Harvest Moon (Borrowed Brides 2)

David wearily rubbed the bump on his head, then at the bridge of his nose where a headache was beginning to form. “Weren’t you?” he asked. “Even a little? When you couldn’t get your hands on this?” He reached into his trouser pocket, pulled out the silver and onyx rosary, and placed it on the table.

“How…?” Tessa grabbed the rosary.

“I heard you open the door and sneak behind the curtain,” David said. “And I saw your green skirt peeking out when I looked under the bed. You were looking for this, weren’t you?”

“You knew? You weren’t asleep?” Her voice rose.

“No. I wasn’t asleep. I took the rosary off her when we were drinking under the covers. I wasn’t very subtle, but then I was afraid you might try to yank it off her neck.” David picked up the spoon.

“I thought…”

“I know what you thought.” He ate a mouthful of beans. “I said a lot of those things to Charlotte because I knew you were listening to every word.”

“But—”

“I’d appreciate it if you don’t say anything more tonight. I’ve heard all the talk I can stand. And we’ve both said enough. So do me a favor and just go to bed. We’ll talk later.”

Tessa turned on her heel, padded barefoot down the short hallway toward her room, and slammed the door.

“Tessa…” David?

??s voice reached her.

“What?” she demanded.

“You needn’t bother to lock it. I’m too tired to be interested.”

She paused for a moment, listening, then locked it anyway, just to spite him.

David heard the distinctive click of the key turning in her lock. “I haven’t had that much whisky.” His voice carried down the hall.

In the space of a couple of days, his whole life had been turned upside down. All because some hot- tempered, redheaded Irish girl had been unfortunate enough to have Arnie Mason get killed in her bed. And David had the feeling it would be quite some time before he could return to his quiet, peaceful…isolated existence.

He banked the coals in the stove, blew out the oil lamp suspended overhead, and headed toward the storeroom. He paused there long enough to make sure Coalie was sleeping before heading toward his own room. On impulse David paused in front of Tessa’s door and reached for the porcelain knob. Checking.

Tessa saw the doorknob move, heard the slight rattle of metal.

“Thanks for supper,” David said softly.

“You’re welcome,” she answered. “Thanks for my rosary.”

“You’d have gotten it on your own eventually.”

“But I didn’t have to,” Tessa whispered. “You got it for me.” She clutched the rosary close to her heart as she listened to the muffled thud of his footsteps fade.

Chapter Six

Tessa entered the office the next morning to find David seated behind his desk, engrossed in a towering stack of legal papers. A wisp of steam floated up from the coffee cup near David’s right hand. He didn’t speak, nor did he look up at her, but Tessa knew he was well aware of her presence.

The door leading to the alley opened and Coalie, dressed in his assortment of grimy clothes, brought in a full scuttle of coal. “Good mornin’.” He spoke to David, but grinned at Tessa. “I finished polishin’ all your boots, so I brought some more coal for the stove.”

Tessa glanced at the stove. The container next to it already brimmed over with coal.

“Thank you,” David said before speaking to Tessa. “I put a fresh pot of coffee on to brew.”

Coalie dumped the bucket of coal, then shrugged his thin shoulders.

“I prefer tea,” Tessa told him. “We don’t have any.” David looked up from his desk.