Alone in her house now, Jenna sat quietly on her sofa. Years ago, Rosalinda had taught her how to crochet, but Jenna had always been too busy to simply sit deep in thought and work the yarn. She hadn’t known if she even remembered how, but as she hooked the yarn and made stitch after stitch, the patterns that she’d learned had come back to her.
“You think Antonio and Marcie will like my present?” she asked Button. Her lazy slumbering cat didn’t budge on the sofa. “You think it will turn out pretty enough to put on their table?”
Jenna heard the back door open. Her heart sped up at the sound of Cash’s boots hitting the floor. “Jenna?”
“I’m in the parlor.”
He entered wearing a big smile. “It’s all done. We’ve finished the house. Antonio is bringing Marcie out to see it tomorrow.”
Jenna set down her crochet needle. “That’s wonderful. She’ll be surprised.”
“Yeah, and we’ve finished up just in time. The wedding’s day after tomorrow.”
“I know,” Jenna said, “I’m hoping to have this tablecloth finished. It’s a gift for their wedding.”
Cash looked it over. “It’s pretty. Looks like it’s almost done.”
“Not really. I’ve got to work on it most of tomorrow, I’m afraid.”
“You do that. Don’t worry about the chores. I’ll get to Larabeth in the morning and take care of everything.”
Jenna tilted her head and cast him a smile. “You know, I think Larabeth prefers you over me now.”
Cash chuckled. “I knew she’d come around. Most females do, once they get to know me.” Cash winked, his charming grin entirely too disarming.
Jenna picked up her needle again and began working the yarn. “Female cows, you mean.”
“Ah Jenna, that ain’t nice,” he replied with amusement.
Jenna stifled a chuckle of her own. “Just speaking the truth, Mr. Callahan, just speaking the truth.”
“Well, tarnation woman, don’t be so doggone honest.”
Jenna put her head down, smiling. Heavens, if Cash only knew that she wasn’t being honest at all. She had gotten to know him, and she’d certainly come around. Actually, she’d come full circle. Where at one point she couldn’t abide having him live here on the farm, now Jenna couldn’t imagine her life without him. She didn’t want to think about the time he’d have to leave the farm. She couldn’t envision saying goodbye to him. He’d become so much a part of Twin Oaks. He’d become so much a part of her as well.
Finally, yet with great reluctance, Jenna had come to the realization that she had fallen in love with Cash.
She had fallen in love with a gambler.
Chapter Seventeen
I want to see it on you. Just once.
Cash’s sentiments were never far from her mind. Jenna sat on her bed, gazing up at the beautiful golden-yellow dress adorning her mirror. She had come to accept this gift from Cash slowly, day by day, in increments of which she had no real conscious recollection. She only knew that today, the day of Antonio’s wedding, she would wear the dress proudly, without qualm or trepidation.
Jenna combed her hair to a luminous shine, leaving it down in waves, the ribbons Cash had given her on her birthday helping to keep the tresses in place. She put on her petticoats then stepped into the dress, taking time to do up each tiny pearl button. When she was completely dressed, Jenna approached the mirror.
“Oh, my,” she whispered on a sigh. Surely, the reflection staring back at her wasn’t Jenna Duncan, farm girl. Jenna continued to stare, her gaze roaming over each nuance of a dress that fit her to perfection. She lifted her arms and noted how the lace on the sleeves glided like a soft caress over her fingers. The bodice fit snugly, exposing a great deal of her skin, then flared out at the hips in a full skirt. Jenna perused her image in the mirror. She’d never owned a dress like this before. It was stunning, a work of art and being so made Jenna feel truly feminine.
“Stop your gawking, silly girl,” Jenna said to her reflection. She grabbed the mantilla Rosalinda had given her. “Cash is waiting.”
Jenna made her way to the top of the stairs when she heard Cash call out from below, “We’re going to be late, Jen—”
Cash stood at the base of the stairs and when he gazed up, he took a step back, whipping the hat from his head. She saw him swallow and lock his gaze onto hers as she walked down the stairs. A flash of heat coursed through her body, causing commotion to her insides. Cash hadn’t taken his eyes off of her, and the appreciation she witnessed in them turned up the heat considerably.
When she reached the last step, Cash was waiting there. He took her hands, his gaze flowing over her body like soft silk. “You look more than beautiful, sugar. The dress, well… I didn’t forget anything about you.”
The reminder of their time together as man and wife brought heat to her cheeks. Jenna drew in her bottom lip and took a deep breath. The movement brought Cash’s attention to her chest and she became increasingly aware of the amount of skin the dress exposed. “Thank you,” she said softly, nearly tongue-tied. “You look nice, too.”
Nice? Cash looked positively handsome today, wearing the same suit he’d worn when he’d come back to the farm. A pressed white shirt contrasted sharply with the dark and dramatic cut of his suit and fancy vest. Even his boots were shined, almost as brightly as his eyes which gleamed deep blue and were constantly on her.
He came closer, his breath touching her throat and spoke quietly near her ear. “Thank you for wearing it,” he said, his words spoken with sincerity.
Jenna took a swallow, but said nothing more.
“We’d better go,” Cash announced and together, hand in hand, they headed for the wagon outside.
Cash was a dead man.
He held a losing hand. There was no way out. He couldn’t fold yet he didn’t hold the cards to win, he realized as he stood by Jenna’s side as Antonio and Marcie spoke their vows. The wedding, held outside in a garden setting on Bender’s farm, had more guests than the entire population of the town of Goodwill. Ranchers, farmers, shopkeepers, had all been invited. Bender was an influential man, having the biggest, most prosperous farm in the territory.
Painfully aware of the interest Jenna was attracting from the young males in attendance, Cash spent most of his time casting stern looks their way. He sidled up as close to Jenna as he could, yet he knew he was doing her a disservice. The honorable thing to do would be to leave Jenna’s side. He’d taken away her future, perhaps now, he could give it back to her. With him out of the picture, Jenna could meet someone here, maybe even a farmer, who shared the same interests, had the same dreams as her.
But as his gaze flowed over the men eyeing her, Cash didn’t know if he was that noble a man. To give Jenna up was a tremendous sacrifice to make, even though ultimately it was for her own good. He couldn’t bear to let her go, yet he knew he couldn’t have her. The day would come when he would leave.
And as her flowery scent rose up to tease his nostrils and stir his blood, Cash reminded himself once more that he held a losing hand.
Antonio stood facing Marcie, their hands entwined. Within minutes, the preacher concluded the ceremony by announcing that Antonio could kiss his bride. Jenna applauded as enthusiastically as the others then turned to him, her face glowing with joy. “Oh, it was such a lovely ceremony. I think they’ll be very happy.”
Peering down at her sweet expression, Cash could only nod in agreement. This was what Jenna wanted, a marriage, someone to love and a family one day. She deserved it, dammit. And if Cash were a different kind of man, he’d give it to her. Guilt assailed him, punching him hard in the gut. He had no right to Jenna. He had no right standing in the way of her happiness. “I’ll be back later,” he said, leaving her standing there alone.
Hell, she wouldn’t be alone for long.
Cash wandered off, taking a look at Bender’s enormous barn, his array of animals and his stables. He hiked quite a distance to where the fields began. T
he walk did him good, he mused. It helped to clear his head, which, oftentimes, got too dang dumbfounded when Jenna was around.
Less than an hour later, he returned to the gardens, watching the festivities as food and drink were offered up in abundance. He spotted Jenna amid some older ladies. Three young men hovered by her side, seeming to entertain them with their tales. Cash exhaled slowly, turning away. When he spotted Ben leaning on his cane by the food table, Cash headed over there. “Congratulations,” he said, offering Ben his hand. “Antonio and Marcie make a real fine couple. I wish them well.”
They shook hands, Ben’s face beaming. “Thank you, thank you. It was quite a ceremony. And how about this feast? Old man Bender sure knows how to throw a party.”
“Yeah, I suppose he does.”
“Where’s Jenna?” Ben asked. “Rosie said she’s been asking for you. I thought by now you two would have found each other.”
Cash shrugged and gestured toward the veranda. The other ladies had vanished, yet those three men still held Jenna’s attention. “She’s busy.”
Ben peered over in that direction then slanted him a look. Cash knew that look. He’d come to know Ben quite well in the months since he’d been at Twin Oaks. “She’s been asking for you.”
“I’m not available.”
“Making yourself not available is more like it.”
Cash shrugged. “Maybe.”
Ben shook his head. “Don’t be a fool. How long do you think it’ll take before one of those men over there is going to ask for Jenna? How long, Cash? Look at her. She’s sweet and beautiful. That gal’s got a heart of pure gold. They’re just discovering something you’ve known all along.”
“I’m hoping she likes one of them,” Cash announced, his heart pounding against his chest. He was flat-out lying, to Ben and to himself.
Ben laughed. “You ain’t fooling me. You want her for yourself.”
Cash shook his head adamantly. “I’m not—”
“What? A farmer? If you’re not a farmer, then I’ll eat my boots, Cash Callahan. I ain’t seen anybody work as hard, or take to the farm as quick or get on with the animals so well, as you. In your head you’re not a farmer, but in your heart, maybe you are. Now, you gonna let them men take Jenna for a whirl around the dance floor? Go on,” Ben urged with a hand to Cash’s shoulder, “ask her to dance. The music’s just starting.”
“Don’t expect much,” Cash said, holding Jenna’s hands as they waited for the music to begin. “I’m not such a good dancer, but I think I can manage not to crush your feet.”
Jenna chuckled and with a tilt of her head, confessed, “I’m hoping not to crush yours, either, Cash. I haven’t had much chance to go dancing.”
He cast her a quick smile. “Well, then, we should do all right.”
A small band of musicians began playing and Cash seemed to settle into a tempo that she could follow. They moved about the dance floor with surprising ease.
“I didn’t see you after the ceremony. Where did you go?” Jenna asked, her gaze fixed on his. She’d been curious, dying to ask why he’d left her side as soon as he possibly could.
Cash pursed his lips and didn’t reply right away. When he apparently made up his mind to answer, he asked, “You want the truth?”
Jenna blinked. Of course she wanted the truth, but suddenly she was fearful of his answer. “I believe I do.”
“I left you alone so that you might meet up with someone new.”
“Someone new?” Puzzled, Jenna slowed her steps.
“A man,” Cash replied, his gaze fastened to hers. “I saw the joy on your face during the wedding ceremony. You want that for yourself and I don’t blame you. You deserve it, Jenna. I figured—”
“You figured to abandon me.” Hurt by his intentions, although she thought she understood why, but reason didn’t weigh heavily when it came to matters of the heart. “Why’d you save me from the wolf the other night, Cash, if you intended to throw me to the wolves today anyway?”
“I’m not doing that!”
Jenna stopped dancing. “Aren’t you? There’s no one here for me, Cash. Not one man I’d like to spend time with, so you can stop your matchmaking.”
Jenna turned to leave, but Cash grabbed her around the waist and spun her to face him. He searched her eyes steadily, but there was amusement in his tone. “Not one man?”
“Not a one,” she confessed, folding her arms across her middle.
His lips twitched. “Not even me?”
“Especially you,” she said matter-of-factly, her irritation slowly dissipating. Cash’s gaze softened and he took her back into his arms. They moved around the dance floor again.
“Well, I can’t let you go now. There’re too many men ready to pounce. I’ve been staring each one of them down. It’s tiresome.” He sighed dramatically. “So long as there’s no one here you’d like to spend time with, I suppose you’re stuck with me today.”
“Mmmm, stuck,” she repeated. Jenna’s heart clenched tight when Cash grinned and pulled her body up to his. He whirled her around the dance floor once again, their argument and his ridiculous notions forgotten.
Three hours later when the celebration was over, Jenna embraced Rosalinda in farewell. “Antonio made such a handsome groom. I know he’s happy. Do you like Marcie?”
A winsome smile crossed Rosalinda’s face. “Sí. She is good for my Antonio. She makes him happy. I only wish such happiness for you now, querida. Then, all will be well.”
“All is well, Rosa. Don’t worry over me.”
Rosalinda, dressed in a lovely gown of blue satin, directed her gaze to Ben and Cash, who were hitching up their wagons. “You wear his dress, no? He has been very attentive today. I have eyes. I see the way he looks at you. He is a good man, Jenna.”
This time, Jenna didn’t deny it. “Yes.”
Rosalinda’s brows arched. “Ah, so now, you see it, too?”
“Yes, but he is happy to have me meet other men. He thinks I want to marry just anyone.”
“Ah, but you have only one man in mind?”
“No, Rosa. I don’t have anyone in mind. Cash isn’t going to stay with me. I know that. He’ll be gone soon, but I will never forget him.”
Jenna understood that she and Cash had only a short time together. He seemed restless lately and was only staying on at Twin Oaks because he had no other choice.
Ben and Cash walked over to them, ending their conversation. “Ready?” Cash asked. “I’ve got the wagon hitched.”
“Yes, I’m ready,” Jenna said, placing a soft kiss on Rosalinda’s cheek. “Goodbye and congratulations again,” she offered to both the Markhams.
Cash embraced Rosalinda then turned to shake Ben’s hand. “I’ll be by tomorrow and we’ll talk more about that idea I had.”
Cash helped Jenna up onto the buckboard, then mounted the seat and took up the reins. Jenna waved until Ben and Rosalinda were out of sight. When she couldn’t take Cash’s silence another minute, she asked, “What idea are you going to talk to Ben about?”
Cash shrugged in that noncommittal way he had. “Just something I heard today, that’s all.”
By the finality in his voice, the conversation was over, but Jenna’s unyielding curiosity was sparked. Still, she didn’t pry. She didn’t have to know everything Cash did and said, did she?
He was pretty much a private man. Yet it warmed Jenna’s heart that he’d opened up to her about his childhood. She’d never forget the stories he’d told and never again judge him so harshly for the life he had led.
Jenna wrapped the mantilla more snugly around her shoulders. The day had surrendered to night and there was a slight chill in the air.
“Cold?” Cash asked, giving her a sideways glance.
“A little bit.”
“Come closer,” he suggested and when she did, he wrapped an arm around her. His body gave off heat but Jenna experienced a different sort of heat, one that came from being near the man she wanted. One that
came from longing, from hope and from desire.
“Better now?”
“Much better,” she said, leaning her head against his chest. They rode home in silence, Jenna happy to have this time alone to share with Cash.
All too soon, they entered the gates of Twin Oaks. Cash reined in his horse, then jumped down from the wagon. He walked over to Jenna, his hands taking hold of her waist and lifting. Once he set her down, she gazed up into his eyes, his expression unreadable, yet his hold on her hips had tightened some. “You go in. I’ll see to the wagon.”
Jenna didn’t want him to let go his hold. “Aren’t you coming inside?”
Light from the half moon cast shadows on his face, but shadows of doubt entered his eyes as well. “No, better not.”
“It’s early. I’ll make coffee.”
Cash blew out a sharp breath, contemplating, as though there was a war going on inside his head. “Jenna, if I come inside—”
“We’ll have coffee,” Jenna finished for him.
He stared at her for a long moment. “Okay, I’ll be in, in a few minutes.”
Relieved, Jenna smiled then entered her house. She didn’t know what she expected, or why it was so important to her, but she didn’t want her evening with Cash to end.
Jenna set about brewing the real coffee Cash preferred. She stood by the cookstove, watching flames rise up, but her mind wasn’t on Arbuckle’s coffee. Tonight her mind was on Cash, the handsome stranger whose life she’d saved, the gambler, the man who had ridden back into her life, causing chaos and havoc to her heart.
She felt his presence from behind before she actually heard his footsteps. “Jenna, I can’t do this,” he whispered in her ear. His hands once again were on her hips, but she sensed he used them as a brace to anchor her, so that she wouldn’t turn around.
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