Once in Every Life

"You're welcome," he answered. "A whole hell of a lot." "It's probably best not to curse in front of the children," she said.

Jack gave her a look that would curdle milk, then snapped the reins. The horse dropped its head and slowly plodded forward.

Tess's plan was in motion. The Rafferty family's first adventure had begun.

Chapter Eleven

Tess saw the perfect spot and practically lurched off the wagon's hard seat. "There!" she yelled, pointing at the huge madrone tree up ahead.

Jack didn't even bother to look sideways at her. "I take it by your screech that you've chosen the picnic site."

Tess beamed. "Exactly right, Jack. And here I was thinking you didn't understand me."

He mumbled something in response. The words were unintelligible, but the message was clear: Leave me alone. She decided to answer the unspoken message. Just to shake him up a bit. "Sorry, Jack, I can't do that." He stiffened. "What did you say?" She turned and gave him a bright, challenging smile, which he studiously avoided. "I said, I'm sorry, but I can't leave you alone. It's not part of my plan."

The flesh at the corner of his eye flinched in a quick, angry tic. He said nothing, simply stared silently ahead.

Tess studied his profile, noticing the sudden narrowing of his eyes, the tightening of his mouth into a grim, gray line, the way his fingers curled convulsively around the

reins.

The plan was working, she realized. He was reacting. Oh, he was trying hard to be cool and calm, but the anger was there. Building, hovering just below the surface. All she had to do was bring it out and disarm it. Let him know

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that the other emotion, buried even deeper, was okay, too. She was sure it was there?it was there in everyone. Somewhere in Jack's dark, frightened soul was the desire to be happy.

All she had to do was find it.

He yanked back on the reins and brought Red to a stop. "We're here," he said through gritted teeth. He jumped down from the wagon.

Tess stared down at him.

He glared at her. His eyes narrowed even further.

"Wow," she murmured. "I wouldn't have thought that was possible."

"Go ahead, Amar?"

"Lissa." She smoothed her skirt.

His voice lowered. "Go ahead, Lissa, have all the goddamn fun in the world. But leave me the hell alone." He leaned forward, resting one gloved hand on the wagon's splintery side. "You got it?"

Tess sidled sideways along the wooden bench until she was within touching distance of Jack. Her knee brushed against his hand. She leaned down, staring at him. She was close enough to see the tiny gold flecks that lightened his green eyes. "I swear, we keep having the same conversation. No, Jack, I don't got it. And neither, apparently, do you. This is a family picnic. You are part of this family. Therefore, you will picnic."

"What the hell does that mean?"

She shot a smile at the girls, who were huddled close together in the back of the wagon with Caleb, apparently waiting to see who would win this battle before moving. "It means eating outside, enjoying the sunshine, and?" she looked back at Jack, and this time it was her eyes that narrowed "?having some fun."

He stared at her for a long time, measuring her. Then he

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let out his breath in a weary sigh and shrugged. "Do whatever the hell you want."

Yes, Jack, she thought. Get tired of fighting me. Get really, really tired of it. Let your guard down.