"It was rude, " Jessica said. "And I apologize if I seem a bit
abrupt.
It's just that there's so little time to decide, and I . . . " She
couldn't go on. She'd start crying if she tried to explain. She took
several deep breaths in an effort to control her emotions before she
started questioning Josey once again.
Josey was watching her closely. She noticed how pale Jessica was and
how sad her eyes looked. She wanted to ask her if she was in trouble
and if so, if there was anything that she and Tom could do to help, but
Jessica spoke before she could get the words out.
"Do you consider yourself patient? " "I beg your pardon? " "Are you
patient? " "Tom seems to think I am, " she answered.
"What do you do when you get angry? " Josey leaned back in her
chair.
She was thoroughly perplexed by her guest's peculiar questions.
"I clean."
"I'm sorry? " Jessica asked, not understanding.
"I clean, " Josey repeated. "When I get into a lather about something
or other, I scrub my floors and wash my walls and do whatever else I
need to do until I've gotten rid of my anger. Then I talk it out with
Tom.
Are you going to tell me why you're asking me these questions? " Tears
sprang into Jessica's eyes. "Yes, I'll explain just as soon as Cole
finishes talking to your husband. Do you keep lye under your
counter?
" "Do I what? " "Keep lye under your counter."
"Good heavens, no, " Josey answered. "Like I told you before, I'm used
to watching my nieces and nephews. A couple of them are about your
baby's age. They can walk and get into mischief, but they don't have a
lick of sense yet. Lye could kill them, so I keep it up where they
can't get to it.
You're in trouble, aren't you, Jessica? " "Yes, " she whispered. "I'm
sorry I've been so. . . suspicious, but I needed to know."
"Know what? " Josey asked.
"Cole will explain, " she replied. "But I promise I won't hound you
with any more questions." Josey reached over to pat Jessica's hand.
"You're with a good, strong man to help you through this trouble. "
"Cole's a marshal and he's part of my problem. If it weren't for him,
I wouldn't be on my way to Texas." Josey's frown deepened. "I guess
I'm just gonna have to wait until Tom tells me what's going on, then.
That baby's been trying to get to his cookie for a good five minutes
now, " she added, deliberately changing the subject because Jessica
looked on the verge of tears again. "Why don't you lessen your grip on
him and let him have one. Can he drink out of a glass yet? " Jessica
turned her attention to her son. She moved the glass toward him and
told him to show Josey how he could manage a glass. She was bragging
about his ability when he spilled the milk.
Josey chuckled. "It's usually my Tom who does that, " she commented.
She mopped up the milk with a dishcloth and then held Jessica's glass