Free Rori and Jackson: The Sons of Dusty Walker by Randi Alexander

go to Jackson. “You’re his anchor, my dear.
Keep him steady.” She got up and walked into the house.
    Anchor? Hadn’t Rori just thought of herself as an anchor in
a bad way? Dragging him down. Maybe Sapphire was right, and Jackson needed an
anchor to hold him steady long enough for him to see that what he had right
here was the best of everything he could ever want. Family, a thriving company,
and a woman who loved him with every beat of her heart.
    Rori stood and slipped around the back of the trailer,
wiping tears from her cheek. She slid into her car and started the engine, her
lights hitting the trailer.
    Sapphire stood looking out at her. Jackson’s mother knew
something was wrong between Rori and him. The woman might be Rori’s last hope.

Chapter Seven
    At noon three days later, Jackson drove Sapphire down main
street Red Creek toward the airport. He hated to see her go, but she had
classes to teach and pots to fire back in Bandon. “Mom, tell me honestly. What
do you think of Rori?”
    “Honey, you sound like a little boy again, talking about a
girl in school.”
    “You avoiding my question?” Didn’t she like Rori?
    “No. I’m just being nostalgic. I have a right to be.” She
put her hand on his shoulder. “You’ve stepped up here, taking on the
responsibilities of Dusty’s company, choosing a piece of land for your own, and
finding a lovely woman to share it with.”
    He’d taken on a lot, while trying to keep his life in Oregon
with her, and competing in the rodeo on weekends. He was stretching everything
too thin, and something was bound to snap and whip back, hurting someone. Was
that where the nightmares were coming from? He’d had another one last night,
and Mom had knocked on his bedroom door, asking if he was okay.
    “I’m just not sure of anything right now.” He was racing at
full speed and hadn’t taken the time to just sit down and plan for the future.
Was that intentional on his part? Was he afraid of getting it all wrong?
    “Rori is a good woman. She has a big heart, most of it
earmarked for you, honey. When you consider your blessings, know that she’s
right on top of the list.”
    “So you do like her?” Mom hadn’t spoken of Rori since
the night at the trailer when she had talked with her as he was fishing, then
Rori had raced out of the driveway without saying goodbye to him. Sapphire had
probably—no, she’d surely noticed that, and was giving Jackson plenty of room
to work it out for himself. Just like she’d done a hundred times when he was
younger. She was an amazing parent that way, and had taught him to make his own
decisions. But this time, this life-changing decision, had him lost and wanting
advice.
    “Yes, I do like her. I like the two of you together, too.”
Sapphire slid her palm from his arm. “Your brothers are amazing men, too.
You’re lucky.”
    “They are good guys, mostly.” He chuckled. Jackson and all
his brothers had supper with Sapphire two nights before in Dusty’s house, and
his mom had enjoyed every minute of it, including the tour of the big place. A
few times, she’d even gotten weepy, but he understood how much she loved Dusty
Walker, despite his flaws.
    The day before, he’d brought Sapphire with him to Kansas
City, to the architect who was designing the three versions of his house for
him. Mom had approved of every one of them, and had been supportive and
affirming about his idea to surprise Rori with them, but she advised him to do
it soon. That bothered him some. More than just some, it made him nervous that
he may feel pressure to make a decision before he was ready. That he’d choose an
option he’d come to regret someday.
    “The cemetery visit.” He just shrugged. It had never
happened. Jackson was not ready for that yet. Someday, but just not yet. Mom
had understood, and had relegated it to the top of the list for her next visit.
    “You should do that alone, son. It’s going to be a time when
you’ll see where your