Tori glanced away from the young girl and raised her eyebrows at Jesse.
The motion brought to mind the earlier conversation they’d had about men controlling their wives. “Don’t give me that look. Not every man treats his family that way. The man’s a bully, and a bully always picks on those weaker than him.”
“I just want to go home.” Rachel wiped her eyes with the soggy handkerchief. She laid her head on Tori’s lap like a little girl and was asleep within minutes.
With jerky movements, the train rolled out of the station, gaining speed until its pace became level. Smoke blew away, rising into the bright blue and white sky.
Tori smoothed Rachel’s hair and stared out the window. Jesse stood, took off his jacket, and laid it over the sleeping girl. He sat back down, stretched out his long legs and settled his hat over his eyes. Might as well get some shut eye.
Jesse leaned back in his chair and tapped his lips with a pencil. Law bored him. In fact, nothing had held his interest since he returned from Kansas. No question his discontent stemmed from thoughts of the cantankerous woman next door. When they’d first returned, she’d blush every time he looked at her.
Now, two weeks later, she ignored him.
Isn’t that what you wanted? Didn’t you decide to stay away from her? She’s too much trouble, carrying around too many strange ideas. Yeah, but this is the one woman you can’t get out of your mind.
He sat staring out the window, then pushed back from the desk, grabbed his jacket, and headed out the door. The time had arrived to have a conversation with Miss Henderson. Only she could supply the answers he needed.
“Tori, come have a cup of tea with me.” Jesse poked his head in the back door, then sauntered into the kitchen. Sunshine streamed through the side window and reflected off the spectacles on Tori’s nose. She sat at the table with a stack of papers in front of her, red pencil scratching away.
Without looking up, she said, “I don’t have time for a break, I have papers to grade.”
He grabbed a cookie from the blue and yellow jar in the center of the table. “Give me fifteen minutes. You can spare that much.”
They both turned at the sound of footsteps. “I heard that. You do have time for a break.” Rachel entered the kitchen, then dropped a pile of books on the table. “Leave me your answer sheet, and I’ll grade some of those papers for you. You’ve been working since before dawn.”
Jesse swallowed the last of his cookie and brushed the crumbs from his hands. “Well now, you see there? Even your niece thinks you need a break, and is willing to help out. So come on, let’s go.” He held out his hand.
Tori sighed and regarded the two of them. “If you’re both going to gang up on me, I guess I have no choice.” She handed her pencil to Rachel and stood. “Don’t be too easy on them either.” She nodded to the stack of ungraded papers.
Jesse winked at Rachel and took Tori’s hand. They walked in silence next door to the restaurant.
“You know, I didn’t even have lunch today,” Tori said as they took their seats.
Jesse smiled at the man seated at the counter devouring a piece of Tori’s apple pie. He inhaled the aroma remaining from Mrs. Bonner’s ham and cabbage, today's lunch special.
“Skipping meals is not healthy. I never do.” Jesse glanced at the menu stuck to the wall. You’d think by now he’d have the thing memorized.
Mrs. Bonner hustled out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. “Well, I haven’t seen you two in a long time.”
Jesse raised his eyebrows. “I’ve been here every day for lunch, but you’re always busy in the kitchen.”
As usual, she wore a long, food-stained apron, and a smile of welcome. “So next time, stop in and say hello.” She turned to Tori, narrowing her eyes. “And why I haven’t seen you?”
“That’s why we’re here.” Jesse nodded in Tori’s direction. “It seems our Miss Henderson has been skipping meals.”
Tori smiled in response to Mrs. Bonner’s huff. “Oh, stop it the two of you.” She looked back and forth between them. “I’d hardly think missing a few meals will kill me.”
Mrs. Bonner chatted for a minute, and then took their orders and ambled toward the kitchen, stopping once to pick up a customer’s empty plate.
Jesse moved the salt and pepper shakers in a line. He cleared his throat. “Why have you been ignoring me?”
Tori peeked at him, and glanced away. “I’m not ignoring you, I’m busy.”
His fingers stilled, but he kept his tone even. “Yes, you have. Ever since we returned with Rachel, you’ve avoided me. And when we do run into each other, you remind me of a trapped animal hoping for an escape.” He added the sugar bowl to the table parade.
“You’re imagining things.” She moved the pepper shaker to the end of the line.
He leaned his chair back on two legs and crossed his arms over his chest. “You can’t pretend nothing happened.” The trapped animal look returned to her eyes, wide and frightened.