San Sequoia – Seaglass Haven
A Chaotic Family
“I’ll be right there,” he drawled, watching Bri rush out the door after the two kids. He turned to reach for his trusted old deep brown Stetson, its corners partially faded from years of wear. His hand paused when his eyes caught on an old photo.
It was of him and Bri, with Jasper and Iris, around 17 to 19 years old, baby-faced teens on their way to Senior Prom. His gaze lingered, a small smile creeping into the corners of his lips as memories flooded back. He looked away, grabbing his hat, and caught his own reflection in the mirror, staring at the man looking back at him. The man who kind of looked like the boy in the photo but was undeniably different—etched with lines of life’s trials and triumphs. Now 30, he was older, but not old, even though looking at photos from back when made him feel ancient sometimes.
With a sigh, he turned, hat in hand, noticing the bedroom door ajar. Bri liked to keep it closed because her parents’ dog, Snuffins, had a penchant for napping in beds, especially after digging up one of Hailey’s flower beds. He stepped close to shut the door, memories of the previous night swirling in his mind like a gentle breeze through an open window.
“Pa, are ya comin’ or what?! I’m hungrier than a barn cat at milkin’ time!” Beau’s impatient little voice, already carrying a hint of his father’s drawl, broke through his reverie. The six-year-old’s tone was a perfect blend of impatience and that unmistakable twang, making Jackson smile despite himself.
“Yeah, I’m comin’, I’m comin’, keep them breeches on, kid! Jeesh! Impatient like yer mother,” he drawled, setting his hat on his head with a final, practiced pat before turning to leave.
They had a chaotic breakfast together. Jasper was in town again, joining them, and it jolted Jackson’s heart when Iris, Bri’s twin sister and Jasper’s fiancée, walked past him. Jackson smiled warmly, a mix of happiness and a tinge of melancholy washing over him as he saw the couple’s affectionate dynamic. Iris, a senior associate at a large law firm, was dressed in a business suit, her 20-week pregnancy barely showing. Jasper pulled her into his lap, her giggles filling the room as she tried to maintain her composure. They playfully made out, their love rekindled after a rough breakup, until Hailey, Iris and Bri’s youthful and humorous mother, had enough. She stuffed slices of orange into each of their mouths, chiding them with a loving yet exasperated smile.
“Suck on that for a while, vitamins are good for the baby and may jog your memory that there are children at the table!” Hailey exclaimed, her light blue eyes twinkling with affection as she looked at her family, including Jackson, who was very much a part of their lives.
Jackson’s gaze shifted to his six-year-old twins, Beau and Bonnie. The sight filled him with a mix of joy and longing. Watching Iris and Jasper embrace their second chance and impending parenthood, he felt a pang of jealousy but also a deep sense of contentment seeing the family together, chaotic but happy.
His eyes then drifted to Bri, who had recently graduated college, after having dropped out years ago to be with him, then went back for her degree after their divorce. She was scrolling through her phone, likely handling business related to her burgeoning career as a singer-songwriter. Hailey, ever the vigilant mother, noticed and swiftly snatched the phone from Bri’s hand, replacing it with a slice of toast.
“No work at the breakfast table, Missy. This here is family time,” Hailey said with a wink, tucking Bri’s phone into her pocket.
Chase chuckled, adding, “At least she’s in her own chair, not Jackson’s lap. It’s the little things…”
Bri rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a smile, her light green eyes twinkling as she bit into the toast. Her gaze met Jackson’s, and she gave him a smile that went straight down to his bones. Memories of a night spent together jolted through him, making his heart race. The laughter and love around the table made the morning feel complete, despite the chaos.
“Iris, Jasper, instead of smooching the color off each other, maybe start making plans that have legs here?” Chase grumbled, sipping his coffee. “Wedding, and are you both planning to live here plus baby, or what? If you are, I have a couple things to say about that! So does your mother. We’re not free live-in nannies!”
“Daaaaaad, we told you. Jas needs to wrap up his movie and go through all the post-production PR drama, then the release drama, and then hopefully our little angel, Anastasia Cami Hargrave, will have vacated me. Hopefully my figure will be back to where it was and have actual options for a classy wedding gown. IF I get married, I wanna do it right,” Iris explained, her tone filled with determination.
“What you mean IF, woman?” Jasper interjected, feigning shock.
“More importantly, what do you mean back to where it was? Oh, honey, after having kids, your body won’t ever be the same,” Hailey said with a motherly kiss on Iris’ cheek, accompanied by a wistful shrug from Bri.
“Well, we’ll see about that,” Iris pouted, sitting in her own chair and grabbing Jasper’s mug, which he snatched back. “Uh uh uh! Say no to caffeine, mommy.”
She gave him one of her infamous glares.
“I wouldn’t do that,” Chase warned. “Expecting moms can have one and nobody here likes dealing with Iris in caffeine withdrawals. Let her have it. Better for all our health, and the baby will be okay. It’s a Cameron. That kid’s blood is 50% caffeine already anyway.”
“She’s a Hargrave, and we like to live healthy,” Jasper retorted, his voice playful yet firm.
“Ha! Yeah, right kid. If only I had known your father for a lot longer than you, right?” Chase said with a chuckle.
“Oh, our fathers’ sins…” movie actor Jasper said theatrically.
“Not to mention our children’s, huh? Yeah, I am looking at ALL of you! Your sin is growing inside my still unmarried daughter, and the divorced one and her ex aren’t even putting any effort whatsoever into at least trying to be sneaky about canoodling under my roof! Sodom and Gomorrah!” Chase teased, grinning.
“Well, technically, the pool house has its own roof…” Bri retorted, causing a chuckle from everyone around the table.
Chestnut Ridge – Kershaw Ranch
Back home on the range
These were the moments—fleeting, innocent, nothing really special—that haunted Jackson daily when he wasn’t visiting with Bri. Jasper had been right about him being a part of the Cameron family even after the divorce. He was still invited to all the events, even Iris’ and Jas’ baby shower, which was meant as a relatively small family and friends affair but ended up being more than memorable when Murphy’s Law struck in full force. Everything that could go wrong did, and he had never laughed harder, much like everyone else who had been there.
He had been invited to Bri’s graduation and was the first to kiss the freshly graduated Music and Fine Arts Major. And Bri never withdrew herself from him; she was there for talks and for the physical part. Yet, his ring was no longer on her finger, and theoretically, she could find someone new. As could he.
He had thought about it. He had gone out to country dances and county fairs. Girls had flirted with him, and he let them, even flirted back, but he never wanted to take any of them home. His excuse was his son, Beau, but in reality, Beau loved spending the nights with friends, especially Jackson’s best friend Chayton’s kids, on the reservation. Chay’s people still upheld a lot of the old traditions, and Jackson remembered from his own childhood days that all that always felt like an adventure to him then. Plus, he knew Chay’s tribe would keep Beau safe like their own.
One day, Beau was in school when a cloud of dust announced a visitor. Apprehensive at first, Jackson continued to tend to the horses. He soon froze, his bright blue eyes blinking against the rising sun on the horizon when he made out the figure exiting the brand-new Range Rover. The dust was still settling as she approached the fence. Almost automatically, he had been walking towards her. She stepped up on the fence as he reached it too, leaning in, her arms wrapping around his neck for a kiss that made his toes tingle.
“Howdy, cowboy,” she cooed, before he finally unfroze, picked her up, lifting her over the fence and into his arms.
“Bri,…” he drawled, his tone incredulous.
“Thought you wouldn’t mind a surprise! I am only in town for a day, got me a rental and thought I’d surprise you.”
“You’re good at thinkin’ then!”
And he would never forget that pivotal moment that followed her arrival. After giving her a special welcome in his bedroom, he had made them coffee while she was in the shower. Just in his jeans, barefoot and shirtless, with the front door wide open for some ventilation before the day’s heat, his persistent ex-girlfriend and Bri’s arch nemesis Taylor showed up, immediately starting her usual cooing. As usual, Jackson quickly dissuaded her, but her jaw literally dropped as Bri stepped out of his bathroom, wearing nothing but a disarming smile. She then wrapped herself around Jackson, taking his mug and sipping it deliberately seductively.
“Oh, hi Taylor …” Bri chirped, and Jackson couldn’t help chuckling. Taylor instantly turned, jumped on her horse, and rode off.
“Well, well, she’s got a mean side, don’t she?” he drawled, winking at Bri.
“She is the walking, talking epitome of mean,” Bri hissed, staring at the cloud of dust settling in Taylor’s wake. Jackson pulled away from her, turning towards her, his finger tracing the long scar on her stomach from the surgery to remove a ruptured cyst and one ovary when she was 16.
“I wasn’t talkin’ ’bout her, meant you. Dayum, Bri. Who are ya and what have ya done to my sweet ex-wife? And now why would ya be out here all nekkid-like and all? You never done that before! You gonna be givin’ some hapless passersby all sorts of jolts struttin’ round like that with the front door wide open!”
“It was fully intentional and it’s called ‘payback,’ cowboy! She did this exact thing to me when I came here to talk to you before our divorce, so she got back what she dished out and then some, keep the change, you redneck hussy. That’s how we do it where I come from, babe. It’s called a burn,” she told him with a quick peck on the lips, before turning to walk off. He pulled her back, her bare body crashing into his.
“Naw, not so fast now…” he murmured, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. He tapped the tip of her nose playfully, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “You think you can just walk away after doin’ all that lookin’ like this? Not a chance.”
Grand Ideas
After graduation, Bri had embarked on a world tour, the first of many. Initially, it was to introduce herself to the world, but her exceptional reception saw her booked left and right. Whenever she finally returned home, a call or email soon summoned her away again. While Jackson was still invited to all events and attended religiously with Beau, the boy’s mother usually had one foot out the door again. She remained present for Bonnie and Beau, but visits to the ranch grew rare, the echoes of her laughter and the warmth of her presence fading like a distant melody.
One day, Jackson showed up at Seaglass Haven unannounced, Bri’s parents’ property where they usually all met up. The sprawling estate was indeed a haven, with pristine gardens and the gentle sound of waves crashing against the shore in the background. Iris was just on her way out to her separate guest house carrying a bag of chips, a jar of pickles, some ice cream and something wrapped in aluminum foil when she saw him. With a quick greeting and a smile, she let him in before heading off.
Hat in hand, pressed against his chest, Jackson stepped into the living room, the scent of freshly brewed coffee and Hailey’s lavender perfume filling the air.
“Evenin’ Ma’am, Sir …” he greeted sheepishly while knocking his knuckles against the doorframe of the open living room door.
“Oh, Jackson, honey, we weren’t expecting you! I am sorry, sweetie, but Bri isn’t here. She’s traveling, but I can see if I can wake up Bonnie for you,” Hailey greeted him with a warm smile and a peck on the cheek, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
“Ah naw, Mrs. Cameron, I’d just like a word with you and yer husband if ya don’t mind. Sorry I didn’t call ahead, forgot to charge my phone, dang thing won’t hold a charge for nothin’. Hope this is okay, Iris let me in, said to just come in here like this,” Jackson replied, his voice steady but tinged with a hint of nervousness. His medium-deep, slightly raspy voice carried a pleasant drawl that had become his signature.
“Mrs. Cameron? Why so formal? Are you planning to sell us something? You know we don’t need any more vacuum cleaners and we’re too old to learn about crypto currency!” Hailey teased, her laughter like a gentle chime.
He briefly chuckled too. “Nah, not sellin’ nothin’, just tryin’ to be polite … I honestly don’t know what to call all ya’ll, seein’ how … ya know …” Jackson’s voice trailed off, his gaze dropping to the floor.
“Baby, you will call us Chase and Hailey, just as always. Nothing has changed. Well, some things have, but … well, you know what I mean. Sit. I will get you some coffee too,” Hailey decided, rubbing Jackson’s cheek with a motherly touch, followed by a quick peck.
“Oh, that woman. I keep telling her not to smooch around on you and Jasper, you boys are getting too old for that. My wife kissing around on 30-year-old men. Argh. Chris is about to age out of wanting all that PDA from his grandma, but she is deaf on that ear. Wife-hearing,” Chase chimed in, his voice gruff but affectionate, a reminder of his days as a Grunge Rock musician.
“Oh, I don’t mind it none, Mr. … uh … I mean Chase,” Jackson replied, a small smile tugging at his lips.
“Sit, kid! You’re giving me a crook in my neck,” Chase said, motioning for Jackson to take a seat.
Hailey returned with the coffee for Jackson and some cookies, the aroma of freshly baked treats mingling with the scent of the sea breeze wafting through the open windows. When all was served and nobody spoke, she tried to trigger the conversation with a question that was evidently burning in her mind. “So, are you here to ask for Bri’s hand then?”
Chase’s head snapped around to her, eyes wide in surprise. Jackson almost spit out the sip of coffee he was drinking, coughing slightly. The sudden noise woke Snuffins, the large mutt, who ambled over and poked Jackson with his nose. Jackson absent-mindedly petted him, trying to regain his composure.
“Oh Patches, for heaven’s sake!” Chase exclaimed, his voice exasperated as he rolled his eyes. “They just got divorced! He’s not here to marry her again! Not to mention I am not paying for several weddings per daughter, especially not to the same guy! If they wanna get remarried so fast after divorcing, then maybe they shouldn’t have gotten divorced in the first place, hmm? I am not really clear what that exercise was all about in the first place, seeing how neither of them moved on in the slightest and they are still joined at the hip when in the same place for longer than 5 minutes, and I mean that in more ways than one! If they wanna get hitched again, they can go to Las Vegas, and on their own dime! I’d even pack them some sandwiches and cookies!”
Hailey sighed, shaking her head with a bemused smile. “Oh Chase!”
Chase smirked, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. “Oh Hailey! I love you, I love your romantic side, but that’s just nonsense! It IS nonsense, right Jackson?! You better not say anything other than yes now, son!”
Hailey’s eyes sparkled with a mix of amusement and affection. “Gump, don’t threaten the boy! Let him speak freely. So, are you here to marry Bri again?”
“Oh! Nah, umm … ‘fraid not, but … I had an idea that’s kinda right around those same lines. Look, the reasons for the divorce had nothing to do with us not wantin’ to be together or not bein’ in love, y’all know that, it’s quite the contrary. Which is why I am here, with my idea. I already talked to Connor about it and he thought it was solid, told me I should run it by all y’all too, hopin’ ya could give me some good advice and maybe lend me a hand and even some money. I really hate to ask, but kinda don’t have any other choice, and I hope ya both know I am good for it and fully intend to pay back ev’ry dime of it,” Jackson said, his voice earnest and hopeful, his drawl adding a touch of sincerity.
Property Wars
Giggling, Bri played with the beaten-up radio in Jackson’s old truck, her delicate fingers turning the dials until she finally landed on a station playing country tunes. The familiar twang of guitars filled the cab just as Jackson brought the car to a stop. Bri looked up, her warm, lightly tanned forehead wrinkling in confusion.
“Why did you stop? Where are we?” Her voice was light, soft, and warm, with a melodic cadence, clearly that of a trained singer.
“San Sequoia. Still,” he replied, pointing at the red bridge visible in the distance, his drawl unmistakable.
“Yes, I can see that, but San Seq is big. Ok, let me rephrase: why are we HERE?” Bri asked, curiosity laced with confusion.
“‘Cos I wanna show ya somethin’. Come on. Need to take a little walk,” Jackson replied, his medium-deep, slightly raspy drawl adding a touch of mystery.
“A walk? There? Jackson, the park is way further down,” Bri protested, pointing at a vacant lot nearby. The lot was overgrown with weeds, surrounded by a mostly intact chain-link fence which was cluttered with posters, trash scattered all across the property, small crumbled concrete paths lined it on two sides. She grimaced, her forehead wrinkling in dismay.
“We ain’t goin’ to no park. Said I wanted to show ya somethin’. So, come on, woman!” Jackson said, opening his car door, jumping out, and walking around to open her door. He lifted her out with ease, taking her hand in his. His strong, slender frame moved with the grace of a typical horse rancher cowboy. His brown hair was disheveled and sun-bleached at the ends, and his brilliant blue eyes contrasted against his naturally tan skin. He adjusted his trusty old worn-out hat, a familiar sight that added to his rugged charm.
At the brisk pace he set, his long strides made her stumble alongside him, her heels clicking frantically as she tried to keep up with his long legs.
Bri chuckled, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “You sure you’re not dragging me here to kill me and make my body disappear? You know, ex-wife and all.”
Jackson winked at her, a playful grin spreading across his face. “Nah, darlin’. If I had plans for your body, they’d be a lot more fun than that. Besides, you’re the one payin’ me alimony and child support. I know I ain’t no smart man, but I am smart enough to know not to get rid of my sugar momma!”
Bri laughed, swatting his arm lightly as they continued to hold hands. “Oh, you just know all the right things to say to sweep a girl off her feet, probably literally, cos I wish you would have been more specific as to where you are dragging me off to, so I wouldn’t have worn my heels and minidress, they are not made for off-roading like this!”
Without warning, he scooped her up into his arms, making her squeal with joy and giggle as he carried her effortlessly.
Jackson chuckled “Hush. Just humor me. I need yer input. Don’t worry, I ain’t gonna propose or nothin’. Like I said, I just wanna show ya somethin’.”
“Show me what?” She wrapped her arm around his neck, looking ahead to where they might be going, still confused.
“An idea,” Jackson replied, his eyes twinkling with anticipation.
“An idea? What idea?” she pressed, curiosity getting the better of her.
“Well, ya just gon’ have to come along and see, won’t ya now?” he teased, his drawl adding a playful edge to his words.
Giggling, Bri was carried along the path to a serene lake, where he stopped and set her down carefully, planting a sweet kiss on her lips. She wrapped her arms around him, holding on for a longer kiss until he pulled away, winking at her. Then, he pulled out his phone to check something as she looked around.
“Are we going fishing?” she asked, raising an eyebrow, looking at the lake.
“Nope. Other side. This right here is what I am tryin’ to show ya,” Jackson said, pointing toward the field.
Bri looked around, her gaze landing on the vacant lot he was pointing to. The lot didn’t look any better from this angle, overgrown with weeds and partially fenced with posters, graffiti, and scattered trash all over, brownish dry bald spots highlighting the length of the growth of the rest of the weeds. It wasn’t very attractive. Beyond the lot, she could see apartments on the cheaper side and businesses, with parts of the famous red bridge peeking through. Drawing blanks, she turned back to Jackson, her confusion evident.
“A field? With apartments in the background?” Bri’s brow furrowed as she took in the sight. “Jackson, I know you never really got why I like the urban life, but this isn’t exactly what I mean when I say I love living in the city. What I mean are the conveniences, access to modern medicine and creature comforts and all that. Besides, I know it will never match the scenic sunsets at your ranch, but there are much prettier views than this,” she remarked, her tone a mix of curiosity and skepticism.
“Ain’t about the view. Plus, the main windows would face out this way. Over this here lake,” Jackson explained, pointing as he spoke, a hint of excitement in his tone.
“Windows? Huh?!” she asked, her green eyes widening in surprise.
“I am thinkin’ about buyin’ this. Matter of fact, I already submitted an offer. They came back with a counteroffer. And I am just not so sure I wanna risk it, not knowing yer feelin’s on all that, so I brought you here to help me decide,” he explained, his voice earnest and tinged with a twang.
“A counteroffer? Jackson, babe, I don’t understand a thing here. Why are you buying land in the city now? What for?” Bri asked, confusion evident in her tone.
“All right, so I been thinkin’ about our situation. Seemed to be an ‘it is what it is’ kinda deal, and I think we both surrendered to that. But then Jasper and Iris changed my mind. Their situation is just as messed up and impossible, yet, they’re engaged again, they’re gettin’ married and they’re havin’ a baby, which neither ever wanted, until it was happenin’. They’re happy,” he swallowed, his eyes searching hers. “We’re not happy. I thought settin’ ya free would make ya happy, but you are just as miserable as I am. Am I right? Tell me now if I am wrong and I quit yappin’.”
“You are not wrong. But I never thought losing you would make me happy. I knew it wouldn’t. But I knew I couldn’t stay with you. For Bonnie, and for myself. What happened to her made me hate the ranch and Chestnut Ridge, and I couldn’t get over it. I wasn’t leaving you, I was leaving THAT. The divorce was because I didn’t think it was fair to tie you to me if I wasn’t going to be living with you, I knew it wouldn’t make me happy. YOU make me happy, Jackson. Our kids make me happy. My music makes me happy. Unfortunately, I can’t have it all together. Which makes me unhappy,” she confessed, her voice soft and filled with emotion.
Jackson smiled wide, nodding. “Alright, you answered my question, and couple more I had. So, I was right. Told ya before, I ain’t no educated man, nor very smart, but yer brother is and he liked the idea, so I knew I might well be onto somethin’ and sounds like, I am. So, here is the plan. I bought this. Or am fixin’ to. I saved all the money you been sendin’ for me and Beau, and then when Stryker and Sophie came by the ranch the other day we all got to talkin’ and they actually gave me the idea. Still unripe then, but I got nothin’ but time to think out there when Beau’s at school, so that’s what I did. Been rackin’ my brain till it just about caught on fire, And then I thought of somethin’, told Stryker, he thought it was brilliant, and ya know, his momma came into a lot of money just before she died, left it all to them, so he and Sophie offered to help me out a little bit. Wasn’t enough, so I went to yer parents, gave them my pitch, they liked it too and said they would help. Scraped it together, barely enough, but it’ll do for now. I am gonna pay all that back one day, but …”
“Jackson, babe, what are you talking about?” she asked, her voice tinged with confusion and curiosity.
“I am gonna build here,” Jackson declared with a sweeping motion over the property, his voice filled with determination.
“Build what? If you wanna move to San Sequoia, you and Beau can come live with us, but Jackson, you can’t live here, not permanently, that’s the entire point of the divorce. You would die without your horses!” she exclaimed, her green eyes wide with disbelief.
“Why I am buildin’ a ranch.” he told her with satisfaction in his voice.
“A ranch? In San Sequoia? With horses? And my brother and parents thought that was a good idea?” she questioned, her voice incredulous.
“Look Bri. What is it that all ya city folk always need?” he asked, his drawl adding a layer of warmth to his words.
“Starbucks?” she guessed.
“Yeah, aside from that. I’ll tell ya what: therapy. I am buildin’ a therapy ranch, right here, smack dab. That’s what I am doin’.”
“A therapy ranch?” she repeated, her voice a mix of surprise and curiosity.
“Well, yeah. I helped Stryker through his thing, I helped you when ya were all down about that surgery ya had to have. I think I am good at this. Bri, I don’t have nothin’ else. All I know is horses. This could work with all that and be near ya and Bonnie. My horses and I make them city slickers better. And for the few people here in the big city that don’t need no therapy, I am also gonna offer regular horse ridin’ lessons, children and up. Something for everyone. Yer momma wrote up a whole business plan thing about that for all them permits and ordinances and all that,” he explained, his blue eyes shining with determination.
Briar Rose let out a confused giggle, while staring at Jackson as if he had grown a few more heads.
“What? Okay, but what about your other ranch?” she wondered, bewildered, but intrigued.
“Ya see, that’s the thing. That was the final straw that made me actually wanna try this crazy thing. My daddy is starting to be very homesick. He’s gettin’ older, the wet and cold weather over in Henfordshire isn’t doing him any kindness, rheumatism, arthritis and all that, and Cody turns out to be more like him and me than poor Izzy. That boy keeps getting himself in trouble with the aristocratic kids and that can backfire badly. AG and her husband had to step in a couple times, but Max now told dad he can’t keep doin’ that, makes him look bad as the king and to sort that out. So, when I started talkin’ about my pipe dream to them and Connor, dad said he’d move back in a heartbeat and Izzy seems into it too. They have too many foxes eatin’ all them dang chickens, cos the king had to decrease the traditional fox huntin’ when some animal rights folks started complainin’, so now they got too many of them eatin’ everything. Because there are more foxes tryin’ to eat all them bunnies, those made even more bunnies and now those are eatin’ Izzy’s vegetables and she is over it. Said she’d rather move somewhere where she can shoot them critters if they get too cheeky,” he explained, his drawl emphasizing his frustration.
Bri couldn’t help but laugh.
“What? Hang on, so I am hearing this correctly. You, the dyed-in-the-wool cowboy, wants to move to San Sequoia, THIS San Sequoia here which we are standing in, with your horses, to build a ranch? Jackson, you can’t live in the city. You need wide open spaces. So do your horses. You use them more for transportation that your old truck. Waddling around a park with them, if that’s even allowed by city ordinance, is not gonna cut it for them or you. You need the country and your wide-open spaces out there,” she said, her voice filled with a mixture of amusement and disbelief.
“I need you, Bri. YOU. Horses and I make do. Beau needs his mother and grandparents. All of them. This way, he and Bonnie would grow up with my dad in the picture too. I grew up without any family and I don’t want that for my kids, I want everyone I can get. And I don’t think them horses would lack exercise if they have to schlepp the people for the therapy around all day. Connor helped me look into it, all I need are some certificates and permits and he can help me get all that and said he’d get Iris on that too. He thinks I can do this, Bri. Stryker and Sophie think so. My pa and Izzy think I can and your parents do too. I think I can do this. Do you?” he asked, his blue eyes searching hers for an answer.
Briar Rose wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down to kiss him, then whispered near his ear, “I think you can do ANYTHING you want, Jackson.”
“So, do you like it?” he asked, his voice filled with hope.
“No,” she said seriously, watching him deflate a little, before smiling. “I LOVE IT!”
“All right!” he beamed, nodding. “That’s what I am talkin’ about. I am gonna have to figure out if I can counteroffer then, maybe I’ll talk to …” she interrupted his excited flow by placing both hands on each side of his face, making him look at her.
“Jackson, do you have any concept how wealthy my parents are? I know you always thought we lived in fancy mansions and all, but baby, you haven’t seen anything yet. My parents and Colton and Maddie too, decided long before they had kids that they wanted to keep their affluence on the down low, just enough luxury, but never too much. They raised us kids the same way, luxury, but not insanity. They have more money than they could ever possibly spend, and after they are gone, one third of that is mine. Not to mention the money I will be making, or which I already have made, but payout is always very delayed for career musicians like me. I will fund this for you, the whole thing, paying back Stryker and Sophie and my parents. If you really wanna do this, I am all in, Jackson. You know I can’t be here to help hands on a lot, but when I am here, I will try, whatever you need. Look, I am trying not to get too carried away here, and I know you like saying you are not smart, but you just solved an unsolvable problem. For you, for me and for our children. And from the sounds of it, for your dad, Izzy and Cody as well. What have we to lose at this point? We can only gain now. Baby, let’s do this!”
Jackson let out a loud ‘Yee-Haw!’ throwing his hat up in the air, catching it, which startled several passersby on the nearby city streets, inciting stares and headshakes. He now lifted Bri up in his arms, twirling her around till she couldn’t help but laugh hard, cheering as well, her light green eyes sparkling with joy.
When their little celebration was over, another Cameron family meeting was called to put the plan into action. The meeting was a buzzing hive of activity, with everyone bringing their expertise to the table. Everyone present either wanted to help hands on or knew someone who could help, someone who knew codes, permits, and laws, an architect, or how to start a business. The synergy was palpable as the puzzle pieces began to fall into place.
It took several weeks, but by summer, construction of what would become the “Healing Hooves Stables” had begun and wheels had been put in motion. Beau was a little sad at the outlook of moving to the city, but it turned out what he would miss the most were the horses. Since those would be moving with him, he was very much appeased and even a little excited for the adventure. His best friends all went to school at the reservation, which he couldn’t, so he was separated from them most of the time anyway. This was why they spent so much time together when there wasn’t school, and he could still spend weeks at the ranch with his grandpa and Izzy during school breaks to see his friends then.
Everything seemed to start to fall into place, like the final pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, revealing a picture of a new beginning, where love and family found their way back together, stronger and more hopeful than ever.
Boys Will Be Boys
One balmy evening, Jasper and Jackson stood together in the backyard of Bri and Iris’ parents’ home, watching the kids play. The golden light of the setting sun reflected off the water, casting a warm glow over the scene. Jasper turned to him, his voice thoughtful.
“So, are you gonna do what I did and re-propose?” Jasper asked, his tone light yet curious.
Jackson just smiled, his blue eyes twinkling, but said nothing, making Jasper grin and nod.
“Ahhh, someone has more plans, huh?” Jasper teased, a twinkle in his eye.
“I’d rather call that dreams for now. I am inchin’ in, here. I am gonna move here first, get that ranch goin’, get me some clients. Connor’s been helpin’ me study for all them certifications I need. Man, been a long time since I had to study for anythin’. When all that is goin’ good, makin’ some money, I am gonna see if Bri wouldn’t wanna move in with me. And if she does, I might start tryin’ to make it permanent again with a ring on both our fingers. I love being a family with her, especially when it don’t mean she has to give up her dreams for it. This is how we could make that all work. But please, don’t tell her. I need this to go slow. It’s important,” Jackson drawled, his voice earnest and steady.
“Secret’s safe with me, buddy,” Jasper assured him, his grin widening.
“I mean it, you gotta promise me that, Jas. I know you and Bri tell each other everythin’. But ya really need to NOT tell her anythin’ about any of this. Please,” Jackson insisted, his brilliant blue eyes searching Jasper’s face for reassurance.
“I said I won’t! Chill, cowboy! Jeeze. I get it. Some things need to be handled with care. I don’t want you all to crash and burn again. Trust me, been there, don’t wish that upon anybody. Especially not people I care about. So, unbunch your panties, you Yee-haw. I think it’s great. I’ll even do you one better and get you started. Once you got all that going, a certain unnamed actor might just happen to stop by and think it’s a dreamy idea. Maybe he’ll get in some horseback therapy himself. You’ll be surprised how many chicks will suddenly need therapy thinking they can run into me there. And once they get a good look at you and listen to your whole cowboy drawl routine, they’ll forget what they came for, bouncing around your horsies while imagining some naughty bouncing around on you. And they will run and tell all their friends about it. You’ll be scheduling out to the next century before you know it. I know how those chicks here roll. We’ll get you hooked up, man,” Jasper said, his voice filled with camaraderie and encouragement.
“Thanks, Jas. Good to know I got someone in my corner. Growin’ up I didn’t always, and I really thought my kids were heading there now too. I hate they’re separated. They’re twins. They need to be together, like Bri and Iris were. And they both need their mother and their father. Together,” Jackson replied, his drawl adding a comforting familiarity to his words.
“Oh, come on, you big baby! They had that all along. Many parents aren’t always home. Celebrities, some certain trades making people travel for work, you got astronauts… you know, kids aren’t that dumb,” Jasper countered, his voice teasing yet kind.
“Oh, hear hear, the man with all the insight on parentin’ now?” Jackson shot back, a playful twinkle in his blue eyes.
“Shut up! I know nothing about parenting, and I know that I don’t, but I have eyes. Those two kids of yours are practically my niece and nephew too and I can see they are happy and healthy. You and Bri didn’t break anything. We all can see you are trying, and you have a good heart. Always have. I never really cared much for rednecks, especially after being related to Taylor’s side of the family, but you are all right. I always thought that, even when you were raising all that hell with Bri when we were teens. God, you were bad news, man,” Jasper admitted, his tone sincere.
“Comin’ from the man who’s basically marryin’ his ‘sister’, after knockin’ her up. Now don’t ya go talkin’ to me about rednecks. That’s too redneck for any redneck I ever known,” Jackson shot back dryly, his drawl emphasizing his words.
“Iris is LIKE my sister, but not genetically, you country hick! Don’t start vile rumors now, hillbilly, someone like me has to be careful about that. Whatever you spew about me might become the next viral post, and then my manager has one stroke after another, so shut up,” Jasper retorted, his voice filled with mock indignation.
“Or what? You gonna make me, pretty boy?” Jackson challenged, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief as he puffed out his chest a little, crossing his arms in a defiant stance.
“I am stronger than I look. I can take you, cowboy! So, watch it, you Yeehaw!” Jasper shot back, flexing his muscles dramatically, a grin spreading across his face.
“Nah, ya ain’t. And nah, ya can’t.” Jackson drawled, tipping his hat back and giving Jasper a mock-serious look, his stance relaxed but ready.
“”Yes, I am! And YES, I can! Do you need me to speak slower and use smaller words?” Jasper insisted, straightening his back as much as possible to appear taller, giving Jackson a playful shove.
Jackson, with a mischievous glint in his blue eyes, gave Jasper a little shove back, sending him stumbling a few steps. Jasper immediately regained his balance and came back, shoving Jackson with more force, both of them laughing as they playfully jostled each other.
Inside, Hailey grabbed Chase, who had just walked past her at the kitchen sink, pulling him to the window, pointing out at the pool. “Gump, I think you need to go separate the boys. They are arguing! They never fought before, at least not with each other! Always something! Now Jasper and Iris get along, thank heavens, Bri and Jackson seem to be sorting out their mess, and now we have Jackson and Jasper fighting!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with concern.
Chase glanced out, unfazed. “They’re not fighting. Just boys being boys, Patches. Colton and I were like that all the time, here we are 60 years later, still best friends,” he replied calmly.
“Chase! They are arguing! I am not blind! Aren’t you gonna do something?” Hailey insisted, her voice rising with worry.
“About what?” Chase asked, still calm.
“Chase, open your eyes! Jackson’s gonna hurt Jassy! He’s much stronger!” Hailey pointed out, her blue eyes wide with concern.
“No, he won’t. I tell you what I see. I see Jasper having opened his big motormouth too wide around the wrong guy and Jackson’s handling it,” he told her with a shrug, when she let out a gasp as Jackson picked up a struggling Jasper and tossed him into the pool with seeming ease, where he disappeared into a big splash. Chase’s face was next to hers, a soft chuckle escaping him. “See! There! Handled. Jackson set him straight. Whatever Jas said to him, he won’t make that mistake again around him,” Chase said with a smirk.
“CHASE! I can’t believe you are not … I’ll go out there!” Hailey declared, but Chase held her back.
“Patches, leave them be! Jasper can swim. He does it every day, I know that ‘cos I have to look at that kid strutting around like a peacock by MY pool! There, look! All good. Told ya,” he pointed at Jackson, now holding out his hand to help Jasper out. With a quick jerk, Jackson ended up unwillingly joining Jasper in the pool with another big splash. When he surfaced, both were laughing hard. Jackson reached for his hat floating nearby and slammed it into Jasper’s face, who held on, took it from Jackson, put it on, then pretended to swing an imaginary lasso, ‘yee-haw’ing’ while turning in circles until Jackson joined in, both their voices echoing across the bay.
Bri and Iris arrived in the kitchen on their way to get coffee. Bri gasped after a double-take.
“Mom, Dad? Why are the boys in the pool, yee-hawing?” Bri asked, her voice filled with surprise.
“Probably ‘cos they are swimming. That’s how that works. Men are always loud, they think everything they do needs sound,” Iris grumbled, her voice gruff, as Hailey pulled the mug she just filled with coffee away from her, dumped half of it into her own, then filled Iris’ up with milk till it had a very light creamy caramel tone, making Iris, who preferred her coffee strong and black, grimace, while her mother stuck her index finger into her face.
“If you won’t quit coffee or drink decaf, THIS is how you will take it, or I will spank you, young lady! Think of that baby!” Hailey ranted at her eye-rolling daughter, who succumbed to her fate of milk coffee with a deep, annoyed sigh.
“Iris! They are fully dressed. Something is wrong with our men,” Bri complained, her light green eyes wide with incredulity.
“So? Maybe they are doing laundry. I don’t care. Are they alive? Yes. Are they bleeding? No. They’re fine. They’re men! Nobody understands them. Half the time they don’t even know what they are doing or why,” Iris ranted while walking out.
“She is not all wrong …” Hailey said, shooting Chase a glare before leaving too which he acquitted with a dismissive grunt, almost a half-chuckle.
“Umm, should I go out there with towels now? I don’t get what they are doing,” Bri wondered aloud, staring out the window, her voice soft and thoughtful.
“As long as you don’t come back pregnant by either of them, I don’t care, Bri,” Chase said nonchalantly before leaving too.
With a sigh, Bri headed outside with a stack of thick, plush towels. The boys had already climbed out, their clothes clinging to their bodies, dripping wet. They smiled as they accepted the towels, their laughter still echoing in the air. Jasper immediately pulled off his shirt, revealing his toned physique, and began rubbing himself dry with exaggerated motions, making a show of it.
Bri approached Jackson, her light green eyes sparkling with amusement. She started unbuttoning his shirt, her fingers deftly working the buttons. As she reached the last button, Jackson leaned in, capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. The world seemed to fade away as they lost themselves in the moment.
“Oh boy. I’ll take that as my cue to go find my girl to start the same with her, pregnancy hormones permitting,” Jasper said with a chuckle, tossing his towel over his shoulder and heading to the patio door of the main house.
Pulling apart, Jackson smirked at a smiling Bri, who said quietly, “Do I wanna know?”
“Oh, it’s nothin’, we were just talkin’. Man to man-like. Had a little disagreement and settled it,” Jackson explained with a drawl, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
“Right. I’ll keep that in mind next time I disagree with someone. Just toss them in the nearest pool, got it. Are you not worried our kids could learn the wrong things here? They are right over there,” Bri said, her voice filled with a mix of amusement and concern.
“Why? They can swim,” Jackson drawled, his tone nonchalant.
“Not fully clothed,” Bri pointed out, raising an eyebrow.
“They’ll thank me when they have to start doin’ their own laundry,” Jackson replied with a wink, his drawl adding a touch of charm to his words.
“Jackson. Seriously now, if they see their father toss people into pools ‘cos he didn’t like what they had to say, they might copy that whenever they bicker with someone at school and end up in trouble.”
“Neither school’s got a pool, Bri,” Jackson said, his tone playful.
“Oh my God, Jackson, don’t play dumb, you know what I mean,” Bri said, exasperation creeping into her voice.
“Yes Ma’am, and I don’t need to be playin’ dumb, I is …” he quipped, making Bri laugh.
“Well, you are in a good mood …” she giggled.
“I am. And I got ideas how we could make it even better …” he winked, his drawl adding a touch of charm to his words. He lifted Bri up into his arms, making her squeal and laugh. “Jackson, don’t you DARE throw me into that pool! I mean it! I will hurt you so bad!”
“Ain’t the pool I am thinkin’ about tossin’ ya into,” he told her, turning and starting to walk off, carrying her to the pool house. He opened the door with his elbow, then kicked it shut behind them.
Inside, Chase and Hailey watched the scene unfold outside, sipping their coffee. Chase, shaking his head with a wry smile, remarked dryly, “And I even said to that girl not to come back pregnant.”
Hailey giggled, nudging her husband. “Oh, Gump, stop it! They’re just young and so in love. And you know the chances of Bri ever getting pregnant again are very low.”
Chase gave his wife a mischievous wink. “Low, but never zero, as our other daughter proved. And have you seen the way Bri and Jackson look at each other? I think we’re both pregnant just from watching them!” He laughed heartily. “Just you wait, Patches. The minute that kid gets that ranch up and running, our Bri will move out with Bonnie and in with him so fast it’ll make our heads spin.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m hoping too. And I would LOVE that! They’d be not even 10 minutes away from here. And funny you should mention moving…”
“Oh god. Do I wanna know? I can tell by looking at you that I don’t wanna know. Hang on,” he raised one hand, gesturing her to hold off, hurried over to the liquor cart, and poured himself a finger-width of good whiskey. He looked up at Hailey, drank it, then filled the glass up again, looked at it, filled it up even more, and exhaled. “Alright, go.”
With a grimace, Hailey put her hands on her hips, shaking her head at her husband. “Well, I spoke to Maddie, and we got to talking about the kids, the grandchildren… They are both so excited about finally having a second one and feel like they missed a lot with Chris. And now Jasper is officially moving in here with us, leaving them with the big house out there and…”
“PATCHES! Just say it already!”
“Well, they want to move in with us. I mean, they are going to move in with us again. I kind of already agreed. They are listing the house as we speak… Well, Maddie is. Colton might not know about all this yet either… But it’s good news, right? YAYYY! Right? Gump? Chase?”
Chase stared at her, emptied his glass, sat it down, and put the bottle to his lips until Hailey took it from him after a brief struggle.
“Gump! What’s the problem? Colton is your best friend, and Maddie is mine. It’s their grandbaby too. I thought you’d be happy.”
“And I thought all the kids would FINALLY move out and I could chase you around this house naked, without having to worry about house guests that never leave. Looks like we were both wrong then, hmm.”
EchoesOfLegacy 