De Blasis, Celeste by The Tiger's Woman

Author:The Tiger's Woman [Woman, The Tiger's]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance
Publisher: Dell, 1981
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Jamie was beside himself with the prospect of the trip, asking endless questions about Seattle and expressing determined opinions about what he would and would not take with him. Mary finally convinced him that his wood-carving tools were not something he would need while he was gone.

"Well, all right, then you can use 'em 'til I get back, only you've got to be careful, else you'll cut yourself."

"I think I'll wait until I'm older; I'll know how to carve wood better then," she told him, and he burst into delighted giggles at their old joke.

Nothing was harder than being with Jamie, and yet, she craved the contact. From their bad beginnings, they had come so far together. She would miss him desperately, and she stored up all the last-minute images of him, praying that somehow he would come to understand and forgive her.

Suddenly there was no more time. The Gaiety was ready to sail. At Jason's insistence that she not expose herself to the cold, Mary said good-bye to them at the house.

Jamie was glowing with excitement, but he was suddenly serious as he hugged her. "I wish you were comin' with us."

"So do I, sweetheart," she managed. "But it's better this way, and sometimes just you men ought to be able to go off on business."

He was visibly proud. "I'll bring you something pretty from Seattle," he promised.

"Just bring yourself back safely. And know my love goes with you wherever you are, wherever I am." She said the words calmly and hoped he would remember them though now he blushed and ducked his head the way any little boy would at such mushy motherly talk. Having elected himself in charge of the luggage, he dashed away to climb up with Ben on the wagon seat, and the wagon creaked away. A cold, deadly calm enveloped her. It was not going to be so hard after all. The worst was over in saying farewell to Jamie. She felt numb as she faced Jason.

"Say hello to Angie for me and do take Jamie to meet her," she said in a light conversational tone, but Jason regarded her pale face anxiously.

"You will take care of yourself while I'm gone?" He touched her cheek. "I'll expect to see some color here when I return."

"I'll be fine," she replied obediently, child to parent, all changed, all changed in the timbre of his voice and in her response, all changed in the careful concern in his eyes and the unease ebbing and flowing in their depths. He knew, and it had changed his view of her and his need. He no longer saw her as a woman he desired; he put her away from him by protecting her like a child.

"Have a safe journey." For a moment, their eyes met and held, and then his slid away. He kissed her lightly on the forehead, warned her not to stand in the chill air any more and walked away from her, swinging up on Gabriel to follow the wagon down to the shore.

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