Saved by the Rancher Read online

  Jack stood from the side of the bed and walked to the door. Summer carried a tray with bacon and eggs, fresh juice, and coffee and stepped past him into the room.

  “You are the best sister ever. I’m starving,” Jack said with as much of a smile as he could muster.

  “Kiss the chef.”

  Jack gave his sister a peck on the cheek and took the tray from her. They both came into the room as Jenna tried to get into a sitting position.

  Jack yelled, “Stop!”

  Jenna froze, her eyes wide.

  He hated to put that look on her face again. “You’ll open up the cuts on your backside,” he said more gently. “Lie on your stomach, or your left side. Damn, your leg needs to be stitched again.”

  “It can wait until after you have your breakfast,” Jenna said.

  “That’s your breakfast. Hi, I’m Summer. How are you feeling today?”

  “Sore,” Jenna said wearily.

  “I’ll take care of the leg first.” Jack hated to stick a needle in her again. He’d take her place in a second. “Then you get another shot of antibiotics.”

  Summer set the tray on the end of the bed. “You look better today.”

  “I guess you’ve been helping Jack take care of me. Thank you for being so nice.” She had a hard time meeting Summer’s eyes.

  “Don’t worry about it. We all need help sometimes.”

  “The coffee and food smell wonderful.” Her stomach rumbled. Starving, he’d barely gotten more than water and soup down her over the last two days.

  Difficulty moving, Jack noted the wince of pain that crossed her face when she shifted and pulled the sheet up to keep her breasts covered.

  “Where are my clothes?”

  Jack smiled with a wicked grin. He wondered how long it would take her to realize she was naked and he’d seen her. Several times. “You weren’t wearing any.”

  “I was wearing my robe. Where is it?”

  “In the trash. It was covered in blood.”

  Jack moved closer to the bed carrying the needle for the antibiotics and the supplies to stitch up her leg.

  “What are you doing with that?”

  “Giving you a shot, then I’ll fix those stitches.”

  “Are you a doctor or something?”

  He wondered why she looked so upset. “No. But I have medical training, and I stitched up your leg the first time.”

  “I don’t like shots,” she said emphatically.

  She had a comical look on her face, absolutely serious about not wanting a shot. “Too bad. You’ve had lots of them over the last two days, and I’m not stopping now. The antibiotics have kicked in, and your fever is down, but it’s not gone.”

  “I don’t like shots, Jack.”

  “Sit still, or I’ll have Summer hold you down. Either way, you’re getting this shot.”

  Outnumbered, Jenna sat still with her eyes squeezed shut and let Jack give her the shot. He peeled off the bandage and touched her cut. She screamed out a protest.

  “Stop. Don’t touch it.” She did her best to push his hands away, but he wouldn’t be deterred.

  He ignored her protests. He had to. He needed to fix her leg. “You’re lucky. You tore only four of the stitches. I’ll fix them, then you can eat.”

  “Stop touching it, you’re hurting me.”

  Jack took her hand when she tried to swat him away again. He leaned in close and kept her hand between both of his. Their eyes locked. Both of them aware of the heat shimmering between them. “It’s okay.” He didn’t know if he meant her leg, or this strange connection between them. “I’ll fix it fast. I’d never hurt you on purpose.”

  With no choice left to her, she gave in with a hesitant nod. Instead of obsessing about the needle, she concentrated on how warm Jack’s hands had felt around hers and the deep, penetrating way he looked at her.

  “All done,” Jack announced, his hand on her thigh. She glanced down and got the shock of her life when she saw how many other stitches he put in all together.

  “Oh, God. Look at that. Look what he did,” Jenna cried. Summer held her hand and stroked her hair. Jack brushed his hand down her leg in a long soft stroke.

  “I got the glass out of it, cleaned it really well, and closed it up. The antibiotics are helping with the infection. It looks much better today.”

  “He wouldn’t stop,” she sobbed. “He found the belt on the floor, and he wouldn’t stop. He wouldn’t get off of me. He took a shard of mirror and sliced it down my leg. He hacked at my hair and pulled it so hard I saw stars. He threw me down and hit me in the head with a silver candlestick holder. I woke up on the floor and I ran.”

  Summer and Jack stared as the horrible words spilled from her mouth. Summer stroked her hair, and Jack laid his hand on her calf. Funny, she was getting used to that simple gesture.

  Jenna pulled the sheet closer around her and wiped at her eyes. She took a deep breath and felt better for getting it out. Finally, telling someone what happened.

  “Sorry, I’m fine now.”

  Jack didn’t speak. Touched, Jenna understood they knew someone had done this to her, but hearing her tell them how it happened turned Jack quiet and introspective.

  Jenna continued to stare at Jack’s face, trying to figure out why he cared so much. In her experience, people were usually reluctant to get involved in other people’s business. Not Jack. He’d come to her rescue, brought her into his home, fixed her injuries, and appeared to genuinely care about her well-being and safety. Leary, she’d thought good things about her ex. Boy, had she read him wrong. But Jack . . . He seemed different. Genuine.

  “You should get it out. You’ll feel better for it,” Summer reassured her. “Have some food. You must be starved. Jack, Beth is keeping yours warm in the kitchen. Go down. I’ll help Jenna get cleaned up after she eats.”

  Sorry she’d put that sad look on Jack’s face, she tried to smile when he stood to leave. He hesitated, opened his mouth to say something before he thought better of it. When he did speak, his words were matter-of-fact, but his voice held a trace of something she wished she could place. It made her heart reach out as if it had arms that wanted to hold on to him and never let go.

  “I’ll bandage up your thigh after you eat something. Eat slowly. You’ve had a shock and you don’t want to make yourself sick.” Without looking back, he headed out the door, Sally at his heels. Even though Summer remained, Jenna felt the familiar loneliness she’d lived with for years. When Jack was with her, she didn’t feel it at all.

  Chapter Fifteen

  * * *

  “IS BETH JACK’S girlfriend or wife?” Jenna asked, embarrassed for being so completely obvious. He didn’t wear a ring, but what did that really mean these days. Now she felt silly for asking and maybe dreaming of something so foolish.

  “No. Beth takes care of the house and cooks for Jack. He hasn’t had anyone in his life for a while,” Summer offered with a knowing smile. “I’ve never seen him so”—she paused and tilted her head, thinking before saying—“connected to someone. He’s definitely attracted to you, but it’s something deeper,” she added.

  Jenna let out her breath on a soft sigh. Sure something was happening between herself and Jack. Relieved he didn’t have another woman in his life. Odd to be relieved, since at some point she’d have to run again.

  The thought of running and never seeing Jack again made her sick. She hadn’t felt a spark of wanting someone since she started dating her ex-husband. Young, she wanted to have a husband and family someday. Dreams she thought she’d given up. Maybe it was time to dust off that dream, or at least explore the possibility of letting Jack into her life. God, how she wanted to feel his arms around her again. Feel safe. Something else she hadn’t dreamed for herself in a long time.

  Summer helped Jenna move the tray so she could eat. Careful not to bother any of her wounds, Jenna managed to drink the coffee and eat most of the food. They chatted about everyday things. Jenna tired quickly,
but she liked the sense of normalcy, sitting and eating breakfast with someone else.

  “Do you think you can sit up? I’ll help you out of bed and to the bathroom. Two days in bed, you must need to pee.”

  Jenna smiled. “Thanks. I do, and I wasn’t quite sure how I’d get there.”

  “Well, come on, lean on me and I’ll help. We’ll clean you up a bit, and I’ll fix your hair. No shower today, though. Maybe tomorrow when you have more strength.”

  “I must look awful.”

  “Not so bad. A couple more good meals and some rest and your color will come back. So will your strength.”

  “You’re really kind. Jack, too. You guys didn’t have to do this for me.”

  “I don’t think anyone could stop Jack now. Not after the way he looked at you when you were at the cabin. As for me, I’m really lucky to have a husband like Caleb. He’s sweet and gentle and loves me more than anything. You’ll meet him and Lily later. I can’t believe someone who supposedly loved you did this to you.”

  “It wasn’t love. It’s obsession. And it’s eating away his sanity the longer I take to willingly go back to him. I won’t do it though. No matter what he does to me, going back would be worse.”

  The stitches down the back of her leg made it difficult to sit. Summer didn’t seem to mind helping, so Jenna gave in and let her, too weak to do it on her own anyway. She stood in front of the sink mirror and Summer redid her hair.

  “It’s a mess.”

  “I can fix it. You have great hair. Long, soft, full, a great color too, deep brown with a flash of red. I’ll come again tomorrow. I’ll give you a really pretty, simple style. No one will know it ever looked like this.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me. I hardly ever get to work on someone with such great hair.”

  Summer helped Jenna wash her face and body with a washcloth at the sink. Wobbly, Jenna held on and Summer helped her back to the bed. Once settled, Sally ran into the room and jumped on the bed, Jack right behind her.

  “All set?” Jack asked.

  Cleaned up, his hair was still wet from his shower. His jeans were snug in all the right places and his white t-shirt stretched nicely over his broad chest. He noticed her noticing him and his eyes lit up, sky blue. A slow smile changed his unreadable face, made him more relaxed and approachable. Her insides melted from the heat of his returned stare.

  “You look better. A little food and getting cleaned up looks good on you,” he said with that same wicked grin she’d seen earlier.

  “I’ve got to go, you two.” Summer didn’t try to hide her amused grin. “I’ll be back tomorrow, Jenna. It’s my day off, and I’ll help get you more settled. Bye, Jack.”

  Alone together again, Jack stood next to the bed where she lay on her stomach, Sally next to her. “I’ll wrap a bandage around that leg.”

  Responding to Jack’s easy demeanor, she asked, “Do you have to replace the front door every day?”

  Smiling at him, not a big smile, but a smile nonetheless. It warmed Jack from the inside out.

  “What are you talking about? I told you, you’re safe here.”

  “Are you safe here?”

  “What?” He didn’t understand what she meant, but he liked her sweet smile.

  “Women. They must beat down that door every day to get to you.”

  He cracked up with laughter. “You think so, huh.”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  “I think you’re pretty damn beautiful yourself.”

  “Yeah, right. I hear bandages and bruises are in this year.”

  “You’re beautiful.”

  They stared at each other, that invisible but undeniable something passing between them. He wanted to touch her, but knew now wasn’t the time. As forward as she’d been joking with him about women beating down his door, she shied away from acknowledging this thing between them. He broke off the look first and dug out his supplies. He wrapped a bandage around her thigh, trying not to think about the softness of her skin or the fact she was naked under the sheet.

  Her eyes fluttered shut. He bent down and kissed her on the forehead. She placed her hand on his cheek. Such a simple gesture. He leaned into her palm, felt her fingers brush against his skin. How long has it been since a simple touch affected him so deeply? Reluctant to leave her, nonetheless he drew back and her eyes remained closed. He took her hand from his cheek and placed it on the pillow next to her head.

  He nuzzled at her ear and whispered, “Beautiful. Believe it.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  * * *

  JACK LEFT JENNA sleeping in his house and went down to the barn to work, lighter after seeing her soft smile this morning. She’d actually teased him. A good sign after she broke down during the night, and it did his heart good.

  He returned for lunch to check on her. She slept through the afternoon, and after he showered and changed into clean clothes he went in to wake her. Wrapped in the sheet, she sat in the chair he’d slept in for two nights, looking out the window, her mind a million miles away. He crossed the room and sat at the end of the chaise, his forearms braced on his thighs, his hands clasped together between his knees, so he wouldn’t reach out and touch her the way he desperately wanted to.

  “Where did you go?” he asked. He ignored her instinctive flinch away when he sat, and held on to the way she settled at the sound of his voice.

  “This is a beautiful room. I like the soft green walls and the cream carpet and the colorful oil paintings of roses. The antiques are so pretty.”

  “I’m glad you like it. You can stay as long as you want.” In my bed would be better. He’d settle for her in the same house, for now.

  “I liked the cabin, too. Did you decorate everything yourself?”

  “I took an extended leave from the military about eight years ago for the summer and spent it building the cabin. I needed the time to sort some things out. I like working with my hands. It’s a good way to relieve stress.”

  “Why did you go back to the military?”

  “Because that’s where I needed to be at the time. Caleb and I were part of the Rangers. We thought we were doing some good in the world.”

  “Why did you finally leave?”

  Not one to open up, her genuine interest and openness in her eyes made the words fly out of his mouth. “That kind of life takes a toll on a person. A little over four years ago, I decided I had enough. Caleb and I were buddies. My parents wanted to go out and see the world, so he and I came back and took over the family ranch.

  “He took one look at Summer, sparks flew, and all of a sudden my best friend is marrying my baby sister. Kind of strange at first, but you could see how much they loved each other. I couldn’t help but be happy for them. Of course, I had to punch him when he said he was marrying my sister.”

  “You didn’t punch him. Your best friend.”

  “I did. Then we shared a couple of beers.” She laughed and smiled with him. His belly tightened. “She’s my sister. No one’s good enough for her. Caleb comes close though. They got married four months after they met and had Lily nine months later. Besides my parents, I’ve never seen two people so right for each other.”

  “So what about you? How come there’s no lady of the house?” Jenna asked, curious. An open expression on her face and in her eyes made it easy for him to open up and answer. He wanted to see her smile again. He liked being the reason she smiled.

  “I dated a few women when I came back. Turns out my wallet appeals to them more than I do.”

  “I find that hard to believe,” she said shyly.

  “Startling, isn’t it?” With a grin, he went on. “They find out about the land, the cattle, the horses, the diner, all of a sudden they think I’m an ATM. Their eyes light up with dollar signs.”

  “So you’re rich, huh?”

  “I do okay.” Yeah, he did better than okay, but he downplayed it, afraid to see those dollar signs light up her eyes. He didn’t want to feel that
pang of disappointment, like all the other times. “Why, you need a loan?” he asked, half kidding.

  She laughed, making his belly do that strange jump. “No,” she scoffed. “So, I guess you’re looking for something more meaningful than bank statements and charge cards.”

  Read his mind. “Let’s just say I envy my baby sister, and that’s a first for me.” He liked her laugh. He liked it even more that when she said she didn’t need a loan, it actually sounded like she meant it. She didn’t want his money.

  “Why the diner? Seems like the ranch would be a lot of work on its own.”

  “Don’t laugh, but the only thing Caleb and I can cook up is trouble. There aren’t a lot of fast food places around, if you didn’t notice. This far out of town, delivery is non-existent. Anyway, the old, rundown diner in town barely scraped by on a few loyal customers. The owners were about to give up and board it up for good. I bought it, renovated the old dive, and Caleb and I could eat something better than chewy spaghetti and scrambled eggs. As good as we are at the BBQ, even that got old after a while. The town appreciated the new place. It does a good business. I don’t have to do much. Mary, the waitress, runs things well enough.”

  “But now you have Beth?”

  “Well, Caleb married my sister and I got tired of barging in on them and watching them kiss over the dining room table. Driving into town all the time got old, fast. So, I hired Beth. Now the house is always clean, and she’s a kick ass cook.”

  He gave her a huge grin. “See why I’m such a catch. I’ve got money and a housekeeper who cooks. What wife wouldn’t like that?” Half kidding, he wanted her to know that for the first time in a long time, he was open to a relationship. Her smile encouraged him even more.

  “You’re funny, Jack. Those things aren’t important to me.”

  “What is important to you?” Serious now, he really wanted to know how to make her happy.

  “Kindness. You’ve shown me a lot of kindness, Jack. You’ll never know what that means to me. I’ve been on my own a long time. This is probably the longest conversation I’ve had with someone over the last two years other than Ben. That’s a long time to be without kindness.”