kettle lid slipped from Jess’s fingers and clattered onto the stove, then flipped onto the floor. His gaze riveted her in place.
Sarah turned away, her cheeks flaming. What on earth had she said? Why had she blurted out such a suggestive remark?
“See my picture, Miss Sarah?”
Grateful, Sarah peered over Maggie’s shoulder, admiring her drawing of a house with trees and flowers in the yard. Her own home, obviously.
“That’s lovely, Maggie. Let’s have a look at your brother’s work.”
Sarah pursed her lips as she gazed at Jimmy’s picture, crude sketches of bared teeth, narrow eyes on angry faces. She walked to the stove.
“I thought drawing might help him,” Jess said as he stirred the stew. “Since he won’t talk, maybe he’ll say what’s on his mind with the pictures.”
Sarah glanced over her shoulder at the table. “He’s very troubled.”
“With good reason.”
“What has the doctor said about him?”
Jess shuddered. “I’m not taking that boy to any doctor.”
“I understand Dr. Burns is very capable—”
“No.”
His reasoning was only too obvious. Sarah pursed her lips. “Really, Mr. Logan, just because you’re afraid of the doctor, doesn’t mean—”
“Afraid?” His gaze riveted her. “Who said anything about being afraid?”
She gave him an indulgent look.
Jess shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not taking Jimmy to any doctor, and that’s all there is to it.”
“What’s best for you, Mr. Logan, isn’t necessarily what’s best for Jimmy.”
Dammit. There she went, being right again. Jess clamped his mouth shut.
“At least consider it. Won’t you?”
“Yeah, I guess I will.” Jess looked down at her standing at his elbow. “Since I’ve got these two children already and don’t need anymore borne for me tonight, would you mind setting the table instead?”
Sarah’s cheeks pinkened, but she laughed, and to her surprise, Jess laughed with her, a deep, masculine laugh that rippled through her.
Together they got the meal on the table, Sarah’s stew, old coffee that was too strong, milk for the children, and warmed-over lumps of what were probably intended to be biscuits. Next time, she’d bring bread, Sarah thought, before she could stop herself.
The children ate two bowls full and Jess had three, scraping the last of the stew from the kettle and licking the spoon standing at the stove.
“Can Miss Sarah stay and bake cookies with us,
Uncle Jess?” Maggie gathered dishes from the table.
Sarah’s gaze met Jess’s. She couldn’t tell what he wanted, but knew she should go.
“I have lessons to plan for tomorrow.”
“Please stay.” Maggie took her hand. “Please. - Make her stay, Uncle Jess.”
“Stay if you want.” Jess pushed dirty dishes around on the sideboard. “Besides, since I owe this meal to that Trenton boy I’d like to know what exactly 1 have to thank him for.”
“Oh yes, Luke.” Sarah carried a stack of bowls to the sink. “After your little talk with him in class the other morning, he’s behaved much better. I guess he doesn’t get much discipline at home. So, I wanted to thank you.”
Jess gave the spoon a final lick. “For stew this good I’ll rough up every kid in the class. You just say the word.”
His eyes crinkled at the corners and danced with flecks of blue. Sarah laughed with him.
A knock sounded on the back door. Jess pointed with the spoon. “Get that, will you, Maggie?”
Sarah’s heart skipped a beat as the door opened and Nate Tompkins walked into the room. He raised an eyebrow at seeing her there, but didn’t say anything.
Jess shook his hand. “Sit down. Have some coffee, Nate.”
“I can’t.” The deputy looked uncomfortable.
Jess stopped in the center of the kitchen and braced himself. “What’s wrong?”
“Sheriff Neville sent me over here, Jess. They’re having a hearing in town tomorrow. You’ve got to be there.” He looked at Sarah. “You, too.”
She touched her throat. “Me? What for?”
“Yeah, Nate. What’s going on? What sort of hearing?”
“Circuit judge will be here.” Nate pulled at his neck. “Sorry, Jess. They want to take the kids away from you.”
Chapter Four
Jess paced the boardwalk across the street from the Walker courthouse as townspeople streamed inside. He punched his fist into his open palm. Damn them. Damn them all. Bunch of busybodies who ought to be taking care of their own problems, not nosing into his.
He shook his head, anger tightening his chest. He ought to go into that courtroom and tell them off—every one of them.
“Jess?” Nate Tompkins rounded the corner and stopped in front of him. “I want you to know, Jess, I had nothing to do with this hearing.”
Jess jerked his jaw toward the courthouse across the street. “I know who’s behind it. The same people who’re always causing problems in Walker.”
“It’s Sheriff Neville who started it.”
“The sheriff?” Jess’s brows pulled together in a tight scowl. “What does he care about Cassie’s kids?”
“It’s not that, Jess.” Nate drew in a deep breath. “What you did over in Kingston, you know, with the sheriff there? Well, that sheriff was Neville’s cousin.”
Jess blanched and fell back a step. “Damn....”
“The other folks in town, well, I guess they’re really concerned about the kids. Everybody loved your sister, Jess. They want to see Maggie and Jimmy taken care of proper.”
“I don’t believe that, not for a minute.” Jess shook his head.
“Truth is, a couple of families already spoke up for them.”
Jess’s stomach tightened. Some other
