Saved by the Rancher by Jennifer Ryan Read Free Book Online Page A

down at Jenna. “Go. Hurry. Call Beth. Get the truck open. We need to get that cut on her leg cleaned and her fever down.”
    Summer ran out the front door with his phone to her ear. Jack went up to the loft and grabbed a fleece blanket from the bed to protect Jenna from the cold outside. She didn’t have any clothes on, nor could she with her body in that condition. Desperate to get her to the house and his medical supplies, he hadn’t felt fear like this since before he returned from the military. He didn’t think he could feel anything anymore. Not until he laid eyes on Jenna.
    Sally never left Jenna’s side. Jack softly put the blanket over her and Sally nudged Jack’s arm with her nose.
    “Don’t worry, girl, I won’t hurt her.”
    Jack gently tugged Jenna’s arms to try to turn her over. Jenna stirred and murmured something over and over. Jack put his head down close to her lips.
    “No. No more. Stop. I won’t go with you. I’ll run. I’ll run. Please stop.” She tried to protect herself from her imagined attacker, raising her arms to cover her face.
    Jack pressed his forehead to hers, lightly restraining her arms so she wouldn’t hurt herself any more. He whispered to her. “Don’t worry, Jenna. No one will ever hurt you again. I’m taking you home now.”
    “No home. No safe place.”
    He knew how she felt. She’d been running for so long, she had no home, no place or person to make her feel protected and safe. Jack knew just how that felt, being in some foreign country, fighting for freedom and always being on guard, and wishing for home.
    “Come on, honey. When I lift you up, it’s going to hurt, but I promise you’ll be safe.”
    Jenna cried out when Jack lifted her from the floor. Then her eyes rolled back in her head and she passed out. Jack let out a heavy sigh of relief. Limp in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder, he rushed her out the door and eased into the truck. Summer closed the cabin door after Sally ran after him. Sally and Summer jumped in the driver’s side and they sped off toward the house.
    Jack rested his cheek on Jenna’s head and spoke reassuringly to her the whole time. Summer tried to avoid every bump and hole in the gravel driveways, but the drive was anything but smooth. Jack held tight to Jenna, still talking to her softly and letting her know she was safe.
    Beth ran down from the porch to open the door for Jack as soon as they arrived. Jack got out with Jenna, still unconscious in his arms. Sally followed him up the steps. At the top, he turned to Summer, who ran up behind him.
    “You and Beth go down to the barn. In my office is a large green military medic bag behind my desk. Bring it. If it’s too heavy, have one of the guys help you carry it, but hurry.”
    Summer and Beth were already running for the barn.
    Jack made his way into the big house. He took Jenna up the stairs to the guest bedroom. Beth had turned back the covers on the bed. A lamp cast a soft glow from the bedside table. Jack carefully set Jenna on the bed, gently rolling her onto her stomach and out of the blanket he wrapped her in. He went into the bathroom and came back with a towel, a couple ibuprofen, and some water. He placed the towel over her bottom, and had just managed to get her to swallow the pills when Summer, Beth, and one of his ranch hands, Pete, came in with the Army medic bag.
    “What the hell?” Pete gaped at Jenna.
    Jenna opened her eyes wide and screamed, “No more!” She tried to get up from the bed, but couldn’t even manage to get her arms under her.
    “Get out,” Jack shouted at Pete. He put a calming hand on Jenna’s head, encouraging her to lie down, and leaned close to her ear. “You’re all right. No one will hurt you. Stay still. You’re hurting yourself, baby. Please, stay still.”
    Summer and Beth stood like toy soldiers at the foot of the bed. As he spoke, Jenna’s body relaxed and Jack’s knotted muscles unwound.
    Pete left the room as