A Wedding in Red Creek: Rori and Jackson (The Sons of Dusty Walker Book 9) (6 page)

Tears ran down Rori’s cheeks. “But what if I can’t?”

Sapphire shook her head. “Not an option. I know my son. He’s
reacting in the only way he’s learned how over the years, and he’s just going
to have to find a new way to deal with upsets. Your love for him will make the
difference.”

Her reassurance gave Rori hope, and a watery smile found its
way into her heart. “I love him. There is no way I’ll let that cowboy slip
through my fingers. He is my future, and he is everything to me.”

“That’s what I wanted to hear.” Sapphire gestured for the
waitress. “Let’s get some pie now, and let the sugar and calories wash away our
worries.”

Rori laughed. She felt hope for the first time since he
walked out, and knew she was strong enough to make things right again. She just
hoped Jackson would wake up in the hotel the next morning and decide to head
back into town, instead of out onto the freeway.

Jackson closed the door of the Red Creek Motel and jingled
his keys in his hand. The sun just peeked above the horizon and the smell of
morning coffee coming from the main office made him think of home, and Rori.

What had she thought of his actions the day before? He’d
been startled at lunch with Mina’s announcement that Rori was going to be
teaching in KC, but he’d opened a whole new can of trouble when he went home
and tried to talk to her about it.

He’d surprised himself with his feelings of uncertainty and
unworthiness, and Rori had confirmed them with the way she’d accelerated their
discussion…fight?...by accusing him of trying to control their lives.

When he’d left their apartment, he just wanted to give her
time to make decisions. He hadn’t intended on leaving forever. He couldn’t go
to Dusty’s house. The parents would know something was wrong. And he didn’t
want to go to the house on the lake because it would leave a lingering memory
once they moved in.

The motel. On the way there, his own mind had run the scene
with Rori over and over until he just wanted to go back and beg her
forgiveness. But that wouldn’t do either of them any good. The way he loved
her, he’d agree to any demand she’d make just to have her in his life, and that
wasn’t a solution.

He jumped in his truck and headed for the office. A few
hours working on D. Walker Mineral business and taking his mind off the issue
of Rori’s unhappiness would give him a fresh perspective, once he revisited it.
No more running away, he needed to make a stand.

Right here in Red Creek.

A few minutes later, he walked into the conference room and
his three brothers stopped talking and looked at him.

With a nod, Jackson walked to the coffee pot and poured a
cup. They stayed silent. He turned and looked at each of them. Their faces had
that fighting look, like they each wanted to take a turn at knocking some sense
into him.

Jackson took a gulp of coffee. “What’s going on?

“The hotel?” Rogue crossed his arms. “What’s going on with
you
?”

He pulled out a chair and plopped down. “I don’t know. I
overreacted I guess, but I needed space.”

Killian stood, taking his coffee cup with him. “We’ve all
been there, especially with only days before the most important event of your
life.”

“Feeling like you want to run and hide?” Dylan rocked his
chair back.

“Something like that.” Did Jackson want to get deep into it
with these men? They were his brothers, but they were also married to the women
who were Rori’s closest friends.

Rogue groaned. “You want to get this fixed real quick,
brother.”

“Yeah.” He took another good, hard slug of hot coffee. Maybe
he could get some advice from three men whose marriages seemed stable. “It just
started out as a discussion, then went the wrong way. Like when you’re on the
back of a bronc that always spins right, but that day, it goes left, and in
seconds you’re spitting dirt and nursing a bruised body.”

Dylan nodded, a half-smile on his face. “You wanna tell us
about it?”

Rogue snorted. “Like we’re the brain trust that knows
everything about women.”

“Speak for yourself.” Killian grinned. “I’ve had great
success controlling all aspects of my marriage.”

The brothers laughed, knowing his wife, Lexie, and how she
would respond to that comment.”

“Yeah, okay, I lie.” Killian sat. “But we’re here if you
want to talk.”

If Jackson said anything, they would probably share with
their wives, and that would get back to Rori, which he wasn’t comfortable with.
He could keep it generic, he guessed, and make sure it didn’t look like any of
this was Rori’s fault.

“Something at the family lunch yesterday?” Rogue asked,
flipping through a file.

“Yeah, and I didn’t handle it well, opened myself up for
Rori to unburden herself, and it went sour from there.”

“And you walked out?” Dylan’s brows drew down.

“That’s my signature move.” Jackson stared into his coffee
as the room went silent.

Killian tapped on the table. “You haven’t talked to her
since?”

“She needed space, too.” It came out a bit too whiny.

Rogue closed his file. “That woman is ten times too deep in
love with you. She damn sure doesn’t need you driving off to give her space
right before your wedding.”

Guilt hit him hard in the belly. “Yeah, you’re right.”
Jackson stood and walked to the windows, looking out at the town, the
buildings, houses, undeveloped acres surrounding them. “I just needed the time
to figure out how to pull this whole thing out of the garbage can.”

“That bad?” Killian whistled. “What can we do to help?”

Jackson turned, leaning on the window sill, facing his
brothers. “It might be bad. She has goals and I have expectations. They don’t
work together.” He sounded oblivious, but this was his first romantic
relationship, and he had no basis to judge just how deeply in trouble he’d
gotten himself. Staring at the colorful map of Red Creek on the wall across
from him, he realized he’d been thinking in black and white. That wasn’t how
relationships worked. They were colored a whole bunch of tones in between, and
he just had to find one that would work for Rori and him.

His brothers spoke, but he tuned them out as ideas raced
through his head until one kept flashing the perfect color. Could he really do
something that crazy? Why the hell not? He walked toward the door. “I think I
got it, boys.”

“What? What have you got?” Dylan’s words came out on a
laugh.

“Had to be something I said.” Killian let out a chuckle.

Rogue groaned again. “Of course it had to be you.”

Jackson reached the door and turned. “As usual, you three
were no help at all.” He smiled. “But I appreciate that you listened to my
bullshit.” He glanced at each of his brothers, then nodded and headed down the
hall. He really did value these men, and would find a way to let them know
that. But not today. He had to see if this plan was even possible.

“Any time, little brother.” Rogue’s voice carried sarcasm,
but Jackson loved it. Loved these guys. Wow, when had that happened? He burst
out the back door of the building and found Mina’s name in the contacts on his
phone.

“Jackson, hi. I was just hanging your tuxedo, and wondered
if you—”

“Sorry, can I interrupt, ma’am? I need to talk to you, and
it has to be now.”

“Of course, what is it?” She sounded concerned.

“Can you meet me at my house? My and Rori’s house?”

“Sure. Do you want me to bring your mom or Simon?”

“No, please, if you can keep this quiet, I’d appreciate it.”

“Okay. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” She ended the call.

Ten minutes later, Jackson had the map of Red Creek spread
out on the kitchen island, and he and Mina leaned over it.

“You really think this would work?” Jackson stared at Rori’s
mother, who’d assured him his idea was genius, and had made some calls to
verify that it could be done.

“I do. Rori will be ecstatic, I guarantee. This is the
perfect solution.”

He sat on one of the tall stools, his head spinning as his
need to tell Rori about his idea sent his blood pressure soaring.

Mina sat on the stool next to him. “You’ll tell her before
the wedding?”

He hadn’t let Rori’s mother know they’d had a fight the day
before. He didn’t want her to feel guilty about what she’d told them at lunch.

“Yep. As soon as I go back to the office and make a few
calls, I’m going to find her and let her know.”

Mina smiled. “You know, I was not sure about you at first.
Rori living alone, meets a handsome cowboy, and gets swept away by him.” She
tipped her head. “But you’ve proven to be a great guy, and a perfect match for
our daughter. Simon thinks a great deal of you, and I do, too. Now this…” She
tapped the map. “This confirms that our daughter has excellent taste.”

He felt a blush creep up his neck. “Thank you, ma’am, but I
know for certain I’m the one who got the better part of the deal with Rori.
She’s like no one I’ve ever met, and I can’t think of a thing I want to do for
the rest of my life but to make her happy.”

Mina blinked away moisture. “That is all any parent could
want for their child. Along with knowing that child is capable of making the
one they’ve chosen to love just as happy.”

“She does, Mina.” Rori could turn any bad day into a good
one, make any heartache go away, and bring the sun on a rainy day. He let out a
laugh. What was he now, a poet? “She’s precious to me, and I will be honored to
call her my wife.”

“Aw, you’re a special man, Jackson.”

If Mina only knew how he’d run away from home last night,
she wouldn’t be giving him any compliments.

She checked her watch. “Ten o’clock. You have calls to make,
and I do, too.” She held out her fist. “Let’s get this thing done!”

Jackson laughed as he fist-bumped her, then stood and gave
her a quick hug. “Thank you. I don’t want to leave Rori hanging for one minute
longer than necessary.” They walked through the house to the front door.

“And you don’t want to pay for another night at that hotel,
either.” Mina raised her brows at him.

Jackson stopped dead. “Uh…”

She nodded. “Our Marliss has her finger on the pulse of Red
Creek.”

He dropped his head, embarrassed. “So now you know, I’m not
all that special of a man.” His stomach knotted, knowing Rori’s mother had
heard about his night away from Rori.

“Everything you’ve done today, and are planning for my
little girl…Jackson, you’re the best of the best.”

A smile fought through his unease, curving his lips. “Thank
you, ma’am. I’m going to make it my mission in life to live up to that.”

****

Rori worked until eleven fifty-five that morning, and abruptly
stood, knocking the chair behind her over and onto the floor. She would not
wait another minute. Sapphire’s advice had been to give him time, but she
couldn’t live another second without letting Jackson know how she felt. He was
out there somewhere imagining that she was angry with him, or wanted to call
off the wedding, or didn’t love him.

She sucked in a breath, holding back the pain in her heart.
He didn’t deserve that. Even if he was still mad at her, or didn’t want to get
married any longer, or had fallen out of love…

No. She set the chair back on its legs, grabbed her big, red
puffy coat, and stormed to the front door. None of those things were options.
Everything would be fine.

She turned the
Closed
sign and stepped out onto the
sidewalk, looking both ways in case he was coming to her. No one. Rori locked
the door and walked across the empty street at an angle, heading right for D.
Walker Mineral. He’d either be there, since he made it a point to get in eight
hours a day at the company, or he’d be halfway to Texas with his tail between
his legs. Her steps faltered, then she marched on. Jackson was not a “tail
between his legs” kind of man.

She stepped into the front door, and Abby, the
receptionist/accountant smiled at her. “There’s the bride to be. How are things
going?”

Rori forced a toothy grin. “Just wonderful. Is my fiancé
here?”

“He is. He’s back in his office.” She gestured down the
hall. “Go right on back.”

“Thank you.” With a deep breath, she walked down the hall.
As she passed offices, a few heads popped up, one of them being Dylan. She just
waved and kept going.

Jackson’s office door was open, and she stepped in. He stood
beside the desk holding the receiver of the desk phone to his ear.

She could tell he was listening to someone speak, and he
wrote a few words on a notebook sitting on the desk. Suddenly, he looked up,
his dark blue eyes spotted her, and he smiled.

Smiled.

After all the worry and jitters and paranoia she’d been
going through, all he had to do was smile, and her world started functioning
again. Damn cocky cowboy. She couldn’t stop the grin that broke on her own
face.

“Listen, buddy, let me call you back, okay? I’ve got
something important I need to take care of right away.”

She unzipped her jacket and walked closer as Jackson hung up
the phone and came around the desk.

“Darlin’, I’m sorry I left.” He looked so worried, she
wanted to reach up and smooth the wrinkles from between his brows.

“I’m sorry I made things so unbearable that you felt you had
to.” She was the guilty one, not him.

“No.” He set his hands on her hips inside her coat. “I did
the classic freak out and pulled a Jackson disappearing act. I should have
stayed and talked it out with you.”

She grabbed the sleeves of his thick flannel shirt. “You
should have, but I should have made it—”

Jackson’s head jerked up, his gaze shooting to the open
door.

Rori turned.

Dylan, Killian, and Rogue stood there smiling. “You kids
need some advice from us married folk?” Killian grinned.

“Hell no.” Jackson glared at them, but Rori could tell he
held back a smile. “Mind your own damn business.”

“Know when we’re not wanted.” Dylan winked at Rori and
turned on his heel, stalking away.

“Rori, if he doesn’t get this fixed right, you just call on
brother-in-law Rogue, and things will get rectified.”

“Thank you, brother-in-law, but I think I’ve got this one.”
Rori gave him a finger wave and he headed back where he came from, his laughter
echoing down the hallway.

“C’mon.” Jackson picked up a paper from the desk and folded
it, then grabbed his jacket and slid the paper into the pocket. “I’ve got
something to show you.”