“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.
“I will need Coalie to testify.” David began to pace. “God knows I don’t want to put a child on the witness stand, but I know Jeremy Cook. I know what he’s going to do.” He paused. “Judge Emory is presiding, and Jeremy Cook is going to try to use Emory’s notions about women to his advantage. He’s going to paint Tessa as a fallen woman, a saloon girl who thought nothing of murdering a man.” He gazed at Mary, silently pleading for her to understand his position. “I’ve got to offset that image of Tessa with something else. I’ve got to get the jury’s sympathy, and Coalie’s the only character witness I’ve got.”
Mary moved to stand next to her brother. She reached up and patted his shoulder. “You can do it, David. I know you can.”
David snorted. “You apparently have more faith in me than Tessa does.” He repeated Mary’s earlier words.
“She’s angry now, and scared,” Mary said. “When she’s thinking more clearly she’ll understand.”