Charlene Sands by Winning Jennas Heart Read Free Book Online

managed until the last big storm.”
    “What happened then?”
    Jenna hesitated. Aside from Ben and Rosalinda, she hadn’t spoken of this to anyone. Blue had known because she’d written to him about it, but he didn’t remember anything that had happened to her. Yet, she sensed his compassion now and his need to know. She wouldn’t deny him.
    Wrapped in his arms, she leaned more heavily against him. With a resigned sigh, Jenna began. “It was about a year ago. There was a storm just like this one, pounding down on the roof, the wind whipping everything about. I worried over the animals,so I took off running and made my way to the barn. I had to latch it closed so that the wind wouldn’t rip open the doors. Instantly, I knew I wasn’t alone. There was a man inside my barn…a stranger with small eyes and a wicked smile. I screamed when I saw him, but he rushed over to me and covered my mouth, telling me to shut up.”
    Blue went tight. She felt the muscles on his arms clench around her. “Did he hurt you?”
    “No, but he would have. I believe he would have really hurt me. He was angry and asked me if he was at Twin Oaks. I told him, yes, this was Twin Oaks Farm. I’d never seen a man get so riled up, so fast. His language wasn’t fit for delicate ears, Blue. I’d never in my life heard such foul words. Then he stuck a paper in my face. It was a deed to Twin Oaks. He said he won the farm in a bet from Bobby Joe Duncan.”
    “Your brother bet away the farm?”
    Jenna stiffened. “He did. I couldn’t believe my brother would dare do something so cruel. He’d bet our farm and sent a vile man to me to collect his due.”
    “Jenna, what kind of brother—”
    “He’s the worst kind of gambler, Blue. Bobby Joe’s been no good most of his life, but I never thought he’d ever do such a terrible thing. If only—” She stopped, biting her lip.
    “If only what?”
    “If only you could remember. You had suchkind words, Blue. Your letters helped me get through that terrible time.”
    “I wish I could remember, sugar. Truly.”
    “I know you do.”
    “So, if he won the deed to the farm, then how come he didn’t claim it?”
    “The deed wasn’t real. Ben and I hold the deed to Twin Oaks now. We made sure of that early on, when my brother took up his gambling ways. He had no claim on our land. But he’d lied to this gambler, told him Twin Oaks was a lucrative ranch. The gambler was expecting horses and cattle, not unplowed land and cornrows. He was plainly furious when I told him the deed was a fake. He wanted to wring Bobby Joe’s neck. I was agreeing with him on that. But then the man got an evil look in his eye, said he might as well take it out on Bobby Joe’s sister, instead. I backed away, as far as I could, but the man came at me.
    “I was trembling so hard, my teeth clattered and my legs were ready to crumble. A big boom of thunder distracted the gambler and I reached for the Winchester on the wall. I knew it wasn’t loaded, but he didn’t. I aimed it straight at his heart and told him to get out, to leave and never come back. I remember being so scared but I held that rifle straight and kept my voice steady. When he laughed, a sinful sound that wasn’t really a laugh at all, I could only stare at him. He said he wasn’t no damn dirty sodbuster and didn’t wantmy broken-down farm. When he got to the barn door, he turned, and told me he might just come back one day, so I should keep my doors locked.”
    “Damn. Who the hell was he, Jenna?”
    “I never found out his name. When I was sure he was off my property, I ran to my room. I was spitting mad at Bobby Joe. Everything inside me went black with anger. I slumped down on my bed and…wept. It was so strange, I felt such anger boiling up inside me, but all I could do was cry. I cried loud and hard, and then the sobs came in silence until every tear I had in me was shed. There was nothing left. My bones felt like mush and my heart ached with