She wore an old, faded honey-colored dress that had probably been the
color of gold at one time. The dress, noticeably threadbare at the
elbows and frayed at the cuffs, was probably a hand-me-down, but on her
it was still beautiful. Her hair was tied back behind her neck with a
thin white ribbon. Strands had worked free of the confinement and
curled around her ears. She defined sensuality and femininity, and
when she took a step toward him, the light scent of lilacs came with
her.
Damn, but she was something else.
"What are you staring at? " she demanded.
'You, " he answered. "You're a very beautiful woman, Jessica." The
compliment took the wind out of her. He didn't order her to sit down
this time. He asked.
"I want you to listen to what I have to say, and when I'm finished, if
you still want to shoot me, I'll let you."
"You know I won't shoot you, }' she muttered as she handed the gun back
to him. "I'd like to, " she hastily qualified. "But I won't. The
noise would wake the baby.
" He laughed. "You're all talk, Jessie."
"You can't make me go to Texas."
"Yes, I can, " he countered, his voice firm now, unyielding.
She buried her face in her hands. "I didn't do anything wrong. Why
don't you leave Caleb and me alone? " "You know I can't do that. "
She put her head down on his shoulder and quietly wept. He dug his
handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to her. Hedidn't tell her
to stop crying, figuring she needed to get rid of the tension inside
her, but he hated knowing that he was part of the reason she was so
distressed.
Long minutes passed before she was able to gain control.
Ole eld her close, noticing how soft she felt against him. now you
didn't do anything wrong, " he whispered. "The Judge down in Texas
wants you to come to Blackwater." But what about Rebecca and Grace, "
she cried out. "Are "Hush, you'll wake the baby, " he reminded her.
"I don't want you to worry about your friends. Daniel will watch out
"How can I not worry? " "Trust me, " he replied.
"I'll try. But, I can't stop thinking about Rebecca and Grace.
They're in danger because of me, aren't they? " "Yes, they are. Your
names were published in the paper as potential witnesses, and I don't
think the men who murdered those innocent people will stop until
they've gotten every one of you. I can understand why none of you
would want to admit you were there, but . . . " She started crying.
The sight of her tears made Cole feel like a ee .
He started to reach for her, then stopped himself.
I on t like women who cry, " he said "Then you must hate me. I cry all
the time. I don't cry in ront of Caleb, though. It would upset him.
Sometimes . . . Iate at dnight, I pull the covers over my head so no
on h He put his arm around her and pulled her to his side "I on t like
hearing that. What makes you cry ath ? " "Of what? " "Failing. "
"You have a hard life, Jessie."