Hannah Grace (31 page)

She opened and closed her mouth, then quietly muttered, "Oh my."

"Yes, oh my," Gabe echoed. "That louse who paid a visit to your store a while ago might very well have been one of the McCurdys. Did he appear to be scoping the place out, looking for something-or someone?"

"He wanted a winter coat, seemed plenty perturbed we hadn't received our winter shipment yet, although for all I know, they could be among those still-sealed boxes. I told him to come back later, but I think Papa discouraged him from doing that. He had a pockmarked face, if that helps."

"When I get back to my office, I'll review his physical traits. We don't actually have a picture of Reuben, but I'm assuming it was he, the younger of the two boys, only because he's prone to making the most mistakes. His hot temper and easy-flowing mouth often get him into trouble."

"So, if he heeds Papa's warning about staying away, he probably won't be coming back, right? Which means-"

"Which means you're still not staying here. No telling what the other McCurdys might decide to do if they discover Jesse's at the store. Come on, gather up whatever things you need, and I'll walk you and Jesse up the hill," Gabe said, issuing the order in much the way he might speak to one of his deputies.

"Yes, sir," she sassed sarcastically.

Another look passed between the men, and, this time, Jacob shrugged his shoulders. Apparently, the Kane patriarch didn't have the best handle on Hannah's obstinacyobstinacy Gabe was sure came more from personal reasons than logical ones. Again, the kiss had wreaked some havoc, and it seemed her intention to make everyone pay for it!

Gabe attempted conversation on their way to the Kane house, Jesse between them, Dusty at their heels, his nose held high to sniff the many scents coming from Thom Gerritt's Meat Market, the Star Bakery, and Van Poort's Grocery Store.

"Looks like it'll be a nice night for raking the leaves in the backyard, Jess. Maybe afterward, we can toss the ball. Would you like that?"

"Yep," Jesse answered, eyes focused on his black lace-up boots.

Over Jesse's head, Gabe looked at Hannah, but sheer stubbornness kept her from acknowledging him. The notion of staying locked up in her own house still had her worked into a lather, even though she knew it made sense, particularly if it involved keeping Jesse safe. Somehow, though, giving in to Gabe's demands didn't sit quite right with her.

Lord, forgive me for my appalling attitude, she prayed.

"Why we goin' to Hannah's house?" Jesse asked, looking up at Gabe when they crossed the street at Third. Jesse gave Dusty's leash a yank when the mutt insisted on chasing a darting squirrel.

"I've already told you, Jess-Hannah's grandmother has some odd jobs for you, jobs that could take several days to finish," His voice hinted of slight frustration, and Hannah knew her morose mood lent to it. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of his square-set jaw, watched it tense and flicker.

"What kind of jobs?"

Gabe shot Hannah a floundering look. She quickly refocused her gaze on the road ahead.

"I don't know. Maybe polishing silver or-"

"I don't know how t' do that,"

"I'm sure Hannah will be happy to teach you, right, Hannah?"

She gave an irritable tug at her coat sleeve. "I'd be delighted."

If Jesse sensed her sarcasm, he didn't let on. Gabe, on the other hand, looked as cross as a boxed-in bear, and who could blame him? She'd been anything but accommodating, revealing a rebellious attitude for which she now felt guilty.

It was that dratted kiss that did it, she finally ruled in her head, and she had herself to blame for allowing it to happen. Ever since experiencing the tantalizing taste of it, she couldn't get it out of her mind, especially since she had nothing else to compare it to. ON bother! Now, she'd have to wheedle a kiss out of Ralston-a real one-to see if it produced the same kind of reaction in her deepest, innermost parts. Perhaps the next time she saw him....

"What about Billy B? He's goin' to wonder where I am," Jesse mumbled, his words bringing her back to the present.

Gabe shrugged. "I don't know, bud. I suppose Abbie or Maggie will tell him where you are."

"He can come over after school and play. How about that? The school's only four blocks from our house," Hannah said. "Oh, and I heard the teachers are having meetings all day Tuesday, so there's no school. How about I send Abbie over to invite him to spend the day with you?"

This caused a smile. "Goodie!"

After that, the words between them fell away. In the distance, a dog barked, and Dusty responded with a low growl. Gabe made a quick survey of the area as they hurried up the hill, glancing over his shoulder and from side to side, face clouded with uneasiness.

With a pang of guilt, she realized the gravity of the situation, and she put a gloved hand around Jesse's shoulder to tug him close.

With Jesse and Dusty in the fenced-in backyard, Gabe briefly explained to Helena the plan for putting Jesse to work on several minor tasks so he wouldn't grow suspicious about why they stayed away from the store. Helena nodded. "I have plenty of things he can do. Why, there's a whole box of children's books in the attic just waiting to be sorted." She winked at Gabe. "Books from when the girls were this high." She gestured with a flat palm positioned three feet from the floor. "That should take a day or more." She rambled on, listing off a slew of jobs to keep a boy busy-polishing Jacob's shoes and boots, dusting all her knickknacks, organizing canned goods in the cellar, helping her bake cookies and bread for the shutins and elderly, and so on.

"How did I know you would have it all figured out, Helena?" He flashed her a smile, which prompted Helena to fuss over the already perfect bun at the back of her head. Grandmother's bun never fell out as Hannah's did. Even now, Hannah's peripheral vision saw several clumps of red curls cascading down her temples.

"Well, I suppose I'm thinking about that boy's welfare. You're not the only ones whose hearts he's affected. And now that you tell me he might be in danger, why, I'll do whatever I can to help. Besides, it might be nice to have a little boy around the house." She crinkled her brow and dipped her hands into her apron pockets. "'Course, I'm not saying the same for that mongrel of his. He'll have to stay outside."

As if the dog meant to make her pay for her remark, the back door opened, and in he came, dirty paws and all, dashing between Gabe's legs like a streak of lightning.

"Oh, merciful Molly!" Helena declared, even as Dusty darted past her, ran under the table, leaped over a chair, and sprinted through the living room, sniffing everything in sight.

When he made another pass through the parlor room where they were all congregated, Gabe reached for the rambunctious canine but failed. Hannah joined the chase, extending her hand and using her harshest voice. "Dusty! Come here! Stop!"

All to no avail.

"How did-what-shoo! Out! Scat!" Helena ordered in a drill sergeant voice, flinging her arms and turning on her heels in an attempt to keep track of the action.

When Dusty raced into the kitchen, Hannah and Gabe followed, intending to corner him, but he proved cunning by slipping right through Hannah's grasp and running to the stairs, continuing up to investigate the second story.

"Oh, mercy me!" Helena bewailed. "Now he's gone upstairs."

On cue, Jesse walked out of the water closet, his wool coat hanging open as he buttoned up his pants.

"Why'd you let Dusty in?" Gabe asked him, clearly exasperated.

"Don't yell at him," Hannah said.

"I'm not yelling, I'm asking," Gabe said, lowing his volume slightly just the same.

"I had to go-bad."

"You couldn't have left him outside?"

"He followed me in." The boy's face looked stricken by Gabe's impatient tone, and it occurred to Hannah how much he looked up to the man.

"He's not to come in the house," Gabe instructed him.

"Would someone please get the dog?" Helena cut in.

Without ado, Jesse walked to the foot of the stairs and looked up. "Dusty!"

Immediately, four feet came bounding back down. At the bottom, the dog's eyes searched Jesse's face expectantly. "Go!" His firm voice and pointed finger proved sufficient. Tail between his legs, Dusty sauntered toward the kitchen, through the pantry, and straight to the back door.

Three pairs of adult eyes watched in awe as the dog succumbed to Jesse's authority.

"My!" Helena exclaimed, raising her hand to her throat. "That was amazing."

"Remarkable," said Hannah.

"How'd you do that?" Gabe asked.

Jesse shrugged, a look of pride replacing his earlier chagrin at Gabe's abruptness. "I guess he knows who's in charge." With that, he retrieved his stocking cap out of his coat pocket, pulled it over his ears, and walked to the door, where Dusty was waiting patiently.

After Jesse closed the door, Helena sniffed. "Well-I suppose it wouldn't hurt for the dog to come inside once in a while-so long as Jesse gives him the occasional bath and makes him behave. He certainly has a fine way with him."

"Grandmother, you've gone soft as a poached egg!" Hannah exclaimed. "Moments ago, a tornado on four legs ran all over your beautiful rugs, and now you're saying he's welcome to come back in!"

"Well, there was that stipulation of keeping him under control, of course."

"Of course."

For the first time, Hannah and Gabe exchanged a glance containing a hint of a smile. No question about it-Helena Kane had fallen prey to Jesse Gant's charms.

Later, while Helena hummed a hymn to herself as she rattled pots and pans in the kitchen sink and Jesse played out back, where Helena could watch him from the window, Hannah held the door for Gabe, warding off a sudden awkwardness at having been left alone with him. Damp and chilly air mingled at her ankles.

"Sorry you have to stay cooped up. I guess I did come off a little ironhanded back there. It's just-I'm concerned for Jesse's safety." He leaned forward, his body half in. `And yours."

The way his voice dipped low caused a warm blush to spread across her cheeks. She held the door in a death grip, as if she expected it to blow away on her. `And I overreacted. Of course, I want what's best for Jesse,"

"I know that," He rubbed his nose with a knuckle and held back a smile. She saw it when he shot a quick glance at a rabbit scampering across the front yard. Arching one of his sandy brows at her, he asked, "You're not still sore at me, then?"

Why did he have to be so charming? She thought about Ralston and his utter lack of magnetism, then quickly berated herself for comparing them. Of course, both were sophisticated in their own realms-Ralston, intellectual and worldtrained; Gabe, pragmatic and worldly-wise. But when it came to adventure and diversion, Ralston fell flat. Why, they'd courted for months, and not once had he even attempted to kiss her on the mouth. Gabe, on the other hand....

"Well?" He'd planted one foot on the lower step, putting their eye levels within close range.

"I was never-sore at you," she fibbed. "Just irritated."

Tossing back his head, he gave a hearty chuckle. "There's a difference?"

Flustered, she pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, his gaze following the move. "I mean, you bossing me around like that, giving me what for without my getting a word in edgewise-that irritated me."

He grinned, his eyes moving over her face. "Pardon? If I recall, you got plenty of words in edgewise. `What do you mean I can't work? Who's going to unpack the cartons? Papa, tell him. Isn't this extreme? Am I a prisoner?"' In his attempt to mock her, his voice lifted several decibels.

She gave him a playful gut punch. "Oh, stop it. And I didn't say, Am I a prisoner?"'

"Well, something close to it, then," he replied with light laughter.

"And I wasn't nearly that dramatic, either." In spite of herself, a string of giggles bubbled up. "You see why you irritate me?"

When the laughter dissipated, she glanced behind her. The kitchen had grown quiet. As if on signal, Helena announced, "I'm going out back with Jesse. I may as well get to know that mongrel of his." They heard her wrestle with her coat before opening and closing the back door. Outside, a solitary blue jay bellowed a harsh jeer.

Hannah swallowed and shifted positions, hanging tighter to the door, one hand gripping the doorknob, shivering more from his closeness than from the cool air nipping at the hem of her skirts.

Gabe brushed the fingers of his closed hand across her cheek and sobered. "Hannah," he whispered. She stood frozen to the floor and stared at that eye-level button again instead of those appealing blue eyes.

No more kisses, she told herself. None. Not until I square matters with Ralston. Why, it wouldn't be right-or even fair to him, she argued.

Her heart pounded heavily and soared weightlessly at the same time.

She'd always considered herself a loyal and truthful individual, but how were courting one man and kissing another compatible with those character traits?

He stepped closer, but still she kept these thoughts safely hidden, even as his hands gently cupped her face.