Jake Walker's Wife Read Free

waited their turn at clean, clear water, chatting quietly, nodding, smiling.
    Except for him ....
    "This here's Jake Walker," her father said, a hand on the big man's shoulder.
    Jake Walker . Even his name sounded powerful. "Pleased to meet you," she said, fidgeting with the ruffled hem of her apron. Difficult as it was, she tore her eyes from his and looked at her father. "I'll be in the kitchen if you need me, Pa."
    She got an eerie 'somebody's watching' feeling as she walked toward the back porch and climbed the steps. One glance over her shoulder confirmed it. He grinned when she reached out and missed the door handle, and despite herself, Bess grinned back. Then, feeling suddenly silly and clumsy, she hurried inside, letting the screen door bang shut behind her.
    But no thing…not pouring cool water into tumblers, nor dipping hot stew into deep crocks, not even setting steaming bowls of butter beans and corn in the center of the long trestle table blocked the memory of his penetrating stare. Something burned behind those ice-blue orbs. Something mysterious and (dare she even think it!) something dangerous.
    Again, Bess pictured the wolf.
    Again, she shivered.
    Deep voices and masculine laughter interrupted her thoughts. "Pull yourselves up a chair, boys," Micah was saying as he took his seat at the head of the table. "Don't be shy, now. Help yourselves. Dig in and eat up."
    While the others got situated, her brothers joined her in the kitchen. "Hey, there, Bessie-girl. Did you bake me a cherry pie, like you promised?" Matthew asked, kissing her cheek. "Why, I've been dreamin' 'bout it for miles."
    Bess reached up to hug her younger brother. "You're big and strong as a man twice your age," she said, laughing softly, "but you don't behave a day over fourteen."
    His twin, Mark, playfully shoved Matthew aside. "Maybe that's 'cause he ain't a day over fourteen...least not 'til tomorrow," he said, getting a sisterly hug of his own. "Will you put a candle in the center of our birthday pie, and wish us a hundred more happy birthdays?"
    "Don't I always?" She gave the boys a motherly shove. "Now, get in there and eat, the both of you, before your food gets cold, and let me worry about the birthday party...if there's going to be a party at all...."
    Micah got to his feet. "Enough tomfoolery. It's time we said the blessing and let these hungry men eat. These boys have a big day ahead of 'em tomorrow."
    Mark and Matthew obediently took their seats as Bess stood in the doorway, lowered her head, and folded her hands.
    "Dear Lord above," Micah began, "we thank You for our countless blessings, for our health and home and hearth. We especially thank You for our dear, sweet Bess, here, who made a tasty feast of this bounty You have so generously provided. We thank You for providing us with strong, honest men again this year, men who'll help us tend and harvest our crops. In Your most holy name, Amen."
    Micah introduced h is daughter to each man at the table, then pulled out the chair nearest his. "Come, sit and eat with us, Bess."
    "Now, Pa, there'll be time enough for me to eat later," she said matter-of-factly.
    Like a mama hen, Bess walked among the hands, each slouched eagerly over steaming bowls of stew. "Is it good, boys? Don't be shy now, there's plenty more!"
    "Ain't you gonna set at the table with us, ma'am?" the man named Jeremiah asked.
    The only chair left was the one beside her father's...and directly across from Jake Walker's. A glance was enough to tell her he'd realized the same thing, for his mustachioed mouth slanted in a wry grin.
    "We'd be right pleased if you'd join us," he drawled. And without taking his eyes from hers, added, "Ain't that right, boys?"
    The men stopped talking and chewing and reaching for food long enough to nod and voice their agreement. Matt, true to his nature, said, "But before you get all good and comfy, sister dear, would you mind refillin' the biscuit basket?"
    "We could use more 'taters,