Jenna's Cowboys

by Laura Jo Phillips

  Jenna was so relieved that it took her a moment to absorb it. Then she smiled, causing Meg’s eyebrows to climb almost to her hair in shock. She’d been bracing herself for terrible news, so the smile was more than a little unexpected.

  Jenna removed three squares of paper from her pocket and slid them across the table. Meg picked them up, seeing right away that they were pictures. She just didn’t know of what. After looking at them for a moment it finally dawned on her what she was seeing. A slow grin spread across her face.

  “Damn girl, you can keep a secret better than anyone I ever heard of.”

  “I learned the hard way,” Jenna said softly.

  “That’s the truth, Sugar,” Meg said soberly. “But you’re happy. You hide your feelings better than anyone I’ve ever heard of too, but I can feel how happy you are.”

  “I’m so happy I could almost burst,” Jenna agreed, smiling. Then her smile faded. “But I’m scared, too.”

  “Sure you are,” Meg said. “I guess I don’t have to ask who the daddies are.” Jenna shook her head. “Do they know?” Jenna shook her head again, but this time there was fear in her eyes.

  After all that Hank and Jack had told her, Meg was real careful with what she said next. “What happened to you was nothing less than evil, Jenna. But you gotta know that just because one person was capable of such darkness, it doesn’t mean everyone else would be.”

  “I know that, Meg,” Jenna said. “But fear isn’t rational. If they didn’t hate me so much, then maybe I wouldn’t be so scared. I don’t think they’d do anything as bad as what happened before, but I can’t take the chance that their reactions would be…bad.”

  “You think they hate you?” Meg asked in surprise. Jenna nodded. “Why?”

  Jenna dropped her eyes. Normally she wouldn’t answer that question. But this was Meg, and Meg loved her. It’d been so long since anyone had loved her that she’d forgotten what it felt like. For that alone, she wanted to answer Meg’s question. “They got really angry over something I said in my sleep,” she said in a low voice. “They could have asked me to explain, but they didn’t. I think they used it as an excuse to get away from me. I don’t blame them for not wanting me, but I can’t ignore how mean they were. That’s a real bad sign, and it worries me.”

  “They were mean to you?” Meg asked, her eyes narrowing. Jenna nodded. “What did they say?”

  “It doesn’t matter what they said, Meg,” Jenna replied because that was a question she couldn’t answer, not even for Meg. It hurt too much to think about. Talking about it would be impossible. “What matters is that I didn’t know they could be like that. I made a big mistake there, and I can’t afford to make any more.”

  “All right,” Meg said, letting it go because she didn’t want to upset Jenna further, and because she knew it wouldn’t get her anywhere anyway. “Telling them or not telling them is your choice to make, Jenna. I won’t be taking it out of your hands, but I can’t make that promise for everyone else. Right now you’re what? Two months along?”

  “Two and a half.”

  “As small as you are, and carrying twins, you don’t have much time before you start to show. Then everyone’s gonna know.”

  “I know,” Jenna said with a sigh. “It scares me, Meg. A lot. But there’s nothing I can do about it. I thought for a long time about leaving Sparx and I came real close there for a while, before I found out I was pregnant. But I can’t do that now. I’ve got too much of my money invested in the shop and I can’t afford to walk away from it, or the income it generates. Not with one baby to support, let alone two.”

  “Listen to me, Jenna,” Meg said, leaning forward over their forgotten food. “First of all, this is your home now, and you’re loved here by a lot of people whether you know it or not. Don’t you even think about leaving. I’d just have to come find you and drag you back, so you might as well save us both the trouble.

  “Second of all, this is Sparx. The people in this town watch out for each other. I know you haven’t noticed it cause you’ve had a lot on your mind, but every single man and woman in this town has been watching over you these past couple of months, worrying about you and hoping that whatever’s wrong gets better for you soon. There is no chance, not one single tiny chance, that any one of us would ever stand by and watch you be hurt without jumping in to stop it. I know that’s gonna be hard for you to believe after all you’ve been through, but if you trust me at all, trust me in this. This is a promise I can and do make to you, Jenna James.”

  Jenna was shocked, but she could see by the light in Meg’s eyes that she meant every word. But what if she was wrong? She almost smiled. If she was wrong, she’d probably find out sooner than later, so it didn’t really make much difference. “Thank you, Meg. I’ll try really hard to remember.”

  “If you forget, I’ll remind you,” Meg said with a nod. “Now, let’s get to the nitty gritty.”

  “The what?”

  Meg smiled. “You told me the good, let’s have the bad.” Jenna nodded and got up to fetch the coffee pot.

  “Should you be drinking that, hon?” Meg asked, watching her fill their cups.

  “It’s decaf,” Jenna said with a smile.

  “Good girl,” Meg said.

  Jenna went over all the things that Doc had told her. By the time she was done her food was cold and she got up to nuke it. She hadn’t eaten breakfast yet and hungry or not, she was gonna eat because her babies needed it.

  “I‘m doubly glad you decided to trust me, Jenna,” Meg said, deeply worried now. “You’re gonna need help before those babies get too much bigger.”

  “I know,” Jenna sighed. “The problem is money.”

  “You broke?”

  “No, I’m not that bad off,” Jenna said. “But having twins has changed a few things. Doc is sure now that I’ll have to be on bed rest the last month, possibly longer. I’ve got to start socking away as much money for that as I can and I don’t have much time to do it in. I’ve been padding my savings account, but that’s for emergencies so I can’t touch that. I’ve got a growing pile of medical bills, plus having twins means I need to double all the furniture, clothes and other stuff babies need. I simply can’t afford to hire someone full time and still prepare for what’s coming.”

  “Well don’t go shopping just yet, Sugar, that’s what baby showers are for.”

  Jenna stared at her in surprise. “Baby shower?”

  “Jenna hon, I couldn’t love you more if you were my own daughter,” Meg said. “Since you don’t have a mother, that means I get to throw your shower. Anyone else wants to do it can get in line.”

  Jenna stared at Meg for a long moment, ignoring the fresh tears on her cheeks as she got up to hug Meg tightly. She held on for a long moment, then released her and went back to her seat without a word. But Meg didn’t need words for this. She understood that Jenna had just moved past all of her fears and worries and fully, unconditionally accepted her into her heart. It was a moment she’d never forget.

  Meg cleared her throat, drank some coffee, and returned to the issue of helping the daughter of her heart. Since Jenna didn’t even want the Howards to know she was pregnant she couldn’t suggest asking them for help. She’d pay for Jenna to hire someone herself but she knew Jenna too well to go there at this point. Maybe later.

  “Why not hire someone part time, then?”

  “I could,” Jenna said. “But since I’ll need someone full time toward the end, it seems a waste to train someone I can’t use when I need them the most. And then there’s the time after the babies are born to think of, too.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. You need to think long term.” Jenna nodded. “You have any ideas?”

  “No, I don’t,” Jenna replied. “Not yet. But I’m working on it.”

  “Well, I’ll think on it too, Sugar,” Meg said. “Do you have any objection to me telling Hank and Jack your news?”

  “No, not at all,” Jenna said. She hesitated, started t
o speak, then shook her head.

  “Don’t worry,” Meg said, patting her hand. “I’ll make sure they know how you feel about sharing the information with others whose names I won’t be saying.”

  “Thanks, Meg, I appreciate that. I know it’ll be obvious pretty soon, and I don’t expect the whole town to keep my secret. I guess I’ll just have to cross that bridge when I come to it.”

  Chapter 6

  Jenna was surprised by how much better she felt after sharing her news, and her problems, with Meg. She was more relaxed, slept better, and had a much better appetite. The dark circles faded, her color improved, and her cheeks started to fill out as she gained a little weight. She didn’t smile as readily these days, but she wasn’t holding herself apart any more. She visited with friends, joined conversations, and even laughed occasionally. Doc was so relieved and encouraged by how much better she was doing that he relaxed her visits from every week to every two weeks.

  Shortly after entering her fourth month the babies began to grow by leaps and bounds, causing Jenna’s progress to slow. She stopped gaining weight and then, as the weeks progressed, she started losing it even though she ate as much as she could manage and took all of her vitamins and supplements. She didn’t sleep as well either, and she was always tired.

  By then her pregnancy was an open secret. She was carrying twins, after all, and as small as she was, it was plain to see. Everyone in town watched over her more carefully than ever. It was easy to see that the pregnancy was taking a heavy toll on her but she never complained, she never asked for help, and she never stopped working.

  Except for Doc, Meg, Hank and Jack, no one knew why the Howards weren’t helping her since there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that they were the fathers. Jenna had dated only once since she’d joined their small community, and everyone knew it. The Howards’ absence was proof enough that they either didn’t know, or didn’t care. If it was the first, everyone agreed that it wasn’t their news to tell. That was up to Jenna. If it was the second, then maybe Jenna was better off without them.

  After Meg told her that the Howards hadn’t been in the diner since the day of their date, Jenna started having lunch with her twice a week. She enjoyed having that to look forward to and decided that was important even if she was reluctant to spend the money. It was during one of those lunches about half way through her fourth month of pregnancy that Jenna came up with an idea to solve her problem concerning help.

  “You know those candles I sell in the shop?” she asked. “The handmade ones with the herbs and spices and flowers in them?”

  Sure do,” Meg said. “I have four of them myself now.”

  “The lady who makes those, Susie Wainrite is her name, has become a friend of mine. I met her at a convention when I was looking for products for the shop and we hit it off right away. She lives in Texas, so we’ve only seen each other twice, but we talk on the phone and on the computer all the time.”

  “What do you know about her?” Meg asked.

  “She’s a couple years older than me, twenty seven I think, divorced, no kids. She’s got an ex she’s scared of, and he’s been making life hard for her lately. She makes her candles at home, but has to work full time at a loan office to make ends meet, and she hates it. She knows about Sparx, and always says she’d move here in a heartbeat if she could afford it.”

  “You’re thinking of asking her to move here?”

  “I think I’d have to help with her expenses, but yeah. This just might be a good solution for both of us.”

  “You’ll have to pay her the same as you would anyone else, and pay her expenses too, so what’s the benefit?”

  “Well, I’m thinking I wouldn’t pay her so much as let her buy into the business by working there. I’d have to pay her some of course, but not as much as a full time employee. She could live with me, at first anyway. There’s two extra bedrooms and the babies will only need one for a couple of years at least, and there’s still three rooms I don’t use downstairs that she can use for her candle making. Plus, once the babies are born I’d be able to spend more time with them if I have a partner to split shifts with me.”

  “Best of all, you wouldn’t be alone over there,” Meg said. “I’d be lots happier knowing that.”

  “So you think it’s a good idea?”

  “I think it’s a great idea. I only have one concern.”

  “I know, the town council will have to approve her, and I’ll pay for the background check myself.”

  “That’s true, but it’s not what I meant, and you just let the town pay for their own background checks,” Meg said. “I’m more concerned about her angry ex.”

  Jenna frowned. “You wouldn’t want her here because of that?”

  “No, Sugar, that’s not what I mean at all,” Meg said in surprise. “I had myself an angry ex when I came to Sparx so I’m the last one to go casting stones. My concern is that if she’s living with you, and he shows up, then you might get hurt.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that,” Jenna said with obvious disappointment. “Damn. I really thought Susie was a great solution.”

  “I still think she is,” Meg said. “I’m just saying extra care has to be taken for your safety, and hers, too. That’s all.”

  “I can’t put my babies in danger, Meg.”

  “No, you can’t, nor will you. Don’t you worry, Sugar. You go on ahead and ask Susie if she wants to come here. If she says yes, then we’ll get the ball rolling.”

  “You think so?” Jenna asked, brightening again.

  “Absolutely,” Meg said firmly.

  “Okay, I will,” Jenna said. “By the way, I have a really huge favor I wanna ask of you.”

  “Shoot,” Meg said, popping a french fry into her mouth.

  “Well, you know I don’t have any family, and that my mother died when I was four,” Jenna said, suddenly anxious.

  “Sure, I know,” Meg said, frowning at Jenna’s sudden distress. “What’s the matter?”

  “Nothing’s the matter. I’m just a little nervous, but I’m going to do this anyway.” She cleared her throat, looked Meg in the eye and said, “I’d like it, no, I’d love it if you’d agree to be grandmother to my babies.”

  Meg stopped chewing, her eyes wide in surprise as she stared at Jenna’s blushing face. Then all of a sudden she started crying, which scared Jenna. “I’m sorry, Meg,” she said frantically, “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “Stop that,” Meg said, wiping her eyes as she laughed through her tears. “You’ve made me a very happy woman, Jenna.”

  “Really?” Jenna asked hopefully.

  “Yes, really,” Meg said, unable to stop the tears. “I’d love to be grandma to your babies, Sugar. I always wanted to be a grandma. Course, you generally have to have kids of your own for that.”

  “Not this time,” Jenna said, beaming happily. “I’m so excited about this, Meg. Thank you so much.”

  “No, Jenna, thank you,” Meg said, wiping her eyes again though her face was split in the biggest grin Jenna had ever seen. “Now, let’s do some planning.”

  ***

  Two weeks later Jenna entered the diner a bit earlier than usual, nearly bursting with news. She had to wait for Meg to finish serving a few customers before she could turn things over to Anna, so she fired up her iPad and did a little reading while she waited.

  “You look like you’re about to bust, Sugar,” Meg said as she slid into the booth.

  “I am,” Jenna agreed, smiling happily. “Jack called me just a bit ago to tell me the council agreed to let Susie buy into Senses.”

  “Why that rat,” Meg said, looking toward the table where her men sat with a mock scowl. “Why didn’t he tell me?”

  “Cause I asked him not to,” Jenna said, her smile widening. “I wanted to do it. I’m so excited, Meg.”

  “She’s buying into the business, right, not the building?”

  “Yes,” Jenna replied. “Jack’s right that the James Building s
hould stay in the James family. I hadn’t thought of it before, but I like knowing I’ll have something to leave my children one day.”

  “He’s a smart man, my Jack,” Meg said proudly.

  “Yes, he is,” Jenna agreed. “And a generous one. He’s refusing to let me pay him for drawing up the contracts. I threatened to hire someone else but he reminded me without the slightest trace of smugness that he’s the only attorney in town.”

  Meg grinned, knowing perfectly well how smug Jack had been. And why, too. “Don’t let him fool you, Sugar. He wants something in return, all right.”

  “He does?” Jenna asked in surprise.

  “Course he does,” Meg said with a mischievous light in her eyes. “Hank wants it too. They’re both so damn jealous of me right now they’re starting to turn green.”

  Jenna tilted her head to the side, wondering what in the heck Meg was talking about.

  “Hello, Jenna,” Anna said. “You ready to order?”

  “Hi Anna,” Jenna said. “I’d like some iced herbal tea and a club sandwich with salad, please.”

  “Coming up. ” Anna scribbled on her pad, then looked at Jenna and smiled. “I just heard tell the other day that you’re having twins. I didn’t know that. Congratulations.”

  “Thank you,” Jenna said, hiding her surprise.

  “I have a set of twins myself,” Anna said, her smile turning nostalgic. “All grown up now, of course, but they’ve turned out to be very fine men, indeed. And handsome to boot, if I do say so myself. You’re in for a real treat.”

  “I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Who’s the father? Anyone I know?”

  Jenna paled but she met Anna’s gaze steadily, her eyes cooling. “That’s not something I want to talk about, Anna.”

  “I can certainly understand that,” Anna said with a sympathetic smile. “Been there myself, in fact, so I know what it is to go through it alone. You need help with anything, you let me know.”