Jackson laid next to Misty, holding her tight as she slept. She clutched his shirt front as she rubbed her eyes against his shoulder. He smiled as he kissed her hair. He was going to be a daddy! He could hardly wait to see her grow large with the child he helped create.

He sighed when he glanced at his alarm clock- everyone would be showing up soon and he had yet to get the steaks on the grill or get the sweet corn boiling. He gently woke up Misty, knowing that she'd want to be awake when they showed up.

Jackson set the table while Misty poured the sweet tea, she was looking much-much better after her nap. Jackson had a plate of steaks ready to be grilled in one hand and a set of tongs in the other. He was just passing Misty when she squeezed his backside. The man nearly jumped through the ceiling! He set the plate and tongs on the counter before snatching up his wife and tickling her sensitive areas-laughing while she squealed.

Before either of them knew it, Misty was up on the counter and Jackson was devouring her mouth like a man starved. She had her hands threaded through his hair- her finger tips massaging his scalp.

A throat cleared behind Jackson. He slowly broke away from a very red Misty, he could feel how hot his cheeks burned-not from embarrassment- oh no, he was all of two seconds away from ravishing his wife on their counter top.

He peeked over his shoulder to see Luke and Marcus with their arms crossed over their chests; Jenny and Bart behind them. "I told you that she needs rest!" Luke was none too pleased with his baby brother.

"She got some." Jackson defended weakly.

Misty giggled and pecked her husband's cheek. "Oh Luke, I'm the one that started this round."

Marcus busted out laughing at the shock on the middle brother's face.

"What? She- one thing led to another." Jackson finally calmed down enough to turn around and face them fully. Jackson looked at Jenny, seeing the laughter in her eyes. It was Bart that scared him. Bart looked extremely unhappy that Jack wasn't following doctor's orders and possibly putting the young mother in danger.

Misty climbed down from the counter and patted her hair. "Bart, don't kill my husband. I'm kinda partial to him."

Supper was a laughter-filled affair. Stories of the boys growing up kept everyone chuckling.

"Jack was what- six? Anyways he thought that he could fly. So one day he grabs his bed sheet and jumps off of the barn roof-"

"Only after you two convinced me that it'd work. Dad was pissed when he had to take me to get my arm set and plastered."

"And mom could've tanned your hide had you not given her that grin you perfected. You had that woman wrapped around your finger."

"I think all of you boys had Maggie around your fingers." Jenny smiled as she sipped from her glass. "She was a good mama, and she raised some mighty fine young men." She looked at Jackson. "Even if some of you are a bit hard of hearing."

Misty giggled. "I think it's selective hearing." Jackson looked at his wife and couldn't help the happy grin.

"She's got a point." He looked at his oldest brother. "If anyone's hard of hearing, it's him. Sneaking out with Old Man Simmon's daughter senior year. If I remember correctly, he peppered your tailgate that night."

"Yes he did, and boy was it worth it." Marcus chuckled. "You know, looking at you and Misty here- kinda makes me wanna settle down and have a couple smurf's of my own."

Jackson nodded and looked at his wife next to him. She had her hands over her belly, and Jackson could hardly believe that his life had turned out the way it had. He looked at his brothers. "Yesterday, Dad showed up. He wants to talk. I don't know what to do." Jackson sighed. "He says that he's changed-but I don't know if I can trust him."

"When does he want to talk to you?"

"Friday at the diner." Jack picked at the table cloth. "I don't know if I want him anywhere near my children- or my wife."

"Nine years changes a man- maybe you should talk to him. If you feel like he hasn't changed his ways, tell him not to come around again."

Jackson shook his head. Misty bumped her shoulder against her husband's. "We'll figure it out Honey."

#

Jackson hugged his brothers as they got ready to leave. Misty was swept up by Marcus and twirled around. "I'll be back soon to see you sis." He set her down on her feet. "Keep Jackson on his toes."

"Oh I plan to." Marcus chuckled and lightly punched Jackson's shoulder.

"And dude, if you're going to ravish your pregnant wife, don't do it in the damn kitchen."

Jackson laughed. "I'll try to remember that."

Luke hugged Misty tight. "I'll come back to check on you in a couple months. If anything happens or if you have any questions, feel free to give me a call."

"We will." Jackson slipped an arm around Misty's shoulders as his brothers loaded up the truck. "Drive safe."

After the boys made it down the driveway, Jackson glanced down at his wife. "You know- the house is empty now. And Annabelle and Fanny still have Autumn until five."

Misty looked up at him. "What's gotten into you?"

"You have my dear, you have." Jackson scooped her up and carried her back inside the house, closing the front door with his foot.

#

Misty sat next to Jackson in the booth across from her father-in-law. Rick was fiddling with his napkin- the old man's hands shook. "I'm glad you could make it Jackson and Misty."

"I'm not sure if I'm glad. What do you want dad?"

"I'd like to become part of your lives. Even if it's just for birthdays."

"Why?" Jackson shifted in his seat. "You didn't care about us kids when we were growing up, why would you want to get involved now?"

"I was angry back then. I was angry that Maggie died-angry that I couldn't help her. We were dirt poor there was no way that I could've paid the medical bills. We already struggled trying to put food on the table and clothes on your backs- I would've had to sell the place to pay off a fraction of the bills. Then we would've been without a home, and a way to feed ourselves. And Maggie was so sick by the time the doctor's found it that she wouldn't live long anyways." Rick wiped his hands on his jeans. "I knew the day would come when Maggie wouldn't be there, but- I didn't expect to take it as hard as I did. And then for me to be so hard on you boys- I was angry that God would take away my love and the mother of my children when I still needed her."

"That still doesn't explain why would beat the tar outta us."

Rick sighed. "Anger, son, it does some nasty things to a man's heart." Rick looked at his new daughter-in-law. "I was a bitter man for nearly fifteen years. Prison was an eye opening experience. I'll never be that man again."

"How can you be sure that if you get upset that you won't hurt my children?" Misty wasn't sure what to think, she wanted Jackson to be okay with his father, but the man scared her."

"There'll always be times when I'll get upset, but I know how to handle it now. I went through several years of anger management as part of my prison sentence." Rick nodded slowly. "I can handle a lot of emotions better than what I used to."

Misty slipped her hand into Jackson's very tense one, "How can we keep in touch with you?"

"I can give you the address of the ranch I'm working on. They also have a phone that you can leave messages for me on." Rick fished a dull pencil from his breast pocket and scratched on the napkin an address and a phone number. "I don't expect to be welcomed with open arms, but I would like to be able to spend an hour or two with my new grandchildren as they come."

"We'll have to talk about this privately. We'll give you a call when we make up our minds." With that, Jackson stood from the booth and helped Misty out. He didn't say another word as they left the diner.

Rick finished his cup of coffee and watched out the window.

#

Every year after talking with his father, Jackson invited him to each of the kids' birthdays. And with a houseful of five children- Rick made many appearances throughout the years. He never missed a sporting event and he always showed up for birthdays.

Jackson and Misty had their share of scuffles and arguments, but it never stopped them from loving each other.

Shaun eventually did warm up to Jackson after the third child- Shaun Tanner was born while he'd been in Wyoming visiting. Jackson was able to share a beer with him while Misty and Connie gushed over the newest member of the family.

Jackson reclined on the hillside with Misty at his side. "I sure am glad you came to Medicine Bow."

"Me too." She kissed the underside of his jaw. Together, they watched the prairie turn to rose as the sun sank behind the hills.

THE END

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Thanks for reading guys! It's a bit shorter than I originally planned for! I'm working on a new story so stay tuned!

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Please check out the new story I'm working on! Stand By Me!