“What were you expecting? Death and murder? Romance and treason?” His smile grew. “Typical city girl, making assumptions. I happen to like the classics.”
Jenny laughed. “You’ve got me there. I honestly didn’t take you for the book type at all. I just figured you’d be reading something more . . . country? Like a book on the life cycle of fireflies?”
Hank snorted and brought the book to Jenny. “Do you need me to find something more adventurous? I can check upstairs for a murder mystery.”
Jenny smiled. “No. This is perfect. Thank you.” She opened the book and began to read, grateful for any reason not to stare at the man sitting across the room from her. Before long, she was caught up in Alice’s adventures. Hank and the sunburn disappeared, and Jenny let her imagination wander through a world of talking animals, magic potions, and a queen with temper problems.
Chapter 6
Over the next week and a half, Jenny’s face evolved into a truly scary sight. Skin peeled off in large sections, leaving tender patches of new skin underneath. Her face looked like it had been through a battle, but the pain faded to just an occasional twinge.
Thankfully, after the evening of mandatory babysitting, Hank seemed to be avoiding Jenny. He showed up for meals, scarfing down his food before hustling off to his next job. The relief of not having to force awkward conversation with Hank was just as healing as the generous amounts of aloe vera that she applied to her face each day. His blunt conversations had a way of making her face involuntarily scrunch up, which always left her skin throbbing.
Working around Jo Jo, Jenny could see a little bit of what Hank had been referring to when he mentioned her health. The years were finally beginning to catch up with the older woman. When Jo Jo walked with Jenny to the garden, she took slow steps, and she had to stop to lean against the fence to catch her breath before they were halfway there.
“Are you feeling okay, Grandma?” Jenny had asked.
Jo Jo’s breath was clipped when she answered. “Sorry, dear. I just don’t move as quickly as I used to.”
“Don’t apologize. It’s a beautiful day. I’m not in any hurry.” Jenny leaned against the fence. “Besides, spending time with you makes me happy.”
Jo Jo bumped her hip against Jenny’s side. “You are too sweet to me. Now, what should we make for dinner?”
“How about spaghetti?”
“That sounds perfect.”
“I call dibs on making the garlic bread.”
Jenny had tried to take over as many of the household tasks as she could. Scrubbing toilets and mopping floors were easy to wrangle from Jo Jo. The cooking was a little more difficult. It was Jo Jo’s happy place, and she protected the kitchen like a brooding mother hen. Still, Jenny tried to help with as much of the prep work as Jo Jo would allow.
Evenings were quiet on the ranch. Jo Jo went to bed by 8:00 and Jenny pulled out her computer to work. She was technically on a sabbatical, but she logged into the system every night to keep tabs on her clients. Shawn was handling the Jackson Corp account, but Jenny didn’t want anything to slip through his fingers. All he had to do was keep his eye out for the perfect piece of land and it wouldn’t hurt if she was looking too. If they could get a bid in first, and make it the highest, Jackson Corp would most likely be able to start building within the year. That would guarantee a promotion for her.
On cooler nights, Jenny cracked open the window and let the breeze dance through her eyelet curtains. She put her face right by the open slot and closed her eyes, breathing in the fresh country air. Then she’d prop her laptop up on the wide windowsill and watch as the sun slowly set behind the hills.
Although the ranch was gorgeous, Jenny missed her friends fiercely. Living in the country had its perks, but she felt overwhelmed by the quiet at times. In her almost two weeks of living here, she hadn’t heard a single car horn. She couldn’t believe that she actually missed the sound of traffic along with the hustle and bustle of people.
A shrill ringing startled Jenny out of her thoughts. Her face lit up when she saw who was on the other end of the video chat. “Hi Kate! I miss you.” Bright colors swirled in the background behind Kate’s head. “Um, where exactly are you?” Jenny asked.
“Sit tight. We’re moving to another spot so we can hear you better.” The screen was a mess, swinging wildly from filming the ceiling to settling on Kate’s pink sequined shoes.
“We?”
“Yeah. Shawn’s here, too.” On cue, Shawn grabbed the phone from Kate, his face filling the screen entirely. His cheeks were flushed, and his perfectly styled hair was falling out of place.
“Hey girl. How’s ranch life?” Shawn’s voice was breathless, and a deep bass thumped somewhere in the background.
Jenny took her phone and sat on the windowsill. She turned the screen so her friends could see the sunset. “It’s great. It looks like I’m missing the party, though. Where are you? I don’t recognize it.”
Kate squished her face next to Shawn’s. “Do you remember that dance club on 9th Avenue that we always wanted to check out?” Kate was shouting over the music.
“You don’t mean the members only, invitations mandatory or you’d get bounced at the door, club?”
Shawn scanned the room and then looked back at Jenny. “Yep. I met someone on the train today who had an invitation for tonight. We hit it off, and he let us in.”
“He? You met someone and didn’t tell me about it?” If they were at the office, Jenny would have heard about him minutes after it happened.
Shawn looked around quickly and then covered his mouth. “I may have been playing along for the invite. Kate and I have been dodging him all evening.”
“You guys are the worst.” Oh, how she missed them.
Kate whispered into the phone. “Jenny, I wish you were here. Let me tell you, this dance floor is full of some hotties.”
“I’m so jealous. I can’t believe you finally got an invite the one time I’m not around to tag along.” Dancing was another item to add to the list of things she missed.
“Did you guys meet any keepers yet?” she asked.
The screen went blank. Jenny checked the phone, but the call was still connected. “Shawn? Kate?”
A few seconds later, her friends were back. She smiled, her heart aching to be there.
“You guys should go. Dance. Mingle. Meet cute people. And then call me later to tell me all about it.”
Shawn stared into the screen. “I miss your face.” He looked up, startled, as a hand clamped down on his shoulder. “And that’s my cue. I promised Bradley here a dance. Hugs and kisses.”
“Bye, Shawn.”
The picture on the screen shook, and then Kate was filling the space.
“Kate, you should go, too.”
“But I want to hear about you. How is the ranch?”
Jenny didn’t know how to answer without bursting into tears. Tears would make Kate worry, and Jenny refused to ruin her night. “It’s absolutely breathtaking here. Grandma Jo Jo is even better than I imagined. I feel like I am able to breathe again for the first time in a long time.”
“But?” The music in the background was competing with Kate’s voice.
“It’s nothing . . .” Jenny trailed off, unsure of what to say. It was pretty much perfect, except for a certain ranch hand who made her insides flutter and burn with rage at the same time. “Go. Dance. We can catch up tomorrow.”
Kate laughed. “All right. I love you. I want to hear about everything soon.”
“Let me know if you meet anyone cute.”
“Right back at you, babe. Love you.” With that, the screen went dark. Jenny rubbed her forehead with her hand. Between the three friends, someone deserved to find a happily ever after. Unfortunately for her, choices on the ranch were non-existent. Louis was too old, and Hank was just as aloof as when she first arrived. She kept waiting for the moment he’d relax, but so far all he did was avoid her.
Movement outside the windo
w caught Jenny’s attention. A shadowed figure was racing across the yard, making a beeline for the house. The front door banged open, and Hank’s voice bellowed up the stairs. “Anyone still awake? It’s time.”
Jenny wanted to ignore the man, but if she didn’t shut him up, he was going to wake Jo Jo. She pulled a robe over her pajamas and ran down the stairs. “Are you trying to wake up the entire house?”
Hank looked at her, his face drawn with worry. “Oh good. You’re up. I need your help.” He headed down the hallway to the tall cupboards at the end, banging the doors open. Rummaging around, he grabbed a handful of towels and shoved them towards Jenny.
Jenny tried to shush him. “Can you keep it down? Jo Jo is asleep.” She held the towels, unsure what to do. Typical Hank, only worrying about himself. “What is the emergency, anyway?”
Hank pulled out a box of gloves and grabbed the towels back, heading towards the door. “It’s Bree. She’s having the baby right now.”
Goosebumps rose on Jenny’s arms. “Shouldn’t you get Louis?”
“I tried. He’s already gone for the night, and he’s not answering his phone.” Hank paused in the open doorway. “Please. I really need another set of hands.”
Jenny looked at the ceiling and took a deep breath to steady her nerves. Then she pulled on her boots and followed behind Hank. He took such large steps, Jenny had to run to keep up, her satin robe flapping in the wind behind her. Her feet were heavy as she ran through the dark. Helping with a delivery? That was a bad idea.
Chapter 7
When they reached the stable doors, Hank slowed down. He held a finger to his lips as they quickly but quietly walked to the farthest stall. Guttural moans came from Bree, who paced in circles around her pen, her sides heaving. Small bits of foam flecked her mouth. A carpet of clean hay surrounded her, piled high to form a comfortable place for her to give birth. Bree kicked at the hay, rearranging the piles. Then she dropped to the ground, rolling back and forth before standing up once more to resume her pacing.
The sight of Bree’s discomfort sent chills down Jenny’s spine. Bree was in severe pain, and Jenny had no idea how she was supposed to help with that. Hank should have woken up Jo Jo. She handed the towels to him and turned to leave, her legs shaking. Hank placed a hand on her arm, his touch sending warmth that trailed after the ice in her veins. He turned her back toward the stable.
“Don’t go. It’s almost time.”
Jenny held up her hands to show Hank how much they were shaking. “I shouldn’t be here. I don’t know the first thing about birthing a horse.”
“But Bree does. Her body is doing what it needs to right now.”
“Then why do you need me here?” She closed her eyes, trying to shut out the sight of Bree and her heaving body, but the grunts of labor still punctuated the air. She opened her eyes and looked at Bree, who continued to pace.
“The baby is close to coming. Our job is to watch to make sure everything goes well.”
The grunting was getting louder from Bree, every cry a dagger to Jenny’s ears. “So, how about you watch the birth, and I’ll come by in the morning to see the baby.” She stepped back, keeping an eye on Bree in case the horse suddenly got super animal strength and leaped out of the pen.
Hank grabbed her arm. “Jenny. You need to stay. There is a chance of complications with every birth. If something goes wrong, I’m going to need an extra set of hands.”
Bree circled a final time and then lay on the ground, the intensity of her contractions speeding up. More foam spat out from her mouth. Hank tugged gently on Jenny’s arm. “Come on. It’s time.” He reached out to unlatch the door.
With a yelp, Jenny ducked beside the tackle box.
“What on earth are you doing?”
“I’m hiding so she’ll attack you first when she charges out.”
Hank snorted. “Attack us? I think you’re giving Bree a bit too much credit. She’s too focused on having her baby to worry about us.” He reached a hand out toward Jenny. “You can do this. Let’s go.” He grabbed a couple pairs of gloves off the pile and draped them over the door.
Her entire body shaking, Jenny let Hank lead her into the stable. She took a deep breath, her lungs filling with air. “Okay. Where do you need me to be?”
“For now, we’re just going to stand over here. Do you see how she has settled down in that one spot?”
Jenny nodded.
“She’s getting ready to push the baby out.” Hank moved a little more hay to Bree’s backside, making a soft landing spot for the foal. Bree’s sides were heaving, the contractions coming one on top of the other. She moaned loudly, her body pulsing with a contraction, and two hooves appeared, covered in a thick white film. Hank pulled on his gloves and ran to Bree’s side. He grabbed the foal’s legs and held them steady while he waited for another contraction.
As Jenny watched, the foal’s head pushed through the birth canal, a dark head encased in the slick membrane. Hank gently pulled on the front legs, trying to ease the horse out.
“Doesn’t that hurt her?” Jenny inched closer to watch, horror and fascination coursing through her body.
“Honestly, yes. Bree isn’t feeling very good right now.”
Hank grabbed a knife from his back pocket and flipped it open, using the blade to cut through the thick membrane until the foal’s nose was free. Jenny’s heart soared as she watched the horse breathe in air for the first time.
Bree continued to labor, her flank drenched with sweat, but the baby didn’t move. After a couple of contractions, Hank turned to Jenny. “This is where I need your help. Put on a pair of gloves.”
Sucking in a deep breath, Jenny pulled on the plastic gloves that went almost to her elbows. She knelt down by Hank’s side, casting a wary glance at Bree’s rear legs, which were a little too close for comfort. “Now what?”
“Grab the foal’s head and help me guide the shoulders out.”
Jenny’s hands began to shake. “Did you forget who you were talking to? I have no idea what to do.”
In response, Hank placed Jenny’s hands on each side of the tiny foal’s head. “Just do what I do.”
Nodding slightly, Jenny tried to focus on the foal in front of her and not her racing heart. “You know you’re crazy trusting me with this, right?”
“Wait for a contraction and then—"
Bree grunted loudly, her body pulsing once more.
“—now!”
There was resistance when Jenny pushed the foal’s chin down, her own head inches from Hank’s. She followed his movements, pulling when he pulled. With a loud squelch, the foal slid free in a wave of fluids that soaked the bottom of Jenny’s robe. “That was perfect. Now go stand by the door.” Hank pushed the membrane over the foal’s back and then stepped back to stand by Jenny.
Neither horse in the stable moved. Jenny’s eyes filled with tears while she watched the mother and baby, both stretched out in the hay. “Are they okay?”
Hank nodded and pushed open the door. “Give them a minute. They both did something really hard.”
Bree’s sides heaved again, her body working to expel the placenta. With a small grunt, she surged to her feet, craning her head around to look at the small foal nestled between her legs. She leaned down and began to lick the baby, gently nudging him to his feet.
“He’s beautiful.” Jenny rested against the door, sticky gloves and wet robe forgotten as she watched Bree clean her foal. Hank stood next to Jenny, his arm inches from hers. He peeled off his gloves and dropped them to the ground. Jenny followed suit.
When he reached up a hand to rake it through his dark hair, shivers coursed through her. The proximity of Hank was making it difficult for her to focus on the horses. Instead, she was hyper-aware of his strong hands that brought life into the world and the tender expression he watched the horses with. He turned toward Jenny.
“You did a really good job in there.”
“That was terrifying.”
“I know. I’m sorry. That went way faster than I expected.” Hank shook his head. “I never know what will happen when the animals are in labor so I have to be prepared for anything.”
“How many times have you done this?”
Hank looked towards Bree. “That was my fourteenth horse delivery. I’ve helped with my share of cows as well.” He smiled, and Jenny’s heart melted.
“It was amazing. I’ve never seen anything like that.” She smiled at Hank. “Thank you for letting me be part of it, even if I wasn’t your first choice.”
A shadow crossed Hank’s face. “Honestly, you weren’t any choice. I thought you were too soft to help. I was wrong. You helped save two lives tonight.”
Jenny nodded. “I’m glad I was here. What happens now?”
“Now, we give them time to bond.” He grabbed the gloves and knife off of the ground and turned to leave. Jenny grabbed the towels and followed close behind.
“Hey, we didn’t even need these.”
“Thank goodness. I always prefer to be prepared, just in case.”
As they walked past stalls, Jenny remembered the other horses. Like a radio being turned on, she could hear little rustles as they moved in their sleep. The sound of cows mooing to each other reminded her just how noisy things would be once morning came. She reached out a hand and grabbed Hank’s arm. “What about the other animals? Won’t they bother Bree?”
A smile lit up Hank’s eyes, lifting some of the darkness he usually directed toward Jenny. “Think of them like a bunch of aunts and uncles. Bree is as used to them as you would be if you lived in a house full of people.”
“And the baby?” Jenny dropped her hand, wrapping her arms in front of her so she wouldn’t intrude on Hank’s space any longer. She didn’t trust her hands to behave. Not with that caring look that was plastered across Hank’s face. He was prying open a door to her emotions, a door that she was determined to keep shut. Six more weeks until she headed home. There wasn’t time to let a cowboy in.
“The baby will get used to them, too.” Hank opened the stable door for Jenny, waiting while she walked out in front of him. When Jenny stumbled on the gravel on the way to the house, Hank put out a hand to steady her. Trails of heat charged through her body.
Love at Rosecrown Ranch Page 4