by Olivia Black
Everything that followed was confusing, and the legal words were making his head spin. The father he’d never known existed had just left his pride and joy to five complete strangers. How was that even possible? Glancing over at Wyatt, he watched a few emotions play over the man’s face.
He looked worried, which touched Jackson’s heart. The poor man had lived on this ranch for fifteen years. He couldn’t let anything bad happen to the men and woman that worked here. He wouldn’t let his half brothers screw anybody out of their homes.
“I’m going to explain the stipulations in nonlegal terms so you all will understand.” Trent looked at them all before starting. “One, the five of you will need to work here and live here at the ranch for one full year before you receive any inheritance. Two, the cabin and property where Wyatt Thompson, the foreman, currently resides belongs solely to Wyatt Thompson. That means that after one year, if you all decide to sell the property his home is not included in the sale.”
Jackson grinned and looked over at Wyatt. He was so glad that the older man would be able to stay in his home. The look on his face said it all. He had no idea that William had added that to his last will and testament.
“I don’t mean to interrupt, but I have a question,” Easton stated and if Jackson wasn’t mistaken, there was a spark of interest in Trent’s eyes. Very interesting. “I’m planning to stay. I’m just wondering what will happen if someone doesn’t want to stay. Does the will state that it needs to be all five of us?”
“Yes. All five of you have to stay in order for this deal to work. If any of you leave, as the executor, I can sell the property or give it away and you won’t see a dime,” Trent said, dropping a bomb on the room.
“Wait,” Oliver interrupted. “You can sell or give away the property? What the hell would happen to the money? We’re the man’s sons, shouldn’t the money be ours?”
“I’ll donate the money to various charities in William’s name.” Trent looked over at Wyatt. “That doesn’t include your place. It’s yours. Period.” And Jackson grinned.
Wyatt would be fine either way. If he stayed or left the cowboy would always be at the Belt Buckle Ranch.
“William wrote a personal letter to each of you.” Trent stood up and handed each of them a small, white envelope. Jackson looked down and traced the handwriting with his fingertip. My Son, Jackson. “Take the rest of the day to think and decide what you want to do. Easton wants to stay, so that leaves the four of you to make your decision.”
“I’m staying as well,” Robbie announced.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Jared walked in front of the desk so that he was facing them all. “I have a life in Portland…a job, apartment, friends.”
“You think you’re the only one?” Jackson asked. “We all received the same manila envelope. We all live in different parts of the country and have jobs, families, friends, and homes. We’re all in the exact same place you’re in. Robbie and Easton are staying. Now, you need to decide if you’re staying.”
“I just…” Jared rubbed his face, looking frustrated. “I don’t know if I can stay away from home that long. There’s someone important that depends on me.”
“That’s a good question.” Jackson pulled his lower lip into his mouth as he went over a few questions in his mind. “Trent.”
“You don’t have to make a decision right now,” the man practically growled.
“I have a few questions,” Jackson told him.
“Shoot,” Trent leaned back in the office chair.
“How much time do we have to make a decision? I mean…if I wanted to pack up my apartment and put my things in storage, can I do that? What about bills and stuff? If we don’t have jobs, how can we pay our bills?”
“All good questions.” Trent nodded and smiled. “First, you all work here at the ranch. That means you will get a weekly paycheck to take care of any bills. Living at the ranch, you won’t need to pay rent or buy food. Mrs. Hunt is the cook, as you all know, and will keep you fed. As for tying up loose ends…” He paused for a moment and looked as if he were thinking it over. “I can give you all a couple days to go home and get things organized. You will all need to live here for one full year so make sure you have everything you need.”
“Do we get any vacation time? Can we come and go as we please or are we stuck here?” Oliver asked.
“Stuck here, huh?” Trent chuckled without humor. “This is a time for you to work and live on your father’s ranch. He was a good man and he loved this place. You have the opportunity to get to know a little bit about William and your brothers. This isn’t a punishment. You have free room and board, plus you’re getting paid to help out. Like I said before, the decision is yours.” He stood up and collected the paperwork from the desk. “Wyatt, will you walk me out?”
“Yeah, of course,” Wyatt murmured.
“Any more questions before I leave?” Trent placed his black cowboy hat on his head and looked around the room. When nobody said anything, he strode out of the office and Wyatt followed him.
“What about you?” Easton turned in his chair and faced him.
“I don’t know.” He shrugged, but that wasn’t entirely true.
He didn’t really have a life to go back to in California, especially if he’d lost his job. He lived in a small apartment in the city. With only a small group of friends, he didn’t go out a lot. Jackson’s life consisted of microwave dinners and clicking his TV remote. The only exciting thing in his life was working on the project that someone stole and claimed. Taking a deep breath, Jackson exhaled and leaned back in his chair.
“I’m gonna have to call bullshit on that one,” Robbie said with a lopsided grin.
“Huh?” Jackson raised a brow.
He made a noise in the back of his throat and rolled his eyes. “You’re already living with Wyatt. Why wouldn’t you jump at the chance to stay?”
He wanted to stay at the Belt Buckle Ranch with Wyatt. The will gave him the excuse he needed, but he wasn’t sure how Wyatt felt. He knew the cowboy cared about him. Jackson could feel it every time the man touched him.
“Don’t you care about him? Or do you consider him vacation sex?” Easton asked, and Jackson’s brows shot up.
Easton had such an innocent face that Jackson couldn’t believe he even knew anything about sex, but the bitter tone in his voice said otherwise.
Chapter 12
Wyatt leaned against the wall outside the office. He never considered himself the type of man to listen in on other people’s conversations, but he couldn’t help himself. He wanted to hear what Jackson was going to say. Trepidation shot through him as he waited.
What would Jackson tell his brothers? Would he pretend that their relationship meant nothing? Did they have a relationship? Nothing was official, not yet, but whatever Jackson said now would change everything. He could feel it in his bones.
Holding his breath, Wyatt closed his eyes and hoped for the best, but expected the worst.
“Of course I care about him. He’s an amazing man,” Jackson said, and Wyatt breathed out a quiet sigh of relief.
“Then why aren’t you jumping at the chance to stay here on the ranch? Robbie and Easton volunteered first. Why didn’t you? I mean, if you really care about him,” Oliver challenged.
Wyatt knew it was Oliver speaking because of the tone in his voice. The man talked to everyone with an edge of anger and Wyatt wondered what his story was. He seemed to have some personal demons he needed to take care of. Wyatt hoped he would stay.
“I do want to stay. That’s why I asked Trent all the questions. I have an apartment and bills that need to be taken care of. I will stay if Wyatt wants me to, but even if he doesn’t, I’ll stay if you all decide that’s what you want.”
Wyatt didn’t understand what Jackson meant. Of course he wanted him to stay. Hadn’t he been showing the young man how he felt? He was the one that asked Jackson to move his things into his cabin. He wanted a relationship.
<
br /> At first, he’d been uncertain because Jackson was William’s son, but that fear disappeared. Nothing was standing in their way, not anymore.
“It’s obvious he wants you, man. You’d have to be blind not to see it,” Robbie added, and Wyatt nodded in agreement.
It was true. He cared about Jackson. His feelings for the young man grew daily. He couldn’t sleep at night without the young man wrapped in his arms.
“Jared? Oliver? It comes down to the two of you. Are you staying?” Jackson asked, changing the subject.
“Or are you two going to ruin it for the rest of us,” Robbie grumbled.
Wyatt knew that Robbie didn’t have anywhere else to go. He’d mentioned it to Trent. Luckily the neighbor had a good heart. If Oliver and Jared decided to leave, Trent would let the others stay, for William’s sake. They weren’t going to send William’s sons away—that would disgrace the man’s memory.
“It’s not that I don’t want to stay, I do, but someone depends on me.” Jared sounded concerned.
“This person must be very important,” Jackson said. “Is there any way that you can stay?”
“We’re getting weekly paychecks. Why not send this person money? I’ll be sending my grandmother most of my money.” Easton joined the conversation.
“Yeah, I can do that.” He exhaled loudly, “I just…I don’t know. I’ll call him.”
“If he needs you, he can always visit. There is plenty of space,” Jackson reasoned.
“Good, now that we’ve got that settled. What about you, Oliver?” Robbie turned the focus on the last brother.
“I don’t know. Are you all agreeing that we stay and then sell?” Oliver asked, his voice calculating, and Wyatt shook his head.
Deciding that it was time to stop eavesdropping, Wyatt cleared his throat and stepped into the office. He looked around, but nobody seemed to notice his presence. Instead, all the men were focused on Oliver.
“You’re a selfish ass. Is that all you’re thinking about…the money? This was William’s dream. You know…our father.” Robbie looked upset as he stared at Oliver.
“Why should I care?! Did that man care about any of us? Did he raise any of us? He was the selfish one. He traveled around, fucking women and leaving children all over the country.” He sneered. “Let me guess…you grew up in a beautiful little house with a mom and dad.”
“Actually, no.” A look of pain crossed Easton’s face. “My mom dropped me off at my grandparents’ farm in Oklahoma so she could be young and party without a kid bothering her. I never knew her or William. My life wasn’t perfect. I doubt anyone’s life was in this room.” A few heads nodded, but nobody said a word. “I do know that this is my chance to get to know my father. To live on his land and to feel some sort of connection. I don’t care what you all decide to do, I’m staying.” Easton picked up his cowboy hat and strode out of the office, leaving them all behind.
“He’s right. Everyone needs to make their own decision. We have a couple of days before the year officially starts. I’m going to head back to LA to pack up my apartment,” Jackson said.
Jackson turned on his heel. He looked overwhelmed until he spotted Wyatt standing by the door, then almost like magic, Wyatt watched his eyes light up.
I did that, I made him happy. It was a powerful feeling.
Jackson walked right into Wyatt’s arms. He awkwardly escorted his young man out of the office, keeping him wrapped in his embrace. It was time for him to tell Jackson exactly how he felt.
* * * *
Jackson felt all the stress he’d been feeling evaporate, as Wyatt held him. The cowboy led him out the front door to a porch swing. He sat down and pulled Jackson onto his lap. He felt silly—a grown man sitting on his boyfriend’s lap—but that feeling subsided as Wyatt slowly started rocking the swing back and forth. Strong arms held him tight and Jackson let himself relax. He inched closer, nuzzling Wyatt’s neck.
“I want you to stay. I want you to be with me,” Wyatt finally said, and Jackson’s eyes filled with moisture. Nobody had ever said that to him before. It felt so good to be wanted. “I never wanted a casual fling. That’s not the type of man I am.”
“I know,” Jackson whispered. “You’re a romantic, looking for forever.”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “I guess I am. I’ve never been a hopeless romantic, though. I’ve always been hopeful. I knew I’d meet a man that would want forever. I just had to be patient.”
“You think I’m a forever guy?”
“I think you’re my forever guy.” Wyatt’s words were clear as a bell.
Jackson wiped his eyes. He couldn’t believe he was actually crying. He felt as if he could burst from the emotion racing through his heart. For the first time in his life he felt as if he belonged. He’d finally found the one place where he fit perfectly, inside Wyatt’s strong embrace.
“I think you’re my forever guy too.” He sniffled, trying to hold back the tears.
“I’m glad you feel that way,” Wyatt murmured, and Jackson could hear the relief in his voice. “When are you leaving to go back to LA?”
“I should leave right away. I don’t need to take anything. I just need to pack up my apartment and put it all in storage. I could drive back, since I have my car still parked at the airport.” Jackson started making a list inside his head of everything he needed to do.
Moving was going to be more of a challenge than he initially thought. He also needed to change the address on all his bills so he wouldn’t miss any payments.
“What about a moving truck instead of storage?” Wyatt asked, and Jackson lifted his head so he could look into the man’s eyes. “You don’t need to keep anything in LA. You can move your things into the cabin and live with me.”
“I’ve never lived with anyone but my parents, and that was years ago.” Jackson was a little nervous about “officially” living with Wyatt.
It had only been a week. The prospect of a lifetime was a little intimidating.
“Hmmm.” Wyatt grinned. He cupped Jackson’s face with one large hand and held him in a gentle hold. Kissing him, Wyatt brushed their lips together softly, and Jackson moaned. “Living together might be difficult at times. I’m not saying things will always be easy but, we can make this work if it’s something we both want. I promise to always pick up my dirty clothes, wash your body thoroughly in the shower…” He winked and Jackson’s mind immediately flashed back to Wyatt on his knees. “And I’ll make you my famous s’mores once a week.”
“I think I can live with that, but only because of the s’mores.” Jackson wrapped his arms around Wyatt’s neck, pulling him in close, and sealing their mouths together in a scorching kiss.
Their tongues danced in a slow swirl. Wyatt’s hands moved down until the man was cupping his ass cheeks, holding him in a tight grip. He moaned into the cowboy’s mouth. Wyatt reluctantly pulled his mouth away and licked his swollen lips.
“I’d better call the pilot and set up a pick-up time.” Wyatt stared at his lips and Jackson nodded. They didn’t have time to get lost in each other.
“I’ll talk to the others and find out if anyone needs to leave. We only have a couple of days.” Jackson slowly slid off Wyatt’s lap.
He glanced down at the man’s crotch and hid a chuckle. Wyatt was hard as a rock, his cock looking like it might break through his jeans. He adjusted himself and groaned.
“I have a feeling you might be the only one getting on the plane.” Wyatt looked up at him.
“Yeah,” he whispered. “I think you might be right.”
Jackson took a deep breath, pushing his hands through his short hair.
He didn’t know his brothers’ stories, but he hoped that with some time, they could build trust and talk honestly. Robbie and Easton were serious about staying, but Jackson knew that was probably due to the fact that they didn’t have anywhere else to go. Jared had someone that depended on him, and Jackson hoped that he could work it all out so that he’d stay. Oliver w
as a tough one—he’d obviously had a bad childhood.
They all needed each other at the Belt Buckle Ranch.
“It’s going to be okay.” Wyatt stood up and rubbed Jackson’s arms in a comforting gesture. “They’re all staying.”
“I wish I was as confident as you.” Jackson tried to smile but failed. The future just seemed so unknown and he was worried about his brothers.
“I don’t want you to worry about anything. I’ll talk to Oliver and Jared. If Jared’s friend needs him, I’ll see if Trent will let him come out here to stay at the ranch. We have plenty of space. Now, I need to call the pilot and drive you to the airport. We only have a couple of days”
“You’re amazing.” Jackson groaned and wrapped his arms around Wyatt’s waist. “Thank you. I’m going to grab my backpack and then I’ll be ready to go.” Wyatt kissed the top of his head and Jackson reluctantly let go. “I’m going to grab my bag from the cabin. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Chapter 13
A few hours later…
Wyatt pulled the truck up to the curb at the departure terminal. It hadn’t taken them long to reach the airport in Telluride. Jackson looked out the passenger-side window and slowly exhaled, his shoulders dropping. He didn’t want to get out of the truck. Leaving Wyatt hurt his heart. He didn’t want to say good-bye. It didn’t matter that he was going to be returning.
He felt Wyatt’s hand on his thigh and turned his head. “Don’t be sad, baby. You’ll be back here at the ranch in no time at all.”
“I know.” He shrugged. He didn’t know why there was a lump in his throat or why his eyes filled with moisture. “I just…I don’t know.”
Wyatt smiled sweetly at him. “I don’t want you to go either, but we’ll see each other in a couple of days.”
Jackson could only nod. Opening the door, he climbed out and grabbed his backpack off the floorboard. He didn’t want to say good-bye. He shut the door, took one more look at Wyatt, and turned away. His feet felt heavy as he started walking away. Before he could even step foot in the terminal, he heard a car door slam. Turning around, Jackson stood frozen as he watched Wyatt walk toward him.