Two weeks ago, I published the last of the Big Sky County back titles, Branndon Jr. If you’ve read the story you know that he has a younger brother, Jackson who’d just had a baby left in his truck with a note saying it was his son.

Just in case you’ve forgotten about the ending, here it is-

Jackson couldn’t believe that his big brother was finally going to settle down. He slapped him on the back as he, Jackson and Brody headed out of the bar where they’d been for a drink to celebrate.

“Two weddings coming up,” said Jackson. “Dad’s going to be over the moon.”

“You’re next,” said Branndon.

“Never in a million years. You hear that?”

“Hear what?” asked Brody.

“Like a whimpering sound,” said Jackson.

The three men stopped walking and Jackson listened again. “Sounds like it’s coming from my truck,” he said.

“The door’s not shut all the way,” said Brody. “You forgot to lock it, or someone broken in there?”

“Fuck,” said Jackson, running over to it. He knew he didn’t have much to steal, just his spare cowboy hat and boots, but the thought of someone getting into his vehicle made him madder than hell.

As he got closer, the whimpering turned into crying. It was a baby. He opened the door to see it sitting on the passenger seat in a baby carrier.

“Who would dump a baby like this?” he asked when Branndon and Brody arrived by his side.

“Some sick, cruel person,” said Brody. “Cute little thing,” said Brody, lifting out the carrier. “Judging by the clothing, it’s a boy.”

“Hey, there’s a piece of paper pushed down the side by his jacket,” said Branndon, pulling it out.

“I think we should call the police or children’s services or whoever you call,” said Jackson.

Branndon pulled out the paper. “Hey big brother, either the baby has the same name as you, or this is addressed to you,” he said, handing it to Jackson.

Jackson took it and opened it up.

“It can’t be…” He leaned against this truck.

“What’s wrong?” asked Brody.

“It says he’s my son,” said Jackson.

“Congratulations, pa,” said Branndon. “Wow is dad going to be over the moon or what. His first grandchild at last.”

“This can’t be true,” said Jackson. “How did this happen?”

“When a man and woman love one another…”

Jackson punched Branndon on the upper arm. “This is not funny and I couldn’t have fathered this child because I wear a rubber every time.”

“They’re not one hundred percent foolproof,” said Brody. “And the little guy does look a lot like you.”

“Any idea who his mother might be?” asked Branndon.

Jackson looked at the baby screaming his head off. What was he, three months old? He thought back a year ago trying to remember if he’d been seeing anyone. Nope, last person he’d dated regularly at been two years ago, since then he’d just had some quick relationships and just one very sexually-intense one-night stand twelve months ago.

“Fuck, he can’t be…”

“What?” asked Branndon.

“I just realized who the mother of this baby is.”

“Anyone we know?” asked Branndon.

“Yeah, Tori Monroe.”

“As in one of the Monroes who hate us like the Hatfields hated the McCoys?” asked Branndon.

Oh yeah, those Monroes.

“Shit Jackson, when Pa and her pa finds out you fucked a Monroe, you’re a dead man,” said Branndon.

 

On Monday August 3rd, I’ll be releasing Jackson’s story. 

Here’s a sneak peek at the cover and an excerpt-

“Did you really need to blurt out that you’re the baby’s mother like you did?”

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t’ thinking. I haven’t been doing much of that lately because of lack of sleep looking after a baby.”

It was wrong of her to take it out on him but since Kyle had been born she’d been up a couple of times a night and it was taking its toll. She had no idea how so many single moms handled it.

“How did this happen?” asked Jackson.

“When a man and a woman get together…”

He raised his hand. “Enough with the sarcasm, Tori. We used condoms.”

“Didn’t you get the memo that they’re not foolproof?”

While she did hate the predicament their night of lust had caused, she couldn’t think of life without Kyle now. He finished feeding, and she lifted him away from her breast and put him over her shoulder.

“I think you should cover up. I’d hate you to catch a cold or something worse,” said Jackson.

He was coloring up again. That was Jackson. Probably put their night right out of his mind, months ago and was almost embarrassed to think about what they’d done. She hadn’t been able to do that and not just because of the pregnancy and baby. It had been the best sex of her life, and she guessed no one would rock her world like that ever again. It wasn’t postpartum depression she’d had, but post-sex letdown.

“Could you pass me his burpee cloth? It’s in the side of the bag I left with you,” she said, pointing.

Jackson walked to it, pulled out the blue towel, and handed it to her.

“Okay, there you are,” she said, rubbing the baby’s back.

“Were you planning on dumping him on me or what?” asked Jackson.

“No, my dad’s got an eagle eye, and he’s been seeing a Mckinney in him and I couldn’t get up the courage to tell you about the baby. And yes, I know it was a dumb thing, but it was the only thing I could think of. There is no way I’d dump this little cutie.”

She lifted the baby up and kissed him. “He is worth the whole twenty hours of labor I went through and the bags under my eyes after I wake up with every morning.”

“Twenty hours, wow,” said Jackson. He sat and stroked the baby’s head. “You have anyone with you?”

“Yeah, my mom and aunt stayed with me the whole time.”

He nodded. “If you’d told me, I would have been there.”

Tori knew that. Jackson wasn’t the type of guy who didn’t live up to his responsibilities.

“I was going to insist on a DNA test, but I know that would be a waste of time and money. I hate to admit it when a Monroe’s right, but your dad is correct in seeing Mckinney in him,” said Jackson.

“You what to hold him again?” asked Tori.

“Sure.”

Jackson took the baby from her and didn’t look at ease but he would, given time. Tori had been a nervous first-time mom as soon as she’d taken Kyle home from the hospital. Thank goodness she had her mom around.

“He won’t break so don’t worry too much,” she assured Jackson.

“You didn’t tell me his name.”

“Kyle Jacob,” said Tori. She lifted her hands in defense of the name. “I had to do something to get on Dad’s good side. Naming him after his great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather made him a very happy man.”

She knew that was not going to sit well with Branndon Sr.

 

I hope you’ll pick up a copy and enjoy the story as the saga continues.