Part 37 (1/2)
”So you're not planning on marriage.”
”I try not to plan on anything.”
She was at her dresser, brus.h.i.+ng her hair. He slipped behind her, his chest still naked, and pulled her against him.
He whispered against her ear.
”What if you're already with child?”
She turned and faced him, looking him up and down. ”You're nicely built, intelligent, I think, and your brothers don't seem to have too many flaws.
If I have a child, it should be a darling one.” She swung around to continue to brush her hair.
He laughed as he donned his s.h.i.+rt and socks and boots. ”Tess, you are a h.e.l.lion,” he told her.
She smiled sweetly.
”I just do the best I can with what I've got, Lieutenant. I'm going down for breakfast. I'm sure Dolly and Jane got things started very early with all those 273 little children to feed. And I do want to be at the paper by eight. I've got to teach Kristin and Shannon how to work the press.”
”I'm right with you,” Jamie told her. But when she would have exited the room, he pulled her back.
”We do things my way, remember.”
”I remember,” she said coolly. ”Everything.”
”Meaning?”
”I'll tell you later,” was all he said.
He stepped past her and hurried down the stairs. She followed him, convinced that he had only stopped her to prove to her that he could be down first.
Dolly and Jane were busy with the children, and they seemed like a couple of doting old aunts. Dolly beamed at Jamie.
”I just can't wait until it's one of your little bundles I'm holding, Lieutenant!” she said. Of course she wasn't really holding Shannon's daughter--the child was squirming away, ready to chase a little string ball that was rolling across the floor.
”Yeah, soon enough, Dolly,” Jamie said sweetly. To Tess's surprise he winked at her.
”Coffee!”
A cup was shoved into her hand by Malachi.
”Jamie,” he said, ”I've told Hank to tal~ Dolly and Jane and the children down to the storm cellar once we've gone. They're invisible there.” ”Fine,” Jamie said.
”Dolly?”
”I understand, Lieutenant, I understand perfectly.”
”I'll watch them,” Hank promised.
”Me and the hands, we'll stay in and down in the cellar with the children.”
”Is everybody ready?” Jamie asked. He swallowed his coffee and set the cup on the table, then everyone was hurrying out.
The children were taken to the cellar, and Dolly waved a cheerful hand to Tess.
”You take care, missy, you hear?”
”Yes, Dolly, I promise! Thank you!”
Dolly disappeared into the storm cellar, and Hank followed, closing the door over them. Cole and Kristin stamped the dirt around so the opening was invisible. By then Jon was coming around with the wagon, and Kristin and Shannon and Tess climbed up with him. The Slater brothers mounted their horses. Tess was aware that each was wearing a gun belt with two Colts.
Each also had another gun attached to a saddle. They were well-armed, but managed to remain nonchalant.
Tess froze, praying that she wouldn't bring about one of these men's deaths.
It was her fight. Her own. She had no right to get these men killed.
Maybe nothing would happen today. Maybe yon Heusen would lie low.
Maybe he would take his time to attack her again. She had written the truth once. After today, maybe more people would believe her. He couldn't kill everyone.
”Why don't you explain the press while we ride?” Jon suggested to her.
Tess gave him a grateful smile. If she talked, she would relax.
”It's a small press, really, compared with many of the innovations they're coming up with today. But it's a small town, and we're a small paper. We set the type in a box called a chase. We tap our letters and words in with wooden mallets, ink the set type, then roll the papers through. It's very simple.” She was just warming to the subject when Jon's voice interrupted her softly.
”The town is quiet today.”
It was quiet. The streets were deserted. Not that it was usually busy at this time of the morning, but there was no one around. No one at all.
”Well,” Tess murmured.
”There's, uh, there's the paper over there.
See, Wilts.h.i.+re Sun. The place with all the windows broken out,” she added drily.
”Well, you can set to typing your story while Kristin and I sweep up,”
Shannon said.
Tess nodded. There was a giant lump in her throat, though. Why was the town so d.a.m.ned deserted?
Jon stopped directly in front of the paper. Jamie had already dismounted, and he was watching the silent buildings for any sign of movement. Malachi came to the wagon and helped the women down.
”Get into the office,” Jamie ordered curtly. Tess didn't argue but did as he told her. Shannon and Kristin followed her.
”Will you look at this mess!” Kristin said, clicking her tongue.
”I should help you,” d Tess said.