A Wedding in Red Creek: Rori and Jackson

By Randi Alexander

With their wedding day fast approaching, Rori Hughes and Jackson Walker have much to do. Their red-hot courtship, swift and deep emotional bond, and Christmas engagement have proven the strength of their love for each other. But with real-life commitments just days away, they find themselves battered by serious communication challenges.

While one of them contemplates their unachieved goals, the other struggles to ignore the call of adventure. The sudden uncertainty of a future spent settling into a routine threatens to drive a wedge between the couple.

When their parents arrive for the wedding, bringing more challenges and unexpected opportunities for the couple, Rori and Jackson question whether their relationship holds the other back. Can Rori and Jackson find what they’re longing for in Red Creek, or is the town nowhere near large enough to hold them and their dreams?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Randi Alexander
• Release date: Jan 29, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310885839

Randi Alexander

Randi Alexander writes romance novels in a fun variety of genres, like western, paranormal, menage, BDSM, motorcycle club, and even sweet. When she’s not writing a story or dreaming about her next book, Randi is biking trails along remote rivers or snorkeling the Gulf of Mexico. Forever an adventurous spirit with a romantic imagination, Randi is family-oriented and married to the best guy in the world. Give in to the allure of passion as Randi’s emotional love stories sweep you off your feet and leave you breathless. You’re guaranteed a story that’ll give you a happily ever after.

Book preview

A Wedding in Red Creek - Rori and Jackson

The Sons of Dusty Walker Series, Book 9

by

Randi Alexander

A WEDDING IN RED CREEK - RORI AND JACKSON

The Sons of Dusty Walker Series, Book 9

Original Printing 2016

Revised Version Copyright © 2021 Randi Alexander

*~*~*~*

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to place of purchase and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system-except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine, newspaper, or on the web -without permission in writing from the author.

Chapter One

"You want to do what?" The voice blasted from the speaker phone in the company conference room where Jackson Walker sat at the large table with two of his brothers, Dylan and Killian. The question had come from their other brother, Rogue, who was out of town on business.

Their weekly meeting, held at the D. Walker Mineral’s building on Main Street, Red Creek, Kansas, had just come to a grinding halt at Jackson’s announcement.

Jackson waited a beat, shoving down a burst of nervousness caused by Rogue’s question and by the startled looks pointed his way from Dylan and Killian. Jackson repeated his statement. I want to build a stadium. Outdoors. For rodeos.

Dylan grinned, and Killian looked deep in thought.

That’s what I thought you said. Rogue chuckled. So, are you going to be the star of this rodeo? And Rori gets to be rodeo queen?

Now Killian smiled, too.

Jackson had been a rodeo bronc rider for ten years since he turned fifteen. He’d just settled down in this too-quiet town six months ago after his father had died, and he’d learned he had three brothers who’d been as oblivious to Jackson’s existence as he was to theirs. Now, the four of them managed the family business.

Relaxing his fist, he straightened the paper he’d just wrinkled in his hand. He silently re-read the reasons he’d come up with to back his cause, then set the paper aside. There’s no rodeo ring anywhere in the region. We can bring in some big-name outfits. Use local rough stock. He gestured toward Killian. Maybe some of your appaloosas.

Raise bucking stock? Killian lifted his brows. That’s an option.

I’m all for it. Dylan sat back and laid a booted ankle on the opposite knee. Bring in a ton of revenue for town businesses.

One problem comes to mind right away. Killian looked across the room at the map of the town that hung on the wall. We have one motel, and it has ten rooms.

Jackson stood and walked to the map, running his hand through his wavy brown hair to give himself a moment. Was this really happening? His brothers liked the idea? When he’d come up with it in a semi-dream during the night, he hadn’t imagined they’d be all for it. Then, this morning, when he left the bed he shared with his fiancée, Rori Hughes, in their tiny apartment above her computer store just down the street, she’d been sound asleep. It would have been good to bounce the idea off her, but she’d worked half the night on a big programming project.

There’s this empty land here. Jackson pointed to a spot on the map just north of town. Still within walking distance of Main Street, but with room for hotels, stockyards, a parking lot, and rodeo grounds. Excitement made him a little tense, but he turned to face his brothers. This was a good idea for the town, for him, for the rodeo cowboys and cowgirls and bull fighters and rodeo clowns, and stock contractors. They’d hire locals to do the labor during the events, and just the construction of the arena would pump a lot of revenue into the Red Creek economy.

What? Where? Rogue’s voice came over the phone, and his three brothers laughed.

Jackson went over the location again for his benefit. We can talk to the owners of the motel, see if they’re interested in jumping in on this. Otherwise, get chain hotels to franchise a few new ones.

You’ve thought this through. Dylan stood and walked to the map. How long have you been pondering on it?

Jackson bowed his head. The first dream he’d had the night before had scared the shit out of him. He’d dreamt he was standing in the middle of Main Street, and from the bottoms of his feet, roots began to grow, fighting their way down deep into the earth. Rori stood a few feet in front of him, her hand out to him. He reached for her but couldn’t grab her.

In his dream, the shouts of a rodeo crowd came from behind him, the tantalizing sound of the eight-second buzzer, and the voice of the announcer reading the stats. Friends he knew from the circuit called his name, then grabbed hold of him and dragged him away with them. Under his feet, the roots began to stretch, then snap and break, one by one.

He’d woken with a jerk, and Rori had sat up, looking at him. A nightmare?

No. He’d tucked her back into his side. Just indigestion from your cooking. His heart thudded like a running herd of buffalo.

She’d chuckled and given his ribs a soft smack. You cooked tonight, cowboy. In seconds, her breathing grew long and deep again.

He’d snuggled up to Rori, wide awake in the dark room, wondering why he felt moments of unease now and again, like he was forgetting something important. He didn’t want to rodeo any longer, didn’t care to be gone every weekend, but he missed the excitement, the people, the lifestyle.

That’s when another vision had hit him. If he wanted to live the life, why not do it right here in Red Creek? He had the money to do it. Why not just go for it?

Did we lose you there, brother? Dylan snapped his fingers a couple times.

Uh, sorry. Jackson pointed to the paper with just six short sentences written. I thought of it last night.

I think it’s a damn good idea and worth exploring. Rogue spoke with enthusiasm. Hell, we might even be able to get a national bus line to come through town.

Killian let out a hard laugh. That's the marker of a booming town? The bus? He nodded. "But I