Jenny

by Bobbi Smith

  BRIDES OF DURANGO: TESSA

  "Another wonderful read by consummate storyteller Bobbi Smith, Tessa is the second in the Brides of Durango series. Filled with adventure and romance, more than one couple winds up happily-ever-after in this gem."

  BRIDES OF DURANGO: ELISE

  "There's plenty of action, danger and heated romance as the pages fly by in Ms. Smith's exciting first book in this new series. This is exactly what fans expect from Bobbi Smith."

  WESTON'S LADY

  "Bobbi Smith has penned another winner."

  HALF-BREED 'S LADY

  "A fast-paced frying-pan-into-the-fire adventure that runs the gamut of emotions, from laughter to tears. A must-read for Ms. Smith's fans, and a definite keeper."

  OUTLAW'S LADY

  "Bobbi Smith is an author of many talents; one of them being able to weave more than one story.... Ms. Smith creates characters that one will remember for some time to come."

  THE LADY & THE TEXAN

  "An action-packed read with roller coaster adventures that keep you turning the pages. The Lady & The Texan is just plain enjoyable."

  RENEGADE'S LADY

  "A wonderfully delicious `Perils of Pauline' style romance. With dashes of humor, passion, adventure and romance, Ms. Smith creates another winner that only she could write!"

  "Why didn't you tell me ahead of time that you were having doubts about marrying me?"

  "1 thought I was doing the right thing. Marrying you was what Papa wanted."

  "What Papa wanted?" he sneered. "Funny, 1 thought it was what we wanted. I thought you loved me the way 1 loved you. 1 thought you wanted me as much as 1 wanted you."

  Cole crossed the distance between them, his gaze darkening with the power of his intent. He remembered all too well how much he'd desired her. Hell, he was reminded of it every time he looked at her-even now!

  Jenny stood frozen before him, mesmerized by the force of the emotions she saw raging in his eyes. She gasped in surprise as he took her by the shoulders and dragged her hard against him, crushing her to his chest.

  Other books by Bobbi Smith:

  WESTON'S LADY

  HALF-BREED'S LADY

  OUTLAW'S LADY

  FORBIDDEN FIRES

  RAPTURE'S RAGE

  THE LADY & THE TEXAN

  RENEGADE'S LADY

  THE LADY'S HAND

  LADY DECEPTION

  The Brides of Durango series by Bobbi Smith:

  ELISE

  TESSA

  JENNY

  BOBBI SMITH

  1'd like to thank Sarah Burnes, Judy Clain, Lucy Lockley and Martha Radginski of the St. Charles Missouri CityCounty Library District for their help with research.

  Jenny was standing in the vestibule of the church, wearing her full-skirted, lace and satin, pearl-studded bridal gown and veil, and waiting for the music to start so she could walk down the aisle on her father's arm and marry Cole.

  The church was crowded.

  It seemed to Jenny that everyone in Durango was in attendance. The wedding of rich rancher Paul Sullivan's beautiful daughter and rancher Cole Randall, one of the most eligible bachelors in the area, was quite a social occasion. Those who had been invited had shown up in force to witness the nuptials.

  And now it was almost time.

  Today was her wedding day.

  Today she was to marry Cole.

  A terrible sense of unease plagued her. She was realizing, far too late, the seriousness of her situation. If the letter hadn't arrived four days before, she wouldn't have been in this desperate state, but the letter had arrived, and now she had a decision to make. She could delay no longer.

  She had to decide what to do with the rest of her life.

  She could go through with the wedding and marry Cole, or she could follow her lifelong dream and go back East to the exclusive girls' academy in Philadelphia that had finally notified her that she'd been accepted.

  Jenny had applied to the academy over a year before and had waited endlessly for word that she'd been accepted. She had always wanted to further her education. She wanted to travel and see more of the world. After months of waiting with no response, Jenny had interpreted the academy's silence as rejection. Nearly a year passed before she'd completely given up hope of ever being able to live out her dream.

  When Cole proposed, Jenny had accepted.

  It had seemed the right thing to do at the time. She'd known him for what seemed like her whole life ever since she was eight years old and he'd rescued her from being run down by an out-of-control buckboard.

  She cared about Cole.

  She liked Cole.

  She knew he was a good man.

  And so, the wedding had been planned.

  Then, just those few days ago, the notification of her acceptance to the academy had come. The news had thrilled Jenny. Her father, however, had dismissed the prospect of her going away to school without a second thought.

  "I thought you'd put all that nonsense out of your head," her father had said disparagingly. "You're marrying Cole."

  Jenny had tried to explain to him again that she wanted to further her education, to become more than just an ornament on some man's arm.

  Her father, however, had refused to listen to her arguments. He'd insisted that she would never find a better man to marry than Cole.

  Jenny knew he might be right, but she wanted to be sure before she resigned herself to the role of wife for the rest of her life. She had to be certain that her true happiness was there in Durango with Cole.

  The remaining few days had passed far too quickly as Jenny agonized over her future. Now she was confronted with the reality of either marrying Cole or finally accepting the truth that she couldn't go through with the wedding. She realized to her horror that she should have said something sooner, but there could be no turning back the clock. She couldn't change what was past. She could only take charge of her future.

  Jenny was glad that her father had already adjusted her veil. It was a protective shield against the real world, hiding from her father the desperation she was certain was showing in her eyes.

  The realization of what she had to do was vivid in her heart and soul. There could be no delaying or avoiding it any longer. She drew a ragged breath as a shudder wracked her. Now was the time.

  "Are you nervous, sweetheart?" Paul Sullivan asked.

  He'd noticed that Jenny was trembling and wanted to reassure her. He was delighted that her wedding day had finally arrived. Cole was perfect for her. She couldn't have picked a better husband, and once they'd married, the joining of their two ranches the Lazy S and Cole's Branding Iron-would make them one of the biggest ranches in the state. He smiled at the thought, proud of his daughter and the fine match she was making.

  Jenny only nodded.

  "Don't be," Paul said in a calming voice. "The wedding will be over in no time. You'll see."

  Jenny knew true panic as she realized he was right it would be over in no time if she didn't speak up.

  Thoughts of Cole haunted her. She didn't want to hurt him. She cared about him. Cole was tall and handsome, with dark good looks. He was smart, too, having worked tirelessly to build the Branding Iron into a very successful ranch, well known for its fine horses and cattle. Determined and confident, Cole was the kind of man men admired and women adored. He was the kind of man who always got what he wanted, too. And her father was right she probably couldn't find a better husband than Cole.

  The trouble was she didn't want a husband not now. She was too young and had too much living to do!

  The wedding music started.

  Jenny swallowed tightly as her father offered her his arm. She took it, wondering how to handle the situation.

  Did she really dare call the wedding off?

  Th
e church was full of people.

  Did she really dare to leave Cole standing at the altar and walk away while there was still time?

  Cole-

  Was she marrying him because she truly loved him or because it would please her father?

  Again she agonized.

  The few kisses they'd shared had been pleasant enough, but there had always been someone nearby to chaperone them. There had never been a time when she'd been able to relax and truly enjoy his embrace. They had never had more than a few moments alone together once they'd become engaged. Cole had always been the perfect gentleman, respecting her and protecting her.

  Jenny knew that was the way of things. Her reputation had to be protected, but to what end? Was she marrying a man who could truly stir her passion? She didn't know. She'd read some of those dime novel romances, however, and knew how a woman was supposed to feel about the man she was to marry. Right now, she didn't feel that way about Cole.

  How Jenny wished her mother were still alive! Her mother could have talked to her about all her confusing feelings for Cole and maybe helped her to understand herself a little better. But her mother had been dead for over ten years. Jenny had tried to talk to Frances, their housekeeper at the ranch, but the older woman hadn't taken her seriously. Frances had said that she was just having pre-wedding jitters and that everything would be fine once she and Cole were married. Frances thought the world of Cole. Jenny had considered confiding in her widowed Aunt Evelyn, who had come from Philadelphia to attend the wedding, but they didn't really know each other well enough to talk of such deeply intimate things. So here she was alone in her dilemma very alone.

  Jenny had never wanted to hurt Cole, but for her, marriage was a very serious commitment. It would be for the rest of her life.

  Her life

  Jenny realized painfully that she hadn't really even begun to live her life yet and she was about to pledge herself to be Cole's wife to have and to hold until death did them part. She cast a quick, sidelong, nervous glance at her father. He was standing erect beside her, his head held high, his expression one of pride and immense satisfaction as he gazed down at her.

  "Ready, darling?" he asked with real affection, his hand closing over hers where it rested on his forearm.

  Jenny allowed him to draw her down the aisle, though with each step a greater and greater sense of desperation gripped her. She argued with herself, frantically questioning her motives in balking at the last minute.

  And finally she could deny it no longer.

  She knew without a doubt that she had to stop the wedding before she said her vows and became Cole's wife. Once they were married, it would be too late. She would become Jenny Randall and never, ever have the chance to be Jenny Sullivan, to find out what kind of woman she really was.

  Jenny swallowed tightly as she looked up to find Cole watching her from where he stood before the altar. Cole looked intense and very serious. She knew he wanted this wedding. He had told her he loved her and wanted to marry her. Pain at the knowledge that she was going to hurt him ate at her, but she had made her decision: she could not go through the rest of her life living only to please others. She had to stand up here and now and fight for herself and what she wanted.

  Her father stopped before the minister.

  Paul very carefully lifted Jenny's veil. He smiled down at her and kissed her cheek, then stepped back, giving her into Cole's keeping.

  This was the moment.

  Jenny girded herself for what was to come.

  She remembered Cole's vow of love when he'd proposed to her. She wondered if he loved her enough to forgive her for what she was going to do right now.

  Reverend Ford smiled at them and asked in a quiet voice, "Are we ready to begin?"

  "No-" Jenny said in an agonized whisper.

  "Jenny?" Cole said her name quickly, frowning as he took a step toward her.

  Jenny looked up at Cole and saw all his worry and concern for her in his expression. It hurt her to do this, but she knew she couldn't go through with the wedding.

  "I'm sorry, Cole."

  "For what?"

  "I can't marry you."

  "What?" He was shocked.

  "I'm so sorry," she said quickly, nervously, as she backed away from the altar, "but I can't do this. I can't get married. Not now. Not yet. I'm sorry."

  Without another word, Jenny turned and fled back down the aisle, leaving Cole speechless at the altar.

  Those gathered for the celebration watched in disbelief as Jenny disappeared out the front doors of the church. Then a rumble of talk swelled through the crowd as the reality of what had just happened sank in.

  Jenny Sullivan had just walked out on Cole Randall!

  She'd left him standing at the altar!

  Cole started after Jenny. He was confused and an gry and worried about her. Something was wrong, terribly wrong, and he needed to get to the bottom of it. This was Jenny, the woman he'd loved for as long as he could remember. He couldn't imagine what could have happened to cause her to panic this way, but he was determined to find out and put her fears to rest. He loved her and he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

  A strong hand clamped down on Cole's arm, stopping him when he would have given chase.

  "Let me talk to her, Cole," Paul ground out.

  He brushed past the younger man and went after his fleeing daughter.

  Cole remained where he was in the middle of the aisle.

  Jenny ran straight for the hotel where they were staying in town. Rushing past gawking strangers, she entered the lobby and hurried up the staircase to seek the safe haven of her room. She locked the door behind her with a trembling hand, then sat down on the edge of the bed. Her peace lasted only a moment, though, as the force of her father's knock on the door jarred her senses.

  "Jenny! What's wrong? Open this door! Let me in! You've got a whole church full of people waiting for you! We have to get back over there!"

  Getting nervously to her feet, Jenny stared at the closed portal, stalling the inevitable confrontation.

  "Jenny? Are you ill, child? Please-let me in." His tone sounded more worried than angry now.

  With a confidence that was shaky at best, she told herself that if she was brave enough to walk out of the wedding, she was brave enough to face her father's anger. Jenny went to open the door. She stood before him, a woman who knew her own mind.

  "Darling-" Paul charged inside, the look on his face one of concern and fear. "What happened? Are you all right? Are you sick? What is it?"

  "I'm fine, Papa." She was amazed that her voice sounded so calm when there was nothing calm about the way she was feeling.

  "You're fine?" he repeated, confused. "If you're fine, then we have to go back. Cole's waiting for you"

  He said it so matter-of-factly that Jenny almost smiled a bitter smile. He had no idea of what was behind her actions none whatsoever.

  "No, Papa." She remained firm in her conviction. "I'm not going back to the church. It's like I told Cole, I can't marry him. Not today. Not now-"

  "What?" Paul roared at her in disbelief. He was a man used to having his orders obeyed without question. "Now, you listen to me, young lady." He stepped farther into the room, his stance aggressive. "You can't just walk out on your own wedding!"

  She lifted her gaze to his, refusing to back down. "I just did, Papa. I don't want to-"

  "It doesn't matter what you want!" He was all but shouting. "Everything is-"

  "Paul! Listen to yourself!" his sister Evelyn admonished as she came hurrying into the hotel room behind him and shut the door. Evelyn had slipped out the side door of the church when Jenny had fled and she'd come after them. She knew her brother could be dictatorial, and she'd realized her niece was going to need all the moral support she could get. "Of course it matters what Jenny wants."

  Had Paul been less angry, he might have been proud of the strength of will his daughter was showing in standing up to him. Certainly, he was the t
ype of man who always went after what he wanted in life, and right now his daughter was doing the same thing. But Paul was too furious to recognize the familial resemblance. He glanced between the two women, confused and outraged over what was happening.

  "What's going on?" He turned his gaze back to his daughter and waited. "I want an explanation now."

  "I can't go through with the wedding, Papa. I tried. I really did, and I do care about Cole, but-"

  "How could you care about him and leave him at the altar like this?" he roared.

  "Don't you see? That's why I had to do it! It wouldn't be fair to marry him, feeling the way I feel. I'm not ready to be some man's wife. There's so much more I want to do to experience. I want to go to school back East. I want to-"

  "So that's what's behind all this," he snarled. "I should have torn the damned letter up. I never should have let you see it!"

  "Paul! Shame on you," Evelyn scolded; then she looked at her niece. "Are you absolutely certain about this, Jenny?" Her tone was gentle, understanding.

  Jenny nodded, glancing thankfully toward her aunt.

  Evelyn quietly took charge, addressing her brother. "You need to go back to church and let Cole and Reverend Ford know that there will be no wedding taking place today."

  Paul stiffened, his cold-eyed gaze narrowing as he studied his defiant daughter. "You're sure about this?"

  "Yes." Jenny stood her ground, still a bit frightened by the magnitude of what she'd done, and yet certain that she'd made the right decision.

  Without another word, Paul quit the room.

  Cole stared at Paul in disbelief as they stood in the small room at the back of the church. "I have to talk to Jenny myself."

  "I don't know if that's a good idea," Paul cautioned.

  "I love her. I just can't let her walk away from me like this," Cole declared.

  Cole didn't bother to wait for a response from the man who was to be his father-in-law. He didn't care what he or anyone else thought. He wanted Jenny, and he was going after her.

  Leaving the room, Cole was determined to convince Jenny of his devotion. The wedding guests had gone, but Cole was certain the minister would still marry them if he could get Jenny to come back to the church with him.