Darling Jenny by Janet Dailey Read Free Book Online

quite a handful for them. Jennifer had gladly volunteered to take care of them and fall in occasionally at the Lodge to give Sheila more free time.
    In the days that followed, a pattern developed that not only brought Jennifer and her sister closer together but also Jennifer and the children. It was fun messing around in the kitchen again, fixing meals for a family,taking care of all the numerous little household chores that had grown into a burden for Sheila. As for Brad Stevenson, he quickly became a case of 'out of sight, out of mind'. Jennifer wished that Logan Taylor would be that easy. If it wasn't the children saying, 'Uncle Logan this' or 'Uncle Logan that', it was Sheila with 'Logan suggested' or 'Logan said.' No, the unwanted reminders were ever-present. But in the eight days that she had been in Jackson, Jennifer had not been subjected to his unwanted presence. She decided she should be grateful for that. At least, she wouldn't have to put up with that knowing smile of his, although she could hardly deny that his image haunted her. Naturally it was because his name was forever cropping up.
    Sheila had had the afternoon free today and had insisted that Jennifer spend some time taking care of her personal chores. Since she did have some Christmas shopping still to be done, Jennifer reluctantly agreed. The children had been easy to buy for, but she wanted to take more time selecting just the right present for her sister. Her previous expeditions into town had been in the company of Cindy and Eric, who were not given to idle wondering through the stores. As it was, Jennifer had been in three stores before she found a matching sweater and slacks outfit in blue that would ideally suit Sheila.
    With the gift-wrapped package under her arm, Jennifer dashed across the street to the town square where she paused briefly in front of the antlered archway that marked the path entrance through the square. She had seen it several times, but to Eric and Cindy it was old hat, not worth the extra seconds that Jennifer had longed for to study it.
    The intricate network of interlocking antlers as they weaved in and out and up and over to form this strange arch amazed her. She had soon learned that antlers and trophy heads were commonplace decorations in Jackson; even the Lodge where Sheila worked had several large trophies of Big Horn sheep in the lobby, appropriately, since its name was Big Horn Lodge. But this arch was a magnificent work.
    'Don't try to count them, because there's too many,' a voice behind her spoke.
    Jennifer spun quickly around to see Logan Taylor standing beside her, gazing down at her with a speculative gleam in his eye.
    'I wasn't counting,' she replied abruptly.
    'Just admiring our quaint western novelty?' he retorted just a trifle sarcastically.
    'Yes, if you must know. I find it fascinating,' Jennifer answered scathingly.
    'Most people do. They're all elkhorns, you know.'
    'How did they find so many?' she mused to herself, looking once again at the arch.
    'It's not difficult at all, really. North of the town is the winter refuge of the elk or "wapiti", their Indian name. All the males shed their horns once a year, just as the deer do,' Logan explained.
    She was uncomfortably aware of his eyes on her, feeling again the quickening of her pulse.
    'I heard someone mention the refuge, but I hadn't really thought too much about it. How many elk are out there?' Her voice had a nervous lilt to it as she tried to keep the conversation on an impersonal level.
    'From six to eight thousand.'
    'That many?' Jennifer exclaimed. 'What do they do with all the horns?'
    'Only the bull elk have antlers,' Logan laughed. 'Each spring the Boy Scouts gather the antlers and have an auction here on the town square, with the proceeds going towards scouting activities.' He stopped abruptly as she turned to face him. She felt caught by his demanding gaze. 'It's cold standing here on the corner,' he finally spoke. 'Come have a cup of hot