Boot Scootin’ Barn, Chestnut Ridge
Laughing hard and having the time of my life, I side-stepped, swaying to the rhythm. Jackson, grinning and clearly having fun too, pulled me in with a twirl. I crashed against his body, and he pressed me tight as we two-stepped together, spinning to the upbeat country tunes. I sang along to every word, every line of “Felt Good On My Lips” by Tim McGraw.
Jackson Kershaw was my fiancé, it still sounded strange in my ears even though it had been months since he proposed, and at 24, was tall, slender, and athletic, with bright blue eyes and a cowboy tan. Born and raised on a horse farm, his light brown hair was always sun-bleached from being outside. His rugged charm and easygoing nature made him a natural fit for the country life.
I, Briar Rose Cameron, or Bri to my loved ones and friends, am 22, a former socialite from a wealthy family with a long line of entertainment industry VIPs. My hair is long, a warm honey blonde shade like my mom’s and big brother Connor’s, my eyes are very light green, inherited from my Dad and many Camerons before him. Since moving to live with my fiancé on his horse ranch full-time after dropping out of college to become a writer, my style had shifted from modern designer wear to more practical attire suited for ranch life and riding as a main means of transportation—a stark 180 from my previous lifestyle.
We danced in the converted horse barn, now known as “Boot Scootin’ Barn,” the local honkytonk in Chestnut Ridge. To think just two years ago I wouldn’t even have known what a honkytonk is. The barn, with its rustic charm and twinkling fairy lights, was the heart of the community, where folks gathered to unwind and enjoy the simple pleasures of life after days fill with ranch chores. Work hard, play hard. The air was filled with the scent of fresh hay, leather, beer, horses and the sounds of laughter and country music, creating a perfect backdrop for Jackson and my unusual love story.
The Boot Scootin’ Barn was bathed in a warm, inviting glow. Strings of fairy lights were draped across the wooden beams, casting a soft, twinkling light that danced across the room. Lanterns hung from the rafters, their gentle flicker adding to the rustic charm. The walls were adorned with vintage sconces, each holding a candle that flickered gently, creating a cozy and intimate atmosphere. The dance floor was illuminated by a few strategically placed spotlights, casting a soft, romantic light that made everything feel magical. The combination of these lights created a perfect ambiance for a night of dancing and romance.
We waved at Ahanu and Hateya Graywolf, one of the older native families in town, who were dancing gracefully together. Their son, Chayton, Jackson’s best friend since childhood, was there with his wife, Ashton-Leigh. They had left their infant twins at home with a sitter for a rare night out. Ashton-Leigh’s parents were also present, chatting with friends near the bar.
Taylor Walker, Jackson’s ex, was there too, with her husband Jonah. She shot me a look that could curdle milk, still blaming me for her and Jackson’s breakup. I tried to ignore her and focused on the music and Jackson’s warm embrace.
Kellyanne and Kip McDaniels, whom I knew only by name and from passing them in town, were dancing nearby. They nodded politely as we passed, adding to the sense of community that filled the barn.
Just like the two songs before, Jackson kissed me, gently rocking to the fading tunes until we could tell what the next one was. This one turned out to be a slow, romantic number. He kept me close as we danced, our movements slow and deliberate, our lips meeting in soft, lingering kisses. The familiar strains of George Strait’s song “Carried Away” filled the air, and I couldn’t help but hum along softly as Jackson whisper-sang the lyrics into my ear:
“I get carried away by the look, by the light in your eyes. Before I even realize the ride I’m on, baby I’m long gone. I get carried away, nothin’ matters but bein’ with you. Like a feather flyin’ high up in the sky on a windy day, I get carried away.”
The warmth of his breath tickled my ear, sending shivers down my spine. The scent of his cologne, a mix of cedarwood and something uniquely him, enveloped me, grounding me in the moment. The soft glow of the fairy lights around us cast a gentle light, making everything feel magical. I could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my chest, a comforting reminder of his presence. The world around us faded away, leaving just the two of us, lost in the music and each other.
The melancholic tune got us both into a different mood, so once the last notes faded out, we left. As usual, Jackson opened the passenger door for me, and I had to pay the toll—a kiss. Bumping across the gravel road, we eventually arrived back home. Jackson helped me out of the truck, loaded me into his arms, and, kissing and giggling, he carried me to the door, which he kicked open. But unlike usual, we didn’t just face his dog Millie’s surprised face, woken from sleep, but another—a human face.
“Iris!” I exclaimed. Jackson slowly put me down and flipped the light on, revealing that my fraternal twin sister had been crying. Her mascara was smeared, and some of her makeup was on Millie’s neck. Millie now pulled away from Iris, jumped off the couch, shook, then trotted over to Jackson, who crouched down and snuggled his dog. I sat down next to Iris, opening my arms. My usually very aloof sister immediately threw herself into my arms and started sobbing.
While I was trying to calm her and carefully pry some information out of her, Jackson had succumbed to the idea that the night wouldn’t end as we both had imagined. Most likely, it would consist of long talks, so he made coffee.
“Sorry to show up like this, but… everything’s messed up guys!” Iris sobbed.
“Where’s yer car?” Jackson wondered in his signature drawl.
“That thing abandoned me, like everyone else. Down on the highway somewhere. Probably stolen. Or maybe it found someone better and just ran away with them,” she cursed between some tears.
Jackson came over, crouched down in front of her, and took her hands, clearly to try and talk to her, but before he could it had triggered her to throw herself against him, sobbing into his shoulder now. He shot me some helpless glances, then started awkwardly patting her back.
“Well now, sweetheart, you recall where about your car up and quit on ya? Like a mile marker or landmark, special tree or somethin’? Thinkin’ I oughta head on down the road you came by and see if I can find it. Might just be able to fix ‘er up.” he said to my sister.
“Oh, I don’t remember anything, somewhere just past the exit off the highway to come here. And it’s so nice to have a man who knows how to use his hands for more than just… well… you know. You are so sweet…” she sobbed harder, while Jackson sent me screams for help with his eyes, which was hilarious enough for me to fight not to giggle out loud.
“Iris, hey, give Jackson your keys so he can go check on your car, okay?” I tried.
Reluctantly, she released him, took some tissues I offered, while Jackson grabbed the keys she pulled from her pocket and made a run for it out of her reach. Iris was definitely not known to be snuggly, so whenever she was, people got suspicious or scared. Jackson returned with two mugs of coffee. Iris took one and sniffed it.
“Black with just a bit of milk?”
“Yes, Ma’am,” he smiled, from a safe distance, yet still triggering the next outburst.
“Oh my God, you are just the sweetest! How did you remember?! And you got it just right, not too much, not too little. My own dumbass man still can’t get it right, and I grew up with that idiot!” Iris was triggered into another sob-fit again.
Jackson and I traded glances, and he nearly ran out the door to get out of the vicinity of Iris’s very predictable next outburst.
Once the door shut behind him, she turned to me.
“You know, I never really got why you were so into this guy, I mean, I get the whole cowboy cliche, it’s kinda hot, but as your main man? I just didn’t see it, but now that I got up in there, I gotta admit, I wouldn’t kick him out of bed either. Nice and firm, manly. And while I sometimes barely understand half of what he says, that drawl can get a girl feeling certain types of ways. Momma like.”
“Hey lady, hands off, he’s mine. I WILL fight you. So, what did Jas do this time?” I tried to use my sister’s unexpected hymn to my man to get more information about what happened to her and her man.
“He cheated on me.” she sobbed.
BAM!
WHAT?!
My heart literally stopped, my eyes grew wide and my mouth fell open.
Jasper? Our sweet brother from another mother, whom we are sisters from another Mister to? He and we could not be any closer if we tried. The boy we grew up with since we all were born and even before was supposed to be a cheater? No way. NO WAY!
I said as much to my sister and she shrugged, sipping her coffee.
“Iris, details!” I pressed.
“Well, not only have I walked in on him TWICE now, sucking face with some chick on his film set, I saw messages with girls’ bare body parts on his phone, if you need me to be more specific, I can describe them in great detail…”
“No, thanks, pass.”
“Well, tonight I followed him, I told my boss I was working from home, but instead drove out to Del Sol Valley, and waited. Sure enough, there goes his car, to some apartment building and in he goes. I tracked him to some door. I listened and heard them laugh, then music was on. I waited and waited, until I couldn’t anymore, so I banged on the door. Finally, they open and guess what? Bitch in her underwear and Jas on her couch, hair all wild and no shirt on, probably I am gonna guess no pants either, but I didn’t stick around to analyze. I ran out, got in my car and well … suddenly all sorts of stupid lights went on, I was crying too hard, couldn’t tell what, until it started acting weird. I took the exit to Chestnut Ridge, but didn’t make it … I would have called but my cheating asshole ex wouldn’t stop calling and texting so I fired that damn phone out the window!”
“Oh, Iris,” I said, dwelling on the term ‘ex’, as I felt my phone buzz against my chest. Iris stared at me, confused. “My phone. I don’t have pockets in this dress,” I explained, fishing it out of my bra.
“If that is him, I am NOT here. But tell him to…” my sister fired off a barrage of insults while I tapped on the phone.
“It’s Connor,” I told her, then stepped outside to talk to our older brother.
“Is she with you?” he instantly inquired, his voice tense.
“Yeah, is Jasper with you?” I asked, trying to keep my tone steady.
“Oh yeah! Mom and Dad are traveling. He went there first, since Iris lives with them, but nobody was home, so he came over. You know Keira and her brother aren’t very close, but she had to go change, cos he soaked her entire shirt and then moved on to mine. I am calling you from our bedroom, in shirt number three now, I can’t reach Iris, for now obvious reasons, and thought I’d try you. I didn’t want to do it in front of Jasper, cos that boy’s a mess! We can’t get anything straight out of him. How about you? Any luck with Iris?” Connor sounded exasperated.
“Yeah, Iris is in similar shape, all snuggly and sobby. She said he cheated on her. Kissed a bunch of girls on a film set, has texts with inappropriate pictures, and then she found him with someone at an apartment. She threw her phone out of her car while driving, no idea where that could be. Connor, I didn’t see Jas’ engagement ring on her finger anymore,” I said, alarmed, gesturing desperately as if he could see me, feeling a mix of frustration and helplessness.
“What the actual…? That girl better have not tossed that out the window too! I was with him when he picked it out and that wasn’t cheap! Nor was her phone, not to mention a young woman in her condition without a phone over in your remote neck of the woods,” Connor ranted, frustration evident in his voice. I could hear him sigh, then inhale deeply. “Okay, let me see what I can do with that. You keep Iris there, do not let her leave. I’ll make sure Jasper stays here; he’s in no condition to drive. I am no relationship expert, but if that guy really did something he shouldn’t have, then I don’t know anything about anything, ‘cos his behavior screams ‘blindsided’ to me. I am sure he screwed up something, but I don’t think he would ever cheat. I think this is some misunderstanding again.”
“No worries, Iris wrecked her car or something. Jackson went to go find it and see if he can tow it here and fix it. So, she isn’t going anywhere,” I reassured him.
“Cool, call me tomorrow with an update. I’ll keep you looped in too,” Connor replied, sounding a bit calmer.
I heard gravel crunching, an engine, and saw faint light which now got brighter as Jackson’s truck came around the corner. He towed Iris’ car, and once parked, he jumped out of his truck.
“You think you can fix it?” I asked, hopeful, walking over to him.
Jackson gave me that grin he usually gave me when I messed up something but it was an easy fix for him. “Yeah, I reckon so. Just need a purdy little lady to give me a big ol’ kiss, and I think I can fix ‘er up.”
He laid on his charm, so giggling, I kissed him. We made out briefly, then he let me go, turned to the car, untied it from his truck, tossed the car keys up in the air, caught them, and remotely started it. Iris’ car engine fired right up and purred beautifully.
“Huh? There was nothing wrong with it?” I asked, bewildered.
“I’m sure there was. It was all outta coolant. Betcha the engine just about caught fire, got so hot. Overheated and it turned off. All good now. Better go wash up, or the lady that lives here’ll yell at me for makin’ everything dirty,” Jackson winked and passed me. As he entered, Iris came out, starin’ at her car outside the cabin, then inside, presumably at Jackson. I made my way to her.
“How?! Okay, Bri, your man is magic!” Iris exclaimed; her eyes wide with amazement.
“Yeah, he is. Hands off, he’s ALL mine,” I told her, feeling a surge of pride.
“Umm, hey, Bri… think I could crash here tonight? Mom and Dad aren’t home, and I really don’t want to see Jasper. He might come after me,” Iris asked, her voice tinged with worry.
“Oh, he tried to. Connor’s got him. That’s why he called,” I reassured her.
“GOOD. Tell Connor to give that cheating, lying jerk a piece of his mind! Agh, screw that, tell our brother to use his bear strength to beat the shit out of that asshole!” she immediately ranted as we both entered the cabin. Jackson stuck his head out of the bathroom door.
“Do what now?” Jackson asked, his curiosity piqued, eyebrows shooting up.
“Not you, Jackson. Your little bestie Jasper is a damn lying cheater. Can I stay, please?” Iris pleaded, looking hopeful.
“News to me that Jasper and I were besties, but okay. Well, yeah, I guess you can hunker down here for the night. Same room as last time y’all were here. I’ll get ya a towel and we got one extra toothbrush you can have. You’ll have to share the rest with us—soap, shampoo, all that,” Jackson replied, nodding, clearly ignoring her cheater-remark, but his eyes went to me with a clear question in them.
“Umm, can I get something to wear from you, Bri?” she pointed at her business suit, looking uncomfortable.
“Yeah, sure.” I turned to head to our bedroom, then suddenly remembered something and stopped. “Oh, wait… problem. We don’t have a washing machine, and I kinda forgot to take the laundry downtown to the laundromat. I’m currently wearing Jackson’s shirt to bed…” I glanced at him, and he raised his eyebrows in amusement.
Jackson chuckled, “I’m always up to help out ladies in need, but y’all gotta leave me something to wear too. Ain’t got many clothes to begin with. But I reckon I can’t let ya sleep in yer business suit there either, so hang on, Iris.” He gave me a look as he passed, playfully tapping my butt.
“You two, seriously. I admit it, I didn’t think this would work. Now look at you, living your very own utopia here, and then look at me and asshat Jasper. I thought what I had was a sure thing and you wouldn’t last out here, Bri… got some ketchup for all that crow I’m eating?” Iris said, shaking her head in disbelief.
“Iris, seriously, I just can’t see it. Jas isn’t like that. No way he would cheat on you,” I said, trying to calm her down, my voice steady but my heart racing. We had all grown up together—Iris, Jasper and me—closer than family. The thought of him betraying her seemed impossible.
“Sure, Bri, you’re right! I’m just making it up, so I can have a really nice heartbreak here, while everyone gives me the pity glares, ’cause that is how I thrive!” Iris snapped, her voice rising to a sharp, almost hysterical pitch. Her eyes flashed with a mix of anger and pain, and before I could say another word, she turned and slammed the bathroom door behind her.
Jackson stood in the bedroom doorway, holding one of his shirts, his expression a mix of concern and confusion. I sighed, shrugged at him, gave him the shortest Cliff’s Notes version of the situation on hand, then took my cell phone and went outside, the cool night air doing little to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside me. What if Jasper really did cheat? Would I have to pick between my oldest friend ever and my sister? The thought seemed impossible, tearing at my heart.
“Bri?” a voice I barely recognized as Jasper’s answered.
“Jas, you sound horrible…” I said, my concern deepening.
“Is she with you?” he sniffled. He was crying.
If you don’t know Jasper, this might sound like nothing, but I’ve known him since birth. Jasper was always happy-go-lucky, the epitome of upbeat and positivity, full of jokes and snarky comments. I could count the times I’d seen him cry in our 22 years of growing up together on one hand. Hearing him like this was overwhelming.
“Yeah, she’s here. But please, don’t come here. Stay where you are. Seriously, give her some time. She’s super-flammable right now. I just got my head bitten off trying to calm her down. Jas, what happened? Be honest, don’t lie to me now!” I urged, desperate for the truth.
“I don’t know, Bri. Nothing happened. She’s been accusing me of everything and then some,” Jasper said, frustration evident in his voice.
I raised an eyebrow, my tone skeptical. “She said she caught you with a girl at some apartment. You were naked, and she was in her underwear.”
Jasper’s voice was filled with disbelief. “What?! No way! Okay, my parents own this apartment complex and keep sticking me with this stuff whenever they leave town. I am living with them, until I make decent enough money to get Iris and me some real nice place, so I have no choice but to do it. There’s constantly some tenant with a problem, if it’s not one, it’s another, every time. So today I was sent there again, some lady had an issue. She was at the pool when I got there, so she was in a bikini, not in her underwear. What was I supposed to do, force her to change?!”
He took a deep breath, trying to calm down. “Anyway, she was all about some drippy faucet. I had that before, so I get my tools out—ACTUAL tools, not code for anything else, just to make that clear here—I start tightening, just like the last five million times I had to do that for one of them, but that pipe cracks on me. I hear it, I see it, and then I see nothing, just water bursting out at me and everywhere. Well, I manage to turn off the water to her place, call an actual plumber, then help her mop up the Atlantic Ocean that is now her kitchen and dining area, ’cause if I don’t and she sits on that, it will drip down into the apartment below and… well…”
Jasper’s frustration was palpable through the phone. “So, I am soaked AF, it feels nasty, it’s a warm day, so I take off my shirt. She feels bad and is all nice, offering me an array of beverages and food I keep declining, just biding my time since I have to wait for the plumber, ’cause last time I didn’t and that guy was a no-show and Dad told me I had to wait. That’s when Iris burst down the door and opened the gates of hell on me with her jealous rage, then ran off not giving me even a second to explain anything. By the time I was at my car, she was long gone. I came out to her parents, remembered too late that they are traveling with my parents, and she wasn’t there, went to Connor’s and… well… Bri, I swear to God, on my life, I didn’t do anything with that girl.”
“Okay. What about those weird texts with exposed body parts and smooching chicks on set?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. “Iris told me everything.” I couldn’t believe I was having this conversation with Jasper, my sister’s fiancé and our childhood friend. My heart pounded, but not just from anger—there was a part of me that refused to believe he could do something like this. I needed to hear his side, to understand what was really going on.
“Oh my God, not this again. Yes, I get texts with certain kinds of pics because, guess what, I’m actually an actor now and somehow someone always finds your number and I can’t keep changing it, or I won’t know if I get callbacks, obviously. If you guys had any decent cable TV channels out there, you’d know that I was on some big talk shows, Bri, I actually made lead for a brand-new TV series, the pilot had major audience so we’re going into production with it. I was going to tell you at Thanksgiving, but now I’m not even sure I’ll even be invited, over something like this.
Look, I didn’t kiss anyone on set for fun, you know me better than that. The director told us to practice because our kissing scenes for the movie weren’t good enough. How do you practice kissing without actually kissing? They don’t give you much guidance on set. Their take is, if they have to spell everything out for you, then this isn’t the career for you.
The scene had my character making out with two girls at once, so I practiced with one while the other watched and gave pointers. It was anything but romantic—it was super awkward. But neither I nor the girls could come up with a better way to do it. I’m an actor now; actors sometimes have kissing scenes. Iris knew that going in,” Jasper explained, his frustration evident.
I sighed, feeling the weight of the situation. “Okay, that sounds more like it. You stay with Connor. Jackson and I will try to talk some sense into Iris. But if you lied to me, if you messed around, Iris will be the least of your worries. I will come and find you and make you regret it,” I said, my voice firm and serious.
“Whoa! Girl! Jeez, Bri I can only handle one Cameron twin hating on me at a time, and if I have to choose, it’s gotta be the one who actually puts out. Well, or used to. Oh God, Bri, I seriously hope this isn’t gonna be the end. Seriously, Bri, you gotta help me out,” Jasper pleaded, despite his failed attempt to joke, he sounded unusually desperate and overwhelmed.
“Swear to me you never did anything with any of the other girls, just my sister and ONLY her. Swear it!” I demanded, my tone insistent, my eyes narrowing as I waited for his response.
“I swear,” Jasper replied, his voice earnest, but I needed more than just words.
“Pinky swear!” I insisted, not letting up. This was too important to let slide. The pinky swear was something we used to do as kids, a promise that meant everything.
“Umm, I am in San Sequoia, you’re in Chestnut Ridge, my arms aren’t that long, Bri,” Jasper said, trying to lighten the mood with a small chuckle, but I wasn’t having it.
“Say you pinky swear!” I repeated, determined to hear the words.
“I pinky swear on my own life. Seriously, Bri I am NOT lying, it’s Iris, all the way for me,” Jasper said, his voice filled with sincerity. I could almost see his face, the earnestness in his eyes, and it gave me a sliver of hope.
“Okay. Oh wait, here comes Jackson. I think he wants to talk to you. Bye, Jas,” I told him, then handed Jackson my phone and went back inside, feeling a mix of relief and lingering doubt. As I walked away, I couldn’t help but remember all those childhood promises we made with pinky swears. This one had to be just as true.
Jackson stayed outside for a while, talking on my phone to Jasper. Meanwhile, I calmed Iris. Her anger had turned to absolute sobbing again. By now, I had her in bed, awkwardly dressed in my fiancé’s shirt, which felt strange, but she had fallen asleep. I snuck out of the guestroom right when Jackson came back inside. I put my finger to my lips to make sure he’d be quiet.
We met in our bedroom, door shut. Jackson handed me back my phone, his expression serious.
“So? Do you believe him?” I asked, my voice low, almost a whisper. The weight of the situation pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe.
“Yup,” Jackson replied confidently, his eyes steady.
“Just yup?” I pressed, wanting more assurance, needing to feel the certainty he seemed to have.
“Yup. He didn’t do it. He’s good,” Jackson said, his tone firm, leaving no room for doubt.
“Oh, your built-in cowboy lie detector says so?” I teased, trying to lighten the mood. He turned to me, kissing me softly, pulling me close. The warmth of his embrace was comforting, a brief respite from the chaos. He playfully tapped my butt before letting me go to pull the shirt over his head.
“The usual. Different lifestyles clashin’. Just like what we used to go through, and still go through sometimes. He’s solid, I am sure of it. He loves her too much. I know for a fact when a man loves this hard, he ain’t gonna go lookin’ for trouble. No matter how readily available,” Jackson explained, his voice filled with conviction. His words wrapped around me like a blanket, soothing my frayed nerves.
“Huh?” I asked, confused, trying to piece together his logic, while taking off my shoes, placing them in their usual spot, then slipping off my dress and hanging it up neatly.
“The chick from the apartment, betcha she was comin’ onto him,” Jackson clarified, his eyes meeting mine with unwavering confidence, as he kicked off his boots into some corner, then stepped out of his jeans.
“He said nothing about that to me,” I said, surprised, feeling a pang of doubt, staring at Jackson.
“Of course not, ’cause you’d get like you just got. He told me he didn’t want no one else, I heard him, and I believe him. If he wanted to, he coulda, but he don’t want to,” Jackson said, his tone reassuring, his hand gently squeezing mine.
“What? That doesn’t even make any sense. How would you know? Got cameras on him 24/7? Or is that some bro-code I am not privy to?” I asked, skeptical, my eyebrows knitting together.
“If he did it and didn’t care, a guy like him would gloat. A man don’t cry on the phone with another man unless he can’t help it. He couldn’t help it. Sobbed like a baby. He didn’t do it. But the gal did recognize him from TV and came onto him. He said no. Iris needs to make a choice, either trust him or let him go. This ain’t gonna get better. He’s an actor now. And even I can say he’s easy on the eyes. And he’s the son of some big-time musician, and his mother runs one of the biggest fashion magazines. Girls are gonna come onto him. Iris needs to remember that. That’s what I think,” Jackson drawled, his voice calm and thoughtful, each word carefully chosen.
“Okay, I have a dare for you, Mr. Kershaw. A scary one,” I said, trying to lighten the mood, a small smile tugging at my lips.
“Scary? I don’t even know that word. I fought a cougar and lived to tell the tale, Miss Cameron,” Jackson drawled, grinning, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
“This is scarier. Tomorrow morning, I want you to tell Iris what you just told me,” I challenged, raising an eyebrow.
“Okay,” Jackson agreed without hesitation, his confidence unwavering.
“Okay? Just like that?” I asked, surprised by his readiness.
“Yup. I can handle you; I can handle yer sister. Y’all are twins. She don’t scare me none,” Jackson said confidently, his smile reassuring.
“Iris is much scarier than me,” I warned, my voice dropping to a whisper.
“Nah, she ain’t,” Jackson said, shaking his head, his smile never faltering.
“Yes, she is!” I insisted, my eyes wide.
“Nope,” Jackson replied, smiling, his confidence infectious.
Giggling, I ran at him, jumped him, he caught me with ease and slammed me on the bed, then let himself fall atop, catching his weight with his arms on either side of me. We play-wrestled and kissed, giggling and laughing, until I noticed the door was open and Iris was standing there, staring at us. Jackson noticed me freezing up, looked back, then rolled off me. Both of us now stared at my sister, who started crying again, then—seriously now—crawled onto the bed in between us.
“Can I stay with you guys tonight? I need to feel the love. I feel so alone and lonely now. I want to have what you have. I feel so unloved. Am I unlovable?!” her voice started cracking, and I feared another sob-fest.
Before I could respond, Millie, Jackson’s loyal dog, trotted into the room and jumped onto the bed, curling up next to Iris. Millie nuzzled her gently, as if sensing her distress. Iris let out a small, shaky laugh and petted Millie’s head, her sobs subsiding a bit.
“No! Mom and dad love you, Connor loves you. I love you, sis; sweet Millie loves you and Jackson loves you. Right, Jackson?” I whacked his arm behind my sister’s back, giving him the look. With an eye roll and a headshake, he patted her back.
“Yeah, sure, we all love ya, Iris. Yer family, and family sticks together, no matter what,” Jackson said, trying to sound reassuring.
“Oh, you’re so sweet. Hold me! I miss my man, but he’s a douche, so you will do. Why is my man such an ass?! WHY?” Iris’ voice turned desperate, turning to Jackson, who looked totally shocked, like a fish out of water, as he now carefully hugged my sister, trying to calm her as she sobbed into his shoulder, while flipping me off in between as I was having the hardest time trying not to burst out laughing.
We stayed like that for a while, until Jackson cleared his throat.
“Uh, Bri… lil help… I think yer sister is asleep now,” Jackson said, sounding a bit desperate. He was trying to gently remove his left arm from underneath Iris, who was now snuggled up against him, with Millie squeezed in between them. The bed wasn’t that big, and Jackson was on his side facing me, his eyes pleading for assistance.
“Oh no way, you gotta be kidding me! I wish I had my phone, this would make a pic I would frame and hang up in mom and dad’s dining room,” I giggled, and even Jackson chuckled, as we both held hands over my sister’s head, who was fast asleep, snoring quietly in between us. Millie had also settled in, her head resting on Iris’s leg, slightly drooling and snoring in tune with Iris, adding to the cozy chaos.
Jackson then whispered in his cowboy drawl, “First thing tomorrow, I’m installin’ locks on this here bedroom door.”
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of faint neighing through the open window. I blinked my eyes open and saw the sun already rising, which meant a late start for me. Normally, Jackson would have woken me with gentle kisses, his lips brushing against my forehead and cheeks until I stirred. Sometimes, those kisses led to more, a tender start to our day together. But today was different.
I carefully slipped out of bed, trying not to wake Iris, who was still snoring softly beside me. Jackson was already gone, as was Millie, and I felt a pang of guilt for oversleeping. Days on a horse ranch start early, and Jackson and I usually begin the day together with our chores and breakfast. But with Iris bumping in, I was up too late and overslept. I couldn’t help but commend Jackson for his patience with my sister.
I slipped on my jeans and layered a shirt over a tank top, then grabbed my hat, matching Jackson’s—a gift from him, sort of a welcome present. As I headed out, I couldn’t help but miss our usual morning routine, the quiet moments we shared before the world woke up.
I snuck out of the room, letting Iris rest, and made my way to the kitchen. There, I found a freshly brewed pot of coffee, breakfast on the stove being kept warm, and a package with new locks on the table, which made me snort with laughter. Oh, Jackson. Through the window, I saw him outside, digging in his big toolboxes. I smiled, feeling grateful for him.
As I poured myself a cup of coffee, Iris stumbled in, looking groggy but a bit more composed than the night before. The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the kitchen, a comforting blend of earthy and nutty notes with a hint of caramel sweetness.
“Morning, Iris. How are you feeling?” I asked, handing her a cup of coffee too.
“Better, I guess. Thanks for letting me crash here,” she said, taking a big sip of the coffee and looking a bit sheepish. Iris, my twin sister, was often seen as a bit of a “bitch” by those who didn’t know her well. Her sharp tongue and fierce determination, honed by years of law school, made her a formidable junior lawyer. But I knew the real Iris—caring, loyal, and deeply protective of those she loved. Beneath her tough exterior, she was also vulnerable, as last night had clearly shown.
“Of course. You’re always welcome here,” I said, giving her a reassuring smile.
“I, uh, I’m sorry for crashing your romantic moment last night and, well, falling asleep in your bed. Awkward! How much do you think Jackson hates me now?” Iris said, her tough exterior cracking just a bit, showing the Iris only her closest family knew.
“He doesn’t. Don’t worry about it. You needed us, and we’re here for you,” I said, giving her a hug. I admired Jackson’s patience with my sister, understanding that beneath her prickly exterior was a heart of gold.
Just then, Jackson walked in, wiping his hands on a rag. “Mornin’ all,” he said with a grin when he saw Iris pick up the package with the locks. Jackson had always seen through Iris’s tough facade. He respected her strength and determination, but he also knew how much she cared for those close to her. He often told me that Iris reminded him of a wild mustang—fierce and untamed, but with a spirit worth understanding and protecting.
Iris managed a small smile. “Seriously, Jackson? Wasting no time, huh?” Despite her teasing tone, I could see the appreciation in her eyes. She respected Jackson for his straightforwardness and his unwavering support for me. Deep down, she admired his ability to handle her bluntness with such ease. Many people were intimidated by Iris’s directness, but Jackson never was. He always gave it to her straight, no nonsense, and somehow, she never questioned his points, just like now.
“Hey, one of y’all Cameron gals is plenty for me, and our bed just ain’t big enough for three plus the dawg. I don’t wanna end up on the choppin’ block like ya know who…” He winked, walking over to the sink to wash his hands with a quick kiss for me on the way.
Iris looked down; her voice softer. “Did I overreact?”
“Well…” I started, trying to find the right words, but Jackson already turned to her, wiping his hands on a towel, bending down to her level.
“Yup!” he put things plainly, as was his way. Plain and blunt. No double meanings. You always knew exactly where you stood with him.
“But what about the texts, the kissing of other girls, and that apartment incident?” Iris shot back, her voice rising with frustration.
“What about ya sleepin’ with yer sister and me?” he simply said, raising an eyebrow.
“I didn’t sleep with you, just… well… next to you guys. Accidentally,” Iris stammered, looking flustered.
“What’s the difference? Ya slept next to us, in the middle, but also with us. My point being it might look bad and sound bad to someone who wasn’t there, but we all know it couldn’t’ve been more innocent,” Jackson explained, his tone calm and matter-of-fact.
“Got it. Poor Jas-y, bad Iris. Wow. Is he always like this?” Iris asked, turning to me, her eyes wide with surprise.
“Oh yes. Always,” I said, giggling.
“All right. If I could borrow your phone, Bri, I will call Jasper after breakfast. Think I should?” Iris asked, her voice uncertain.
“Yup! Ain’t no time like the present…here, take mine.” Jackson said, while handing her his phone, his tone encouraging.
Iris took the phone and stared at it for a moment, her fingers trembling slightly. “I hope he picks up,” she muttered, more to herself than to us. She appreciated Jackson’s support, even if she didn’t always show it. His calm and steady presence was something she had come to rely on, especially in moments of doubt.
Jackson and I exchanged a glance, silently agreeing to give her some space. “We’ll be outside if you need us,” I said, squeezing her shoulder gently before heading out with Jackson.
Outside, the morning air was crisp and refreshing. Jackson wrapped an arm around my waist as we walked towards the open shelters. “Think she’ll be okay? Think she’ll give him a chance?” I asked, my voice tinged with worry. The thought of Iris and Jasper breaking up over what seemed to be a misunderstanding weighed heavily on my mind.
Jackson pulled me closer, his touch warm and reassuring. “She’ll be fine, darlin’. It’s just a mix-up. Jasper’s a good fella, and Iris will see that once she cools down,” he said confidently, his drawl comforting.
“I hope so. She just needs to hear him out. I know Jas, no way would he do such a thing,” I replied, leaning into him. “Thanks for being so understanding. I hope they’ll be okay.”
“Darlin’, we been through much worse, and came out better for it. Besides, she’s tougher than a two-dollar steak,” he said with a grin, adding a touch of humor to lighten the mood. “And Jasper? That boy’s as loyal as a hound dog and twice as stubborn. They’ll figure it out.”
As we reached the shelters, we saw the horses already awake and eager for their morning feed. Patches, the young skewbald stallion, immediately trotted over and started nibbling on my shirt, his way of complaining about the delay in breakfast. His white coat with lighter and darker brown patches gleamed in the morning sun, making his antics even more endearing. His markings were also the reason he got his name, which hilariously just happened to be my dad’s nickname for my mom since their teen years. Jackson didn’t know that when he named him, and it’s lead itself to many hysterical moments.
“Alright, alright, Patches. Breakfast is coming,” I laughed, gently pushing him away.
Jackson’s favorite horse, Blaze, a dark liver chestnut stallion who got his name from, you guessed it, a very pronounced blaze on his face, watched the scene with a no-nonsense expression. Blaze was the firm leader of the herd, and he quickly set Patches straight with a stern nudge, asserting his dominance. The dynamic between the two stallions was always a challenge, and as Patches got older, it became clearer that we might need to either sell him or find a way to separate them.
Nearby, Hells Bells, the dark bay mare, and Sundance, the buckskin mare, nickered softly, their eyes following our movements. Prairie Rose, my stunning shiny chestnut mare, stood gracefully, her coat shimmering in the light. She was always a calming presence, and I felt a sense of peace just being near her.
To this day, despite several visits, I still hadn’t gotten Iris or Jasper to even attempt to ride one of the horses.
My parents, my brother Connor, and my sister-in-law Keira had all ridden our horses by now and had fun. They might not have enjoyed it as much as my 7-year-old nephew Chris, who, after an hour of learning, was already trying to challenge Jackson to a race. At least they gave it a try. But not Iris or Jasper. Jackson always joked about “city folk.” He’d often tease me, saying, “You used to be one of ‘em city folk, but I cured ya just in the nick o’ time.”
After a while, we heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Iris appeared at the shelter, looking a bit more composed, though she still eyed the horses feeding nearby with some caution. “I talked to him,” she said, handing Jackson his phone back, which he took and slipped in the back pocket of his jeans, her voice steady but her eyes betraying a hint of vulnerability.
“And?” I asked, pausing in my work and wiping my hands on my jeans.
“He explained everything, and I believe him. He really loves me, and I love him too much to just give up. It was just a misunderstanding, like you said. I feel so stupid for jumping to conclusions,” she admitted, her eyes welling up with tears again.
“Hey, it’s okay. We all make mistakes; just gotta make sure ya don’t go repeatin’ the same ones,” Jackson said, walking over to her and wrapping an arm around her shoulders, giving a friendly squeeze. His touch was gentle yet firm. “The important thing is you talked it out.”
Iris nodded, taking a deep breath. “Yeah, you’re right. Thanks, Jackson. And thanks, Bri, for being there for me.”
“Always,” I said, giving her a reassuring smile. “Now, how about you help us finish up here? These horses aren’t gonna feed themselves.” It was mostly meant to change the mood, as normally Iris would have given me a piece of her mind if she thought I was asking her to shovel manure. But not this time.
Iris managed a small laugh, wiping her eyes. “Sure, why not? Just don’t expect me to get too close to Blaze. He still scares me a little.”
Jackson chuckled. “Blaze is all bark and no bite, promise. Just like me,” he added with a wink. “Here, why don’t you fill up the water troughs? Nice ‘n’ easy.” he drawled.
Iris nodded and grabbed a hose, starting to fill the troughs. As she worked, Prairie Rose wandered over, curious about the new helper. Suddenly, my mare gave Iris a gentle nip on the butt, causing her to yelp and jump back.
“Hey!” Iris exclaimed, rubbing her behind and glaring at the mare. “What was that for?”
Jackson and I burst out laughing. “Looks like Prairie Rose just wanted to say hi,” I said, still chuckling.
“Yeah, sure, great Prairie Rose is gonna feel my water hose here before long! Isn’t she your horse, Bri? No wonder she picks on me. You probably trained her to bite my butt the moment I step foot in the paddock, huh?”
“I will neither confirm nor deny those accusations,” I giggled, leaning into Iris’s lawyer career.
“Welcome to ranch life, where butts get bitten, scratched, kicked and fallen onto on the daily,” Jackson added with a grin. “You’re doin’ great, city girl.”
As we continued our work, the familiar sounds of the horse ranch filled the air, and I felt a sense of peace settle over us. The morning might have started with uncertainty, but now, it was filled with hope and the promise of a fresh start. The tension and sadness from the day prior were all gone, replaced by laughter and lighthearted moments.
At one point, Jackson playfully splashed water at me and Iris, causing us to shriek and laugh. “Hey, watch it!” Iris said, trying to dodge the spray but ending up getting soaked anyway.
“Just coolin’ y’all off,” Jackson said with a wink, clearly enjoying himself.
“Cooling us off?! DUDE, don’t know if you noticed, but it’s late Fall, I am definitely not hot, and I am in a business suit that is real wool silk mix playing with YOUR horses!” Iris complained, which only generated a bigger grin from Jackson, knowing him, I already high tailed out of the way as he sprayed her full on now, leaving her to gargle her insults at him until she couldn’t help but laugh.
“My daddy always said, if ya live on a horse ranch and get cold, ya ain’t workin’ hard enough,” he laughed.
Meanwhile, Patches decided to join in the fun, nudging Jackson from behind and almost knocking him over. “Whoa there, buddy!” Jackson exclaimed, regaining his balance and giving Patches a playful pat. He then had to keep his horse Blaze away, who had noticed Patches’ treatment of Jackson. Blaze instantly went into protective mode, his ears pinned back and his teeth bared, ready to put Patches in his place again.
“Looks like Patches wanted to be part of the action too. See, Iris, we don’t need to pay for cable TV. We have everything from soap operas, medical emergency dramas, and professional wrestling, but with horses, right here,” I said, laughing.
“Serves you right, Jackson! That’s MY favorite horse now! You go, Patches!” Iris hollered from the safety behind a big barrel.
As we finished up, Hells Bells and Sundance started playfully nipping at each other, their antics adding to the cheerful atmosphere. Even Blaze, usually so serious, seemed to be in a good mood, gently nudging my sweet Prairie Rose as if to join in the fun.
“Looks like we got them horses all riled up and they’re fixin’ to throw a shindig of their own. Let’s leave ’em to it. How ’bout we rustle up some breakfast now that we’ve earned it? Bri and I can find ya some dry clothes after a nice hot shower, Iris. I whipped up some grub earlier, but it’s probably gone cold by now. Maybe Millie’ll still fancy it,” Jackson said, tryin’ to keep the mood light. “We’ll cook up some fresh vittles. The McDaniels dropped off a heap of eggs fixin’ to spoil, their hens were mighty busy layin’ new ones.”
Iris managed a small laugh. “Sounds good. I’m starving.”
We headed inside, Jackson with one arm wrapped around each sister, the laughter and camaraderie of the morning still lingering in the air. The day had started with uncertainty, but now, it was filled with hope and the promise of a fresh start.
We headed back to the cabin, the tension from the previous night slowly melting away like morning fog. As we sat down to eat, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of gratitude for how far we’d all come. Yes, we were all still young, and most of us were nowhere near where we thought our lives would lead us by this age, but we were all where we were supposed to be.
There had been a time when I thought Jackson and I would never make it. I’m so glad we both prevailed, hard as it had been and sometimes still was. And I was glad Iris and Jasper did too. She told us they had a serious talk, both ended up crying and proclaiming their love. After breakfast, she planned to drive the three hours to San Sequoia to meet up with Jas and spend the weekend at our parents’ home, where she lived at the moment. Mom and Dad weren’t home anyway, so I had a good idea how that weekend would go, which was why Jackson and I declined her invite to come along.
The following week was Thanksgiving, and by the time we all met up at my parents’ home, you wouldn’t even guess any of this had ever happened. The house was filled with laughter and the smell of roasting turkey. We reminisced about old times and all the hilarious moments our families had experienced. Iris and I shared a knowing look, grateful for the love and support that had brought us through the toughest times. I noticed her holding Jasper’s hand under the table, his engagement ring back on her finger. When they were both talking to Colton and Maddie, I nudged Iris and my older brother Connor, pointing at her ring, and he nodded, giving me a thumbs up.
“Remember when Dad thought he could deep-fry a turkey and almost turned the backyard into a bonfire?” I chuckled, shaking my head.
“Lost his eyebrows too, so Maddie had to draw them on for each performance he and Colton had for the holiday season that year,” Mom laughed. “I couldn’t look at your father without laughing until they had grown back.”
Dad smiled, despite some noticeable silver strands lining his still long and shaggy rockstar hair, which still made him look like a teenager. Nodding, he chuckled, “I was just trying to match your mother’s cranberry sauce experiments… I swear, one year it looked like it was glowing.”
Mom stuck her tongue out at him playfully, making everyone laugh.
Iris laughed, squeezing Jasper’s hand. “Yeah, and we all pretended to love it so she wouldn’t feel bad.”
“No, you all were trying to feed it to my dogs under the table, who eventually threw it all up and we ended up at the vet hospital thinking Morphy and Artemis were puking blood when they were fine, just had a serious case of a belly fully of Mom’s infamous cranberry sauce experiments,” Connor laughed.
“Well, at least they enjoyed Hailey’s cooking. You won’t find me joking about any of this, I require picture-by-picture guidelines when trying to make a basic sandwich. And who’s the doctor of the family? You should have figured out your dogs were just overfed, Doctor Con-Bear,” Colton laughed.
“I am not a vet and have never heard of a human patient presenting with regurgitating what looked like gelatinous blood under dining room and coffee tables onto cream white rugs. Besides, I was off-duty and too dazed from trying to get the radioactive aftertaste of Mom’s lava cranberry sauce out of my mouth with that snack mix you brought, until my son told me it’s supposed to be potpourri. Who puts potpourri with the food?” Connor defended himself to his father-in-law, laughing.
“Seriously, Dad, who eats flower-scented snack mix? It looked like hamster bedding! Used! Smelled like it too after a while …” 7-year-old Christian chimed in, making everyone laugh even harder.
“Hey, at least it was organic and ethically sourced,” Colton’s wife and Connor’s mother-in-law, Maddie, laughed.
“What about Bri’s first pie ever baked? It smelled and looked delicious until you took a bite and realized she had mixed up sugar and salt,” my sister-in-law Keira added.
Jackson grinned, leaning back in his chair. “Well, she still does that sometimes nowadays when her mind’s too busy with somethin’ else. Can’t tell ya how many times I had to stop her from squeezin’ dish soap onto tacos thinkin’ it was hot sauce. Here’s to family and all the crazy times. Y’all city folk sure know how to keep things interestin’. I didn’t have many funny stories from back before I met y’all, but I sure as heck do now.”
The house was bustling with family—eleven of us in total. Our hosts, Mom Hailey and Dad Chase, were joined by Colton and Maddie, Connor and Keira with their son Chris, and Jasper, Iris, Jackson, and me. The lively atmosphere made me feel both happy and calm, but also a bit melancholic with treasured memories of a childhood now past. Connor had brought their black German Shepherds: very old Morpheus (we all called him ‘Morphy’) and his daughter Artemis, who looked just like him before he turned so grey. We had also brought Millie, Jackson’s ranch mutt, who was Artemis’ mother. The dogs had their own entertainment, which meant we didn’t have to leave them alone for a long time.
As we sat around the table, sharing stories and laughter, Morphy decided to lay one of his old smooth tricks on us, only his old bones weren’t as fast anymore. He trotted over to the table, sniffing around innocently, then tried to quickly snatch a turkey leg but missed, knocking over a bowl of mashed potatoes. As old Morphy ran out of the room to hide, the bowl hit the floor without breaking, but the contents splashed everywhere, including up Connor’s pant leg. Artemis, not to be outdone by her father, rushed over and started to lap it up before Mom could grab the bowl. Connor tried to catch Artemis, but she got startled, jumped, and ended up in Maddie’s lap. Maddie instantly complained about her cashmere dress now having snags from Artemis’ nails, as the dog scurried off to hide until she was sure nobody was mad at her, which we never were.
Just then, we heard strange lapping sounds. We turned and saw that Millie had used the diversion created by Morphy and Artemis to pull down one of the pies and was now indulging herself, completely unimpressed by Dad’s attempts to shoo her off. It wasn’t until Jackson gave a firm command that she trotted off, looking at us as if we all kicked her proverbial dog. The whole family burst into laughter, the sound filling the room and warming our hearts.
“Well, looks like the dogs are in on the Thanksgiving fun too,” Jackson said, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.
And in that moment, as my eyes met Jasper’s across the room while we all scurried to contain the dogs and the mess, we shared a silent understanding. He mouthed ‘Thank you!’ with a smile. Surrounded by family and love, I knew we all were exactly where we were meant to be.
EchoesOfLegacy 