When Hank came back for dinner, Jenny’s heart lifted. He walked to Jenny, reaching out his hand to pull her up from the swing. “Hello, again,” he whispered. “You hungry?” Jenny could sense the double meaning behind his words, even if it wasn’t intentional. She was absolutely hungry for more time with him.
“I’m always hungry for Jo Jo’s cooking.” She pushed in front of Hank, smiling when she passed Jo Jo in the family room. “Are you coming?” she asked her grandma.
Jo Jo shook her head. “Louis will be here in a couple of minutes. You guys go ahead and get started.”
As soon as they rounded the corner, Hank’s hand reached for Jenny’s. He pulled her close, wrapping her in a hug. “Is it stupid to say I missed you this afternoon?”
“Not if I missed you back. How’s my horse?” She stepped towards the stove, pulling Hank along with her.
“Bacon is doing great. He thinks you should read him another book this evening.”
“I bet he does. He seemed to really like the first one I read. Any requests?” Jenny grabbed a plate from the cupboard, setting it on the counter right next to the savory pie dish. Steam rose from the golden crust, sauce oozing out when she sliced through the pie. She pushed a spatula under the first slice, lifting it into the air. As she did, the food dropped back to the pan with a splatter.
“I think Bacon’s good with anything. He just really wants you to be there.” Hank reached his arm around Jenny’s side, holding on to her waist with one hand while he held the spatula with the other. “Hold your plate here.” He scooped a large slice of the chicken pot pie onto her plate, placing a quick kiss on the side of her cheek.
Heat rushed to her face. “Jo Jo and Louis—”
“Aren’t here yet.”
The touch of his lips against her cheek sent flutters through her stomach. She turned to return the kiss, but Jo Jo’s and Louis’s voices were getting louder. Jenny pushed away from Hank, her pulse racing. She stepped back just as Louis entered the room, his arm wrapped around Jo Jo’s waist. Holding her plate in one hand, Jenny cleared her throat and said, “Sorry for dishing up. The food looked too good to wait.”
Louis looked back and forth between Jenny and Hank, but Hank had already slipped a slice of pie onto his plate and was holding the spatula out to Jo Jo. Jenny walked to the dining room. Hank ducked past Louis and followed her, pulling out a chair so he could sit by her. “That was a close one,” he whispered in her ear, angling his knees towards hers. Just sitting by Hank was causing Jenny’s heart to race.
She looked at the man next to her, taking in every bit of him, from his wrinkled shirt to the wide smile on his face. She would be making it to the stable for sure for another “reading” session. She might even bring a book. Somehow, she anticipated that this would become a regular occurrence. She couldn’t wait.
Chapter 16
Jenny’s sling came off the next morning. Her wrist was still a little sore, but it was healing up nicely. The first thing she wanted to do was find Hank and tackle him with a giant hug. He was really good at watching out for her injured wrist when he wrapped his strong arms around her, but she hadn’t been able to return the gesture. Hugs weren’t as satisfying with one arm out of commission.
A quick check of the front yard showed Hank’s truck was missing. That meant he could be any number of places around the ranch. Fighting down a wave of disappointment, Jenny grabbed a book and sat on the porch swing. He’d be back eventually. She just had to be patient.
When Jenny’s phone chimed, she jumped. She had been caught in a daydream that included running both hands through Hank’s hair. Grinning widely, Jenny answered the phone, pressing the speaker button. “Shawn. You’re never going to believe what happened.”
Silence filled the other end of the line. Jenny picked up her phone. She was still connected, with full bars showing. “Shawn? Are you there?”
A loud sniffle answered. Lead settled over Jenny’s body. “What’s wrong?”
More sniffles came through the phone before Shawn spoke. “I messed up, Jenny. Big time.”
Jenny grabbed a cushion and held it tightly to her chest. “What happened? Do you want to talk about it?”
Shawn didn’t speak, his silence filling the air with tension. When he did speak, Jenny could hear the tears in his voice. “Do you remember the Jackson Corporation?” he asked.
“My clients? Of course, I do. What about them?”
“I think I lost them.”
The air whooshed out of her lungs. After a couple of deep breaths, she tried to speak calmly. “What do you mean, you lost them? How is that even possible?” Her words were gentle, but her insides were seething with rage.
“Do you remember that dance club we went to last month?”
“I think so. You guys called me from there, right?”
“Yeah. That one.”
Jenny pulled her hand through her hair. Shawn’s stories usually made her smile, but he was pushing her nerves. “What does that have to do with my client?”
“Well, I’ve been hanging out with a guy that I met there. We were on a date last week, and I started talking about work. You know how I get when I’m around someone cute. I may have blabbed about the land that I found for my biggest client.”
Heavy rocks settled on Jenny’s chest. “You didn’t. You know the rule. We don’t talk about our clients until the deals are signed.”
“I know. He had told me he worked in public relations or something. I found out today that he really works at a big investment firm. He put an offer in on our property that pushed Jackson Corp out,” Shawn said.
Jenny took a deep breath and held it for a slow count of ten before letting the air out. “And my client?”
“They’re furious. They suspect a leak in our company, and honestly, there was. Me. Me and my stupid, big mouth.”
“Is there any way to salvage things?”
Silence filled the air once more. Shawn’s reply was a dagger to her heart. “Jenny, I think it’s time for you to come home.”
Two hours later, Jenny sat in her room stewing. She had a blank paper in front of her. It was supposed to be filled with pros and cons, but Jenny’s brain was in too much turmoil to focus. How was she supposed to leave the ranch? Jo Jo’s heart was stable, but it could act up again at any moment. Bacon needed his regular bottle feedings. And Hank? Hank was nestled under Jenny’s skin in a way that made it impossible to shake him. She was finally settling into a routine on the ranch, getting one world in place just in time for the other one to crumble. It wasn’t fair.
With a heavy heart, Jenny walked down the stairs to look for Jo Jo. Her grandma would have advice on what to do. Jo Jo and Louis were sitting in the family room, their heads close together. Clearly, their conversation was private. She would have to wait her turn. She headed to the front steps, plopping down with a loud sigh.
Shawn had dropped a bomb on her life, and she wasn’t sure which piece to pick up first. If she didn’t fix things with the Jackson Corporation, she could kiss any thought of a promotion goodbye. But if she left the ranch, she’d be leaving Jo Jo alone. Neither was an option she could live with.
With thoughts swirling in her mind, it took a moment to register that she could hear Jo Jo’s voice through the screen of the family room window. “Hank can’t keep working at this pace.” Jenny’s ears perked up.
There was a long pause before Louis spoke. “I think we both know what we need to do.”
“We can’t invite David back to the ranch. Hank won’t like it.” Jo Jo spoke with the weight of someone who had been wrestling with a difficult decision.
“He might not like it, but what is our alternative? I know I can’t keep up with all the work.” Louis sounded certain.
“You’re right. He needs help. You’ve seen the stress he’s under. He is barely keeping it together.”
“Thank goodness Jenny’s here. She’s a godsend. I don’t know how we would have handled the feedings without her help.
” Louis’s compliment warmed Jenny’s heart.
“She’s part of the reason I worry,” Jo Jo replied. “They’re getting close. Haven’t you seen how he lights up when she enters the room? I think he’s learning to rely on her a bit too much. He’s not going to be able to keep it up when she leaves.”
Jenny stood up from the porch, not wanting to hear any more. How was she going to tell Jo Jo that her timeline for leaving was probably being pushed forward? She needed to see Hank. If he’d wrap his arms around her, she could think clearly and figure out what to do. Besides, someone had to tell Hank that Jo Jo was throwing David’s name around.
She ran to the stables, but Hank had already left. Scanning the ranch, Jenny could see a cloud of dust off in the distance. She hopped on an ATV and started the engine. Jenny drove up a hill, winding through dappled shadows as the tree-lined path gave way to dirt. She clutched the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white as she tried to keep the wheels headed in the right direction.
Following the rough trail, she held tight to the handle bar until she turned a corner and drove into a field. Rosecrown flower blossoms dotted the ground with dark pink petals that faded to light pink tips. Deep green stalks waved gently in the breeze, the flower heads bobbing from side to side. The breathtaking view gave Jenny pause. Across the field, a singular gravestone stood guard, beckoning her closer. Forgetting the urgency to find Hank, Jenny parked the ATV and got off, stepping on to uneven ground to follow a rough path that wound through the flowers.
Up close, the grave marker held a name that Jenny knew well. Trina Stratton. Although a warm breeze danced across her skin, her body felt numb. Mom. Talking about her mom’s death had been cathartic, but seeing the engraved stone brought fresh tears to Jenny’s eyes. Trina had been buried in a church cemetery, but Jo Jo must have wanted a closer reminder. The final steps to the gravestone filled her feet with heaviness. She collapsed on the ground and pressed her head to the cold slab before sliding to sit against it.
“I could really use some help right now.” Her whisper was carried away on the wind. Cold seeped through Jenny’s shirt, raising goosebumps along her arms. She pulled her hands to her chest. Almost all of her friends had parents to talk to when life got tough, but Jenny was stuck with a stone slab for a mother and an estranged father. The last time she had reached out to her dad was her freshman year of college. After asking for a loan, their conversations stopped. He wanted her to do things on her own, so she did.
Jenny brushed brittle flowers off the grave marker. Someone still visited the site regularly, as evidenced by the short, well-kept grass surrounding the area. Was it Hank? The thought of his name sent her heart into a fluttering mess. She stared at the sky. Three weeks ago, she couldn’t stand the guy. But now? Now, she couldn’t imagine a life without him in it.
Puffy clouds floated across the sky, but soon, grey clouds rolled in, casting shadows on the field as they passed by. By the looks of things, Jenny had ten minutes before the showers hit. She stood up quickly, brushing dried leaves out of her hair. With a final glance at her mother’s grave, Jenny ran to the ATV and pointed it toward home. She’d have to find Hank later.
The wheels kicked small rocks to the side as she slid down the hill, her wrist throbbing from holding on so tight. She barely made it to the porch before the drops began to pour down from the sky. They fit her thoughts. Grey, dreary, and scattered every which way.
Chapter 17
Lunch was waiting on the table when Jenny walked in. She sat in her chair next to Hank, sneaking in a quick kiss while the two of them were alone. He reached for her hand and a weight settled on her chest. As Louis and Jo Jo joined them at the table, Jenny knew what she had to do. The decision broke her heart.
Louis glanced up from his sandwich, frowning when he saw her face. “What’s eating at you, darlin’?”
Jenny’s hands began to shake. She folded her arm across her chest. “I have to go home.” The words hung heavy in the air, but as much as Jenny wished she could take them back, she knew it was the right decision to make.
Beside her, Hank was still. He slowly lowered his sandwich, turning to face her. The weight of his glance held Jenny in place. She couldn’t meet his eyes. Not yet. She would crumble to pieces beneath his piercing stare.
Jo Jo clasped her hands together and brought them under her chin, resting her elbows on the table. “What happened? Did something go wrong here?”
Jenny could see Hank stiffening beside her, and she knew what he must be thinking. He would think she was leaving because he kissed her.
“It’s nothing here. You guys are absolutely perfect.”
“Then what is it?” Louis reached an arm around Jo Jo, pulling her close to his body. Oh, how Jenny ached to have Hank do the same thing.
“It’s my job at home. I got a call today, and they want me to come back early.”
The statue beside her moved. “They gave you two months off. Why do they need you back right now?”
With a sigh, Jenny turned to face Hank. His warmth was gone, the playful smile that had danced on his lips moments before replaced by a thin line. His dark eyes held accusations, the coldness from when they had first met back in place. Jenny placed her hand on his leg. He jerked back, banging the table with a loud thud.
“My friend Shawn called. He may have lost my biggest client. I have to go salvage the account.” Her words hung in the air, waiting for someone to understand that she had no choice. Hank didn’t move.
Finally, Jo Jo broke the silence. She walked over to Jenny’s side and enveloped her in a lavender-scented hug. “I’m going to miss you so much.”
Louis looked up from across the table. “Me, too. The ranch won’t be the same without you. Don’t stay away too long.” He helped Jo Jo back into her chair and handed her a napkin so she could dab at her eyes.
Jenny turned to the person who she was hurting the most, but he wouldn’t look at her. He abruptly stood and brushed past Jenny’s chair, walking away from the table. As his boots stomped across the family room floor, Jenny buried her head in her hands. No matter how much or how little Hank understood her leaving, it was still the right choice. He would eventually have to accept that.
Hank stomped over to the guest house, kicking through puddles in the pelting rain. His shirt clung to him, fabric dripping, but he ignored the discomfort. The need to be as far away from Jenny as possible pushed him forward. Number one rule of the ranch? Don’t get attached. You never got close to the animals, no matter how charming they were. So much for the idea that Jenny would be different. It was his fault for thinking she’d want to stay.
When he got to the guest house, he yanked the door open. He walked inside, kicking off his boots, and sat in a chair, burying his head in his hands. The storm outside wasn’t looking to clear up anytime soon, and neither was the storm in Hank’s heart. It was going to be a long day if he couldn’t get his emotions back in check.
He got up from the chair, pulling off his wet shirt as he walked toward his bedroom. Reaching for a dry pair of jeans, he stopped. If Jenny was going to take off from the ranch and leave him stranded, he deserved a couple of hours to wallow. He pulled on sweats and a t-shirt instead, texting Louis to tell him that he was taking the afternoon off. Then Hank turned on the TV and plopped down on the couch, pretending to watch a show about lost pets being reunited with their families. As the television droned on, Hank shut it off. He couldn’t relax even if he wanted to.
Eating the rest of her lunch was proving to be impossible. After listening to Hank storm out of the house, she figured he needed space. When Louis read Hank’s text out loud, Jenny knew she couldn’t hide. It had taken exactly three minutes for her to decide to pull on her boots, and another ten to open the front door.
Darting through the rain gave her time to reconsider her life’s decisions. She arrived on his porch; clothing completely soaked through. Instead of a well-dressed woman coming to talk, she was showing up looking like an old wet mo
p with dripping wet hair. Still, Hank needed to hear her out. She couldn’t leave the ranch with him hating her.
Her heart caught in her throat when he opened the door. The eyes that stared at her were cold. “What do you want?” Hank asked.
“Can we talk?” She tried to ignore the flutters that swirled in her chest as he stood in front of her wearing a thin t-shirt and sweats. He looked good in normal clothes. Incredibly good.
Hank turned and walked down a hall, banging open a cupboard. Jenny looked up in time to see a towel flying through the air towards her face. She caught the towel and tilted her head down to wrap it around her dripping hair. “Thanks.”
When she straightened up, Hank was nowhere to be seen. A door slammed shut, and Jenny was left alone in the hallway. “Hank?” she called. There was no answer. Sutter circled her legs, his tail wagging frantically. As Jenny leaned down to pet him, she realized that she had never actually been inside Hank’s house. She turned in a circle, observing everything near her.
Hank lived in a barn that had been converted to a small guest house years ago. Wood-paneling ran along one wall. A large framed photo hung in the entry way, a panoramic scene of cattle. The lower corner of the photo showed the shoulder and hat of a cowboy, the head angled toward the herd. Jenny walked closer to the photo, looking for a caption on the matted edge, but there was no name. She wondered if the mysterious cowboy was Hank or someone he knew.
A wooden chair sat near the door, with Hank’s muddy boots flopped on the floor nearby. Peering around the corner, Jenny saw two armchairs, one on each side of a small fireplace. Bookcases lined the wall. A patchwork quilt was tossed over one of the chairs. She could see Hank wrapped up in the blanket on a cold night, a book in his hand. The desire to turn the corner and see what else the house held was strong, but that wasn’t why she was there.
Love at Rosecrown Ranch Page 10