Jenny (35 page)

With an effort, Rose put the sadness from her. This
was Jenny's wedding day. She would be happy for
her friend. She would celebrate her joy.

Rose vowed to herself, though, that before she left
for Philadelphia in two days, she would make the time
to seek out Dan. She was determined do it, even if
she had to go into the High Time Saloon again to find
him. She planned to tell him good-bye and give him
and Fernada copies of their pictures.

If nothing else, once she'd gone, Dan would have
the picture to remember the time they had together.

"With this ring I thee wed," Cole repeated what the
minister had instructed as he slipped the plain gold
band on Jenny's finger.

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you
man and wife," Reverend Ford intoned solemnly over
them. "Cole, you may kiss your bride."

Cole needed no further urging. He turned to Jenny
and drew her to him, kissing her. It was a cherishing
exchange that only hinted at the passion to come.
Jenny enjoyed his kiss, but couldn't wait to be alone
with him to more fully explore that passion. They'd
already agreed to travel to the Branding Iron for their
wedding night. They knew they would have more privacy there.

When Cole ended the kiss, everyone in the parlor
rushed forward to congratulate them, and the men on
the porch let out a cheer.

Frances had planned a party and had set up tables
outside. Everyone headed that way, wanting to celebrate.

"I get you first," Rose insisted as Cole and Jenny
started outside. "Come on over here. We've got
everything all set up."

Cole and Jenny were surprised to find that she'd
set up her camera in a sunny area and was ready to
take their photograph.

"Thank you, Rose! What a wonderful idea!" Jenny
hugged her impulsively.

Jenny and Cole stood still patiently for Rose as she worked her magic, and then they went to join the
others who were already celebrating.

It was a joyous time, a loving time.

"I never thought I would see this day, although I
always knew a marriage between them would be perfect," Frances said to Louie and Evelyn, her voice
strained with heartfelt emotion.

"They'll do well together," Louie said.

"Yes, they will," Evelyn agreed. She watched as
her niece gazed adoringly up at Cole. Evelyn was
delighted that they had found true happiness at last.

Jenny saw Rose standing by herself and slipped
away from Cole for a moment. She sought out her
friend, wanting to thank her for all her moral support
and help.

"Rose - I would have given up hope without you,"
she told her, kissing her cheek.

Rose grinned. "I'm just glad you two are together
the way you were always meant to be."

"So am I." Jenny looked over toward Cole. "So
what are you going to do about Dan?"

Rose was shocked. She hadn't thought anyone had
noticed her distress. "There's not much I can do. I
don't know what happened. We had a wonderful time
together, and then suddenly he couldn't wait to get
away."

"Are you planning to give up without a fight?"
Jenny asked.

"No. I was thinking I'd go see him at the High
Time once more before I go home."

"Good. Do you love him?" Jenny asked bluntly.

Rose looked deeply thoughtful. "I'm not sure. I've
never been in love. How do you know?"

"You know you're in love when that person means
more to you than anything in the whole world and
you want his happiness more than your own. I can't
imagine a life without Cole now. I want to be with
him always."

"I know what I shared with Dan was special. But
we're so different. What do we have in common?"

"Love? It does conquer all. Do you care about him
enough to change for him? To give up something for
him?"

"I don't know..." She was hesitant, trying to sort
out the truth of her feelings.

"That's the question you have to answer. No one
can answer it for you. Look in your heart. You'll
know."

Cole came to claim her then. "It's about time to go
if we're going to make it to the ranch before dark."
Jenny looked up at him and said breathlessly, "I'm
ready."

Cole certainly knew he was more than ready to
leave. The sooner he was alone with Jenny, the we'd
better.

"Good-bye, Rose," Cole said as he escorted his
bride to the waiting carriage.

"Think about what I said," Jenny called back as
Cole lifted her into the vehicle.

Everyone waved and cheered again as they headed
out.

Cole reined in at the cemetery and helped Jenny
down. Together they paid a quiet visit to her parents'
graves and to Gene's. He'd been buried there late the
day before. After a long moment, they started on their
way again, their moods brightening in the glow of
their love.

When as they were out of sight, of the ranch, Cole
reined the horses in and turned to Jenny. Without a
word, she knew what he wanted. They came together
in a blazing embrace, hungry for each other, no longer
wanting to be denied. Cole pulled her against him as
his mouth claimed hers again and again. Jenny was
as eager as Cole, and she met him in each ardent kiss.
She wanted him desperately and could hardly wait to
experience the true beauty of his love.

"If this was a bigger carriage, you'd be in trouble
right now," he growled as he controlled his raging
passion.

"I think I'd like to be in trouble with you," she told
him.

He urged the team on again, at an even faster pace.
He'd waited his whole life for this night. He could
hardly wait to get to the Branding Iron and carry her
over the threshold.

Jenny sat close beside him and daringly rested her
hand on his thigh as he drove the carriage. She felt
him tense beneath her hand and smiled to herself at
his reaction. It pleased her to know that she could excite him with just a simple touch. She had never
fully understood the power of a woman, but she was
learning.

The sun was just setting as they reached Cole's
ranch. When Cole had sent for his suit to wear today,
he'd let Fred know about the wedding and his plans
for their wedding night. He could see Fred now, waiting on the porch for him as he stopped at the hitching
rail.

"Evening, Mr. and Mrs. Randall," Fred said, grinning from ear to ear at the sight of them.

"Good evening, Fred," Jenny greeted him as Cole
started to lift her down from the carriage.

"I told the boys about the wedding, and we're all
real happy for you," Fred went on. "We'll make sure
you're not interrupted tonight."

"Good," Cole said firmly.

"You can put me down," Jenny said.

"Not yet," he answered, swinging her up into his
arms.

Fred hastily got out of Cole's way as he strode for
the front door.

"I have to carry my bride over the threshold," Cole
insisted. He opened the door and stepped through. He
didn't put her down until after he'd claimed a warm
kiss.

"Good night, Cole," Fred called from out on the
porch.

He wasn't the least bit surprised when Cole didn't answer but simply kicked the door shut behind them.

"Lucky man," he said to himself as he started out
to the bunkhouse to give the men the news that the
boss was home with his bride.

Jenny gave a throaty laugh as the door slammed shut
behind them. "Don't you think you should lock it?"
she asked.

"They wouldn't dare interrupt me tonight," Cole
replied, heading straight for his bedroom with her in
his arms.

"I can walk, you know."

"I don't want to risk you running away from me,"
he told her, a teasing glint in his eyes.

"The only place I'd run would be right back to
you," Jenny told him, then tugged him down to her
for a quick kiss as he kept walking.

Cole reached his bedroom and finally had to put
her down so he could light a lamp. Jenny stared about
the room, taking in the dark, heavy furniture that gave
it a very masculine feeling. The bed was wide and looked comfortable. She was going to enjoy finding
out just how comfortable that very night.

As she stared at the bed, though, a memory she had
long denied returned with a vengeance. All too clearly
she remembered Mira talking about how she'd been
in Cole's bed. A shudder of disgust racked her, and
her joyous expression faded.

"What is it?" Cole asked. He had looked back at
her and seen the sudden change in her.

"Nothing-" she lied, wanting to just forget it.

Cole was too attuned to her, though, and he knew
something was troubling her deeply. "Jenny-we're
married now. We're man and wife. If something's
bothering you, you need to tell me. I can't make
things better if I don't know what's wrong."

He'd expected to turn away from lighting the lamp,
sweep her up in his arms, and lay her on the bed.
He'd wanted to make love to her right then-quickly,
urgently. But this was more important-something
that had to be resolved first. They had to learn to
always be honest with each other.

Jenny saw the earnestness in Cole's expression.
She knew she would never find the joy she'd hoped
for in his arms tonight if she didn't tell him about her
conversation with Mira.

"Jenny," he said more softly. "Tell me what's troubling you."

"It's It's Mira." She watched his expression carefully as she spoke, wanting to see if he was going to
try to lie to her or hide anything from her.

"What about Mira?" Cole was confused. He
frowned. He had no idea why Jenny would be worrying about the other woman on this, their wedding
night.

"She told me," Jenny answered simply.

"Told you what?"

She swallowed tightly. She looked at the bed again
and then back at Cole. "She told me about you."

Suddenly he began to understand what had happened. He knew Mira far too well and could just
imagine what she'd done. "And just what did Mira
tell you about `us'?"

"She told me she knew how comfortable your bed
was and-"

Cole gave a shake of his head and swore under his
breath. "When did she tell you this?"

"At the social."

"I don't doubt it. She was probably jealous," he
said tightly.

"But is it true?" She had to know.

"Jenny, if we're going to have a happy marriage,
it's going to start right now with you trusting me.
Mira and I have never meant anything to each other.
I was her escort to several social functions, but any
relationship between us never went further than a kiss.
I've never been serious about her or any other
woman. I've only been serious about you."

"How could she have been in your bed?"

"One night right after you came back to Durango,
I came home to the ranch to find her here waiting for me. I had no intention of getting involved with anyone, and she knew it. It was late, though, and a storm
came up. Mira said the weather was too bad and it
was too late for her to ride back home, so I invited
her to spend the night."

"Oh."

As aggressive as Mira was, Jenny could only imagine what had happened between them.

Cole could see where Jenny's thoughts were going,
and he spoke up sharply. "Don't even think it, Jenny.
Mira has always been far more interested in me than
I've been in her-especially since you've been back
in town. I fixed the guest room for her and then I
went and spent the night with the boys in the bunkhouse. Fred and the others are my witnesses. You can
go ask them right now, but I swear what I'm telling
you is the truth."

"Really?"

"Really. I wasn't about to set myself up for trouble
that night, and I had a feeling Mira was going to be
trouble. If she told you she was in my bed, she might
have come in here during the night, but I wasn't here.
If she was in my bed, she was in it alone." Cole met
Jenny's gaze and held it with his own as he solemnly
told her, "I give you my word on that."

Jenny gazed at the man she loved and knew he was
telling the truth. She went to him and looped her arms
around his neck, drawing him down to her for a passionate kiss.

"I love you, Cole Randall."

"And I love you."

"Let's make new memories for me in your bed,"
Jenny said with a throaty laugh.

"I like the way you think, woman."

They moved together to the bed.

"I want to see you tonight, Jenny all of you," he
murmured as he pressed heated kisses to her throat,
then moved up to reclaim her lips.

Cole began to unfasten the buttons at the back of
her gown as he continued to kiss her.

Jenny did not stand idly before him. She, too, was
eager to know the full joy of loving him. She helped
him shed his jacket and then worked feverishly to
unbutton his shirt. She finished her task before Cole
and slipped her hands inside to caress the hardmuscled width of his chest. He was hot and sleek,
and she loved the way he felt beneath her touch.
Jenny pressed her lips to his chest, and she couldn't
help smiling a bit when Cole groaned. She had never
been so brazen with him before, and she was loving
the freedom of being able to touch him and hold him
and caress him.