watching out. Just until the danger has passed.”
“Miss Jenna ain’t gonna like this. She won’t want your protection.”
“She won’t know I’m protecting her. I don’t want her to fret about the Wendells or the danger she might be in. She’s had a rough time lately. I don’t want to add to it.
“I’m hoping to convince her to let me stay on until the planting’s done. I owe her, Ben. With my life. And that’s the truth. You folks could use another hand on this farm. I’m hoping to convince Jenna of that.”
“It’s doubtful she’ll be agreeing,” Ben said with a shake of his head.
“That’s where you come in. I’m betting that you want to see Jenna safe. I’m here to do that. I’ll watch out for her, I swear to you. If you could help make her see that you need me here, at least until the planting is done—”
“Well, I don’t know.” Ben scratched his head,a look of indecision on his face. “Jenna has her own mind. You’d best talk to her about it. And…” the old man said, after a moment of contemplation “…and I’ll put a bug in her ear, but I’m making no promises.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
“Fact is, we could use another hand around here.”
“That’s how I see it, too. How…how is Jenna?”
Cash held his breath waiting for the old man’s answer. Ben took his time, darting a glance at the house, then at the rusty axle he was fixing. “Well, now, I won’t lie. She’s been better. Like I said, this is between the two of you. You’d best see for yourself. Go on. Get over to the house. I got work to do up on that barn roof, patching some holes, and I’m losing daylight.”
“Right. I’m going.” Sudden unexpected fear climbed up Cash’s spine. He’d faced many an unholy situation in his time and had come through without a scratch, but somehow, meeting Jenna head-on scared the dickens out of him. One part of him couldn’t wait to see her and the other feared her reaction to seeing him again. He wasn’t a fool. He knew she’d not greet him with a hearty welcome.
Yet he was here to see to her safety. He owed her that. He’d have to find a way to stay on. He’d use every power of persuasion he could muster to make Jenna see that he was needed here.
After he’d left Twin Oaks, he’d felt as though he’d abandoned her as well as Ben and Rosalinda. He’d been a help to them on the farm. He’d seen how much work they’d had to do, knew his being here had made a difference.
Cash headed for the house and worries set in. What if Jenna was sick from carrying his child? What if she was in a bad way? Cash wouldn’t leave her, no matter how much she argued the point.
“Stay here,” he commanded to the mangy dog. Scrappy planted his bottom down, his tail doing a half swish, as if the animal couldn’t decide if staying put was a good thing or not. Cash didn’t take time to unsaddle his mare, Queen, but he did unload one parcel she’d graciously carried on her back from Blackwater. He lifted the package and knocked softly on the front door. When Jenna didn’t answer, Cash walked around to the back door and knocked again. “Jenna.”
No answer again.
Cash turned the knob and quietly let himself in, shoving aside thoughts of Jenna’s reaction when she found him inside her house. He had good reason to be here. “Jenna,” he called out again.
Cash made his way inside the parlor and stopped up short when he caught sight of Jenna Leah Duncan, sprawled out lazily on the sofa, fast asleep. One of Button’s kittens, the orange-and-whitelump of fur Jenna had aptly named Pumpkin, slept curled up right next to her, just under her chin.
Cash stepped back ready to leave the room, but he found himself drawn in by something he didn’t want to put a name to, by something he didn’t want to fight. He set the parcel down then lowered himself onto an old wooden rocker that had seen the last of its rocking days, and waited.
Chapter Seven
A wisp of soft fur
“Miss Jenna ain’t gonna like this. She won’t want your protection.”
“She won’t know I’m protecting her. I don’t want her to fret about the Wendells or the danger she might be in. She’s had a rough time lately. I don’t want to add to it.
“I’m hoping to convince her to let me stay on until the planting’s done. I owe her, Ben. With my life. And that’s the truth. You folks could use another hand on this farm. I’m hoping to convince Jenna of that.”
“It’s doubtful she’ll be agreeing,” Ben said with a shake of his head.
“That’s where you come in. I’m betting that you want to see Jenna safe. I’m here to do that. I’ll watch out for her, I swear to you. If you could help make her see that you need me here, at least until the planting is done—”
“Well, I don’t know.” Ben scratched his head,a look of indecision on his face. “Jenna has her own mind. You’d best talk to her about it. And…” the old man said, after a moment of contemplation “…and I’ll put a bug in her ear, but I’m making no promises.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
“Fact is, we could use another hand around here.”
“That’s how I see it, too. How…how is Jenna?”
Cash held his breath waiting for the old man’s answer. Ben took his time, darting a glance at the house, then at the rusty axle he was fixing. “Well, now, I won’t lie. She’s been better. Like I said, this is between the two of you. You’d best see for yourself. Go on. Get over to the house. I got work to do up on that barn roof, patching some holes, and I’m losing daylight.”
“Right. I’m going.” Sudden unexpected fear climbed up Cash’s spine. He’d faced many an unholy situation in his time and had come through without a scratch, but somehow, meeting Jenna head-on scared the dickens out of him. One part of him couldn’t wait to see her and the other feared her reaction to seeing him again. He wasn’t a fool. He knew she’d not greet him with a hearty welcome.
Yet he was here to see to her safety. He owed her that. He’d have to find a way to stay on. He’d use every power of persuasion he could muster to make Jenna see that he was needed here.
After he’d left Twin Oaks, he’d felt as though he’d abandoned her as well as Ben and Rosalinda. He’d been a help to them on the farm. He’d seen how much work they’d had to do, knew his being here had made a difference.
Cash headed for the house and worries set in. What if Jenna was sick from carrying his child? What if she was in a bad way? Cash wouldn’t leave her, no matter how much she argued the point.
“Stay here,” he commanded to the mangy dog. Scrappy planted his bottom down, his tail doing a half swish, as if the animal couldn’t decide if staying put was a good thing or not. Cash didn’t take time to unsaddle his mare, Queen, but he did unload one parcel she’d graciously carried on her back from Blackwater. He lifted the package and knocked softly on the front door. When Jenna didn’t answer, Cash walked around to the back door and knocked again. “Jenna.”
No answer again.
Cash turned the knob and quietly let himself in, shoving aside thoughts of Jenna’s reaction when she found him inside her house. He had good reason to be here. “Jenna,” he called out again.
Cash made his way inside the parlor and stopped up short when he caught sight of Jenna Leah Duncan, sprawled out lazily on the sofa, fast asleep. One of Button’s kittens, the orange-and-whitelump of fur Jenna had aptly named Pumpkin, slept curled up right next to her, just under her chin.
Cash stepped back ready to leave the room, but he found himself drawn in by something he didn’t want to put a name to, by something he didn’t want to fight. He set the parcel down then lowered himself onto an old wooden rocker that had seen the last of its rocking days, and waited.
Chapter Seven
A wisp of soft fur
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