successful.'
The old man gasped for air, choking on a laugh. 'That a girl. Don't give 'em an inch. Andy said you handled Jonah with the confidence of a general.'
'He exaggerates.' Tessa wrung excess from the washcloth, water splashing and tinkling in the china basin. 'Lie back or you're going to start coughing.'
'Nonsense,' the old man croaked, then coughed.
Tessa set down the cloth and reached for the water pitcher. 'I told you so.'
A smile lit Samuel's eyes as he continued to cough. A shallow, painful rasp that worried Tessa. She poured a cup of cool water and held it to his lips.
'What did you do to deserve such royal treatment, old man?' Jonah strode into the room, wide shouldered and all male power.
A tiny flame burst to life in Tessa's chest. She ducked her chin and grabbed the cloth to dry Samuel's chin.
'Son, I'm on death's door, that ought to account for something.' He gasped for air. 'Give me more of that water, Tessa.'
She liked the tough old bird. She held the cup steady as he struggled to drink. Heat burned across the bridge of her nose, then in a straight line down to her mouth. 'Twas Jonah's gaze, as tangible as fire. She looked up. His elemental gaze held her tight as a snare.
Like a trapped rabbit, her heart thudded. Her knees knocked. She glanced at the door and considered how on earth to escape.
'I need to speak to Tessa.' Jonah's voice rumbled like a caress, stroking over her skin with heat and promise.
Danger. She could not allow this to go any further, this senseless physical longing for a man who was… was
Apparently a lot. Her blood roared like liquid fire through her veins.
'You need to speak to me, eh? Well, I don't want to listen.' That's right, scare him off, too. It worked with young Andy Hunter and the rest of the village.
'Oh, I think you will want to hear what I have to say.'
'Do not be so certain.'
Big fingers curled around her wrist
Tiny explosions pulsed up her arm.
'You two go talk,' Samuel wheezed. 'Let a poor old man sleep.'
Tessa wasn't fooled by the small smile curving his mouth. She set down the cup and stood, her gaze fastening on the one man who could sneak past her defenses. 'Fine. Then we will talk out in the hall, where I can be handy in case your father needs anything.'
Jonah's eyes darkened with protest.
'Go on. I don't need a thing and besides, I can tell that you two want to be alone.' The old man waved one hand.
'Come, let's go for a walk.'
Lord, he was an enormous man, all brawny shoulders and powerful arms and a chest as broad as a woman's dreams. Tessa swallowed.
'A walk?' She couldn't imagine where they might walk.
' 'Tis pleasant in the sunshine.' He gestured toward the small window.
'Surely, in nearly freezing weather.'
'I'll lend you a cloak.' Smooth as rum, sly as a devil, Jonah drew her around the bed, his grip on her wrist as firm as a manacle.
Grim determination shone in his eyes. How he looked so exhausted. Tiny lines fanned out from the corners of his eyes. Darkness bruised the tanned skin beneath. Even the skin beneath the high cut of his cheekbones looked hollow.
She hadn't realized. He needed to discuss matters concerning his father's health. Of course that could not be spoken within the patient's hearing.
'I'm finished here for now,' she managed in a light voice, determined to do her duty by Samuel Hunter. 'I'll meet you outside, Jonah.'
His dark eyes flashed a warning. What was he feeling? She couldn't tell. Not with the grim set of his square jaw, his lips a tightly compressed line. A prickle of foreboding wrapped around her chest.
What was taking Tessa so damn long? Jonah paced in the backyard, the fallow garden nothing but a row of humps beneath the half-frozen layers of snow, ice and mud.
He could picture her gathering up the wet towels and carrying them with the basin to the kitchen. Tessa, so neat and thorough, was also taking too damn much time. He wanted to get this over with.
He wasn't at all sure he could find the courage to do it.
Marry her? How his brothers had howled, bending double with the irony of it all. Yet it all came down to duty. Who else would tend her father? All but for her heart-tender feelings for the old man, she was completely unsuitable. Everything about her was wrong. From her sparse skinniness to her outrageously bossy ways.
A man wanted a biddable wife, someone he could lead. Make decisions for. Be in charge of. A man's place was at the head of the family, not being browbeaten by a woman twice as smart as he.
'I wager five pounds he falters,' Thomas had challenged Andy's bet not an hour before. Serious minded Thomas. Who frowned upon wagers of any sort.
He could always back out. That was it. Jonah studied the wrapped parcel in his hands. Hell, he didn't have to marry her. The mere thought of it…
And yet she did not covet his wealth. They were close in age. And there was a tenderness in her touch when she tended her father. Such a thing could not be faked.
Aye, but life with her would be…
'Jonah?' She crossed the porch with a light step, facing into the wind. The current lifted back the tangle of untamed curls from her forehead and brushed her loose clothes back against her body.
She was a slight thing, fine boned and deceptively delicate. Her blue gaze speared his, and his mouth opened but nothing came out.
'I know the doctor fears your father mightn't recover.' She lifted her skirts above the frozen ground and soft patches of mud. 'This must be a hard time for you.'
His gaze landed on her slim fingers clutching that simple fabric. He knew damn well she'd helped grow the flax and harvest it, spun the thread and woven it, cut and sewed the skirts herself. One look at her callused hands told him she'd never had a respite in her life, never had it easy, and would never be a lazy, self-indulgent person.
Just what he was looking for in a wife. Except she was Tessa Bradford.
'Aye. The doctor is not certain, but he has reason to fear the worst.' Jonah tore his gaze from hers. Agitated, he started pacing. What the hell was he going to do?
Andy and Thomas were probably in one of the rooms behind him, sneaking glances between the curtains through the window. He could not see them but felt the amused weight of their gazes.
'I hope you didn't come out here to try to kiss me again.' Her chin came up, and she looked ready to fight.
Jonah figured she needed to be tough just to survive in Ely's household. Maybe if she weren't so overworked and ill treated, she would be more biddable. Maybe. He wasn't sure.
'Because if you want another kiss, I-'
'Marry me.' He blurted the words because he couldn't figure out another way to say them.
Her bow shaped mouth fell open. 'What did you say?'
Oh, Lord, what had he done? He'd proposed to her. Just like that. This was wrong, wrong, wrong. What would life be like married to strong willed Tessa?
But the image of her tending Father, her gentle hands soothing cool water across his brow, assured him. She
