by Arlene James
Tears gathered in Sarah's eyes as she nodded. Caroline got to her feet again. "Aspirin?"
Sarah swallowed and nodded again. "On my bedside table, upstairs, first door on your right." :- "I'll be right back."
Caroline ran lightly down the hall and up the stairs, turning to her right on the landing. A door opened off either side of the stairwell, and a narrower set of stairs at the back of the landing led, supposedly, to the attic. The door to the bedroom that Caroline sought stood open, so she hurried inside and took a look around. A four-poster bed stood dead center of the far wall, taking pa good deal of space, but the many windows with their light, filmy covers gave the room an open, airy feel* just as the massive fireplace in one corner warmed it. A triple dresser stood next to the door, a mirror above it. An antique pants press and small slipper chair occupied a corner, along with a rusty old trunk left open to reveal a stack of colorful quilts. Two mirrored doors opened off of one wall. Caroline glimpsed the sheen of tile beneath one of them. Undoubtedly it opened into a private bath. The other was probably a closet. She turned her attention back to the bed, more specifically, the matching tables flanking it, and spied the aspirin bottle on the far side between the Victorian-style lamp and a pair of reading glasses atop a hardback book.
Bottle in hand, she swung out onto the enclosed landing and came face-to-face with Jesse, who stood in the door across the way. Caroline showed him the aspirin bottle in her hand. He signed and leaned a shoulder against the door frame.
"She's in pain much more often than she'll admit."
"I've seen the signs."
He nodded. "I've tried to help, but I'm pretty limited in the kitchen. About all I can do is fetch and carry, and that's not really what she needs."
So that's why he was hanging around, in case his mother needed him. Caroline smiled, feeling deeply satisfied. "Don't worry about that anymore. I can do just about anything that needs doing, and if not, I know who to call on."
He looked down at his toes. "I appreciate that."
"I'll take care of her," she promised. "From now on, I'm her hands."
"I just hope she'll let you do more than she'll let me do."
"She will. You'll see."
He nodded. She waited a moment longer, expecting him to say something more, something, perhaps, about how she should keep I her silence concerning Nancy. Instead he said, "If she's needing that aspirin, you'd better get it to her."
"Right." She swung around the newel post and quickly descended the stairs. When she got back to the kitchen, Sarah was taking dishes down from the cabinet one at a time. "I'll do that," Caroline said. "You take your aspirin." She twisted off the cap and placed the bottle on the cabinet, then got down a glass and
filled it with water. She and Sarah traded places. "How many settings?"
"Six, including you."
Caroline looked over her shoulder in shock. "Oh, I don't have to eat with everyone else. I can always—"
"Don't be silly," Sarah said, having swallowed her aspirin. "The hands eat two meals a day with the family. You will, too. Now set those dishes right here on this table, and I'll get the flatware. We take breakfast and lunch in the kitchen, dinner in the dining room. The men will want coffee, and they'll be bringing in thermoses, too, so we'll pour what's left in the pot into a keeper and put that on the table while we brew another pot."
"Sounds like you need two coffeemakers," Caroline said.
"We used to have two, but one gave out I've been meaning to buy another."
"I can take care of that for you, if you want."
"Would you? What a wonderful help you are!"
"No problem."
"I'll get the trivet. We'll sit the soup pot right on the table when the men get here. Stays hotter that way. The biscuits we'll just have to wrap in hot towels."
"Do you have a Crock-Pot?"
Sarah blinked at her. "Yes, actually, I do."
"Makes a great bread wanner."
"Now why didn't I think of that? You're so smart."
Caroline laughed. "If this place was as drafty as my place is, you'd hit on it sooner or later!"
Sarah opened her mouth to comment, but the windowpanes rattled gently as someone opened an outer door, and men heavy footsteps and male voices could be heard coming down the hall. Jesse pounded down the stairs and into the kitchen, taking a place near the window. "Here we go!" Sarah said laughingly. Caroline hurried to get it onto the table.
"Smells great!" Jesse said, pulling bis chair up to the table, jlhe other men came in one by one, after visiting the rest room to wash up. Haney Wagner, Jesse's father and Sarah's husband, iwas^lfte first An older, leaner version of his son, he made it »*Vfe«is where fcsse came by that thick, wavy hair. Surprisingly, he showed only a little silver at the temples. The elements had taken a toll on his face, but he was one of those men whose crinkles and pronounced bone structure only added character. Hale and hardy, he looked younger than his wife by several years.
"Hello," Haney said simply, glancing at Caroline as he rolled down his sleeves and headed for the table. A man of few words, obviously.
Sarah made the introductions, then repeated them for the other two men as they came in. Tiger Stevens was a tall, slim blonde about thirty years of age. He wore no rings and no wristwatch. His light amber eyes flashed over Caroline with interest, but he said little as he took his place. Handsome Harris was not so circumspect He was, frankly, a very good-looking young man, as his nickname indicated, with dark brown hair and eyes. A year or two older than Caroline and of average height, he had a weight-lifter's build and a flirt's quick smile.
"My, my," he said, looking Caroline over blatantly, "somebody's been holding out on me." He flashed that smile at her. "Thought I'd met every pretty girl in town."
Caroline curbed the urge to roll her eyes and instead ignored him. She lifted the lid from the soup pot and dunked the ladle. Haney Wagner slid his bowl next to the pot, and she filled it. Handsome lifted his next, but she reached instead for Jesse's.
"Mother, you come sit down now," Jesse said, while Tiger chuckled at Handsome's chagrin.
"Yes, sit down," Caroline echoed. "I'll get the bread. That crock's too heavy for you."
"Now don't fuss over me," Sarah protested, taking her chair. Caroline filled her bowl and then saw to Tiger.
"Guess we know the pecking order," Tiger said to Handsome as he pulled his bowl toward him.
"That's all right I'm a patient man," Handsome said loudly.
Caroline pretended to just then notice him. "Oh, are you ready for soup, Mr. Harris?" She filled his bowl and tamed away.
Seeing her empty place beside Sarah, Harris said, "Aren't you going to sit down?"
Caroline ignored him. Sarah said, "Jesse pass the salad," the hint of a chuckle in her tone.
Wearing an oven mitt, Caroline carried the crock to the table and reached inside. She placed the first golden brown biscuit on Jesse's plate and the next on Haney's. She passed out two more, stripped off the mitt and sat down. Tiger snickered as Handsome gaped. "Oh," Caroline said. She lifted the lid so he could reach inside himself. Handsome grinned as he did so.
"Life has sure got interesting around here," he said.
Caroline looked up and asked, "Jesse, did you have anything else in mind for me this afternoon?"
Tiger laughed. Handsome gusted a heavy sigh. Jesse concentrated on his plate, but Caroline was pretty sure he was smiling. "Mom's the one you should be asking that question."
"I thought we'd look around the house," Sarah said, "get you familiar with things. If there's time before we have to start dinner, we could dust the living room."
"Sounds fine," Caroline said. "By the way, what time should I come in tomorrow morning?"
Sarah looked at Jesse. "What do you think, son?"
Jesse shrugged. "Nine to six makes a full day."
"What about breakfast?" Caroline asked.
"Haney and I just take coffee," Sarah said. "Tiger and Handsome eat bef
ore they come in, and Jesse makes his own. He's always up first."
Caroline made a note of that.
Handsome said, "Say, maybe you'd like a ride in to work?"
Caroline looked straight at Jesse and said, "What time would you like dinner?"
Handsome dropped his spoon with a clunk, and Tiger stifled a chuckle with his napkin.
It took Jesse a moment to get his smile under control, but finally he said, "I eat when it's put on the table."
Without preliminary, Sarah answered Caroline's question.
"About five. The men are plenty hungry by then, andkAat^
;me bulk of the evening free for them. Of course, not everyone
always shows up for dinner," she added innocently. "Handsome,
: will you be eating in tonight?" r-.-
"Yes, ma'am! If Miss Caroline's servin'; I'm eatin'."
Caroline smiled at Jesse. "Will you be eating in tonight, Jesse?"
He shrugged. "I always eat in."
"We all do," Tiger volunteered, "except for Handsome. He has a real busy social life." Handsome kicked him under the table. "Ow!"
Haney burst out laughing. Jesse shook his head, no longer even trying to tame his grin . "You'll have to forgive Handsome," he said to Caroline. "He can't resist a pretty girl."
"Especially one as pretty as you," Handsome added quickly.
Caroline inclined her head and said, "Why, thank you, Jesse."
Handsome's chair screeched as he reeled back, thoroughly spurned. All three of the other men laughed heartily. Even Sarah chuckled. Both Jesse and Haney had managed to empty their bowls already. Caroline snatched up the ladle and filled Jesse's bowl first, men Haney's. She passed out more biscuits and asked Jesse if she could get him anything else. Handsome gaped, Jesse chuckled, and Tiger sniggered.
Haney said mildly, "Handsome's not used to sharing the attention."
"Sharing," Handsome said cryptically. "So far I'm mute and invisible!"
Tiger gave off one loud whoop of laughter, then managed to swallow the rest. Everyone else covered their mouths or averted their faces. Caroline pretended not to have the least idea what was going on. Concentrating on her lunch, she forked up bites of salad and shared a grin with Jesse, who kept shaking his head.
Thanks to Sarah, conversation around the table began to focus on other subjects. Handsome, to his credit, did not sulk. His smile was much too quick, his self-esteem much too healthy, but he did tone down the nutation to hopeful glances and fulsome compliments on the food. Caroline continued to ignore him. Jesse continued to chuckle at Handsome's expense and treated Caroline's regard as nothing more man a tactic to thwart Handsome. But Caroline was in deadly earnest. She liked this man, liked him immensely.
She enumerated his sterling qualities silently. One, he had a constant heart. Otherwise, he wouldn't have grieved his late wife
so long. Two, he cared about his friends' happiness. At least, he cared about Nancy's, as he should. But not too much. Three, he was fair and trusting. Despite wanting to keep his private involvements just that, he had taken her at her word and allowed her to speak to his mother, then made no objection when Sarah hired her. Four, he was very thoughtful of his mother and obviously valued her good opinion. Five, he liked to laugh and did so easily with the men in his employ. Six, he was even more potently good-looking up close than at a distance. And seven, if he was a little gruff with her at times, well, it could be his way of protecting himself against the attraction. She felt sure there was an attraction. If not, she meant to try her hand at developing one.
She smiled to herself as she calmly ate her soup and listened to the chatter around the table. It felt good to be part of a group. It was almost like a family. For a moment, she imagined that she was Sarah and Jesse was Haney. The other three around the table were their sons, grown but still close. Mentally, she added daughters-in-law and grandchildren, until the house was bursting with
: the sounds of teasing and laughter, conversation and even the occasional wail. Oh, how she wanted that, or something very like it, a family of her own extended to several generations. And this was just the place to have it, a real home with a history all its own.
, Suddenly the desire, the need, for that dream to come true gripped her so tightly that she could barely breathe. It struck her, in the midst of it all, that she was just what she had so often felt. Alone. Completely alone. From now on, there would not be even a note from her mother saying that she was going to be late. From
'- riow on, it was just her, all by herself. She felt a spurt of panic, but then Jesse said something that made everyone laugh, and just the sound of his voice soothed her.
She reminded herself that she had come here for two reasons, a job and to get to know Jesse Wagner. So far, so good. She had Jfl» job. Now all she had to do was keep it long enough to fix
Jesse Wagner's interest, and she was willing to give it as much time as needed, months, if necessary.
Oh, yes, her interest in Jesse Wagner was very sincere. And if he didn't kaow that now, he soon would, for she was a determined woman with a mind of her own—and absolutely nothing to lose.
Chapter Three
Jesse set his hat on his head and tapped it into place. As he reached for the buttons on his coat, the door swung open at his back and Tiger stepped down onto the pathway beside him.
"Wind's died down."
' 'Hallelujah," Jesse said drolly. ' "Thought I was going to bleed to death, it was so sharp this morning."
Tiger chuckled. "You carp about the cold every year, but I haven't noticed that it slows you down any."
Jesse shot him a narrow look. "No? You just haven't been
watching." '
"Oh, yes, I have."
Jesse stepped off toward the barn, and Tiger fell in beside him. They walked several steps before Jesse heard himself wondering aloud, "You suppose Handsome's going to spend all afternoon trying to get Caroline to notice him?"
Tiger laughed. "Wouldn't do him no good. That little gal's
made her preference real plain." <
"Aw, she's just leading him a merry chase," Jesse said dis-missively, and he was certain that something clinched, forming a knot beneath his lower rib. He wouldn't admit to a soul, not by word, deed or expression, what Miss Caroline Moncton's pointed regard was doing to him. It'd been a long time since a female's every glance and motion had danced over his nerve endings like electricity between poles. Just the sound of her voice had stoked fires in him that hadn't burned in years. But even if she was serious—and it wasn't likely—he would do nothing about it. He had learned the hard way, long ago, that he was not meant for yoking up. He was one of those old bachelor types not fit for making part of a couple.
Tiger was shaking his head and making negative sounds. "I don't know, Boss. She sure seems mighty fixed on you."
Despite the lurching of his heart, Jesse refused to consider it "Naw, she's just letting young Handsome know he's met his match and buttering up the boss hi the process. You watch, she'll be hanging all over him by week's end."
He wondered if maybe he shouldn't be somewhere else around then. For the first time, he wished Nancy wasn't getting married, but the next instant he backed off that. It was beyond selfish for him to resent having his comfy little arrangement brought to an end, especially as Nance had been so very generous over the years. He'd explained right at the beginning, of course, that he couldn't give her anything but some private fun and the simplest sort of friendship, and he'd been beyond relieved when she'd taken hun at his word. It had lasted far longer than he'd intended or expected. If he didn't^know quite how to go about making another such arrangement, well, that was probably just another result of the passing years. He was no longer comfortable frequenting the kinds of places where he'd met Nancy Shaver.
Tiger said, "She sure is a looker, that Caroline."
Jesse set his back teeth. She was that. "If you like them barely out of the cradle."
"Ob, I don't figur
e she's that young," Tiger said. "I did at first, but the way she puts that young buck in his place, she's bound to be past jailbait, anyway."
"She's all of twenty-one," Jesse informed him drily.
"See there," Tiger said with some enthusiasm. "She ain't too young even for you."
"Hell's bells, Tiger!" Jesse exclaimed, coming to a full stop. "That just makes her sixteen, almost seventeen years younger than me! You don't think that's a bit of a gap?"
"Not too much," Tiger muttered, shoving his hands into his coat pockets and hunching his shoulders.
"Huh." ',
Jesse started walking again. He really didn't want to talk about this anymore, but Tiger wasn't taking the hint. He caught up and matched his strides to Jesse's longer ones, asking, "How d'you know she's twenty-one?"
