“Oh, no, you don’t,” he told her. “You and I have some talking to do. I’ve been trying to talk to you all week, but you keep avoiding me. Not anymore.”
The puppy yipped and Jenny was relieved to have somewhere to turn her attention. Seeing Mitch’s set expression was unnerving, to say the least.
“I’m sorry. What did you want to say?”
Heaving a sigh, he closed the distance between them. When he reached out to her, she flinched away, and the anger that had been simmering beneath the surface exploded like a volcano.
“What’s wrong with you? The other night—”
“The other night was the other night,” she interrupted. “It was a mistake. What more is there to say?”
“There’s a whole lot more to say!” he snapped.
“I’d rather forget it, if you don’t mind.” As if that was going to happen. It was a beautiful moment forever imbedded in her memory. She just couldn’t bear it if he apologized.
He went absolutely still, his eyes narrowing with his thoughts. “If that’s the way you want it.”
She dug her fingers softly into the puppy’s fur. A slight wag of his scruffy tail acknowledged the caress.
“I do,” she told him softly.
“Jenny—” A banging on the door interrupted him. She could hear him grind his teeth in frustration.
“Those twins have the worst timing,” he practically growled. He reached behind him, jerking open the door.
Only it wasn’t the twins. Amanda stood at the door, her red lips curling up into a smile. “What’s keeping you, darling? I need to get home.”
Mitch froze, his face creasing in irritation. He glanced in frustration from Jenny to Amanda and back again. “I’m sorry, Amanda. I was trying to clear up some business with Jenny.”
She gave Jenny a curious look. “About selling her ranch?”
Before Mitch could answer, Jenny had picked up the puppy, despite his yelping protest, and fled past them out the door.
“Thanks for the help,” she told him without looking at him. “You can send me a bill.”
“Jenny, wait!”
He made a move to follow her but Amanda was blocking the doorway. Jenny could hear her voice as she rounded the corner.
“I’m sorry, Mitch. Did I say something wrong?”
Fortunately, Jenny didn’t have to go far to look for David and Renee. They almost collided with her as she turned the corner.
“Come on,” she told them, not waiting to see if they obeyed. When she reached the car they were right behind her.
“Are you all right, Jen?” David asked her. “Your face is awfully white.”
“I’m fine, David. Just get in the car.”
Both hurried to comply. When Jenny used that particular tone of voice, they knew she meant business.
Braking with a flourish in front of their cabin, Jenny turned to Renee. No one had uttered a single word for the entire twenty-minute journey. Jenny was aware of the curious looks her siblings were giving her, but she wasn’t about to hurt their opinion of a man who had been nothing but kind to them.
“Take the puppy inside, Renee. I’ll see if I can find a box or something to put it in to make it comfortable. David, warm a little milk and we’ll see if we can get him to eat something.”
The twins did as commanded, carefully carrying the blanket between them like a stretcher, but Jenny’s mind was only half on the job at hand. Was it possible that Mitch had thought to seduce her to get her to sell the ranch to him? That thought made more sense to her than believing he could be attracted to her, especially if he had taken up with Amanda again. The woman had been foolish to leave such a man for imagined pleasures elsewhere.
Mitch’s mother had left his father for the same reason. Was that why he had questioned her so intently about wanting to live in the city? Frankly, Jenny considered both women fools. But had Mitch been trying to see if she would succumb to the delights of big-city living? Was that why he had taken her to the Compass Room, where she could see the brilliant lights of the great metropolitan area?
And what did all of this have to do with her ranch? Had he hoped to elicit a desire in her to leave and sell him the ranch, and then, when that hadn’t worked, thought that he could make her fall in love with him? Perhaps he had thought the plain little farm girl would be thrilled by the attention. As Alexander had.
That thought stiffened her backbone. She had a family to think of. She needed to cast off any thoughts of a romantic nature and focus on the job at hand. She was no longer a young, foolish schoolgirl looking for acceptance. She was a woman with responsibilities.
If only it were that easy to convince her heart.
* * *
Mitch slammed his palm against the porch rail, oblivious to the pain that winged its way up his arm. How could he have been so stupid? Jenny was avoiding him big-time. The hurt look on her face yesterday would stay with him forever. Why had he invited Amanda, anyway? Because he’d wanted to prove something to himself, that’s why. He was trying to fathom the depth of his feelings for one little Jenny Wren.
Ever since he had met Jenny, he had been fighting a battle within himself. Feelings he hadn’t known he possessed were surfacing and he was unsure just what to do with them. One moment he believed himself involved, the next he decided he was imagining things. One minute Jenny was sweet and warm, the next she was as cold as a glacier.
What a mistake it had been to invite Amanda to the barbecue. When her brother had informed him that she was going to be in town for the barbecue, Mitch had decided that perhaps he should invite her. Just to see if there were any feelings left.
It hadn’t taken him five minutes in her company to know that any feelings he might have had were long dead. Ashes in the wind.
Mitch realized that what he had once thought was love had merely been physical attraction. Amanda was still as beautiful as ever, but that beauty no longer appealed to him. He wanted something much more now. He wanted someone who could share his spiritual life as well as his physical one.
From the first moment he had met Jenny, he had been unwillingly attracted to her. Although he had at first thought that she was a rather plain little thing, he had since revised his opinion. Clear, honest, bright blue eyes had stared out at him from a creamy complexion with the barest hint of makeup. Soft brown hair curled becomingly around her shoulders. Her grace and poise were obvious in her every movement. The difference between Amanda and Jenny in looks was more than made up for in personality. The saying about beauty being in the eye of the beholder was one he could definitely relate to now. Jenny might not be a great beauty, but she had grown on him until he felt compelled to find out just how deep those feelings ran.
One kiss from Jenny had shaken him to his core and left him with little doubt. His determination to remain uncommitted had been scattered to the four winds.
Mitch smiled wryly. He had it bad. If he’d had any doubts before, they had vanished completely now. But now, how could he undo the damage wrought by Amanda’s sudden appearance. Amanda’s untimely entrance at the barn had spoiled his chance to explain things to Jenny and to try to find out if her feelings were anywhere near as complicated as his. By the time he had managed to get away from Amanda and out to the driveway, Jenny’s little car was fast disappearing down the drive.
Since then, she had avoided him at every opportunity. He felt irritated all over again when he thought about it. The only thing he knew to do was to give her some time.
Sighing, he turned and went inside.
Chapter 8
“Are you sure you wouldn’t want to sell that one?” Annie Morrison asked as she stared up at the wall hanging in Jenny’s living room. “The earth tones are wonderful and blend so well with your rustic decor.”
Jenny smiled. “That’s exac
tly why I don’t wish to part with it. I made it especially for this room, to help make it homier. Know what I mean?”
“I suppose,” Annie’s voice seemed slightly deflated.
“I could make another one that’s similar, but I prefer not to make two alike.”
“I understand. That’s the artist in you.”
“Well, I don’t know about that.”
Annie returned to her seat across from Jenny. “You’re too modest, you know. I don’t think you are really aware of your own potential.”
“You’re serious. You really think I have that much talent?”
“Trust me. You have remarkable talent, and it’s only beginning to surface.”
Jenny stared across at her friend. Since Annie had begun to sell Jenny’s crafts they had seen a lot of each other. Annie and Hattie were best of friends, but no two people could be more different. Where Hattie was quick and impulsive, Annie’s impulses were more inclined to be temperate. Annie gave things a lot of thought.
The more Jenny spent time with Annie, the more she grew to love her. Having met Annie’s fiancé, Jenny was prepared to believe the saying that opposites attract. Jeremy was as different from Annie as night was from day.
“I can’t believe you never did much artwork before,” Annie repeated for the hundredth time.
Jenny shrugged. “I never really had the time. Oh, I made things for my family and friends, but most of my time was spent caring for farm animals and then trying to excel in college. And then working and taking care of the twins. I must admit, I’m thrilled to be able to satisfy my creative urges.”
“You’ve certainly brought my shop a lot of business since I started selling your work.”
Jenny glanced at the check she held in her hand. “I can’t believe how much this is. Are you sure you took out your commission?”
“Honey, I’m generous, but not that generous. If I didn’t take my part to pay the bills, there wouldn’t be a shop left to sell other people’s creations. I assure you, you earned it.”
Jenny laid the check on the coffee table, shaking her head.
“I still can’t believe it.”
“Well, believe it.”
“Can I get you something to drink? Coffee? Tea? A cola?” asked Jenny as she rose to her feet.
“Please. A cola would be great. Then there are some things I’d like to discuss with you.”
Jenny raised an eyebrow inquiringly.
“Business things,” Annie told her. “So we’ll make ourselves comfortable first.”
Jenny grinned to herself. Right to the point. In that way, Hattie and Annie were a lot alike. Pouring them each a drink, Jenny returned to the living room. She placed Annie’s drink on a coaster and laid a paper napkin beside it. Seating herself, she looked at Annie expectantly.
“Well, go ahead. I’m all ears.”
“Well, for starters I didn’t come all this way just to bring your check, although I was glad to do it. I wanted to know if you have any more crafts ready to be sold.”
“As a matter of fact, I do.” Jenny was a little surprised. “Do you mean to say that you’ve sold all the others?”
“Most of them. I was hoping we could work out an arrangement where you could get your crafts to me a little more quickly. I know it’s a long way from here to Prescott, but I thought we should decide how often and when.”
“How often would you suggest?”
“That depends on you,” Annie told her. “How much can you do, and how often?”
Jenny thought hard before answering. “Well, the cabin’s in good shape now, and since the twins are in school I’m not as busy as I was before. I like to be available in the evenings to help them with their homework and fix supper.”
Annie smiled. “You’d make a wonderful wife. I have a feeling Jeremy will be eating lots of TV dinners after we’re married.”
“Pshaw!” Jenny scoffed. “I don’t believe that for a moment. You’re much too organized.”
Placing her glass on the coaster, Annie leaned forward. “There’s something else you might like to consider. It might be best for you if you considered selling this place and buying a place in Prescott.”
Jenny stared at her in horror. “Leave here?” She shook her head slowly from side to side. “I couldn’t. You have no idea what this place means to me.”
“I think I do, but consider all the benefits of living closer to a larger town. Not that Prescott is so large, but it’s getting there.”
Jenny said nothing. There was no way she could explain just what this place really meant to her. She didn’t understand it herself. She only knew that she felt more at home here than anyplace she had ever lived, including the farm in North Dakota.
“We love it here,” she told Annie simply. “I don’t think I could ever get the twins to agree to leave.”
“Well, give it some thought, anyway.”
Over the next several days Jenny did give it some thought. She wavered back and forth between feeling selfish at not wanting to leave and being sure she was right in not moving. Was she being fair to the twins? She had avoided talking about it with them, but sometime soon she knew she would have to. She wanted to be fair. It took time and money to go to Prescott every time she needed craft supplies, but she used the opportunity to take finished products to Annie.
Jenny placed David’s birthday present in a box and carefully wrapped it in cowboy-print wrapping paper. David’s was easy. It was Renee she was having a problem buying for. David was open with his wants and desires, but Renee was still reluctant about opening herself up.
She had finally decided to make Renee several outfits. Her taste in clothes had changed considerably since they’d moved here. For all of her teasing David about wanting to dress Western, it seemed Renee’s tastes were leaning in that direction a lot lately, also. She wondered if it had something to do with Mark Ames.
The phone interrupted her thoughts and she was still smiling as she flipped it open.
“Hello? Jenny Gordon here.”
“Hi, Jenny. Hattie here.” A giggle from the other end of the line caused Jenny’s smile to widen into a grin.
“I like your new way of answering the phone,” Hattie told her. “Much more dignified.”
“I’m glad you approve.”
“Anyway, I have something I want to discuss with you. It’s about David and Renee.”
The smile left Jenny’s face. “What about David and Renee?”
“Oh it’s nothing bad,” Hattie hastened to assure her. “I just wanted to find out what you’re going to do for their birthday?”
“I...I was just going to have cake and give them their presents.” Jenny was mystified. It hadn’t occurred to her to invite anyone else since their ranch was so far from their friends.
“I have a better idea,” Hattie said excitedly. “How about having a birthday picnic in Dewey?”
“In Dewey?” Jenny was becoming more mystified by the minute.
“Let me explain. Every year Young’s Farm has a pumpkin festival. Everyone from around here goes. So I thought if we could call some of David’s and Renee’s friends, we could all meet there at a particular time and have a picnic somewhere in the vicinity. Then we could all go over to Young’s Farm and spend some time looking around.”
“That sounds like fun!”
“I think so. All we need is someone to bring the birthday cake and we’ll have everyone bring something for the picnic lunch.”
“I’ll do the cake,” Jenny told her, getting excited.
“I was hoping you’d say that. How about I make all the arrangements with everyone and that way you don’t have to worry about David and Renee getting wind of it.”
“That’s an awful lot of work.”
“No problem. Haven�
��t you figured out by now that I’m a workaholic?”
“I sometimes get that impression,” Jenny told her, smiling.
“Anyway, I’ll get back to you with all the details. Right now I have some lists to make, some people to call, some shopping to do...”
“Okay! Okay, I get the picture. I’ll talk to you later. And...Hattie?”
“Yes?”
“Thanks.”
Hattie laughed. “Anytime. Besides, I love parties.”
Jenny was chuckling as she hung up the phone. Hattie was a wonderful friend and a wonderful Christian. She didn’t just speak Christianity, she actually lived it. The only time Jenny could ever remember seeing Hattie less than charitable was when she’d been around Amanda. The fact that Amanda had hurt one of Hattie’s best friends had made her less than congenial toward the woman. Not that she could blame Hattie.
For the next several days Hattie and Jenny spent a lot of time on the phone, plotting. They agreed on an area to have the picnic and decided on a time. Everything seemed to be going smoothly. David and Renee didn’t suspect anything, and Jenny was sure it was because they realized how hard it would be for their friends to come to the ranch. Jenny smiled secretly to herself. This was fun. She was glad Hattie had thought of it.
Their birthday arrived and to keep them from being disappointed or maybe conjecturing about birthday plans, Jenny decided to have a small party at the ranch. Just the three of them.
She pulled their favorite chocolate cake from the oven and set it on the counter to cool. The larger cake she had made yesterday was safely tucked away at Hattie’s. She glanced out the kitchen window. The days were much cooler now in October. A stillness seemed to have settled over the land, the precursor of winter dormancy.
The sky was a heavenly blue, with white billowy clouds floating lazily across it. She had been told that sometimes in the winter, Mayer would receive snow. She shook her head in disbelief. It was hard to imagine, remembering the hundred-degree temperatures of summer.
It worried her a little. Already it was cold when they woke up in the mornings. What would it be like when winter really set in? Cousin Tito hadn’t had air-conditioning installed, nor had he had heat. The fireplace was the only source of heat in the cabin.
The Rancher Next Door Page 9
