{"id":5303,"date":"2014-04-30T23:53:35","date_gmt":"2014-05-01T03:53:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5303"},"modified":"2025-02-18T19:12:53","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T00:12:53","slug":"jenny-and-david-series-2-love-is-blind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5303","title":{"rendered":"Jenny and David Series #1 – Love is Blind (by Cinderella)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0Jennifer Cartwright, Ben’s adopted daughter, is a rough-ridin’ tomboyish kind of girl, that is, until Pa sends her to check up on David Williams, who had been blinded a few months earlier. Romance, Drama, and Goodbyes all roled into one. The first story in the “Jenny & David” series. CAUTION: Introduces two non-canon characters!<\/span><\/p>\n

Rated:<\/span>\u00a0K+ (5,600 words)
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Jenny and David Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Love is Blind<\/a>
\nLove Me Tender<\/a>
\nBleeding Love<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

I’d like to give special gratitude to my co-author and friend, Cowgirl8. Thanks for helping me with the rough spots and for putting in your side of the story. \ud83d\ude00<\/em><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Jennifer Cartwright rode like the wind over her favorite meadow.<\/strong> She slowed to a walk when she entered a small grove of pines. Sunlight shone through the foliage of the trees making bright, warm patches on the black speckled rump and flanks of her beautiful appaloosa mare, Isis. The horse tossed her white head in eagerness. “Easy girl; we’ll get home soon enough,” Jen slapped the reins and urged her horse into a gallop. As she rode on, her mind drifted to her mother and where she was. Katherine McAllen had run away four years earlier with a man from San Francisco. Oh, he was kind of handsome. But more importantly, he was rich. Her mother would go off with him every day and come back drunk as a skunk every night. The man would buy her expensive clothes and jewels, until one day, she kissed her daughter goodbye and never came back.\u00a0Good riddance<\/em>, Jenny thought. Before she left, though, she dropped Jenny off at the edge of the Ponderosa. She found her way to the home of the Cartwrights, half starved and dirty. They immediately took her in, and in a few months, officially adopted her as Jenny McAllen Cartwright. She adjusted well to ranch life; Joe taught her to ride, Adam to shoot, and Hoss to rope, cut cattle and the like. Jenny never was one to wear frills and lacy dresses. Her black jeans were now very dusty, her lavender shirt clinging to her curves. The purple neckerchief she sported whipped in the wind, as did her curly honey blonde hair under her black hat. Her musings were interrupted as she rode into the yard. Ben helped her out of the saddle. “Hi, Papa,” she hugged him and gave the reins to a hand. They walked back into the large ranch house arm in arm. The gentle strumming of Adam’s guitar wafted through the air. His fingers expertly strummed the strings as he sang of a lost love \u2018In The Pines’. His deep baritone voice flowed like a river, high and low. Without realizing it, she began to sing along:<\/p>\n

“In the pines, in the pines,
\nWhere the sun never shines
\nAnd you shiver when the cold wind blows.<\/em><\/p>\n

The wind in the trees,
\nBring memories
\nOf a love I thought was true.
\nYou gave me tears
\nAnd empty years,
\nFor the love I gave to you.”<\/p>\n

Her beautiful soprano melded with the music. When they finished the duet, Jenny began to giggle. “Sorry,” her face flushed pink. “Don’t be, Kitten. You have a lovely voice,” Ben hugged her again before she bounded up the stairs to wash up.\u00a0Kittten<\/em>, she mused. Secretly, she loved it every time her Pa or her brothers called her that, but she would never admit it. She took off her soiled clothes, boots and hat and put on her petticoat and pantaloons. How she hated that corset! But she had to wear one. A freshly pressed dress lay on the bed. The cranberry red brocade skirt swirled around her. A white jacket had tiny intertwining green vines held red roses. Cotton waves peeped out from under her quarter-length sleeves and the high neckline. She laced the front of the jacket up with a cranberry ribbon, pulled on her stockings and shoes, then sat at her bureau to comb her hair. Jenny unbraided it and let it flow over her shoulders. She sighed and tied a cranberry ribbon around a small section of tresses that hung down in long swirls. Hop Sing called the family to dinner, so she hurried along and was at the table shortly. Ben felt a lump in his throat when Joe offered her a seat. She was so attractive for fourteen. She was \u2018filled out’ and looked a little provocative in jeans and tight fitting shirts.\u00a0That’s it. No more pants. Period.<\/em>\u00a0“Pa, what’s wrong?” Hoss stared into his father’s dark eyes. Oblivious to the sour look on his face, Ben said grace and the family ate. “Jenny, you’re not to wear pants again,” his face was taut. She stopped short before she stuffed a forkful of roast beef into her mouth. “What?” He seemed angry, and she couldn’t understand why. “I said you aren’t allowed to wear pants anymore.” Her blue hazel eyes grew fierce. “Why?” Joe and Hoss looked uncomfortable, Adam interested in how his father would deal with this. “Because they’re too suggestive and provocative. I don’t want every man from here to Carson City looking at you with lust in their eyes,” his voice calmed. Jenny was still mad, but understood. She nodded and continued eating. Noticing her crestfallen face, Adam spoke up, “Why don’t you go into Virginia City tomorrow after school and pick out some dresses for yourself? Put it on my account.” Her countenance brightened slightly. “On your account? Are you sure, Adam?” her breath quickened. He smiled a \u2018yes’. “An’ I’ll get you a side-saddle,” Hoss grinned. “I’ll teach you to ride side-saddle, but it’s not that easy. You have less balance in that type of saddle,” Joe sighed, but perked up at the thought of teaching his little sister to ride again.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

“Sit back in the saddle! Put all your weight in your stirrup leg!” Joe called to Jenny from the middle of the corral. He pulled the old mare in with the line he held and walked up to his sister. “Aren’t you listening to anything I say?” his green eyes blazed. “I’ve been trying! This sidesaddle is uncomfortable; why don’t you climb up here and I’ll show you what I mean!” she was getting livid now. Joe went back to the center of the ring. “Do it again, this time at a canter.” She urged the horse into a light trot, then to a canter. He felt the mare begin to get excited, so he gently tightened his grip on the long rope. The horse might have been old, but she had a spark in her. She shook her head in response to the tightness of the bit in her mouth and began to gallop frantically. Jenny tried to rein her, but the mare would have none. She reared, sending the poor girl flailing through the air and over the corral. Jenny landed on her back gasping for breath. Joe ran to her, dropping the line and jumping over the rail. Her hair had come out of its tight bun, her shirt ripped on the sleeve. One boot was missing, the other askew on her foot. “You all right?” he asked anxiously. She nodded mutely, still wanting for air. Joe picked her up and carried her into the house, calling for Hoss, Adam, and their pa. He laid her tenderly on the settee as the rest of the family came into the living room. “What happened?” Ben gingerly let his hand rest on her forehead. “The old nag I was teaching her on bucked her. She flew over the fence.” Joe hung his head, “I should have watched her better.” Hoss put a reassuring hand on his little brother’s shoulder. Ben’s mind flooded with images of his beloved Marie and her death. If that had happened to Jenny…he didn’t want to think about what it would do to the close-knit family. She gritted her teeth when Adam pulled off her remaining boot, revealing a very swollen and very purple ankle. “I’ll get the Doc,” Joe placed his tan hat on his head and reached for his green jacket. “No, I’m fine; really, I am,” she pleaded. “Young lady, we’re going to get that ankle checked whether you like it or not!” Ben boomed. “But Pa…” Jenny began but shut her mouth when she looked up at him. Joe shut the door thinking, I would’ve said the same thing if it was me in there and not her.<\/p>\n

When the doc finally arrived he went up to Jenny’s room. He looked at her ankle and then pocked it up gingerly to examine it. Jenny was trying to hide the pain in her eyes but was also trying not to let the cry escape from her throat as the doc had taken to prodding her ankle. Doc Martin tenderly put pressure on it. “Does that hurt?” he put more pressure on the Achilles tendon. No longer able to bear the pain she nodded her head as tears started to form in her eyes. “I’m sorry, but I’ll give you something to ease the pain,” Paul carefully wrapped up the ankle and placed it on a soft pillow. The doctor opened the door and all four Cartwrights came tumbling in. They cleared their throats as Jenny stifled a laugh with her hand. “The ankle’s just sprained. It’ll heal in a few days time. Just keep her in bed and no walking around until I say so,” Paul smiled at his old friend. “Oh, and here’s that pain medicine I told you about,” he told Ben to give as much to her as needed. He said his goodbyes, then left. “Do I have to take that stuff?” Jenny turned her nose up at the spoon that Ben shoved towards her. “Yes, you do. No take it and be done with it,” he placed the spoon in her hands. She pinched her nose with her fingers, but still tasted the awful tasting drug. It ran down her throat like molasses, prolonging her suffering. She grabbed the glass of water sitting on her nightstand, gulping it down. Joe, Adam, and Hoss could not help but laugh at the face that Jenny was making due to the pain killer. “Hey Joe,” Jenny said. “Yea, Jenny?” he sat beside her on the bed. “Next time you show me first so that I can fall more gracefully,” Jenny said with a chuckle. “Not a chance,” he grinned. She yawned; obviously the remedy was working. Ben laid her down and fluffed up the pillows to her liking. Before he finished, she was already fast asleep.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

The four Cartwright men left and went downstairs to talk. “Pa,” Joe started, “I don’t think side saddle riding is for Jenny.” Hoss interjected, “Me too, Pa. She ain’t ridden a day of side saddle in her life and it ain’t fair for her to have to.” Ben eyed his sons suspiciously. “You know they’re right, Pa,” Adam was leaning against the worn Indian blanket draped over the stair railing. “Well, she is a young lady, and she needs to learn it some day,” Ben nodded knowing that he was losing the fight with his sons. “We realize that she is a young lady, Pa,” Adam stated, “But she is also a teenager, and she is just like us when we were her age.” Ben walked over to the hearth to think.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Two weeks later, Jenny was on her feet again and eager to be out riding. She was up in her room thinking of what to wear. She decided she didn’t care what Pa said and that she was going wear jeans. Jenny put on a purple shirt that used to be Joe’s and then put on her pants, careful not to irritate her ankle. She was walking down the stairs when she heard Pa bellow, “Jenny what are you doing in those jeans?” His eyes grew wider with every step she took. She stopped and put her hands on her hips. “I just couldn’t put on a dress Pa. It’s the middle of summer I would have died of heat stroke,” Jenny stated. At this Adam cut in, “You know Pa, she has a point.” Hoss had a mouth full of flapjacks, but put in his two bits. “And she is gonna be ridin’ over to the William’s place today…” Joe stood up from the settee, “And we all know just how graceful she is ridin’ side saddle.” Knowing that the battle had been lost before it even started Ben nodded and allowed Jenny to wear the pants, but stopped her short as she ran to the table. “I’m not finished yet, Jennifer. You may wear pants when you’re out on the Ponderosa, but when you go into town, you must either wear a dress or a riding skirt. And you must wear a dress when we have company and to church. Understood?” she nodded solemnly. “Now come and eat some breakfast.” With that Jenny rushed to him and gave Ben a big hug. She sat down and scooped up some flapjacks. Joe looked at her as she was shoveling a giant helping of bacon onto her plate. “Hey Jen, isn’t that my shirt?” Joe asked with a chuckle. “It’s one that you never wear so I’m just gonna say no,” Jenny declared, taking a bite of bacon. “How do you know I never wear it?” Joe cocked an eyebrow. “It’s purple, Joe. You never wear purple. And you outgrew it a long time ago.”<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

She hurried to the barn so she could ride out with the boys. The horses nickered to her, Isis dancing in her stall. Jenny tried to get the bridle on the horse. She tossed her magnificent head in defiance of the bit. Jenny narrowed her blue eyes. She groped around in her pocket for the treat she was hiding. A lump of honeycomb enticed Isis, but just as she opened her mouth to grasp it with his velvety lips, the girl pushed the bit under her tongue and fastened the bridle. Snorting in disgust, Isis stomped her hoof on the earthen floor. Jenny laughed and scratched her horse behind the ears. You wild thing, you beautiful wild thing… she thought wistfully. She secured the royal blue saddle blanket, then heaved the heavy leather saddle onto the horses’ back. Isis snorted again as Jenny tightened the girth. The siblings led their mounts out of the sturdy barn. With one last wave to Ben, they rode away, leaving behind a cloud of dust. When it settled, Ben slowly went back into the large home that seemed even larger with the boys and Jenny gone. They separated at the road to Virginia City. Jenny followed the well worn path to the Williams’ home until the old home came into view. Mr. and Mrs. Williams had always been good friends of the Cartwrights and came for visits often. They had a son named David who was only a few years older that herself. During one such visit, Steve, one of the ranch hands, had planned to go hunting. David begged to go, and finally his mother let him. Steve told him to watch out, as they were going after a wild grizzly bear that had been bothering the cattle in the north pasture. The boy followed the older hand’s instructions explicitly. Steve had cornered the bear, but didn’t look around as he shot. The bullet grazed David’s temple; he had been blind from that moment forward. That was only a few months ago. The family hadn’t been around much after that. Pa had asked her to pay a social call on them, to see how they were doing, how they were getting along. And here she was, rapping on the front door. She brushed off her pants and shirt before primping her hair. Mrs. Williams opened the door shortly. She looked surprised at first, but then a warm smile crept onto her face. “Hello Mrs. Williams,” Jenny said as nicely as she could. “Please come in. I just took an apple pie out of the oven.” she said. Unable to resist her salivary glands which had been watering since she heard the words “apple pie”, Jenny walked in and sat down at the table. “Mmm! This is better than even Hop Sing could make!” she ate the pie like she hadn’t seen food in a week. Mrs. Williams laughed. “I’m glad you like it. Would you like some more?” Jenny bit her lower lip. “I really shouldn’t….but could I bring home a piece to Hoss, please?” The woman cut another slice and wrapped it carefully in wax paper. “Where’s David?” Jenny asked tentatively. “David is out in the barn with his father,” Mrs Williams said with a smile. “You can go see him if you want while I wrap up this pie.” Jenny stood, “Thanks Mrs. Williams.” She ran out to the barn and opened the door slowly. Mr. Williams was sitting on a bale of hay mending a bridle. David sat idly rubbing his horses’ velvety muzzle. His grey eyes were void of emotion, void of light and happiness. “Why, ain’t this just a pleasure? Howdy, Miss Jenny!” Mr. Williams set aside the bridle to shake her hand. “Hello, Mr. Williams. It’s good to see you. Hello, David,” she smiled brightly. David carefully rose off the stool he was sitting on and walked to her with his hands outstretched. “Long time no s-” he cut himself off at ‘see’. “Yea, I know what you mean…So what have you two been up to?” she asked. “Oh, nothin’ much. What have you Cartwrights been up to?” Mr. Williams offered her a set on the bale he’d been sitting. She smirked. “Graceful side saddle ridding,” Jenny said sarcastically. “I mean the usual: mending fences breaking horses….falling off of horses,” Jenny said under her breath. Looking over at David, Jenny got an idea. “Hey David, you wanna go for a ride? If it’s alright with your pa, that is.” A worried look came into his eyes, but Mr. Williams agreed. He needed to get David out from under his feet. No matter how bad it sounded, it was the truth. “I’ll tack up your horse, and tie a rope from my saddle to yours,” she went over to the frisky stallion standing in the first stall. “His name is Lucifer,” David grinned in spite of himself, remembering all the races he had won against his schoolmates with that horse. “Where is your horse?” he asked. “Outside; her name is Isis, after the Egyptian goddess of women. Adam lent me a book about Egypt…Oh, there I go off rambling. Here, I’ll bring him out and help you mount him,” Jenny led the horse out of the barn and into the warm sunshine. “So where do you want to go, David?” Jenny mounted up on her own horse. “I haven’t been to the lake lately,” an excited look came over his face. “The lake it is then,” Jenny pointed the horses to the south. “Hey David, maybe we can fish at Tahoe,” she said hoping to break the silence. “I know the best fishing spots on the Ponderosa. Not even my brothers know where they are.” Jenny looked over at David and hoped that he would say yes. “Sure Jenny,” David seemed a little cautious. “Sounds like fun.” They talked some, but mostly rode in quiet. Jenny found her favorite fishing hole near the edge of the Ponderosa. A small but fierce waterfall cascaded over a rocky ledge into a pool of blue. Pine trees lined both sides like tall soldiers in green uniforms. In the background, a gargantuan mountain over looked the valley and lake. “Here we are!” she dismounted and helped him out of the saddle. “Are there rapids? I hear water…” his face turned to the lake. “It’s just a waterfall,” she searched for two long branches. “What color is the water?” David asked. “Huh?” her forehead crinkled in confusion. “The water; is it dark blue, crystal, turquoise?” he sat on the shore, his hands caressing the tiny grains of sand. “Oh…I’ts dark-ish, but when it flows over the rocks it gets foamy white,” Jenny baited the hooks and handed him a pole. “What’s it like?” she kept her attention on the line. “What’s what like?” Her voice quivered. “Being blind.” David thought for a few moments, then sighed. “Frightening. Sometimes I can’t believe it’s true. Sometimes I think, ‘Just open your eyes,’; then I realize that they are open. I get so scared because I can’t see anything or anyone. Just darkness.” Jenny put a hand on his shoulder. “Oh, David! You got a bite!” she pulled in the line to reveal a large trout. He laughed as she tried to rangle the ornery fish. “Come on. With all that noise we made there won’t be any fish to catch around here!” She grabbed his hand and led him to the waterfall. David stood shortly, wanting the apple in his saddlebag. But the rocks were slippery; he fell into the rushing river. He was clinging to a boulder anchored in the riverbed. Trying not to be overcome by panic, a thought popped into Jenny’s mind. She ran back to the horses who were tied a short distance away. She tied the pommels together again and mounted Isis. David was still hanging onto the rock. She lassoed him and tied that rope to her horses’ bridle. “C’mon, girl!” the two horses backed towards the trees. They finally pulled him up on the bank. “Are you all right?” she gave him a once-over, making sure he wasn’t hurt. He turned and walked to the horses. “I’ll take you home,” she pulled out a blanket and wrapped it around his shoulders. “Thanks, Jenny. You saved my life…” he got up on Lucifer and started home. Mrs. Williams was frantic when she saw her son soaking wet. Jenny retold the story to them. They thanked her profusely, but she declined modestly. She said her goodbyes and went on home. It was well after dark when she put her horse up in the barn and strode to the house. “And what have you been doing?” Ben eyed her sternly. “Saving David Williams’ life.” Joe giggled, “You what?” She reaccounted the tale to her family. They all beamed at her. “I’m so proud o’ ya, Punkin!” Hoss pulled her into a big bear hug. “Thanks Hoss, but could you do me a favor?” He stopped. “What?” She smiled. “Stop squishing me!” He laughed heartily. “Sorry Punkin, didn’t know I was squishin ya,” Hoss said as he released her. “Hey Pa, I was wondering…could I ride out to the William’s place again next week and maybe go for another ride with David?” He took her into his arms in a non-squishing hug. “That would be a great idea Jenny. It would be good for David to get out every once in a while.” Jenny grinned brightly. “Thanks Pa!” “Hey Jenny,” Joe had a mischievous look in his eyes. “You spend much more time over there and it could be LOVE!” He clasped his hands and looked like some love-struck yearling. He stood and held his arms out to Hoss. “Oh, David, I LOVE you!” his voice was high and a little squeaky. “Jenny, marry me!” Hoss’ was equally high. Jenny aimed a dirty look at them, then threw her boot at Joe’s head. Of course, he ducked, and it hit a vase sitting on Ben’s desk. “Joseph Francis! Jennifer Grace!” They looked at each other sheepishly. “Sorry Pa,” they said simultaneously. “I’ll pick up the broken pieces, Pa” Jen said. “Maybe I can put it back together tomorrow.” She ran over and gathered the shattered fragments of the vase. “I’m gonna go to bed, Pa. I’ll see you in the morning.” She hugged them each in turn. “Night Jenny,” all the men said in unison. With a smile she ran up the stairs and took the left to get to her bedroom. Before Jenny got to her room she ran into Joe’s room and opened his dresser drawer. She took out another colored shirt for the next day. She chose red this time.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Jenny went on Saturdays to the Williams’ home. She was very popular there; Mrs. Williams, or Miss Mem, always had a piece of cake or pie for her to eat. Then David and she would go on a ride, usually to the lake. This time Jenny brought a book with her. “What is it?” he felt the hard cover. “It’s a book of Braille, Dave. Braille is a system of reading for the blind,” she opened the book and put his hand over the raised dots. “See? Each of these systems of dots is a letter: This is an ‘A’,” she put his fingers over the dots. A look of complete realization came over his face. He smiled. “Teach me to read, Jenny,” he put his hand over hers. “Ok. But once we start there is no turning back.” Jenny warned. “I know,” David said stoically. “Ok.” She sighed, hoping that he could learn Braille. “Where did you get this book, Jenny?” David asked. “I borrowed it from Joe. He bought it when he fell in love with a blind girl named Tessa a while ago; he thought that it be might helpful,” she crossed her legs and set the book between them. “So, shall we go on?”<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

“Jenny, I need to talk to you.” David said. “I want to thank you for teaching me to read Braille and everything. You have opened so many doors for me these past months and well, Jenny I applied to a school for the blind and they accepted me!” he was all smiles. “David, that’s great!” Jenny said half-heartedly. “But if I go that means leaving you for four years. Jenny- the school is in Maine.” He might not be able to see, but he could feel her sadness. “Come with me to the barn,” he led her out. They stood hand in hand and waited for the other to speak. “Jenny…will you…” he stuttered. “Will I?” she started. “Will you wait for me?” he put his arms around her waist. “David…I…” he put his finger to her lips. “You talk too much,” he gently tilted her head to his and kissed her tenderly. At first she resisted, then it became wonderful and exciting. Sparks flew and she knew that she loved him. He enveloped her in a warm hug. Her head rested on his broad shoulder. “Yes, yes, I’ll wait for you. I-I love you, David,” she kissed him again. “Here,” he reached into his pocket and pulled out a simple carved ring hanging on a delicate gold chain. “Oh, David,” she gasped as he clasped it around her neck. “Promise me,” he demanded. “I promise,” she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Let me look at you,” he put his sensitive fingers on her face. He touched her high cheekbones and smiled when he touched her smile. “What color is your hair? And your eyes?” She blushed. “My hair is honey blonde, but it’s turning lighter. My eyes are hazel with blue streaks.” They hugged one more time before Jenny mounted up. “When will you leave?” He looked crestfallen. “At the first of May. I’ll come and tell you,” he slapped her horse. She rode off with tears in her eyes. Jenny ran into the house crying. Joe was sitting on the settee when she came in, Pa in his red leather chair. She ran over to him. “Pa, he’s leaving,” Jenny said, her voice quavering. “Who’s leaving Jenny?” Joe asked. “David. He’s going to a school for the blind in Maine.” Ben squeezed her shoulder. “Well, Kitten, aren’t you happy for him?” he inquired. “Yes; yes, I’m happy for him, Pa. But I-I love him.” He coughed a laugh, but obviously it wasn’t a laughing matter. “You what?” his bushy eyebrows rose. “I love him!” she almost yelled. She sat on the hearth and hung her head in her hands. Her sobs were interrupted by a strong hand rubbing her back. Joe smiled at her, and she gave him a lop-sided grin. He sheltered her in his arms as she cried into his chest. “You don’t love him…you’re only fourteen, after all!” Joe tried to comfort her. “It’s because he’s…he’s blind, isn’t it?!” Jenny rose and clenched her fists. “No! It’s not because he’s blind and you know it!” Joe shouted. With that said she lashed out with a vicious left hook that got him right in the jaw. He fell back onto the table and out of instinct, he went to lash back. Ben got up quickly and broke them up. Jenny ran up the stairs to her bedroom. Slamming the door shut, she cried till she had no tears left to cry and fell asleep, dreaming of David going away and never coming home.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

“She hit you?” Adam looked at his youngest brother’s bruised jaw. “Yea, right in the mouth. I tell you what, that kid’s got tough knuckles!” he rubbed his chin, wining when he put pressure on the bruise. Adam went up to Jenny’s room to see how she was doing. When he walked in he saw her crying into her pillow. “Hey Kitten,” he said. “Go away Adam!” her voice was muffled against the pillow. “Jenny,” Adam started, “He’ll come back. It’s not like he’s leaving forever. I don’t know if you know this or not, but Joe has an understanding of how you feel.” Adam sat beside her on the edge of the bed. “Really? How?” Jenny asked and sniffed. “Well, when I went to college, Joe didn’t want me to leave \u2018cause he thought that I wouldn’t come back and that I was leaving him forever. Pa and I tried to explain to him that I was just leaving for a little while and that I would be back, but Joe just wouldn’t understand. I know it’s not the same, but just know that David will be back and things will get back to normal.” Adam got up to leave. “Adam, wait.” He turned around to face her. “Adam, he asked me to wait for him, and I promised I would.” A smile played at the corners of his mouth. “Do you want to wait for him Jenny? Four years is a long time.” She got a determined look in her eye. “Yes I do, Adam, and you know why?” Jenny challenged him. “Why, Jenny?” She got up and placed her hands on her hips. “Because I think he’s worth the wait.” Jenny looked down at the hardwood floor. Adam lifted her chin with two fingers grinned at her. He walked toward the door. “And Adam- thanks.” Jenny said. He stopped as his hand curled around the doorknob. “Any time Little Sis.”<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

It was the fifth day of May, and the day that Jenny had been dreading. Today was the day David would get on the stage to Maine and ride out of her life for four years. They spent the weeks before today talking, riding, fishing, and preparing themselves for the departure. Jenny and Ben rode into town to say goodbye to David. “Well David, this is it.” Jenny said, tears starting to form in her eyes. He touched her face and said, “I’ll try to write. Maybe one of my professors will write a letter for me so that I can send it to you. Would you like that Jen?” She looked over to her father. He was engrossed in conversation with David’s parents. “Very much! And I’ll right back and maybe you could find someone there to read it to you.” The stage rolled in and David knew time was running out. He felt around her neck and grasped the ring on the necklace that he had given her. “You’re wearing the necklace I gave you!” David gasped. “And I won’t take it off until you get back and I see you again.” Jenny sobbed the last few words. Tears dropping on his hands, he said, “Please don’t cry Jenny. I’ll be back.” She tried to talk. “I know but…” David put his finger over her lips to make her stop, leaned forward, and kissed her. They kissed until the driver said that the boy had better get on. David then hugged Jenny and she helped him into the stage. “I’ll be back real soon Jenny, and I will make you proud with what I do at this school,” he said with confidence. “Goodbye Jenny. Keep your head up!” She laughed a little. “Goodbye, David,” Jenny said, trying to hide her voice so that David wouldn’t know that she was crying. The driver slapped the reins and with that the stage left. Jenny followed the stage until it was out of sight, gone over the horizon. She jumped when an arm went around her shoulders. Jenny pressed herself against her Pa and buried her head in his chest and cried. “Hush, child,” he comforted. Ben led her back to the buggy, and with one last look to the sun rising high into the sky, she turned and didn’t look back.\u00a0He’ll be back<\/em>, she promised herself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\n

Next in the Jenny and David Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Love Me Tender<\/a>
\nBleeding Love<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Disclaimer:<\/span>\u00a0All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
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Summary:\u00a0\u00a0Jennifer Cartwright, Ben’s adopted daughter, is a rough-ridin’ tomboyish kind of girl, that is, until Pa sends her to check up on David Williams, who had been blinded a few months earlier. Romance, Drama, and Goodbyes all roled into one. The first story in the “Jenny & David” series. CAUTION: Introduces two non-canon characters!<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0K+ (5,600 words)<\/p>\n

Jenny and David series, links to all the stories within the series included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":165,"featured_media":1229,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[7,23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-a-u","category-drama","wpcat-7-id","wpcat-23-id"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza7.jpg?fit=720%2C477&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/165"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5303"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5303\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1229"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}