Jenny

by Bobbi Smith

  "Oh, I don't know gunfight in the middle of the street ---a lot of saloons and dance halls maybe a lynching by a mob of angry townsfolk-"

  "We have our fair share of saloons and dance halls, but generally, Durango is a pretty quiet town."

  Aubrey looked a bit disappointed. "Maybe I've been reading too many dime novels."

  They all laughed as Melanie and Aunt Tillie joined them. Tillie and Evelyn were delighted to be reunited and quickly fell into catching up on all that had hap pened since Evelyn had come West with Jenny.

  "The carriage and buckboard are out front," Jenny told them now that they were assembled.

  She led the way to where Tom was waiting. Once the luggage had been loaded, the men climbed up into the buckboard with Tom, while the ladies all rode with Jenny in the carriage. They made their way to the mercantile and spent the better part of an hour there while Rose and the others outfitted themselves.

  Jenny found the shopping trip an adventure in itself, watching her friends pick out hats and boots and other more practical clothing. Rose took the longest and after the others had gone outside, Jenny stayed with her while she finished making her selections. They had often shopped together in Philadelphia and always had a good time.

  "What do you think, Jenny?" Rose asked as she turned to her friend, modeling a white Stetson for her.

  "Try the dark one on," Jenny suggested.

  Her friend did, and they both smiled as they realized it was the perfect hat for her.

  "I think I'll wear it now!" Rose announced, carrying her last selection up to the counter where Jenny had been standing with George Lansing, the owner.

  "Now, Jenny, don't forget we've got the big dance and social coming up Saturday night. We'll be looking forward to seeing you and all your guests there," George told them.

  "This is going to be so much fun. I'm madly in love with Durango already!" Rose declared as she paid for her purchases and then gathered up her bundles and started from the shop.

  "Thank you, Miss Stanford."

  "Thank you, George!"

  Jenny had one thing to pay for, too.

  Rose looked over her shoulder at Jenny to say something as she was making her way toward the open door. She wasn't paying any attention to where she was going, and she gasped as she ran into the solid wall of a man's chest.

  "Oh!"

  Rose's movements were less than graceful as her purchases went flying along with her new hat. She struggled just to stay on her feet, and she was thankful when a pair of strong arms came around her and steadied her.

  "Are you all right, ma'am?" a deep voice asked. Rose looked up into a pair of the most startlingly blue eyes she'd ever seen, and she was instantly mesmerized. A tingle ran though her as she became aware of the warmth of her contact with the hard body of the man gazing down at her. He wasn't tall, but he was solidly built and very attractive. Words failed her. She could only stare at him.

  "Ma'am?" he said again, this time sounding more concerned as if he truly believed she might have been injured in their collision.

  "Rose?" Jenny called, hurrying toward her.

  "Oh, dear "Rose heard herself babble nervously as the man suddenly released her.

  Rose wanted to sway toward her handsome stranger just so he would hold her again, but she realized that would be too outrageous and too obvious.

  "Are you all right?" the man asked.

  "Yes-thank you-I'm sorry-I'm the one who ran into you. Are you hurt?"

  "I've survived worse," the man told her, grinning as he bent to start picking up her strewn parcels. "Here's your hat." He held it out to her.

  Rose reached for it and only then realized that her hand was trembling. That reaction was very unusual for her.

  Jenny looked on, amazed by what she was witnessing. She'd known Rose for a long time and had never seen her act this way around a man before. She hid a grin as she watched her friend struggle to compose herself.

  "Can I help you out to your carriage?" the stranger offered.

  "Why thank you," Rose said breathlessly.

  The stranger stepped back to let her pass before him. He waited for Jenny, too, then followed them outside.

  The carriage and buckboard were waiting for them. He handed the packages up to Tom on the buckboard, then turned to help Rose into the carriage. Jenny had already climbed up to the driver's seat.

  "Thank you, sir. You are a gentleman," Rose said in her most elegant manner.

  "It was my pleasure, ma'am." He tipped his hat to her and was gone, disappearing back into the mercantile.

  "Who was that man?" Rose asked, looking back, craning her neck as they started to drive away.

  "I don't know," Jenny answered. "I've never seen him before."

  "Oh." Rose was disappointed.

  "He certainly was handsome, wasn't he, Rose?" Aunt Tillie remarked.

  "He certainly was," Rose agreed as she put her hat back on. If this was what the Wild West was like, she loved it already.

  Dan Lesseg went back inside the mercantile, this time entering without incident.

  "You have any more wild women in here, George?" he asked with a grin as he made his way down the aisle.

  "No, it's safe now, Dan," the owner answered, laughing with him.

  "Who was that woman?" Dan asked as he came to stand at the counter. "I heard the other woman call her Rose, but I've never seen her around town before."

  "Her name's Rose Stanford. She's from back East," George explained. "That was Jenny Sullivan from the Lazy S with her. Jenny's turning the Lazy S into a guest ranch of some sort, and your Rose is one of her first visitors. She was a pretty one, wasn't she?"

  Dan glanced back toward the doorway, hoping to catch sight of her again, but they'd already driven away. He thought of the dark-haired, dark-eyed beauty and gave an amused shake of his head.

  "Yes, Rose was a pretty one."

  "So how are things at the High Time?" George asked. He knew Dan was the bartender at the saloon.

  "Busy as usual," Dan replied. "I'm heading there now. It's about time to get back to work."

  "I know the feeling," George agreed as more women came in to do their shopping.

  Dan purchased the few things he needed, then started out of the shop. It was as he made his way toward the door that he noticed one of Rose's packages that he'd missed earlier. He picked it up, frowning as he tried to decide what to do.

  "George-" He returned to the counter and explained the situation. "Do you think they'll be back in town for the dance, or should I take it out to the ranch?"

  "I'll take care of it. Don't you worry about it," George assured him.

  Dan left the package with George, thanked him, and went on his way. Still, he couldn't help feeling a little disappointed that he had no excuse to see the lovely Rose again.

  With Jenny driving the carriage and Tom driving the buckboard they made the trek to the Lazy S in good time. Rose had moved up to sit with Jenny on the driver's seat.

  "The scenery is so beautiful. I never dreamed it would be this wonderful," Rose said as they drew near the ranch. "No wonder you wanted to come home."

  "I know. There's just something about Colorado that I love."

  "I understand, and I'm beginning to think I should have told the others it would be two hundred dollars a week instead of just one hundred."

  "What are you talking about?" Jenny asked, puzzled.

  "I guess I forgot to mention it in my letter but I told Richard and Aubrey that it would cost them one hundred dollars a week to come here. I'm sure they'll be paying you once we get to the house. I have our money right here," she said, patting her purse.

  "I didn't expect any of you to pay," Jenny protested.

  "Don't be ridiculous. We're going to be eating your food and living at your ranch. It's costing you money to keep us. It's only fair that we should pay for our room and board."

  "But-"

  "Hush!" Rose cut her off. "If you won't let me pay, we'll leave right now. Alt
hough, I have to tell you, I don't think I want to leave. Just look at this scenery. I can't wait to try to capture that feeling in my photographs!"

  "So you brought all your equipment with you?"

  "Yes. The more pictures I take, the better I can convince people when I get back home of just how wonderful the Lazy S Guest Ranch is. If this ride out to the ranch is any hint of how beautiful things are here, it's going to be easy to sell. Easterners will be flocking to Colorado just to visit you."

  Jenny looked thoughtful. "You know, I enjoyed the time I spent living in Philadelphia, but my heart has always been here."

  "I can certainly understand why. The scenery is breathtaking, and if all the cowboys look as good as the one I ran into at the mercantile, single women will be beating a hasty path to Durango!" Rose laughed. "If I can manage it, I'm going to track that man down and take a photograph of him."

  "I don't know if he's from the area or not," Jenny said thoughtfully, trying to remember if she'd ever seen the man around town.

  "Well, I'll just have to go looking for him. You said there were going to be hunting trips," Rose said, grinning wickedly. "I'll go hunting, but the game I'll be after won't be four-legged!"

  Jenny laughed out loud. "You'd better be careful Aunt Tillie doesn't hear you. She might lock you in your room and not let you out without a chaperon the whole time you're here."

  Rose affected an innocent look. "There would be no need for that. I'm going to behave myself"

  "That'll be unusual," Jenny teased.

  "I want to capture the true flavor of the area. I want to let everyone know what it's really like here," she declared primly. "And my cowboy would be perfect."

  "Your cowboy?" Jenny questioned.

  Rose grinned at her. "I'm calling him mine until I find out he belongs to somebody else."

  As they drew closer to the house, Tillie leaned over to speak to Jenny.

  "So this is your home?" Tillie asked.

  "Yes, and-" Jenny started to explain that they would be staying in the newly renovated guest house when she saw Cole come out onto the front porch.

  She stopped talking, startled by his unexpected appearance. Her pulse began racing, and she was sud denly nervous. Jenny told herself she was certain he was there only for some business reason, but she couldn't deny that her heart had skipped a beat at the sight of him.

  "And just who is that splendid example of Western manhood?" Rose asked breathlessly as she, too, caught sight of Cole. "I tell you Jenny, you do know how to grow good-looking men out here."

  Jenny knew there was no avoiding telling Rose the truth. She had confided in her friend about her broken engagement, and so she blurted out. "That's Cole Randall."

  Rose swung around and stared at Jenny in open disbelief. "That's Cole Randall? The Cole Randall? Your Cole Randall?"

  "Yes."

  "Oh, my," she breathed. "Cole gives my cowboy some real competition."

  "I agree with you," Melanie put in. She'd been quiet for most of the ride, but was eyeing Cole with open interest now, too. "He's the man you were engaged to once, isn't he, Jenny?"

  "That was a long time ago." Jenny tried to sound nonchalant, though she was still a bit breathless. "I think I may have mentioned in my letter to you, Rose, how my father appointed Cole to be the executor of the estate, so we're working together now to keep the ranch going."

  `Working together,' are you?" Rose's eyes were twinkling with devilish delight.

  "Yes, working" Jenny insisted with dignity, although the memory of his forbidden embrace lingered in the back of her mind. She mentally pushed it away, wondering why he had to pick today of all days to show up at the ranch. "Ours is a `business only' relationship."

  "He's been very helpful to Jenny," Evelyn put in. "He even approved of her idea about the guest ranch."

  "Your Cole must be smart then, too. I like that combination in a man," Rose said with delight.

  All laughed, except Jenny, though she did manage a slight smile. She was tempted to correct her friend's idea that Cole was in some way "hers" but didn't bother. Any protest she offered would probably have drawn even more notice than just letting the remark pass.

  Jenny reined the carriage horses in before the house and quickly jumped down.

  "Hello, Cole. Are you here to meet my first guests?" she called out as she looped the reins over the hitching post.

  "Actually, I rode over because I had some papers from Andrew Marsden to deliver to you, but I'm glad to meet your friends," he responded, descending the porch steps to help the other ladies out of the carriage.

  "I'm Rose," Rose announced as she put her hand in Cole's and allowed him to assist her.

  "It's nice to meet you, Rose," Cole said.

  "Why, thank you, sir." She eyed him appreciatively and thought he looked even better up close if that were possible.

  Cole grinned at her.

  Rose found herself automatically smiling back. She instinctively liked this man and found herself wondering how her friend could ever have left him standing at the altar.

  Had she been physically stronger, she would have been tempted to throw him over her shoulder and march off to a preacher with him. Rose wondered where all these wild ideas were coming from. She knew that a lot of people thought her outrageous, but she'd never been this outrageous before. She decided there must be something about Western males that appealed to her, and whatever it was, she liked it-a lot. This was definitely proving to be a wonderful trip, and they had only just arrived.

  "Let's go inside the main house," Jenny directed. She didn't know why watching Rose flirt a little with Cole bothered her, but it did. "Tom, will you see that the luggage is taken over to the guest house?"

  "Yes, ma'am." The ranch hand hurried off to do as he was told.

  Jenny quickly made the introductions. Cole shook hands with Richard and Aubrey, and then they all went inside.

  "I've been expecting you!" Frances announced with delight as she met them in the parlor. "Welcome to the Lazy S.I'm Frances. If you need anything, anything at all, you just let me know."

  As Frances served refreshments, they settled in around the dining room table, and Jenny explained all she had planned for their visit.

  "Do we ever get to rest?" Tillie asked, smiling in amazement at all the activities they could participate in.

  "Don't worry, Tillie," Evelyn laughed. "You and I can just sit up here on the porch of the main house and watch the rest of them having their fun."

  "Now that sounds more like a wonderful, relaxing vacation to me," Tillie agreed.

  "You two can relax all you want, but there's a whole new world out there that I want to explore!" Rose told them, then looked at Jenny. "And I'm very serious about taking a lot of photographs, Jenny. I want to use them to convince everyone back home that they should come to the Lazy S for a visit. Will we be going back into town any time soon?"

  Jenny knew exactly what and who her friend was thinking about. "If you'd like to, we can go to the dance this next weekend."

  "That would be wonderful," Melanie said. She wasn't averse to all the outdoor activities that had been planned, but she would definitely enjoy going to a dance much more.

  "Richard? Aubrey?" Jenny looked at the two men and found Richard's gaze upon her.

  "Of course," Aubrey answered, pleased that there would be something civilized to do.

  "Any time I can take you to a dance, I'm de lighted," Richard told Jenny in an intimate tone that did not go unnoticed. "It gives me an excuse to hold you in my arms."

  She found herself blushing a bit at his bold statement. "We'll plan on going, then."

  Rose casually glanced Cole's way just then and noticed that, although his expression never changed, his jaw tensed during Jenny and Richard's exchange. Since Cole hadn't said a word yet, Rose decided this was as good a time as any to draw him into the conversation.

  "Cole? Will you be attending the dance?"

  "I usually do unless ranch business int
erferes," he answered.

  "Then I will be expecting to dance with you," Rose declared.

  Cole couldn't help smiling at her. He'd never met anyone quite like Rose before. "I'll be looking forward to it."

  "Why don't we go over to the guest house and let you get settled in while Frances fixes a late lunch?" Jenny suggested.

  They all agreed. As they started to get up, Rose looked over at Cole.

  "Will you be staying to eat with us, Cole?"

  Jenny was surprised by her friend's question, but knew she shouldn't have been. Rose was always straightforward, and Jenny had long found it one of her most endearing qualities. If Rose wanted to spend more time with Cole, far be it from Jenny to stand in her way.

  "Cole?" Jenny asked.

  "Thank you, but no. I've got some things I have to attend to. If you'll excuse me, I'll be heading out now." He looked over at Jenny. "I left the envelope with the paperwork from the lawyer in it on the desk in the study. If you've got any questions about it after you've had a chance to read it over, just let me know."

  "Thanks."

  With that, Cole was gone.

  Rose and the others were slower leaving the house, but Rose could still see Cole in the distance as he rode away. She stood for a moment, admiring the powerful yet solitary figure he made. Cole was certainly an intriguing man, and she was determined to learn more about what was going on between him and Jenny.

  "There's a rider coming in!" one of the hands on the Jameson spread shouted to Wayne Jameson when he spotted Cole coming up the road toward the main house.

  Wayne hurried out of the barn to take a look.

  "Shit!" he cursed. "It's that damned Randall!"

  "Miss Mira's going to be happy to see him," the man chuckled.

  "Shut up," Wayne snarled. "Randall's timing is terrible."

  "What do you want us to do?"

  Wayne glanced around to see if anything looked out of place. "Just go on about your business. Where is Mira? Have you seen her lately?"

  "She was up at the house last time I talked to her, but that was a while ago."

  Wayne nodded and headed for the ranch house. No doubt Cole had come to see Mira. From what his sister had been telling him, he had been sniffing at her heels pretty regular lately, and that was good. Cole was rich, and they could use his money.