Free Second Chance Ranch by Audra Harders Page A

my bone marrow to help the gir-” He shook his head, the notion of having a daughter still too new to him. “To help Carli. As far as the medical end goes, that’s as far as I’ve gotten.”
    “I appreciate —” she began to thank him until he abruptly stopped and faced her. Her round, blue eyes shone bright in the limited light. If he didn’t talk fast, Jen would start to cry and then all his resolve would wash away like the tears rolling down her cheeks. He had to cut bait and run, and leave no doubt in anyone’s mind over where he stood on her deceit.
    “As far as you and I go…” his voice went flat as his eyes narrowed. “A partnership is built on trust and truth, the kind you can stake your life on. I always thought we had that, but time changes a lot of things. With that in mind, I can’t see any type of collaboration between us. If you successfully purchase the Trails’ End, I’ll surrender all interests I have in the ranch.”
    Her eyes grew even larger. Though he felt like a heel, he had to choose self-preservation or lose everything he’d worked for over the past ten years. “If I get the ranch, I’ll expect the same courtesy.”
    * * *
    She’d always loved walking the corridors of the hospital. Within this building, professionals used their skills to diagnose, treat and heal.
    And where her father’s patients were concerned, lots of prayer.
    Jen punched the elevator call button and waited for the door to open. Never mind the elevator, she’d take the stairs. Spending the day meeting with specialists and reviewing files on all the new children coming to the camp on Saturday, meant a lot of sitting and waiting for the doctors to have a few moments to talk to her. As an oncology nurse, she recognized warning signs of the various infections that could flare, but not all of them. Before each camp session, she reviewed the charts and acquainted herself with the treatments. Be prepared wasn’t just the Boy Scout motto. Knowing the extent of the treatments the children had endured to get to the point where they could attend camp, Jen didn’t want anything to stand in the way of their fun.
    Checking her watch, she picked up the pace heading toward the stairwell. Hours earlier, the morning sun had warmed her skin through her long sleeved t-shirt. If she acted fast, she might still get to enjoy part of the warm, fall day. She didn’t like too much down time, but this last session was out of the ordinary. She figured she’d better catch up on relax time before the next group arrived.
    A voice at the end of the corridor made her slow and stop. Zac stood at the end of the lobby. It had been a week since they’d had their discussion and she’d been wondering if he’d made good on his promise. It wasn’t like she could casually ask anyone at the clinic if he’d been in for a DNA swab without raising a few brows. He’d stopped to talk to a doctor at the edge of the hallway. A chill replaced thoughts of warm skin and beautiful days. She didn’t have to wait for the man in the lab coat to turn to recognize him.
    Zac was talking to her father.
    A lump formed in her throat. All the years she’d protected her secret, guarded her heart, maintained poise. All those years of biting her nails thinking someone would find out, and now, her worst fears were playing out in front of her. Zac had to believe she hadn’t shared the news with anyone - anyone - including her father. Oh Lord, what was she going to say?
    Her father turned as if she’d voiced her panic. He grinned and motioned her over. “Jen, look who’s here. I haven’t seen Zac in years. Did you know he was in town?”
    Zac stiffened as she stepped up beside her father. He nodded to her, though the effort was clearly forced. She recognized every nuance of Zac Davidson’s emotions, and at the moment, she knew his civility was sorely pressed.
    “Dad, I’ve been all around the hospital this morning.” She kissed his cheek. “You’ve been