waited.
Jennie perched on a convenient footstool, Rex at her feet, his gaze fixed on Darleen. “Jared’s out…so…”
“I wanted to talk to you alone. I don’t think you understand.” Darlene tapped her scarlet talons on the chair’s wooden arm.
Jennie hid her short, practical fingernails from the other woman. “Enlighten me.”
“Before the accident, Jared and I discussed an alliance between our ranches.” Darleen examined her perfectly manicured nails.
“Do you mean a merger?” Jennie hoped her poker face hid her disappointment as she absently stroked the dog’s sleek head.
“Not exactly a merger. More a dynasty.” Darleen’s smile was unmistakably feral.
“You’re engaged?” Jennie hated the way her voice trembled. “Why didn’t Jared tell me himself?” Rex whimpered as if he sensed her dismay.
“Nothing will be announced for a few months, out of respect for Annie and Ralf, but by the end of the year, yes, I will be Mrs. Jared Stewart.” Darleen’s gaze, laced with malice, captured Jennie’s and she smiled.
Jennie looked away, speechless. This was far worse than she’d imagined. She’d suspected they were lovers, but marriage was so official and binding. Nausea gripped her as long-held dreams disintegrated. “I’ll make some tea,” she offered, desperate to escape before she broke down. She wouldn’t give the blonde bitch the satisfaction. She couldn’t miss the smug look on the older woman’s face. Rex followed, close at Jennie’s heels.
“I’d rather have coffee if you don’t mind.” Darleen got up and rearranged the ornaments on the shelf above the fire. She never missed an opportunity to exert her assumed authority as the next matriarch of the Unicorn Ranch.
“Coffee, that’s fine. I’ll make some.” Jennie walked quickly from the room despite the dull ache in her ankle, her pride sacrificed for much-needed escape. After a few deep breaths, she calmed down and took comfort in the routine of brewing the coffee in the familiar blue-and-cream kitchen as Rex curled in his bed, watching her with sorrowful eyes. She was angry with Jared for not telling her about his secret engagement. He’d made her look a fool in front of Darleen.
The main door opened and clicked shut. Jared must be back. She didn’t want to see him with Darleen, but her pride wouldn’t let her slip away unseen. Jennie added another cup to the tray and pushed the door open, ready to face the fray.
***
Jared
“How’s Harry?” Darleen’s voice sounded concerned, but her bored gaze darted around the room.
“Shaken and confused but still Harry,” Jared replied, certain Darleen didn’t care about his answer.
“You look like you need a hug.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes as she stood up.
Jared ignored her outstretched arms. “I’m surprised you’re here.”
“Thought I’d check on Jennie.” Darleen avoided his gaze.
Jared didn’t buy it. Selflessness didn’t suit Darleen.
Jen entered with a tray of hot drinks then, looking distressed, her scarlet cheeks a slash of fevered color on her otherwise pale face. Jared sighed. “Why didn’t you make your own coffee, Darleen? You know where everything is. Jen should be resting her ankle.”
Uneasiness flickered across Darleen’s face.
“I guess Harry’s okay if you’re back so soon.” Jen’s voice trembled slightly as it broke the awkward silence, her gaze suspiciously bright, as though she was holding back tears.
“Yes, he should recover without any lasting damage, but he was so tired, I left so he could sleep.” Jared smiled and wished he could protect Jen from Darleen’s spite.
“Good, I’m so pleased he’s on the mend. I’ve made you coffee.” Jen pushed the tray into his hands and left without looking at Darleen or explaining her hasty departure. Jared let her escape. It was the least he could do.
The blonde smiled as her gaze tracked Jen’s exit. As soon as she was out of earshot, Jared slammed
Jennie perched on a convenient footstool, Rex at her feet, his gaze fixed on Darleen. “Jared’s out…so…”
“I wanted to talk to you alone. I don’t think you understand.” Darlene tapped her scarlet talons on the chair’s wooden arm.
Jennie hid her short, practical fingernails from the other woman. “Enlighten me.”
“Before the accident, Jared and I discussed an alliance between our ranches.” Darleen examined her perfectly manicured nails.
“Do you mean a merger?” Jennie hoped her poker face hid her disappointment as she absently stroked the dog’s sleek head.
“Not exactly a merger. More a dynasty.” Darleen’s smile was unmistakably feral.
“You’re engaged?” Jennie hated the way her voice trembled. “Why didn’t Jared tell me himself?” Rex whimpered as if he sensed her dismay.
“Nothing will be announced for a few months, out of respect for Annie and Ralf, but by the end of the year, yes, I will be Mrs. Jared Stewart.” Darleen’s gaze, laced with malice, captured Jennie’s and she smiled.
Jennie looked away, speechless. This was far worse than she’d imagined. She’d suspected they were lovers, but marriage was so official and binding. Nausea gripped her as long-held dreams disintegrated. “I’ll make some tea,” she offered, desperate to escape before she broke down. She wouldn’t give the blonde bitch the satisfaction. She couldn’t miss the smug look on the older woman’s face. Rex followed, close at Jennie’s heels.
“I’d rather have coffee if you don’t mind.” Darleen got up and rearranged the ornaments on the shelf above the fire. She never missed an opportunity to exert her assumed authority as the next matriarch of the Unicorn Ranch.
“Coffee, that’s fine. I’ll make some.” Jennie walked quickly from the room despite the dull ache in her ankle, her pride sacrificed for much-needed escape. After a few deep breaths, she calmed down and took comfort in the routine of brewing the coffee in the familiar blue-and-cream kitchen as Rex curled in his bed, watching her with sorrowful eyes. She was angry with Jared for not telling her about his secret engagement. He’d made her look a fool in front of Darleen.
The main door opened and clicked shut. Jared must be back. She didn’t want to see him with Darleen, but her pride wouldn’t let her slip away unseen. Jennie added another cup to the tray and pushed the door open, ready to face the fray.
***
Jared
“How’s Harry?” Darleen’s voice sounded concerned, but her bored gaze darted around the room.
“Shaken and confused but still Harry,” Jared replied, certain Darleen didn’t care about his answer.
“You look like you need a hug.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes as she stood up.
Jared ignored her outstretched arms. “I’m surprised you’re here.”
“Thought I’d check on Jennie.” Darleen avoided his gaze.
Jared didn’t buy it. Selflessness didn’t suit Darleen.
Jen entered with a tray of hot drinks then, looking distressed, her scarlet cheeks a slash of fevered color on her otherwise pale face. Jared sighed. “Why didn’t you make your own coffee, Darleen? You know where everything is. Jen should be resting her ankle.”
Uneasiness flickered across Darleen’s face.
“I guess Harry’s okay if you’re back so soon.” Jen’s voice trembled slightly as it broke the awkward silence, her gaze suspiciously bright, as though she was holding back tears.
“Yes, he should recover without any lasting damage, but he was so tired, I left so he could sleep.” Jared smiled and wished he could protect Jen from Darleen’s spite.
“Good, I’m so pleased he’s on the mend. I’ve made you coffee.” Jen pushed the tray into his hands and left without looking at Darleen or explaining her hasty departure. Jared let her escape. It was the least he could do.
The blonde smiled as her gaze tracked Jen’s exit. As soon as she was out of earshot, Jared slammed
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