by Bobbi Smith
"Yes, ma'am." The youth climbed down from the roof and hurried off, leaving her alone with Cole.
Cole decided to take a look at the work they'd been doing. He climbed the ladder to survey their handiwork.
Jenny wasn't sure why he was coming up to the roof, and she took an uneasy step backward to keep the distance between them.
"Does our work meet with your approval?" she asked when she noticed that he seemed to be inspecting what they'd done.
"Not too bad a job," was all he said, though he was impressed that she knew how to repair a roof. "If you're not hiring any new hands and don't need an extra bunkhouse, what are you planning to use this for?"
Jenny had been waiting for just that question. "It's going to be my guest house," she announced with pride. "I've decided to turn the Lazy S into a paying guest ranch."
"A what?"
"A guest ranch," she repeated with dignity. "There are any number of people back East who would willingly pay a lot of money to stay here for a few days."
"Are you crazy? This is a working cattle ranch."
`Exactly, and that's what people want to see. They read about ranches all the time, but few ever get to really experience what it's like in the `Wild West.' They want to understand how a ranch really works. I can give them a taste of that right here on the Lazy S, and I can make money doing it."
"It won't work," he said disparagingly.
"Oh, yes, it will! You'll see. Besides"-she sobered and looked him straight in the eye-"what have I got to lose by trying? I had to come up with a new idea. After what the banker said about how low the cash reserve was, I had to think of a quick way to make some real money."
"Which brings me to the reason why I'm here today," he interrupted her. "The bill I got---"
"Was for the materials I need to transform this bunkhouse into more accommodating quarters for my paying guests," she said finishing his sentence for him. "I know it's a lot of money, but think of it as an investment. I've always heard that when you're in business, you have to spend money to make money."
Cole was staring at Jenny thoughtfully, seeing a side of her he'd never seen before. He'd always known she was an intelligent woman, but he'd never known that she had any business sense.
"And just what makes you think this wild idea of yours is going to make any money?"
"All the talk I heard while I was back in school! If it was any indication of the way people really feel about coming out West, once I start renting the rooms, we're going be full of travelers all year round."
"You really believe there are people who would pay money to stay here?"
"Oh, yes. In fact, I've already written to my friend Rose and invited her to come and visit for a week or so. She's quite the social butterfly in Philadelphia, and once she goes back home and starts to talk about her trip, she'll get the word out nicely for us. Then, once the guests start arriving, the sky's the limit to what we can do at the Lazy S Guest Ranch."
"You really believe that?"
"Yes." She met his gaze straight on. She refused to let him know how afraid she was that he would block her efforts. She knew Cole could stop her if he chose to, and knowing how he really felt about her, she was afraid he would try to ensure her failure. "This is my home, Cole. I can't lose it. I won't lose it. I'm going to do everything in my power to keep it going and to make it a success."
Cole fell silent for a moment, considering the con straints of her financial situation. The bill for supplies was a big one, but her sentiments were so real and so heartfelt that he found he couldn't refuse her. He had serious doubts about her idea, but he knew what he had to do: he would pay the bill out of his own pocket and not mention it to anyone. What Jenny didn't know couldn't hurt her.
"Cole?" she said after a long moment. "Are you going to go along with me on this? I really think I can make it work."
His expression was unreadable as he answered gruffly, "If this is what you really want to try, then I'll do what I can to help you."
"You will?" She stared at him in disbelief, relief and delight rushing through her.
"Yes."
"Thank you! You won't be sorry! You'll see!" she told him, smiling widely at him. She couldn't believe Cole was being so kind and supportive. She'd expected to have to fight him. She almost hugged him, but controlled the impulse.
"I hope not," he muttered under his breath, feeling a bit uncomfortable. Lord knows, he was sorry enough about other dealings he'd had with her.
Tom had returned and was standing at the bottom of the ladder, waiting to climb up and go back to work.
"Come on up, Tom. Despite your boss's objections, I'm going to help you finish the roof. With three of us working on it, we can get it done that much sooner," Cole offered climbing off the ladder to stand on the roof with Jenny.
Jenny was surprised by Cole's offer and glanced quickly at him. "You don't have to help. We can handle it."
For some reason, it irritated him that she didn't seem to want his help.
"Humor me. At least if I'm up here with you, I'll be able to catch you if you start to fall."
He said it so harshly that she took an unconscious step backward. "I'm not going to-"
Even as she started to say it, she stepped on an uneven shingle. Her foot twisted and slipped out from under her. With a gasp, she lost her balance and fell awkwardly. She started to slide toward the edge, certain that she was going to fall completely off the roof.
His worst fear realized, Cole reacted instinctively. In one quick move, he managed to grab Jenny. He hauled her up bodily against him, saving her from certain injury.
"Miss Jenny! Are you all right?" Tom shouted as he scrambled quickly the rest of the way up the ladder.
Jenny couldn't answer right away. Her heart was pounding in her throat as she clutched at Cole. One minute she'd been certain she was going to fall, and the next she'd been swept into the safe haven of Cole's arms.
As her terror slowly gave way, she became aware of more than just his strong arms around her. She realized she was pressed full-length against Cole, her breasts crushed against the hard width of his chest, her thighs tight against his. She was trembling, but this time it wasn't from fear. There was something elemental about being this close to him, and the unexpected power of her reaction to Cole left her confused and unsure.
"Jenny?" Cole said her name slowly, worriedly, as he looked down at her.
Fear had filled him when he'd seen her lose her balance and start to fall. His reaction had been immediate and instinctive, just like his physical reaction to her now. Everyplace she touched him, he ached and burned. He didn't want to release her. He wanted to keep her close. He wanted to hold her and never let her go.
Logic returned, but it still took a herculean effort for Cole to finally set her away from him.
A part of him wanted to hold her longer, to keep her near.
But he didn't.
He told himself to stop fantasizing about Jenny. There was nothing between them. She had made that clear two years ago, and it was going to stay that way now, because that was the way he wanted it to be.
"Thank you, Cole-" Jenny finally whispered, drawing a ragged breath as she steadied herself.
"You're all right?"
"I think so."
"That was close," Tom said nervously as he came to stand with them. He looked up at Cole admiringly. "You saved her."
Cole shrugged, casting one last quick look at Jenny. "You sure you're all right?"
Jenny nodded, her gaze meeting and holding his. For an instant, she was lost in the depths of his intense dark eyes. Cole was such a strong man. And he was handsome, too-definitely more handsome than she'd remembered. She found herself wondering why some other woman hadn't snatched him up.
Jenny vaguely realized that she couldn't recall Cole ever holding her close like that before. Their time together two years ago had been very closely chaperoned. As she thought about it, Jenny realized that she and Cole had never really had mu
ch time alone during their engagement. She realized, too, that although they had known each other for years, she had never known him as a man. They had always been friends. The startling realization made her frown, and she tore her gaze away from his, lest he see the confusion in her eyes.
"We'd better get to work if we're going to finish today," she said, distracting herself.
Jenny did not want to reflect too deeply on what had just happened. In the back of her mind, though, she knew there was no denying that she'd been stunned by the sensual awareness that had rocketed through her when she'd been crushed against Cole's hard, lean body. She reached for the bucket of nails that Tom had brought with him, ready to go back to work.
"Yes, ma'am," Tom answered.
"I'm ready if you are," Cole told her, his businesslike tone completely changing the mood that had momentarily existed between them. "Let's go to work."
Tom didn't know what had transpired between the two of them, and he didn't really care as long as Miss Jenny wasn't hurt. He grabbed his own hammer and started pounding. With Cole's help, he knew they could easily be finished that afternoon.
Just then Evelyn and Frances came hurrying out of the house.
"Jenny! Were you hurt? What happened?" Evelyn called to her niece as they ran to the bunkhouse. "Frances and I saw you fall, and we were worried about you!"
"I'm fine, thanks to Cole," Jenny answered, a little embarrassed by their attention as she cast a sidelong glance at Cole working beside her.
"That was quick thinking on your part, Cole," Evelyn said earnestly, smiling at him. "Thank you. Jenny could have been seriously injured if you hadn't been there to save her."
"I'm just glad I was able to help," he replied.
He didn't look at Jenny, though he was very much aware of her nearness. He was glad she hadn't been hurt, but if she'd had any sense at all, she wouldn't have been up there on the roof in the first place. Even now as they continued to work side by side, he would have felt much better if she'd been down with the other women where he could be sure she was safe.
"How much more do you have to do up there? Are you going to be much longer?" Frances asked.
"It'll probably take about another hour with the three of us working," Jenny answered.
"Well, that's perfect. I was getting ready to start fixing dinner, so, Cole, why don't you stay on and eat with us tonight?" Frances invited.
Cole knew the smart thing to do would be to finish the roof and get out of there. The farther away from Jenny he stayed, the better, but for some reason he found himself accepting Frances's invitation. He told himself it wasn't all that unusual for him to eat there at the Lazy S.He had often stayed for dinner when Paul was alive.
"I'd like that, Frances. Thanks."
Cole didn't know why he'd agreed to stay. He'd come to the Lazy S strictly to talk finances with Jenny, had ended up working on the roof, and was now obligated to spend even more time in her company over dinner.
And spending time with Jenny was something he didn't want to do.
Again, Cole wondered why Paul had put him in this position; he must have guessed how awkward it would be. Paul could just as easily have picked Andrew Marsden or Lyle Stevens to do the job, especially since he'd known how Cole felt about Jenny.
Thoughts of Paul brought Cole up short, and he immediately regretted the resentment he'd been feeling. Sadness filled him. It would have been easy to stand by and let the Lazy S go under. Then he could have bought it up cheap, and Jenny would leave. But Cole took the job Paul had entrusted to him seriously. His friend had known the ranch was in trouble and needed his help. That was why Paul had chosen him, and Cole would do his best, no matter how difficult it was to be near Jenny.
Cole worked on the roof at a tireless pace. He focused on the job before him, trying to ignore the fact that Jenny was always near-the curve of her hip always visible from the corner of his eye. Ignoring her was proving to be next to impossible-especially after what had transpired earlier but Cole had always prided himself on being a man of iron will and self-control. As physically attractive as he might find Jenny to be, she meant nothing to him. The woman he had thought he loved years ago, never really existed. He was there helping out because it was what Paul would have wanted him to do.
When the final repair had been made, Cole stood up, more than ready to call it a day.
"Do you need any help getting down?" he asked Jenny, holding out his hand to her as she carefully made her way toward the ladder carrying her tools.
"No, I'll be fine."
He found himself frowning when she dodged his outstretched hand. Cole couldn't decide whether he was glad she hadn't wanted his help or irritated because she'd so obviously avoided his touch.
After Jenny had descended the ladder, Cole let Tom go down ahead of him. When at last Cole climbed down, Jenny had already started off to the main house; that was fine with him. He stopped at the water pump to clean up before following her inside.
"Come on in, Cole. We'll be ready to eat as soon as I get these last few dishes on the table," Evelyn called to him from the dining room as he came in the front door.
The aroma from Frances's home cooking was mouthwatering. For all his misgivings about staying for dinner, Cole would never regret taking the opportunity to eat one of her meals. She was one of the best cooks around. He entered the dining room to find the two older women bustling around the table.
"Jenny went upstairs to freshen up. She'll be down in a few minutes. Sit down and relax. You've been working hard," Evelyn invited as she sat down at the table.
"Thanks." He took the seat across from her, with Frances on his left.
"Did you finish the roof?" Evelyn asked.
"It's all done. Of course, Jenny won't know for sure how good a job we did until the next rain," he said with a grin.
"I'm sure it'll be fine," Frances joined in. "It's going to be interesting to see how the interior turns out."
"It's a wonderful idea," Evelyn said, and then looked at Cole. "Did she tell you what she intends to do inside?"
"She only mentioned that she was turning it into a guest house of some sort," Cole answered.
"She's going to partition the house one side will be for men and one for women. Each side will have its own private entrance. That will guarantee the guests' complete privacy."
"So Jenny's really serious about doing this?" he asked thoughtfully.
"Very," Evelyn confirmed. "And she's right about the very real interest people back East have in the Western way of life. The idea of a guest ranch is clever and different. If she lets the right people know what we have to offer here in the way of accommodations and good food and hospitality, I honestly think she can make some decent money at it."
Cole heard the enthusiasm in her voice. "I hope you're right. She's investing a lot of money in fixing up the place."
"If hard work is any sign of ultimate success, then I think we're going to be rich," Jenny said with a laugh as she came into the room to join them.
Cole glanced her way and was surprised by the sense of disappointment that filled him at the sight of her sedate day gown. He'd been expecting her to return still clad in her work pants. He grew irritated with himself for even noticing what she was wearing. It didn't matter if she looked like a sophisticated woman wearing a gown or if she looked like a woman who could take charge of any situation and run things single-handedly in her Western wear. What mattered was that he knew how fickle she could be. At the thought, his heart hardened against her.
"I can't remember the last time I was this tired... or this sore," she went on.
"But look at what you've accomplished already," Frances said. "Louie is going to be so impressed when he gets back from working the herd and sees what you've done."
"I want to get the place up and running as quickly as possible. The sooner we open up for paying guests, the faster we can get the Lazy S back on its feet financially."
"Shall we say grace?" Evelyn prompted, fold
ing her hands before her and waiting for the others to do the same. "Bless us, Lord, for these gifts from Thy bounty, through Christ, our Lord. And thank you for a friend like Cole, who is so kind and generous with his help. Amen."
Cole echoed Evelyn's "Amen." He was surprised and touched by her words. He doubted that Jenny agreed with her, though. She probably wanted him to stay as far away as possible for as long as possible. When and if she ever really did need him, it would probably be only for cash.
"How soon do you think you'll have all the work on the bunkhouse completed, so you can start taking in these `guests'?" Cole asked Jenny as he helped himself from the bowl of steaming potatoes that Frances passed to him.
"If everything goes as planned, I should have the work done in less than two weeks," Jenny answered. "There's enough extra furniture here in the main house to furnish the bunkhouse comfortably, although I will need to buy some new bedding if that's all right?" She glanced at him, fearing he might deny her the needed funds.
"Get what you think you'll need," Cole told her as he made a mental note to watch for another bill.
She refused to thank him for giving her permission to spend her own money, but she did nod in his direction. It irked her to have to answer to anyone this way, but it especially bothered her to get permission from Cole. Still, he was being amazingly cooperative, and she appreciated that.
"Have you been thinking about the kind of activities you want to arrange for the guests?" Evelyn asked.
"Horseback riding would appeal to both men and women. I think the prospect of hunting and fishing trips will bring in the most men."
"Let's just hope they know which end of a gun to use," Cole put in with a grin.
"Just because they'll be Eastern gentlemen doesn't mean they won't know how to shoot," Jenny said in defense of the men she imagined would be frequenting her ranch. "There are any number of places I could take them where they might find suitable game."
As she considered the best locations on the ranch to hunt in, an image of the high pasture came to her, and with it came the memory of her father's accident. Her excitement about her plans vanished as her mood suddenly darkened.