Jenna's Cowboy Hero Read Free Page A

When she turned, he was leaning against the wall,watching her. She set the tea down on the table while he finished his conversation.
    â€œIs it taken care of?” She pulled a first-aid kit from the cabinet over the stove.
    â€œThey’ll be out in an hour. They wanted to call the police to write up an accident report.”
    Jenna swallowed and waited for him to tell her how he’d responded to that. Accident. She hadn’t really thought about that. Her boys had caused an accident. She pulled out the chair and sat down, stretching her legs.
    â€œI’m so sorry. You really could have been hurt.”
    â€œYour boys could have been hurt.”
    She nodded. “I know. The rule is that they don’t go down the drive. They’re usually very good boys.”
    â€œI’m sure they are.” He picked up the glass of tea. “I’m going to need to rent a car.”
    â€œNot around here. And I want to finish talking about the accident report. You’ll need to let them call the county so you can get this covered on your insurance.”
    He drained half the glass of tea in one gulp and set it down on the table. “I’ll take care of it.”
    â€œJust like that, you’ll take care of it?” She bit down on her bottom lip, waiting, because it couldn’t be this easy. “My boys caused an accident and major damage to an expensive car.”
    â€œThey didn’t really cause the accident. I saw their dog backing into the road….”
    â€œAnd that caused the wreck. They were holding the leash of the dog that backed into the road.”
    â€œWow, do you plan on making this difficult?”
    â€œNo, I’m just trying to do the right thing.”
    â€œYou can give me a ride down to that Godfor—”
    She lifted her hand and shook her head to stop him. “Watch your language.”
    He shook his head. “Great, another Will.”
    â€œExcuse me?”
    â€œMy manager, Will. Did he hire you to keep me in line?”
    â€œSorry, no, you’re a big boy and you’ll have to keep yourself in line. Now let me put a Band-Aid on your cheek. You’re bleeding.” She motioned to the chair as she stood up and opened the first-aid kit. “Sit.”
    â€œI’m fine.”
    â€œI can’t have you get an infected cut on my watch.”
    The boys hurried into the room. They must have heard her mention that he was injured. They were wide-eyed and impressed as they stared at the cut.
    â€œIt’s gonna need stitches,” Timmy informed their victim, peering up, studying the wound.
    â€œDo you think so?” Adam asked, reaching to touch the cut.
    â€œDon’t touch it, just sit.” Jenna pointed again to the chair.
    He sat down at the kitchen table, giving her easier access to his face. His eyes were closed and when she touched his cheek he flinched.
    â€œThat hurts. What are you putting on it, alcohol?” He pulled away from her fingers.
    Her fingers stilled over the small cut and he opened his eyes, looking at her. She glanced away. “I’m cleaning it. It doesn’t hurt that bad.”
    He looked at the boys. Jenna glanced over her shoulder and smiled at them. They were cringing, twin looks of angst on their suntanned faces.
    â€œIt’s really bad,” David whispered.
    â€œDoes it need stitches?” Adam asked them, not her. As if they were the authority.
    The boys were nodding. “It has a lot of blood.”
    Timmy and David stepped closer.
    She shook her head. “Don’t listen to them. It won’t even leave a scar.”
    She pulled the backing off the Band-Aid with fingers that trembled as she put the adhesive strip in place. She felt like a silly teenager watching the star football player from across the dining room of the local Dairy Bar. She’d never been the girl that those football players dated.
    â€œFinished?” He touched his cheek and pushed the