Saved by the Rancher - By Jennifer Ryan Page 0,131
in pain.
The babies were delivered several hours later and Jack and Jenna were happily holding them when Caleb, Summer, Lily, and little baby Jacob arrived. Caleb carried Lily, who was lost behind a huge bouquet of Stargazer lilies. Summer pushed Jacob in his stroller. The little dark-haired cherub of a boy slept soundly, sucking his finger. He resembled his father, Caleb, right down to his muddy brown eyes. Summer came over to the bed and hugged Jenna around the bundled in her arms.
“Oh, Jenna, they’re beautiful. Are you okay? Everything went all right?” Summer asked, probably remembering delivering Jacob only a few short months ago.
“Everything went well. I’m fine. The babies are fine. I don’t know if Jack will ever be the same again, though.” She smiled at her husband as he stood holding their other son.
“What do you mean? I held your hand and panted with you through the whole thing.”
“He turned a little green for a while. The nurse even put a chair behind him just in case he passed out. He held it together in the end. Once he saw the first one arrive, his fatherly pride kicked in.”
“They look just like Jack and Sam did when they were born.” Summer touched a finger to the baby’s soft hair. “I remember pictures of the two of them bundled with their little caps of almost white hair sticking out.”
“It’s uncanny how they look like their Dad already.”
“So, what are their names?” Caleb asked, holding Lily up so she could stare at the baby in Jack’s arms.
“I’d like to introduce Matthew,” whom Jenna held, “and Jack has Samuel.” Jack moved closer to Lily and Caleb, so Lily could get a good look at Sam.
“Does Sam know you named one of the babies after him? He must be so excited.” Summer beamed.
“I called him early this morning and told him. He’s on some assignment. Ever since they moved him to the San Francisco office, he’s been working like a demon. He’ll try to come for a visit soon. He said he misses us, but I think he just misses Jenna.” Jack smiled. “He’s still jealous.”
Jack winked at his wife. He couldn’t believe after everything ended, they’d finally been married. The image of Jenna in a white gown walking toward him was never far from his mind. They’d gotten married at the ranch with flowers, friends, and family surrounding them. Ben walked her down the aisle. Jenna’s mother attended and stayed for a month. Jack arranged for the visit as a wedding gift. Jenna cried that day. For the first time in a long time, they were tears of joy.
“They’re so cute, Aunt Jenna. Maybe they can play with baby brother, Jacob,” Lily said, handing over the flowers to Summer to put on the bedside table.
“I think it will be a little while before they can play together. When they get bigger, I’m sure you’ll all be good friends.”
“That’s right, honey. You’ll all grow up on the ranch and play together.” Jack couldn’t imagine anything better than the ranch with all these children, and hopefully more to come, running around and riding the horses. Thanks to Jenna, the children would someday have children, and they’d play on the ranch, too. He hoped the future generations would be as close as they all were today.
He thought of Sam back at work and wished he could have been there with them to celebrate the day the twins were born.
Jenna pictured the children growing up together on the ranch. It was a nice image, one she’d hoped and dreamed about for a long time. She looked around the room at all the faces of her family. She had everything she’d ever dreamed. Jack caught her gaze and held it. He mouthed I love you, their son in his arms. Her heart was so full. She was healed, home, safe and loved.
Read on for a sneak peek at the next
in THE HUNTED series,
LUCKY LIKE US,
by Jennifer Ryan
on sale April 9, 2013
from Avon Impulse
An Excerpt from
LUCKY LIKE US
A WISP OF smoke rose from the barrel of his gun. The smell of gunpowder filled the air. Face raised to the night sky, eyes closed, he sucked in a deep breath and let it out slow, enjoying the moment. Adrenaline coursed through his veins with a thrill that left a tingle in his skin. His heart pounded and he felt more alive than he ever remembered feeling in his normal life.