Jack glared at Tess. Tension emanated from him like heat waves. He was fighting hard for control. Or the appearance of control. "Don't do this."
She blinked innocently up at him. "Do what?" "Make us a goddamn family."
The frightened plea almost broke Tess's heart. There was a bleakness in his eyes that hit her hard in the stomach. He looked lost and aching and alone. And desperately afraid. "We already are." He paled. "It's not safe." "Yes it is."
His anger came back, replacing the momentary flash of emptiness and fear in his eyes. "Fine. I'll do it for them. But don't try this ... strike thi
ng again. I'm a man of limited patience."
He spun back around and stormed through the open door. He was on the bottom porch step when Tess called out his name.
He paused and reluctantly turned toward her. "Yeah?" "Just for the record, Jack, you're a man of no patience. But don't worry, I've got tons."
150
Jack stared at her, speechless for a heartbeat, then he turned and walked away.
Tess flashed the girls a triumphant grin and gave them a thumbs up. "Way to go, girls."
Five minutes later, Katie was still staring at her mother. Mama was lying on the floor, tickling Caleb's toes and
laughing.
Katie turned to her sister, a grave look on her small face. "There's a stranger in Mama's body," she said quietly.
Savannah nodded. She, too, was staring at her mother. A faraway, wistful look crept into her eyes. "I hope she
stays."
Katie slipped her hand into Savannah's and squeezed it
tightly. "Me, too."
Two hours later, Tess stacked the last basket in the back of the wagon. Clapping the dust from her hands, she eyed the spread with a critical eye. Basket and boxes lined the wagon's planked side, their interiors filled to overflowing with fried chicken, cold potato salad, hard-boiled eggs, fresh-baked bread and homemade jam, pickles, and canned peaches. A bottle of cider stuck up amid a stack of plates and cups, its metal lid glinting silver in the morning sunlight.
The girls buzzed around the loaded wagon like excited, nervous bees. Every now and then one of them would laugh, and the clear, high-pitched sound assured Tess that she was doing the right thing. This family needed? desperately needed?to have some fun.
"Get in," Jack said in a gruff, angry voice that cut through the girls' laughter like a hot knife.
Katie flinched, paled. Dropping her gaze to her feet, she shuffled wordlessly to the wagon and climbed aboard.
151
Tess grabbed Jack by the sleeve and spun him___.._.
"Remember when you asked if I'd hit you?" she hissed. He nodded, eyeing her warily.
"Well, speak like that to your children again and I'll knee you in the groin so hard, you'll hit the dirt. Do we understand each other?"
The wariness turned to outright disbelief. "Lissa?" She gave him a dazzling smile and let go of his arm. "Of course. Who else would it be?"
He frowned and shook his head. "Yeah. Right." Turning his back on her, he snatched up the reins and began studiously examining the leather.
Tess reached down for the long, narrow basket beside her. Within it, folded in layers of pale brown homespun, Caleb wiggled and squirmed. Bright blue eyes blinked up at her. "Hi, honey," she said, lifting the basket and setting it gently in the wagon. Savannah and Katie immediately scooted close to the basket and started entertaining the baby. Tess waited patiently for Jack to help her to her seat. He didn't. She tapped her booted toe in the dirt and crossed her arms. "Jack. It's time."
He cast her an angry sideways glance. She smiled and held out her gloved hand. Grudgingly he threw the reins onto the wagon and helped her aboard.
"Thanks," she said, primly fanning her butter yellow muslin skirts out around her.