Jenny (12 page)

"Get what you think you'll need," Cole told her as
he made a mental note to watch for another bill.

She refused to thank him for giving her permission
to spend her own money, but she did nod in his direction. It irked her to have to answer to anyone this
way, but it especially bothered her to get permission
from Cole. Still, he was being amazingly cooperative,
and she appreciated that.

"Have you been thinking about the kind of activities you want to arrange for the guests?" Evelyn
asked.

"Horseback riding would appeal to both men and
women. I think the prospect of hunting and fishing
trips will bring in the most men."

"Let's just hope they know which end of a gun to
use," Cole put in with a grin.

"Just because they'll be Eastern gentlemen doesn't
mean they won't know how to shoot," Jenny said in
defense of the men she imagined would be frequenting her ranch. "There are any number of places I
could take them where they might find suitable
game."

As she considered the best locations on the ranch
to hunt in, an image of the high pasture came to her,
and with it came the memory of her father's accident. Her excitement about her plans vanished as her mood
suddenly darkened.

"Is something wrong?" Frances asked, seeing the
sudden change in Jenny's expression.

"I was just thinking about Papa. It's still so hard
for me to believe that he died that way-all alone,
and in a riding accident. It doesn't make sense to me."

"We were all shocked when we found out what had
happened. It was a terrible thing," Frances sympathized.

"One of these days I'm going to ride up there and
take a look around," Jenny said.

"Is there any reason why you think his death wasn't
an accident?" Cole asked.

"You would know more about that than I would."
Her tone was a bit sharp as she gave vent to some of
the resentment she felt at his closeness to her father
during the time she'd been gone. "The two of you
were close. Was there anything unusual going on? He
was an excellent horseman. What could have happened to him to cause him to lose his seat and fall
that way?"

Cole couldn't imagine why anyone would want to
harm Paul. "Your father was very well liked in town.
He didn't have any enemies that I ever knew about.
There wasn't anyone who wished him harm. And as
far as trouble in the area, the only thing that's been
going on is the rustling, and everybody has been hit
equally."

"What about Indians? Were there any raids or
groups off the reservation?"

"No. Everything's been quiet. There's been no
trouble that way at all."

They all fell silent for a moment as they each remembered Paul in his own way-as friend-as
brother-as father.

Evelyn and Frances changed the topic then, wanting to lighten the conversation. The rest of the dinner
passed easily.

"Thanks for the delicious meal," Cole said as he
stood to leave.

"I'll be in touch."

They said good night, and he left the house as
Frances began clearing the table.

When Evelyn was certain that Cole was out of earshot, she smiled sweetly at Jenny. "We're very fortunate that Cole's the one your father chose to be
executor."

"You really think so?"

"Oh, yes. Not everyone would be as supportive of
your trying something so new and outlandish as a
guest ranch."

"I know. I was worried when I first talked to him.
I was afraid he'd refuse to approve the money. I don't
know what I would have done if that had happened."

"Well, it didn't. Cole's a good man. But, you know,
you still seem uncomfortable around him," Evelyn
said. "Is there something wrong? Has he said anything to you or done anything that has upset you?"

"Oh, no." For some reason, she found herself coming quickly to Cole's defense. "He's been a perfect
gentleman-for all that I'm sure he resents every
minute he has to spend with me."

"I thought Cole was being most helpful, especially
today working on the roof with you like that. Somehow I have trouble picturing either Mr. Marsden or
Mr. Stevens pitching in and helping out with manual
labor if one of them had been appointed your executor."

"You're right." The mental image of the lawyer or
banker on the rooftop made Jenny smile. She stood
up and started from the dining room. "I'll be back in
a minute."

She followed Cole from the house. She hoped to
catch him before he rode away. She wanted to thank
him again for his support of her daring endeavor.

Cole was already mounted up and about to leave
when Jenny came outside.

"Cole?" she called quietly as she stood at the porch
railing.

He was surprised by her appearance, and he wondered what she wanted. "Is something wrong? Did
you need something else before I go?"

Cole sounded so terse that she almost changed her
mind about thanking him. Instead, telling herself that
it was important they keep a good working relationship, she forged ahead.

"No, I don't need anything else. I just wanted to
tell you how much I appreciate your help today and your support of my plan for the guest ranch."

Imitating some of the businessmen she'd seen in
Philadelphia, she left the porch and approached Cole.

His gaze narrowed as he watched Jenny coming
toward him. He wondered what she was up to. He
was taken by surprise when she stopped beside him
and reached up, offering him her hand in a very businesslike handshake.

"Thanks, Cole."

There was no way he could refuse to take her hand.
He leaned forward, his big hand enveloping her
smaller one in a firm, warm grasp. Cole tried not to
notice how delicate she seemed or how smooth her
skin was to his touch. He released her hand as quickly
as he could and straightened in the saddle.

"You're welcome. Just have the rest of the bills
sent to me and I'll see that they're paid."

She nodded, feeling a bit sorry that all they had to
talk about was business and money. She remembered
another time when they used to laugh and have fun
together.

Cole rode off and Jenny remained standing where
she was, watching until he'd passed out of sight and
marveling that the simple touch of his hand had sent
a shiver down her spine.

It was dark when Cole finally reached the Branding
Iron. Though his house wasn't as spacious as the Sullivan place, it was his home and looked good to him.

Cole was surprised to see that his front parlor was
lit up. Usually whenever he wasn't around for the
evening meal, Fred, the hand who doubled as his
cook, just stayed in the bunkhouse and left the house
dark. Cole was curious, so instead of riding to the
stable first, he went straight to the house to investigate.

"Cole at last! You're back." Mira Jameson came
hurrying out the front door to greet him.

"Mira? What are you doing here?"

Cole was surprised to find her there. He had last
spoken to her in town a few weeks ago when he'd
escorted her to a social, but he'd had no opportunity to see her since. Life and Jenny-had interfered.

He supposed Mira was pretty enough with her
blond hair and shapely figure, but he had no intention
of regularly courting her or anyone else in town. He
and Mira got along well. He enjoyed the time they
spent together, but that was where it ended for Cole.
He had no interest in a serious relationship with any
woman.

"I've been missing you, Cole Randall, and thought
I'd just come by for a visit. Aren't you glad to see
me?"

Mira smiled seductively at him as she closed the
distance between them. Without any invitation, she
looped her arms around his neck and pulled him down
for a hungry kiss. She wanted Cole had wanted him
for ages-and she intended to get him, one way or
another. She'd been trying to seduce him for some
time. She had managed to maneuver him into several
passionate encounters, but she'd never been able to
break his self-control. He was proving to be quite a
challenge, and she was the type of woman who loved
challenges.

Mira's plan was simple. All she wanted to do was
make love to him once and then a few weeks later
claim that she was carrying his child-whether she
was pregnant or not. She was certain that Cole would
marry her without question, and they would live happily ever after.

Mrs. Cole Randall-

The thought encouraged her. She deepened the kiss, pressing herself even more tightly against him,
loving the feel of his hard body against her. She had
considered waiting naked for him in his bed, but she
hadn't been certain that he would respond to so blatant and outrageous a seduction. He was a man who
liked to be in control, so she knew she had to appeal
to that part of him. She had to let him conquer her.
With that in mind, she gave a throaty laugh and drew
away from him.

"I am so glad you finally got here, Cole," Mira
said. "I've been waiting for you since this afternoon."

"I had some business to take care of," he answered
noncommittally. Mira's kiss was enjoyable enough,
but he wasn't in the mood especially after spending
the afternoon with Jenny.

"Well, you're home now and that's all that matters.
Fred fixed dinner earlier. I can warm something up
for you, if you'd like?"

"No. I already ate."

He started indoors, and she fell in beside him, daring to take his arm as they walked. She pressed it to
the side of her breast in a seemingly innocent move.

"The reason I came to see you is that I just heard
that the Women's Solidarity is going to have a dance
in a few weeks, and I couldn't wait to tell you. We
had such fun at the last social that I'm really looking
forward to this one."

Cole found himself putting her off, although he
wasn't sure why. "I'll have to wait until it's closer to
the time before I'll know if I can make it or not."

At his statement, Mira's suspicions were confirmed. Cole was always ready for a good time, but
now he was being evasive. She'd heard talk that Cole
had been named Paul Sullivan's executor and that
Jenny had come back to town. It looked like Jenny
Sullivan was going to interfere in her life again.

Hatred for the other woman filled Mira. She had
despised Jenny for most of her life. Jenny had always
been rich, while her own family had had to work hard
for their money. It seemed to Mira that she had been
in love with Cole forever, but Jenny was the woman
Cole had proposed to. When Jenny had walked out
on him at the wedding, Mira had been completely
shocked. She didn't understand how any woman
could not want Cole. She'd been trying to win his
love ever since Jenny had gone, but he'd made it plain
he wasn't going to get involved with anyone again.
That was why she'd come up with her plan to trap
him, and she was going to enjoy every minute of the
trapping!

When Mira had learned that things were going
badly on the Lazy S, it had given her great satisfaction. Jenny Sullivan deserved every miserable, rotten thing that happened to her, but now that her rival
had come back, Mira was upset. The farther Jenny
stayed from Durango and Cole-the happier Mira
would be.

Mira wondered suddenly if Cole had been over at
the Sullivan place. She was tempted to ask, but didn't.
She had her own ways of finding things out.

Damn that woman! Thoughts of Jenny's return enraged Mira and made her all the more determined to
lure Cole to her bed. If she could manage it, she was
going to arrange to spend the night at the Branding
Iron tonight. Surely, if she was alone with him, she
could arouse him enough to get him to make love to
her.

Mira knew her father had started drinking earlier
in the day and had passed out by late afternoon. He'd
never miss her if she stayed away all night, and her
brother was off whoring in town someplace, so she
was free to do whatever she pleased-and it pleased
her to be there with Cole.

Cole's mood had not been good on the ride home,
and finding Mira waiting for him didn't improve it
any. He needed some time alone. He stopped at the
front door, hesitant to take her inside with him.

"Was there something else you needed, Mira?" He
wasn't sure why she had stayed on so late waiting for
him. The news of the upcoming social was not that
exciting or important to make her so vigilant.

"Only to see you again," she said seductively.

She stopped and turned to look up at him. She gave
him her most enticing look, wanting him to take her
in his arms and kiss her. When he didn't respond
immediately, she kept her disappointment hidden.

"As late as it is..."

Cole was not in the mood to be with anyone tonight, not after having held Jenny that afternoon, and
he was certainly not going to get seriously involved with another female. He knew that was what Mira
wanted marriage.

"I know it's late. If I'd realized you were going to
be gone so long, I wouldn't have stayed on. Now that
it's dark, though, do you think I should head home
alone or spend the night here with you?" She made
the question sound innocent.