Harvest Moon (Borrowed Brides 2)

“Hurry,” Tessa responded, tearing her gaze away from David and turning to Coalie. “Eat your breakfast. We don’t have much time.”

Coalie gobbled up his doughnut, then washed it down with a gulp of milk.

“It’s all right, son,” David said. “You can slow down a bit. We’re not in that much of a hurry.” He spoke to Coalie, but his next words were meant for Tessa. “We have plenty of time.”

* * *

Late in the afternoon, after mass and a huge Sunday dinner at a restaurant, Tessa, Coalie, and David boarded the train in Buford for the return trip to Peaceable. Coalie immediately dozed off, his head in Tessa’s lap.

Tessa smiled up at the man sitting beside her. It was easy to pretend they were a family returning from a Sunday afternoon excursion just like so many other farm families.

“It was a lovely day,” Tessa said.

“Yes,” David agreed, “it was.”

“Then you didn’t mind taking us?”

“No, Tessa, I didn’t mind,” David admitted, “though I never dreamed we’d have to go all the way to Buford to catch up with the good padre.”

“We could have gone into Cheyenne,” Tessa reminded him.

“No.” His tone carried an edge. “We couldn’t have. I have family and friends there I’d rather not see.”

“Why not? Are you ashamed to have all your big-city friends see Coalie and me?”

“It’s nothing to do with you,” David answered. “It’s me.”

“What did you do that was so bad?” Tessa asked, wondering what his answer would be. She wondered if he’d admit to keeping secrets, maybe even admit to being friends with Liam Kincaid. “What’s any worse than being accused of killing a man?”

David faced her, the expression in his dark eyes painful in its intensity. “Seeing the look in the eyes of your loved ones and knowing you’ve disappointed them. Knowing they’re ashamed of you.”

Tessa suddenly understood that David Alexander did have secrets. He spoke from bitter experience, and her heart went out to him.

Chapter Eleven

“Open up!” The pounding on the front door startled Tessa. “Open up, David Jordan Alexander. I know you’re in there, and you’ve got some explaining to do.”

Tessa debated whether or not she should open the door, then decided it would be all right, since the voice of the caller was female. She pinned her braid into place, then pulled the sash of her borrowed robe tighter around her waist. It was early in the morning for visitors, but the woman obviously knew David Alexander and had no intention of leaving. Tessa padded across the office to the door. Horace Greeley trotted along beside her.

Tessa turned the key in the lock and swung open the door.

“Oh!” Mary Alexander stared. The woman in the doorway of David’s law office was lovely. A thick braid of red hair circled her head like a coronet. Her ivory skin was smooth, unblemished, and her eyes were a lovely shade of blue. That she had been asleep was apparent, as was the fact that she’d spent the night—she was wearing one of David’s silk robes. “I’d like to speak with my brother.” Mary’s voice was cool, full of teacher-like authority, as she stepped forward.

“He’s not here.” Tessa studied David Alexander’s sister. There was quite a family resemblance, from the dark hair and brown eyes down to the dimple in her chin.

“I’ll wait,” Mary said, “if you don’t mind.”

Tessa stepped back to allow her entrance into the office. “Let me take your coat.”

Mary shrugged out of her wool coat and handed it to Tessa.

She took the garment, walked across the office, and hung it on a hook. Tessa motioned toward the coffeepot simmering on the stove. “David left coffee.”

“Thank you.”

Tessa walked to the cupboard and removed a cup and saucer and placed them on the table across from her own glass of milk before lifting the pot from the stove. “Sit down, please,” Tessa said, as she poured the coffee.

Mary seated herself at the table.