A Wedding in Red Creek: Rori and Jackson (The Sons of Dusty Walker Book 9) (7 page)

Jackson tugged Rori along with him out the back door of the
Walker building and helped her into the passenger side of his truck.

“Where are we going?” He surely didn’t think this
straightening-things-out session was over and they would head home and fall
into bed for makeup sex, did he?

“A quick drive out to the country.” Jackson walked around
the front of the truck and jumped into the driver’s seat.

“But this whole town is country.”

He laughed. “You can look at it that way.” Jackson got them
rolling and they headed north. “Before we get there, I want to say that I’m
sorry about the way I dictated the terms of our relationship like I was the
only one whose opinion counted.” He held her hand and gave her a quick look
before concentrating back on the road. “We’ll sit down tonight and go over the
plans for our future, one day at a time if necessary, until we’re both happy
with everything.”

She loved that he wanted to do that, but she had to know
about their plans for this week. “Will you still marry me?”

“Will I still…” He checked the rearview mirror then pulled
over to the side of the road. He leaned close and kissed her, putting every
ounce of his emotion into it. “Yes, I will still marry you.” He swallowed as
his gaze locked on hers. “If you’ll still have me.”

She nodded, laced her fingers through his hair, and kissed
him right back. “Yes, I’ll still have you. But you also have to give me a
chance to apologize, to explain, and to make promises that I will keep.”

“Done.” His gaze shifted over her face. “Tonight will be our
big talking-it-out night, okay? We’ll get things settled right, make sure we’re
both in agreement on every detail, and figure out the best way to handle
trouble that pops up in the future.”

Rori had never been this relieved in all her days. “Then can
we have makeup sex?” She licked her lips.

His gaze followed the gesture, then he sat up and banged his
palms on the wheel. “Woman. All you think about is sex.” He grinned as he
shifted into drive and stepped on the gas. “And I love that about you.”

“I love everything about you.” Her heart thudded with the
sure knowledge that this feeling would never change.

“Darlin’, you’re gonna hear about how much I love you from
now until you get sick of it.”

“I’ll never get sick of it. Or you.” They hit a bump and the
stiff suspension tossed them around a bit. “Maybe this truck I could get tired
of, but not you.”

“Woo-hoo! Hang on, girl.” He turned the truck off the highway
onto an undeveloped plot of land. They rattled and bumped over the terrain that
probably never saw a tire tread before.

“Where are we going?” She braced one hand on the roof and
the other on the door.

“Right here.” He turned the truck in a rather impressive
half-circle skid, sending up dust behind them. “Now, remember.” They stared out
the windshield. “You promised to marry me, and I don’t want you to change your
mind once you hear my wild idea.”

Wild idea? “Jackson, what is this?” She looked around at the
empty land.

“Come on.” He got out, and she opened her door and followed
him to where wooden stakes with small strips of red were tied. Jackson gestured
across the horizon. The buildings of Red Creek were just visible. “This is the
land I bought for the rodeo arena.”

She’d known he’d purchased the acreage, but wasn’t sure why
he felt the need to show it to her right then. “It’s nice and…flat.”

He laughed. “Flat as an old can of beer.” Reaching into his
pocket, he pulled out the paper and unfolded it. “Here’s what we’re looking
at.”

Jackson showed her the plot of land, where the town was in
the distance, then pointed to the area where they stood. “This panhandle of
land is long and narrow, but could easily hold a small building and a parking
lot.”

Now she was totally puzzled. “Okay.”

He shoved the paper into his pocket and took her hands. “I
know how much you want to teach. But do you know that very few of the local
high school graduates have the chance to go to post-secondary schools?”

Her eyes went wide. “I…don’t think so.” Was he suggesting
what she thought he was?

“A
major-ily
of them. Some do go to trade schools,
others to junior colleges, and a few to universities and colleges. Our town
needs a place where kids in high school can learn about the options out there
for them. Where kids who want to work on computers can learn from the best.
Where adults can take evening classes to learn basic
computering
skills.” He paused, watching her.

Her mouth opened, but no words came out. A school? Here?

“Rori, if you want, we can start an accredited school here.
Your mother knows how to go about doing that, and we can start out small. Just
you and a few classes, and then grow, hire teachers for other subjects like
accounting or marketing.” He shrugged. “I don’t know, but just to give the
local farm kids a boost.”

She held her breath for a second. “I love it.” She rushed
him, wrapping her arms around his middle. “Jackson, this is the perfect
compromise.” She never would have thought of this. To her, Red Creek was just a
farm community, but this would afford the population a chance to expand their
knowledge base. She could teach, just like she’d always wanted to, but didn’t
have to leave home to do it. “Thank you.”

He hugged her close. “It’ll be your project, I promise. You’ll
get to design it, organize it, run it.” He cleared his throat. “I only brought
your mother into it because I wanted to make sure it was possible to do this.”
Tipping her head back, he looked into her eyes. “She really thinks this is a
good idea.”

“It is.” Going up on tiptoes, she kissed him. “I am so
impressed that you thought of it, and are willing to give up part of your rodeo
land to make it happen.”

“Our land. Don’t forget, in a few days, we’ll be sharing
everything.” He turned them to look out over the land. “What do you think?
Should we make the school building look like an old saloon to fit into the
rodeo theme?”

Rori giggled. “No, because all the rodeo cowboys would come
in looking for the bar.” She could envision a sleek, modern building, tall,
with a lot of windows. “Could I hire Kiwi to come and teach hacking?”

He laughed as he picked her up and spun her around.
Stopping, they took a second to catch their equilibrium. “Darlin’, you can do
whatever makes you happy.”

She let the swell of love wet her eyes. “Cowboy, all I need
is you to make me happy. I love you, Jackson Walker.” Glancing at the piece of
land where they’d build a school, she sighed. “You’re right, this school is a
wild idea, but I’ve never heard of a better one. You’re amazing.”

His cheeks turned red, he mumbled something, then just
kissed her like he wanted to go on doing it for the rest of their lives.

****

Jackson stood next to the banked fireplace in Dusty’s house
on Osprey Lake. His black western-cut tuxedo and shiny new boots made him feel
like a rock star, and thanks to his brothers flying in a Kansas City stylist,
his hair was now shorter and actually looked pretty good. Nerves jostled his
whole body as he glanced around at the small crowd. He was getting married. How
had he gone from a rodeo cowboy to a groom so fast?

Dylan sat on a stool in the corner playing softly on his
acoustic guitar. The rest of the family and friends whispered and laughed
softly. A joyous day.

Their father’s cousin, Mercy, and her four daughters had
been invited, but had declined and sent a very expensive gift. What was
happening with that branch of the Walker clan?

He brought his attention back to the present and looked down
at the red rose in his lapel. Rori and her love of red.

A bell rang at the top of the steps, and Dylan nodded to
Jackson, changing the music to a tune he’d written just for the occasion, and
increasing the volume.

This was it. Jackson looked up to the top of the long set of
stairs. Rori’s father stood in a black tuxedo and held out his right hand.

Rori appeared.

Jackson’s breath stalled.

Her long, white dress had lace on the top, heart-shaped
around her breasts, and long lacy sleeves. The skirt was some kind of floaty
material that puffed out a little. She’d piled some of her hair on her head in
a tiara—her little reference, just for him, as his rodeo queen—and she’d left
the rest to fall in curls past her shoulders. She carried a bouquet of white
flowers and red roses.

She and Simon took the first step, and Rori’s foot flashed a
bright red high-heel shoe.

He sighed. Had anyone ever looked that beautiful?

Their eyes met and she gave him a soft smile. They hadn’t
seen each other since the day before. Rori stayed here at the house, and
Jackson slept at the apartment. This morning, he finished packing up their
things then hung out at their new house all day, getting everything ready for
their stay-home honeymoon.

Rori reached the bottom of the steps, and Jackson heard
crying. Sapphire and Mina clung to each other, using lace hankies to dab at
their eyes. Women. He blinked and felt too much moisture in his own eyes.

Simon guided Rori to Jackson’s side, and the family’s
attorney, Stanley Benner, stepped in front of the fireplace. “Who gives this
woman to be married?” Rori hadn’t even balked at the traditional ceremony
Jackson had suggested.

“Her mother and I do.” Simon kissed his daughter’s cheek,
shook Jackson’s hand, and placed Rori’s palm in Jackson’s.

Her fingers shook a little, and Jackson’s did too, but they
smiled and let Stanley read the words that would bind them together.

“Rori, you have vows you would like to share with Jackson?”

She looked into his eyes. “Long ago you were just a dream
and a hope. Now, with our future as bright as the promise of sunlight and
moonbeams, I take you to be my life's partner. I will care for you, honor and
love you. I will never leave you nor forsake you, and as much as you will let
me…” She smiled and gave him a wink. “I will spend all my days at your side.”

A few people laughed softly, but he vowed right then to
never leave her lonely.

She took a breath. “Whatever lies ahead, we will face it
together, and when we look to each other first, we will always see a friend, a
lover, and a home.” Her face broke, and she took a second, then blinked back
tears. “Jackson, look to me, your wife, for all the days to come.”

He could barely keep the lump in his throat from becoming a
crying jag. She warmed his heart and filled his soul.

The sound of multiple sniffles came from the guests, and
Stanley Benner cleared his throat. “Jackson, you have vows to make to Rori?”

Jackson tightened his jaw and took a deep breath. He could
do this without breaking down. “Rori, as I look at you, I see all the things
that attracted me to you the day we met. When I think of what made me fall in
love with you, your beauty and poise shine brightly, but your intelligence,
your caring, and your patience are the greatest part of the magic that makes
you perfect for me.

“We have each traveled different roads to get here, and I
promise to make new paths for us to follow. I promise to love you more each new
day than I did the day before. You will always be the best part of my life.

“Today I give you my hand to hold, my life to share, and my
heart to keep. I’m finally puttin’ down roots, my love, and from this day on we
will never walk alone. For us, darlin’, the best is yet to come.”

She bit her trembling lips and her eyes gleamed with tears,
but she staunchly kept them from flowing. Strong yet lovingly soft, this woman
was everything he could have asked for.

“Wedding rings are an unbroken circle of love, signifying to
all the union of this couple in marriage.” The attorney gestured to Jackson,
who pulled his ring for Rori out of his pocket and presented her with a band of
alternating square rubies and clear diamonds that he’d had made by a jeweler in
Oregon. She gasped as he slid it on her finger. When she smiled at him, he knew
he’d gotten it right. She loved red, and it looked just right next to her
engagement ring.

Benner handed Rori a ring. Wide gold, it had horseshoes made
of little diamonds all the way around it. Jackson had to hold back a laugh.
“Perfect,” he whispered. It fit just right, and reminded him of his past, while
showing him his
lucky
future with this magnificent woman.

The attorney spoke a few more legal paragraphs, then held up
his hands. “I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The attorney cocked his
head. “Go on and kiss her, Jackson. I know you’ve been waiting for this.”

Jackson stepped closer and took Rori in his arms. She flung
her arms around his neck and held on as he tipped her just a little and kissed
her until they were both breathless.

“Ladies and gentlemen, may I be the first to present Mr. and
Mrs. Walker.”

Everyone cheered and Jackson slowed the kiss, pulling her
upright, and turning them to face their friends and family. “Let’s do some
partying!”

The pop of champagne bottles sounded and Marliss directed
the catering team to carry trays of tall, bubbling flutes to everyone present.
Rogue made the first toast, Simon the second, and Jackson and Rori greeted and
chatted and mingled until supper was announced.

The big table had been stretched by the addition of leaves,
and everyone fit around to enjoy the three-course meal. Each time he looked at
Rori, she stared back, mirroring the same surprised look he’d had on his face
all evening.

A small local band began playing in the living room, and
Jackson stood, holding out his hand for his wife. “May I have this dance,
darlin’?”

“I’d be honored.”

In the living room, the couches and chairs had been pushed
back to the walls, and the big rugs had magically disappeared.