Saved by the Rancher

by Jennifer Ryan

  “While your morning erection and my taking advantage of it are stupendous, I wouldn’t consider it a surprise. More a biologic and obsessive kind of thing.”

  He laughed. “Funny. I meant the surprise I left on your hand while you were sleeping.”

  Jenna sat up on top of him and gaped. A beautiful four-carat diamond ring sparkled on her left hand. She clamped both hands over her mouth, smothering her squeal of joy. Tears welled in her eyes. She held her hand in front her again and stared, just to be sure it was real. “It’s gorgeous.”

  “You’re gorgeous.”

  Not exactly how he planned to ask her. He intended to wake her, ask her, and then make love to her. He didn’t mind her way. Her gloriously naked body sitting atop him, the huge smile on her face, her eyes shining with unshed happy tears. Yeah, her way worked.

  He skimmed his fingers down the valley between her breasts to her stomach. “I love you.” Those unshed tears spilled over and ran down her cheeks. He’d never told her, but made a point to show her. Proving his love had seemed infinitely more important than telling her. Now he wanted to tell her again and again—for the rest of his life.

  “Marry me,” he whispered reverently. He swiped the pads of his thumbs across her wet cheeks, pulled her down, and kissed her softly, nibbling at her lower lip.

  “Please, Jenna, be my wife,” he begged against her lips.

  “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you,” she said against his mouth. Tears spilled from her eyes to his cheeks.

  “I love you so much. You’ve made me the happiest man these past months.”

  “Being here with you has been more than I could have ever wished for myself even six months ago. Everything in my life has changed. I’m happy for the first time in years, because of you.”

  They kissed and held each other for a long time. Savoring each other and the special moment they had shared.

  “Come with me today. I don’t want to leave you here alone.” Jack was concerned every time he left the ranch without her. Ben had said several times her ex didn’t leave her alone for long. He hoped nothing would happen while he was away. He never wanted to see her hurt again.

  He rubbed his hand over her thigh and the long scar that ran down the back of it. He never wanted to forget what that man was capable of doing. He’d been patient with her, waiting for her to finish things with her ex. So far, she wasn’t forthcoming with her plan to take him down, but her long phone calls with Ben told him she was working hard to do it.

  “I’ll be fine, Jack. You’ll be back tonight. Beth and Lily will be with me most of today. I’m going to work on one of my projects later and send it to my client. I have plenty to do. Don’t worry. I’ll be here when you get back.”

  “I don’t like the hang-up calls.”

  “Two hang-ups in a couple of weeks is not unusual,” she responded, trying to downplay his concerns.

  “The guards have mentioned seeing cars stop on the road and hearing strange noises in the woods.”

  “Animals live in the woods.” When he rolled his eyes, she added, “They’ve never found any sign someone is on the property.”

  “Come with me.” He’d suggested the same more than once. She tried so hard to live each day without letting the fear paralyze her from enjoying her life, but sometimes he caught her looking over her shoulder, or jumping at a strange noise. He tried his hardest to give her a sense of ease and safety when she was with him, but they both knew, so long as David was out there, she’d never be safe.

  “We’ve been over this. I promised to watch Lily today. I’m having some plants delivered. Lily and I will plant them in the gardens. I know you’re worried something will happen. That’s what the guards are for. Besides, David got married yesterday in San Francisco. I doubt he’s thinking about me.” She hoped he’d forget all about her, and she’d never see him or fear him again.

  “If I ever get my hands on that bastard, I’ll kill him.”

  “Jack, calm down. He’s too busy with his new wife. They’re probably on their honeymoon. I’m here, safe on the ranch, with you. He doesn’t even know where I am.”

  “He’s found you before. Lots of times before. Too many times before. You don’t even know how he finds you. How do you know he doesn’t know where you are this time?”

  “Jack, this is the same argument we’ve had a dozen times. All I can do is hope he doesn’t find me this time. Maybe it’s over now that he has someone new in his life. Maybe he’s over his obsession with me. It’s not like I can call him and find out. All I can do is be careful not to alert him to where I am. That, and my other plans are in the works. When the time is right, I’ll use those plans to end this. If I can control the company, I can control him. It’s complicated.”

  “Complicated. This plan is taking too long. He haunts every second of your day, and mine.” Resigned that he couldn’t keep her locked away, or by his side every second, he relented. “I want your word you’ll stay on the ranch while I’m gone. With the guards, you’ll be as safe as you can be, I guess.” He hoped. God, if something happened to her, he’d never forgive himself. He couldn’t live without her.

  “I promise, I won’t leave the ranch. I know you’re worried. I am too. Believe me, the last thing I want is him coming after me again. You know what he did the last time. Next time, I think he’ll kill me.”

  The same chill he felt run through her, danced up his spine and he held her closer. “Don’t say that. There won’t be a next time if I can help it.”

  “I don’t want to talk about him, or the situation, anymore. He wins every time we make him more important than you and me and our life together.” She traced his jaw with her fingertips, her eyes bright with happiness. “You asked me to marry you.”

  “You said yes.”

  “You knew I would.” She playfully smacked his shoulder and laughed with excitement. “I can’t wait to be Mrs. Turner.”

  “Soon. Very, very soon. I promised you a ring and happily ever after. I’m one down, one to go.”

  “You’re my happily ever after.” She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and kissed him until he wasn’t thinking about anything but her in his arms, safe and sound.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  * * *

  CALEB ARRIVED WITH Lily at eight. Jenna and Jack managed to keep their hands off each other long enough to get ready and meet Caleb in the kitchen.

  “Where’s Lily?” Jenna asked.

  “Outside with Beth. The truck with the plants arrived and they’re unloading. Lily is supervising. Nice ring by the way. You could blind someone, you know.”

  “Isn’t it beautiful? Jack asked me to marry him.”

  “About time. Congratulations, both of you. When’s the big day?” Caleb hugged her while Jack glared at him. Caleb just smiled and released her, but not before giving her a peck on the cheek to antagonize Jack.

  “We haven’t decided, but soon. Very soon.” Definitely soon if she wanted to fit into a dress before the baby started showing.

  “Summer will be so excited,” Caleb said. “She’s been waiting for this announcement since the day you arrived.”

  Jenna laughed. “I’ll tell her when I see her today. I guess I better go out and help Lily supervise. What time is Summer coming to pick her up?”

  “One o’clock. She’s been tired lately, she isn’t working that long today.”

  “That’s perfect. We’ll have lunch before Summer arrives. Beth mentioned taking the afternoon off and tomorrow is her day off. I’ll have the house all to myself, while I work.”

  “Lily has a checkup, so Summer will probably be in a hurry when she comes to pick her up,” Caleb added.

  “No problem. We’ll play in the dirt and have lots of fun. I’ll have her cleaned up and ready.”

  “Let’s head out. We have a long drive and the horses are already loaded. You,” Jack grabbed Jenna and kissed her, “be good. It’ll be late when we get back, but I’ll wake you.” He winked and gave her his w
icked grin and made her laugh. Something to look forward to.

  He kissed her again and again, holding on to her. A chill ran up his spine. A warning he hated to ignore, like he’d never see her again. “Promise me you’ll stay on the ranch.” He leaned his forehead against hers, needing desperately to hear the promise and know it as the truth.

  “I will. I promise. Stop trying to spook me.”

  Jack’s concern rubbed off on Caleb. “Has something happened? Does he know you’re here?”

  “No. Stop worrying. Both of you. Go. I’ll see you tonight.”

  Jack kissed her again, unwilling to let her out of his arms until he absolutely had to. “Call me if anything happens. Maybe you should have one of the guards stay in the house with you.”

  “Jack, I don’t want, or need, the guards staying in the house with me. If someone is on the property who shouldn’t be, they’ll know about it. Three men are watching us right now from the tree lines to the left and right.”

  “The ranch is a lot of ground to cover. They can’t watch everything.”

  “They don’t have to watch everything. Just me, which they know to do from a discreet distance.”

  “It’s not enough,” he complained.

  “What do you want me to do, hire an army to watch the place?” she asked, planting her fists on her hips.

  “Smart ass. Fine. Be good. Stay on the property. I want to know if anything happens.”

  “Yes, sir.” She saluted him.

  He grabbed her and held her tight, his arms banded around her waist. “You are such a smart ass. Kiss me goodbye.”

  Their lips met in a soft brush, then settled against each other and went deeper. She poured every ounce of love and assurance into the kiss. Jack responded, his anxiety faded with the heat and love pouring out from her. They broke the kiss and their eyes met. Unspoken, she promised to stay and he promised to relax his protective instincts. Not an easy feat for him when every fiber of his being demanded he protect what he loved, what was his. Her.

  She walked him and Caleb out the front door. Lily skipped around the pots and flats of plants grouped on the driveway.

  “Looks like we need a search party to find Lily in all these flowers,” Jack said, pretending to look for his niece.

  “Uncle Jack. Aren’t they pretty? These are blue.”

  “You’re prettier. Give Uncle a kiss goodbye. Daddy and I are leaving now.”

  He scooped up his niece into his arms and got a smacking kiss from her. He turned to Jenna with a wide grin. “I want one of these.”

  “When you get back, we’ll work on it some more.”

  “My favorite part,” he said with a wide grin. “Count on it.”

  Caleb kissed and hugged his daughter. “You be a good girl for Jenna. Mommy will be here after lunch.”

  “Can’t I come, too? I want to take the horses to their new house.”

  “No, Sunshine. I need you to take care of Mommy. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  Caleb kissed his daughter on the nose and handed her over to Jenna. He kissed and hugged Jenna too. Jack punched him in the shoulder as they walked to the waiting truck and horse trailer. They both waved at the girls as they drove from the barn down the long driveway.

  Jack watched Jenna from the truck mirror as long as he could. As he and Caleb passed through the gates onto the main road, his gut tightened. He wanted to go back, stay with Jenna, protect her. He scolded himself for not trusting her and the guards on the property. He couldn’t stay with her every moment. Still, something ate at him, and he wished he could relax and know everything would be all right. She’d be fine. Nothing happened the dozen other times he left for one errand or another. This time was no different. Right?

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  * * *

  JACK HADN’T TAKEN care of the flowerbeds around the house, so the only things alive were a few hardy bushes. The flowers Jenna had ordered would brighten the porch and patio out back. He’d told her over and over again to think of this as not just his home, but hers too. Difficult to believe after moving from place to place for so long, nothing ever felt like hers. So she had finally settled in and decided to add a few touches. She loved to garden and wanted to spruce up the outside. She’d start there before choosing a room upstairs to turn into a nursery for the baby.

  Jenna and Lily finished planting the roses, snapdragons, columbine, dahlias, and daisies in the front yard. Lily liked watering the best. She’d sprayed Jenna a few times for fun. The beds in front of the long porch were beautiful and would be even better next spring. The winter cold would kill some of the flowers, but she would replant whatever didn’t survive. For now, they would enjoy it while it lasted.

  Lily chased a butterfly. Sally chased Lily. Jenna loaded the wheelbarrow with flats of lovely white, pink, and red impatiens to brighten the back patio and the shaded areas close to the house. What a lovely picture it would make from the back windows off the Great Room.

  Jenna came back around the house to fetch the blue and pink hydrangeas that would go behind the impatiens and in front of the trees. The large bushes would be a lovely showpiece in full bloom. Jack would love the blue of the hydrangea flowers. She loaded the six plants and headed for the back of the house.

  “Lily and Sally, come in back with me. We’ll finish the big plants before lunch.”

  “Okay. I want to plant the blue ones first.” Lily skipped behind Jenna.

  “Six bushes, we’ll do one blue then one pink. That way we’ll spread out both colors.”

  “They’re so pretty. I like the front.”

  Late in the morning, Jenna knew Lily was getting hungry. She watered the hydrangeas they had already planted while Jenna put the last one in. The row of bushes improved the backyard considerably.

  “Once the impatiens are in, the view from the patio will be gorgeous.” That earned a smile from Lily.

  She and Jack would have to sit and enjoy the backyard more often. Maybe she’d buy a few Adirondack chairs to put out on the lawn so they could sit and enjoy the garden. It’d be nice to sit out at night and look up at the stars. She thought about the night she and Jack had sat on the back of his Camaro by the lake. The first night they had made love.

  A noise came from the trees, drawing her out of her memories. She didn’t really pay much attention, figuring one of the guards had come to make sure she and Lily were okay and where they were supposed to be. She had instructed them to stay in the background. She wanted Lily to stay blissfully ignorant to the darker side of life, like the necessity of guards to protect her.

  Sally lay happily dozing on the lawn in a small patch of dappled sunlight. She didn’t move or indicate she sensed anything out of the ordinary. Used to having the guards on the property, Jenna had made sure the guards were introduced to Sally, so Sally wouldn’t bark at them every time they were around. Still, Jack’s worry from this morning had rubbed off on her. She tried to shake it off, reminding herself that living in fear was no way to live.

  Lily watered the last hydrangea and Jenna sat back and surveyed their work. A productive day. Her arms and back were sore from all the digging, but the yard looked so nice she didn’t care.

  A movement off to the left inside the trees caught her eye. Nothing there now. She scanned the area, spotted another movement, heard the rustle of dried leaves. She couldn’t make out anything specific. The stillness and scent of dirt and sweet flowers surrounded her for a moment. Just when she thought it her imagination, David stepped out from behind a thick tree, holding a long hunting knife. The wicked sharp blade caught the light and gleamed, punctuating the ominous moment. Her heart pounded, fear rooted her to the ground. He pointed a finger at her, and then crooked his finger for her to come to him. With a feral grin, he pointed at Lily and held up the knife. A clear threat against the small child. She couldn’t let anything happen to Lily and would do anything to save her, including go with the man she feared the most.

  A wave of fear shook her whole
body. Without taking her eyes from David, she addressed Lily. “Time for lunch. Turn off the water, sweetheart, and go into the kitchen with Beth. Tell her I’m finishing out here and you’re ready to eat.” She’d tried to keep the panic out of her voice, but even she heard it shake.

  Sally stirred, cocked her head to the trees and listened. She put her nose in the air and let out a low growl.

  “Aren’t you going to have lunch?” Lily shut off the water before heading to the back door.

  “I am, but I’ll finish the flowers and be in, in a little while. Your mommy will be here to pick you up in about half an hour. Stay in the kitchen with Beth until she comes. Okay. Promise you’ll stay with Beth.

  “Sally, be quiet.”

  “I will. Maybe I can have ice cream if I eat all my lunch. Should I take Sally with me, something’s bugging her?”

  “Yes, honey, you can have ice cream. Stay with Beth. Sally will be fine with me.”

  “I’ll stay and wait for Mommy to come.” Lily went in through the door, leaving Jenna by the flowerbed.

  Relief washed over her when she knew Lily was safe in the house and out of David’s reach. For now.

  A branch behind her snapped, making her jump. Jenna turned slowly. David stood just inside the tree line. Sally stood guard at her side, letting out a menacing growl. David crooked his finger at her again. She tried to think through the fear, figure a way out of this. She wanted to run, but she couldn’t risk Lily or anyone else at the ranch. Resigned, she fisted her hands and stretched her fingers wide.

  Her mind screamed, not again.

  Her heart whispered, I’m sorry, Jack.

  Her feet carried her slowly into hell.

  Where were the guards? Why didn’t they stop him? What was he wearing? Short at five-eight with dark brown hair, his lean build deceptively hid the power behind his skinny frame. He could overpower her easily. She had never been a match for him physically, and now she had to worry he might hurt Lily. What about the baby she knew she was carrying? Her hand hovered close to her belly, but she stopped herself from placing a protective hand over her baby. David wouldn’t miss the gesture. She couldn’t risk his reaction to her carrying another man’s baby. Jack’s baby.