Danni Rose (The Sherwood)

“What do you mean?”

“You aren’t going after Jesse.”

He snorted and gazed out the window.

Danni parked the car. “Walker, our wedding is two months away. I want a baby right away.” His head shot around, and he stared at her. She could see the terror in his eyes as well as the tears.

“You will make a great father,” she told him. “I want three or four kids. We can do this,” she whispered. They had never discussed how many or when they would have children. “Don’t throw away our future because Jesse killed Arte tonight. She didn’t want that for you.”

He turned his head towards the window. “I love her so much.” He wiped his sleeve across his face.

“I know, baby.”

“When dad left, me and Jesse were all she had. Danni remained quiet; letting Walker talk. “When Jesse started acting out. She didn’t know what to do with him.”

Walker see

med lost inside his head. He was remembering all the times that Hawk picked up Jesse for something or other. Vandalism. Petty theft. Beating up a kid after school. His mother would ground him, but it did no good, Jesse would just sneak out. His behavior was more than just boys being boys. Jesse was determined to break all the rules and hurt as many people as possible including Artemisia and Walker.

He ran his hands through his hair. “I don’t understand.”

She sighed. Danni remembered the look of horror that crossed Jesse’s face when he realized that his mother had been shot. “He didn’t mean to shoot her. That was the first thing he said to me.”

Walker gazed at Danni. Then he snorted and looked out the window. “A year ago, when I started sleeping in that barn, I did it I told myself because I knew Jesse was poking around town again.”

Danni took his hand. “But…”

“I wanted to be close to you, Danni. You were the only bright spot in my life. I just didn’t want this to happen. Never dreamed that it could.”

She tilted her head towards him. She frowned a little. “You’re happy, right?”

“I’m happier than I have any right to be, baby.” The emotion on his face made her smile at him. “Until tonight.”

“Then hold onto that because that is what made your mother happy too,” Danni informed Walker.

He slipped across the seat and Walker laid his head in the curve of Danni’s neck. She wrapped her arms around him and held him close. “It will be okay,” she promised him.

Walker didn’t say anything, he just let her hold him and for now that was enough for Danni. She would watch him though because she knew Walker. He had a lot of anger towards Jesse. Killing Artemisia whether it was an accident or not was killing Walker.

Chapter 17

There were two solemn events in one week. The funeral of Jackson’s mother was first. Walker didn’t want to go with her but her didn’t want Danni to go either. In the end, he put on his dress pants and dress shirt, a tie and a pair of Wallburg, typical, black, polished men’s dress shoes, size sixteen. Walker had to special order them for his large feet.

Danni kept looking at his feet then her eyes traveled up his perfectly, pressed pants that were also black and pleated in front to his white, tailored shirt. His tied was black and red, silk striped.

“You look handsome,” she informed him. Walker had even shaved for this day. She straightened his tie.

“I wasn’t trying.”

She chuckled at him. He pulled Danni to him. He knew what was bothering him. Later, he would have to do this when he buried his own mother. Walker squeezed her and kissed her forehead. “Let’s go or we’re going to be late.”

Walker took Danni’s hand and slipped his sunglasses on before leading her to the truck. “Want to drive?” She asked.

“Why not? Hawk knows I don’t have a license. Live dangerously, is my motto. He could ticket me, you know.”

Danni laughed. “He won’t ticket you. You drive better than anyone in town.”

He held the door for Danni. When she was seated, and her black skirt was straightened, Walker smiled. “Definitely,” he agreed.