The Rescue Of Jenna West

by Debra Cowan

  Linc stared hard at Jenna and her friend, ignoring the churning in his gut that he didn’t understand. The two of them had similar coloring, enough so that they could’ve been related. Steve’s hair was the exact color of Jenna’s, but where her eyes were blue-green, his were hazel.

  His big hand held her uninjured one as he thoroughly looked her over with gentle concern.

  “I told you I’m fine.” She touched her throat gingerly, as if to wipe away the bruises there. “Linc made sure of that.”

  Steve grinned at Linc. “I’m sure that wasn’t easy. Thanks, Doc.”

  Linc started to say he hadn’t done it for Steve, but he bit back the words. He didn’t like Steve’s proprietary air, but Linc certainly had no claim on her.

  His gaze swept over her. She seemed stronger today. Was she all right? In the two days since the attack, her bruises had faded from cruel red to a yellowish purple.

  Jenna made a face at Steve’s jibe, poking at the grocery sack he still held in his arms. “What’s in there?”

  “Everything you could possibly want.”

  There was no hint of seduction in Majors’s voice, but Linc’s jaw clamped tight anyway.

  Steve reached into the sack and withdrew a handful of CDs.

  “Music for your eclectic little heart—from Alan Jackson and Céline Dion to Def Leppard and the Eagles. All your weird choices.”

  She held her injured arm close to her side, extending her other hand stiffly to take the discs from him and glance eagerly through them. “Thank you.”

  From the sack, he pulled a couple of videotapes and his deep voice rumbled out, “And for your viewing pleasure...”

  The two of them were so intent on each other that Linc felt like a third wheel. But it was his house, dammit and he wasn’t going anywhere. Besides, Jenna might know Steve Majors enough to trust him, but Linc didn’t. He leaned back against the corner of the couch, crossing one ankle over the other.

  Steve waggled a stack of videotapes at Jenna. “Your favorite Harrison Ford movies, your Civil War movies, including Gone with the Wind I figure you’ll have time to watch all of that one now that you’re a woman of leisure.”

  She stuffed the CDs back into the bag and squeezed his arm.

  “Thank you. Any books?”

  “Yes.” He opened the sack, holding it wide for her inspection. “And some vet journals, too. The last two months’ worth.”

  “This should keep me occupied for a while.” A sudden sadness shaded her voice and Linc watched her carefully.

  So did Steve. “You sure you’re okay?”

  She nodded quickly. Her pleasure at seeing Steve was obvious, but strain shadowed her eyes, tightened her mouth. Fear seemed to vibrate from her. Linc could feel it, even though she put up a brave front.

  She seemed to shake it off, asking Steve in a warm voice that belied any concern, “Can you stay for some cobbler?”

  “Sure.”

  Jenna’s gaze swerved to Linc’s. “You don’t mind, do you?”

  “No. Not at all.” He was not jealous, Linc told himself firmly. Simply determined not to see Jenna disappointed any more today. She might have convinced Mace to let her see Steve, but she’d still had to give up going to Wilbur’s funeral.

  She and Steve moved toward Linc and he straightened, following them into the kitchen.

  Jenna dished out blackberry cobbler—her favorite, Linc learned—then heated it up while Linc scooped out vanilla ice cream. The three of them sat down at the kitchen table to enjoy the dessert.

  Steve and Jenna discussed everything from pulling calves to a heart massage Steve had performed that day on an old cow dog. Linc sat quietly, marveling at the difference Majors’s presence made in Jenna’s demeanor.

  She occasionally touched her throat in a nervous, selfconscious motion, but gone were the shadows in her eyes, the tight lines around her mouth. Her mouth was still swollen, but more relaxed.

  Though her bruises still looked raw, her lightly tanned skin was flushed with pleasure; her eyes glowed. And she seemed to have more energy.

  Majors had done more for her in the last thirty minutes than Linc had managed to do in forty-eight hours. A fierce frustration ripped through him and he shoved it away. He had no claim on Jenna West. Nor did he want one.

  Jenna included him in the conversation which, frankly, Linc could barely keep his mind on. He was surrounded by the clean soap scent of her, charmed by the light in those blue-green eyes and frequently cursed himself for not kissing those soft lips, busted or not.

  It was obvious that Jenna and Steve had seen each other through some pretty tough times. There was an ease to their friendship which Linc did admit to envying. He only felt such a degree of ease with his brothers, Mace and Sam. And that not all the time. There were some things he could discuss with Mace, some with Sam, but it seemed Jenna and Steve had no secrets. Linc had never had a friend like that, not even Michelle in the early days.

  He listened more than he participated in their conversation, trying to read what kind of man Steve Majors was. Jenna obviously trusted him, which put the man in a class held by only one other, Jenna’s father.

  Linc was suddenly struck with a fervent desire to be included in that elite group, to win Jenna’s trust to such a degree that she would share things with him—

  Ah, there he went again. Feeling things he’d never felt and wouldn’t know how to deal with if put to the test.

  He gathered the empty bowls and rose to put them in the sink.

  Steve and Jenna pushed away from the table, too, and walked back into the living room.

  The tall veterinarian took Jenna’s elbow, guiding her toward the front door. “How are the police coming on finding Ramsey?”

  “Nothing yet, but they don’t think it will take long.”

  Despite the briskness of her voice, Linc caught a slight tremble in her words, heard the doubt.

  She was all business as she told Steve about Wilbur’s funeral and how Mace thought it would be best if she paid her respects after the service.

  He nodded in agreement, which made Linc breathe a sigh of relief. “Sounds like the smart thing to do. Allie and I will be there. We’ll give Bernice your condolences.”

  “Thanks.” Frustration roughened her voice. “I just wish I could go. Wish I didn’t have to stay stuck here like a coward—” She broke off, glancing apologetically over at Linc, who was once again standing beside the sofa. “Linc’s been wonderful, but it’s frustrating.”

  “Hey.” Steve squeezed her upper arm. “It’s just for another few days. If it would make you feel better, you can come out to the ranch with me. In fact, that would make me feel better. I can keep an eye on you. I’m outside of city limits, too, so—”

  “You’d have to clear that through Mace and I doubt he’d approve it.” Linc’s fists clenched. He didn’t know why the idea made him angry, but it did. Jenna was here and she should stay here. “Besides, she still needs medical attention and I can provide that.”

  Jenna looked at him, then back at Steve regretfully. “He’s probably right.”

  The other man’s gaze slid to Linc and his-eyes hardened with a challenge. He squeezed Jenna’s shoulder lightly. “If you want to go home with me, I’m sure it could be arranged.”

  She touched Steve’s arm, drawing his gaze. “I’m fine here. Linc has been good to me. And as you can see, there’s plenty of room for both me and Puppy.”

  “All right, but if you change your mind, just say the word.”

  She nodded. “How’s Allie? I thought you might have brought her along.”

  “She’s fine.”

  “Almost have the wedding planned?”

  Ah, the best friend had a fiancée. For some reason, Linc’s muscles relaxed a bit and he eased back down on the corner of the couch.

  “I guess so.” Steve ran a hand through his short hair. “It beats me how something that lasts less than twenty minutes can take so dang long to plan.”

&nb
sp; Linc silently agreed.

  Jenna smiled fondly at Steve, causing that tightness to lock up Linc’s body again. “She wants it to be perfect. You’re only going to do it once.”

  “I know.”

  “Tell her I said hello.”

  He shifted, suddenly looking awkward. Linc wondered what it was about his fiancée that would spark such a look of discomfort.

  Exasperation crossed Jenna’s features and she sighed loudly. “You didn’t tell her you were coming to see me, did you?”

  Steve scratched his chin and stared at something over her head.

  “You big dummy.” Affection softened her voice. “You’re not breaking any confidences by telling her, Steve.”

  “I just didn’t know how much you wanted to be public knowledge,” he said in a low voice, shooting a questioning look toward Linc.

  “It’s all right. Linc knows about it. About everything.” By everything, it was obvious that Jenna meant Linc knew about her rape eight years ago.

  Surprise clear on his sun-roughened features, Steve looked fully at Linc, his gaze at once protective and probing. Linc held his gaze, giving away nothing.

  He resented the implication that Jenna shouldn’t have told him and he felt an absurd jolt of male satisfaction that he knew. At the moment, it didn’t matter that the information had been given to his brother, the policeman, out of necessity.

  Steve could wonder all he wanted about how Linc knew. It wasn’t his job to reassure Jenna’s friend.

  She touched Steve’s arm, gaining his attention. “You still haven’t told her about the rape?”

  “Jenna, I just don’t feel I should.”

  “It’s all right. I know she won’t tell anyone. And I don’t want her having any reason to doubt you. Tell her the truth. Tell her you came to see me and why.”

  He hesitated, clearly torn.

  Linc straightened, now realizing fully that the rape must’ve been one of the things Steve and Jenna’s friendship had weathered. No wonder she trusted the guy so implicitly.

  Steve bent and kissed her cheek, smiling tenderly at her. She gave him a half smile, favoring her injured lips and hugged him with her good arm.

  Linc strode across the tile and opened the front door. In the distance, thunder rumbled and he noted with surprise that the sky had darkened considerably. To the south, clouds churned thick and fast.

  A stout breeze tore across the yard. Looked like they were in for a storm tonight.

  Just then, all three dogs bounded up the porch and raced into the house. Seeing Steve, Linc’s German shepherds skidded to a halt, growling, their hair bristling. Puppy raced around Jenna’s friend, gave Steve’s hand a quick swipe with his tongue, then loped inside.

  “It’s all right,” Linc reassured them. “Quiet.”

  The pair fell silent, studied Steve for a moment then bolted past him to Jenna. She was petting Puppy, who growled happily as she scratched his ears. Chester and Buckley crowded closer, bumping at Jenna’s hip, wanting her attention, too.

  Chuckling, she complied. Linc’s gut kicked at the throaty sound of her pleasure and he fleetingly wondered if he could ever coax anything like that from her.

  Steve cast a concerned eye at the sky then stepped up beside Linc and said in a low voice, “Can I talk to you on the porch?”

  “Sure.” Linc glanced at Jenna, still doting on the dogs.

  “Jenna, I’m going to walk Steve out and have a look around.”

  “All right.” Speculation sharpened her eyes as she glanced from him to Steve. “I’m glad you came, Steve. And thanks for everything you brought.”

  “You bet. I want to hear from you, okay?”

  “You know it.” She reached down to chide Puppy for chewing on Buckley’s tail.

  “Love ya!” Steve called as Linc began to pull the door shut

  “Love you, too,” Jenna responded in a husky voice.

  Linc’s gut clenched and he shut the door before he could see if she had tears in her eyes. If she-did, he’d probably do something stupid like invite Majors to stay.

  “I appreciate what you’re doing for her.” Steve jammed a hand in his front pocket and studied Linc curiously.

  “I want to do it.”

  The other man nodded. “Yeah, she told me she helped you out a few years back. I guess this is your way of repaying her.”

  Resentment shot through him. He didn’t like the fact that Steve Majors knew about that drunken night in the barn and Linc hadn’t known a damn thing about him until today.

  Steve settled his hat on his head, his eyes narrowed. “I figure you must be a pretty good guy if you’re taking in Jenna and Puppy.”

  “Yeah, some puppy, huh?” Linc smiled, thinking he could probably like Steve Majors if he knew him a little.

  The other man’s gaze settled thoughtfully on the door, as if he could see Jenna through the heavy wood. “I want you to call me every day and tell me how she’s doing.”

  Startled, Linc frowned. “She just said she’d call you—”

  “You do it,” Steve insisted. “She’ll only tell me she’s fine, whether she is or not. And I want to know how she’s really getting along.”

  Irritation wound through Linc. He wasn’t a damn nurse. And Steve Majors wasn’t Jenna’s next of kin, though the man obviously cared about her. “All right.”

  Relief flitted across Steve’s features, then his hazel gaze hardened. “If you hurt her, I’ll come after you.”

  “Hurt her? Why would I hurt her?” Disbelief was quickly followed by rage at Majors’s gall. Linc straightened, taking a step toward the other man. “I’ve spent the last two days helping her.”

  “That’s not what I mean and you know it. You hurt her, you answer to me. Got it?”

  Linc’s back stiffened. Anger swirled through him. “I don’t like threats.”

  Steve’s gaze stayed locked on his, unyielding, waiting.

  Linc finally conceded saying, “She has nothing to fear from me.”

  “Make sure it stays that way.” Steve nodded briskly and stepped around Linc to open the door again. Moving over the threshold, he walked to Jenna, kissing her on the cheek once more. “Take it easy.”

  “I will.”

  “I’ll let you know about the Campbells’ foal.”

  “Okay.”

  Steve rejoined Linc on the porch, gave him one last warning look, then stuck out his hand. “Thanks for helping her, Doc.”

  “Sure.” Linc’s gaze narrowed at him. Steve Majors was a little high-handed, but he understood why. Linc shook Steve’s hand, silently assuring the man that he would care for Jenna and let Steve know how she was doing.

  The man nodded and loped down the steps toward his pickup. “Bye, Jenna.”

  Linc turned in time to see her wave, then wince. Her gaze went from him to Steve, blatantly curious. She moved closer to Linc, though she still stayed in the house. “What were y’all talking about?”

  Linc slid a sideways glance at her. “He just wanted to know if you were really all right.”

  “What did you tell him?”

  “That you were perfectly safe here,” he answered, his voice taking on a rough edge as he recalled the moments earlier when she’d considered leaving his home to go with Steve. “And you are, Jenna.”

  Her gaze met his then skittered away. “I know,” she said quietly. “I do feel safe. With you.”

  “You do?” Surprise forced out the words. Relief and profound pleasure welled inside him. “I’m glad.”

  Her gaze met his fully. A slow smile started in her eyes, lighting them like heated gems. Then the corners of her lips lifted.

  Desire, denial, doubt all pumped through him. She smiled at him as if he’d accomplished some incredible feat and he felt his heart crack open another centimeter. Yet a part of him—the scarred, experienced part—retreated from the sense of vulnerability she stirred.

  Jenna had drawn the lines where she wanted them and Linc told himself to play by her
rules. Despite the fact that he found himself wanting to cross the line with her, wanting to know more, wanting to be more.

  You’re providing safety for her. That’s all. You’re repaying her for helping you.

  His voice turned gruff and he stepped into the house, closing the door with his foot. “I need to call the hospital.”

  She looked startled, then disappointed. Nodding, all trace of emotion erased from her face, she suddenly looked tired and as if she were in pain. “I think I’ll turn in early tonight. Steve’s visit kind of wore me out.”

  Linc nodded, wincing when she bent and scooped up the grocery sack full of goodies Steve had left. He longed to help her, but the distance was back between them, cool and solid. Still he kept his gaze on the stiff lines of her back, her careful gait, the sheen of her auburn hair as she walked quietly down the hall and disappeared from view.

  This was the right way to handle things, he told himself. Never mind the loneliness and regret pressing heavily on his chest.

  Outside, thunder roared and rain lashed the windows. The wall opposite her bed creaked. Jenna’s nerves stretched taut.

  She’d come to bed three hours earlier and the storm had exploded in full force about an hour ago, nudging at her fears about Ramsey, stoking her unease. He was going to take everything.

  In an effort to manage the apprehension, the anxiety hammering at her, she forced thoughts of him out of her mind.

  Her bruised body ached keenly though she could tell some improvement. Her lips were still swollen and stiff, the marks around her throat and face still rawly conspicuous. And tonight, like each night since the most recent attack, she couldn’t sleep. Only tonight, Ramsey wasn’t the sole cause. Nor was the howling storm.

  Trying not to think about Ramsey triggered other thoughts she tried to dodge. Thoughts of Linc. A smoky frustration scraped along her nerves, knotted in her gut. Hot edgy desire slid through her, beckoning, coaxing her to explore it.

  Linen sheets caressed her bare legs, prickling them to sensitive awareness. She was acutely aware of her silk panties and a growing heaviness in her breasts.

  With a muttered curse, she yanked the sheets up to her chin, then pushed them down to her hips again. Why was she still thinking about that kiss? It had happened—or not happened—hours ago.