"All the more reason why I should take the job with the Morgans."
"Or come back home. We all miss you so much."
"Lily . . ."
Her sister grinned and stood up. "Okay, I'll stop. I'm going to talk to Daj. I'll come and find you before we leave and say a proper good-bye."
"I'll be over by the food helping Ruth pack up."
Jenna walked across the dance floor over toward Ruth's diminutive figure, her thoughts in turmoil. A couple of people looked at her funny and she heard the odd whisper about Mark Lymond as she passed. Great. Maybe she didn't need to worry about getting a job here because no one would trust her to treat their animals ever again. Maybe she should go home.
Nothing Lily said was wrong, and she wasn't trying to be mean, but she didn't seem to understand that there were different paths to happiness and fulfillment. And now she'd made Jenna doubt herself, and Mark Lymond's appearance hadn't helped either.
"You all right, Jenna?" Ruth gave her a cursory glance as she handed her a large roll of aluminum foil. "Mark didn't upset you, did he?"
"Well, I wish he had better timing. Being bawled out in front of my other clients and my big sister was pretty sucky." Jenna tore off a strip of foil. "I hope January and Chase didn't notice."
"I don't think they did. Your sister is very pretty, but she doesn't look like you at all, does she?"
"We were both adopted. We're completely different in every way."
"Good thing, too," Ruth snorted. "I can't see her mucking out a stall somehow."
"She's a brilliant bioengineer."
"Which is all well and good in its place, and I'm sure she does wonderful things, but I'd much rather have you."
"That's really sweet."
Ruth patted her shoulder. "I saw you with her. You looked just like Blue when he and Chase brought home their report cards. I think half the reason Blue went into the Marines was to avoid having to compete academically with his brother-because he sure was smart enough."
"Lily thinks I need more qualifications." Jenna sighed. "I don't."
"It's hard to argue with people who love you and think they have your best interests at heart when they don't really, isn't it? But you know your own mind, my girl, and if being here makes you happy? Then I say you should do what's best for you."
"Thanks."
"And Blue would miss you if you left."
"Now who's using emotional blackmail?" Jenna smiled at Ruth.
"You make him happy. I appreciate that, but I'd no more tell you to stay here for his sake than I would tell him to stay for mine. People have to make up their own minds. Look at poor Annie. She felt trapped out here and ended up making some choices that hurt everyone."
Old hurt flashed in Ruth's eyes and was immediately blinked away. "But that's all in the past. I just want my boys to be happy, and seeing them all come back to the ranch? That makes my heart sing." She nudged Jenna in the ribs. "Now help me cover up this food before the flies get at it."
* * *
Blue returned from taking care of Mark Lymond to find the party was winding down. He stopped in the parking lot to speak to some of his neighbors. He was pretty sure everyone had enjoyed themselves and were now looking forward to the wedding, which was planned for later in the year.
Lily's white car was still there. As he looked up toward the dance floor, Jenna, Daj, and Lily were just coming down the path. He stayed where he was, aware that Jenna was looking strained and that Lily was talking her ear off-probably trying to persuade her around to her way of thinking again.
"Hey, Blue!" Lily saw him and waved. "We're just off."
She came toward him and surprised him by pulling him in for a hug. "Thanks for standing up for my sister against that drunk. She's not used to being treated like that."
"She's tougher than you think." Blue kept his voice low. Jenna was still talking to Daj, but she was close.
"She's my baby sister. I can't help but look out for her, I'm sure you understand." Lily paused. "Can I say one thing? If you really do care for her, will you make sure she thinks carefully about coming back to LA and continuing her career?"
"She's a grown woman. If she wants to talk things through with me that's fine, but I don't have the right or the need to tell her what to do." Blue smiled. "She'll work it out."
"So you won't help me." Lily sighed. "I suppose getting an education isn't a priority for you."
"From what I understand, Jenna's had enough, and if she wants to work as a regular vet, surely that's her choice?"
Lily opened her mouth to reply and then closed it again. Blue sensed that Jenna was right behind him.
"Bye, Jen." Lily swept past Blue and gave Jenna a big hug. "This was so much fun!"
"Thanks for coming, sis." Jenna returned the hug. "Safe trip home. Give my love to everyone, won't you?"
Daj nodded distantly at Blue and got in the car with Lily. Within moments the car turned around and headed out.
Blue glanced over at Jenna, who wasn't smiling. "Your sister is nice."
"Yes."
"Bossy, though."
"You think so?" Jenna twirled the end of her hair. "She's certainly got a one-track mind. Get an education, Jenna, no, that's not enough, do more, Jenna, climb higher, Jenna."
"I suppose she's just trying to do what she thinks best."
Jenna folded her arms across her chest. "And you agree with her?"
"I didn't say that."
"I heard you discussing me with her, Blue."
"Hang on a minute." So much for calming her down. "I was defending your choices."
"You were interfering!"
He held up his hand. "Look, just because you're mad at her, don't start in on me. She was trying to get me involved, and I was trying my best to keep out of it!"
"I'm not mad at her."
"If you aren't, then maybe you should be."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Because you're better than that, Jenna. You let her talk and walk all over you."
"Because she's my sister. I can't stop her saying what's on her mind."
"Sure you can. You look her in the eye and you tell her straight to stop undermining you."
"She's not-"
"Then why are you upset?"
"Because you were agreeing with her!"
"That's just an excuse. If you don't like the way she's treating you, tell her to stop."
"You make it sound so easy."
"It is."
"If you don't care who you hurt."
He stiffened. "Is that some kind of dig at me because of what happened with my brothers?"
"You said it, Blue. The others worked it out with your father, and you didn't because of your inflexible nature. Maybe that's not an example I want to follow."
He shut his mouth on what he had been about to say and contemplated her angry face.
"Ma'am." He touched the brim of his Stetson in a formal salute. "When you work out who you're angry with, let me know, okay? Have a great night."
Turning on his heel, he walked back up the slope and started helping with the clean up shoving paper plates and cups into black sacks with the speed of a maniac. That was why he didn't open up to people, because it gave them the opportunity to stab him in the back.
He tossed a full bag onto the growing pile and started on another. Hell, he'd expected better of Jenna. Sure, there was a line you shouldn't cross with your family and he'd jumped all over that, but he'd learned from his mistakes, hadn't he? And he would never let anyone walk all over him.
"You okay, BB?"
He looked up to see Ry leaning against one of the tables, a beer in his hand.
"I'm good, why?"
"Because you look like you're going to rip someone's head off."
"Are you offering?"
Ry grinned and finished his beer, tossing the bottle toward Blue's half-filled sack.
"Jenna's pretty furious as well. Her sister was pretty."
"Yeah." Blue met Ry's gaze. "Anything useful to say, or is this just a fishing expedition?"
"Depends on whether you're taking the bait." He shrugged. "Maybe I should go talk to Jenna instead. She looks like she could do with a shoulder to cry on."
"She has January and Yvonne for that. No doubt she'll feel better after she's told them what a scumbag I am."
"What did you do?"
"Nothing." Blue scowled. "I was being sarcastic. I did nothing except exist and be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Oh, and I tried to offer some advice."
"That was your first mistake."
"Tell me about it. I forgot the golden rule. Never get between a woman and her siblings. They can talk shit about them all they like, but God help you if you join in. Suddenly you're the bad guy."
Even as he said the words Blue realized the truth of them. "Hell."
Ry straightened and picked up about four of the bags. "I'll put these in the back of my truck, okay?"
"Thanks."
Blue continued to clean up until all the tables were clear. On the other side of the makeshift dais, Jenna and Ruth were working together on covering the remaining food. His grandma looked tired, and Jenna's attempts to keep a smile on her face were obvious.