A Cowboy's Love (Ford Brothers Book #3)

Chapter Seven: Jackson

I have no idea what has changed since this morning, but Amelia has been acting strange. She has been closed off and keeping to herself. I know there is a lot that I still do not know. She has been through so much already and I can tell that whoever is on the other end of that call is upsetting her. I can hear her breathing growing heavy as she listens. Her face is turned away from me, her hair falling down around her face. I can tell by the way she is trembling that she is silently crying.

The moment that her phone hit the ground beside us, I turned her around in my arms. Moving her hair away as I cupped her face into my hands. The fear flashing in her eyes broke my heart. I could feel the anger building up as the tears fell from her glassy blue eyes. Her body trembling with fear as she held on tight to me. I have to know what is going on? Why she is so terrified?

"Baby, what is going on? I will do everything to keep you safe. Who was that?" I questioned her, hoping that she will trust me with the truth.

"It was Drew. I have not heard from him in over two years." She cried into my chest.

"What did he say?"

"He asked me if I had told you everything." She whispered into my chest.

"Have you told me everything yet?" I could not help but to ask.

"No, I was planning on telling you everything before he called me."

"You can tell me whenever you are ready. I would never push you."

"I know and I want to tell you everything."

"I want you to be able to tell me anything. I want to be here for you whenever you need me."

"I will tell you everything. I promise."

"How does he know that you found me?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen or heard from him in a long time."

"We will figure this all out. I promise that I will keep you and the girls safe." I promised her.

"Okay." She sighed leaning back from me.

"Let's go to my place to talk. I will see if Lucas and Maddie will keep the girls tonight. We have a lot to talk about." I told her, standing up and pulling her up with me. I took her hand into mine and lead her back to the truck.

"I'm sorry, Jackson."

"You have nothing to apologize for. Whatever it is we will work through it together." I squeezed her hand in mine. She still has tears running down her face and I know that she would not want anyone to see her like this especially her daughters. I hate seeing her like this and I have a feeling that she has not seen too many good days and that does not set well with me. Instead of heading to the backyard I turned towards my truck and opened the passenger door for her to climb in. I helped her into the seat and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I'll be right back." I whispered into her ear. She did not say a word only nodded her head in reply. I closed her door and turned towards the backyard where all my family is gathered. I found Lucas talking with mom on the patio away from the rest of the groups. I made my way over to them and stopping a few steps away from them.

"Where is Amelia?" Mom asked with worry laced into her voice.

"She is in the truck. She had an upsetting call from her ex." I told them keeping my voice low so no one could overhear us.

"Did you figure out what we talked about?" Lucas asked.

"I did and we do know her." I replied. A movement out of the corner of my eye I could tell the it is Gabby. Turning to look at her I noticed the similarity between her and my family. Her eye are the same color as mine and her dark brown wavy hair matches mine as well. Is this what Amelia needs to tell me? Gabby is thirteen and the math does add up, but could she really be mine?