Dallas, Texas

Dismounting Chestnut and Storm as they reached the pond, leading them to the water for a drink, Jenna spoke for the first time since she'd progressed their lope into a gallop, giving an explanation for why she appeared so tense and in need of a good fast ride across the ranch.

"Did you know Pam had a sister?"

Hearing the question, Sue Ellen was surprised it had taken Jenna as long as it had to ask. She'd know of Pam's family for more than nine months, and with Bobby and Jenna having been officially together as a couple for more than two months she assumed subject might have come up sooner than it apparently had.

"Not officially."

"She didn't officially have a sister or you didn't officially know?"

"The latter."

"JR?"

Nodding, she confirmed the news. JR had told her a long time ago, asking her not to tell Jenna, but she couldn't lie about it when the subject was raised directly.

"Did Bobby tell you?"

Assuming Bobby, not JR, had revealed all, she wanted to be sure.

"Technically, but he was hardly open about it. I had to ask. He never offers the information."

Clearly bothered by the way things were, Jenna's attitude didn't make a lot of sense to her. She'd never much wanted to talk or think about Pam when she was alive and after her death she'd done her best to support Bobby but as expected couldn't get too close to the grief without appearing insincere. She didn't doubt Jenna felt for Bobby and she hadn't pushed him to reconcile their relationship before he was ready, but she'd never feel the same way he did, which Bobby knew.

"Do you really want to hear about Pam's family?"

"I want the option to choose."

Stating it plainly, it seemed she wasn't so upset about the subject as she was how it had been delivered, namely that it hadn't.

"How involved is Bobby? My understanding was that Rebecca, Pam's mother, wasn't overly friendly, and Katherine, Pam's sister, was satisfied with how things turned out with Cliff and Bobby."

Wondering whether perhaps Bobby didn't inform Jenna about developments not because he didn't think she was interested but because there simply wasn't much to share, she asked about his relationship with the Wentworth family, although Jenna's answer focused on something else entirely.

"I can't believe JR got all of that information and I didn't."

"It's not really a lot when you think about it. A few loose ends tied up."

Defensive of her husband, she minimised the extent of his knowledge, although she knew there was far more to the story. JR had been instrumental to helping Katherine with her search for information, something neither Bobby nor Cliff knew anything about and she knew he'd like to keep that way.

"Why does he know at all?"

"When has JR not made knowing things his business?"

Laughing, Jenna eased up a bit. "That sounds about right."

Jenna had known JR first, she understood him and she had to know that his involvement in things wasn't always easily explained.

"What's upsetting you? You're Bobby's wife now."

Suspecting there was more going on in Jenna's head, she asked the question as she brushed her hand over Chestnut's mane and he nuzzled against her, something she was going to miss the next time she was expecting. She'd made a commitment to be extra careful in hopes of preventing an accidental miscarriage like she'd had previously or a near miss like Pam had had previously, so as much as she loved horses, once the test came back positive she'd say goodbye to riding Chestnut for a few months.

"I just… he didn't tell me anything beyond that he was going to Houston a few weeks ago, he told me almost nothing about his trip there, and when he speaks to Cliff on the phone it's always so discreet. He'll tell me things if I ask, we don't have secrets as such, but he's not forthcoming with the information."

Indicating her annoyance was mostly focused where she'd said it was, on Bobby's lack of open communication, Jenna's marital problems seemed simple enough to her.

"Perhaps he thinks it's of no interest to you. After all, Pam wasn't exactly your favourite person."

Reiterating the obvious, this time Jenna acknowledged what she had said instead of deflecting.

"That's no lie."

Shaking her head, she didn't want to laugh because she'd set Jenna up in what she'd said and Jenna was nothing if not honest.

"But I like gossip as much as the next person, Bobby knows that."

Continuing, Jenna's comment struck her as a little too much this time.

"Perhaps that's why he's not so forthcoming. His first wife's estranged family is a little more than gossip to him."

Personally, she had liked Pam and her loss had hit her hard, especially when it came to her own mortality and maternal wishes, however she'd grieved and enough time had passed for her to discuss the situation without getting overly emotional. She wasn't perfect, she'd listened with interest as JR had presented the situation in a gossipy fashion, concern mixed in with curiosity, however she would never speak of it that way with Bobby, which Jenna should know.

"She's gone and I'm here. Why do her feelings come before mine?"

"Jenna…"

"I'm selfish, I know, I know."

Amused and mildly appalled by Jenna's self-awareness, she cracked a smile.

"I just wish he'd tell me these things."

"Have you told him that? Perhaps he just doesn't know you want to be included and he needs it to be said directly."

Glad that she and JR had moved past communication issues in their relationship, she gave the best advice she could.

"Yes, but I don't think I should have to. He should tell me what's going on in his life regardless of whether I've expressed an interest in it or not."

Holding Bobby to a high standard, Jenna wasn't wrong, although her perspective was perhaps a little optimistic.

"Men think differently. JR used to withhold many thoughts that ultimately ended up hurting our marriage. That said, once you have good communication, marriage gets easier."

"I have no doubt it will get easier once this all goes away. I don't know what he hopes to gain from all of it but it can't be much. Getting close to Cliff Barnes and these Wentworth women isn't going to bring Pam or Will back."

"Is that what Bobby wants?"

Sounding as if she wished for nothing more than for Bobby to move on and pay attention to her, her attitude wasn't necessarily unfair, just unrealistic. She was Bobby's second wife not because of a divorce but because he'd been widowed, it was only natural that his mind sometimes wandered to the past.

"Ask JR, he might have a better idea about the answer to that than I do."

Snapping at her, this time what she said wasn't fair.

"Jenna, I say this in the nicest way possible. Don't take your anger with Bobby out on me or JR."

"I'm sorry."

Apologising, Jenna looked lost.

It was nice to know that despite presenting herself as confident she did have insecurities; however, it wasn't nice to be the one on the receiving end of her bad mood because of those insecurities.

"Talk to him, again and again and again, until he understands."

"Make him understand. I can try that."

Repeating the words, Jenna smiled, her expression making it obvious that there was definitely more going on in her head now.

To be continued…