Coming Home To The Cattleman. Judy Christenberry

Together they put the clothes in the laundry and started them washing.

      “So, are you ready to go?” Rachel asked.

      “Yes, I am. I have a lot to buy if I’m going to fit in here,” Jenny answered. The ribbon had given her a ray of hope that things would be okay between her and her father, and Jenny was determined to do anything she could to make that happen.

      In McAffee, they found the store Jennifer was looking for. She purchased four pairs of jeans, some boots, a cowboy hat, some shirts, socks and a jean jacket and work gloves.

      “My goodness, you’re buying a lot. Can you afford all this?” Rachel asked.

      “Yes, I can, Rachel,” Jennifer said, bringing out a credit card. “I want to be prepared for anything.”

      “I think you’ve got everything you’ll possibly need.”

      “Me, too.”

      They returned home and put the men’s clothes in the dryer and then added a new load of clothes consisting of her new jeans, shirts and socks.

      “When those clothes are finished, you’ll look like a real cowgirl,” Rachel said.

      “I hope so. I felt a little conspicuous out there yesterday.” Jennifer closed her eyes, imagining herself dressed in her new clothes, riding on her horse. An image of Jason riding next to her flashed into her head, and she felt that same prickle of electricity she had earlier.

      “Jenny? What are you doing?” Rachel asked with an amused look on her face.

      Jennifer couldn’t hold back a smile. “Just imagining me on my horse, looking like a real cowboy.”

      “Don’t forget you’re a cowgirl, not a cowboy.”

      “I know, I can’t wait! Now, is there anything else I need to do in the house for you?”

      “No, I think you did everything. I can do the rest of it this afternoon.”

      “Ok, I guess I should go and send some e-mails then and let people know I’m okay.”

      “You have friends in New York City?” Rachel asked, frowning.

      “Yes, I do. I might have been lonely at home, but I didn’t live in a vacuum, you know.”

      “Are you close to any of them?”

      “Yes, some of them,” Jenny answered, and ducked her head. One of her “friends” was a man called Shane Packard. She’d known Shane for a long time and they had begun a relationship, but Shane had wanted more than she’d been able to offer. Jenny liked Shane, and if things had worked out differently in New York who knows what might have happened, but then her mom had died and Jenny had told him she had to go back to Oklahoma before she agreed to anything else.

      “Is there anyone special back in New York?” Rachel asked.

      That was a question Jenny didn’t really know the answer to. “Yes,” she said, determined to be honest. “Sort of, but I had to come here first, before I made any real decisions.”

      “Why?”

      “Because I believed it was important to me to find myself. For too many years I longed to return to Oklahoma. I had to find out if I had a place here, a home. I had a life in New York, but it always felt like part of me was missing. I have to give things a chance here, before I give it up for something or someone else.”

      “Are you going to give it a chance, Jenny? Or are you going to have a little vacation and then go back to your old life?”

      “I’m trying to find myself, Rachel. I need to know my father.”

      “Don’t break his heart, Jenny,” Rachel pleaded.

      “I’m not trying to,” Jenny answered, but wondered how safe her heart was, too.

      Jason figured Sam was thinking about his daughter. He didn’t participate much in working the herd. In fact, at times he didn’t appear to even know there were cows in front of him.

      In spite of the young woman’s behavior yesterday, Jason felt that she wouldn’t stay here long. She may have started here, but she wouldn’t stay. He was glad, because then they could get back to their normal routine, keeping the ranch showing a profit and each day just like the one before it.

      Of course, that wasn’t true. Each day on the ranch was different, but at least they wouldn’t have to deal with the prodigal child. Jason knew his share in the ranch was safe. Sam wouldn’t take that away from him, but Jason was concerned about Sam; with his mental health, if nothing else. How would he handle himself if his daughter returned to New York?

      She wouldn’t stay. Jason knew that. She appeared well educated, smart, but he thought she seemed to be hiding some things. She didn’t talk much, that was for sure, and it made her hard to read. He just had a feeling that she’d return to New York and big-city life just as soon as she could.

      Hell! He was thinking about Jennifer a lot today, maybe just as much as Sam was. How could he not think about her? Every meal they took she sat there across from him, looking pretty in her smart clothes and big blue eyes. She was helping Rachel at every turn, and it was hard not to notice how she moved around the kitchen, elegantly and calmly, like a proper lady. It was impossible not to think about her.

      Maybe he should have lunch with the cowboys in the bunkhouse. No, that wouldn’t do any good. He’d just spend his time wondering what was happening back at the ranch house and whether Jenny’s sweater brought out the color of her eyes. And, of course, Jason added, he’d be wondering whether Sam needed him.

      Just then Sam called to him, interrupting his thoughts. “It’s lunchtime. Tell the guys over on the other side to head for the bunkhouse.”

      Jason waved his acknowledgment. With a shout, he let the guys know and watched as they headed for the bunkhouse. They used to not break for lunch, but they decided the men would work harder for the entire day, if they took that time off.

      When he reached the barn, Sam was just there ahead of him. “Do you think Jenny will ride out with us this afternoon?” Sam asked.

      Jason shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know, Sam. She thinks she upset you last night. She said she just mentioned talking to Buster. Anything you want to talk about?”

      Sam ran his hands over his face and looked into the distance. “I did get spooked a little when she mentioned Buster, but it had nothing to do with Jenny. She asked me if I remembered him taking care of her when she was a little girl. Like I could ever forget. I remember everything about her being on the ranch, Jason, and her being here now just makes me think about that time all the more.”

      Jason looked at Sam and could see the turmoil the man was going through. He knew there was still a lot to sort out between him and Jennifer, despite his misgivings about the woman. He continued, “Well, I heard that she and Rachel were going to go shopping this morning. Maybe she enjoyed that too much to want to go out this afternoon.”

      “Shopping? In McAffee?”

      “Doesn’t compare to New York City, I know, but she might be having withdrawal symptoms. Or maybe they went to Oklahoma City to shop.”

      “Well if they did go to Oklahoma City, they won’t be home for lunch, so riding will probably be out.”

      All Jason could think about was Jennifer shopping until she dropped in Oklahoma City. At least her city ways would let Sam know that she couldn’t adjust to living on the ranch again.

      When they eventually got back to the ranch, Jennifer’s rental car was in its place, which told them she was either back or she’d found another way to reach good shopping.

      Jason still held out hope that she’d leave the ranch behind, but there she was, perfectly at home in the kitchen with Rachel. But this time there was a big difference. Looking at Sam, Jason knew they were