Jennifer's Journey Read online

  When he finished getting dressed, he opened the door and invited her inside. He usually stayed in a cabin on the ranch, but they’d all been booked this week. It was the week leading up to Labor Day weekend, so it wasn’t a huge surprise.

  “This was the biggest room I could get this weekend. Lots of people staying here.” He didn’t mention that a lot of them were there for his wedding, because he wanted a nice time with this girl. He was attracted to her, but he knew she was another of the girls who wouldn’t marry him for his terrible name. Anyway, he was now the star of a television show, and he wanted to be sure whomever he married wasn’t after his money. Not that he had a lot now, but his contract wasn’t chicken feed.

  “Yeah, there’s lots of stuff going on here this weekend. People are excited to see where Legacy is filmed, and we’ve always been busy right up until Labor Day. Or so I’m told. I only came here in December.”

  “Where did you live before?” he asked. He sat down in one of the chairs at the small table in the corner of the room, taking the basket full of muffins from her. He took one out, and after taking off the muffin paper, he sank his teeth into it.

  “Colorado. Silver Springs, Colorado, to be exact. We are a small valley, with mountains all around us, and a big lake. Very outdoorsy area, similar to River’s End in some ways.”

  “Sounds beautiful.” He looked at her, standing over him with a look of terror on her face. “Sit and eat these with me. You were right. They’re wonderful. Where’d you learn to cook?”

  Jennifer sank into the chair opposite him and before she knew what she was doing, she grabbed a muffin. They were her kryptonite. “My parents hired a couple of girls to teach me all the good domestic chores. They were sure I’d never get a man if I didn’t know how to cook, bake, clean, and do laundry. I can do it all now. Whether I like it or not.” She winked at him with a grin. She was surprised to find the man was very easy to talk to, despite being a television star.

  “Well, those aren’t the first things I look for in a wife, I have to say, but they’re all handy. I figure I can hire someone to do all those things, but I want a wife who is a genuinely good person, if that makes sense. I want her to have a big heart.” He stared off into space for a moment, thinking about all the things he’d told Dr. Lachele he was looking for in a bride.

  “That makes sense. I just want someone who will love me for who I am, even when I’m not perfect.” She shrugged. “I’m rarely perfect.” The last was said in a loud stage whisper and had him laughing.

  “None of us are perfect. I’ve forgotten your name. You should have come to my room wearing a name tag.” He hadn’t really forgotten her name, but he didn’t want to seem like he’d watched her as much as he had.

  She looked at him with a slightly befuddled look.

  He grinned. “I was going to say, ‘None of us are perfect, Esmerelda’ but I couldn’t remember your name, so I had to stop after perfect, and it just didn’t have the same quality to it. You know what I mean?”

  “Not really. I’m Jennifer by the way. Jennifer Olson. I’m the daytime front desk manager of the hotel.”

  “I see. Now I understand the apology. You didn’t want to risk losing your job.”

  “No, that’s not it at all. I’ll probably still go to Wade and tell him what I said. The apology and the muffins are because I felt true remorse for what I said, and I wanted you to know that.” Besides, Thursday was her last day at the hotel. She had no idea where she’d be after that, but she hoped it was close. River’s End felt like home now.

  He blinked a couple of times. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

  “I am. I really do feel bad. I don’t make muffins for just anyone you know.” She had made a few dozen for people she’d been rude to, but they’d been mostly ranch employees, and she was having bad days, so they’d all understood.

  “Wow. I don’t even know what to say. I’ve had hundreds of people make fun of my name over the years, and not a single one of them has made me muffins. Delicious muffins at that!” He bit into his third muffin, and as the taste exploded in his mouth, he decided she could make fun of him any day. “You know what? I’ll make you a deal. You can make fun of my name anytime you want, as long as you follow up with these muffins.”

  She laughed. “I don’t know if that’s the answer, but I’m glad you enjoy them.” She got to her feet. “I need to go call my parents now, so I’m going to run off. If you need anything during your stay, please inform the front desk, and we will do all we can to take care of it.”

  “I will. I wish you wouldn’t go though. We could watch a movie, or I could walk you home. Where do you live?”

  She frowned. “I live in a cabin here on the ranch. It’s a cabin set up for staff. I would prefer to walk alone, but I do appreciate your very kind offer.” She couldn’t let herself fall for this very charismatic man. No, she had to keep her focus on her wedding on Saturday.

  “Are you sure? I would love to spend a few more minutes with you.”

  “I’m sure, but thank you very much. I’m not really open for a relationship right now.”

  He sighed. “Truly, I’m not either. Although, I suddenly wish I could be.” He stood and took her hand in his. “Be safe.”

  Jennifer fled the room, wanting to cry and not even sure why. She ran through the hotel, and out the back door, determined to take the long way back to the cabin where she stayed. Her things were mostly packed, because she knew she’d be moving. She’d been told to plan for travel, whatever that meant.

  She headed toward the cabin, walking slowly, but watching around her. There weren’t usually dangerous wild animals right there on the ranch, but there always could be. As she walked, she saw Jaclyn’s house…and it called to her. Never before had she wanted to stop and see the bunny-crazy, fairy-talking older woman, but now she did.

  She went to her house and knocked on the door. As soon as her hand was drawn away, the door opened wide. “Well, look who the bunny dragged in! Get in here, and we’ll talk. I have tea and snickerdoodles ready for you.”

  Jennifer frowned. She’d heard strange things about visiting this woman, but she was sure that no matter what the strange things she heard were, the reality would probably be worse. “I’m not sure why I’m here.”

  “Of course you are, dearie. You have a decision to make. You’re interested in the television star, but you have committed to marrying a stranger on Saturday.” Jaclyn plopped cookies in front of Jennifer, and watched as the younger woman reached for a snickerdoodle. “He is attractive, but you’ve made a commitment, haven’t you?”

  Jennifer nodded. “So am I cheating on a man I haven’t yet met by feeling…feeling a flutter in my belly for this new man?”

  “Nah! You didn’t kiss him, did you? You’re not giving off the vibes of the recently kissed girl.”

  “No, ma’am. I didn’t kiss him. I ran instead.”

  Jaclyn laughed. “Good girl! You can’t be like one of my rabbits, always content to mate with whoever makes you feel good. You need to make a decision and stick with it.”

  Jennifer sighed. “Maynard hasn’t indicated he wants a relationship with me. I just was very attracted to him, and thought maybe it was a good idea, but…he said he’s not ready for a relationship either…”

  “Then that tells me what you already know. You go to your wedding on Saturday, and you marry whoever is at the end of that aisle. It’s what you planned to do before today, so it’s what you do.”

  Jennifer nodded. She wasn’t certain the older woman was right, but she did know it was the right thing to do. Which made no sense. She wasn’t sure Jaclyn was thinking about the right thing for her, but as far as the universe was concerned it was right. “You’re right. That’s what I’ll do.”

  Jennifer still had her unbitten cookie in her hand as she headed for the door. “Thank you.” As she walked back to her cabin, her mind was on Maynard. When she pictured the man at the end of the aisle on Saturday, he’d always bee
n faceless. Now he had Maynard’s face. What was wrong with her?

  As soon as she walked in the door, she sat down and called her mother. “Hey, Mom!”

  “Jennifer! How are things treating you off in the wilds of Idaho?”

  “I love it here. No one knows me or anything about me. They just know that I’m Jennifer, the girl who works at the front desk. I have to say it’s nice.”

  “I’m sure it is.” There was silence for a moment, and Jennifer knew her mother was thinking about what it had been like for her back in Silver Springs. “I’m really glad you’re happy. Any men in your life?”

  Jennifer took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “Actually, that’s why I called. I’m going to get married on Saturday, but it’s not exactly a—well, a normal wedding.”

  “You’re scaring me, Jennifer. What is abnormal about this wedding of yours?”

  “Well, I hired a matchmaker. She interviewed me for eight hours, and she chose a man for me to marry. I’ll meet him at the altar on Saturday.”

  Her mother sucked in a breath of shock. “You’re meeting your new husband at the altar? Have you lost your mind, Jennifer Amanda?”

  Jennifer had to grin at the use of her middle name. “You don’t have to middle-name me, Mom. I’m perfectly content with what I’m doing and why. I think it’s the answer for me.” The more she talked about it, the less she thought about Maynard. She was doing the right thing. She just knew it.

  “Your father and I will be there Saturday morning. I don’t know how we’ll get there, but I promise you, we will make it.”

  Jennifer laughed softly. “I had a feeling you’d say that. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but I was afraid you’d try to talk me out of it, and I want to go through with this wedding. I wasted so much time being mean to others, that I haven’t thought at all about my own wedding and where I’m going. I think it’s time.”

  “I don’t know that I approve of you hiring someone to find you a husband, but we’ll talk about that when I arrive. I’m excited to give you a hug, baby girl.”

  Smiling at the nickname, Jennifer sighed. “I’m glad you’re going to be here. I’ll try to get you a room on the ranch for the weekend, but I might have to talk to a friend in Quinn Valley, which is about thirty minutes away. Would that work for you?”

  “I don’t care where we stay. Is that close enough to see you?”

  “Yes, it is. I’ll get everything set up for you. I have no idea what’s happening after the wedding, but the ceremony will be at two on Saturday afternoon. There will be a small reception with some of my ranch friends, and then I’ll be off with my new husband, whoever he may be.”

  “You’re a braver girl than I am. I could never imagine walking down the aisle to a stranger. Your father is going to give you away. Do you hear me? If you have chosen someone to stand in for him, you’re going to unchoose them. Your father and I are going to be your parents for this wedding!”

  Jennifer laughed softly. “You’re always my parents. I’ll see you Saturday.” As soon as she hung up, she called the front desk of the hotel. “Do you have a room for a night or two starting on Friday night?”

  “Jennifer?” the voice asked. It sounded like Jim, the evening desk manager to her.

  “Yeah, it’s for my parents.”

  “Let me check…” She waited for a moment, listening to him pressing the keys. “There’s nothing. I’m sorry.”

  “That’s okay. I’m going to call Quinn’s Hotel and Spa. They might have something there.”

  “Good idea! Do you want me to call them for you? There are several hotels there, and I can get it taken care of so you’re not spending your free time on it.”

  “That would be great if you don’t mind.” Jennifer would have done the same for a guest, so she knew it wasn’t out of the realm of the job.

  “I’ll call you on your cell within thirty with whatever answer I get.”

  “Sounds good. Thank you.” She ended the call and went into the kitchen, hoping there would be something yummy that had been hiding from her. She hadn’t bought groceries, because she knew she was moving, but she didn’t know where she’d be moving to. She didn’t even know if she’d work after her marriage.

  After a minute of digging, she found some ground beef in the freezer and a bit of rice. She looked at it and smiled. She had some spices and a little bit of flour. She could make a feast, and it would feed her the next night as well. A lot of people who worked on the ranch went to the trivia night and did other things that the ranch provided, but she was worried that the more time she spent with people the more chance that her ‘real’ personality would come out and everyone would hate her as they always had.

  While she cooked, she could hear Bri’s voice in her ear, reminding her to do certain things at specific times. As much as Bri had always made her see red, she was thankful for the lessons the other girl had given her.

  When she finished eating, she curled up on the sofa and turned on the television, finding an episode of Lazy Love. She had never been as into the show as some of the people she knew, but she knew the basic storyline, and it was something she could lose herself in that night.

  She ate and watched at the same time, happy to have something to do to occupy her mind. She didn’t need to spend the whole evening trying to figure out how she was going to make a husband happy. She was just too…unpleasant. How long would it take him to know how mean she was? An hour? A week? Whatever it was, she felt sorry for the man who was going to be hers.

  As she watched the show, halfway in the younger sister in the show brought home a man she was dating. Jennifer had to rub her eyes to be sure she was seeing what she thought she was. It was Maynard, and he looked good in his cowboy get up. She’d seen him around the ranch wearing similar clothes, but they were always historical looking. In this show, he looked like he’d just stepped off a real-life ranch, and her heart fluttered.

  She shut off the show and got up to pace. She had to forget that she was developing a crush on Maynard Butts of all people. Had she lost her mind?

  She took another shower, just to clear her mind this time, but his face was there. His face was everywhere.

  She went to bed with a book by a local writer—Kaya Taylor—and she did her best to lose herself in the words the other girl had written. She considered Kaya an acquaintance, and she was almost a friend, because she spent a lot of time around the ranch. She ran into her at Kelsey’s Kafé a lot, and she felt like she knew her. Kaya’s brother-in-law would be the one performing the ceremony on Saturday. Her twin sister, Bridget, was the nurse on the property. Yes, it felt like she could be a friend, but Jennifer couldn’t let anyone close enough to be a good friend. If she did, they’d know the truth about her.

  As she finally drifted off to sleep, she thought again about Saturday. She would be walking down the aisle toward a man she had never seen before—a man she would then give her entire life to. She would promise to love, honor, and cherish him—there was no way she would obey a stranger, and she’d made sure with Kevin that wouldn’t be in the ceremony. But as she walked down the aisle, the man turned to her with no face. She was truly marrying a faceless stranger…and then his face turned into Maynard’s. And she heard Kevin announce that they were Mr. and Mrs. Maynard Butts, and she cringed. Even with as attracted to the man as she was, she couldn’t imagine taking his name. Jennifer Butts? No, thank you!

  3

  First thing the following morning, Jennifer got two calls. The first was from Jim, the night manager. “I forgot to call back. We were slammed. I have your parents staying in Quinn’s Hotel and Spa Friday and Saturday nights. They had just had a cancellation, and I snatched it up.”

  “Oh, good. Thank you! I wasn’t sure how we were going to get them in on Labor Day weekend.”

  “I was worried I was going to have to go with one of the older hotels there, but it really worked out well.”

  “You’re a lifesaver, Jim! Thanks a lot!” Jennifer hun
g up and wandered into the kitchen to see what she wanted for breakfast. She knew she still had some cold cereal and milk. After looking for a minute, she glanced at the clock. She was up earlier than usual. “I’m going to Kelsey’s!” she said to herself, rushing to dress for work.

  As she was walking across the grounds toward Kelsey’s Kafé, she got another call, answering it right away. “I decided I needed to be there on Friday night. Can you get us rooms for Friday and Saturday nights?” her mother asked with no pleasantries first.

  “I already did,” Jennifer said with a grin. She knew exactly what her parents wanted.

  “You’re a good girl, Jennifer. We’ll see you tomorrow afternoon. We found someone to manage the hotel, and we’re leaving now.”

  “Of course, you are.” Jennifer didn’t ask where they’d found someone to manage the hotel on Labor Day weekend, because she knew her parents had a lot of friends they were loyal to. Loyalty bred loyalty. “Well, call me when you get in tomorrow. I’m taking the day off, but I’m going to have a spa day. I need to relax as much as possible before the big day.”

  “Sounds good. We’ll see you tomorrow!”

  Jennifer hurried into the diner, watching as all the waitresses bustled around. Jaclyn and Simon were sitting at the counter, and they seemed to be arguing about something, but when Jennifer got close enough to hear, they both stopped talking. She took a booth off in one corner, knowing that if the café got too busy, Kelsi would put someone with her. She’d just gotten back from having her little boy, her third child in the short time she’d been married. Jennifer thought she’d like a baby or two, but not three, and not that fast!

  Kelsi rushed over, her middle still a little bigger than it had been. “Coffee?”