Part 35 (1/2)

The two blond women were kissing and hugging Jamie. Jamie was laughing in return and thanking both for coming.

Tess wasn't sure if she would lose her temper or her mind first.

”Excuse me!” she said, but there was too much noise. ”Excuse me!” she shouted. The room went still. She looked around, and then said frankly, ”Excuse me, but--who are you?”

”Jamie!” the taller woman wailed.

”You didn't tell her?” Tess smiled sweetly.

”No. No, he didn't tell me.”

Jamie stepped forward.

”These are my brothers, Cole and Malachi. And their wives, Kristin and Shannon. And that's my nephew, Gabe. And I take it that Shannon and Malachi's twins are in the kitchen” -- ”The little darlings!” Dolly said rapturously. ”We've come because Jamie sent us a wire about von Heusen,”

Cole Slater told her.

Tess gasped. She stared at them all. So this was having a family.

They were so close. They knew one another so well.

They were happy and content, she could see it on their faces; they were serene with their world.

She shook her head.

”Thank you, but” -- She swung around on Jamie.

”Jamie, you can't--they could get killed here!”

”Well, ma'am, I'm not planning on getting killed,” Malachi told her, tipping back his hat.

”I'm not planning on it at all. You see, we came to kill them if need be.”

”You don't know von Heusen.” ”Oh,” Kristin said cheerfully, ”we have known men a great deal like him.” She smiled, stepping forward.

”We're family, Tess. And that's what it's all about.” She flashed Jamie a quick grin.

”My brother-in-law was always there when I needed him,” she said.

”Oh!” Shannon said suddenly.

”Smell that! Oh, no, Jamie and Miss. Stuart have come home at last, and it seems we've let dinner burn!”

She swung around, then looked back.

”Well, isn't anyone hungry?”

And Tess realized she was starved.

She glanced at Jamie. She was still amazed, still in shock. But Kristin Slater set a hand upon her arm.

”Come on! I promise you, things will start to look more reasonable after a good dinner and a full night's sleep!”

Jamie shrugged.

Tess felt herself gently pulled along. Dinner. The perfect end to the.

perfect day?

Chapter Thirteen.

They had just reached the table when Jon Red Feather came in with Hank.

Tess let out a startled, joyful cry and raced to Jori, giving him a fierce hug.

”You did come back! You made it out, and you came back!”

”Of course,” he told her.

”Someone had to be here to welcome the Slaters. I mean, this is practically a tribe. Have you realized that yet?”

”A tribe!” Kristin said indignantly.

”Sit down, Jon, and watch your tongue, if you will. Jamie, by the way, you should marry this girl before you find out that you've got compet.i.tion on your hands.”

Jon laughed, and Tess flushed. She wasn't sure about Jamie's reaction.

Kristin Slater started calmly doling out food into the numerous plates on the table. It was a good thing it was a big house.

Uncle Joe, you would have loved to have seen this! she thought.

”If everyone would come sit down,” Malachi said, pouting wine into the gla.s.ses around the table, ”I think that Jon has something to tell Tess and Jamie.”

”Yes, I do, as a matter of fact.” Jon walked to the table and picked up a gla.s.s of wine. He smiled at Tess and Jamie. ”Cheers,” he said, raising his gla.s.s to his lips.

”Will you all please sit!” Cole said emphatically.

Tess sat at her own dining table--as she had been so politely orderedl Jamie sat beside her, and they stared at Jon, who looked at them.

”I have discovered why von Heusen is so particularly eager to seize hold of your land, Miss. Stuart.”

Tess gasped, and she and Jamie stood.

”Why?” Tess demanded.

Jon smiled, swirling his wine.