Saved by the Rancher

by Jennifer Ryan

  Jack had enough. He dialed the head guard’s cell number.

  “Where’s Jenna?”

  “She was gardening until this afternoon. That’s the last we saw her outside. There’s a light on in the kitchen and upstairs. She’s in the house.”

  “Why isn’t she answering the phone?”

  “She’s probably in the shower. She and Lily were full of dirt last time I saw them outside.”

  “Is everything quiet there?”

  “Yeah. No problems. Nothing to report.”

  Maybe she was in the shower, or working in the office and ignoring the phone. Sometimes she did that, thinking it was just another rancher calling him about business. Still, he’d left her several messages and she hadn’t called him back. She hated when he was too overprotective, but her circumstances called for it and she understood.

  “Go in, check on her,” he ordered.

  “She told us to remain in the background.”

  “I don’t care what she said. I’m telling you to go in and see if she’s okay.”

  Something nagged at him. They hadn’t been apart in the last three months. She’d answer the phone wanting to talk to him. Wouldn’t she? Couldn’t she? That question haunted him through the next ten minutes while he waited for a call back to let him know Jenna was safe. Or not.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  * * *

  JOSTLED, DRAGGED UP to her feet, Jenna woke, David’s hands fisted in her shirt to support her weight. Oh, God. She shivered from the cold. While the temperature was a nice high seventy-something during the day, it dropped to the low forties at night. She didn’t know how long she blacked out. Minutes? Longer? Instinct kicked in and she yanked herself free of David’s hold and took several steps back. Unsteady on her feet, she shook her pounding head, making even more stars flash on her closed eyelids. Her stomach pitched, bile rose up her throat. About to throw up, this time it wasn’t because of the pregnancy.

  “Time to go. Quit stalling.”

  Stalling? He’d knocked her out cold and he excused his behavior, put the blame on her by saying she’d been stalling.

  Something sticky ran down the back of her neck and in her hair. Blood. He’d cracked open her skull. Her brain pulsed to the beat of her heart and her vision blurred in and out of focus.

  No wonder my head hurts. Jack, please, come help me. Oh, God, please.

  “That’s a nice ring you’ve got on. You think I’d let you marry someone else. I’ll see you dead first, you bitch.”

  “Seems to me,” she rasped out, “you almost got your wish.”

  He’d worked himself into a rage. “You made me hit you. It’s your own damn fault you can’t follow the rules and insist on provoking me by whoring around with other men.”

  I am going to marry Jack. He loves me, and I love him.

  Her silence pissed him off. He slapped her across the mouth and split her lip.

  Something in her face must have given away her thoughts.

  He grabbed her around the throat. “You’ll never marry anyone but me. Do you hear me?”

  His voice softened, but the anger behind his threats didn’t lessen. “You’ve punished me enough for your clumsiness when you fell down the stairs. It wasn’t my fault. All of this is your fault, but I can make it better.”

  “It will never be better, David. The only way you know how to love is to hurt.”

  “Don’t you think you’ve hurt me by staying away? You’re all I want,” he raged.

  “I won’t go back!” she screamed at him, hoping, for once, he’d hear her and understand.

  “Yes you will.” He slapped her again and her head snapped to the left, but she stood her ground with the help of his hand clamped to her throat.

  “No. I won’t go back.”

  “Say it. Say you’ll come back,” he shouted.

  “No!”

  Barely able to speak now, shivering, the back of her head throbbed, and now her lip bled down her chin.

  Oh, God, Jack. Please come get me. Help me.

  He slapped her again. Again, her head twisted to the left, spit flying out of her mouth, landing in the dry leaves. He grabbed her hair into his fist. “Say it. You love me. Only me. We’ll be happy together. Don’t make me hurt you. Come back.”

  “Never.”

  She rose to her toes and slammed her forehead into his. He fell backward. Her momentum carried her forward and she landed with a thump on top of him. Her face pressed to his chest. She straddled his waist, gained her feet, and pulled back, her head knocking into his chin as he rose with her. His teeth came together with a loud crack. He grunted in pain. With her hands tied behind her back, she used the only weapons she had, her throbbing head and her feet.

  “Bitch.”

  Her shoulder hit him square in the chest and she knocked him off his feet again. Nearly falling herself, she stumbled forward, caught her balance and tried to run. His hand snaked out and he grabbed her ankle, toppling her to her knees and down onto her belly. Her hip hit a sharp rock.

  “Ow!” She kicked and screamed, “Let me go.”

  She rolled out of his grasp, scrambled to her feet, and ran for the trees.

  “I’ll never let you go!” he bellowed.

  Almost to the trees, she felt him behind her and took a chance and glanced over her shoulder. Gaining fast, he raced toward her, the knife in his hand. She zigged to the right, but he grabbed her shirt and spun her around. Her shoulder knocked his left arm aside. Momentum and his rage propelled him forward, the knife plunging toward her chest. Adrenaline surging, she shifted to the side, but not far enough. The blade sliced her ribs, the handle catching on her elbow. When he pulled his hand free, the knife sliced her side again. White-hot pain exploded and blood flowed, sticking her shirt to her skin.

  She kicked out with her left leg connecting with his knee, sending him down. Knocked off balance again, she fell with him. Unrelenting, he came after her, but she pulled her knees to her chest and he landed on her feet. She pushed as hard as she could, sending him stumbling backward. She rolled, shimmied her knees under her and sat back on her heels. The fight nearly out of her, she lunged to her feet and ran.

  His footsteps pounded behind her, but she hit the trees, dodging branches and bushes. Out of control, the rage blinded him, stole his every rational thought. “I will kill you. When your mother inherits all the shares you took from me, I’ll convince her—in my own way—to give them back. I’ll take back what you stole.”

  Gasping for air, she ran, but something inside her still wanted to stand and fight. She called over her shoulder, “I changed the will. Jack . . . gets . . . everything.”

  Unsure she could really outrun him in her condition, she issued one last threat. “He’ll tear your company apart piece by piece, and there’s nothing you can do to stop him,” she huffed out.

  “No!”

  Everything inside her reverberated with the rage he expelled with that single word. She desperately needed to find someplace safe to hide. Out of his mind, if he caught her, he’d kill her.

  Nothing but the sound of their footsteps pounding over the dried leaves. A branch hit her face. Without her hands, she couldn’t dodge all the low hanging limbs. No matter how fast she ran, he kept coming. Her side bled freely, her head throbbed, her legs were numb and the rope around her wrists rubbed them raw.

  She dodged several large bushes, turned left and spotted a hill, large boulders rising out of the ground. This could be her chance to find a place to hide and rest her battered body. She rounded one of the larger boulders, scrunched herself between the cold stone and an evergreen growing against it. She gulped in deep breaths to her burning lungs and pressed her arm to her bloody side, just managing to stifle a pain-laced groan. The pounding of his feet on the ground grew ever closer. She did her best to slow her gasping breaths and be quiet. She prayed she’d put enough distance between then and he didn’t find her.

  Unable to catch sight of him, his quick steps faded i
nto the distance to her right. Desperate to put space between them, she backed further into her hiding spot. The moist earth gave way on the far side of the boulder and she rolled, sliding down a steep hill on her bottom, rocks and brush jabbing into her back. Her feet hit the bottom, momentum tumbled her forward as earth and debris rained down on her prone body. The lights winked out.

  David lost her in the thickening trees. Who knew she could run so fast—and in her condition? The drops of blood he spotted and followed earlier were harder to see in the fading light. At some point she’d turned and he’d lost sight of her. Halted beside a huge fir tree, he leaned against it and sucked in deep breaths.

  “Shit. Where the hell are you?” he yelled.

  Nothing. Not a sound, but the wind rustling the leaves. Not even a damn bird taking flight to indicate which direction she fled.

  “I hope you die out here, you stupid bitch.”

  He leaned forward and braced his forearms on his thighs. His lungs ached and his arm throbbed from the scratches and puncture wounds from the damn dog.

  “Fuck!”

  Everything went wrong. He had a plan. This time she’d do as she was told. He never expected her to fight him. He should have known better. Her strength and defiance both set him off and excited him. One of the many things that drew him to her.

  He never meant to actually use the knife. He could still feel the blade slicing her open, the red blood staining her clothes. Funny, the fact that she could take it and still fight him off made him feel proud. An exceptional woman. His.

  He took a deep cleansing breath. It hit him hard, he hadn’t gotten everything he wanted. If she died out here—and he believed her threats—the company shares would be in the hands of that rancher. He needed a plan to get them back. With a dozen lawyers on retainer, he’d make sure they tore her will apart and the shares went back to him. He’d get back what she stole, even if he had to kill the rancher to get them.

  Resigned that he’d lost her, and fearing someone from the ranch had noticed her absence and began looking for her, he took out his compass and headed back to the jeep. He searched for any sign of her, but found none.

  The stillness settled into him, washing away the last of his anger and clearing his mind. This game hadn’t ended the way he wanted, but she’d left him alone and wanting her for years. Now she’d be the one left alone—in the darkening woods. He wasn’t worried about her. The damn woman had nine lives. No doubt she’d run again. He looked forward to the next time he found her. The thought put a smile on his face.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  * * *

  THE BAD FEELING haunting Jack since this morning was getting worse with every minute that ticked by and the guard didn’t call him back. He tried not to panic and thought about Jenna and all the wonderful times they had shared over the past several weeks. They had so many more memories to make.

  God, I love you. Where are you, Jenna? Please be safe.

  He’d put the ring on her finger and gotten her promise to marry him just this morning. She was going to be his wife. He already thought of her as his. His to love. His to protect.

  Caleb and Rick met him on the driveway and he announced, “We need to head back. Right now.”

  “I promised to pick up some new baby furniture for Summer. We’ll haul it back in the horse trailer,” Caleb said, knowing Jack hated to delay any longer.

  “We’ll have to make another trip. We’re leaving. Now.”

  “Relax, man. I’m sure everything is fine. Summer said the ranch is quiet. Jenna’s probably working, or down at the barn visiting Blue. You know how she loves that horse.”

  “If everything is fine, then why won’t she answer the damn phone? Why hasn’t she called me? Damn it, my gut is telling me something’s wrong.”

  His cell phone beeped, indicating he had a text message. He hit the button and read the display.

  Jenna missing. We’re beginning the search.

  Jack held the phone up for Caleb to see. “Tell me I’m overreacting.”

  “Shit. Let’s go.”

  “Rick, can I leave the horse trailer? I need to get home fast.”

  “Sure thing, man. No problem. I hope you find your lady.”

  “I will. And God help the bastard who took her.”

  JENNA WOKE GASPING for breath and inhaled deeply, lying flat on her stomach in the dirt. Her head rested on a pile of crisp dead leaves, her bound hands lay on her lower back. Her legs felt sore and numb. She shivered from the cold and sleeping on the ground most of the evening. She caught her breath, rolled, and struggled to sit up, checking all around to make sure she was alone. The breeze whispered and the birds chirped in the trees. She let her frantic nerves and racing heart settle.

  I’m alive. Oh God, the baby. No cramps. Despite her many injuries, she felt fine. Thank you. Thank you. Maybe the baby is okay. I need to get out of here and back to Jack. Is Lily okay? Please, God. Don’t let him have gone after them. I need to get out of here.

  Hands flattened on the ground behind her, she squeezed her hips through her arms and brought her hands down her legs and over her feet. Finally, her hands in front of her, she bit at the ropes, trying to untie the knot. She worked at it for several minutes, her split lip opening and bleeding down her chin and onto the bindings. Her efforts paid off and her hands were free. She wiggled her swollen fingers and rotated her chafed and bleeding wrists. They hurt so bad, tears stung her eyes, but the diamond on her hand sparkled and she brought it to her lips. Such a small thing, but it boosted her spirits, reminded her of Jack and the promise of a future she desperately wanted.

  The sun sank behind the hills, darkening the sky quickly. Stars winked on, beautiful, but not a lot of help for someone lost in the woods. She assessed her situation. No flashlight. No idea where she was in this vast forest. The thick trees had been a blessing hiding her, but they also disoriented her. Never good with direction in the first place, no matter which way she turned, nothing but trees and more trees. Frustrated, she looked up at the hill she’d slid down and knew going back up was impossible. Assessing her many aches and pains, she pulled the blood-soaked shirt away from her side and gasped at the two deep gashes. Without something to staunch the bleeding, her situation was becoming more dire by the minute. She needed to find her way home, or at least to a road in hopes of flagging someone down.

  She rose on unsteady legs, clamped her hand over her bleeding side, and made her way around the hill in hopes of finding something familiar and a way back to the dirt road. Running for her life, she hadn’t paid attention to where she was going or how to get back. Constantly on alert for any sound David was following her, or hiding in the bushes, or behind a tree, she plodded along on unsteady legs. Despite walking for some time, she was more disoriented now than when she began.

  Deflated, hopes dashed, she settled back against a tree dejected. Tired and thirsty, she hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast. Her head pounded. Dried blood matted her hair and soaked the collar of her shirt. The unbearable pain in her ribs, where the knife had sliced her open, throbbed with every breath she took. She rested her head back against the tree and closed her eyes to rest. Once her energy came back, she’d start walking again in hopes of finding her way home.

  She ignored the fear and thinking David was coming back to finish her off. She let her thoughts drift to Jack. She held a picture of him in her mind. Thoughts of him lessened the fear and kept her sane.

  Maybe Jack already knew she was missing and he’d sent men out searching for her. She hadn’t heard anyone, but knew she was far from the ranch.

  No, he’s probably not home yet. No one knows I’m gone.

  Jack, where are you? Come and save me. Oh, please. Come and save our baby and me.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  * * *

  JACK AND CALEB arrived home after dark, the ranch eerily quiet. The Camaro and Mustang were both in Jack’s driveway where they’d left them. Several of the ranch hands’ trucks were stil
l parked outside the barn, indicating the men were out searching the grounds for Jenna with the security guards. Jack hadn’t received an update in over an hour.

  The front of the house looked great with all the flowers Lily and Jenna had planted. Jenna had put a woman’s touch on the place. Too bad he couldn’t enjoy it. Nothing seemed right. His insides turned cold. A familiar feeling he’d lived with before meeting Jenna. He’d hoped to never feel this way again. It hit him hard just how much light, warmth, and love she’d brought into his life. He didn’t want to go back to the dark days where war and death intruded on his thoughts. He didn’t want to add anything bad happening to Jenna to his daily nightmare. If something happened to her . . . He couldn’t bear to think about what his life would be without her.

  They made their way up the front porch steps. Jack dreaded entering the empty house.

  “The flowers look great.” Caleb broke the silence with his mundane statement.

  Jack ignored him and went in first. The kitchen light was on, along with a light upstairs, but the house was too quiet. A shiver danced up his spine. His skin went cold.

  He ran up the stairs two at a time and checked the bedroom. Nothing appeared out of place, or even changed since he left. All of Jenna’s clothes were in the closet, and the bathroom was clean and orderly.

  Where is she?

  Jack was losing his mind. No one had seen her since this morning. She could be anywhere by now. He didn’t know what to think, but his mind conjured one nightmare after another.

  He met Caleb in the Great Room. “She promised she’d stay here with me. We’re supposed to get married. She wouldn’t leave.”

  He paced back and forth trying to think. He replayed their last few conversations in his mind. Nothing stood out. She hadn’t indicated anything about being unhappy with him, or that she wanted to leave. They were happy. She was happy.