Jenna's Cowboy Read Online Free

Zach’s face and a bit of carrot from his hair. Her food was getting cold, but that was normal. She picked up her fork. “Nate’s going to call you tonight.”
    “You think he’s up to the job?”
    “He said he’s a little rusty. But I think he’ll do fine.”
    “Does he look fit?”
    “Very.” Her cheeks grew warm when she realized what she’d said and how she’d said it.
    Will hooted and Chance grinned.
    “William, don’t tease your sister.” But the amusement in her mother’s eyes told Jenna that she liked her answer.
    “Yes, ma’am.” His laughter settled into a grin.
    Jenna peeked at her father and almost groaned. He didn’t seem one bit happy with what she’d said. “I meant he appears all healed up from his injuries. His leg didn’t bother him at all.” She cleared her throat. “And he’s added a lot of muscle.”
    Will snickered, and she tried to kick him beneath the table. She missed. He really was a responsible and intelligent thirty-one-year-old, except when it came to giving her a hard time. Why did his teasing turn her into a kid again, wanting to get even?
    “I’ll talk to him.” Dub pinned her with his gaze. “But the final decision is mine.”
    “Yes, sir.” She should have known better than to act so impulsively. She might be a partner, one who could give input into ranch affairs along with her brothers and mother, but ultimately, her father made the decisions. She needed to remember that. Everyone around called it Callahan country, and Dub Callahan was the reason.
    Will and Chance had some power over various aspects of the ranch—certainly more than she did—but her father was the reigning monarch. She was his princess, and that’s all she would ever be. “I’m sorry if I overstepped my authority. It was so good to see him home safe and sound, and when I heard about their situation, it seemed right to help them out.”
    “You know he’ll make a good hand,” Chance said quietly. He and Nate had been best friends since first grade. They’d kept in touch since graduation, although Nate’s access to email had been sporadic when he was overseas.
    “So that’s three votes,” said Sue.
    “Four,” Will added quietly. “We owe him the opportunity, if for no other reason than for helping keep us safe.”
    “I agree with all that, but I still want to talk to him face to face.” Her father’s expression softened as he focused on Jenna again. “War changes men, honey. Sometimes for the better. Sometimes not.”
    Oh, he’s better. But she didn’t think she should express that opinion out loud.

    An hour later, Nate pulled up in front of the light tan brick, one-and-a-half-story Callahan ranch house. He’d expected that Dub would want to discuss the job in person, check him out for himself. He would have done the same if he were in the rancher’s boots.
    He walked up the stone steps to the wide porch that encircled the house. Chance threw open the door before he could knock and crushed him in a bear hug. When he released him, his friend took a step back and playfully slugged him on the upper arm. “Why didn’t you call and tell me they’d turned you loose?”
    “The colonel waffled until the last minute. Then I was scrambling to deal with all the paperwork. I only got here day before yesterday. Spent the time hashing through stuff with the folks and running over to Abilene to see the grandparents.”
    “How’s your dad?” Chance clamped an arm around his shoulders and ushered him into the house.
    Nate noted that Sue had redecorated. Red was the predominate color, along with southwestern patterned throws, pillows, and pottery. She’d added more Western paintings and a brass statue of a cowboy riding a wild bronc. But the old, worn Western hats still hung on the antique hall tree, and Dub’s grandfather’s scuffed cowboy boots remained on the floor beside it.
    “I think he’s still way too weak and pale, but they both insist that he’s getting stronger.