Saved by the Rancher

chapter Twenty


JENNA SORTED THROUGH her emergency suitcase for something to wear that wouldn’t rub on her back or thigh. Not much to choose from, she only kept three outfits and a pair of shoes in the case. At least she’d get to buy some new clothes, one of the small pleasures she had in her life. She decided on the black jogging suit with white stripes down the side. A bra would hurt, so she put on the tank top and zipped the sweatshirt to just below her breasts.

Fully dressed, feeling much better, and her hair looking great, Jenna made her way downstairs. Careful as she descended, it took her a little longer, since she favored her injured leg. Sally stayed at her side the entire time. Comforting, she liked having the dog with her.

She never got a chance to see any of Jack’s house, except for the guest room. Lovely, much like the cabin. Wood everywhere. At the end of the stairs facing the front door, a Great Room lay off to the right. A huge fireplace dominated one wall, cozy furniture in soft muted tans and browns mixed with touches of blue. Jack must like blue. Of course, a big-screen TV completed the room.

The windows in the Great Room looked out to majestic green mountains and the valley. Through the front windows, she saw a large porch. No one in the Great Room, she headed left. She went through another sitting area, past several closed doors, and passed through the dining room and found everyone in the huge kitchen. They all turned from the big island to stare at her.

She stopped in the doorway and placed her hands on her fluttering stomach. “Is something wrong?”

Summer came off her stool toward Jenna, grabbing her arm, she led her to the island.

“Nothing at all. We’re just surprised to see you wearing clothes and standing up. You’ve been in that bed for so long, it’s a surprise to see you looking human again. I’m so jealous. You could be a model with that exceptional figure.”

“Oh. Well, thanks. But I have nothing on you. Your blond hair, blue eyes, and stop-a-man’s-heart figure are nothing to sneeze at. I hope I look as good as you after having kids.” She also remembered Summer was four months pregnant. True, pregnant women glowed. Summer sure did.

Caleb winked at his wife before saying, “That’s my wife, she stops my heart every time I see her.”

Summer smiled and blew her husband a kiss. “Charmer. Jack made you lunch. Come eat.”

Jenna walked over to the plate on the counter next to Jack, who held Lily on his lap. She laughed when she saw what Jack made her. Next to her turkey sandwich sat a huge pile of chocolate covered peanut butter cups and a cup of coffee.

She smiled at Jack and Lily. “Now that’s my kind of lunch. I’ll say it again, eavesdropping is not nice, but it can be productive.”

Jack smiled. “One candy for every shot. I didn’t find any lollipops in Lily’s stash, but you said you liked those, too.”

“You are a kind man, Jack.”

“You make it easy to be kind.”

“Not everyone is.” Silence settled over the group for a moment, thick as gravy. Everyone thought of the reason she’d been in bed for days. Kindness shared nothing in common with the rage that put her there.

She stood next to Jack and ate her sandwich, sharing her candy with Lily, who was excited to be with everyone in the kitchen. Everyone talked and enjoyed their meals. Jenna didn’t like intruding on this close-knit family, but she cherished the fact they made her feel welcome and part of things.

“Why don’t you sit down?” Lily asked.

Jenna didn’t want to tell the little girl why she couldn’t sit on the wood stool. Instead, she kissed the little girl in Jack’s lap on the forehead. “I’ve been in bed for a long time. I need to stand for a while. I also have an owie on my leg and the stool will make it hurt.”

Jack moved his thigh, resting it against her hip. Waves of warmth spread through Jenna at the contact of his body to hers. She wished she could feel that warmth every second the rest of her life, and so she didn’t move away, but settled into him.

Caleb and Summer gave each other a look and a knowing smile. Some kind of silent conversation and agreement between them. Jenna understood the undertone. Sparks flew and the air crackled any time she and Jack were close. She’d never felt this kind of attraction before, but she didn’t want to lose it. After everything she’d endured, most of all the loneliness, she desperately wanted to hold on to the feelings Jack stirred in her.

“Today’s Friday, right?”

Everyone agreed.

“Summer, do you work tomorrow?”

“No. Why?”

“Would you like to go shopping with me? I don’t have anything, and I need to buy some new clothes. It’ll be a whirlwind shopping spree, lots of fun. Wanna go?”

“Are you kidding? I’d love to.”

“Great, I’ll make all the arrangements.”

“Arrangements?” Summer asked, confused.

“Trust me. It’ll be great.”

“Okay. I have to take Lily home for her nap. Come on, Sunshine.”

“Jack and I need to head down to the barn and check on some of the horses. I’ll be home later, honey.” Caleb kissed his wife and daughter goodbye. A touch of jealousy zinged through Jenna’s heart. They were a real married couple, something she’d experienced too briefly . . . if at all.

“I need to make some phone calls. I guess I’ll see you all later.” She put her empty plate in the dishwasher along with her coffee cup. She turned and almost ran straight into Jack. Instinctively, she took a step back and threw up her hands between them to ward him off. Completely unnecessary, and the slight frown he gave her told her how much her backing away hurt him.

“Who are you calling?”

She dropped her hands and answered without acknowledging what she’d done without thinking. “Ben. I need to take care of a few things with him.”

“What things?” Jack was afraid she’d call Ben and hightail it right out of his life now that she was feeling better. He didn’t want to see that happen when he was just starting to realize how much she could mean to him. Already did mean to him, judging by the zip of alarm that shot through him.

“Jack, I don’t let people into my life. For very good reasons. Let me do what I have to do.”

“As long as it doesn’t include running away from me.”

“I have no reason to run away from you. But I’ll do everything I can to protect you and your family from the person who did this to me.”

“Protect us from whom?”

“We’ll talk about that later. I’m not ready yet. Time, Jack. Give me a little time to settle, to let the thoughts and pictures in my head clear.”

What she meant was time to trust him with her secrets. He’d already set his mind to earning that trust. So he’d wait, but he didn’t have to like it.

“You’re making this hard. I can’t protect you, or my family, if I don’t know who’s after you. This is my ranch, my family.” He bent and kissed her lightly on the mouth. This time, her hesitation lasted a split second and vanished. Progress. “Stay with me. Let me help you.”

Stay with me. Those words hadn’t come easy for him. Trusting him didn’t come easy for her either.

“I’m trying. I’ve been alone a long time. Asking you to help me opens you and your family up to the nightmare I live. Let me call Ben. I’ll settle some things and figure out what’s best. Then we’ll talk. That’s the best I can do right now. This is hard for me. I don’t want to involve you and your family, but I can’t bring myself to walk away from you either.”

She took a deep steadying breath. “I care about you, and it’s tearing me up to think I might have put you in danger by coming here.” She thought acknowledging her feelings and telling him would make her nervous and anxious. It didn’t. Instead, it settled her and centered her in a way she didn’t expect. “It’s only been a matter of days, most of which I’ve been passed out. Every instinct tells me something special is happening here, but another part of me is scared to trust those instincts.”

Because she’d trusted another man and he’d turned on her. “I’d never hurt you.”

“I know that,” she said too fast and with a hesitant note to her words.

“No, you don’t. Not really. One day you will, and until then I’ll spend every moment proving it to you.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sure it seems I’m pulling you close and pushing you away all at the same time. I’m not playing games.”

“I never thought you were.”

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s not to waste time. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the luxury of taking time to build new relationships with people. In order to at least try to make this happen and explore this thing between us, I need to take care of and set up a few things to protect myself and you.”

He slipped his hand around the back of her neck and held her close. “I won’t let anything happen to you. Promise, promise me you won’t run away.”

“I can’t make that promise. If he comes for me, I won’t let him touch you, or Caleb, or Summer. I won’t let that evil get to Lily.”

“I don’t think I can live without you, now that I’ve found you,” Jack admitted on a ragged whisper.

“You woke me up from a nightmare. I want a life, a real life. I don’t want to be afraid. I want to know I’m home.” She ran her hands over his chest, just the small contact to steady her world and let her know this is real. He’s real. “Let’s talk about this later. Caleb is waiting for you down at the barn. Go. I’ll make my calls, and then I think I’ll take a walk and get some exercise.”

He bent his brow to hers. They stood nose to nose. “Are you staying?”

She placed her hands on his cheeks and held him to her. “Yes, Jack. I want to stay here with you.”

“That’s a good place to start.”

“Are you going to bolt?” she teased, because guys tended toward retreat when commitment was on the line.

“Not a chance. Any other time, any other woman, and the thought of them moving in would make me run for the hills. It’s different with you.” He gently brushed his fingertips along her bruised jaw. “You’re different. I’m not sure what this thing between us is, but I know I don’t want to lose it before I know for sure.” He kissed her forehead and pressed his cheek to her head and held her for a moment before he reluctantly released her. “Be here when I get back.”