Redeeming Rafe Read Online Free Page B

let the girls stay, but those women have all they can handle.”
    Jackson let out a sound that Rafe couldn’t quite identify, but he’d heard it directed at Gabe before. “You mean to tell me you were willing to leave those babies—our own flesh and blood—to live in what sounds like a nearly destitute situation?”
    “I was willing to leave them with the only people they have ever known and offer support.” Yeah. That sounded good. But in truth, he was willing to leave them because he’d already caused the death of one baby girl—not to mention his parents—and the best thing for those girls was to be as far from him as possible. Still, Jackson’s reaction was good news. That meant he was already feeling ownership. “Anyway. Tawny’s people are good people. They didn’t ask for back child support.”
    “But you gave it anyway?” Emory said like she already knew.
    “It seemed the right thing to do—the only thing.”
    Jackson nodded, approving. “What’s to say they won’t come back and want the babies? Or more money?”
    Rafe didn’t respond to the first thing, because as far as he was concerned, that would be good news. “I don’t know, Jackson. If they do, I guess I’ll give them more money. My agent—you remember Kevin—helped me figure out how much child support to give, and he drew up papers that everybody signed.”
    “And what do the papers say? Do you even know?” Jackson asked.
    That was fair. Rafe had never been one to give legalities much thought. That’s what Kevin was for.
    “They say I gave the money and Fawn and her mother won’t ask for any more or ask for the babies back. And I said they could see the girls if they wanted.”
    Jackson groaned. “I’m not sure how much Kevin knows about family law. I’d like my attorneys to look at those documents.”
    Rafe shrugged. “Whatever.” He got up and poured himself another cup of coffee. He almost offered Jackson some, but decided he didn’t deserve it.
    “What next?” Emory asked.
    What next, indeed.
    “I’ve got to be in Tulsa next week,” Rafe said.
    “Do you, now?” Jackson challenged him.
    “Yes, Jackson, I do. A man has to make a living, and this is the only way I know how.” Jackson hated Rafe’s profession, would put all his brothers in velvet-lined boxes and feed them milk and honey if they would allow it.
    “Do you think Bella and Alice will be all right hanging out in the back of your truck while you’re riding bulls? I would advise you to alert someone they’re back there in case you get bucked off and killed.”
    There was a saying in bull riding circles: it wasn’t a question of if you would get hurt, it was just when and how bad. Rafe had been pretty lucky—a few dislocated shoulders, a broken collarbone, cracked ribs, and a concussion or six. Nothing that kept him out of the game for long.
    “I’m not going to get killed. And I’m not going to take those babies to Tulsa.”
    “Oh?” Jackson said. “Then what’s your plan?”
    Rafe took a deep breath.
    “I was hoping—”
    “No,” Jackson said. “Absolutely not. This is your home as much as mine. You can be here. You
should
be here. But Emory and I are not taking your children to raise. That’s your job.”
    Damn it all to hell and back. He should have known Jackson would use this to finally get his way and make Rafe come home and stop rodeoing. Wasn’t going to happen.
    “Now, Jackson,” sweet Emory said. “We could help Rafe.”
    “No. We cannot. Not like he wants. We can be the best uncle and aunt possible, but we are not going to take those children to raise.”
    “I’m not asking you to,” Rafe lied.
    “You’re lying.”
    “I have obligations. If you’ll just keep them for a few weeks, I’ll come back.” That would give Emory time to get attached, probably Jackson, too.
    “I don’t see why we can’t do that,” Emory said.
    Yeah, Emory! Tell him.
    “There are reasons and plenty of them,” Jackson said softly and