She and Malachi had gone after her, and a kindly old couple had derided
the two of them had to be married. 'But they'd been in' love for years.
They wouldn't admit it, of course, because they were too busy gouging
one another's eyes out.'
'Oh, it never was that bad!' Shannon protested. 'No, it was worse!'
Kristin said. She stood up.
'I think that we need a drop of brandy to go with this, too. Girls?'
Shannon and Tess both agreed. Then Tess yawned and complained that her
buckskins were filthy and that she felt as if half of Texas was covering
her.
The sisters quickly had the hip tub out and filled, and Shannon was
racing upstairs for French bath oil, and before she knew it Kristin was
presenting her with a lilac nightgown that matched her eyes. 'I can't
take these things!' Tess protested.
'But you can. It's all in the family,' Shannon told her. Tess shook her
head.
'I heard Jamie once. He said that no one would ever make him get
married.' Kristin shrugged.
'They can't force him--but he just might choose to do so on his own.'
' 'Do you want him?' Shannon asked her.
Tess f~it her heart beat hard and she closed her eyes. Yes! Yes, she
wanted Jamie desperately. She had wanted him his eyes had first fallen
upon her, since he had killed since he had told her in a soft voice that
she was Since that day by the stream before the nightmare had begun and
he had touched her and said, 'I think I'm falling in love with you ...'
But that had been before they had nearly been destroyea, before he had
lost his beloved cavalry mount to retrieve her.
She was trouble. He had told her that again and again. He had walked out
at dinner because he had been so furious with her that he hadn't been
able to stay at the table. 'Do you?'
Shannon persisted.
'Yes,' Tess admitted softly.
'I want him. For keeps.'
'Then forget the arguments. Even forget the fact that you'll probably
never get along. I have,' Shannon said cheerily.
'Forget von Heusen, forget everything, and cherish what time you have
together in peace.'
'And get in the tub with the rose oil,' Kristin suggested drily.
'There's just nothing like a very sweet smell.'
'And a see-through lilac gown to match your eyes! Aren't they beautiful
eyes, Kristin?' 'And she's not jealous often,' Kristin said, laughing.
Feeling loved and protected, Tess stepped into the water and felt the
steam surround her. It was good to be home.
'I'm more worried now that I know just what this man is after,' Jamie
said.
He was sitting on the rocker on the porch. Jori was perched on the
railing with Cole, and Malachi was seated across from him on the swing.
It creaked slowly in the night air.
Jamie exhaled. He looked at his brothers.
