Branndon Jr.

  Evernight Publishing ®

  www.evernightpublishing.com

  Copyright© 2016 Vanessa Devereaux

  ISBN: 978-1-77233-753-2

  Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

  Editor: Audrey Bobak

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  DEDICATION

  For Grandma Kate

  BRANNDON JR.

  Big Sky County, 10

  Vanessa Devereaux

  Copyright © 2016

  Chapter One

  Branndon pulled the blanket up over his head and sank farther down underneath it. While he was happy to be finally home from the hospital, his father had done the unthinkable. He’d hired a live-in nurse to oversee the remainder of his recovery. Not just any nurse, but a girl he and his brother Jackson had taunted in high school. Skinny Susie they’d called her because she’d resembled a skeleton more than a living human being.

  The name was no longer fitting because she’d filled out. In fact, Susanne was now all luscious curves. The sort of woman that Mckinney men loved the best. Susanne Barclay had recognized him immediately when he’d been in the hospital and hadn’t forgotten the days of constant teasing. By offering her a live-in position, his father had clearly left him vulnerable to counterattack, and it had gotten underway at the hospital when she’d strolled into his room and made fun of his dick. Branndon emerged from under the blankets just in time to hear his front door closing.

  “Honey, wipe your feet or you’ll track snow all over the house,” he heard Susanne saying.

  He knew who she was talking to. As if having her under his roof wasn’t bad enough, she had a five-year-old daughter who was going to be part of the package.

  “Where’s my room?” It was the little girl’s voice.

  “I’ll take you along there in a minute, but first I want you to come meet the man who mommy’s looking after for the next six weeks.”

  Six weeks. Double shit. His life wouldn’t be his own again for a month and a half. And no, no, don’t bring her in here. I’m still recuperating and the last thing I need is a child bugging me.

  Too late because someone opened his door and in walked Susanne with a small replica of herself in tow. It was almost uncanny that the kid had her mother’s long, dark hair, her green eyes, and even those rosy, red cheeks.

  “I see you got home okay,” said Susanne.

  “Yeah, Jackson drove me. He said he’ll be back later when he has more time for a visit.”

  “Jackson, yeah can’t wait to see him again.”

  Did he detect sarcasm in her voice?

  “April, can you say hello to Branndon?”

  “Hi.”

  “Hi April.”

  “Anything you need before I go unpack and settle this little one into her room?”

  “No, thought I’d catch up on opening my mail,” Branndon said, reaching for the stack of envelopes and magazines that Jackson had set on his bedside table.

  “Great and I’ll start supper in about an hour. I’ll bring yours on a tray, but I think starting tomorrow you should walk around a bit and eat in the kitchen so you can get back to your regular routine.”

  Oh, this was going to be fun, like having his mother around. Not that his mom was ever bossy or told him what to do once he reached manhood. Branndon still missed her. He wondered what she’d think of his dad fathering a child all those years ago. Branndon donating a kidney to him?

  “I’m going to set up a walkie-talkie so you can call me if you need anything, but in the meantime just holler,” said Susanne, jarring him out of his train of thought.

  Branndon watched Susanne and April leave the room.

  “I’m hungry,” he heard April whining as he picked up the first envelope. He tried to prop himself up some more, but the incision still hurt like hell. He grimaced and breathed in air to try and take the edge of the pain away.

  “I’m going to fix supper real soon but first you have to unpack your case. The quicker you do that the faster we’ll eat,” said Susanne.

  Bills, bills, and more bills. The sooner he recovered, the faster he could get back to making money on the rodeo circuit. Tomorrow he hoped to feel strong enough to get outside to go to the stables and say hi to his horses. Jackson and his dad had been looking after them while he’d had surgery and was in the hospital so he knew they’d received the best attention. But they were his babies and he’d missed them like hell.

  The next bunch of envelopes were get well cards from a bunch of fellow cowboys on the circuit.

  Hope to kick your ass again soon!

  Branndon smiled.

  Next set were from some of his female admirers.

  Can’t wait until you’re on the mend and we see your sexy ass in the saddle once more.

  Ten ladies’ names were signed underneath the sentiment.

  And I can’t wait to ride your sexy asses once more. He leaned over to put the cards on the bedside table, biting his lip when he felt a sharp pain shoot through his back. When was this going to be over?

  He opened the next envelope which yielded yet another card. As he opened it up, a photo fell out on his lap. He almost went hard looking at it because it was a snap of one of his fans with her legs wide apart sans panties. He whistled. He’d have to track down that pussy when he was well enough.

  The next few cards held similar tokens. Half were full frontal and the rest were more explicit, bend over show her pussy ones. He had hoped his recovery was a speedy one because if he stayed away from the ladies too long, his cock would get out of practice.

  Branndon jumped when he heard the door opening and quickly shoved all the photos under the blankets. Susanne walked in, carrying a tray.

  “I hope you like lasagna. I stopped by the deli on our way here because I was short on time.”

  It smelled good, looked good, and after hospital food, an old shoe would be just fine, too.

  “No problem at all,” he said.

  She laid the tray across his lap. A chocolate pudding sat beside the plate of lasagna with a glass of milk to the left of it.

  “I’ll be here most of the time except for tomorrow morning. I’m driving April to school because it’s her first day in kindergarten, but after that I’ll just take her to the school bus.”

  It had seemed like a lifetime ago that he’d started school.

  “Is she going to our old school?” asked Branndon.

  “Sure is. I can’t believe I’m back here in Riker’s Creek and my daughter’s going to the same school. Your soon to be sister-in-law’s going to be April’s teacher.”

  “Sister-in-law?” asked Branndon. He wasn’t aware that Jackson was getting married.

  “Yes, Maddie Thurston.”

  “Oh yeah, Maddie,” Branndon said. It was tough getting his head around the fact that Brody was his half-brother.

  “I met her yesterday and she is such a sweetheart. She said Brody seems to be doing great. I can’t wait to meet him. Such a refreshing thing to hear there are still gentlemen left in the world.” She pulled on the bedcovers to neaten them up. Her last words weren’t lost on him because he knew that he and his brother had never been what she’d call perfect in that department.

  “I’d stay and talk some more but I should check what my daughter’s up to.”

  She turned and left. Branndon still couldn�
�t believe how she’d filled out. She’d never been pretty, but now he couldn’t take his eyes off. He shook his head. He hadn’t asked about her marital status. The fact that she had moved back to Riker’s Creek, took a live-in position, and had brought along her daughter, told him she was either single and had never been married or was divorced. Still it wasn’t any of his business.

  He got back to what he should be focusing on, eating his dinner, getting his strength back so he could return to the rodeo circuit sooner than later. There was a competition coming up in March in Texas and he’d set that as his goal of being recovered enough to compete. Another plus to getting back on his feet, he could send Susanne on her way.

  She made him feel uneasy and it wasn’t just because of their past. There was something he couldn’t put his finger on. He forked the lasagna and took his first bite. He wasn’t much of a pasta man, more of a steak and potatoes one, but this wasn’t that bad.

  “I don’t want to go to bed. I want to watch TV.”

  Branndon turned his head toward his bedroom door. Sounded like the kid was right outside it, whining her head off. One thing he disliked most about children was their whiny ways. Come to think of it, he hated it in grown-ups, too.

  “You have to start school tomorrow so you don’t want to be tired,” said Susanne.

  “I want to watch TV.”

  “You can do that when you get home from school,” said Susanne.

  “I’m not going to bed, I’m not.”

  With that the kid let out the biggest wail he’d ever heard. Branndon had no idea how a little thing like that could produce those decibels. Her cry almost broke the glass holding the milk. He was pretty sure the milk had begun shaking.

  “Do I have to drag you there, young lady?” said Susanne.

  “I’m not going to bed.”

  Next thing he knew there were footsteps pounding up and down the hallway. Geez, how was he supposed to get rest and get well with this sort of thing going on? He bet his dad hadn’t thought about that when he’d hired a nurse with a child.

  “April, you will get in that bedroom and get ready for bed or no TV for a week, you hear me?”

  Now Susanne had raised her voice, too.

  With that, the doorbell rang. “I’m going to answer that and by the time I get back here I want to see you heading toward your bedroom.”

  There was silence for a few minutes and then he heard Jackson’s voice. A few minutes later his brother was opening the bedroom door and walking in.

  “Wow, you’re right, she filled out in all the right places,” he said, taking off his cowboy hat and placing it on the end of the bed.

  The sound of April crying and doors banging shook Branndon’s room, and once again the milk splashed around in the glass.

  “What the hell was that?” Jackson asked, pulling up a chair by the bed.

  “The kid doesn’t want to go to bed,” said Branndon.

  “Can’t blame her for that,” said Jackson. “Hey, are you going to eat that chocolate pudding?”

  His brother had always had the sweet tooth in the family. While Branndon did need to build up his calories, he somehow wasn’t in the mood for pudding. “Take it if you want.”

  “Great. I haven’t eaten supper yet because I came straight from the ranch.”

  Jackson reached onto the tray, took the pudding cup and spoon, and dived straight in.

  “Dad went to the hospital to see Brody this afternoon now that Ted’s gone back to Billings for a couple of weeks. He said he seems to be doing just fine. You’re a hero, big brother.” Jackson slapped Branndon’s leg, and in the process jarred his back. Branndon winced.

  “Sorry, you still in pain?”

  “It’s not as bad as it was, but my back aches like you wouldn’t believe. I guess I’m not used to spending so much time in bed.”

  “They give you anything for it to bring home with you?”

  “Yeah, bunch of painkillers, but you know how I take hating those things even when I get hurt on the circuit.”

  “One or two isn’t going to be a big deal.” Jackson placed the empty cup and spoon back on Branndon’s tray.

  “You want me to help you sit up some more, put a few pillows behind you because that might help?” asked Jackson.

  “Sure, let’s give that a try.”

  Jackson stood and walked to the top of the bed. He took the tray from Branndon and sat it on the side table.

  “So Susanne tell you who she married or if it’s anyone we know?” asked Jackson.

  “Nope, and you know my philosophy, I don’t ask you questions so that means you can’t ask me,” said Branndon, leaning forward and grimacing yet again. Jackson took the two pillows, plumped them up, and then placed them back on the bed.

  “Let’s get you comfortable, you big hero of a guy.”

  Branndon laughed at his brother’s choice of words. He and Jackson had always gotten on well and looked out for one another. Now he hoped that in time his relationship with Brody would be the same. He had to admit they’d gotten off on the wrong foot, largely because of Branndon’s arrogance, and yes, a little jealousness because out of the blue this fellow cowboy who’d been fathered by his dad had arrived in town. Branndon knew his pa’s relationship with Brody’s mother had happened long before he’d met his mom, but it still seemed like an act of betrayal. Worse thing was Brody was hard to dislike. Branndon had done his best to hate him but he just couldn’t do it. The guy was one class act.

  “On my count of three, I’m going to lift you up and pull you back,” said Jackson.

  Branndon braced himself for what he knew was going to be a sharp pain. He gritted his teeth as Jackson counted. As his brother pulled, the photos he’d been sent slipped out from under the covers and one by one, just like rainfall, fell to the carpet. Jackson made sure Branndon was comfortable before picking them up. He whistled as he shuffled through them.

  “Fuck, Branndon, I wasn’t wrong when I said women were going to consider you hero of the year.” He flipped through the photos, whistling louder at each one. “Some very nice asses and pussies here. I hope you’ll be kind enough to share some with your little brother.”

  Branndon snatched them from him. “I hope you know that getting more pussy isn’t the reason I gave my kidney to Brody. Okay, it’s a nice side benefit, but when it comes down to it, I like our half-brother. I mean he’s half Pa, so what’s not to like?”

  “You think Mom would have liked Brody?”

  “Mom liked everyone and I guess if I was more like her, I wouldn’t have been such an asshole to Brody when I first met him. Shit, you think Maddie will ever tell him about the joke I played on her?”

  “For you own sake I hope she doesn’t or you’re going to end up back in the hospital.”

  Branndon had thought it funny at the time, but now he realized what a jerk he’d been, making her get naked thinking that she was going to have to let Branndon fuck her in order to get Brody that kidney. He hoped it would remain his and Maddie’s little secret forever because he didn’t want Brody to ever hate him.

  “You look tired so I guess I should let you rest, but I’ll be by tomorrow to feed the horses.” Jackson picked up his cowboy hat and placed it on his head.

  “I’ll try and join you. I hope they’ve missed me,” said Branndon.

  “Sure they have. You get a good night’s sleep and thanks for the chocolate pudding. And watch out for Susanne.”

  Oh, he was definitely going to do that.

  ****

  Susanne wiped the tears away from her eyes as she walked back down the hallway and almost ran straight into Jackson’s chest. For some strange reason, the Mckinney brothers always seemed to be around when she was at her lowest point. Jackson had often been the one responsible for making her cry at school, but tonight he was blameless. It was her daughter who’d brought on the waterworks. Her baby was starting school tomorrow and while she already knew she’d have to raise her all by herself, for some reason,
she’d suddenly realized just how scary it was. She’d thought coming back to Riker’s Creek was the answer. Not that she had family here anymore, but she’d always loved the mountains and the lakes, and she wanted her daughter to live a different life to the one she’d had. When Branndon Mckinney Sr. had approached her about taking the job as junior’s live-in nurse, she hadn’t thought twice. It would give her and April chance to settle back into the community and find a permanent place to live. However, now she wasn’t so sure she’d made the right decision. This was Branndon’s house and he’d been part of a gang who’d given her hell. Seeing him and his brother again brought every horrible memory back into her mind.

  “You okay?” asked Jackson.

  Wow, that question must mean he’d grown up. Usually her crying was a sign of victory for him. He was still as cute as ever, taller too. People had always teased her that she’d had a crush on Jackson, but they’d been wrong. While his teasing had made her sad, Branndon’s words and antics had been worse because it had always been him she’d secretly adored.

  “I’m fine, just having a tough time getting April to go to bed.”

  She walked with Jackson as he headed to the front door.

  “Yeah, me and Branndon never liked going to bed early either. We used to pretend we were asleep and then get up and play some game we’d hidden under the sheets. We grew out of it and so will she.”

  “I hope so.”

  “Branndon seems to be in lots of pain with his back. He’s stubborn about taking painkillers but maybe you can talk him into doing just that,” said Jackson, slipping on his coat.

  “Sure, I’ll go see what I can do for him.”

  “Great, I’d appreciate that.”

  Susanne opened the door for him and a swirl of snow circled on the doorstep before heading inside.

  “Looks like the snow’s in for the night,” said Jackson, stepping outside.