Once in Every Life

They could go to church next week. Perhaps?

Suddenly Caleb let out an ear-shattering cry. Tess

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gasped and spun toward the girls, plastering a finger to her lips.

Jack screamed and bolted upright. His knee came up and rammed into Tess's backside. She slid off the bed and plopped on the floor.

She looked up; he looked down. After a second of confused silence, Tess burst into laughter. Behind her, the girls began to giggle. Caleb drew a shuddering, surprised breath and stopped crying.

The wild, terrified look in Jack's eyes disappeared. He relaxed, unfurling from his board-straight sit, and glanced down at Tess. "Sorry."

She smiled. "Not yet, but you will be."

"What do you mean?"

"I cooked breakfast."

He groaned. "No, thanks, I'll just gnaw on the table leg for a while."

"Leather's closer. Try your shoe."

His mouth quivered in a quickly suppressed smile. Throwing back the thin wool cover, he swung his legs around and stood up, stretching his arms high above his head. His red long Johns pulled taut across his chest.

Tess popped to her feet beside him. "You'd better get dressed. We'll be late for church."

He froze midstretch and looked down at her. "I'm not going to church."

She grinned. "Yes you are."

"No I'm not."

She moved toward him, laid her hand on the warm cotton of his sleeve. The heat of his flesh crept through the flimsy fabric and warmed her fingertips. Tilting her face, she gazed into his sleep-puffy eyes. Tiny white lines crisscrossed his flushed cheeks. "Please?" * He swallowed hard. Beneath her fingers, Tess felt the

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muscles in his arm tense. "Okay." The word slipped from

his lips on a quiet sigh.

She smiled brightly. "You won't be sorry." He

snorted. "You're wrong. I already am."

Chapter Sixteen

The horses moved forward slowly, their hooves striking the hard-packed dirt road in a plodding, thudding gait. Overhead, birds chirped gaily, dipping and diving. The throbbing clang of the school bell filled the air.

At the fence, Jack reined the horses to a stop. Yanking his Stetson low on his forehead, he jumped down and tied the horses to the top rail.

Savannah and Katie climbed down quickly and waited. Tess was saddened to see that their earlier excitement had fled, leaving in its place a stoic silence.

She started to reach for Caleb, but Jack's voice stopped her cold.

"Get me that cider, will you, Lissa?" he asked.

Tess glanced over her shoulder at him, her eyebrow quirked upward in a silent question. She waited patiently for his explanation.