Page 38 of Handling Skylar
“You may rise, my good fellow. Curtsying just doesn’t suit you without your tiara.”
I stared at her, still grinning that damn grin, a tough cookie glint appearing in her eyes. “Don’t push your luck, little sister. Unless I’m mistaken, the river is easily in throwing distance and you’d make a mighty fine splash. How poetic would that be to dunk River in the river?”
River stared right back. “Ha ha, big brother. You’re forgetting one important fact.”
I rose and took a step and she didn’t so much as flinch. That was my sister for sure. “What fact would that be?”
She arched a brow. “I’ve been trained by one Braxton Outlaw, my gorgeous and contrary husband who knows how to throw a mean left hook and is a very good teacher.”
“Ah, the revered Braxton Brawler.” I hooked my arm around her neck and squeezed. “He does have a mean left hook. I guess there would be retribution if I threw you in the river.” I kissed the top of her lovely head. “That’s cheating coming with a bodyguard.”
She grabbed me around the waist laughing. “You got that part right. But I’m afraid that there are three bodyguards, and they won’t hesitate to open a can of straight up whup-ass on your person.”
“I concede the battle in the face of the Outlaw odds.”
“Graciously accepted.”
We chuckled.
“So what’s with the Johnny Appleseed impersonation?”
I walked back to the tree and looked up at the branches heavy with Elliott pecans just waiting for River’s molasses treatment.
I explained to her what I was doing and her eyes began to glow. “I had no idea that this old grove was even producing. You really are good for the business.”
I patted the tree and turned to her. “I don’t think you came out here to find out about the orchard or the grove.”
She shrugged and leaned against the trunk. “I care about the business and feel like I’ve been neglecting it lately because I’ve been so busy with babies, husband and the gallery, but no, I didn’t come out here to talk about pecans.”
My jaw flexing, I braced my hand on the rough bark next to her golden head, my shoulder protesting. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
“I was worried about you, until I got your text saying you were fine. But, I didn’t need Sky calling me frantically looking for you to know something was up with you.” Her face softened. “She was so sure about you, Jake. You know that. Sure that you hadn’t just stood her up, but you needed help.”
“It was a stupid lapse in judgment. I’m sorry for making any of you worry.”
“Wow, contrition instead of presenting that chip on your shoulder. That is progress.” She nudged me and said, “You made up with Chase. Look at you all grown up.”
“I deserved that. I was an idiot. Plain and simple. I punished him instead of the person I should have confronted.”
“You were sixteen. It’s hard to reconcile all those feelings with all those raging hormones. Really, cut yourself some slack. Daddy is a tough customer, and I’ll only say this because I’ve grown up, too. He loves us all. He wants the best for us. He’s like a bull in a china shop, Jake. Just try to understand his side before you make your decision. But, make it your decision.”
“You did it,” I said quietly. “You made your stand and married the man you wanted to in deep opposition. That took a lot of courage, River.”
She nodded. “Courage runs in our family. Now it’s your turn, Jake.” She took me by the shoulders and turned me around. “This is all ours, our family legacy, but it doesn’t have to be your prison. You don’t have to carry on the family name if you don’t want to.”
“Okay, I’ll add that all into my big, confused, aching brain.”
She squeezed the back of my neck. “So,” she waggled her brows.
I played clueless and innocent. “What?”
She hip checked me. “What? Don’t pull that crap on me.Skylar Bransom, that’s what.”
I grinned because I couldn’t help it.
“It’s about time. I, for one, am so freaking happy that you got rid of that uppity bitch. If you’d married her, I might have had to put a hit out on her. She’s so not deserving of you.”
“You’d probably have to get in line. I bet there’s a lot of people in this town who’d like to see her gone. Did you have to rub her nose in it though?”
