"I?I thought I'd drink some out here while I'm waiting," he said, yanking his collar away from his throat as if it were suddenly too tight.
"And what is it you'll be waiting for?"
"For you to get done with church."
"Oh, that." Tess swept Caleb into her arms and eased herself off the wagon without Jack's help.
Jack smiled. "I knew you'd see it my way. I don't want to go to?"
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"Hell. Of course you don't." Tess cut him off with a determined smile. In the stunned silence that followed, she turned to the girls. "Go on inside. I want to speak with
your father."
Savannah moved protectively toward her dad. "But?"
"Don't worry, I won't hurt him. Now, run along."
"But?"
'Wow," Tess repeated firmly.
The girls grabbed hands. Together they ran pell-mell across the school yard and up the sagging wooden steps, disappearing into the makeshift church without a backward
glance.
They know the makings of a good fight when they see one. Smiling, Tess set Caleb's basket down and crossed to Jack, stopping directly in front of him.
He started to back away but was pinned in place by the fence. A hunted, wary look narrowed his eyes. "What do
you want now?"
"I want you to go into that church with me and pray."
He gave a harsh, derisive laugh. "For what?"
She felt a wrenching wave of sadness. Never, not in all
the long, empty, soundless nights after her mother's death,
had Tess ever questioned her faith. It was the bedrock of
her soul, and she felt an almost overwhelming pity for this
man whose soul was anchored by nothing at all. "Well, for
starters, how about an honest-to-God laugh instead of that
pitiful, bitter bark?"
He ran a hand through his hair and looked away. "Ah,
Christ, Lissa ..."
"Will you trust me?"