N. Walters - Jackson’s Jewel

Ripping the notice off the board, Emerald turned and marched toward the front counter. This was the break she’d been looking for.

“You did what?” Jackson Connors glared at his sister. She smiled at him, blithely ignoring his growing anger.

“I hired you a housekeeper.” Erin shook her head and threw her hands in the air. “Honestly, Jackson, this place is a disaster zone.”

He scrubbed his hand through his reddish-brown hair as he glanced around the kitchen. So there were dishes piled on the counter and in the sink. Yeah, the mail was strewn across the table, the beautiful hardwood floor that he’d stripped and refinished last winter was grungy and the garbage can definitely needed to be emptied. He winced at the mess. He didn’t even want to consider the state of the bathroom or his bedroom. He was just thankful that he’d put away his camera and his latest photos last night before he’d turned in for the evening. “I’ve been busy.”

That was certainly an understatement. He was running the family apple farm by himself now that both Erin and Nathan had married and moved out. Yes, he’d hire help when it came time to pick the apples, but for now he was doing almost all the work himself. It was August and that meant that the hay and alfalfa that he’d planted on the land he leased from Erin’s husband, Abel, had to be harvested and baled. He sold that to surrounding farms for extra cash.

Added to that, he also had another job that no one else knew about. Several years back he’d started taking pictures over the winter months to help pass some of the time when he wasn’t working. That hobby had grown into a passion. On a whim, he’d submitted a few of his photos to contests, and to his surprise, had won several. A gallery owner who’d wanted to feature some of his shots in his shop had approached him. At first Jackson had been skeptical, but he’d ultimately agreed to give it a try. His skepticism had turned to shock when he’d gotten his first check.

His hobby was now providing him with a savings account that was going to allow him to buy out his sister and brother’s share of the farm. Now that they had lives of their own, they didn’t need the farm. But he did. It was as much a part of him as the color of his hair or the sound of his voice. His goal was to secure it as his very own.

Erin’s features softened as she strolled over to him, wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tight. “I know.” She tilted her head up, her face serious. “That’s why you need some extra help around the house.” She stepped back and held up her hand before he could protest further. “It’s only temporary. Just until the end of the apple season. Think how nice it would be to come home to a clean house, a cooked meal and fresh sheets on the bed.”

It would be nice, but Jackson didn’t want some stranger in his home. “I don’t think so.”

“I already told her to come this morning.”

“Then you can wait here and tell her to leave.” He loved his sister, but there was no way he was having some stranger poking around his home while he wasn’t here.

“No.” She pursed her lips and got a stubborn expression on her face that he recognized all too well. He ignored it. He was more stubborn than she could ever hope to be. “You wait and tell her. I hired her in good faith.”

“I don’t have time for this foolishness.” Dumping the last of his coffee in the kitchen sink, he piled his mug alongside the rest of the dirty dishes. He’d get to them later today he promised himself. Ignoring his sister’s dark glare, he headed for the back door.

“I can’t help out here any longer, Jackson.”

He whirled, a sarcastic comment on his lips, but he swallowed it back. Now that she had her own home with her husband, he didn’t see her enough for his liking. Yes, he saw her practically every day, but it just wasn’t the same. Nothing was the same anymore.

Just a year ago all three of them had been living here and working the farm together. Nathan had worked it part-time as he was a deputy sheriff with the town, but Erin had spent many hours working alongside him in the orchards while running her own blueberry farm. He missed the way things used to be.

“Look. I know you mean well.” He softened his tone. “But I really don’t want or need the help. I know you’re busy with your own farm and with Abel. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

Tears shimmered in her eyes and he swore inwardly. Erin rarely cried, so this meant that she was really upset about this. Shit! He could feel his resolve weakening. She shook her head and started toward him. Her face suddenly paled and she swayed where she stood. Jackson leapt forward, wrapped his arm around her and guided her into a chair.

“I’m fine.” She waved him away.

Worry began to burn in his gut. Erin didn’t look real well this morning, now that he really took the time to look at her. There were dark circles under her eyes. She looked tired and slightly haggard.

When he was certain she wouldn’t topple over, he left her long enough to grab a clean dishtowel out of the kitchen drawer and dampen it with cold water. Returning swiftly to her side, he laid the damp cloth on her forehead. “Just hold this while I get you some water.” It had been really hot the past few days, even for August. Perhaps she’d gotten a bit dehydrated. When he’d filled a tall glass with water, he made her take small sips until half of it was gone.

“You need to go home and rest. Or maybe you should stay here and lie down. Obviously, Abel isn’t taking good care of you. What the hell were you thinking to let yourself get dehydrated in this heat? You know the dangers of that.” Erin’s eyes widened as his tirade continued. He knew he should shut his mouth, but he couldn’t seem to stop. He’d practically reared Erin, as their father hadn’t been much of a parent.

She placed her hand over his mouth, stopping his rant. A tiny smile played at the corners of her lips. She looked for all the world like she used to when she was just a kid and she’d had a secret. “I’m not dehydrated, Jackson.”

“No? Then what’s wrong with you? You’re pale and you’ve got dark circles under your eyes.” He crouched down beside his sister. “Honey, you look a mess.”

She laughed. “Thanks a lot. You know how to make a girl feel good.”

The back door opened and a large man stepped inside. Jackson slowly stood and glared at his best friend and brother-in-law. “Where the hell have you been?”

Abel cocked his eyebrow as he sauntered into the kitchen. “Good morning to you too. Did Erin tell you the news?”

“Yeah, she did.”

“You don’t look very happy about it.” Abel scowled, his pale green eyes narrowing in anger.

“I’m not.”

Abel’s hands fisted at his sides. “We’d hoped you would be,” he all but growled.

“Umm, Abel.” Erin tried to get her husband’s attention, but he ignored her for the moment, all his attention focused on Jackson.

“How the hell would you feel if it were some strange woman coming into your home?” Jackson’s patience was at an end. He was already behind in his work and every minute he wasted with this foolishness was putting him further behind.

Abel stared at him like he had two heads. “What are you talking about?”

“The damn housekeeper that your wife hired for me. Without asking me, I might add. What the heck did you think we were talking about?”

Abel glanced over at Erin who just shrugged. “I haven’t had the chance to tell him yet.”

“Tell me what?” He propped his hands on his waist and glared at his younger sister. “I don’t have all day. If you have something to say to me, then just say it.”

“I’m pregnant,” she blurted out.

Jackson felt as if he’d taken a hit to his solar plexus. Staggering back, he hit the counter and knocked into a stack of dishes. They crashed to the floor, shattering into dozens of tiny pieces. He ignored them. “What did you say?”

A huge smile broke out on Erin’s face, making her appear absolutely radiant. As she stood, her husband went to her side and wrapped his arm around her waist. There was no mistaking the pride and love in his face as he stared down at her. “I’m pregnant.” She laughed as she leaned against her husband’s chest. “We’re pregnant.”

Jackson swallowed hard. His baby sister was going to have a baby. Jeez, he needed to sit down. He looked at her and could see the happiness in her eyes. This was what he’d always wanted for her, but it was still hard to take in. “When?”

“I’m three months along so it should be late January or early February.” He knew he had to say something, do something, but he was at a loss. Her smile slowly faded as she stared at him. “Jackson?” She left her husband’s arms and came toward him. “I’m going to be a mother. You’re going to be an uncle.”

He felt the corners of his mouth tipping upward. An uncle. He liked the sound of that. Giving a whoop, he lifted her off the floor and swung her around. When he realized what he was doing, he stopped immediately. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. Are you all right? Is the baby okay?”

Erin laughed. “I’m fine. I’m just tired is all and mornings aren’t the greatest these days.”

He scowled at Abel. “She’d been working too hard. She almost fainted this morning.”

Abel’s indulgent smile disappeared and was replaced by a scowl. “What happened?”

Erin pushed away from Jackson and went to her husband. “I’m fine. I just got up too quickly is all.”

“You need to rest more.”

“You’re damn right she does.” Jackson was still trying to wrap his brain around the fact that Erin was going to be a momma. “Does Nathan know yet?”

She shook her head. “I wanted to tell you first.”

He swallowed back the lump of emotion that welled within him. It meant the world to him that she’d told him first. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. But if you really want to make me happy, you’ll give the housekeeper I hired a chance.”

Oh, his sister was slick. She’d maneuvered him right into that one. There was no way he could refuse her now. She stared at him expectantly, a smug look on her face. “All right.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “A one-week trial run.”

“Two,” she countered.

“Ten days,” he fired back.

“Done.” They all heard the sound of a vehicle pulling up beside the house. “That should be her now. Her name is Emerald Jones.”

“What the hell kind of name is Emerald?” He envisioned a skinny, pampered blonde with cool green eyes and a ton of jewelry.

“A very pretty one,” his sister snapped. “Now be nice.”

“I’m always nice,” he muttered as he followed his sister and Abel out of the house. It was time to meet the stranger who would be sharing his home for the next ten days.

Emerald pulled the car to a stop and turned off the ignition. Since there was no one around, she took a deep breath. She could do this. Her stomach was doing flip-flops and had been all morning. She’d stayed at a quaint B&B last night and had shelled out sixty dollars to pay for it this morning. Her cash was quickly dwindling.

She hated the fact that she’d lied to the woman she’d talked to on the phone about her name. She’d started to give her real name, but at the last second had given the false surname, Jones. They probably wouldn’t recognize her name, but she hadn’t wanted to take any chances. Still, it left her feeling like a complete fraud.

“What’s done is done,” she muttered as she clicked off her seat belt, opened the door and slid out of her compact car, smoothing down her skirt. It was early morning, not yet seven o’clock, but it was already heating up outside. It was going to be another scorcher of a day. She looked around at the place that was to be her home for the foreseeable future. She’d been honest with Erin Garrett about not wanting a long-term job. But the other woman had assured her that the position of housekeeper and cook was only a temporary one, eight weeks tops.

The back door popped open and a tall redheaded woman stepped out onto the porch. “You must be Emerald.” She held out her hand as she strode forward. Emerald liked her on sight.

“I am. And you must be Mrs. Garrett.”

“Please call me Erin.” She turned to the massive man who was close on her heels. “And this is my husband, Abel.”

The guy was huge and very intimidating with his dark hair and piercing green eyes. Still, Emerald met his gaze squarely. “Pleasure to meet you.”

Abel nodded and said hello, but before he could say any more than that, the back door slammed open, drawing all their attention. Emerald froze on the spot. The world around her receded, narrowing to the man striding determinedly toward her. And what a man he was.