Rori and Jackson: The Sons of Dusty Walker

by Alexander, Randi

  Rori pulled back a few inches. “But, my parents gave it to me. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time.”

  The idea that she’d just leave him to be closer to her parents made him crazy. “Why? Why does it have to be there? Why is KC so much better than Red Creek?”

  She laughed, then sobered. “Are you serious?” She sat up and looked into his eyes. “The population is about a thousand times larger than here, the need for business computers is about that much more, too.”

  “Is it all about the money? What about your contract with D. Walker Mineral?” He got up and stood next to the bed, his fear of being abandoned overwhelming him. How could he keep her here? She was so excited to move back to her hometown. He needed to think of something. Fast. “If you break that contract and shut down your Red Creek store, you’ll open yourself to a lawsuit.” Ah, shit. Had he just said that out loud?

  Chapter Six

  “What?” Rori pulled the bedsheet up and covered herself. Sitting on her bed staring at a gorgeously handsome Jackson standing half-naked in her bedroom, she could barely put a whole thought together.

  He paced. “No, I’m sorry. That came out wrong.”

  He thought she was going to shut down this building and reopen in KC? How had that communication gotten completely backward? “No, Jackson, listen. I’m—”

  “I know you miss your parents.” He stopped pacing, holding a hand out, then forming a fist with it. “But wouldn’t you miss…this town? We’d barely see each other.”

  “Jackson. Wait.” Hadn’t she discussed opening a second branch of Cyber Wise with him? Probably not, from his reaction. No wonder he’d been acting so strange. “I’m not moving to KC. The new store there will be a second location for Cyber Wise, and it’ll be run by someone I’ll hire to do the work there.”

  “Your parents said they wanted you closer to them.” He narrowed his eyes at her.

  “They did, but I assumed they meant that they wanted me in KC more often than I was getting there now. I’ve worked on my business plan with them, two stores to start with. So opening a new branch would get me back home a few times a month.”

  That had him frowning. “Okay, so maybe I misunderstood.”

  There was more to this conversation than he was admitting. “As far as us never seeing each other, you’ve been gone more than you’ve been here in Red Creek, Jackson.” Now was the time to get things out in the open. “The reason is easy to see. You are having second thoughts about being here in Red Creek, right?” There, she’d said it. It hung there, like a gray cloud between them.

  “I…I don’t know.” He shook his head and rubbed his forehead as if realizing something was wrong with what he’d just said.

  His words opened a flood of heartache. She had to give him one more chance to see why he could put down roots in this town, even if she wasn’t enough to keep him here. “You have your brothers, your company, your family’s history here.”

  “I want to be here with you.” His eyes held sincerity, but he seemed more confused than ever.

  “But?”

  He dropped his head and shoved his hands in his front pockets.

  “Jackson, why won’t you open up to me? What is it?” She wanted to go to him, but sensed he needed his space.

  He glanced at her, then away. Her cowboy never shut down like this. His uncertainty about Red Creek—about her—must be something he’d been struggling with.

  She reached for her robe and slid it on before standing up. Somehow, being unclothed in front of him didn’t feel right, now. “It’s all happened so fast. We’re both new at this. Do we need to…?” The words nearly made her gag. “Do you think we should slow down and look at things from a distance?”

  He jerked back as if she’d thrown a rock at him. “What are you saying?”

  “Are we sure this is what we want, or have things changed since that first week you were here?”

  “Changed? Do you think they’ve changed?” His eyes darted nervously.

  She could tell he was looking for answers, and she had to give him the opportunity to find them. She’d give them a little time, some separation, and if he came back, she’d welcome him and help him adjust. If he didn’t come back, she would know she’d done the right thing. Jackson was a free spirit, and trying to hold him where he didn’t want to be would only make him bitter, filled with regret.

  She’d make this easy for him. “I don’t know if things have changed between us, but I want to give us some time to think about it clearly.” She looked at the bed, then at him. “Without our attraction distracting us.” Rori took a steadying breath. “Starting now.”

  “You want me to go?” His voice cracked on that last word.

  No, she did not want him to go. She wanted him to apologize for being unsure, and to tell her everything would work out, and to promise never to keep his doubts and his indecision from her ever again. “Yes. I think that would be best.” She prayed he’d refuse to leave until they cleared this all up, but that was not his style. He was a lost cowboy in so many ways, and she couldn’t be the anchor that weighed him down and kept him here if he wanted to roam.

  “I’m not good at relationships, Rori.” He headed out to the other room, zipping his jeans as he went. In the living area, he pulled his shirt back on as he walked to the door, his back to her. “Actually, this is my first. So if you want some space…” He set his hand on the door handle and waited.

  His first relationship? Oh crap, of course it was. He was a rodeo bronc rider, still feeling like that fifteen-year-old, running from home, with an overwhelming fear of commitment. Rori could go to him now, pull him into her arms, and apologize, tell him she’d acted impulsively, beg him to stay.

  When she didn’t speak, he opened the door and headed down the steps, his boots striking heavily.

  She watched him go, everything inside her wanting to call him back. But he needed some separation to get this figured out, and she needed her own time to think. Maybe a little space would work well for both of them right now.

  He opened the lower door, looked up at her with an innocent, pleading gaze, then walked out, closing the door quietly.

  That look in his eyes nearly broke her into a thousand pieces. Rori closed the door at the top and leaned back on it, her knees wobbling. “Great work, genius. You’ve chased away the best thing to ever happen to you.” How soon was too soon to go groveling to him and begging his forgiveness?

  She pressed her fist to her mouth to stop a cry from escaping. Plopping down on the couch in the spot Jackson had vacated, she breathed through the turmoil inside her and turned on her newest game. As tears still threatened, she tried to lose herself in the action, but kept mulling over what he’d said, what she’d said, and what neither of them had said.

  They’d never spoken a word about how they felt about each other. She loved him, and had since the day she’d first laid eyes on him. Staring at the screen, she lowered her weapon and let the evil ninja assassin slaughter her snowy Valkyrie guardian avatar.

  Love? With his history, was Jackson even capable of love?

  ****

  The next morning, Jackson woke on the lonely single bed in one of the bedrooms in the just-delivered mobile home on Osprey Lake. Last night had been one of the worst of his life. For too long, he’d been running out of town when he should have been staying and trying to figure out what he wanted.

  Leaving? That was easy for him. Staying? Scarier than any demon he’d ever faced. Why was that? How had he learned to turn off the homing instinct? What made him want to wander?

  He could blame it on Dusty, both learned behavior and whatever he’d inherited in his DNA, but it had to be time to stand up and make a choice based on what Jackson wanted, not what history dictated.

  When she’d asked him to leave, he knew he’d messed up in a world-class way, but he’d also admitted to himself right then, that she’d been right. They did need time to sort through everything. Their relationshi
p seemed to be happening too fast for anyone to get a good grip on the reins.

  The feeling in his chest last night, though, as he’d walked down those steps and out the door? He’d never expected anything that strong was lying dormant within him, waiting for the opportunity to claw at him. Even hearing that his father had died hadn’t affected him that fiercely. Thank God his mother was coming to town. She’d be able to help him sift through all this…emotion.

  “Uh.” He hated this feeling. Pain. Here was another reason for him to avoid relationships, besides the fear of hurting any woman foolish enough to take up with him. Having his heart broken was not pleasant.

  Maybe she’d changed her mind. The possibility had him grabbing for his phone. He didn’t want to sound needy, though. He went with safe, and sent Rori a text, telling her that if she wanted, he would be at the apartment in a half hour to get his things.

  She replied with a simple, Okay.

  That one word nearly stopped his already shattered heart. But what had he expected? Rori wasn’t the type to beg him to stay, and tell him she’d take him any way he would have her, including part-time whenever he had the whim to roll back into Red Creek.

  He showered and shaved, putting on one of the shirts his mother had sent him. He loved his momma, and wished they could figure out a way to be closer. Maybe, with Jackson building his own home and not just dropping in at their home in Bandon, Sapphire would start looking for someone to replace Dusty. She deserved a full-time kind of love.

  His phone sounded. A text came in and he picked it up. From Rori. I put everything in boxes at the foot of the steps.

  He couldn’t draw breath. Rori didn’t even want to see him?

  He typed. Can I bring my mom by the store, just to say hello? Sapphire had been looking forward to meeting “his Rori” for so long, he didn’t want to disappoint her.

  Okay. That damn one-word reply again.

  He typed, Thanks, then deleted it before sending. Sarcasm would not help make things right. And he did want to do that—make things right—one way or another. He just had to figure out where his head was at before he went back to Rori with his answer to her question on whether he was having second thoughts about living in Red Creek.

  “Right.” More so when he’d thought she was moving to KC and abandoning him in Red Creek. That one incident had sent his whole world spinning like a carnival ride. Then, when she’d told him she wasn’t moving, he should have felt relief. Damned if he didn’t just feel more afraid of the choice in front of him. And damned if he knew where this was going to end up for them.

  Jackson stopped by Dusty’s house to say hi to Lou and Marliss, and sat at the kitchen counter while Lou cooked him his favorite breakfast, eggs, pancakes, bacon, and sausage. The three of them talked about the new mobile home and all the furnishings that came with it. He let them know that his mother was on her way, and she and Jackson would be staying in it for a few days.

  “Why didn’t you tell us?” Marliss swatted at Jackson with her dusting cloth. “What do you have in that trailer for food?” Her curly, black hair belied her near-retirement age.

  He scratched the side of his head. “Well, I was figuring we’d eat out, and I’d take her with me to the grocery store on the way back here.”

  Lou snorted. “Not likely.” He pulled open the freezer door and started sifting through. “There’s enough here to feed a small battalion.” Looking like a familiar movie star, Lou’s tall, fit body and full head of graying hair disappeared behind the door.

  “I don’t want to put you to any trouble.” He sipped on a cup of Lou’s strong coffee.

  “It’s no trouble.” Marliss looked around the room. “There’s nobody here, and nothing to do.” She twirled her rag. “Why, I’m so bored, I’m gettin’ the urge to do some mobile home cleaning, too.”

  Lou pulled out a few packages and set them on the counter. “We’ll stock your refrigerator, don’t you worry about that. And I’ll make up some reheatable meals.”

  “You two are incredible. I wish I could tell you I didn’t need your help, but I sure do. Thank you, and sorry for not thinking ahead and giving you any notice.” He’d meant to clean the place yesterday, straighten it up some, but he’d gotten distracted, then had been too heartsick after Rori showed him out her door. “I hope you get a chance to meet my mom. She’s really something special.”

  Marliss sat next to him. “Is she your only relative on that side of the family?”

  “She is. And besides my brothers, she’s it for family.”

  “Well.” Lou opened his cookbook. “There’s the Colorado cousins.”

  “Colorado cousins?” That was the first Jackson had heard about them. “I have cousins?”

  “You do, after a fashion.” Marliss ticked off on her fingers. “A second cousin once removed, and a few third cousins. Your dad’s deceased cousin’s wife, Mercy Walker, and her four girls.”

  “I didn’t know about them.” Of course, his dad would never have told him about them, since Dusty was the master of keeping secrets. “Are we on speaking terms?”

  Marliss laughed. “If you aren’t now, you will be by Christmas. She likes to show up for the holiday. Used to drive Theresa batty.”

  Lou shook his head, but Marliss went on. “Theresa, in her multi-thousand-dollar dresses, and Mercy in her boots and jeans.” She rolled her eyes with a smile. “It was fun to watch. Interesting conversations got hatched, I can tell you.”

  “She came for the funeral, Mercy did.” Lou leaned against the counter. “Talked to the lawyer, too. I suppose she figured her daughters were the only living relatives.” He gave a lopsided grin. “Big surprise there.”

  Jackson wondered if Mercy and her clan would show up for Christmas this year. “Should I get in touch with her? Invite her and her daughters?”

  Marliss and Lou shared a look. “No.” Marliss stood and headed to the refrigerator. “Mercy’s girls are grown and scattered. They haven’t been here since their daddy died, some four years ago.” She pulled out unopened cartons of milk, cream, and packages of sliced cheese from the refrigerator and set them on the counter, then looked at Jackson. “Your momma? She’s not one of them vegie-tarians, is she?”

  “No, ma’am. Eats dairy, meat, and loves chocolate.” Jackson finished his coffee and stood.

  “Chocolate, huh?” Lou flipped the pages of his cookbook. “I got just the thing.”

  “Thank you. Both of you.” Jackson checked the clock. “I’ve gotta make a stop before I pick up Mom, but I can’t tell you how much your—”

  “Ah, go on.” Marliss waved her hands to shoo him away. “It’s not just our jobs, it’s our pleasure.”

  Jackson felt the kindness all the way into his heart. “Ms. Marliss, if your husband wasn’t standin’ right here, I’d give you a kiss.”

  Lou smiled. “Go ahead. I’ll close my eyes.”

  They laughed, and Jackson bussed Marliss on the cheek and walked out the back door onto the driveway. This town, these people. They grew on a guy.

  Jackson’s footsteps slowed as he remembered his next stop. Rori, and the boxes of his things waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs. Damn. How did he get himself into these kinds of shitty situations?

  ****

  Sapphire stepped off the plane wearing jeans and boots, a colorful blouse and a purple shawl. She looked like she’d gone half-country, half-hippy. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  The pilot walked past them and loaded Sapphire’s bags into the back of Jackson’s work truck next to the boxes of his things he’d picked up at Rori’s.

  She smiled, joy written in every crease of her face. “I’m so glad you want me to share your new life with you.” Patting his cheek, she looked behind him. “Where’s this lady who’s captured your attention so completely?”

  “At her office. We’ll stop there on the way to the house. She’s had some customers who’ve needed emergency service from her.”
It was true, but not the whole story.

  Sapphire slid into the passenger seat of the truck. “Amazing, isn’t it? That you’ve been spending time with a woman who does computering for a living?”

  He laughed as he shut the truck door and walked around the front of the vehicle to the driver’s side. “Somebody said opposites attract.” He started the engine. “Can’t get much more opposite, I guess.”

  “I can see it in your eyes.” His mother spoke softly. “There’s something special between you two.”

  “There is. I just worry…” He didn’t want to bring up the subject of the split he and Rori had agreed to. He didn’t want that looming over his time with his mother. He drove away from the airport, toward town.

  “What is it that concerns you?” She waited a few seconds. “Your father’s blood running through your veins?”

  He glanced at her. She’d never talked about this before. “Maybe.”

  “You’ve been wandering and searching, honey. Now that you’ve seen the full extent of your father’s actions and their impact on those who loved him, you’re questioning whether your feelings are real, or if they’re just a reaction to the shock of all this.” She gestured widely with her hand.

  “I’ve been having nightmares.” The words just blurted out of him.

  “Dreams are your subconscious arguing with your conscious.”

  He wasn’t sure what that meant, and he hadn’t gotten enough sleep to be able to concentrate on an explanation from his mom. “I can’t figure it out. I’m glad to leave town, but I miss it when I’m gone. Is that crazy?”

  Sapphire stayed quiet for a while. “No, I think it’s just that you have a big adjustment to make.” She turned in her seat to face him. “You have a lot of new responsibilities here. The company, your brothers, your dad’s property, and your girl, Rori.”

  “Are you saying I’m running from my responsibilities?” He’d never thought of them as a burden.

  “No, you’re not the type to hide from anything. I just think you’ve been thrust so deep into everything, you haven’t had time to consider how drastically your life is changing.” She shrugged. “So you go off to rodeo, and come visit me, and do the business trips like you used to with your dad. It’s your way of easing into this new life of yours.”