Read Online Jenny Cussler's Last Stand by Bess McBride - Free Book Online

when he looked in her direction. Celia!
    Kate squeezed Jenny’s hand as her name was called out.
    “Kate Wilson! You’re with Clint Hastings and Auntie Martha.”
    Kate gasped and turned to Jenny with a grin. “Oh, I am so going to cut you out of the action. I’ll let you know all about him.” She waggled her eyebrows.
    “Don’t you dare,” Jenny warned her, horribly aware that she was only slightly kidding. It was bad enough Celia was by his side.
    “Watch me! We’ll be eating supper tonight together, he and I!” Kate grinned mischievously and walked off. Jenny watched her walk up to the group and thrust a bold hand out toward Clint who returned her smile and shook her hand. Jenny turned and surveyed the now dwindling group of people not yet assigned to a family. She hoped she hadn’t been forgotten. It would be so embarrassing to be standing there without a family.
    Several other names were called out, until there were only two or three people unassigned. Jenny knew a moment of panic as she felt once again like the little girl who stunk at sports and was always the last to be called to a team. Her face burned, and she dropped her head to study the tips of her hiking boots. She doubted anyone stared at her. The large crowd milling about their leaders seemed intent on introducing themselves to each other.
    “Jenny Cussler. You’re with John Glover and Auntie Sara!”
    Jenny’s eyes involuntarily flew up toward Clint, who gave her a stricken look.
    “Custer?” someone shouted. She heard a titter of laughter.
    “No, not Custer. Cussler.” Gary voiced loudly. He called out the last three names as the laughter died down. “Okay, that’s it. Everyone should have a family. See me if your name hasn’t been called.”
    Kate turned and gave Jenny a pout and a shrug. Jenny took a leaden step in the direction of the man introduced as John Glover, who appeared to be counting his flock. She kept her eyes averted from Clint lest he see something in her face she couldn’t hide—the intense feeling of disappointment that took her by surprise. She found it hard to believe that only three hours ago she’d never even known of Clint’s existence, and now here she was about to wallow in some sort of funky despair because she wouldn’t be in his presence eight hours a day. She plastered a smile on her face and pressed forward.
    “Wait,” Clint appeared at her side and grabbed her arm. “Just wait here.”

Chapter Six
    Jenny froze in place while Clint moved away through the crowd and approached John Glover and Auntie Sara. He leaned down to talk to the elders for a moment. When both brown and weathered faces turned eyes on her, Jenny knew she was the topic of a discussion, and she wished herself safely under one of the large boulders surrounding the fire pit. She dropped her eyes and kicked the dusty ground at her feet.
    When she raised her eyes again, the elders were nodding and smiling at her. She smiled back and took another step forward toward the group. What had Clint said?
    Clint returned to her side and blocked her forward motion.
    “No, not there. You’re in my group now.”
    “What!” she squeaked. She looked past his tall form to see John Glover and Auntie Sara had returned to the business of meeting their family members. Jenny tilted her head and eyed him suspiciously.
    “What did you do that for? What did you say to them?”
    Clint rubbed the back of his neck with a rueful expression. He shrugged lightly. “I’m not sure why I did that. You looked...” He appeared to search for words.
    “What?” she demanded as she dropped her eyes and kicked more dirt.
    “I don’t know,” he answered in a harried tone. “Lost?”
    She raised her eyes at that. “Lost? I wasn’t lost! I would have been happy to go with Mr. Glover and Auntie Sara. Really! You don’t need to babysit me here.”
    “I’m not trying to babysit you. I just thought...” He trailed off helplessly. “I’m not sure what I was