Parting Gifts by Lorraine Heath

Author:Lorraine Heath
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

12

Jesse eased his legs off the bed. Steadying himself against the twisted rails on the brass bed, he shoved his weight onto his shaking legs. Holding his tender side, he shuffled across the floor and slowly made his way to his room.

His room. After nearly a week, it was a welcome sight, even though he was breathing hard and his body had broken out in a cold sweat with his efforts. He walked stiffly over to the bed and eased himself down.

His journal lay in the center of the bed. He'd been a fool to share it with Aaron, an even greater fool to let him see the key. Well, he'd certainly paid for his foolishness. He picked it up and caressed the faded cover the way a man might caress a woman with whom he's spent a lifetime: lovingly, knowing every crease, every wrinkle; understanding and accepting the forces that had brought them about.

Sifting through the pages, he heaved a frustrated sigh. If he knew for certain that what was in Maddie's past would stay in her past, he'd leave it alone. But while he'd been confined to bed, he'd spent a lot of time wondering about the man behind the barn. She was afraid of him, whether she admitted it or not. If only she'd confide in him, he had the skills and the resources to put her fears to rest.

He heard Maddie's voice, followed by Aaron's laughter, filter through his window. Holding his side, he walked out of his room and worked his way down the stairs.

* * *

"Come here, Aaron Lawson!" Disgusted that she couldn't keep the smile from her face, Maddie stomped her foot.

"No, ma'am!"

She advanced on him, and he scampered away. Then he came to an abrupt halt, and his eyes widened. "Uncle Jesse!"

Maddie spun around. Leaving the back door open as though even the thought of closing it was too much, Jesse moved slowly onto the porch. She rushed forward, taking his arm and supporting him as he eased into a chair. He grimaced as he made contact with the hard wood.

"Aaron, close the door," Maddie ordered. "And you, what are you doing? You shouldn't be out of bed."

He squinted at her. "I need to start moving around. Besides, I've been in that bed so long, I'm getting sores on my butt."

Blushing, she looked toward the oak trees in the distance.

"Aaron, what are you not doing that Maddie wants you to do?"

"Ma wants me to sit in that chair out there so she can cut my hair, but I don't think it needs cutting. Do you?"

Jesse hadn't heard a word Aaron had uttered past the first one: Ma. When had the boy come to accept Maddie so thoroughly into his life? He felt as though he'd been living in a cave somewhere.

Aaron scrutinized him. "What?" he growled.

"You need a haircut worse 'n me."

"I wouldn't be surprised. Maybe I'll go into town tomorrow and take care of it."

"Why don't you let Ma cut it? She cut Pa's hair before he took the girls to look for blackberries.

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