he didn’t know how to handle it. He wanted a family, and his
need for immortality drove him from woman to woman, not caring about who he
hurt or the damage he did to his own soul. By the time he could see the
mistakes he’d made, it was too late. He had created four lives, and he had to
live up to his responsibilities.”

“That’s pretty deep.”

Jackson huffed out a laugh. “For Dusty, yeah, it sure is.”
He took Rori’s hand, lacing their fingers together. “Dad saw that my running
away to the rodeo was done out of fear. The fear that I’d end up like him. But
he said in the letter, I’m not like him. I’m my mother’s boy, and although she
consented to be with a married man, she did it for life. She was faithful.”

He almost snorted at that, considering how
un
faithful
Dusty was.

“From what you tell me about your mom, and what I know of
Dusty, I think your dad’s words were insightful.”

“I knew you’d see it that way.” He’d gotten that out of the
way. “Oh, and ironically, Dusty didn’t mention why he hadn’t gotten us brothers
together, or if he ever planned to do it. So that looks like it’ll remain a
mystery.”

“Strange.” Rori’s eyes shifted. “I thought that was going to
be the entire content of the letter.”

“Nope. I think the old man wants us boys to figure it out
ourselves.” As if any of them cared any more. After reading all the scrapbooks,
and going over Dusty’s letter five times, Jackson was of a different outlook
about things. But change would come slowly, and he had to focus on the most
important one.

He’d fallen hard for one outspoken, geeky, sexy, beautiful,
tear-stained woman, and he had to convince her he was more than just a rodeo
cowboy. He had to make her see that he was the right cowboy for her. “There’s
something I didn’t tell you, and I want to get your opinion.”

“Okay.” She didn’t sound too certain.

“Dusty gave each of his sons a belt buckle. The exact same
one.”

“Like the one he always wore? With the steer head in the
middle?”

Jackson hadn’t realized Dusty wore it around Red Creek, too.
“That’s the one. Dad wore it all the time when he came west, too. So, since
you’re so smart at figurin’ out mysteries, why do you think he did it? Gave us
each one, I mean.”

Rori propped herself up on her elbow. “The only reason I can
think of is to show that while you were growing up, you were part of him. And
now that he’s gone, and you’ve found your brothers, it’s his way of saying
you’re all part of each other.” She shrugged one shoulder. “Too sappy?”

“Not at all.” He leaned over and kissed her. “I think you’re
right. Dusty was a good dad. A really good dad. I think he wanted us four to
see the belt buckles as our connection to each other.”

She smiled. “Now that’s deep, cowboy.”

If she thought that was deep, this next part would have her
believing Jackson was a friggin’ intellectual. He cupped her face in his hand.
“I’ve got somethin’ more to say.”

“Okay.” She tightened her jaw, as if getting ready for a
blow.

“I’ve changed my mind about things.”

“Things like what?” She kissed his palm and pulled his hand
to the warm spot between her breasts, where her heart beat strong and steady.

“First…” He grinned at her.

She nodded. “Make your list, stick to it.”

“Yes, ma’am. You’ve taught me well.” He took a breath. “So
first, I wasn’t looking for someone to be with for longer than this week.”

Rori glanced away, blinking rapidly.

“But now I am.”

Her blue gaze shot to his. “You are…?”

“I want to try this for a while, Rori, if you’ll have me.”

She opened her mouth and he pressed a finger to her lips for
a second.

“I know you’ve got a vendetta against rodeo men, and I’m not
ready to give up rodeoing. I’ve got an event next weekend in Georgia.” He
watched her face.

Her eyes widened a bit.

“I want you to come with me.” He put his finger to her lips
again. “I’ll pay for the airfare, I’ll fly in to KC, and we can hop on a plane
for Georgia together. I have a nice hotel room reserved, so none of the crappy
motels you hear about rodeo men crashing in.”

She kissed his finger and tugged his hand down, her smile
breaking slowly across her face. “Are you askin’ me out on a date? To a rodeo?”

He chuckled. “I guess I am, Ms. Rori.” He took a breath.
“And if things work out, we can discuss…more.” Jackson wasn’t going to tell her
about the email from Dylan, inviting him back to Red Creek on the last day of
the month. Whether he came back or not would depend on what this woman said
right now.

“More.” Closing her eyes, she scrunched her face for a
second before looking deep into his eyes. “I misjudged you, Jackson Walker.
You’re exactly right for me.”

Punching a fist into the air, he shouted, “Yee-haw!” Jackson
rolled on top of Rori, kissing her quick and hard. “And you are exactly the
perfect place...” He swallowed back emotion. “The perfect place for me to stop
runnin’.”

On the thirty-first of August, Jackson arrived at the small
airport outside Red Creek in the small plane he’d chartered. Two more planes
sat parked along the hanger. Dylan’s, and Killian’s, probably, if they’d
decided to come back for this bonding week. And Rogue would still be here,
unless he’d skipped out. The red company truck Jackson had used sat next to the
planes, and he found the keys in the ignition. “Small towns.”

A few minutes later, he sat around a table in Cubby’s
Restaurant with the other three Walker offspring.

“You’re driving Dad’s Caddy?” Dylan grinned at Rogue, who’d
spent the last week in Kansas, and gestured to the champagne-colored land barge
parked at the curb.

“Damn right. The thing is smooth as sin.”

Jackson fiddled with the fork that sat on a napkin in front
of him. “You know, Dylan, when I got your email after that first week, I
thought you’d gone crazy.” From the first minute he’d set foot here, Jackson
had wanted nothing more than to shake the dust of this town off him and leave.
But a letter from a deceased man, a town full of characters, and most
importantly, an amazing woman, had changed his mind.

Rogue and Killian nodded, and Jackson recognized Dusty’s
same mannerism in his half-brothers.

The note had told the others that the town had a lot to
offer, the business was surprisingly interesting, and the people of Red Creek
had accepted him like a born-and-raised Red Creekian.

“I was under the influence, I guess.” Dylan scratched his
cheek. “But damned if I don’t feel exactly the same way being back here today.”

“I figured that.” Rogue hung one arm over the back of his
chair. “Figured you’d also found yourself a gal.” A smirk curved his lips. “But
I agree, this place grows on a man.”

Killian set his forearms on the table. “Sure does. I mean,
who knew this dustbowl in the middle of fucking nowhere would leave an
impression.”

They were interrupted by the appearance of the waitress and
they took a minute to place their orders.

After the waitress walked away, Jackson looked around the
table. “So we’re all agreed? We’re going to do this thing?” Since getting to
know them through the scrapbooks, Jackson felt invested in this new family, and
in this new company structure.

The men looked at each other.

“I’m in.” Dylan shrugged. “Got nothin’ else going on.”

Rogue nodded.

“We’ll stay the week, gettin’ to know each other, just like
the old man wanted?” Jackson frowned. “Get the business sorted out between the
four of us?” A few weeks ago, the idea of traveling the country like Dad did
had appealed to him, but now, with Rori grounded in Red Creek, he wasn’t so
excited about that idea.

“That’s the plan.” Killian curled his upper-lip in a sneer.
“Live in the house for a whole week and
bond
with each other.” He
snorted.

The guys laughed, but Rogue pointed at Killian. “From what I
hear around town, you found yourself someone to help pass the time.”

Killian grinned. “Sure did.”

Rogue looked at Jackson and Dylan. “And rumors are spreading
about you two. You each fell for a local gal?”

Jackson nodded.
Fell for
was an understatement. After
spending the previous weekend with Rori in Georgia, he kept picturing the two
of them in all sorts of strange situations: in front of a church in wedding
gear, carrying her over the threshold of their new house, at a hospital with a
brand new baby between them. “Afraid so.” He smiled to soften the words.

The brothers laughed, then looked at Dylan.

“Yep. Happy as a puppy with two tails.” Dylan stared off,
looking lost in thought.

In Georgia, Jackson had tried to pry the secret of Dylan’s
week in Red Creek out of Rori, but she’d firmly shook her head and told him it
was Dylan’s secret to tell. Jackson figured the guy would open up about it
sooner or later, and with the fully-stocked bar back at the lake house, it’d
probably be tonight.

“What about you, little brother?” Killian winked at Rogue.
“Don’t tell us you’re the only Walker boy without a happy ending?”

Rogue sat quietly for a few seconds. “Well, I wouldn’t want
to be the one to ruin a perfect record.” He tried to keep from grinning, but
his brothers smacked him on the back, laughing, and he let go with a smile.

They all looked at each other, unexpectedly pleased
expressions on their faces.

Killian tapped his belt buckle. “Damn if I don’t feel that
these tell people we’re part of an exclusive club of some kind.”

“We are,” Jackson said. “The Walker Brothers Club.” He’d
worn his buckle today, too, same as his brothers. This next week would be
interesting, complicated, confusing. But Jackson vowed to give it everything he
had, to make these men…family.

They all grinned at each other.

“Old Dusty must have known what he was doing,” Killian
added. “Even if we didn’t think so four weeks ago.”

The waitress arrived with their burgers, fries, and pie á la
mode, and they ate and talked about the ladies they’d found and claimed in Red
Creek. They discussed the company and pondered out loud their prospects for the
future.

Cubby’s wife brought their bill to the table. “Well, you
four are quite a sight, sittin’ here all lookin’ like peas in a pod.” Sherry
cocked her ample hip. “You all decide if you’re stayin’ or goin’?”

The brothers smiled.

“Hard to believe, but it looks like we’ll be stayin’.” Jackson
pulled out his wallet, looking down to hide the burst of emotion that crowded
in on him.

“Yeah, but you three cowboys forgot about that damn
bonding.” Dylan grabbed the bill and handed it back to Sherry with a couple
twenties. “Come back and ask us that same question again in a week.”

They all laughed.

Outside they all shook hands and said they’d see each other
back at the house later to start their week living and working together.

Jackson headed across the street to Cyber Wise. He hadn’t
seen Rori in a week, and he missed the hell out of her. Opening the door, he
let the buzzer announce his arrival.

She peeked around the wall from the back room, squealed, and
ran toward him, her red high-tops eating up the distance.

He braced himself and caught her, spinning them around a few
times before setting her down and kissing her soundly. “Darlin’, you miss me?”

She cupped his cheeks and kissed his chin, ran her fingers
through his hair and kissed his cheeks, then wrapped her arms around his neck
and just stared at him, her beautiful blue eyes shining with moisture. “More
than I should admit.”

“Me too, Rori.” His chest filled with that strange emotion
reserved only for her. “I’ve got a few hours to kill.” He looked up to where
her bed sat a floor above. “What are you up to?”

She laughed and released him, but he didn’t release her. “So
much for romance, huh cowboy?”

Jackson tugged her close again. “I just missed being with
you, darlin’. That’s romantic, ain’t it?”

Shaking her head, she sighed. “It shouldn’t be, but for some
reason, yes it is.” Her hands ran along his ribs. “Still sore from last
weekend? You took some hard falls.”

He’d gotten bucked off more than he stayed on. “Hey, I made
the buzzer once.”

Rori’s brows dropped. “Made the buzzer? So you were trying
to stay
on
the horse for eight seconds? Dang, I kept cheering when you
were able to get
off
the horse before the buzzer.”

He swatted her sweet round ass. “You’re gonna need a few
more lessons in rodeo, Rori darlin’.”

“Any time, cowboy. I had fun, except for those few seconds
when you were on the horse, or flying through the air getting off it.”

Jackson almost admitted that the thrill of being on a
bucking bronc had become less appealing than spending time with this woman of
his. And she was his, now. Whether or not either of them was ready to admit it.
Before he’d left Red Creek that Sunday morning at the end of his official week,
he’d asked her for her phone and had punched his number into her contacts list.
And…she’d started to cry again.

She looked out the window. “How was your lunch?”

“Our first time together for more than ten minutes, and it
went well. We’re going to meet at the house later for supper, sit and talk and
drink the rest of the night. Tomorrow we’re going out on the lake and do some
water skiing and jet skiing. Stuff like that.”

Her smile looked so sweet. “All the things brothers do
together. You’ve got a lot of years to catch up on.”

Equal parts anticipation and anxiety rolled through him at
the thought. There were bound to be some moments of disagreement, but he hoped
that for the most part they’d all get along. “We’re spending one day at the
office with Benner to talk about the company structure. That’ll be
interesting.”

She nodded. “Are you still thinking about traveling?”
Swallowing, she seemed to hold her breath.

“Right now, I’m leaning more toward a job as a desk jockey.”
Relief flowed through him at his admission. He’d been traveling—running—for too
long.

Her smile lit the room. “Really?”

“Uh huh. And I chartered a plane so when I do need to
travel, it’ll be easy to get where I’m goin’ and back.” He kissed her. “I want
you to use it to go visit your parents whenever you want.”

Shaking her head, she frowned. “Would that be
misappropriation of company funds?”

“The company isn’t paying for it. I am.” He’d never told her
he had money, and with his paycheck from the company, and a quarter ownership
of the half-billion-dollar company falling into his pocket in less than a year,
he had more than he knew what to do with.

“Thanks, I’ll take you up on that.” Rori cocked her head.
“Wow, your own plane? I sure picked the right rodeo cowboy to fall in…” Her
eyes popped wide, and she looked away. “To fall for.”

Had she been ready to say, fall in love? Jackson had the
same feeling, but it was still too soon to say it out loud. But it would be
real damn soon when he’d blurt it out. It grew too strong inside him to hold on
to for long.

“I’d like to take you west, darlin’. Meet my mother.”

Her lips formed a little O. “I…I’d love to. And if you want,
you can meet my parents.”

With a chuckle, he ran his fingers through her silky hair.
“You don’t sound too sure.”

“They’re great, you’ll love them, and they’ll love you.” She
smiled softly, and his heart swelled.

“My brothers talked about getting all of us and our ladies
together this week, too. Supper out at the lake house, maybe a sunset pontoon
cruise around the lake.” It sounded so domestic, it should be making him
nervous, but instead, he couldn’t wait.

“I’d like that a lot.” With a sigh, Rori hugged him closer.

“Let’s plan some family weekends in the next month.” He
couldn’t wait to show her Bandon. Take her sailing out on the ocean, crabbing
off the pier, out in the woods to see the redwood trees.

“Done.” She glanced up at the ceiling, then winked at him. “So,
what do we do in the meanwhile to keep busy?”

He grinned, letting the blood rush from his head down low to
where he wanted her so badly, it hurt. But he had a few things to talk about
with her first.

“How about walking the shore of Osprey Lake with me?”

Her smile weakened. “Sure. That would be fun.” She didn’t
sound too certain.

“The brothers and I were talking about the big house. We
don’t want to live together there, and it doesn’t sound like any of us want to
live there.” Jackson sure didn’t. The memories of his dad, the good and the not
good, would haunt the place forever.

“I can understand that.” She waited, staring into his eyes.

“I’ll bring up your idea of making it into a bed and
breakfast at our meeting with Benner.”

She nodded. “I think Marliss and Lou would love that.”

Here was the difficult part. He didn’t know how she would
react to his idea. “We’re going to divide the lakeshore in fourths, and each
build houses on our share.”

Her mouth opened in a surprised smile. “That’s great. It’s
such a beautiful spot.”

Jackson set his hand on the side of her neck. “Rori, I want
you to help me pick out a section. I want you to help me design the house and
decorate it and fill it with stuff.”

She blinked rapidly, a sheen in her eyes. “Jackson. Are you
sure?”

He nodded, not able to talk around the lump in his throat.

“I’d love to.” Pressing up on tiptoes, she kissed him.
“Really, really love to.”

“Darlin’, I’d really, really love to…take you up on your
offer now.” He glanced at the ceiling.

She laughed, then sobered. “Thank you, Jackson, for showing
me what I was missing in my life.”

“Aw, Rori. Thank you for giving me a place to put down
roots.” He kissed her. “A place where I can be me, and not just one of the sons
of Dusty Walker.”

*~*~*~*