It had been like a bolt out of the blue when she told him she hadn’t finished high school. He should have guessed it, though. He knew she had raised Katie from infancy, while managing to care for her brothers and sick father and help run the farm. It would only stand to reason she wouldn’t have had time to go to school. And from what he’d heard about the eccentric Walter Burke, Brett doubted the man had encouraged his daughter to get an education.
Brett closed his eyes. He could still see the incredulous look on her face and the tears she’d tried to hide when she said she’d never fit into his world.
“Oh, Jessie.” Brett’s throat tightened. “How am I going to convince you that I love you and nothing else matters?”
Josh came running toward him. “Hey, what did ya say to Jess? She’s awful angry.”
“I know, Josh.” He sighed. “She’s mad at me.”
The boy looked surprised. “I thought...well, you two went to your ranch together. Don’t you care about her?”
Brett laughed weakly. “That’s the problem, Josh. I’m in love with your sister.”
His eyes widened. “That’s great.”
Brett looked over his shoulder, seeing the truck race down the dirt road, kicking up dust in its path. “Not everyone feels the same way, kid.” He rested his hand on Josh’s shoulder. “C’mon, we need to get back to work. There’s a lot more to do before this well starts paying off.”
* * *
Two weeks later, the Burke’s yard was filled with music from the local band, performing a popular song on a crude two-by-four stage constructed for Josh’s sixteenth birthday and the-well-finally-came-in party. When Mac had mentioned the get-together a week ago, Jessie thought her brothers were crazy, especially when they’d suggested renting a parquet dance floor so people could two step.
Although she hadn’t been in the mood for a party or much of anything else, the kids managed to convince her it was a good idea. And since the well had come in, they could afford to feed a few of their neighbors. It was also so that Josh could invite some of his friends to celebrate his birthday.
Jessie stood next to the food table, which was filled with an assortment of covered dishes, along with Hatty’s fried chicken and two large smoked hams that Mac had bought in town. Hatty had also made a beautiful birthday cake, decorated with a red toy truck and a set of keys.
“Hatty, you really outdid yourself on the cake,” Jessie said over the loud music.
“Oh, I love doing it.” Hatty gave her a sly look. “You know my specialty is really wedding cakes.”
Jessie knew Hatty was teasing, but it felt as if someone had pierced her already wounded heart. She was glad when Mac joined them.
“I doubt that Josh is mooning about Mary Ellen anymore,” he said as he motioned to the group of girls standing around their sixteen-year-old brother.
“I bet that big stack of birthday gifts on the table has a lot to do with his smile,” Jessie said.
Mac shook his head. “No way. He’s sixteen, it’s definitely the girls.” He grinned and walked off to ask Cindy Caldwell to dance. The pretty blonde eagerly accepted. Why not, Jessie thought, she’d been crazy about Mac since third grade. Now that the Burkes’ money problems were a thing of the past, she couldn’t help wondering if her brother was considering marriage.
Jessie frowned. She had hoped Mac would wait until he was older. Nineteen was too young to get married.
“Maybe if you look a little more eager, someone might ask you to dance,” Hatty said.
Jessie only wanted to dance with one person, Brett. She couldn’t help remembering her trip to Texas and the Fourth of July barbecue at the Murdock ranch. And how Brett had held her in his arms and... She shut her eyes, trying to block out the memories. She had to forget him. She had to get on with her life.
Last week, she had started her night classes. Although she’d been scared, Jessie had forced herself to walk into the school that first night. She was surprised to find one of her high school teachers there, Mrs. Everett, teaching her history class. The woman helped calm Jessie’s nervousness, even offering to tutor her if she needed extra help. Jessie was grateful, knowing she was going to have to work hard to get through. But Jessie knew all about hard work.
The day she had walked away from Brett at the site, she became more determined than ever to get her high school diploma. She remembered what Maggie had told her. Do it for yourself, no one else. Jessie knew that when the well came in, things were never going to be the same again. The family was going to have opportunities that had never been possible. She might not be able to have Brett, but that didn’t mean she would let life pass her by, too. And going back to school had been the first step in the right direction.
The past two weeks hadn’t been easy. Between classes and family, Jessie had been busy. Even escaping to the loft wasn’t as peaceful as she would have liked. She had found that watching the crew work at the site had been more interesting than homework.
The casting pipe had gone into the ground and the concrete poured to seal it. The derrick had been torn down, and replaced with a series of pipes and valves. They’d brought in a large oil storage tank and built a pipeline that ran across the property to carry the gas to the processing plants.
She had also caught glimpses of Brett from her high seat in the loft. And when she did, her hungry gaze followed his movements around while he worked. Even from a distance, he managed to take her breath away. There was no doubt she loved the man. And she probably always would.
Hatty nudged Jessie. “My, my, look who’s here.”
Jessie turned her attention toward the crowd to find Brett talking with Josh. Her heart skipped a beat as she quickly looked him over. He was wearing jeans that fit sinfully snug on his long body and a wine-colored shirt that highlighted his dark skin. By the looks of the crowd of women around him, his incredible smile was just plain dynamite.
“I think I’ll go inside and get the ice cream.” Jessie took off before Hatty could stop her, but she wasn’t fast enough not to hear the word “chicken” from her friend.
The last thing Jessie needed was to stand around and watch Brett having a good time. Hurrying up the steps, she jerked open the screen door. Once inside, she gripped the counter for support and took several long breaths. “Please, I don’t want to cry anymore,” she begged, but already the moisture was rising to her eyes.
“Jessie...”
Jessie stiffened, hearing her name, knowing it was Brett. She blinked and turned around, forcing a smile. “Hi. I didn’t know you were going to be here.”
The screen door squeaked when he pulled it open. Then, as if nothing had happened between them, he walked into the kitchen. “Is that why you ran away, Jessie?”
She opened her mouth, but couldn’t think of anything to say.
“We need to talk,” he said.
She swallowed. “I think we’ve said about all that needs to be said.”
“No, Jessie. You did all the talking the last time.” He moved toward her, his intense gaze locked on hers. She was suddenly mesmerized by his rich, dark hair, hanging across his forehead. Her fingers itched to brush the strands back. There was a tiny nick on his clean-shaven face and she felt the urge to press her lips against... She quickly shook away the thought.
She heard his long sigh. “I admit I rushed you with my proposal,” he continued, “and you might need more time...”
No, Jessie couldn’t listen to this. It was killing her. “No, Brett, I don’t need more time. It won’t change things. I told you, we’re too different.”
Brett gripped her by the arms. “No, we’re not. Jessie stop throwing up roadblocks.”
She broke the hold and moved back. “I didn’t throw them up, Brett, they were always there. You just refused to see them.”
He frowned. “They don’t matter.”
“Yes, they do, Brett.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “Someday they will.”
Brett refused to hear any more. It wasn’t
getting them anywhere. He reached for her, and this time he did what he’d ached to do the past two weeks. He wrapped her in his arms and tried to persuade her the only way he knew how. He lowered his head and covered her mouth in an urgent, searching kiss. His tongue traced the soft fullness of her lips, hoping to cause the sparks needed to change her mind. When he heard her moan, it only fed his hunger. Finally, he released her, but not before he caught the desire in her eyes.
“I love you, Jessie,” he whispered.
She quickly fought for release, and he granted it. “Please, Brett. If you care for me...” She closed her eyes. “Please, just go.”
“You’re right, Jess, I care. I care enough not to walk away from what we have.”
He saw her anger flare. “We have nothing, Brett. We had a good time...for a while. But it’s over.”
“You can’t mean it.”
“I do. Go back home to Texas. It’s where you belong. Just like I belong here on the farm.”
Brett couldn’t believe it. Two weeks ago, he’d nearly made love to this woman. He knew she loved him, too. “Okay, maybe some time apart might be best. I have to go to Dallas tomorrow. I’ll come back in a few weeks—”
“No!” she interrupted. “If it’s business you’d be coming back for, it can be handled through our lawyer, otherwise there’s no reason for us to see each other.”
He sighed. “Sorry, Jessie, but that’s one thing that I can’t do. You mean too much to me. I’ll see you in a few weeks.”
“No!” she shouted, then lowered her voice. “You won’t be welcome.”
Brett winced at her harsh words, but pride wouldn’t let him show his hurt. “Well, Jessie, I’m still coming, even if it’s just to see Josh and Katie.” He started for the door, then glanced over his shoulder. “I’m not giving up on us,” he promised, then walked out the door.
Jessie sagged against the counter as a sob escaped. The pain she felt was like nothing she had ever known. Off in the distance, she could hear the crowd singing happy birthday and another flood of tears filled her eyes and finally poured over.
Suddenly, Mac appeared on the porch. “Jess,” he called out and came into the kitchen. She tried to wipe away the tears but he’d already seen them. “Hey, what happened?” he asked, concern in his eyes.
She shook her head. “Nothing.”
He glanced over his shoulder. “Did Brett say something to you?”
“No. It’s not what you think.”
He folded his arms over his chest. “Then maybe you better explain it to me.”
Jessie had wiped her eyes again and tried to smile. “Hey, it’s Josh’s birthday party. Bad time to discuss my problems.”
“We’ve got time.” She looked up at her brother’s broad shoulders, and Jessie took what he offered. She leaned into his strength and began to cry in earnest. Mac just held her and didn’t ask the reason.
Finally, Jessie raised her head. She gave a shaky laugh and wiped her face with the back of her hand. Mac reached into his pocket and pulled out a clean handkerchief for her. “Thanks, I must look a mess.”
“Not from where I stand.” He smiled. “But a little cold water might help the redness around your eyes.”
Jessie turned on the faucet, splashing water against her face. She patted it dry and smiled at the loving look on Mac’s features. “See, all better.”
“I’m not buying it. What did Murdock do to hurt you?”
“Nothing, Mac. Brett has been nothing but a gentleman.” She sighed. “It’s a long story.” She glanced out the window at all the people in their yard. “Tonight isn’t the time to talk out my problems. It’s Josh’s birthday.” She began to smile. “And this is the first party we’ve had since Mama died. Why don’t we go out and enjoy it?”
“Okay. I came to ask if we can give Josh the truck now.”
“Sure.” She smiled again. “Why don’t you go get it from behind the barn and I’ll bring out the ice cream.”
Mac arched an eyebrow. “You sure you’re all right?”
She nodded. “Thanks for being here. It means a lot.”
“I know we don’t say it much, but you mean a lot to us. If it hadn’t been for you, I don’t think we’d all still be together.” He hugged her. “We love you, sis.”
“I love you, too.”
He released her. “After everyone leaves, we’ll talk.”
“There’s no need. I can handle it.”
Her brother gave her a knowing look. “I don’t doubt that, but sometimes it’s just nice to have someone to share it with. I want to be there for you.”
She nodded, afraid that her tears would start again. They walked outside and Mac ran over behind the barn to get the truck. Jessie went to the table where Josh was opening gifts. He was having a great time. Why shouldn’t he? Jessie thought. He had his whole life ahead of him. She was going to make sure that Josh got to go to college. She glanced at Katie standing next to him. The youngest Burke was enjoying her big brother’s party. Katie was also going to benefit from the money on the lease. The first thing Jessie planned to do with it was set up two college funds.
Mac drove the bright red truck up the driveway, honking the horn. It took Josh about two seconds to come racing over to see what the commotion was about. The old Ford looked pretty good with a new paint job, new tires, front seat upholstered and the engine overhauled.
Everyone laughed when Mac dangled the keys to the now-classic truck in front of his brother. Jessie and Katie joined their brothers as Mac handed over the keys to Josh, then the four of them hugged tightly. The crowd cheered. But no one except the Burke siblings knew their love had been how they’d survived all the years of poverty and loneliness.
This would be the only way Jessie was going to survive the future.
* * *
Brett climbed off the horse and handed the reins to the groom. He pulled off his hat and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his shirtsleeve and saw Tyler walking toward him.
“Hi, Ty.” He smiled, but it was forced.
Tyler stopped the groom and examined his prize bay, Cody, then he told the boy to cool him down. “You trying to put me out of business? You rode that stallion pretty hard.”
“You told me they needed exercise.”
Tyler jammed his hands on his hips. “It’s August, Brett. A hundred and six degrees in the shade. You could kill an animal in this heat.”
Brett looked away, ashamed. He hadn’t even been thinking about the horse. All he’d wanted was to escape for a while, and a long ride seemed to be the only way. But it didn’t help. No matter what he did, he couldn’t get Jessie off his mind. It had been three weeks since he’d returned home. He went to work every day in Dallas, but there wasn’t enough work to make him forget her. The ranch had been worse; he didn’t even want to come home in the evenings.
“Hey, whatever is eating you, don’t take it out on my horses.”
“I said I was sorry.”
Tyler gave a curt nod. “Just pay attention next time.” He started to walk away and Brett felt like a jerk. He knew how to take care of an animal.
“Wait, Ty. Listen, I really am sorry I rode Cody so hard. It won’t happen again.”
“You okay?” Ty asked. “You should be flyin’ high since your well came in, but you look like you lost your best friend.”
“I can handle it.” No he couldn’t. He couldn’t sleep, he couldn’t eat and he definitely couldn’t keep his mind on work.
Tyler tipped his hat back and sighed. “Yeah, I remember saying the same thing myself a few years back.” He looked at Brett. “And I nearly let Maggie walk out of my life. I have a sneakin’ suspicion your strange mood has a lot to do with Jessie.”
“How can you tell?”
Tyler gave a rare smile. “There’s nothing that makes a man look so miserable as woman problems.”
Brett nodded, and had to swallow back the lump in his throat. “Yeah, she pretty much took my declaration of love and threw it back
in my face.”
“C’mon, bro, I’ll get you a beer at the house. Maggie took the kids shopping.” Tyler tugged on Brett’s arm and they walked across the corral toward the two-story clapboard house nearly hidden in the trees. “The worst thing to do is jump to the conclusion that Jessie doesn’t have feelings for you,” Tyler explained as he climbed up on the porch and pushed open the kitchen door. Once inside, the temperature dropped fifteen degrees.
Tyler went to the refrigerator and pulled out two bottles, twisted off the lids and handed one to his brother. He pulled a chair out from the table, turned it around and straddled it. He took a long draw from the bottle and motioned for Brett to sit across from him.
“I saw the way Jessie looked at you when you brought her home for the Fourth of July weekend. I’m not an expert, but as far as I could tell, the woman was blind to anyone but you. She looked like she wanted to eat you up.” Tyler gave a sly look. “Of course, you were pretty much drooling over her, too.”
Brett felt his cheeks redden. “That obvious, huh?”
Tyler shrugged. “You say you love her. I practically had to get down on my knees and beg Maggie to stay.”
Brett rubbed his hands over his face. “What am I gonna do, Ty? I can’t seem to function. I know they think I’m losing my mind at the office.”
“Not since you brought in the well, they don’t.” Tyler waved his hand in the air. “But stop worrying about Murdock Oil. Did Jessie say she didn’t love you?”
“No.” He sighed. “Just that we’re all wrong for each other. Her exact word were, ‘I can’t survive in your world.’” Brett leaned back in his chair and took a long drink of beer, then continued. “You see, Jessie had to quit school when her mother died and she never went back. She feels her lack of education matters to me.”
“Does it?”
“Dammit! No!” Brett came to his feet. “Jessie’s ten times smarter than any woman I’ve ever known. She reads more books than I ever dreamed of reading. Do you know she’s memorized Shakespeare? I caught her one time in the loft reciting a few lines from Romeo and Juliet.” He began to pace. “You should see her vegetable garden and her roses. The woman can grow anything. I’ve never seen anyone who works as hard as she does. And she always finds time for the kids, Josh and Katie.” He glanced at Tyler and saw his brother’s know-it-all grin. “You know what a handful Katie... What’s the matter?”
Wildcat Wedding (Wranglers & Lace #2) Page 16
