Jenny Read Online Free PDF

and to the ranch,
there could be no hiding from it any longer. She had
to face the reality of her situation she had to face
the truth, whether she wanted to or not.
    Her father was dead.
    "I'll be with you every moment, darling," Evelyn
promised. She was devoted to her niece and thankful
that they'd had these last few years to grow closer.
She knew Jenny would need all her love and support
to get through the heartbreak and devastation of her
unexpected loss.
    Jenny gave her aunt a grateful look and then turned
to look out the window as the train finally came to a
full stop. The trip home had seemed to last an eternity. There had been moments crossing the plains
when she'd wondered if they'd ever get there, but
now it was over. They had arrived in Durango.
    The sight of the familiar surroundings suddenly left
Jenny aching for the past for the warmth of her fa ther's embrace for the security of a loving home
for her lost innocence.

    She was home-
    At long last, she was home
    Jenny swallowed tightly and struggled for control.
    "We're here," she said in a pained voice.
    Evelyn said nothing but reached out and took her
niece's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
    Jenny stared intently out the window, searching the
crowd gathered at the station for some sign of her
father. Logically, she knew he wouldn't be there.
Logically, she knew she would never see him again.
But there were moments in life when the heart and
soul ignored logic. For just an instant longer, she allowed herself to pretend that he might be there.
    And then she saw Louie.
    Louie was the one who had come for her.
    Louie was there waiting for her not her father.
    Her father would not he coming for her not today,
and not ever again.
    The pain in Jenny's heart as she finally accepted
the brutal truth was devastating. She longed for the
anger that had sustained her moments earlier, but
could find no trace of it. There was only deep, abiding
sorrow in her soul.
    Evelyn knew what Jenny was feeling. She, too, had
been brokenhearted at the news of her brother's death.
"Do you see anyone from the ranch?"
    "Yes-Louie's here." Her words were choked.
    "Are you ready?"

    Jenny only nodded, not trusting herself to say anything more. She stood and started from the rail car.
Evelyn gathered her few belongings and followed.
    The conductor was waiting to help them descend
from the car, and Jenny allowed him to assist her. He
handed her down, and Jenny stepped out onto the
platform.
    She was home. She was in Durango.
    She was unprepared for the rush of memories that
returned as she looked around the station. The last time
she was there had been on the night of her "wedding,"
when she'd left town quickly and quietly on the late
train. Images of all that had happened that day surged
in her thoughts-visions of Cole-first, the way he'd
looked standing so tall and proud before the minister
in church waiting to marry her, and then later, the
way he'd looked so dark and dangerous when he'd
stalked from her hotel room and never looked back.
She remembered her father's confusion over her refusal to go through with the wedding, and his anger
over her desire to go back East to school. Ultimately,
though, she remembered how he had supported her
decision to leave. She'd known that he'd disapproved
of what she wanted to do, but he hadn't stood in her
way. He had loved her enough to let her go.
    Jenny glanced nervously around the crowded station, dreading the possibility that Cole might have
come with Louie to meet her train. She wasn't ready
to see Cole Randall, and she truly hoped that she
would never have to. Only when she saw that the ranch foreman was making his way through the crowd
alone did relief sweep through her.

    "Louie-" She went to greet the older man and was
swept into a warm bear hug.
    "Jenny, girl, it's good you're home," he said, his
voice tight with heartfelt emotion.
    Jenny clung to his strength and support. Louie and
Frances