Saved by the Rancher (19 page)

“Yes, they did. But in the end, I won. Remember I said I took my chart from the hospital. Ben and my other lawyer waited until the last minute to use the information. The hospital chart detailed my cracked ribs and the broken arm. David’s lawyer said I fell down the stairs on purpose, trying to get David’s attention. Things like that. It didn’t work though.”

She took a deep breath before she continued. “David didn’t know, but when he threw me down the stairs, I was pregnant. I lost the baby. He killed his own child. He couldn’t defend himself against that. Had I brought the charts into open court for the record, David would have been crucified in the press, which would have reflected on Merrick International. He and his family couldn’t afford to have that happen. So David was forced to settle with me. And I made him pay. I was awarded an astronomical settlement, including a sizable chunk of Merrick International.”

Summer was crying. Caleb rubbed his hand over his wife’s pregnant belly.

Jack sat stunned beside her. His eyes were sad as they connected with hers, but his hands were clenched into fists on his thighs, his whole body stiff as he tried to contain his fury. Nothing could have convinced her more of his deep feelings for her than him sitting there about to explode at the injustices she’d suffered.

Summer was the first to speak. “You lost the baby?”

“Yes, and I’ll never forgive him for that.”

It took her a long time to get past it. She’d learned to accept it was for the best. If she’d had the baby, David would have been a part of her life forever. He’d have had a hand in raising the child, and that was unthinkable.

“That’s why I took the money. The press accused me of being a gold digger, but getting a large settlement was the only way I could hurt David. I made him pay me off and hand over part of his precious company. His family was furious. The trial cast a shadow over him in the public eye. More importantly, I’ve done a lot of good with the money from my settlement.

“Ben’s firm partners with a shelter in San Francisco. I donate money and Ben handles the divorce proceedings and restraining orders pro bono. The child custody battles can get very expensive. Without representation, most women end up having to turn their children over to abusive fathers without so much as supervised visits. I pay for those cases. For every dollar Ben bills, I make another donation back to the shelter. Last year, the shelter raised enough money from me and other donors to buy an apartment building they use to house women in need. They also provide the women with vocational training and get them working, so they can support themselves. I give to other charities as well. Along the way, I’ve helped a few people privately. I turned my situation into something positive for others.

“Since the court case, I’ve been on the run. Over the last two years, David has managed to find me seven times. Ben employs some exceptional computer and financial guys to hide my assets and me, but somehow David always finds me. We haven’t figured out how he does it. I’m very careful about where I go and who I see. That’s why you needed to know. I never get close to anyone. I learned that lesson the hard way when he had my bodyguard killed.” Summer gasped at the news. “I don’t want anything to happen to you guys. I couldn’t live with myself.”

“I saw some men looking around outside the ranch the other day.” Caleb looked pointedly at Jack.

“One of the emails I sent to Ben directed him to hire men to watch the ranch. If David shows up, my hope is that they’ll take care of the matter before anything bad happens. I specifically have a couple of guards watching your house and Summer and Lily.”

Stunned, Summer’s mouth dropped open. “People are watching us.”

“From a distance, and only to make sure you’re safe. I don’t want anything to happen to you or Lily. So far, he doesn’t know I’m here. He’s out of the country. I don’t know when, or if, that will change. The one thing I can’t afford to do is think for a moment that he isn’t coming, because I know he will. It’s only a matter of when.”

She sucked in a deep breath and prayed they wanted her to stay. She loved being a part of this family, in even a small way. Most of all, she didn’t know if she could take it if Jack asked her to leave.

“What I need to know, is now that you know who I am and what could potentially happen if he finds me, do you want me to leave? I’ve put you in a terrible position by allowing you all to get close to me. If you want, I’ll leave. He’ll never know I was here, and you won’t be in any danger. You’ll never see or hear from me again.”

“No!” They all said together.

“You understand? I know what he’ll do to me if he comes. I don’t know how far he’ll go. He might just come for me. But he could go after you to get to me. I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to any of you.” It would kill her to leave them, especially Jack, but if it meant their safety, she’d leave immediately.

Jack couldn’t take any more, his voice gruff and laced with frustration, he said, “You aren’t going anywhere. I’ve told you that a hundred times.” He calmed, cupped her cheek, and looked her in the eye. “Hear me when I talk to you. I want you here with me.”

She leaned into his hand. Calm one minute, the next the situation got the better of him. “I can’t believe you have guards on my ranch.”

“Not that many, and only Caleb noticed. I’ll call them off if you want, but I want them protecting Summer, the bundle she’s carrying, and Lily.”

“Jenna, I can’t believe all this. How could he do this to you?” Summer asked.

She and Caleb had a wonderful marriage, full of love. Caleb would never hurt her. He’d never raise a hand to her. That hadn’t been Jenna’s experience, until she’d met Jack. She knew to her soul he’d never hurt her.

“Less than six months of marriage to someone who started out a prince and ended up the devil turned out to be more than I could bear. He’s obsessed with me. The first year after the divorce, he would find me and terrorize me. He’d threaten and try to convince me to give up my shares. He can’t afford to buy me out with cash, leaving only two ways he can get them. Marry me again, or have me sign them over to him. So, he threatens and beats me, hoping I’ll give in to his demands.”

“Why don’t you just give them back and put an end to this,” Jack demanded. “If this is all about something as stupid as stocks, give them back in exchange for your safety,” he pleaded.

Jenna wanted to laugh, understanding Jack’s need to think this could be solved so simply. Nothing in life is ever simple. “It wouldn’t make a difference, or change anything. Deep down, you know that. The shares are all I have to hold over him. I have a plan for those shares. I won’t give them back.

“After the first year, he became less obsessed with the shares, and more obsessed with me. He’s gotten everything he’s ever wanted, whenever he wanted it. He grew up spoiled and rich. He’s had everything and everyone at his beck and call, until I refused him. It’s made him crazy. He’s turned his obsession into a hunt. It’s a game, a challenge for him. He hunts me in between business meetings and playing golf. He thinks he can break me. So far, he hasn’t been able to, though I’ve had a few bad moments.”

She thought about her breakdown in the closet and freaking out in the barn when Pete walked up with the strap. In those dark moments, she’d often thought going back would be easier. One way or the other, this nightmare would end. But her fight and resolve would rally, allowing her to keep fighting.

Her gaze fell on Jack. Because of him, she had a lot to fight for now. “Not even this last time has made me want to give in, or give up. Soon, I’ll have the means to end the game. Until then, I hide.”

She took in all their shocked faces as they absorbed her words and situation. “So, I’ll say it again. Now that you know everything, do you want me to leave?”

All of them agreed. Shaking their heads, Jack answered, “No.”

“You don’t know how much this means to me, but I also want you safe. Do the guards stay, Jack?”

“I hate the fact they’re necessary. There just isn’t any other choice. I want my family and you safe. So, yeah, the guards stay. We need to figure out a way to end this though. We can’t all live here with guards and just wait for something to happen.”

“We won’t have to wait much longer. Like I said, I set a plan in motion, but it’s taking some time. I’ve almost got everything in place. Once I do, I’ll show David he can’t get away with what he’s done. If I have to, I’ll bargain for my freedom.”

“Bargain for your freedom. What kind of way is that to talk, to live?” Jack asked, having a difficult time accepting this as the only way to handle things. Ex-military, Jack needed a plan of action. Too bad, at this point in her plan, the only thing to do is wait until all the pieces fell into place.

“It’s the only thing I can do. What would you do if you had lots of money, but no power to use it? I figured out a way to get that power, and soon I’ll use it. He’s made me pay for leaving him, and I’ll make him pay for not letting me go.”

“What are you going to do?”

“That’s a whole other story. Let’s save that one for when my plan is complete. Trust me. You will be a part of it, if you really want to help me.”

“I’ll do anything for you,” he said and brushed his hand over her hair. “I’m not letting you go anywhere.”

“I would if it meant you’d be safe.”

“We don’t want you to go.” Caleb spoke and Summer nodded her agreement.

“Okay. Now that it’s all out in the open, let’s move on to something better. I’ll get Lily. You guys wait here. I have more surprises for you.”

She kissed Jack, stood, and ran a hand through his hair, satisfied when he gave her half a smile.

“What is she talking about more surprises?” Summer asked curious.

“I don’t know.” Jack stared toward the kitchen where Jenna had gone, wondering how such a kind, generous, wonderful person could endure so much and still manage to smile and light up his world. “Seems like this has been the day for them. Can you believe everything she said?”

“It’s unbelievable. I can’t believe about the baby. She must have been crushed.” Summer ran a hand protectively over her belly, unable to bear the thought of losing the baby growing inside her. Jack felt the same way. One more reason to stop this bastard for good.

“Think of everything Jenna will never have by losing that baby. She never got to see her baby, never got to touch him, or hold him and stroke his hair,” Summer went on.

Jack could only imagine. He already knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life making Jenna happy. Now, all the more, he wanted to give her something that had been taken away. The thought of having children with Jenna bloomed into a vivid daydream. One he latched on to and promised himself he and Jenna would make a reality.

Jack put a hand over his sister’s swollen belly. Warming to the idea of having children with Jenna, a real family.

“Jenna’s got the strength to move mountains. Hell, she’s had to in order to survive that man. She deserves a better life, and I’ll make sure she has it. I don’t know what she’s planned, but one way or another, I’ll stop him.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

J
ENNA SENT
L
ILY
back to her parents and retrieved the envelopes from her purse and the flowers hidden in the pantry that Beth had picked up for her. She returned to the Great Room with the envelopes in one hand and the flowers hidden behind her back.

“Lily, I have a gift for you.” She drew the huge bouquet of flowers out and held them up to Lily.

“Look, Mommy, flowers.”

“These are Stargazer lilies, and they are for you.” She brushed her hand over the little angel’s golden hair, her delight evident in the glow of her blue eyes. The heady scent of lilies quickly filled the room.

“They’re so pretty and big.”

“Yes they are. This is also for you.” She handed over an envelope. “Give it to Mommy and Daddy, so they can read it.”

Jenna sat next to Jack and held his hand while Summer and Caleb opened the envelope. Lily had her arms wrapped around her flowers and her face buried in the fragrant blooms.

Caleb’s head snapped up. “Jenna, no. You can’t do this,” he said, indicating the papers.

“I’ve already done it. I hope you’ll accept. There’s enough money in that trust for her to go to college anywhere she wants and live a good life.”

Caleb was still getting over the shock when she handed him a second envelope that read: For Baby Bowden. The same trust fund had been set up for the new baby. “Oh, Jenna, you didn’t,” he said, shaking his head.

“I did. You’ll never have to worry about their financial future. Now you can spend all your time being the loving parents you already are.”

Jack kissed her hand. “You are an amazing woman.”

Summer cried softly against Caleb’s shoulder, her eyes on the papers he held. “It’s unbelievable. You’re unbelievable. You’ve changed our lives. This can’t be real.”

“I’m not done yet. I have something for you, Jack. I wasn’t sure if you would accept, so I have the papers here for you to sign. I hope you’ll accept this as my gift to you.” She gave him a half smile and squeezed his hand. “Please don’t be mad I snooped.”

“Snooped into what?” Jack took the papers and read them. “You want to set up a trust for the ranch? I don’t understand.”

“You love this ranch. It’s been your family’s home for three generations. I want you to always have it, and for every future generation of the Turner family to have it. I haven’t had a home in a long time. Everyone should have a home, so I want to make sure you always have yours. You make a profit on the ranch, but there are outstanding loans. As you can see, there’s a substantial amount in the trust. The trust pays off those loans and allows the land to stay in your family for every generation to come. If there isn’t a family member to take over the land, the trust will go into effect and the land will be held in conservation. The ranch and land will always be here.”

“So, according to this trust, I own everything free and clear and my children will get the property and their children and so on.”

“That’s exactly it. It’s yours, as it is now, but this way it will always be here for your family. It will be your legacy.”