“You were supposed to ask your best friend how he was doing. You could have checked in occasionally. She wasn’t the only one hurting.”
David’s voice lowered, so he was difficult to hear. “Hank, are you one hundred percent sure you’re over her?” Jenny sat up, leaning towards the door.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that things went from super serious to instant break-up really fast. And now you seem to be getting close to Jenny. Are you sure she isn’t just a rebound?”
Jenny clutched the arm of the swing, holding her breath while she waited for Hank to deny David’s words.
“Amanda ripped my heart out and stomped all over it. She wasn’t the only one crying. And now, I’m supposed to work with you and pretend that everything is okay.”
Shame rolled through Jenny’s body. How had she been so stupid? Clearly, David was right. Why hadn’t she stopped to question Hank’s reluctant behavior when he first kissed her? Realistically, he was probably her rebound guy too. No wonder things at the ranch felt so complicated. She untangled the bags from her arm, throwing them on the swing while David continued to speak. “Hank, I’m really sorry. I guess I didn’t stop to think that there was another side.”
“It doesn’t matter now. She’s gone, and we’ve got to figure out how to split the work on the ranch.”
Hank hadn’t answered David’s question directly about still loving Amanda, but his silence was an answer of its own. Jenny ran down the steps, needing to clear out before either of the men burst through the door and caught her listening. She climbed on the nearest ATV, turning the key that dangled from the handle. The engine roared to life and she took off, rocks spitting out from under the tires as she sped away from the house. She glanced back over her shoulder to see Hank, his familiar silhouette filling the doorway. With hands clenching the handles tightly, Jenny pushed the ATV to the maximum speed, leaving the house far behind as she took off on a trail she didn’t recognize.
Wind whipped through her hair as she drove, tangling it into knots. Jenny didn’t slow down until she came to a steep hill. The terrain was rougher here, but she pressed forward, ignoring the whine of the engine as the tires slipped, spinning out occasionally before getting a grip again. The hill leveled out, and Jenny stopped, taking in a deep breath. Unfolding before her were rippling hills of green, dotted with cattle. A soft wind caressed her skin before moving on to dance through blades of grass and leaves on the trees.
Nearby, an inviting field of wildflowers beckoned. Jenny left the ATV behind and wandered over to the clearing. Flopping down on the ground, she stared up at the puffy clouds that floated through the sky, a serene contrast to the storm swirling through her soul. She closed her eyes and tilted her face towards the sun, willing her heartbeat to slow. The cows were lowing, and an occasional whinny of a horse pierced the air.
Soon, a soft crunching reached her ears. It took just a minute to register that the crunching didn’t belong, and another moment for Jenny to realize what the sound was. She jumped to her feet and ran, but she was too late to stop the ATV from rolling down the hill. While Jenny watched in horror, the ATV picked up speed, rocking precariously back and forth before it flipped over, wheels spinning in the air.
Jenny scrambled down the hill after the ATV, scraping her hands on the hard rocks when she slipped and skidded for a few feet. Her ankle buckled beneath her, and she fell to the ground, bashing her knee on a rock. Pain shot through her leg as the wind was knocked out of her body. Jenny took a few deep breaths to fill her lungs with air and tried to ignore the pain. Pulling herself up, she limped forward until she reached the ATV. She shut off the engine when she got there, and the wheels stopped spinning, but it didn’t matter. Her ride was stuck in a ditch, and there was no way she was going to get it out. She needed someone strong to help lift it out of the ditch. Someone like . . . Hank. Her heart sank.
Chapter 26
Jenny’s knee was starting to swell up, and she couldn’t put any weight on her foot. Brushing back angry tears, Jenny sat on the ground next to the ATV and reached for her phone. She jabbed at the power button before remembering that the battery was dead. Of course, Jenny would find herself stranded on a remote part of the ranch. The prospects of someone coming along this particular patch of trail were slim. Her body ached, her pants were torn, and her hands were bleeding. The day couldn’t get worse.
The sun hid behind a cloud, and Jenny looked up at the sky. Fluffy white clouds were being replaced by heavy grey ones, which were rolling in quickly. The rain would be there soon, but there was no way she’d be able to outrun the storm with a sprained ankle.
Jenny scanned the ground for a stick that was large enough to support her weight. Spotting one, she crawled over to it and pushed herself to standing. Using the stick for support, she was able to half-hop, half-drag herself down the hill, her arms shaking with exhaustion. She made it around the bend in the road, gritting her teeth against the pain that shot up from her leg with every step. The idea of outrunning the storm was ridiculous, but Jenny was too stubborn to give up. She looked for overhanging trees to shelter under, wanting anything to protect her from the heavy clouds that were almost above her head.
A short, weathered building stood in the distance. From the road, Jenny could see the peeling paint and loose boards. It didn’t look like an ideal resting spot, but the threat of rain prompted her to shuffle along faster. She left the road and began to cross the field to the barn. Each step was torture, and Jenny whimpered as her leg throbbed. She was more than halfway to the barn when she heard the sound of an engine puttering along the road. Glancing up, Jenny groaned as she recognized the white truck that rounded the corner. Her pulse sped up.
She was in a dilemma. On the one hand, having Hank rescue her would make her trip back to the farm so much easier. On the other hand, it was Hank. She’d have to sit in the cab of his truck, and breathe his intoxicating cologne. He would want to know why she left on the ATV, and she wasn’t ready for that conversation.
The decision was easy. She continued toward the barn. When the engine shut off abruptly, she hobbled faster. And when Hank called Jenny’s name, she kept moving, her eyes on the goal. She was so focused on NOT seeing Hank that she also didn’t see the gopher hole. The walking stick slipped into the hole, and Jenny crumbled to the ground in a pitiful heap, whimpering while the first drops of rain hit her head.
Hank was by her side in an instant. She looked up, raindrops splashing against her face, to see him staring down at her, his eyes tender with concern. He knelt down on the ground beside Jenny and took one of her hands, turning it over so her palm, crisscrossed with scrapes, was cradled in his. “You’re hurt.”
Jenny nodded, a tear escaping her eye.
“What happened?” Hank traced the wounds on her hand with a gentle finger.
“I crashed the ATV.” She ducked her head, suddenly worried that she was going to be in big trouble.
Hank lowered Jenny’s hand so it was resting by her leg, and then he raised his hands to her head, gently prodding her scalp.
“What are you doing?” Jenny lifted her hand to push his away.
“I’m checking for any lumps. Does it hurt anywhere in particular?” He massaged his fingers through her hair, and down to her neck, every stroke sending pangs of longing through her body. He reached out a hand to gently turn her chin one way and then the other. Jenny wanted to close her eyes and sink into his touch, but Hank’s conversation with David was fresh on her mind. She batted his hand away for a second time.
“My head is fine. I wasn’t on the ATV when it flipped.” Hank raised an eyebrow at her.
“There was a hill involved,” she told him. “And a few falls while I tried to chase after my ride.” She gestured to her knee, which throbbed angrily. It was beginning to bruise already, with splotches of purple spreading across her skin.
A thin smile flitted across Hank’s face, but then he rubbed his hands together and pointed
at the sky. “The storm is going to get worse.”
Jenny nodded toward the barn. “Why do you think I was heading there?” She reached for her walking stick, determined to make it the rest of the way to safety. Hank knocked the stick out of her hands, his face drawn into a frown.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he said.
“Getting out of this rain before the storm hits.”
Hank grunted and stood up. He reached down and held a calloused hand toward Jenny, but she folded her arms in front of her chest.
“I’m fine on my own.” She tried to stand, and fell to the ground with a yelp.
Hank rubbed his hand through his hair and smirked. “Clearly.” He squatted down, and then leaned forward and scooped Jenny into his arms. With another grunt, he stood. Jenny flung her arms around his neck to steady herself, and then it hit her. His proximity, and how close their faces were to each other once again. The last time they had been that close, there had been kissing involved. The good kind of kissing. Jenny’s lips tingled, and she looked away.
Hank strode toward the small barn, his arms holding her protectively, and Jenny’s heart ached. She leaned her head against his chest. Inhaling deeply, Jenny tried to memorize the scent of his cologne. The day before, Hank carrying her would have been a romantic gesture, but today, it felt like an obligation. Jenny’s eyes filled with tears, and although she blinked furiously, it was too late. The pain of her physical wounds and the pain in her heart were too much to bear. She sniffled quietly and let the tears fall.
Hank stopped walking, planting his feet as the rain fell. His lips pressed against Jenny’s head, and she looked up at him, startled to see a wild look in his eyes. He raised an eyebrow as a question, and then bent his head down to meet Jenny’s lips, parting them with an urgency that was hard to resist.
Jenny wrapped her hands in Hank’s hair and kissed him back, the longing in his kiss matched only by her own need to be close to him. She closed her eyes and sank into the moment, allowing the heat of his kiss to overpower her pain. When Hank broke the kiss, Jenny held a hand to his cheek. He pushed open the door and stepped into the barn.
The inside of the barn was mostly empty, with a broken-down truck in one corner and a few rusty pieces of equipment scattered nearby. Dust motes swirled in the air, accompanied by the faint smell of hay. Hank gently placed Jenny on the floor, and then he sank down beside her. He took her hands in his, kissing first one, and then the other before wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
“I need to get the ATV,” he said. “And then I can get you home. Are you going to be okay for a few minutes?”
Jenny nodded. She watched him walk out of the barn, and a piece of her heart left with him. She wanted him back so she could talk to him. She longed for his lips against hers. Outside, the truck engine revved up and then slowly faded into the distance. Hank would return, and Jenny would ask him how he felt. His kisses certainly didn’t feel like she was a second choice, but she had to be sure.
A few minutes later, the true storm hit. Rain pounded on the roof, the heavy drops thudding down one after another. Water poured through cracks in the ceiling, but the damage was limited to one part of the barn. Jenny scooted over to avoid getting splashed. She tried to ignore the nagging feeling in her stomach that Hank was out in that storm because of her.
Wind howled through the barn, swirling up eddies of dust. An especially strong gust of wind tore the door open, and Jenny could see the storm raging outside. The rain fell in sheets, being blown sideways by the wind. She watched the road, looking for the familiar white truck to round the corner.
The engine rumbled in the distance before Jenny saw the truck. Hank pulled to a stop in front of the barn, and then he got out of the cab. Jenny’s breath hitched in her throat. He was drenched. His hair was plastered to his head, and his shirt was soaked. She knew he was in good shape, but the wet shirt left little to her imagination as it clung to Hank’s body, hugging every muscle. Jenny could feel the heat rising on her cheeks, and her resolve to stay away from him crumbled completely. He reached into the passenger’s seat, grabbing a plastic bag. Then he hunched over and ran to the barn, pulling the door shut behind him.
He shook his head back and forth, rubbing his hands through his hair so drops of water flew everywhere before he walked over to Jenny. Her pulse raced. Hank pulled a dry shirt from the bag and held it out to Jenny. “Here. Put this on.”
Jenny shook her head. “You need it more than I do.”
“I’m not the one who’s hurt. You need to stay warm.” He tossed the shirt to Jenny, who caught it and tossed it back.
“I’m barely wet. Thanks for the offer, but I’m really okay.”
“Fine,” he said.
The blood rushed to Jenny’s face when Hank turned his back to her, peeling off his drenched shirt and throwing it to the floor with a thud. Years of throwing hay bales and fixing fence had left Hank with a sculpted back, something that Jenny appreciated. She watched as he pulled on the flannel shirt, leaving the buttons undone. Then he sat down on the floor across from Jenny.
“So, now what?” she asked. The adrenaline of the day was wearing off, while the pain in her leg began to throb full force. Jenny leaned against the wall of the barn and closed her eyes.
Hank folded his arms across his chest. “Now, we wait out the storm.”
Chapter 27
Rain pounded against the barn; the sheets of water unrelenting. Jenny was hyper-aware of Hank, sitting across from her with his shirt unbuttoned. She tried to close her eyes so she didn’t have to see him, but she could hear him breathing softly. She wanted to close the gap between them, but her mind felt dizzy from the pain. Jenny whimpered, and leaned back against the rough wall, her eyes prickling with tears. Hank was at her side in an instant. He sat down and wrapped his arms around her, but then he looked down at his legs.
“Sorry. I’m soaking wet.” He slid a few inches away, keeping his legs far from Jenny’s, but her resolve was gone. She grabbed his arm and pulled him close. Then she lay her head down on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Hank shifted beneath Jenny, jostling her head as he brought his arm around her shoulders. He pulled her in close to the crook of his arm, and leaned down to kiss the top of her head.
“I’ve got you,” he said.
Jenny closed her eyes, and while Hank stroked her hair, she tried to picture a life with him in it. Her mind filled with images of him trying to fit into the city life. She tried to put Hank in her apartment, his large frame taking up most of the tiny couch. He didn’t belong there. Jenny fit in the city like a polished piece of silverware, but the rugged cowboy would be out of place. He’d walk down the street, and the concrete sidewalks and towering brick buildings would suffocate him. He needed open country, with rolling green hills and a soft cacophony of animals murmuring in the background. He needed the ranch, and the ranch needed him.
Hank rubbed his hand down her arm, his hand warm against her skin. He didn’t say anything, but the hand trailing up and down her arm spoke volumes. She wanted to freeze the moment. If Hank stayed in the barn with Jenny, there would be nothing to worry about. And just like that, Jenny found her words. She leaned away from the arms she loved and rested her back against the barn wall.
“Hank, we need to talk.” She watched his face.
When he turned towards her, he raised his eyebrows. “Okay. What’s up?”
“We can’t get too attached.” Jenny spoke the words to the room in front of her, not wanting to see his expression.
“I think it’s a little too late for that.” Hank reached for Jenny’s hand but she pulled it away.
“I overheard your conversation with David.”
He pushed a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry you had to listen to that. I don’t like yelling at people.”
He seemed so calm with his answers. Jenny wondered if they were talking about the same conversation.
“It sounded like David had some pretty good points about yo
u and his sister.” She swallowed, hating the words that came from her mouth.
“Amanda?” he asked. He shrugged his shoulders, his eyes darting to meet hers. “Why does that matter? I dated her in the past. You’ve dated other people too.” His brow creased.
“Yeah, but it sounded like you still might have feelings for her.”
Hank laughed. “How did you gather that?”
“Well, when David asked you if you still loved her, you didn’t deny it. He said I was a rebound.”
Hank moved away from the wall, turning so he was facing Jenny directly. He reached for her hand, holding it firmly even though she tried to pull away. “Jenny. I am not in love with Amanda. I haven’t been for quite a long time.”
“Then why didn’t you tell David that?”
“I didn’t tell David because he was trying to ask about my relationship with you. Things are still new. I wanted to know how you felt before David went blabbing things to Jo Jo and Louis.”
Jenny bit her lip. “Oh.”
“So, do you want to talk about it?”
“About what?” Jenny asked.
“Do you want to talk to me about how you feel?” Hank winked, his thumb rubbing lazy circles on her hand.
She leaned back against the wall, the pressure on her chest lifting. “Can we wait to have that conversation when you aren’t dripping wet and I’m not in massive pain?”
Hank pulled her hand to his lips, kissing it softly. “We can have that conversation whenever you’d like. I’m not going anywhere.”
The thundering rain began to ease up, and soon, all Jenny could hear was water dripping off the eaves. Hank stood; his brow furrowed. “Are you ready?” He picked Jenny up and carried her across the field to his truck. Once she was deposited safely inside the cab, he drove back to the farm at a snail’s pace. Jenny hissed every time the truck went over a rut in the road, her leg screaming with pain. The drive was agony.
Love at Rosecrown Ranch Page 15