Trying the Knot

by J. M. Madden

  Holt's friend had turned out to be a mutual acquaintance, someone Brock had introduced Jackson to a couple of times through the years. Gary Lane was an aging gentleman, extremely bow-legged from so many years in the saddle, his skin tanned to leather. Jackson liked the old curmudgeon immediately. He reminded Jackson of their old farrier, Roger.

  Gary had been around horses longer than Jackson and Holt had together, and didn't mind reminding them of that fact several times as they walked around the land he owned, just a few miles from Holt's place. The spread had seen better days, falling into some disrepair as Gary got older. There was a lot that needed done to improve the property, but the bones were good. And there was one new metal-sided barn that had been put up within the past few years that didn't need anything. There were several ponds, plenty of trees and it had a bit of elevation over the surrounding property, which would come in handy if they had another Hurricane like Harvey. Houston had been hit hard by the hurricane and was still recovering in certain areas.

  Gary walked them through the barns, introducing him to some of his prized stock. They were aging just like Gary was, but Jackson was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the horseflesh. They were extremely well cared for. Gary had no problems reeling off who had won what and which stud had the most winningest offspring. One stud he called Rocket had offspring that had earned over two million dollars on the Quarter Horse racing circuit and rodeos.

  Jackson knew quality when he saw it and he knew that many of these horses had a lot of life left in them yet, so when Gary told him what he wanted for the place, Jackson offered a significant amount more for the stock to be included.

  The old man wiped at his eyes and rubbed Rocket's massive, muscular cheeks. It took him several long moments to respond. "I didn't dare hope that they could stay in their home. It's one thing for an old man like me to move on, I understand. But they wouldn't. Hell, most of these horses have never stepped foot off this property."

  Turning to face Jackson fully, he shook his hand. "Holt can witness we shook on the deal. I'll have my lawyer get in touch with you for the paperwork."

  "And that apartment over the garage?" Jackson continued. "You're welcome to stay there as long as you need to until you make arrangements in Arizona. Or wherever you want to go."

  Gary tipped his ancient Stetson to him. "I appreciate that, Jackson. It'll take me a while to get things arranged."

  "I know. Holt said you'd taken the property off the market a year ago."

  "Nobody but property developers wanted the place, and I didn't want to sell to them. I knew something would come along eventually. And you did."

  Gary grinned for the first time and Jackson laughed, appreciating the old man's humor.

  The house would need renovation, but it would serve for now. As soon as Gary got the paperwork in order, Jackson would transfer the money.

  Spending such a huge amount of money on a single piece of land made his gut contract a little, but the money wasn't doing him any good just sitting in the bank. It was time to make changes and this was one of the biggest ones of his life. It was also one that would pay him the greatest reward possible.

  Brock would be happy for him, in a guarded way. When he'd left the Blue Star, Jackson hadn't known for sure what exactly he was going to do, but buying land seemed like the right thing to do. Walking to the edge of the barn he looked to the east, toward the Houston skyline. It wasn't as dominant as the view in Emily's apartment window, but it was still pretty epic.

  Holt laughed as they drove back to his place. "I've never seen Gary so talkative with a stranger before. That’s high praise, indeed. Taking the stock was what tipped the scales, so to speak."

  Jackson smiled as he looked out the window and the road sped past. "They were good looking. I could tell several of them are older but I have the room to keep them right now."

  He wondered what Emily would think about the place. It wasn't as nice as the Lowell ranch but the potential was there, especially if he spent the money to renovate the house. Gary had already started thinning out the contents so it would be empty soon, he hoped. Then they could check out what needed done.

  Emily's apartment had been pristine, but he'd seen her play in the mud with the rest of the Lowell siblings plenty of times. A little dirt and neglect wouldn't turn her off, nor would the prospect of hard work to bring the place around.

  There were four more days before she was supposed to call him. Or text him. By that time, she would have hopefully gotten over Neil the user. It was so nice not having to pretend interest in the properties he was being shown. Neil had his own idea of what Jackson had wanted and nothing Jackson had said had seemed to make an impression on the other man. Well, now he was done catering to the realtor and he could move on with his life.

  Jackson lost himself in training Montana for Holt. As he'd thought, Holt had been the one to train Montana in all the ground basics himself, so Jackson was doubly impressed. So many times the owner instructed while standing on the sidelines. Holt definitely was not one of those owners. He was hands on in every way.

  Montana loped around the ring. With a subtle tug on the rein and a shift of his weight, Jackson made him change lead. The colt didn't even bobble. Swinging around in a huge loop, Jackson made him do it again, this time to the opposite lead foot. Not even a hint of hesitation. Jackson couldn't have asked for anything more perfect.

  They trained like that for several days, putting finer and finer points on every movement until Jackson was able to take the saddle and bridle off the horse and guide him around the ring with subtle leg cues and weight shifts. Holt came in and saw him that final day and stood shaking his head and smiling the entire time, but Jackson didn't let it distract him. He worked the colt until sweat welded he and the horse together. When he finally sat back in the 'whoa' position, several people clapped in appreciation.

  Jackson slid from the solid little horse and walked to Holt. The horse followed obediently at his shoulder, with nothing tethering him. "This one is done. I'm going to go change my jeans."

  Normally he took care of the colt at the end of the day, but today would be an exception. Sweaty horse hair melded into blue jeans was not comfortable, no matter how many times you did it.

  Jackson returned to the apartment for a shower, proud of the work he'd done. Once upon a time he would talk to Emily at the end of the day about what had occurred, but that had been a long time ago. Years, now.

  He missed talking to her like they used to. Whether she realized it or not, he had given her his heart all those years ago. Hopefully, they would be able to find their way back to that footing again.

  Chapter Eleven

  Emily went to work on Monday like she always did, but people seemed to notice that she was out of sorts. They left her alone for the most part which left her in a bit of a conundrum. She appreciated that they left her alone but it gave her too much time to think about Jackson.

  He had looked delicious sitting in her chair in her living room. Though he wore western wear—jeans, snap-button shirt and black Stetson—he hadn't seemed out of place in her contemporary apartment. Quite the opposite in fact. He'd looked perfect in there.

  Swinging her chair back and forth, she wondered what he would be willing to do to get her back. Basically, he'd chased off the competition already. Now what was left? Talking her back home.

  No, that would never happen. As much as she loved the people in her life and loved the family there, she could never imagine moving back home, or even anywhere to Honeywell. She'd built a life here in Houston, one she was proud of.

  At one time, she could envision settling down with Jackson and raising beautiful babies, but that had been a long time ago.

  They would have had beautiful, wild-hearted babies with dark hair and blue eyes.

  She looked at her phone. True to his word, he'd left her alone and she only had two days left before her deadline. Excitement tingled through her at the thought of what he would do if she didn't call h
im. As she'd gone through her days she'd found herself watching for his tall form on street corners and in the local coffee bar she frequented. And yes, she would admit to being a little disappointed when she hadn't seen him.

  Jackson was doing what he'd said he would, though, leaving her alone to get herself together.

  Kendra was loving the excitement. Every night she called hoping that Emily had something new to tell her, but Emily was still lost in her own indecision.

  If he was going to stick around Houston, she'd think about a relationship, but there was no way she was going back to the Blue Star for more than a visit. She couldn't curtail her life like that. Right now, she had a thriving career, great friends and a solid future. If sometimes she was a little lonely, that was her issue, no one else's.

  Cheyenne got back with her about the dresses and it had been a unanimous decision to go with the tea length with the lace capped sleeves. Shannon, the official Matron of Honor, would be wearing a dress just a bit different with a more decorative belt. She’d had her twins, bouncing baby boys, and was looking forward to standing at Lora's side. Emily made a note in her phone to get John and Shannon a baby gift for the boys.

  When five o'clock rolled around she didn't linger like she normally did. Kendra was meeting her at the Pit Room for BBQ in an hour and she needed to run home and change. Luckily, she only lived a few blocks out so it wouldn't take her long to get there.

  By the time she walked into the restaurant she was a little flushed and sweaty. Summer was on its way in a big way, and it took a while for all of the asphalt in the center of town to cool down, so she'd worn flat sandals and a swingy little blue summer dress. She'd also wound her thick hair up into a knot to get it off her neck. As soon as she walked in the door the cool air hit her on her nape and she sighed. Oh, yeah...

  Kendra sat facing the door, her bright green eyes laughing as she took in Emily's flushed self. Kendra had put her long blonde hair up into a high ponytail, and she'd changed into a summery dress as well with spaghetti straps that made her boobs looks phenomenal.

  "Woman, way to show off those puppies," Emily laughed as she took the chair across from her. There was already a water glass waiting for her so she took a healthy swallow.

  Kendra arched her back and grinned, drawing looks from several of the men around them. "I know, right? I didn't mean to pick such a scandalous dress."

  Emily knew she was being facetious. Kendra was fun and outgoing and would do almost anything for male attention, and she had the body to do it. Kendra also had one of the finest minds Emily had ever seen, and she had a clear vision for her art. Kendra was one of the most well-known photographers in Texas, if not the western half of the United States. For a long time, she'd done western landscapes and fauna, but recently she'd been doing more commercial work. When Emily had asked her about the change, Kendra had shrugged. 'More money,' she'd said simply.

  Oh, she still wandered the state taking iconic photographs, but now she also did magazine spreads with models. She'd been hit on by every type of man under the sun, as well as some women, and still managed to keep her sense of humor.

  "I think if you're looking for bones, a BBQ joint might be the place to find them," Emily murmured, tongue-in-cheek.

  Kendra laughed and pointed a long, elegant finger at Emily. "You got it babe."

  The waiter was there to take their drink order almost immediately, and returned with them just as quickly. Kendra knew what she wanted to order already so Emily scanned the menu quickly and chose something.

  Once the waiter was gone, Kendra leaned forward on her elbows, her gaze direct. "So, what are you thinking right now?"

  Emily sighed, leaning her arms on the table as well. "I'm not sure. I mean, what we had years ago was amazing. And I've never been tempted with anyone else. With the distance I've gotten from Neil I realize that he wasn't the one for me. I think I knew that long before Jackson started pushing though. It just took a while to sink into my thick skull." She gazed into her drink. "Jackson makes me feel ... everything."

  Kendra's expression had turned soft. "I wish I could find something like that. I truly do. I'm envious of you, Emily. If you have a chance at happiness, why wouldn't you take it?"

  "Because I don't want to forfeit my life here," she said firmly. "I'm not one of those women that automatically does what her man tells her to do and I would never be happy if he tried to make me move back to Honeywell. That world isn't big enough for me. I need challenge in my professional life and friends and things to do. I love ranch life, but I love this one more."

  Kendra nodded. "I know you do and I would miss you desperately if you ever left."

  The two of them had been fast friends for years. Kendra had been the first woman she'd met at college and they'd clicked immediately. They'd both been taking business classes, though Kendra had always been more free-spirited and fun than the usual business major. She had appealed to Emily because they'd come from very different backgrounds but they'd had so much in common. It was like she was a long-lost sister.

  "Do you really think Jackson would make you leave?"

  Emily shrugged, running her finger through the condensation on her water glass. "I'm not sure. He may just have an itch that needs scratched."

  Kendra gave her a frowning look and Emily sighed. "I know. That's not really fair to him. Honestly, there are a bunch of women back home that would scratch any itch Jackson had."

  "You should hand him off to them, then and be done with it. Why go through all this stress? You don't need it." She looked at the men seated around them. "There are plenty of fish in the sea."

  Emily knew Kendra was trying to get her to make a decision, but she couldn't. Jackson was one of those men that was a force unto himself. When he walked into a room people looked up and stared. His natural reserve gave him a sense of mystery that was like honey to bears when it came to women.

  But to her? He would always be the kind-hearted, damaged boy who had loved her all those years ago.

  "If he's willing to come see me here I would think about a relationship," she said eventually. "I won't subvert my life for his, though."

  Kendra nodded, a gentle smile on her lips. "I thought you would say that. And I think you're making the right decision."

  Kendra waved at someone beyond Emily's shoulder, and her stomach sank like a rock. "What did you do, Kendra?"

  Her friend smiled and winked. "Nothing I hope you wouldn't do for me if the situation arose."

  Kendra stood up from her chair as Jackson stopped beside their table, looking delectable in jeans and a bright white chambray shirt. He held his black hat in his hand, and his eyes were cautious as he glanced at Emily. Jackson was with another man, just as tall and good-looking but with short, walnut colored hair and chocolatey warm brown eyes. The man held out his hand to Emily.

  "I'm Holt Martin, a friend of your brother's."

  The name sounded familiar and Emily nodded her head. "I remember. Brock speaks highly of you. It's a pleasure to meet you. This is my conniving friend Kendra."

  They all chuckled and Kendra shrugged and grinned.

  "Join us, boys," Kendra told them.

  Jackson ended up on Emily's left. Looking at her a little shamefaced, he leaned over to whisper in her ear. "If you don't want us to be here I'll take Holt out right now."

  Emily shook her head and drew him in, the scent of his breath and the way his dark lashes curled from his deep indigo eyes. It had only been a few days since she'd seen him, but her body hummed with tension. "You can join us."

  Then she forced herself to sit back in the chair.

  She looked at Kendra pointedly. "I didn't realize you knew Jackson. Or had his phone number."

  Her friend smiled coyly. "You gave it to me last year in case of emergencies. Remember? He was on that list with your family."

  Emily scowled, realizing she'd trapped herself. "That didn't mean you had permission to call him," she grumbled.

  The waiter returned to
their table to take the men's orders. "I'll try to get them out about the same time," the young man promised.

  Emily wasn't concerned. Her appetite had vanished when Jackson had appeared. Now she only felt nervy, her tummy fluttering with butterflies. Though she'd known Jackson for so many years, the situation had suddenly changed. Now that she'd decided to explore a relationship, their entire dynamic had taken on more weight.

  Not that he knew that yet. Technically she still had a couple of days to get in touch with him.

  Taking a deep breath, she leaned back in the chair. This didn't have to be awkward. As long as Jackson restrained himself from touching her beneath the table they would be okay.

  He did worse than that. He didn't touch her at all.

  Emily was confused. Less than a week ago he was telling her that he'd come to Houston for her, and now he refused to touch her once through the entire dinner. Wait a minute, she scolded herself. You asked him to lay off, and that was exactly what he’s doing.

  She didn't know that it would leave her aching, craving the merest brush of his fingers. Jackson looked at her with heated arousal in his eyes, but went out of his way not to even brush her skin. It was a little ridiculous. Several times she looked up and his gaze was burning over her. She could almost feel him stroking a finger down her chest to her breasts. In his expression, she could see what he wanted to do, and she wanted it as well.

  Holt and Kendra seemed to carry the conversation, because they had a good bit in common. Emily had seen that look in Kendra's eyes, though, and she could tell that her friend was just flirting on the surface. When the food came they continued to talk about the Houston social scene, then the horse social scene. Emily learned that Jackson had trained a horse for Holt in exchange for room and board. She laughed and shook her head.

  "Sounds like something Brock would do."

  "Hey," Holt said. "I got the better end of the deal, believe me. Just having this cat on his back has raised the animal's value. Now that he's been trained by Jackson Windwalker, he's pretty much doubled in value."