Erin's Fancy

Chapter Seventeen

It was both physically and emotionally harder than she’d imagined it would be to make herself step into her home early the next morning. Jackson was seated at the kitchen table, sipping a cup of coffee, as he scanned a newspaper. He glanced up when she entered, and the look on his face quickly changed from one of confusion to one of anger as he noticed Abel behind her and the proprietary hand he had rested on her shoulder.

Jackson pushed his chair back from the table and slowly came to his feet. His hands were fisted at his sides and his face went from a stark white to an enraged red in a matter of seconds. Although she wasn’t afraid of her brother, she was very glad to have Abel’s massive, protective body behind her for moral support.

“What the hell is going on here?” His quiet tones made Erin flinch. The angrier that Jackson got, the quieter he became. This was definitely not a good sign. She hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words.

“Garrett?” Jackson’s laser gaze was now focused entirely on Abel and the fact that he’d called him by his last name put them both on notice that Jackson was feeling less than friendly at the moment.

She sensed Abel shifting behind her and knew she had to speak. “Sit down, Jackson. I want to talk to you.” She had created this mess, so it was up to her to deal with it.

Striding forward, she pulled out a chair at the table and arched her eyebrow at her brother. He never took his eyes off Abel, but he slowly sank back into his seat. Reaching out, she grabbed one of her brother’s hands and tugged on it until he turned and faced her.

“You want to tell me what’s going on?”

Erin felt herself flush at his question, but refused to feel shame for what she’d done. She was a grown woman, not a child. Only Jackson had the ability to make her feel like a little girl being scolded by a parent.

“Abel and I have been seeing each other.” The clock on the wall ticked off the seconds as she waited for his reaction. Its ticking and the heavy sound of breathing were the only sounds she could hear above her pounding heart.

“You mean you’re sleeping together.” Jackson’s voice was little more than a harsh whisper as he studied her face intently. He tugged his hand free from her grip, and Erin clenched her hands helplessly in her lap.

“It’s much more than that, but yes, we are sleeping together.” Erin opened her mouth to begin to explain things to her brother, but it was already too late.

“You bastard,” Jackson roared as he erupted from the table. The chair fell backwards and slammed onto the floor as he charged across the room towards Abel who had been standing quietly, waiting just inside the doorway.

“Jackson, no!” Erin screamed and jumped from her seat, but Jackson was past listening to reason, and there was no stopping him.

Abel stood his ground, not moving when Jackson reared back and landed a hard right hook. Staggering backwards, he landed heavily against the wall, shaking the very foundation of the house. The kitchen clock fell off the wall and smashed to the floor, shattering in a dozen pieces.

Jackson pulled back his arm to land another blow, but this time Abel caught his hand in mid-swing before it landed. Both men strained, but Abel held Jackson’s arm in an iron grip. “The first one was free because I deserved it, but from now on I’ll fight.”

Jackson’s face turned even redder as he yanked his arm away and turned on Erin. “How could you?” he yelled.

She stood her ground, determined not to flinch from his fury. She’d freely admit that it was her own deception that had led to this scene, but enough was enough. “How could I what?” she yelled back. “How could I act like a grown woman who wants a relationship with a man? How could I grow up and want more out of life then living at home for the rest of my life? How could I want to be loved, rather than grow old and dry up like some old maid?”

Erin was on a roll now as years of her pent-up frustration spewed forth. “How could I want you to treat me like an adult, rather than a child? You’re not my father, Jackson, you’re my brother. I want your blessing, but I don’t need it.”

Her head was spinning, as she gasped for air. What little food she’d eaten for breakfast was threatening to come right back up. Taking a deep breath, she held her hand out to him, wanting desperately for him to understand. “This is my decision to make and no one else’s.” When she finally ran out of steam and finished, she didn’t feel any better. Instead, she felt slightly ill. She didn’t want to fight with Jackson.

Her brother paled and staggered backwards as if she had landed him a fatal body blow. She reached out her hand to him again, willing him to understand. “I love him.” Her voice grew quieter as she continued. She glanced at Abel for support as he came to stand beside her before turning back to Jackson. “I really love him.”

Erin closed her eyes and swallowed back her tears when Jackson turned to leave the room without saying another word. He didn’t even look at her as he headed towards the back door.

“You can’t run away from this.” Jackson froze with his hand on the back door as Abel spoke. “Why don’t you ask me how I feel about your sister?”

“It doesn’t matter how you feel.” Jackson didn’t turn around, but continued to face the door. “It’s a proven fact that you never stay.”

“Maybe Erin will go with me when I leave.” Jackson tensed at his words. “Or maybe we’ll both stay. That is, if we’re welcome.” Abel’s words, stark and bare, lay between the two men.

Jackson slowly turned and faced them, his face like granite. “Well, which is it?”

It slowly dawned on Erin that Jackson had already suffered the loss of his best friend over the years that Abel was gone, but he was now afraid of losing her as well. He was like a parent faced with the fact that his child was grown up and leaving home. Yes, he was her older brother, but he’d been the one to take care of her since she was a child. He was the one who’d bandaged her bloody knees, read her bedtime stories, and it had been Jackson who’d taken her shopping to buy her first bra.

Over the years, he had been the one constant in her life. It was Jackson who’d attended all her school plays and made sure she had a costume at Halloween. He had made sure that birthdays were celebrated and that she and Nathan had presents at Christmas. But now, she was moving onto adult things like sex and relationships and these were things she had to do on her own. Jackson could not protect her woman’s heart from harm.

The knot in her stomach dissolved as she realized that he wasn’t judging her, but was afraid for her. Afraid that she might be hurt. Afraid that they might not be as close anymore. Erin reached out and gave Abel’s arm a squeeze before she slowly walked across the kitchen towards her brother.

Though he was standing as stiff as a board, she eased her arms around him and hugged him tight. “I love you, Jackson. That will never change.”

Jackson swallowed hard as his hand came up to pat her awkwardly on the back. “I know.” Suddenly, she was enveloped in a huge bear hug as he hauled her into his arms and held her as if he would never let her go. Erin didn’t know how long they stood clasped in each others arms or how much longer they would have stayed if they hadn’t been interrupted.

“Come back to the table so we can talk.” Abel picked up the chair that had fallen to the floor and placed it back beside the table. Using his boot, he shoved the larger pieces of the shattered clock close to the wall and out of the way.

Erin stared at the remains of the clock before giving Jackson a little grin. “I always knew you didn’t like that clock.”

When he gave her another quick squeeze before releasing her, she heaved a sigh of relief. It would take time, but she was now confident that they would work things out. The worst of the storm was past. Taking his hand in hers, Erin led her brother back towards the table and waited until he was seated before sliding into a chair between him and Abel.

“Does Nathan know?” She’d hoped that Jackson wouldn’t ask her that, but deep down she’d known that the question was inevitable.

“Yes.” Abel answered the question for her. “He paid me a visit as soon as he found out.”

“Well, that’s just great,” Jackson retorted. “Does everyone in Meadows know except me?”

“No.” Nathan stepped out from the hallway from where he’d been watching the scene unfold and into the kitchen. He ran his gaze over all of them, and when he was satisfied that no one had been hurt, he pulled up a chair. “It got too quiet. I figured I should come down and investigate.” Once he was seated, he turned to Jackson. “I know because I went looking for Erin the night that she supposedly went to Carly’s house.”

“If you knew, why the hell didn’t you go drag her out of there?” Jackson glared at his younger brother.

“Because, our sister is an adult. And besides—” a pleased masculine smile covered his face, “— I was otherwise occupied.”

Abel obviously decided that he’d sat back long enough. Sitting forward, he laid both his hands on the kitchen table and addressed both brothers at once. “I know you love your sister, but I love her too.” He reached towards Erin and caught up her hand in his. “I asked her to marry me.” Raising it to his lips, he placed a tender kiss on her knuckles. “She said yes.”

Jackson nodded his head in silent resignation while Nathan slapped Abel on the back and offered his hand in congratulations. “That’s great news. I can’t wait to tell Carly the news. She won’t believe it.”

Jumping up, he came around the table and reached down to hug Erin. “Congratulations, Sis,” he whispered in her ear as he tenderly kissed her cheek.

“Thanks.” She returned his hug eagerly, clutching him tight for a moment before releasing him. She’d known that Nathan would be happy for her and accept her relationship with Abel, but she really didn’t know what to expect from Jackson.

Abel had accepted Nathan’s well wishes and handshake, but his focus was obviously still on Jackson, waiting to see his reaction to their news.

“Congratulations.” The word was little more than a croak and Jackson cleared his voice before continuing. “So when are you leaving?”

“Later today, but we’ll be back in a couple of days.” Abel reached out and pulled Erin into his lap before continuing. She leaned against his chest, grateful for the support, as she was still feeling a little shaken. It was the most natural thing in the world, for her to wrap her arms around his neck and settle her head in the crook of his shoulder.

“Look,” Abel continued. “I’m set financially and I own the farm, lock, stock, and barrel. I can live anywhere, but I know that Erin is happy here.” Leaning down he kissed her softly. “I want her to be happy, so we’ll be settling here.”

“But what about your work?” Erin was surprised, but touched by his declaration.

“Well,” he began slowly. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.”

“So talk,” she urged him.

“I’ve had enough.” He gave a short laugh. “That’s an understatement. I’m burnt out and I don’t want to spend the rest of my life writing about the horrific side of mankind.”

“So what will you do?” Jackson asked him.

“I’m a writer,” he shrugged. “I thought I’d try my hand at some fiction. Probably a mystery. Heck, I know just about everything there is to know about police work and forensic science. I might as well put it to good use. But this way, the story can end the way I want it to.”

“Are you sure that’s what you want?” Despite being cautious, she was almost bursting with relief.

“Yes,” he nodded emphatically. “I’m very sure.”

Jackson heaved a huge sigh and slowly came to his feet looking directly at Erin. “Does he make you happy?”

“Extremely.” She didn’t feel the need to add anything else. That one word had said it all.

Slowly Jackson turned to glare at Abel, his face hard. “I’ll be watching you.” His hands were clenched at his sides, and it took an obvious effort for him to open his fists and relax his hands.

“You wouldn’t be the man I thought you were if you didn’t.” Abel met his stare unflinchingly. Erin glanced from Abel’s hard features to her brother’s harsh face, pleading silently with him to accept Abel into their lives.

Jackson stomped around the table and plucked her out of Abel’s arms, giving her a huge hug that pulled her right off her feet. Abel had tensed when Jackson had first grabbed her, but he’d relaxed when they began to hug. Erin offered Abel a watery smile as Jackson kissed her on the forehead before he moved her to one side.

He stood there, silently with his hands on his hips for a moment and searched Abel’s face intently. Whatever it was he was looking for, he obviously found it, and a moment later, he finally raised his hand and offered it to Abel. “Welcome to the family.”

Abel reached out and took Jackson’s hand, accepting the offer of acceptance. No one said a word as the men shook hands. Suddenly, Jackson let go a string of curses that shocked them all, and pulled Abel to his feet, giving him a quick manly hug before slapping him hard on the back.

Erin grinned as she watched them. They were both as stiff as trees as they embraced and mostly just pounded each other on the back before stepping apart.

“I just love a happy ending. Don’t you?” Nathan made mock sniffing noises as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

“Don’t be an ass, Nathan,” Jackson admonished before reluctantly smiling at his brother. “I know you can’t really help it, but try.”

“I’m so misunderstood,” Nathan bemoaned. “That’s the plight of the middle child, you know.” He gave Erin a hangdog look.

“Save it for Carly.” It was hard, but she just managed to contain her smile.

“You’re absolutely right,” he nodded as he tugged on her braid. “Now,” he turned to Abel, all business once again. “What’s this about you two leaving today? Where are you going, and when will you be back?”

Erin elbowed her brother in the ribs, and he flinched, shooting her a wounded look. “What? I’m just asking the obvious questions?”

“Why don’t I make you some breakfast while we talk?” Erin didn’t give anyone time to disagree, but went to the cupboard and started pulling out the ingredients for pancakes. The three men were still standing there looking at her. “You can’t tell me you’re not all hungry, because I’m starving.” They all nodded their heads at the same time. Erin bit the inside of her lip to keep from laughing at them. “Sit. Abel will fill you in on the details.”

There was a generally shuffling behind her as they pulled up their chairs to the table and settled themselves comfortably. When she turned back to the counter, she allowed herself a smile, knowing they couldn’t see her face. God, she loved them all so much and she was an incredibly lucky woman to have such wonderful men love her back. Happily, she set to work putting on a pot of fresh coffee before she started cooking pancakes.

Behind her, Abel filled them in on all the details of her search and their planned trip to Chicago. It was fascinating to listen to them interact together. Jackson was the listener. He didn’t have much to say, but when he did speak, what he had to say was worth listening to. Nathan, on the other hand, was full of questions and keenly interested in the simple techniques that Abel had employed to find his brother.

Erin mostly listened, only now and again adding details and the occasional bit of commentary. By the time all of them had eaten their fill of homemade blueberry pancakes, Jackson was already on to practical matters.

“What do you want to do about the berry fields? They’ll be ready for harvest any day now.” Jackson leaned back and took a large swallow from his mug of coffee.

“I know, but hopefully I won’t be gone to long.” Her mind was already busy making to-do lists and organizing tasks. “I’ve already hired my pickers, and some of them have been with me for years. If something happened and I don’t make it back in time, they know what to do.” She hated not being here for the harvest, but being with Abel when he confronted his brother was more important. Besides, she trusted her young employees.

But Jackson was already shaking his head, making tentative plans to take over her berry harvest if she had to be gone longer than anticipated. “They’re good kids, but I’ll supervise the picking if it comes to that. Nathan can help me with the orchards and I’ll take on extra help for a week or so if I have to.”

It was at that moment that she realized that he was okay with her marrying Abel. In his own way, he’d just given them his stamp of approval. Catching his eye from across the table, she smiled at him. He nodded and winked at her before turning his attention back to the conversation between Abel and Nathan.

In a very short time, she’d come a long way from the woman who’d sat at the end of the table reading her magazine. Oh my God, the magazine! She made a mental note to pack it for the trip, as she’d never actually showed it to Abel yet. They always got sidetracked before she could bring it up. She flushed at the images that thought conjured, but decided that it was probably too late anyway As far as she could remember, they’d already covered every single position in the article. But it was probably better to pack it, just in case.