The Dangerous Gift by Jane Hunt

weight of her gaze and realized she was waiting for a response. He looked down at her injured ankle, which was still noticeably swollen. “You shouldn’t be working with your sprained ankle. It won’t support you.”
    “It’s much better.” Jen flexed it without even wincing, but a black bruise marred her foot’s fair skin. Jared sat up, and she stilled him with a hand on his chest. “You need to rest. At least take a couple of hours. I can cope. I bet Rod’s out there,” Jen said as she walked into her en suite bathroom and closed the door behind her.
    “Okay, I’ll shower and take a quick nap,” he called after her. Resting would help Jared recharge his emotional batteries before he faced the prospect of Jen leaving him again. They needed to talk about the ranch and more importantly about them. It was a long overdue conversation, but if he let her go without a fight this time, he didn’t deserve to call himself a man.
    When he got over the hurt pride of his parents’ bequest, he understood their motives. They weren’t trying to push him out; they wanted Jen to be financially secure. It was almost as if they wanted them to be together now Jen was an adult and not a headstrong girl. Jared smiled as he recalled his father’s lecture. He had told Jared he would give them his blessing after Jen had seen life outside of the ranch. Jared sighed. Maybe he was reading too much into his parents’ actions. After all, they’d never expected they’d die so young, had they? He walked to his own room and flopped down on the bed. Within minutes, he was asleep.
     
    ***
     
    Jennie
     
    Jennie worked nonstop sorting through the waterlogged bedding, cushions, and curtains and hanging out what she recovered in the sun. Her bruised ankle throbbed constantly. Meanwhile, the ranch hands restored the building’s structure and fittings. The damage to the bunkhouse, although extensive, could be repaired. They pumped water from the dwelling, and the predictably hot Texan sun beat down onto the roof and walls, drying the damp wood. True, it wouldn’t look brand-new, now it was cracked and a little out of shape in places, but she would convince Jared a bunkhouse with weathered wooden floors and beds would make the dude ranch seem more authentic. She could visualize the ranch full of people, all eager to experience Texan ranch life. She wanted to be part of it too. Her business and advertising skills were sound. Her first-class degree in business and media proved that. On the downside, she lacked practical experience, except for her work placements, but she was intelligent, a hard worker, and she would learn on the job. Most importantly, she had made lot of useful contacts. She just needed Jared to see she would be an asset to the new business.
    The hard porch steps provided welcome relief for Jennie’s tired body.
    “Coffee, Jennie?” Rod passed the mug full of steaming-hot liquid into her waiting hands.
    “Thanks, Rod. Is there anything else I can do?” Jennie enjoyed the drink’s burn on her tongue.
    “No thanks. You’re a great help, but we’re about done here.” The ranch manager smiled.
    “I’ll go and check on Jared.” Jennie ignored the inquisitive look that crossed his face. She surmised he was speculating about her relationship with Jared.
    “Ice your ankle while you’re inside.” Rod turned to leave.
    Jennie flexed her bruised ankle, and sharp pain shot up her leg. “Yeah, you’re right, it does hurt a bit.”
    The older man tipped his hat and walked back into the bunkhouse to share his waiting coffee with the other ranch hands. Jennie rose as she sipped her drink greedily.
    “So how’s Hop-along today?”
    Startled by the unexpected deep voice, Jennie’s hand shook the mug and spilled the dark coffee onto the deck.
    “Ryder! I didn’t expect to see you here.” Jennie’s tone was less than welcoming.
    “I heard about Harry. I came to check you’re both okay.” Ryder levered his tall form out