“Tessa, you’ve got no choice.”
“You promised,” she accused. “I should have known better than to put faith in your promises.”
“I promised I wouldn’t go get him,” David corrected. “And I won’t. Mary will bring him here tomorrow morning.”
The day-long session of court had ended. Finally. At five in the afternoon, the jury had handed down an indictment of Miss Tessa Mary Catherine Roarke on a charge of the murder of Arnie Mason. Judge Emory called the attorneys into his chambers and announced that Tessa Roarke was to be released into David’s custody once again, but for her safety, that bit of information would remain confidential. As far as the crowds of reporters were concerned, Miss Roarke was being held at the Peaceable jail. The trial would begin at ten the following morning.
“You gave me your word,” Tessa reminded him.
David ground his teeth in frustration; a muscle jumped in his jaw. He’d expected Tessa to be angry and perhaps a bit disappointed in him when he told her he’d sent for Coalie, but he’d also expected her to understand why he did it.
“It’s just a precaution, Tessa. I don’t know how things will go. Jury trials are unpredictable.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Damn, I’d hoped this wouldn’t be necessary, but I’m not taking any chances.”
“Coalie’s a little boy,” Tessa reminded him. “He shouldn’t be exposed to this.” She turned her full anger on David. “I thought you cared about him. How can you expose him to this…this circus?”
“I do care about Coalie. I care very much,” David told her. But I care about you more. The thought popped into his head and wouldn’t go away. Once the trial was over, he intended to show her just how much he cared for both of them. “I wouldn’t have had to do this if the trial hadn’t turned into a circus,” David explained. “Don’t you see, Tessa? You’re the first woman in this county to be indicted for murder. The first to stand trial. The first to face a jury of your peers made up of both men and women. This is news. And unfortunately we’re caught up in the middle of it.”
“But I didn’t kill Arnie Mason,” Tessa said.
“At this point it doesn’t matter whether you did or not. He’s dead, and the citizens of Peaceable want a killer to stand trial. The newspapers want to sell papers. And the county attorney and the judge want to make a name for themselves in a precedent-setting case.”
“What do you want?” Tessa’s gaze was penetrating, direct.
“I want your freedom.”
“Wouldn’t you like to make a name for yourself as well? To go back to Washington a winner?” Tessa lashed out at him. She wanted him to admit he cared for her, that he wanted her, even loved her a little. But she knew better. David Alexander would rather run from his feelings and suffer in silence than admit he needed her. “Is that why you took my case?”
Nothing could have been further from the truth. It hurt to know she thought him capable of using her to advance his career. He didn’t give a damn about Washington or even about his career. He knew what was important in life now. He knew what he wanted. He wanted Tessa. Damn her! Couldn’t she love him? Just a little bit?
David gripped her elbow harder than he intended and propelled her toward the buggy. “I’ve spent the past year trying to escape notoriety,” he told her. “I’ve separated myself from my family and most of my friends so I wouldn’t have to face them day in and day out, wouldn’t have to see the doubt on their faces. I came to Peaceable to escape scandal.” He lifted her up into the buggy, then climbed in beside her and gathered the reins. “I don’t need this. I don’t want this.” He looked at her. “I never wanted my privacy invaded or my name splashed across the front pages of any more newspapers. If I’d known things were going to happen this way, I never would have taken your case!”
“What are you going to do?” Tessa taunted. “Foist me off on another attorney? One who doesn’t mind making a name for himself?” She meant to wound him just as he’d wounded her, and she knew where to strike. “Or do you intend to run away again? Abandon me and Coalie to the wolves the way you abandoned Caroline Millen and her baby?”
David whitened. The bronze color left his face. He recoiled as if she’d landed a mighty blow. A mortal blow. Icy contempt filled his dark brown eyes.
“No, contessa.” The title was a sneer and the tone of his voice a mockery of politeness. “I plan to win this damned case. I plan to hand you your freedom on a silver platter so you can leave Peaceable and get the hell out of my life once and for all.” David met her gaze. Her blue eyes filled with emotion and became a deeper, darker shade until they reminded him of bruises against her white face. David tried to stop the flow of words that rolled off his tongue, but he couldn’t help himself. He thought of Coalie and what she’d said, and he couldn’t prevent himself from issuing a warning.
“You asked me what I want. Well, Tessa, I’ll tell you. I want freedom. Yours and mine. I want my apartment and my office and my cat. I want my life the way it was before you turned it upside down. I want to get back to normal.”
David saw the look on her face and knew he’d hurt her. But he’d meant to hurt her. He’d wanted her to feel the same heart-rending pain he felt. “And I’m going to use whatever means necessary to get what I want.”
* * *
By the time they arrived at his office, an uneasy truce had been declared. Tessa shed her coat at the front door and slipped into the routine she and David had established. She prepared a supper neither one of them wanted to eat.
David cleaned up the dishes afterward while Tessa put on a kettle of water for tea.
They worked together as they’d done for the past few days, but there was a difference. The sense of companionship had disappeared. They were separated by a chasm too wide for either of them to cross.
David finished the dishes, then worked at his desk, making notes and poring over the pages of his lawbooks. Tessa sipped her tea and embroidered on a sampler the sheriff’s wife had given her to “occupy her hands.”
They didn’t speak. They were simply waiting until it grew dark enough for one of them to escape to bed.
The knock on the front door startled them. David got up from his desk to open it. Lorna Taylor and Jewell Bradley stood on the sidewalk, each holding a covered basket.
“We hope we haven’t come too late,” Jewell said, “but this is the first opportunity I’ve had to slip away.”
“What can I do for you ladies?” David asked, stepping back and allowing the women to enter the office. He closed the door behind them.
“We’ve come to see Miss Roarke.” Lorna looked up at him. “And to bring you a little something.”
Tessa rose from her chair. “Please come in.” She ushered the ladies toward the table. “Won’t you have a seat? I just made a pot of tea.”
“That would be nice,” Lorna said, placing her basket on the table before seating herself.
Jewell followed Lorna’s lead. Opening her basket, she removed a pan of fried chicken and a plate of big fluffy biscuits. “We tried to get here before you had time to fix supper,” Jewell said to Tessa, “but those pesky reporters have been making a nuisance of themselves in front of the jail.”
“Why?” Tessa asked.
Jewell chuckled. “Because, my dear, that’s where they think you’re being held. Judge Emory let ’em think you’d be at the jail to throw them off the scent.”
Tessa looked to David for confirmation.
He nodded in agreement.
“We had a devil of a time getting here,” Lorna told them, “but it was quite an adventure.” She poked Jewell in the ribs. “Just like when we were girls.”
“Yes,” Jewell agreed. “My Jimmy stalled ’em while Lorna and I slipped out the back way with your supper. A couple of the reporters spotted us, but we gave them the slip by walking behind the funeral parlor.” She spoke in an eerie whisper. “Then we skirted the cemetery.” She shivered with delight. “I haven’t had so much fun in years.”
/> “This is kind of you.” Tessa took down two cups and saucers from the new set of dishes David had bought and set them before the women.
“Aw, pooh,” Lorna scoffed, unpacking the items from her basket—an apple cake, a jar of strawberry preserves, and a plate of fried peach turnovers. “It isn’t kind at all. It’s the least we can do after the way this town has treated you. It’s the same as we’d do for any neighbors. The same as we’d do for our friends.” She smiled at Tessa and David.
“And,” Jewell added, “it’s our way of thanking you for standing up to the town bully.” Her brown eyes sparkled merrily at the memory of Margaret Jeffers’s setdown. “I was ashamed of myself for not coming to your aid.”
“Me, too,” Lorna admitted.
“But you didn’t have to do anything,” Tessa protested, filling their cups with tea.
Jewell looked up and caught David hovering in the background. She motioned to the vacant chair. “Come over here and sit down. Have a piece of cake. I know you’ve already eaten supper, but there’s always room for dessert.” She patted her ample stomach.
“Yes, David,” Tessa said, “please sit down.” She got him a cup and saucer and poured tea into it.
“I really need to work,” he told them. “There’s a lot to do before tomorrow’s session.”
“We don’t mean to keep you from your work,” Lorna said. “We know how important it is.” She smiled at Tessa.
“That’s right,” Jewell agreed. “We just wanted to show our support for you, Mr. Alexander, and most of all, for Miss Tessa.” Jewell met Tessa’s gaze. “My husband, the sheriff, doesn’t think you’re guilty, and I’ve seen for myself what a fine lady you are. And, well, what I’m trying to say is that we’d be right pleased to call you our friend and neighbor.”
“That pleases me very much,” Tessa replied. “I don’t know what else to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything else,” Lorna told her. “Just know that I’ll be in that courtroom tomorrow supporting you, and Jewell will be at home preparing your lunch and supporting you as well.”
Tessa’s blue eyes had begun to sparkle. She dabbed at them with the corner of a tea towel.
David smiled broadly, then crossed over to the table and sat down. “Well, ladies,” he announced, lifting his cup of steaming tea. “I’d say this calls for dessert and a little celebration.”
“Here, here,” Lorna and Jewell chorused as they raised their cups and clinked them softly against David’s. “To Tessa Roarke, bully-slayer, and to winning her case!”
Tessa looked at the three of them, then burst into happy tears.
The other women laughed in relief, while David deftly guided the conversation away from talk of the trial. They spent the next half hour amusing Tessa with stories of Peaceable’s history and its residents.
* * *
“That was nice of Lorna and Jewell, wasn’t it?” Tessa closed the door behind her two new friends and turned to David.
“Yes, it was.” He had moved to his desk after offering to see the ladies home.
“What? And spoil our adventure?” Jewell had scolded. “You stay here with Tessa.”
“We’ll be fine,” Lorna had assured him. “We might even give some more nosy reporters something to write about.” They’d laughed at that, then headed down the street toward the jail.
But when their visitors left, the strained silence between David and Tessa returned. They looked at each other, but couldn’t find the words to apologize. Tessa walked over to where David sat. She cleared her throat, waiting for David to say something. “Well, I guess I’ll leave you to your work.”
“Fine.” He barely glanced at her.
Tessa continued to stand beside his desk.
“What is it?” he asked abruptly.
She turned and silently presented her back to him.
He looked up from his book, recognized the long row of tiny hooks and automatically unfastened them.
Finished with her dress fasteners, he untied the knot of her corset strings and loosened the laces.
“Thank you.” Her voice was cool, crisp.
David grunted in reply, then returned to his book.
He heard her sometime after midnight, crying in her sleep again. David punched his pillow and pulled the quilts higher around his ears. He wouldn’t go to her. Not tonight. He couldn’t. It hurt too much to hold her and pretend. David punched his pillow a second time, harder than before, rolled over, and tried to force his body to sleep. But his control and his willpower failed him. He lay awake listening to the sound of her anguished dreams long into the night.
* * *
Coalie arrived on the early morning train. He practically dragged Mary down the street to David’s law office, then burst through the door before Mary had a chance to knock.
David was working at his desk as usual. Tessa stood at the sink rinsing her breakfast dishes. David hadn’t eaten. He made his breakfast a cup of strong black coffee.
‘Tessa!” Coalie spared a glance for David, then made a beeline for Tessa. He flung his arms around her waist.
“Oh, Coalie.” Tessa dropped her cup in the dishpan, turned, and wrapped her arms around Coalie, pressing his body against her. “I missed you so much!”
Coalie wiggled out of her grasp before Tessa wanted to let go. He walked over to David and stuck out his hand.
David shook Coalie’s hand. “Hello,” he said. “It’s been quiet here without you.” Very quiet, David thought, especially during the past eight hours.
Coalie turned to Tessa. “Tessa, you should see the ranch. It’s so grand! It goes on forever and ever, and all the people are so nice. Reese and Faith and little Hope. Even Joy. She’s a girl.” He frowned, then rushed on with his story. “But Sam’s the best. He’s teaching me how to ride. A real horse.” Coalie’s face was alight, his big green eyes sparkling.
“That’s nice.” Tessa tried to muster up some enthusiasm, but failed. Miserably.
“I’m going to school, too,” Coalie told her, hopping from foot to foot with barely contained excitement. “Mary’s teaching me.” He glanced at Mary. “I’m learning the alphabet.”
“That’s wonderful.” Tessa didn’t make it sound wonderful. She made it sound as painful as having teeth pulled.
Mary looked from her brother to Tessa. The atmosphere in the office was tense. The tension between them seemed almost unbearable. “Coalie’s excited now,” she explained, “because he’s with you again, but he was miserable the first few days.”
“Mary said I was homesick,” Coalie told Tessa. “But I wasn’t sick for long.” He noticed the tension for the first time and hurried to reassure Tessa that he was as strong and healthy as ever.
“I’m sure Mary took good care of you.” David patted Coalie on the back, then hugged his sister. “I missed you, imp,” he said, fondly.
“It’s your own fault,” Mary told him. “You can come to the ranch to see us anytime.” She pinned her gaze on David. “Why haven’t you?”
“You know why.” He didn’t elaborate, so Mary let the subject drop.
Tessa stood silently. She looked at David, studying his face. He probably blamed her for that, too, just as he blamed her for turning his life upside down.
Coalie explored the office. “You’re low on coal.” He pointed to the coal bucket near the stove. “You want me to get some for you?” he asked, eager to please Tessa.
“Oh, no,” Tessa assured him. “You don’t want to get your new clothes all dirty hauling coal.” She realized that Coalie was clean and well fed and dressed in a new suit.
“I don’t mind.” Coalie shrugged.
David smiled. “I’m sure you don’t.” He knelt down and faced Coalie. “But I’ve got something more important for you to do today.”
“I know. Mary told me. You want me to answer questions at the courthouse. I’m to tell the truth, no matter what.” Coalie looked up at David and recited from memory.
“Coalie, y
ou don’t have to do it,” Tessa said. “He can’t make you.” She glared at David, daring him to contradict her.
“I know I don’t,” Coalie assured her. “Mary—”
“Told you.” Tessa gritted her teeth at the phrase. Was there nothing Mary hadn’t done?
“Yeah. She said I didn’t have to do it if I didn’t want to. She said David could convince the jury without me.” Coalie walked around the room touching familiar objects. “But I want to, Tessa. I want to help you the way you helped me.”
Tessa tried to reason with the little boy. “But, Coalie, if you tell everybody what happened in Chicago and how we ran away to Peaceable, then they’ll know I took you away from your boss. They’ll know I stole you. What if they try to send you back?”
“David won’t let them send me back,” Coalie answered with all the confidence of a nine-year-old who knows he’s right.
Tessa turned to Mary. “Did you tell him to say that, too?” She knew Mary was trying to help, but she was jealous.
“No.” Mary understood Tessa’s hostility. “Coalie came to that conclusion on his own.” She smiled down at him. “He apparently has more faith in David’s ability than you do.”
That wasn’t true. After yesterday’s confrontation with him, Tessa had every faith in David. She knew he’d get her off. She knew he’d protect Coalie. That was what frightened her. He wanted her out of his life, but what if he wanted to keep Coalie? She couldn’t stand the thought of losing both of them.
Tessa walked over to stand in front of David. “If they take him away from me because of this, I’ll never forgive you.”
“They won’t,” David said. “He won’t testify unless it’s absolutely necessary. I promise you that.”
“Keep your promises,” Tessa told him. “They don’t mean much to me.” She turned her back on David and Mary, took Coalie by the hand, and walked down the hall to her bedroom.
“She’s angry,” Mary said after Tessa and Coalie left the room.
“Very,” David agreed.
“Because you may need Coalie to testify.” Mary knew her brother well. She could see that Tessa’s anger bothered him more than he liked to admit.