on her elbow and was leading her out.
When they reached the wooden sidewalk, she wrenched her hand free.
'Jamie, I just might not be ready to head home.'
'We're not heading home,' he told her.
'We're going to talk.'
'What if I had something to do?' she demanded. 'It would have to wait.'
'It wouldn't!'
'Today, Tess,' he insisted, 'it would.' The brim of his hat was pulled
low over his eyes, hands were firmly on his hips.
'Now, listen' -- 'You listen,' he told her, wagging a finger beneath
nose.
'I'm not going to live like this. We're straighten out the
relationship.'
'There is no' -- 'The hell there isn't. Now get in the wagon, or I'll
put you in it.'
'You wouldn't' -- He took a step toward her. Before she knew it she was
off her feet, then she was sitting in the wagon. She swung around, but
he was beside her in an instant, and the reins were in his hands, and he
was clucking to-the thoroughbred that pulled the small conveyance.
Tess crossed her arms over her chest, staring straight ahead.
'You are intolerable!' she told him.
'I just don't like a bunch of bull, that's all.'
'Bull' -- 'The way you're acting.'
'I'm not acting' -- 'I hope to hell you are.'
'I don't know what you're talking about.' They were already out of town.
He was silent for a moment.
The horse picked up its gait and it seemed they were flying down the
road.
Then, suddenly, Jamie reined in. The horse slowed and Jamie hooked the
reins around the brake. He jumped down and came around the wagon for
Tess.
'What?' she demanded, staring down at him. He reached up, placed his
hands around her waist and lifted her down. When she was on the ground,
his hands still her. His eyes were like smoke, and his jaw was She knew
that he did, indeed, intend to have things She opened her mouth, wanting
to protest again, want- to deny and denounce him and run away. But she
was because that wasn't what she wanted at all. She to trust him. She
wanted to lean against him.
And, of all, she wanted to feel his lips upon hers again, as as the sun,
as rich as the earth. But she didn't want to him so badly. she didn't
want to make a fool of her- like Eliza.
Because, like Eliza, she was falling in love with him.
'Come on,' he told her.
'Where?' she protested.
'Down by the water.'
The road ran along the river. He held her hand and led her through the
trees until they came to a little copse. They were alone with the sounds
of the rippling waters, with the occasional call of a bird, the soft
rustle of a tree. He drew her close, and when she stiffened, he drew her
