The Wyoming Inheritance

by Caitlin Edwards

  “Are you serious?”

  “Until we know who did it and why, I don’t want her worrying about it.”

  Jenna couldn’t hear anymore of their conversation, since they headed for the barn. She wondered who would do such a thing, but she didn’t know if it was unusual for that to happen or not. After making sure the two men were out of sight, she scurried into the house. She put the eggs in the refrigerator and grinned—this was a perfect time to investigate the treasures in the attic.

  She opened a window to get some fresh air in, and then looked around. Her gaze fell on old furniture, trunks, and pictures leaning against the wall. Jenna lifted up the lid of a trunk closest to the window and smiled wistfully. On top, was a picture of her uncle.

  She reached in and gently pulled it out. She gasped when she saw pictures of her grandparents underneath it. She set them aside to take them downstairs with her. She reached back into the trunk. It was filled linen, most of it yellowed from age.

  Hours later, she went into the kitchen to get a glass of water. She couldn’t believe how long she’d spent on just a few trunks. There had been mostly mementos and pictures from her uncle’s younger days, along with a few antique china and ceramic items that would look nice downstairs.

  Next time, she’d have to remember to take a couple of bottles of water with her, since it was so hot up there. Jenna looked out the window and smiled; at least, Cord was nowhere around!

  * * * *

  It was late afternoon when Jenna walked up to one of the hired hands, who was working under the hood of a tractor.

  “Are you having trouble, Terrell?”

  He looked up and smiled. “Yes. The darn thing won’t stay running. If I can’t get it going, then we’ll have to ask Cord to look at it.”

  Her brow shot up, “Why? Is he a mechanic, along with being a God?”

  He shook his head, “You better behave, Jenna. I heard that he’s still angry with you. And, he’s not a good man to cross.”

  Jenna rolled her eyes. “I’ve been told that before. Can you run me over to the Miller place, so I can get my car?”

  “Sure. Just let me wash my hands,” he replied, and then he headed into the barn.

  She was still standing in the same place when he returned a few minutes later. “We can take the Dodge, since it’s already out,” she explained to him while walking toward it.

  Jenna was silent, as he started the vehicle and pulled out onto the gravel road. She waited until they were nearly there before asking, “Terrell? You’ve known Cord for quite a while, haven’t you?”

  He nodded. “We went to school together.”

  She bit her lip then looked up at him. “Do you think it would help any, if I called Reverend McCullough and apologized to him?”

  He shrugged. “Well, Jenna. I’d say it sure couldn’t hurt.”

  Terrell stopped in front of her vehicle, and Jenna thanked him while climbing out. She watched as he turned around and headed back toward the ranch. She slowly pulled out onto the gravel road and followed him from a distance. Right before the turnoff, she glanced at her watch; it was still early, a little before six. She grinned; she’d drive into Sheridan and treat herself to dinner.

  Jenna sped up when she passed the entrance to the Lazy C Ranch, relieved that she didn’t see anyone around. When she hit Sheridan, she pulled into the parking lot of a small diner. She walked in, spied a vacant table, and sat down.

  “Hi!” The bubbly waitress greeted her. She set a glass of water down in front of Jenna, and then handed her a menu. “The special today is Chicken Fried Steak.”

  Jenna smiled up at her. “I’ll have that, please.” After placing the rest of her order, she handed back the menu, while her gaze roamed around the diner. She frowned when she noticed Lyle Southworth and Josh Platy were just leaving, hoping they wouldn’t notice her sitting there. But they stopped in front of her booth.

  “Hello, Ms. Davenport, fancy seeing you here,” said Lyle.

  Jenna didn’t reply; she just picked up her glass of water and took a sip. Maybe if she ignored them, they might leave.

  “Have you given any thought to my offer of buying your uncle’s ranch?” Lyle asked.

  She set the glass down and glared at him. “I told you before, it’s not for sale!”

  “Excuse me!” The waitress said, bumping the two men out of her way to set Jenna’s soda down. “Are they bothering you?” she asked, seeing the angry expression on Jenna’s face.

  “The gentlemen were just leaving, weren’t you?” Jenna bit out. The waitress grinned at the accent Jenna put on “gentlemen.” They both knew that neither man was even close to being one.

  “I think you’ll be changing your mind about not selling,” Lyle replied cryptically, as he turned and headed for the door.

  * * * *

  Jenna was playing solitaire on the computer early the next evening when Nevin came in with a panicked look on his face. “We need to call Doc Richards; something’s wrong with the horses!”

  Jenna blinked in shock—how could something be wrong with the horses; they were fine earlier! She jumped up and hurried out to the barn.

  She peered into the stall of her favorite horse, and then looked up when Nevin entered the barn. “Were you able to get hold of him?”

  He nodded, “He’ll be right here. I called Cord, too; he’s on his way.”

  Jenna was too worried about Velvet to be even think about Cord’s arrival. “What do you think is wrong with them?” she asked, as she walked to the next stall. She blinked away a tear when she saw Lady trying to stay on her feet. “She’s so weak!”

  She looked up at Nevin with tears in her eyes. “We can’t lose them, Nevin. They were my uncle’s prize mares!”

  Nevin smiled at her. “I know, Jenna. Doc Richards will know what to do. And, I’m sure Velvet will be racing again in no time!”

  Jenna wiped the tears away, as she remembered all the ribbons and trophies lining the bookcase in her late uncle’s office.

  She looked up when she heard a vehicle pulling up outside. She knew it couldn’t be Doc Richards this quick, so that only left Cord. She gave a tiny smile when he entered the barn, even though she knew he was angry with her. Jenna knew her horses were safe with him.

  “How are they?” he asked Nevin without sparing a look at her.

  “Not good. I think Lady’s the worst,” Nevin answered.

  Cord walked over and after dropping to his knees, he gently started talking to Lady. When the mare was calmer, he headed for Velvet’s stall.

  He sighed with relief when, about twenty minutes later a vehicle came up the driveway. “That has to be Doc,” Nevin said, as he hurried out the door.

  “Is Velvet going to be all right, Cord?” Jenna asked worriedly.

  “I don’t know, Jenna, it doesn’t look good.” He replied honestly.

  Jenna was biting her lip, trying to hold back tears, when the barn door opened, and Nevin and Doc. Richards entered. Doc nodded at her, and then hurried into Lady’s stall. After examining Lady, he moved over to Velvet.

  “Where’s the bag of feed you’re giving them?” Doc asked when he came back out.

  “Right here, Doc,” Nevin replied, as he showed him the partially full bag.

  “Have any other horses eaten out of this bag today?” Doc Richards asked grimly while cupping his hand and lifting a handful of feed up to his nose. He had a feeling what the problem was, but until he had the lab test back, he wasn’t about to say.

  “No. The other horses are still out with the hands; they should be back shortly,” said Nevin.

  “I’m taking some of that bag to have it tested. Get rid of any feed left in their stalls and open a fresh bag.” Doc Richards told them.

  Jenna heard the sound of horses and knew the hands were back. She ran out to tell them to put their horses in the paddock, and then hurried back into the barn.

  She sat on a bale of hay, carefully watching Doc Richards while he worked to save the
two horses. After what seemed like forever, Doc finally gathered up his supplies and put them away. “I drew a couple of vials of blood to be tested; hopefully it’ll tell us something. I medicated them, and I’ll stop back in the morning to see how they’re doing.”

  “Will they be okay, Doctor?” Jenna asked, as she blinked back tears.

  He shrugged and headed for the door, “Only time will tell, Missy.”

  Cord put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him, “Doc Richards is the best veterinarian in the state, honey. If anyone can save them, it’s him.”

  Jenna leaned against him and yawned.

  “Speaking of bedside, you should to go to bed.” Cord told her gently while glancing at his watch. He was surprised to see it was nearly midnight.

  “What about the horses?” She asked.

  “We’ll worry about them. You’re already dead on your feet. Go to bed, Jenna,” he ordered.

  She opened her mouth to argue, but after seeing his expression, quickly closed it. Why cut off your nose to spite your face, she thought, as she headed for the house.

  Early the next morning, Jenna threw her clothes on, grabbed a cup of coffee, and then ran out to the barn to check on the horses. Terrell was sitting in a chair with his feet propped up on a bale of hay.

  “How are they?” She asked.

  He looked up. “Morning, Jenna. Velvet’s better; but Lady still isn’t responding very well.”

  Jenna was still in the barn when Doc Richards pulled up. She wasn’t surprised when a few minutes later, Cord arrived.

  “I think you’re spending more time here than at your place,” she told him with a smile.

  He grinned. “I’m good at giving orders and having them obeyed.” When she quirked a brow he added dryly, “By everyone except you, that is.” He tapped her on the tip of her nose. “We still need to have a long talk, young lady.”

  Jenna shook her head then turned to go to Velvet’s stall. “I don’t like the way your talks end up,” she told him sassily, hurrying to the other end of the barn.

  By that evening, both horses were showing a big improvement. Jenna was sitting on the front porch, relaxing, when she noticed a truck coming down the road. She groaned when she realized it was Lyle Southworth…

  “I hear you’re having some problems on the T Bar.” Lyle told her, as he stood on the bottom porch step. “Isn’t it too much for a little lady like you to handle? You really should sell out to me; it’ll solve all your problems.”

  Jenna wasn’t in any mood to listen to him. “I told you before; the T Bar isn’t for sale. So take your little friend and get off my land!”

  Josh bristled at her words. He took a step toward her, and then paused when a voice said, “You heard. Get off her land.”

  Jenna turned and sighed in relief when she saw two of her men standing there.

  “We’re just being friendly,” Lyle replied and gave them a toothy smile.

  “No, you’re not. You’re a vulture, just trying to get my land! Well, you can take your offer and shove it!” Jenna retorted. She got up and went inside with a slam of the screen door.

  She watched from the window as they got back into the truck and sped off. Jenna shook her head in exasperation; she didn’t know why they wouldn’t leave her alone. She’d told them three times now that she wasn’t selling the ranch! Did they really think they could change her mind? She grimaced. Even though Lyle hadn’t threatened her in words, she’d known it was there. And although she didn’t want to, Jenna knew she’d have to talk to Cord about them again.

  It took her until noon the next day to work up enough courage to call Reverend McCullough, to apologize. She was surprised at how graciously he accepted it, until he told her that Cord had said the wedding was still on. Then she had to bite her tongue to keep from saying anything that would make matters worse. Jenna decided that Cord could make all the plans he wanted, but nobody could make her recite the vows if she didn’t want to! Cord could just marry himself, she thought with a giggle.

  Next, she called Cord. “Hi. I just wanted to let you know that I called Reverend McCullough and apologized for my behavior.”

  There was a long pause. His tone was weary when he admonished, “I’m glad you did that. The Reverend isn’t at fault for anything between you and me.”

  “Um… so, you’re not mad at me anymore?”

  “No, but you’re still getting a spanking for treating him that way. And for hiding from me almost every time I come by there.”

  She should have known he’d be difficult. “What did you expect when you went around telling everyone but me that we’re getting married? Not that we are!”

  “You mean, you went to bed with me, a virgin no less, and you don’t think we should get married?” Cord sounded surprised.

  “This is the twenty-first century, Cord!”

  “Well, you can just add on another spanking for thinking like that! Just as soon as I find the time, you’re going over my knee.”

  Jenna sighed in exasperation, but she felt butterflies taking flight in her stomach at his words. “Whatever. Look, I really need to talk to you about something else right quick.”

  She heard his tired sigh over the phone line, “Can it wait? We’re in the middle of branding over here.”

  “Sure! There’s no hurry.”

  “Will do, honey,” he told her tiredly. “And in the meantime, I don’t want you going out on your land by yourself. Or doing anything dangerous, like working with the men out there.”

  “Whatever.” She could tell he was busy, so rather than argue with him, she hung up.

  * * * *

  Jenna had good news the next morning; the horses were feeling even better. Nevin told her that the vet had just left, and the horses were all recovering nicely.

  “Did he ever find out what made them sick?” she asked while leaning over the stall to rub Velvet’s head.

  Jenna didn’t see the expression that flittered across his face before he replied, “No, it’s too early yet.”

  “Okay, let me know as soon as you hear anything.”

  The next evening, Jenna was sitting on the porch swing when she noticed Cord driving up toward the house. Was he coming over to spank her? She wanted to jump up and hide, but he was already waving hello to her through his open window.

  “Hi, Cord!” she yelled.

  He parked his truck, got out, and his long strides quickly brought him up onto the porch, where he sat down and pulled her into his arms.

  “You wanted to talk to me, honey?” his deep voice rumbled against her ear.

  Talk? Who could think of talking while being held in a strong cowboy’s arms, she wondered, as she scooted closer to his side.

  “Jenna?”

  “Hmmm?” she replied, as she kissed the side of his neck.

  He lifted her up, swatted her bottom, and then sat her back down. “Behave!” he warned with a grin.

  “Behaving is no fun,” she told him, and then gently nipped his neck.

  “Would you rather have your bottom warmed?” he asked.

  “That depends,” she giggled. “Will you make love to me afterwards?”

  “Jenna!” Now he was frowning. “I don’t have much time; otherwise I’d be happy to spend all night right here with you.”

  “Oh, all right!” she growled, and then scooted away from him.

  “You said you wanted to talk about something,” he reminded her again.

  She nodded. “Cord, it seems like every time I go into town, Lyle Southworth is accosting me. I’ve told him a hundred times that I’m not selling the ranch, but he just won’t take no for an answer. He even came out here again, with that slimy friend of his. To tell you the truth, he scares me, Cord.”

  He hugged her to him, and kissed the top of her head. “Don’t worry, honey. I’ll have a talk with him.”

  “Thank you, Cord, I really appreciate it!” Her eyes shone with mirth as she drawled, “Now may I please have a kiss?”
<
br />   He chuckled, and then his lips gently touched hers.

  Jenna’s eyes narrowed, as she stared at him. “You call that a kiss?”

  “Yup.”

  “Well, I think it sucked!” she protested.

  Jenna gasped when he lifted her up and set her back down on his lap. His lips quickly covered hers in a kiss that was powerful enough to peel the paint off the walls. She was breathless, when he gently sat her back down on the seat, and then he stood up and headed for his truck. She still was in shock, but she had to smile when he gave her a jaunty wave as he headed down the long driveway. She groaned, and then got to her feet and headed for her bedroom; it was going to be a long night!

  Jenna spent the next couple of days wandering around the ranch, bored. She’d run out of books to read, and every time she asked Nevin if there was anything she could do, he turned her down. She was so tired of hearing, “Cord would have a fit if I let you do that,” the few times she found something to do in the barn. She was surprised that he let her gather the eggs from the chickens; after all, she might break a fingernail while reaching under them!

  She called Cassie and asked if she could join her in town for lunch, Cassie happily agreed. Jenna was patiently drinking a soda in the diner, when Cassie came hurrying through the door.

  “Sorry I’m late! The ranch has been so busy with branding, it’s hard to get away, since I’m stuck with all the other work.” Cassie apologized when she sat down and picked up the menu. “What are you having?”

  “I think the club sandwich with fries.”

  “Oh, that sounds yummy; I think I’ll have the same.” Cassie set the menu aside and looked closely at her friend. “So, how are you doing?”

  “I’m doing fine. Or, I would be, if Cord would actually let me do something around the ranch. I’m surprised that he even allows me to do the books.”

  “What do you want to do?”

  Jenna looked thoughtful for a moment. “Well, I don’t know. I guess I’d like to check the fence line, round up stray cows, do some ear tagging. You know, just get out there, and do the things they do!”

  “Jenna, you have hired hands to do that.”

  “Well, so does Cord, and he still goes out every day,” she muttered.