Saved by the Rancher (8 page)

Jenna’s eyes flew open and locked on Jack.

“Stitches? What stitches? How did I get stitches? Please, you didn’t take me to a hospital. Tell me you didn’t take me to a hospital.” She tried to get up, but Jack gently pressed on her shoulder. Completely out of strength, she could barely keep her eyes open or struggle with him.

“Jenna, calm down. No one took you to the hospital. I stitched you up. I even gave you a shot of antibiotics. You’ll be feeling better in a few days.”

Her eyes drooped, ready to close again.

“Where am I? I never seem to know where I am,” she said weakly. Yet she remembered Jack without reservation.

“You’re safe. You’re in my house where I can take care of you.”

“Never safe. Always running. Always alone. Have to run. Rabbit’s on the run.” Her eyes fluttered shut and she drifted back into sleep.

“No, Jenna. Rabbit’s safe. You’re not alone. Not anymore. I’m here with you. Rest, baby. I’ll keep you safe.”

“Safe,” she said mockingly. “I don’t want to be hunted anymore.”

He almost couldn’t hear her soft plea. “I’ll keep you safe.”

The single tear slipping through her closed lashes told him she didn’t believe him. He’d prove it to her.

Jenna’s breathing slowed and she fell into a deep sleep. Sally settled back at her side. Jack took up his guard in the chaise by the window with an overwhelming urge to crawl into bed next to her and hold her. Then she’d know the feel of safety again. He couldn’t. Not only because of her injuries, but because he feared frightening her. She’d stayed a good distance away from him in the restaurant and backed up with every step he took toward her. No, he couldn’t rush her into trusting him, but she would. He’d work at it until she did. He couldn’t let her go, when for the first time in years he actually felt something warm burning in the cold pit that used to be his heart.

Chapter Eleven

J
ACK WOKE THE
next morning sprawled on the chaise with a sore neck and a pounding headache. Water splashed in the sink in the bathroom. Summer came out with a bowl of water and a fresh washcloth. Jenna lay asleep in the bed, her hair and the sheet soaked with sweat. Her fever kicked into high gear. She lay perfectly still, except for the slow rise and fall of her back as she breathed. Sally hadn’t left her side.

Jack rose and followed Summer over to Jenna’s side. She pushed the quilt on the end of the bed to the floor. Sally refused to leave willingly, so Summer grabbed her collar and yanked her off the bed. Sally took off out the door and down the stairs.

Summer pulled the sheet off Jenna and tossed it on the floor by the doorway. She used the warm water and washcloth to gently wash Jenna’s face, arms, and legs, wiping away the salty sweat.

Jack grabbed a needle and the antibiotics and stuck Jenna again. Each time he had to jab a needle into her, it made him cringe.

Jack stood by watching as his sister silently took care of Jenna. She brushed Jenna’s hair away from her face and into her own hand. Then she separated it into three pieces and braided it down the length. She tied if off with a rubber band she pulled from her wrist. Then she twisted the braid into a circle on the back of Jenna’s head and used a pin to secure it. Good idea. That would keep the tail of the braid from rubbing on Jenna’s sore back.

She glanced at Jack and smiled. Jack couldn’t smile, but he nodded with approval. They very carefully changed the sheet Jenna lay on. They rolled her as little as possible to get the sheet out from under her and replaced it with a fresh one. Jack grabbed the clean sheet to go over her and gently placed it over her legs and up to her waist. Her arms, bent at the elbow, lay by her head. He kissed Jenna’s shoulder and left the room quietly with his sister, disturbed by how quiet and still Jenna remained.

Beth waited for them in the kitchen at the large island chopping celery, carrots, and onions, probably to make a pot of soup for Jenna. She had the coffee on and breakfast ready for him and Summer. The smell of bacon made his stomach rumble to life.

“Want some coffee, you guys?”

“Thanks, Beth, I’ll pour.” Jack reached for a couple of mugs and filled them, inhaling the rich scent. He handed over Summer’s and she sat on a stool at the island by Beth. Sally scratched at the back door to come in. Beth must have let her out. Jack let her in and filled her bowl with food. She ate greedily. Neither he nor Sally ate dinner last night.

“How is she this morning?” Beth asked and continued chopping. She watched Jack with her dark brown eyes, inherited from her Mexican mother.

“Her fever hasn’t broken. She’s passed out cold. She’ll probably sleep the day away.”

“I’ll check on her throughout the day. If you want, I’ll sit in the room and watch her while you go to work.”

“No. Just check on her. Like I said, she’ll probably sleep through the day. I’ll eat and go down to the barn, catch up on paperwork, and check on the horses and the crew. I’m sticking close to the house today. I’ll send Caleb to check the pastures and herds.”

He scooped scrambled eggs and bacon onto two plates and handed one over to his sister. After she set her plate down, she grabbed him around the waist and hugged him hard, squeezing the air out of his lungs. He almost dropped his plate. He put his own plate next to hers and wrapped his arms around her head, resting on his chest.

“Honey, it’s all right. She’ll be okay. What you did for her this morning, it was sweet.”

“It’s the least I can do. I feel bad for her.”

“I do, too.” He let his sister go and sat on the stool beside her.

“How did she do last night?”

“She had a few bad moments. She woke up and panicked at one point when she thought I’d taken her to the hospital to get those stitches. I calmed her down, and she slept well after that. She talked a little in her sleep. Stuff about how she’d never go back, she wouldn’t give up. She’s strong. She’ll get through this.” He took a bite of eggs, not tasting them, but knowing his body needed the food.

Sally finished eating and burst out of the kitchen heading for the stairs. Jack knew exactly where he’d find her later. He checked the impulse to follow.

Summer and he finished their breakfast in silence, watching Beth put together her soup in a huge pot on the stove. She got the fixings out to make bread. By the afternoon, the scent of fresh baked bread would fill the house. Jack’s mouth watered thinking about a slice with hot melted butter.

Jack gulped down another cup of coffee before he stood to go upstairs and shower and walk down to the barn.

Before he left the kitchen, he asked his sister, “Where’s Lily?”

“I sent her down to the barn with her daddy to see her pony. I’ll pick her up and take her to preschool on my way to work.”

“Okay. Don’t let her upstairs. I don’t want her to see Jenna.”

“She’s curious about the ‘lady upstairs’ and wants to meet her.”

“Not now. When Jenna’s better.”

“I agree. I’ll come by after work and check on you guys before I head home. I’ll see you later.”

“Tell Caleb I’ll be down shortly.”

“I will.”

“Beth, come get me if Jenna stirs.”

“Count on it. Get cleaned up. Go to work. I won’t let you down.”

“You never do.” Beth’s eyes glassed over at his praise and confidence in her. Jenna had made a big impact on his life. He’d been a hard, cold man for too long. Jenna was bringing him back to his true nature and it showed this morning. It took her arrival and knowing she’d spent the last couple of years isolating herself from everything and everyone around her to make him see he’d done much the same in his own life.

Sure enough Sally lay on the bed next to Jenna, watching the door. Jenna hadn’t moved. He passed her door and went down the hall to his own room. He pulled his shirt over his head and made his way to the bathroom. He sat on the toilet and worked off his boots and socks. He got up and turned on the water in the big marble shower. Steam filled the large bathroom. Jack stripped off his jeans and boxers and stepped into the shower washing away his hard night. He wished it could wash away the images of Jenna’s beaten body from his mind.

Chapter Twelve

J
ACK ARRIVED TO
the barn later than he normally would any other day. His crew took care of the stalls and fed all the horses. Many of the horses were being groomed. Others were out in the pastures and up in the hills, ridden by his crew checking on the cattle. Caleb stood by Jack’s horse’s stall.

Blue was a huge gray stallion Jack couldn’t pass up at auction last year. Ornery as hell, mean to everyone but Jack. He’d bitten several of Jack’s men. Anyone close enough to him better watch he didn’t get kicked. Jack couldn’t explain it. He loved Blue’s defiance and spirit. They suited each other. Jack’s crew thought he should shoot the beast. It just made Jack laugh.

“This horse is going to hurt someone one of these days. He snapped at the groom and it took two people to move him out of the stall so they could clean it.”

“He’s not so bad. Just a little cranky is all.”

Caleb laughed. “That’s how I’d have described you over the last year. How is she? Better yet, how are you? You look like crap.”

“I’m fine. And thanks, you look like horseshit yourself, but that’s normal.” Jack put all teasing aside and turned serious again. “She’s sleeping. The fever hasn’t gone down. Beth will keep an eye on her. I’ll stay close to the house, check on her when I can.”

“Summer thinks you have a thing for her.”

“Summer’s a smart woman.” He did have feelings for her. He just wasn’t sure what they were exactly, besides a tangled mess with his anger toward the person who had hurt her. The one thing he knew for sure, when he saw her, touched her, something inside him eased and reached out at the same time. Like the way he felt about Blue, he admired her spirit and grit.

“Well, I’ll be damned.”

“I already am.”

“Is it serious?”

“I don’t know. Something inside me broke loose yesterday when I met her. Every time I look into those green eyes . . . I don’t know . . . It’s something I haven’t felt before.” He tossed his hands up in the air and let them fall. “I can’t explain it.”

Caleb smiled. “You think she’ll stay?”

“I’m not sure, but I’ll try to convince her.” He needed to know what this thing between them was. She felt it too, just for a moment in the café. They’d both felt it. “All I know for sure is that I need to find out who did this, and do everything I can to make sure he never gets to her again. I can’t stand by and do nothing. I think that’s why Ben sent her to me. Besides the fact the ranch is isolated, he knew I’d protect and keep her safe against any threat, no matter who it is.”

“You know Summer and I will do everything we can to help.”

“Thanks. I think she’s starting to trust me a little. She doesn’t seem to mind when I’m in the room, or when I touch her. Course, she’s half out of it. We’ll see how she reacts when she’s fully awake. She’s got guts. I’ll give her that.”

“I’m heading out. Call me on the CB if you need anything. I’ll be in the south pasture, then I’ll check the fencing to the east. The crews have all been sent out. Everything’s running like clockwork.”

Caleb left the barn through the large open doors at the end of the stalls. Jack opened Blue’s stall door and stepped in to groom him. The physical work would do him good, and Jack knew horses were sensitive to emotions. Maybe spending some time with Blue would help him sort out his feelings.

Blue put his huge head over Jack’s shoulder. Jack rubbed his hands down both sides of Blue’s neck. Blue rubbed his head against Jack’s head.

“Yeah, big guy. I know. You missed me. A pretty lady needed me. Just like you.” Maybe that’s what finally broke the dam in Jack’s heart. Jenna needed him and he wanted to be needed for something deeper than his wallet.

Jack continued to stroke Blue, working a brush over his whole body. All the strokes and exertion were helping Jack finally relax. Blue shook his big head up and down happy, letting Jack know he appreciated the effort.

Jack finished grooming him and made sure he had feed and water. As he closed the stall door behind him, he gave Blue an apple.

“You’re a fine friend.” Jack felt better.

One of the grooms worked inside a nearby stall, and Jack ordered, “Take Blue into the pasture later, so he can get some exercise.” Jack wasn’t riding anywhere today and the big stallion liked a good run.

He headed into his office at the end of the barn and found Pete waiting for him.

“Everyone’s been talking about the lady you got up at the house. She okay?”

“She will be. What’s everyone saying?” Jack asked.

“All kinds of things. Mostly they think someone beat her up and you saved her. I saw her last night. Never seen anything like that. You get the guy who did it?”

People were talking because Pete let it be known he’d seen Jenna. Jack’s behavior last night had been unexpected and Pete and the others wanted to know if the boss had himself a new woman.

“I don’t know who did it. And I didn’t save her, she saved herself. I just patched her up. Hey, if you see anyone around the property who doesn’t belong, you let me know.”

“No problem. Me and the guys, we’ll keep our eyes open. She staying here a while?”

“If I have anything to say about it. Tell everyone to stop talking about her. I don’t want her to feel self-conscious or embarrassed. She’s scared right now, but she’s tough. She’ll get through this.”

“If you need anything, we’re all here to help.”

“I know, Pete. Pass the word that I appreciate it.”

“Sure, Boss. I’d better get back to it.”

Jack sat and leaned back in his chair, put his head back, and contemplated the ceiling for a while. Tired after the long morning, he gathered up the papers on his desk and worked his way through them. He spent hours working on the computer, entering figures and printing out reports. The ranch was doing well and turning a profit. Jack intended to keep it that way. He started on the paperwork for the diner when the office phone rang.

“Jack, it’s Beth. You’re two hours late for lunch. Get up here.”