Saved by the Rancher

chapter Thirty-Eight


THE BAD FEELING haunting Jack since this morning was getting worse with every minute that ticked by and the guard didn’t call him back. He tried not to panic and thought about Jenna and all the wonderful times they had shared over the past several weeks. They had so many more memories to make.

God, I love you. Where are you, Jenna? Please be safe.

He’d put the ring on her finger and gotten her promise to marry him just this morning. She was going to be his wife. He already thought of her as his. His to love. His to protect.

Caleb and Rick met him on the driveway and he announced, “We need to head back. Right now.”

“I promised to pick up some new baby furniture for Summer. We’ll haul it back in the horse trailer,” Caleb said, knowing Jack hated to delay any longer.

“We’ll have to make another trip. We’re leaving. Now.”

“Relax, man. I’m sure everything is fine. Summer said the ranch is quiet. Jenna’s probably working, or down at the barn visiting Blue. You know how she loves that horse.”

“If everything is fine, then why won’t she answer the damn phone? Why hasn’t she called me? Damn it, my gut is telling me something’s wrong.”

His cell phone beeped, indicating he had a text message. He hit the button and read the display.

Jenna missing. We’re beginning the search.

Jack held the phone up for Caleb to see. “Tell me I’m overreacting.”

“Shit. Let’s go.”

“Rick, can I leave the horse trailer? I need to get home fast.”

“Sure thing, man. No problem. I hope you find your lady.”

“I will. And God help the bastard who took her.”



JENNA WOKE GASPING for breath and inhaled deeply, lying flat on her stomach in the dirt. Her head rested on a pile of crisp dead leaves, her bound hands lay on her lower back. Her legs felt sore and numb. She shivered from the cold and sleeping on the ground most of the evening. She caught her breath, rolled, and struggled to sit up, checking all around to make sure she was alone. The breeze whispered and the birds chirped in the trees. She let her frantic nerves and racing heart settle.

I’m alive. Oh God, the baby. No cramps. Despite her many injuries, she felt fine. Thank you. Thank you. Maybe the baby is okay. I need to get out of here and back to Jack. Is Lily okay? Please, God. Don’t let him have gone after them. I need to get out of here.

Hands flattened on the ground behind her, she squeezed her hips through her arms and brought her hands down her legs and over her feet. Finally, her hands in front of her, she bit at the ropes, trying to untie the knot. She worked at it for several minutes, her split lip opening and bleeding down her chin and onto the bindings. Her efforts paid off and her hands were free. She wiggled her swollen fingers and rotated her chafed and bleeding wrists. They hurt so bad, tears stung her eyes, but the diamond on her hand sparkled and she brought it to her lips. Such a small thing, but it boosted her spirits, reminded her of Jack and the promise of a future she desperately wanted.

The sun sank behind the hills, darkening the sky quickly. Stars winked on, beautiful, but not a lot of help for someone lost in the woods. She assessed her situation. No flashlight. No idea where she was in this vast forest. The thick trees had been a blessing hiding her, but they also disoriented her. Never good with direction in the first place, no matter which way she turned, nothing but trees and more trees. Frustrated, she looked up at the hill she’d slid down and knew going back up was impossible. Assessing her many aches and pains, she pulled the blood-soaked shirt away from her side and gasped at the two deep gashes. Without something to staunch the bleeding, her situation was becoming more dire by the minute. She needed to find her way home, or at least to a road in hopes of flagging someone down.

She rose on unsteady legs, clamped her hand over her bleeding side, and made her way around the hill in hopes of finding something familiar and a way back to the dirt road. Running for her life, she hadn’t paid attention to where she was going or how to get back. Constantly on alert for any sound David was following her, or hiding in the bushes, or behind a tree, she plodded along on unsteady legs. Despite walking for some time, she was more disoriented now than when she began.

Deflated, hopes dashed, she settled back against a tree dejected. Tired and thirsty, she hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast. Her head pounded. Dried blood matted her hair and soaked the collar of her shirt. The unbearable pain in her ribs, where the knife had sliced her open, throbbed with every breath she took. She rested her head back against the tree and closed her eyes to rest. Once her energy came back, she’d start walking again in hopes of finding her way home.

She ignored the fear and thinking David was coming back to finish her off. She let her thoughts drift to Jack. She held a picture of him in her mind. Thoughts of him lessened the fear and kept her sane.

Maybe Jack already knew she was missing and he’d sent men out searching for her. She hadn’t heard anyone, but knew she was far from the ranch.

No, he’s probably not home yet. No one knows I’m gone.

Jack, where are you? Come and save me. Oh, please. Come and save our baby and me.