touched a strand lightly, and it was almost as if the gold and honey
touched him back, as if it gave him warmth. He looked at her face, so
beautiful, so perfect, her lips just slightly parted, cherry red in the
first rays of light, tempting. He stroked her shoulder and her back. She
moved against him, and he felt the warmth of her breath upon him as she
sighed softly.
She had learned so much. But he had lea rued a great deal that night,
too.
He had learned that he'd never really made love before. He'd had women,
but he had never really, truly made love. He'd never wanted anyone like
he'd wanted her.
Wanted her still. Who had taught whom? he wondered.
He kissed the soft skin of her back and wondered again at the ripple of
longing that went through him. Then he sighed. He had to wake her up and
let her go hack to the house before the morning began, before the ranch
came alive.
By nine that morning they arrived in town. Jamie drove the wagon with
Tess sitting primly by his side.
Morning had changed things amazingly, he thought. Since he had awakened
her, she had been distant. She had donned her flannel gown, and with it
a peculiar silence. She hadn't seemed remorseful about anything; she had
been cool and quiet. She hadn't sneaked back to the house; she had
walked very calmly. She had promised him she would be ready in thirty
minutes. When he had pressed his lips to hers on first awakening, she
had responded with warmth, but already there had been that widening
within her eyes, as if she thought that something very grave had gone
on, something she hadn't quite realized at the time. He'd almost braced
himself, waiting, but she hadn't anything to say to him at all. She had
dressed quickly and walked to the house. Her chin was high, and she
wasn't about to hide anything, but then again, Jamie thought, maybe she
wasn't about to do anything again, either.
I never wanted to rush it! he reminded himself in silence. But he still
hadn't found the right words to say to her, and she sat by him quietly
as they rode into town. They didn't five words.
It was early, and the streets were nearly still. Only a pass- by or two
walked the plank sidewalks in front of the bank and the barbershop and
the offices of the Wiltshire Sun. Tess bit her lip and looked at the
newspaper office, but she remained silent on that point.
'Mr. Barrymore's office is fright ahead. He was always Joe's solicitor.'
'Well, then, fine, we're going to go see Mr. Barrymore.' He helped her
from the wagon. She was dressed for ll~ ring in light-blue-and-white
checked muslin, with a matching wide-brimmed bonnet.
The touch of her fingers against his seemed electric. She met his eyes
and flushed.
'We need to talk,' he told her.
'I need to get to the newspaper,' she retorted.
'So hurry along now, will you?'
'Eager to turn it all over to me, eh?'
'I shall resent it to my dying day,' she said sweetly, 'but then, you
