Rocky Mountain Soul

by Dawson, Kay P.

Jack laughed loudly, pushing her away when she stumbled into him.

  “I think we both know you’d be the last person she’d be inviting to her wedding. What’s wrong anyway? You’re just standing out here in the dark, feeling bitter that Bri got married before you did?”

  He knew how Jennifer worked, and he was sure she was furious that his sister was married. Jennifer had tried to get her hooks into Anthony as soon as she’d discovered he was interested in Bri, and hadn’t been happy when he’d ignored all of her advances.

  “Come on, Jack. You know I never was interested in any of Bri’s boyfriends. I can’t help it that they all liked me more. There was only one boy I was ever interested in, and that boring Erin Fowler had his attention.”

  The bottle of wine in her hand was almost empty, so that explained her waver as she tried to stand up straight, and the words that sounded like she was talking with a mouthful of cotton.

  “Well maybe if you’d spent a little more time being a nicer person, instead of trying to make Bri and everyone she knew miserable, you might have had a chance. But you spent your life being so wrapped up in jealousy, you can’t even see what you might have missed out on. To be completely honest, Jennifer, I wouldn’t have dated you then, and I wouldn’t now. Not even if my life depended on it.”

  He knew he was being harsh, but with Jennifer, sometimes that was the only way to get through to her. She believed everyone should be falling at their feet in love with her, and when they didn’t, it just made the challenge more exciting for her.

  “Now, Jack…” She moved forward, stumbling sideways toward the edge of the boardwalk Anthony had just built. As she started to fall, she flung herself at him to stop herself from landing on the ground. Instinctively, his hands went up to stop her.

  She smiled up at him. “You’ve always been my hero.” Her eyes were glazed, and he could smell the alcohol on her breath.

  Hearing a gasp behind him, he whipped around, still holding on to Jennifer. His heart sunk when he saw Erin standing there with her hand at her mouth. As he tried to push Jennifer away, she clung to his sleeve, not letting go. He vaguely realized a couple of other people were standing there, including Emma, who must have walked out with her.

  If looks could kill, he was sure his sister had just put him six feet under.

  Twenty-One

  Before Erin could even get any words out, Bri’s voice came from behind her. “Jennifer Olson, what do you think you’re doing here?”

  She turned and saw Bri storming across the floor of the gazebo to the other side where Jack still stood with Jennifer clinging to him. Bri was holding her long dress up in one hand as she marched toward the couple, and the fury on her face almost made Erin shiver with fear for Jennifer. Anthony was beside her, and it was the first time Erin thought she’d ever seen the man without a grin on his face.

  By now, Jack had managed to get Jennifer standing upright on the boardwalk again, and he looked toward her, pleading with his eyes for her not to believe the worst.

  Erin moved to follow Bri and Anthony, turning her eyes to the woman who was standing there smirking and swaying back and forth. She thought she’d just ruined Bri’s wedding, and Erin could see how much that thought made her happy.

  Catching up to Bri, she put her hand on her arm. “It’s okay, Bri. You go back in and enjoy your wedding. I’ve got this.”

  Anthony’s grin came back on his face, stretching from ear to ear. Bri wasn’t quite so ready to let it go though, and she glared over at Jennifer. “I’m not going to let her ruin my day, Erin.”

  “She won’t. But if you go over there and confront her, she will think she has. Go back inside, dance, and have fun. I can handle Jennifer.”

  Bri finally met her eyes, then nodded. “Good. You know Jack isn’t interested in her at all, right?”

  Erin just smiled at her. “Do you really need to ask me that?”

  Anthony lead Bri back toward the tent.

  “Where are you going? I thought you wanted to say something to me?” Jennifer was laughing, trying to taunt Bri as she walked away. Erin turned and made her way to the couple on the other side. She knew Emma was still behind her.

  When she got to them, Jack reached his hand out to hers. “Erin, it wasn’t what it looked like.”

  The worry in his voice broke her heart. She looked up at him and smiled.

  “What it looked like to me was a desperate woman who had too much to drink. And who had decided to throw herself into the arms of the one man she knew she could never be good enough to have?”

  Jack’s jaw fell open as Erin turned back to look at Jennifer. The woman’s face was red with fury.

  “Well, I guess it was exactly what it looked like then.” Jack couldn’t hide the astonishment from his voice.

  “Erin Fowler, you don’t know anything. Just because you were this bubbling blonde-haired floozy who always managed to throw yourself at Jack Roberts, doesn’t mean you can talk to me like that. Besides, you’re not so pretty now. That perfect little face you used to keep him interested isn’t so perfect anymore.”

  Erin immediately felt Jack tense beside her, so she put her hand up to stop him.

  “You’re right, I may not have the perfect little face anymore. But at least I have other beauty. You, on the other hand, are ugly right through to your soul. And that’s far worse than any scar I may wear on my face.”

  Jennifer’s eyes narrowed, just as her parents came from inside the tent. The hotel bordered the property the B&B sat on, which was the original Roberts homestead, and their parents had been longtime friends with the Olson’s.

  Right now though, they looked angry as they came over to where they all stood. “I apologize for our daughter. Unfortunately, she hasn’t found the need to do anything productive with her life besides bother other people. I assure you, that will be rectified immediately.” Tugging on her arm, her father led them away.

  “Jennifer, you’re coming home right now. And first thing in the morning, you’re finding a job.”

  Erin tried not to laugh out loud at the whining she could hear being slurred from between the perfect red lips as Jennifer was dragged back home.

  Erin turned back to face Jack. Emma was still beside her, and another woman appeared. Erin recognized her as Angie, the woman Jack had been on a “date” with that night in the restaurant. She was supposed to be looking after Tank for the day.

  What was she doing here?

  * * *

  Jack could only shake his head at the complete mess everything was in. Something that he’d planned, and had hoped would be the thing that swept Erin off her feet, was in a shambles. His sister was still standing beside Erin, and now Angie was here, spoiling any chance he might have had to still pull this all off.

  Tank leaped down the steps toward him, almost knocking him over as he jumped up to be petted. Erin looked at him with her eyebrow up, obviously confused about why Tank was here.

  “I’m sorry, Jack. I thought it was just supposed to be you out here. By the time I realized there were other people here, Tank had spotted you and he wasn’t going back in my car.” Angie sounded upset.

  “It’s okay. Things didn’t go quite as planned.” Jack tried to push Tank down, hoping he wasn’t making a mess of his new suit. “Tank, get down you big oaf.”

  “What’s going on, Jack?” Erin’s voice was quiet as she looked up at him.

  He looked around and Angie mouthed, “I’m sorry,” while Emma’s eyes shot daggers at him.

  “Yeah, Jack. What’s going on?”

  Sighing loudly, he shook his head at his sister. “Well, Emma. If you must know, I was trying to sweep your friend here off her feet, just like you and Bri had suggested. However, thanks to the events of the past few minutes, I’d say that hasn’t worked out so well. So, you can stop thinking I’m up to anything sinister, and put your battle gear back in your bag.”

  He was trying to hold back his frustration, but right now he was feeling so annoyed at e
veryone, he wasn’t sure how to handle the situation.

  His words must have finally gotten through to Emma, because her eyes widened as she looked at Angie, then Tank, and back to him. She turned to Angie and put her hand on her arm. “Would you like to come in and join the party?”

  Angie nodded. “I’m not really dressed for a wedding, but I’m sure I can join you for a bit.”

  He watched them walk away, finally alone with Erin, who was now crouched down giving Tank attention. He wasn’t sure how to fix what he’d planned, but as he looked down at the woman who’d just gone up against Jennifer Olson and won, he knew he’d figure out a way to do it. Tank wasn’t the only one he was going to let have her love.

  He’d made plans for this night, and he intended to follow through, no matter how botched his attempt might be.

  Twenty-Two

  She wasn’t sure what he’d originally planned to do, but she could sense his frustration at how it had played out. He’d told his sister he had been trying to sweep her off her feet. What did he mean by that? Surely he knew he’d done that long ago.

  But he seemed intent on following through with whatever he’d planned to do out here, so she decided she’d indulge him.

  When they were finally alone, she stood up from petting Tank and turned to face him. She suddenly felt nervous, like she had back when he’d first asked her to his senior prom all those years ago. The way he was acting, she’d almost believe he was just as nervous.

  Tank, however, was moving back and forth between them, his tail wagging wildly. She had to laugh at the way he acted like he’d been abandoned for days and only now just found them again.

  “I’m pretty sure Jennifer will now have you on her hit list, right above Bri.” Jack shook his head and reached out to take her hand. “I’m sure she didn’t know what hit her. To be completely honest, I’m a bit shocked myself.”

  She lifted her shoulders. “Well, she had it coming. She’s been bugging Bri her whole life, and me too since I started dating you. I’m just tired of people like her.”

  Jack held her hand between them, and she looked up and met his eyes. “I was afraid you’d think the worst when you saw us. I hope you know I’d never, ever do something like that to you. You are the only woman I want in my arms.”

  His voice was husky with emotion as he reached out for her other hand, gently taking hold of the fingers poking from the cast.

  “I know, Jack. I’ve known you long enough to know you wouldn’t do that to me. I never doubted you for even a second. It was a bit of a shock to walk out and see her standing in your arms. But truthfully, it was more of a question of how you had managed to get yourself in that situation.”

  He grunted. “Yeah, well with Jennifer, it seems to be fairly easy. She’s like one of those insects that no exterminator is able to completely squash. She just keeps coming out of the woodwork.”

  Her eyebrow went up. “That’s an interesting comparison.”

  He sighed and turned to pull her over to a bench that was sitting to the side of the gazebo. Tank followed them and plopped down on the ground, content now that he’d found his long-lost family again. She smiled when she saw a bag sitting on the ground beside the bench, obviously filled with whatever Jack was hoping to use for his big “plan.”

  They sat down, and he reached into the bag, pulling out a card. He handed it to her, keeping his eyes on the bag he now held in his hand.

  She looked down, sensing something familiar about it. “What’s this?”

  He turned and smiled. “Open it.”

  She tried to stop her hands from shaking, unsure what he’d given her. As she pulled the card from the envelope, she realized where she’d seen it before. She’d given Jack this card the day after they’d first said I love you to each other.

  Her cheeks burned as she realized how corny it had been. She gave a nervous laugh and looked up. “I remember this. I was kind of sappy.”

  He tipped his head slightly and shook his head. “No, you weren’t sappy. You were perfect. You have no idea how many times I’ve pulled this card out and reread the words over the years. That day you told me you loved me was one of the best memories I have in my life. And this card you gave me the next day, pouring your heart out to me, sealed my love in my heart for you. I knew you were the only woman I’d ever love.”

  Her heart was racing, making every beat pound loudly in her ears. She couldn’t believe he’d held on to this all those years.

  He was pulling something else out of the bag now.

  “This was supposed to be already set up, and that card was supposed to be out. Tank was supposed to appear later…”

  “Jack, I don’t know what you had originally planned, but this is nice just being together away from everyone else for a few minutes anyway.”

  His eyes bore into hers. “No, I wanted everything to be perfect. Like you.”

  He pushed some buttons on the iPod, and she smiled nervously at him while she waited to hear what song was playing.

  Lifting his head back up, he smiled sadly. “That day I found you in the wreck, you were listening to a song I know well. It’s one I’d listened to many times over the years, and when I heard it, I realized maybe you hadn’t given up on me completely. But I also realized how much I hurt you. I don’t want that memory to be a part of our life anymore. I want new memories.”

  With that, he pushed the button, and she immediately recognized the sound of Lonestar coming from the small speaker he held. “Amazed” had been their song, one she’d always loved. They’d danced to it as he’d played it from the speakers in his old truck out by their tree on one of their times out there. She didn’t think he would have remembered that.

  He set the device on the bench, and stood, reaching his hand out to her. His lopsided smile stole her breath away as she stood too so he could take her in his arms.

  “This is the only song I want to think of when I think of you.”

  He pulled her in close, and she put her arms around his neck, letting him sway with her as the moon shone down on them in the darkness. Laying her head on his chest, she let herself enjoy the feeling of being held, knowing this man was never going to hurt her.

  Jack had shown her how to love all those years ago, and she had never stopped. She belonged here.

  The song ended too soon, and he pulled back slightly to look down at her. His hand reached up to push some strands of hair that had come loose back behind her ear. “I love you, Erin Fowler. I always have, and I always will.”

  His chest rumbled against hers as she struggled to fight the tears that were threatening to fall.

  “I love you too, Jack.” Her voice sounded strangled even to her own ears as she struggled with the amount of emotion she was feeling.

  Jack turned his head, and whistled. “Tank. Here boy.”

  Her mouth opened in confusion. Seriously, they were standing here professing their love for each other again, and he decides to call his dog over?

  Tank raced over and sat on the ground beside him facing her. He barked loudly, startling her.

  “I’m coming, Tank. Be patient.” Jack was grinning as he stepped back from her, reaching down to hold Tank by the collar, still holding on to her other hand.

  He kneeled down, and as he did, she started to feel the world around her spin. Was he…?

  “Erin, I’ve been told I didn’t try hard enough to show you how I felt. So I tried to make a perfect night for you, a night you’d never forget.”

  She swallowed, trying to get her body to stop shaking.

  “Even though that didn’t work, I hope this part will. I want to start over with you. No more holding on to anything that happened before. I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy, and showing you the man I should have been. You’ve always had my heart, and I would like very much if you’d give me yours.”

  Erin sobbed, her hand covering her mouth in surprise. Jack’s throat moved as he swallowed. And Tank sat perfectly still beside him
, his eyes watching her too.

  Jack turned and took something off Tank’s collar. Facing her, he held out a ring. “Erin, will you marry me? And, before you answer, look at the eyes of the poor dog who was given the job of being my wing man, to make sure you couldn’t say no.”

  She nodded, the tears flowing completely now, but she didn’t care.

  He gently slid the beautiful ring onto her finger that was barely poking out from her cast. Then crouched down and threw her arms around him. “Yes, Jack. I will marry you. And I don’t need to give you my heart, because you already have it.”

  Jack pulled her tight, then lifted his head back to place his lips on hers. But Tank didn’t want to be left out, and he pushed himself between them.

  She laughed and reached down to pat the big dog on the head. “And yes, Tank, that means you too.”

  “Good boy, Tank. I knew she’d never be able to resist you.”

  Jack stood up, pulling her up with him, but never letting her go. “We’ve been practicing for a couple of days now.” His grin tugged at her heart. “Angie was in charge of bringing him here so he could do his part of making sure you couldn’t resist.”

  Voices drifted over to them, and they turned to see Bri, Anthony, Emma, Angie, and the whole Roberts family walking from the tent.

  “So, what did she say?” Anthony was the first one to yell out.

  Erin looked in shock at Jack’s face. “They all knew?”

  He looked sheepish. “Well, most of them did. I didn’t tell Emma because I knew she’d never be able to keep from giving something away.”

  She cringed. “Oh, she’s not going to be happy with you.”

  He caressed her cheek. “I don’t care. The only one I want to make happy is you.”

  The love she could see in his eyes made her feel weak. “Well, you’ve succeeded. I’ve never been this happy in my life.”

  As the family came up beside them, she laughed. She’d always felt like a part of the Roberts family, but now it would be official.