'I'll go right out, ' Jessica promised.
Five minutes later, she was still standing at the kitchen counter. She
knew she was being rude by keeping the marshals waiting, but she was so
nervous and frightened, she couldn't seem to make herself go outside.
She delayed the inevitable for as long as possible by insisting on
helping her new friend, Grace Winthrop, finish the dishes and put the
food away.
Grace was completely out of place in a kitchen. Jessica didn't think
she had ever been inside one until she moved into Tilly's
boardinghouse, but what she lacked in experience she made up for with
her enthusiasm. She was determined to learn how to cook a decent meal,
and there wasn't any chore beneath her. Yesterday she had taken off
her gloves and hat, put on one of Tilly's old aprons, and got down on
her hands and knees to scrub the floor. It had taken her twice as long
as it would have taken Jessica, but when she was finished, the wood had
a nice shine.
The two women had become good friends. F, ach was lost in her own
thoughts as they worked side by side.
'I'm scared, ' Jessica whispered. 'I don't want to talk to them. '
'I'm scared too, ' Grace admitted. 'After they finish questioning you,
they'll probably want to talk to me. Maybe Tilly could convince them
to come back tomorrow.' Jessica shook her head. 'Then I'd worry all
night. I want to get it over and done with now. Otherwise I won't
sleep.'
'Have you thought about my proposition? Mr. Nelson needs to know if
I'm going to purchase his wagon or not. I promised to let him know in
the morning. He let me drive it over here, ' she added.
'I know, ' Jessica whispered back. 'I can see it in the field behind
the yard from my window. Yes, I have made up my mind. If you're sure
we won't be a burden, Caleb and I would love to go with you.' Grace
let out a sigh. 'I'm so thankful, ' she said. 'Of course you won't be
a burden. I'll admit now I don't think I could manage the horses
without help.'
'We'll manage together, ' Jessica promised.
Tilly came back to the kitchen to find out why Jessica was taking so
long and decided it was up to her to give her a little nudge.
'They aren't going to go away, girl, ' she began. 'You might as well
get on out there and talk to them, and while you're answering their
questions, you might want to take the time to notice what fine-looking
men the marshals are. It's been a long while since I've seen such big,
