Saved by the Rancher

chapter Thirty-Four


JACK HADN’T TAKEN care of the flowerbeds around the house, so the only things alive were a few hardy bushes. The flowers Jenna had ordered would brighten the porch and patio out back. He’d told her over and over again to think of this as not just his home, but hers too. Difficult to believe after moving from place to place for so long, nothing ever felt like hers. So she had finally settled in and decided to add a few touches. She loved to garden and wanted to spruce up the outside. She’d start there before choosing a room upstairs to turn into a nursery for the baby.

Jenna and Lily finished planting the roses, snapdragons, columbine, dahlias, and daisies in the front yard. Lily liked watering the best. She’d sprayed Jenna a few times for fun. The beds in front of the long porch were beautiful and would be even better next spring. The winter cold would kill some of the flowers, but she would replant whatever didn’t survive. For now, they would enjoy it while it lasted.

Lily chased a butterfly. Sally chased Lily. Jenna loaded the wheelbarrow with flats of lovely white, pink, and red impatiens to brighten the back patio and the shaded areas close to the house. What a lovely picture it would make from the back windows off the Great Room.

Jenna came back around the house to fetch the blue and pink hydrangeas that would go behind the impatiens and in front of the trees. The large bushes would be a lovely showpiece in full bloom. Jack would love the blue of the hydrangea flowers. She loaded the six plants and headed for the back of the house.

“Lily and Sally, come in back with me. We’ll finish the big plants before lunch.”

“Okay. I want to plant the blue ones first.” Lily skipped behind Jenna.

“Six bushes, we’ll do one blue then one pink. That way we’ll spread out both colors.”

“They’re so pretty. I like the front.”

Late in the morning, Jenna knew Lily was getting hungry. She watered the hydrangeas they had already planted while Jenna put the last one in. The row of bushes improved the backyard considerably.

“Once the impatiens are in, the view from the patio will be gorgeous.” That earned a smile from Lily.

She and Jack would have to sit and enjoy the backyard more often. Maybe she’d buy a few Adirondack chairs to put out on the lawn so they could sit and enjoy the garden. It’d be nice to sit out at night and look up at the stars. She thought about the night she and Jack had sat on the back of his Camaro by the lake. The first night they had made love.

A noise came from the trees, drawing her out of her memories. She didn’t really pay much attention, figuring one of the guards had come to make sure she and Lily were okay and where they were supposed to be. She had instructed them to stay in the background. She wanted Lily to stay blissfully ignorant to the darker side of life, like the necessity of guards to protect her.

Sally lay happily dozing on the lawn in a small patch of dappled sunlight. She didn’t move or indicate she sensed anything out of the ordinary. Used to having the guards on the property, Jenna had made sure the guards were introduced to Sally, so Sally wouldn’t bark at them every time they were around. Still, Jack’s worry from this morning had rubbed off on her. She tried to shake it off, reminding herself that living in fear was no way to live.

Lily watered the last hydrangea and Jenna sat back and surveyed their work. A productive day. Her arms and back were sore from all the digging, but the yard looked so nice she didn’t care.

A movement off to the left inside the trees caught her eye. Nothing there now. She scanned the area, spotted another movement, heard the rustle of dried leaves. She couldn’t make out anything specific. The stillness and scent of dirt and sweet flowers surrounded her for a moment. Just when she thought it her imagination, David stepped out from behind a thick tree, holding a long hunting knife. The wicked sharp blade caught the light and gleamed, punctuating the ominous moment. Her heart pounded, fear rooted her to the ground. He pointed a finger at her, and then crooked his finger for her to come to him. With a feral grin, he pointed at Lily and held up the knife. A clear threat against the small child. She couldn’t let anything happen to Lily and would do anything to save her, including go with the man she feared the most.

A wave of fear shook her whole body. Without taking her eyes from David, she addressed Lily. “Time for lunch. Turn off the water, sweetheart, and go into the kitchen with Beth. Tell her I’m finishing out here and you’re ready to eat.” She’d tried to keep the panic out of her voice, but even she heard it shake.

Sally stirred, cocked her head to the trees and listened. She put her nose in the air and let out a low growl.

“Aren’t you going to have lunch?” Lily shut off the water before heading to the back door.

“I am, but I’ll finish the flowers and be in, in a little while. Your mommy will be here to pick you up in about half an hour. Stay in the kitchen with Beth until she comes. Okay. Promise you’ll stay with Beth.

“Sally, be quiet.”

“I will. Maybe I can have ice cream if I eat all my lunch. Should I take Sally with me, something’s bugging her?”

“Yes, honey, you can have ice cream. Stay with Beth. Sally will be fine with me.”

“I’ll stay and wait for Mommy to come.” Lily went in through the door, leaving Jenna by the flowerbed.

Relief washed over her when she knew Lily was safe in the house and out of David’s reach. For now.

A branch behind her snapped, making her jump. Jenna turned slowly. David stood just inside the tree line. Sally stood guard at her side, letting out a menacing growl. David crooked his finger at her again. She tried to think through the fear, figure a way out of this. She wanted to run, but she couldn’t risk Lily or anyone else at the ranch. Resigned, she fisted her hands and stretched her fingers wide.

Her mind screamed, not again.

Her heart whispered, I’m sorry, Jack.

Her feet carried her slowly into hell.

Where were the guards? Why didn’t they stop him? What was he wearing? Short at five-eight with dark brown hair, his lean build deceptively hid the power behind his skinny frame. He could overpower her easily. She had never been a match for him physically, and now she had to worry he might hurt Lily. What about the baby she knew she was carrying? Her hand hovered close to her belly, but she stopped herself from placing a protective hand over her baby. David wouldn’t miss the gesture. She couldn’t risk his reaction to her carrying another man’s baby. Jack’s baby.

He wore camouflage pants and shirt, black gloves and hiking boots. The knife in one hand, and in his other he carried a circle of wound rope and a red bandana. She stopped about five feet from him and stared into his cold eyes, knowing this could very well be the beginning of the end. Too much to live for, she wouldn’t go down without a fight.

Perspiring from the adrenaline, David had snuck through the woods, slipped past the guards, and finally had Jenna in his sights. She’d made a mistake when she set up the trust for the land. That was a public record and his investigators had found it buried under three bogus company names she’d used years ago. Well, that and the bits of information a secretary in her lawyer’s office was able to funnel to him. The prick lawyer was so closed-mouthed about his precious client. Every document locked in a special vault only he accessed.

Luck, fate, the gods, everything lined up for him today. The ranch buzzed with activity, but he’d been patient and watched for his chance. David’s timing was impeccable as always. Even the rancher left this morning. It was a sign.

Nothing and no one would keep him from Jenna. He’d teach her that lesson once and for all. There was no place she could hide that he couldn’t find her.

He had her. Never far from his mind, he’d been trying to get her to see reason. This time, she wouldn’t refuse him. If she did, it would be the last thing she ever did.

“Come here, Jenna.”

“Where are the guards? Did you kill them?”

“You should hire better people if you think those guys could stop me. The guard watching you and that little brat went to check on the other side of the house. We’re getting out of here before he comes back.”

“Why are you doing this to me?” She tried to stall, hoping the guard would return and save her. “Didn’t you get married yesterday?”

“Ah, so you heard. No congratulations? Unlike you, she does what she’s told, when she’s told, whatever I tell her to do.”

“Go back to her and leave me alone.”

“Did you really think I could forget you? My family wanted me to marry her, to take the tarnish off after what you did. She’s got money and a good family name, but she’s not you. She doesn’t have your fire. It’s you I love. Come back to me and all this will be over. No more games.”

If she came back he’d have everything he’d always wanted. The shares in his company and her in his bed. So beautiful, more so now than when he’d first married her years ago. Just looking at her made him hard. She wouldn’t resist him this time. It didn’t matter if she did.

“I’ll never go back with you again, David. Stop this. Stop this now. Go back to your wife.”

He loved it when she begged, but her defiance inflamed him.

“I don’t want her! I want you! Now, come here, or I’ll get that little brat in the house and you’ll be sorry!”

Furious, he spit out each word. Jenna couldn’t stall any longer. She had to get him away from Lily. She promised herself this time would be different and she’d stop him.

He grabbed her when she moved forward, spun her around so her back pressed against his chest. He rubbed his groin against her bottom and ran his hand down over her breasts and belly. She shuddered with revulsion. He took it as acquiescence.

“I’ve missed you, my sweet. It’s been so long since I’ve had you.”

“Don’t touch me. You will never have me again.” She pulled away, but his arm locked around her waist and the knife handle dug into her stomach. She didn’t want to get cut. She didn’t want any more stitches, or worse, to bleed to death in the woods.

“I will have you if I want you. You’ll beg me to take you.” He grabbed her arms and pulled them behind her, tying her wrists together with the rope. The bandana around her mouth came next. No matter how she struggled, he held on to her.

“Scream, or call out in any way, and you’re dead. I’ll come back for the kid.” He yanked on her hair and pulled her head back. His lips pressed against her cheek and he spoke into her ear. “Understand? Maybe not today, or even tomorrow, but I will come back for her. Count on it.”

She tried to shake her head yes, but his hand gripped her hair too tightly. She tried to say the words, but the bandana gagged in her mouth prevented any sound except a muffled gasp.

Sally leapt, grabbing David’s arm and biting him. He tried to shake Sally off, but the dog wouldn’t let go. He released her in favor of using the knife to stab Sally in the belly. Jenna screamed behind the gag. Sally gave out a yelp and went limp. David kicked the dog, rolling her into some brush and turned back to her.

“Stupid dog. Get moving.” David’s arm bled down his sleeve and hand, but not bad enough to slow him down.

He grabbed her arm, digging his fingers into her skin, bruising. With a sharp tug, he led her deeper into the woods and down a long path, away from the house, heading down along the tree line. Tears spilled down her eyes for poor, devoted Sally. She hoped someone found her soon. She hoped some of Jack’s men were out scouting the pastures and checking on the cattle and horses and would spot them.

They stayed inside the trees, but sometimes she saw the pastures clearly. Scared and resigned to her fate, she walked in front of David, praying she’d live through this and see Jack again.



“HEY, IT’S ME. Is Jenna around?”

“Hi, Jack. No, Lily came in a little while ago for lunch, but Jenna stayed out back to finish planting flowers. You want me to get her?”

Relieved to hear she was okay, he hated to interrupt while she worked in the yard. She’d been planning the project for more than a week, and he was happy to see her treating the house like her own. “No, tell her I called and we’re finished at the auction. We’re off to the courthouse, and then heading to my buddy’s ranch. I’ll call her when I’m on my way back.”

“Okay. Anything else?”

“No. Is everything okay there?”

Jack’s bad feeling had stayed with him the whole trip. He couldn’t shake the uneasiness that something was wrong. It grew worse in the last hour. He didn’t want her scared every time he left. He’d just make things worse by harping on her about it.

“Everything is fine. The flowers Jenna and Lily planted are lovely. Lily is having ice cream before her mama picks her up.”

“Hi, Uncle Jack,” Lily called to him.

“Tell her I said hi.”

“I will. I’ll tell Jenna, too. Bye.”

“Bye.” Jack’s gut was working overtime. Maybe he should have had Beth go out back and check on Jenna. Before he called her back to do just that, Caleb called out for him to join him across the street at a diner for lunch. Beth said everything was fine. No need to upset Jenna by nagging her about not being safe without him there.