N. Walters - Jackson’s Jewel

Jackson nodded and the knot in his gut began to loosen. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

“I’ll let you know as soon as I find out anything.”

“She shouldn’t have gone to town.” Nathan tucked away his notebook and drained the last of his coffee, plunking the mug back on the table.

“Why? No one knows she’s here.” Jackson hadn’t thought there would be any danger in Emerald going into town with Erin.

“And you want to keep it that way. She’s a stranger, Jackson. She’s going to stand out like a sore thumb and it won’t matter what last name she’s using, her first name is so distinctive. If anyone asks about her, all the locals will be able to point in this direction.”

“Damn.” Jackson jumped up and headed toward the door. “I gotta go get her.”

“Wait.” Nathan was hard on his heels. “You go in there like that and folks are really going to suspect something is up. Let me handle this.” He looked thoughtful for a moment. “We need a plan.”

Abel drank down the last of his coffee and rose from the table. “Got anything in mind?”

Nathan scrubbed his hand across his jaw. Jackson could practically see the wheels in his mind turning. “What we need is a very public scene in which Emerald quits working for you and leaves town.”

“I don’t want her to leave.” Jackson’s chest tightened at the mere thought.

Nathan shook his head and Jackson realized that he was being totally irrational. “She won’t really be leaving.”

His brother was staring at him strangely and Jackson knew Nathan suspected there was more to the story than he’d told them. Too bad. He wasn’t about to talk about the instant attraction he’d felt to Emerald the moment he’d laid eyes on her.

“We just want folks to remember that she left and if we do it right, that’s what will happen.” Nathan crossed his arms and glared at his brother. “Then we’ll all come back to the farm and figure out where to go from there.”

“It’s a stupid plan.” Jackson just wanted to jump in his truck, find Emerald and bring her back to the farm.

“No,” his brother countered. “It’s a good plan and, at the moment, it’s the only one we’ve got.”

Jackson wanted to object, but deep in his gut he knew his brother was right. That didn’t mean he had to like it though. His muscles were tight, his body coiled for action, but all he could do was stay here at the house and wait.

Nathan turned to Abel. “You drive Emerald’s car to town. When we find her, I can clue her and Erin in on what’s going on. She can quit publicly and be seen driving away in her car. I can follow her back here and she can hide the vehicle in the barn until this is over. Unless it’s a rental, and then we can just return it and be done with it.”

“I don’t think it’s a rental. Let me see if her keys are in her room.” Jackson felt like an intruder as he pushed open the door to Emerald’s room. It smelled like her. Some kind of light floral scent that lingered in the air. He breathed deep as he checked the top of her dresser and the nightstand. The bed was made, but he could see the slight indentation in the pillow where her head had lain. Unable to resist, he picked up the pillow and sniffed. His cock stirred. Jackson swore and tossed the pillow back onto the bed. He paused and straightened it, smoothing his hand over the soft fabric before turning and stalking back out the door.

“She must have her keys on her.”

“No problem.” Abel took his empty mug to the counter and laid it in the sink. “I can hotwire it.”

Nathan laughed. “I didn’t hear you say that. I’m going to go sit in my car and pretend you have keys and permission to take that vehicle.”

“If you arrest me, I’m going to tell Erin it was all your idea anyway. I’m just a helpful bystander.” Abel hustled out the door.

“I know it’s hard, but it’s best if you stay here.” Nathan put a hand on Jackson’s shoulder. “And if you ever need to talk about this…”

Jackson nodded and rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ease the knotted muscles. “Thanks, man. I appreciate this. All of it.”

“That’s what brothers are for.” Nathan slapped his brother on the back and then headed out.

Jackson followed him, not surprised that Abel was already sitting in the car with it running. The large man looked squashed behind the wheel of the smaller car, and in spite of the seriousness of the situation, Jackson couldn’t resist the chuckle that bubbled up inside him.

“Never say that I wouldn’t do anything for you,” Abel griped as he rolled down the car window.

Jackson leaned against the car. “I really appreciate this.”

Abel became serious immediately. “It’s no problem. I’ll start digging for information as soon as I get home, starting with the investigator she hired. You said that she knew him before this started?”

“Yeah. That’s what she said. He’d done some work for her father. He’d also asked her out and she turned him down.”

“Hmm. I’ll keep that in mind. Could be nothing. Could be something. Hopefully, I’ll be able to eliminate some of the suspects fairly quickly.”

Jackson could see the sense of that. “That would be a great start.”

“Good enough.”

“Hey,” Nathan called out from his car. “You ready?”

“They were only going for groceries and then coming home so it should be easy to find them.” Jackson stepped back from the car.

Nathan laughed. “Going for groceries never just means going for groceries. They may go to a few other stores and stop for coffee as well.”

Jackson glanced at Abel who shook his head and sighed. “I can see we’re going to have to educate you about the finer points of woman-speak.”

Jackson grinned. “Go on. Get out of here. Some of us have work to do.”

Nathan tooted his horn and led the way. Jackson watched both vehicles until they disappeared from sight. He rubbed the back of his neck again and swore. He wouldn’t be happy until Emerald was safely back here with him.

He scuffed his boots in the dirt as he headed to the barn. He hadn’t been thinking when he’d sent her to town. It hadn’t even occurred to him that just having her visible in town could put her in danger. Granted, it was a long shot, but not one he was willing to take. He only hoped that she agreed to Nathan’s scheme and didn’t just decide to take off for good.

Every muscle in his body tightened in protest. He forced himself to breathe and to relax. It wouldn’t help anything to get himself worked up about what might be. The only thing that mattered was that he knew Emerald would have to come back to the farm, if only to get her things. Once she was here, he was sure he could convince her to stay and let him help her.

In the meantime, some physical labor would help him work off his worry and anger. Right on time, a pickup rumbled up the driveway. Andy Mercer was here for his truckload of alfalfa. Loading up the large bales would keep his body and mind occupied.

Still, he glanced down the road as the truck pulled up alongside the barn. He wouldn’t feel settled until he knew Emerald was safe.

He needed this done quickly and the truck out of here before the group returned from town, but he had to act like this was just any other normal day. Taking a deep breath, he forced a smile on his face and greeted the other man. “Morning, Andy.”

Emerald followed Erin into Jenny’s, the local diner. They’d finished up their grocery shopping quicker than she’d expected. Erin was nothing if not efficient. When she’d asked Emerald if she wanted to go for a coffee, there was no way she could resist. She liked the other woman, plus, if she were honest with herself, she was hoping to learn more about Erin’s big brother. She knew she should be cautious, but for the first time in several months, she felt free and safe and wanted to celebrate that fact, even if was just with a cup of coffee.

Jenny’s was like a thousand other diners scattered across the country. It was clean and homey and filled with locals eating breakfast and gossiping. Several people called out to Erin as they passed and she returned their greetings. Must be wonderful to know everyone in the community, Emerald mused.

It was a far cry from the hustle and bustle of New York. The city was alive with a vibrant energy all its own. There were museums, cultural events, shows and shopping galore. It was what had attracted her to New York in the first place—the never-ending energy and fast-paced life.

The town of Meadows was entirely different. No one here seemed to be in too much of a hurry, including the waitress. Everyone was kicked back, chattering and enjoying the morning. It was…nice.

Erin led the way to a booth seat and slid onto the vinyl-covered bench. Emerald sat down across from her and plucked the menu from behind the napkin dispenser. Before she’d even had time to crack the cover on it, the waitress ambled over, coffeepot in hand and began to fill the clean mug in front of Erin. “Morning, Erin.” With short brown hair, blue eyes and a round face, the woman was pretty in a girl-next-door sort of way.

“Morning. Emerald, I want you to meet my best friend and sister-in-law, Carly. She’s married to Nathan, who you haven’t met yet. Carly, this is Emerald, the new housekeeper I hired for Jackson.”

Carly stuck out her free hand. “Pleased to meet you.” Emerald shook the other woman’s hand, noting the keen look in Carly’s eyes.

“Likewise.” Emerald was used to being scrutinized by people and it didn’t bother her. Not too much. Besides, this was only friendly curiosity, which was to be expected considering she was now working for a member of the family.