'Thanks for coming. I'm just wishing right now that I hadn't had you
bring Kristin and Shannon.'
'Jamie, you've known the McCahy girls a long time,' Cole said drily.
'And you should know at this point that they wouldn't have it any other
way.'
'I just don't know what this man might plan. I do know that he keeps
twenty to thirty hired guns on his property at all times.'
'We've met up with bad odds~ before Malachi reminded him.
'God damn it, don't you understand what I'm trying to say? I don't want
you, your wives or your children killed on my account.'
Gabe came out then. He glanced at his father and it was obvious he had
heard some of what had been said. He went straight up to his Uncle Jamie
and took his trail-toughened face into his hands.
'There's right and wrong, Uncle Jamie, and you know that. And my pa and
my ma, they say you have to fight what's wrong, because if you just give
in, it'll bury you in the end.
I don't mind fighting. Not if it's the right thing to do.'
Jamie lifted his nephew and hugged him tightly. Cole smiled.
'I rest my case.'
'Malachi, those twins of yours aren't quite three years old. You think
they feel the same way?'
'Jamie, we're here, and that's it,' Malachi said flatly. 'Now, what
about Tess?'
'What about her?' Jamie scowled.
'She's the hardest creature to tangle with I have ever encountered,
Yanks and Indians and rattlers included.' 'Think you're going to marry
her?' Malachi asked pleasantly.
'If he doesn't do so soon,' Jon Red Feather supplied, 'I
'Damn you, Jon' -- I'll have to, to keep the poor woman honest.' ,~
Jamie ou know the lot of you, you may be but I'm ' She's beautiful, very
bright and has the will of a wildcat. Besides that, she's worth a damned
fortune. He's already absconded with half her property,' Malachi said.'
Wait a damned minute!' Jamie protested.
'The least you could do is marry her,' Cole said. Jamie threw up his
hands.
'Thank you, one and all, for coming. And now I'll thank you, one and
all, to mind your own damned bus' mess Good night.'
He set Gabe on the rocker and headed into the house. He was halfway up
the stairs before he realized he didn't know if he had a room in the
house. His brothers and Kristin and Shannon and even the kids seemed
very happily moved in.
But where the hell he was supposed to be, he didn't know. He headed for
Tess's room, wondering what her reaction was going to be. If she
threatened to scream and bring the house down he thought he'd throttle
her.
He tapped on her door, then pushed it open.
'Tess?' 'Jamie?' She said his name softly, sweetly. Her voice touched
the air like the fragrance of roses that seemed to be all around the
room, light as stardust. Her whisper was sultry, as if he had awakened
her.
