by Bobbi Smith
It was late in the day as Cole Randall sat at the desk in Paul's study staring down at the ledger open before him. He glanced up at the mantel clock again, noting with irritation that only ten minutes had passed since the last time he'd checked. Louie was due back with Jenny at any time now-if she'd made it into town on the train today.
Cole was tense, not relishing the upcoming reunion. It was difficult enough knowing that he was go ing to have to deal with Jenny that very day, but over the last several hours as he'd started reviewing the ranch's finances, he'd come to realize just how bad things had gotten there. He'd known that times had been hard for Paul; he just hadn't known how hard.
"They're coming!"
The sound of Frances's call interrupted Cole's thoughts. He swore silently as he slammed the ledger shut. There would be time for dealing with the figures later. Right now he had something more serious to attend to.
Jenny was there
Cole shoved himself away from the desk and stood up to make his way toward the front of the house.
As the buckboard topped the low rise and the twostory ranch house and outbuildings came into view in the valley below them, Jenny's heart was filled with joy. If only her father had been there waiting for her, the moment would have been perfect, but, tragically, he wasn't. She remained quiet as they crossed the remaining distance and drew to a stop before the house.
"You're here," Frances cried as she came hurrying out of the house and down the front porch steps, her arms flung wide.
Jenny climbed down from the buckboard and was immediately enveloped in Frances's loving embrace. Jenny returned her hug warmly. "I've missed you, Frances."
"We've missed you, too, little girl," Frances said lovingly, hugging her all the more tightly to her heart. "You've been gone too long-much too long." When at last she freed Jenny from her embrace, she still grasped her hand tightly. "I think I may just hold on to you forever and never let you go again."
"I think I may just let you," Jenny replied, and was embraced one last quick time.
"Hello, Miss Evelyn," Frances greeted the other woman. "Louie and the boys can take care of your things. You both come on inside now with me, and we'll get you settled in." She kept a protective arm around Jenny's waist, drawing her toward the porch stairs.
Jenny stopped and glanced off toward the small grove of trees in the distance.
"No - I don't want to go inside yet." she said to Frances. "I have to go see my father--"
Frances understood. "Louie told you we buried him with your mother?"
"Yes," she said softly, sadness revealed in her eyes as she looked over at her aunt. "I'll be back in a little while. You go on inside."
Evelyn and Frances watched in silence as Jenny made her way toward the small family grave site.
As Jenny drew near the burial plot, she could see the freshly turned earth and the marker that were the final proof of her father's passing. A sob tore from her throat as she stood over the grave, and she finally gave in to the devastating sorrow that she'd held at bay for so long.
There could be no hiding from the truth any longer. Jenny dropped to her knees, her hands clutched before her. Her keening was heart-wrenching as she faced the truth and told her father good-bye.
"Cole?" Evelyn blurted out as she stepped inside the house and came face to face with him in the hallway. He was as tall and handsome as ever, and her surprise at finding him there was immense. She could just imagine how shocked Jenny was going to be when she found out that Cole was waiting for her.
"Hello, Evelyn," he said. Then looking past her down the hallway, he asked, "Didn't Jenny come with you?"
"Yes... yes, she's here," she answered, feeling as if she were babbling.
"Jenny went out to the grave," Frances explained as she followed Evelyn indoors. She knew that Cole had been waiting all afternoon for Jenny's arrival. "I'm sure she'll be in in a little while."
"It's good to see you again, Evelyn. I just wish it were under better circumstances. I'm sorry about Paul."
"Thank you," she answered, still confused by his presence but appreciating his sentiment.
"I'll be in the study if you should need me, Frances."
He retreated to Paul's study and went to look out the window. In the distance he could see the small cemetery and could make out Jenny kneeling beside her father's grave. He allowed himself to feel sorry for her, but only for a moment; then he banished any gentle feeling toward her. It was all well and good that she'd shown up now, but where had she been during the long, lonely months when Paul had been here alone missing her?
There was no room in Cole's heart for any tender emotion where Jenny was concerned. She would get precious little sympathy from him. She had chosen to leave the ranch and stay away all this time. Only her father's death had drawn her back. Cole fully expected her to sell out to him immediately, so she could return quickly to the life she obviously loved so much back East. He would be glad to see her go. Cole turned away in disgust from the window, not looking forward to the reunion to come.
Jenny slowly got to her feet and wiped the tears from her eyes.
It was true.
Her father was dead. She would never see him again-never hug him again-never have the chance to tell him she loved him again
She drew a sobbing, ragged breath and struggled to pull herself together. It wouldn't be easy. She had loved her father dearly and would miss him always.
With a heavy heart, Jenny looked around her. She stared out across the valley and then let her gaze sweep across the beauty of the mountains. This was her home. She'd enjoyed her time in Philadelphia. She'd excelled in school and had traveled extensively, even taking a grand tour with a group from the academy, but now she realized that this was where she belonged. Her heart, her life, was here on the Lazy S.
In that moment, she made her decision. No matter what Aunt Evelyn wanted her to do, she wasn't going back.
Jenny gave a determined lift of her chin as she made her way toward the house.
She was home.
She was staying.
The house looked warm and welcoming, quiet and peaceful. There was no one around outside. Louie had already carried all their bags indoors and driven the buckboard off to the stable.
Jenny's heart ached as she climbed the porch steps and let herself in. She could hear the sound of voices coming from the back of the house and started down the hall. A sense of warmth and love surrounded her, embracing her.
Home...How could she have stayed away so long?
And then Cole stepped out of the study into the hallway, blocking her way.
Jenny gasped and took a step back, startled. "Cole!"
"Hello, Jenny."
His voice was deep and mellow, and a shiver of awareness ran down her spine. She blinked, staring up at him, momentarily speechless.
Of all the things Jenny had imagined happening to her upon her return home, finding Cole in her father's study had not been one of them. He was taller than she remembered, and his shoulders seemed broader. He was as handsome as ever with his dark hair and dark eyes, and there was an aura of power, maturity, and control about him now. His was a commanding presence, and he seemed to fill the entire hallway. She took an unconscious step backward.
"I'm sorry about your father," he said quietly. "He was a good man."
"Yes... yes, he was," she stammered, finally managing to pull herself together enough to speak. She couldn't imagine what he was doing in her house.
"How was your trip?" Cole asked.
He found himself staring down at Jenny and was irritated by the realization that she had matured into a stunning woman. Her hair was smoothed back into a bun at the nape of her neck in a style that on another woman would have been severe. On Jenny, though, it gave her a regal look, emphasizing the classic beauty of her features. She wore a sedate traveling gown, but even so clad, there was no disguising the feminine grace of her figure.
Something deep and elemental stirred within Co
le, but he fiercely denied it.
He harshly reminded himself that this was Jenny the woman who had left him standing at the altar the woman who'd left him open to public ridicule.
Any momentary attraction he'd felt for her vanished as he hardened his heart. He would have to deal with her, true. He couldn't avoid it, but he would make sure that their dealings were strictly business. Then she would be gone.
"The trip was fine," she answered quickly, his unexpected appearance embarrassing and unsettling her. "Cole what are you doing here?"
"Louie told me you would be arriving today, and I needed to speak with you."
"About what?" She couldn't imagine what they had to say to each other. It would have been better, less awkward, if they'd never seen each other again.
"If you'll come into the study with me and sit down for a moment, I'll explain." He motioned toward the doorway behind him.
Frances and Evelyn had heard them talking, and they appeared at the far end of the hallway just then.
"You're back?" Evelyn was surprised to find Jenny and Cole in conversation.
"Yes, but Cole needs to talk to me for a moment, so I'll be with him in the study."
The two women disappeared back into the kitchen as Jenny followed Cole into the room that had been her father's haven.
The study embraced her with nearly overpowering memories of her father. From the masculine scent of his leather-bound books to the sight of his massive desk and chair, nowhere else in the house was her father's presence more evident than in this room. The study had been his special place. It had been the place where he'd gone to work, the place where he'd gone to read, the place where he'd spent long hours teaching her how to play a serious game of chess. Tears burned in her eyes, and the ache of missing him grew in her heart.
Jenny moved farther into the room. She couldn't imagine what Cole was doing at her home or what business he could possibly have with her. She resented his being there.
Cole waited until Jenny had come all the way inside the room, then closed the study door behind her. He gestured toward a chair before the desk.
"Please, sit down."
Jenny was taken aback by the fact that Cole was telling her what to do in her own home. She sat down without comment, though, just wanting to get this conversation over with as quickly as possible. They had parted under terrible circumstances, and, though he had been nothing but polite since they'd come face to face, she could well imagine what his true feelings were toward her. It would be best if he would just say whatever he had to say and then leave.
"I trust you've been well?" Cole asked casually as he sat down at the desk and faced her.
"I was until the news about Papa came." Jenny's answer was terse. She certainly didn't want to make small talk with Cole, and she was greatly irritated that he'd taken it upon himself to sit at her father's desk as if he had the right.
Just who did he think he was?
"Your father's death was a horrible thing, and that's what I need to talk with you about."
Cole gave up trying to be cordial and got down to business. She was being so cold that he was more than ready to see her board the eastbound train and head back the way she'd come the sooner, the better.
"It was important that I meet you here today be cause I needed to make you aware of some of the provisions in your father's will."
"Didn't he have a lawyer who handled all this?"
"Yes, Andrew Marsden, and yesterday Mr. Marsden sent word to me to meet him at his office. I made the trip into town and spoke with him at length."
"About what?" she asked cautiously.
"Marsden informed me that your father had made some changes in his will a little over a year ago changes that no one else was ever made aware of"
"What kind of changes?" She suddenly had a terrible feeling about what was to come.
"Your father had directed Marsden to make me the executor of the estate."
"He what?"
"According to the terms your father set down, I am to be in control of everything until you turn twentyfive years old or get married or decide to sell the ranch, whichever comes first."
Jenny stared at him in disbelief. Her father had named Cole the executor?
"But you're not even family," she protested. Even as she said it, she was a bit embarrassed, for she realized that they could very well have been man and wife right now had she not walked out on their wedding.
"I pointed that out to Mr. Marsden, but he said your father was most explicit in the terms of the will. We can arrange a meeting with Mr. Marsden tomorrow if you'd like. He can go over the will with you then, so everything can be straightened out."
"Can you be removed as executor? Surely that was some kind of mistake on my father's part," she remarked, hoping it was possible.
She couldn't imagine what her father had been thinking when he'd chosen Cole to run things. She was perfectly capable of taking charge of the ranch. Hadn't she just proven that by going back East to school? She was an educated woman, a woman full grown, and she didn't need anyone to take care of her or oversee her interests.
Cole stared at her, and if it were possible, the look in his eyes turned even colder.
"I had nothing to do with this, Jenny. Your father specifically set things up this way. Marsden will explain that to you when we meet with him. I didn't know anything about being named executor until yesterday, and believe me, I am not thrilled with the arrangement either."
His words lashed at her, and she paled.
Cole hated her.
"I would much rather have your father alive and well and here with us right now, but that's not possible," Cole continued harshly. "It was his request that I do this. He's the one who wanted me to take charge of the estate and see that things are handled properly. I will respect that request."
"I see."
"If you're agreeable, handling the estate shouldn't prove too difficult. We should be able to conclude most of the business in just a few days, I would think."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm more than willing to buy the Lazy S from you. Name your price. We can let Marsden handle all the paperwork, and then you can be on your way."
Jenny stiffened at his cold, calculating statement. She glared at him as she replied, "And just what makes you think that I'm prepared to sell?"
"You can't very well run the Lazy S from Philadelphia."
"And who said I was going back to Philadelphia?"
"Well, since you haven't bothered to come back here for the last two years..."
Cole's accusation hit a nerve with Jenny, and she lifted her gaze to his, her expression challenging and angry. "I have no intention of leaving again. I've come back home, and I plan to stay."
It was the first time she'd said it out loud, but now that she had, she knew it was the right thing to do. Aunt Evelyn was going to be shocked by her decision, but it was her decision to make. As much as she'd enjoyed her time in Philadelphia, this was where she was meant to be. This was where she belonged.
Cole stared at her in open irritation. He'd known that dealing with her wouldn't be easy, but he'd never imagined that she would decide to stay on at the ranch. He'd thought she would come home, take one look around, and leave again just as fast as she could. Certainly, she'd shown no interest in being here before. But now, if she didn't sell out to him, he would be forced to work with her until she married or turned twenty-five, and that was years away. He wanted to swear in frustration.
"Let's meet with Mr. Marsden tomorrow afternoon. The sooner I speak with him, the better," Jenny told him. "And while I appreciate your offer for the Lazy S, the ranch is not for sale. I'm back, and I intend to take over and run things just like my father did."
Cole was tempted to tell her about her dire financial situation right then and there to discourage her, but he held back. Tomorrow would be time enough for her to find out what bad financial shape the ranch was in. If she heard it from him tonight, she might think he was l
ying or exaggerating just to anger her, but if it came straight from Marsden, she would have to face the truth. Then maybe she would change her mind and sell out to him and leave.
The last thing Cole wanted was to be forced to deal with Jenny on a regular basis until she was twentyfive-and if she stayed and tried to take over the everyday running of the ranch, that was exactly what would happen. Even though she had been raised on the ranch, she was a woman, and some of the ranch hands might have a problem with working for a female.
"I'll set things up with the lawyer for tomorrow afternoon, and I'll meet you at his office." Cole stood up, ready to leave, wanting to get away. He deliber ately did not offer to accompany her into town. He was certain she could find her own way into Durango.
"That will work out just fine," she agreed, rising, too, to see him out. She could tell by his surly expression that he wasn't pleased with the way things were going. "I am sorry that this has been forced upon you."
"Believe me, so am I, but it's what your father wanted. I'm doing it for him," he said curtly as he walked toward the door. "I'll see you in town."
Jenny followed him from the study, but he strode down the hall and out of the house without looking back. She closed the front door and walked slowly back into the study. She was standing just inside the doorway when Evelyn found her.
"Is everything all right, dear?" Evelyn asked.
"I'm not sure-"
"What's wrong? Cole didn't try to cause any trouble, did he?" She had been worried about Jenny running into Cole again; finding him here at the house had been disturbing.
"Papa made Cole the executor of the estate," she explained.
"He did? But why?"
"I don't know. Whenever Papa came to visit, he rarely mentioned Cole, and when he did, it was only in passing. I know he always liked him, but I had no idea that he would do something like this to me."