Jessie Read Online Free

that? Because I wouldn’t want there to be any misunderstandings.”
    â€œI’m sure. What are you having?”
    â€œChicken and dumplings.”
    Seth nodded, looking pleased but not saying what was on his mind. He didn’t know when he would have enough money to get himself to Texas, but that might not be as great a factor as it once was. This woman was simply too good to be true, and Seth thought he might need to stick around long enough to find out if he was wrong.

    Trace Holden sat down at the pie social with his aunt, Jeanette Fulbright, and was swiftly followed by his brother, Brad. The pie social was being held on the grassy area between the church building and the parsonage.
    â€œHow is Mama today?” Brad asked. He was Trace’s senior by 21 months, but the men looked enough like twins to be mistaken for such on a regular basis.
    â€œShe’s doing well. Becky stayed with her,” Jeanette added, referring to her cook. “Do you have time to come see her after we’re done?”
    â€œWe’re planning on it.”
    Jeanette looked at their handsome faces and tried to think about how much her sister, Theta, was missing. Two years earlier her husband, Wes Holden, had come home drunk and beaten her almost to death. She had never been the same. Wes had taken off and not been heard from since, but the boys continued to run the ranch on their own. Jeanette had taken her sister into her home in town and cared for her every need.
    â€œWhat pie did you get?” Jeanette asked her nephews, working not to think about Theta just then.
    â€œI started with berry,” Trace said. “Now I’m working on apple.”
    â€œLest you feel faint before supper,” Jeanette teased gently, bringing a smile to the youngest Holden’s mouth.
    â€œHow about you, Brad?” Jeanette asked.
    â€œI’m still on my first piece—it’s apple—but I think I’ll have the berry next.”
    His aunt couldn’t stop another smile, and Brad caught it, his own eyes twinkling.
    â€œWhat kind did you bring, Jeanette?” Trace asked.
    â€œPeach crumble.”
    â€œOh,” he said softly, almost reverently. “I’ll have to have some of that too.”
    This made Jeanette laugh outright but also reminded her that she hadn’t had pie. As it was, the three of them made for the pie table at the same time.

    â€œThis is nice,” Seth said, standing in Jessie’s living room several hours later and having a look around. It was one large room with three doors leading off of it. The door he’d just come through led to the stairs. He assumed the other two were bedrooms or a bedroom and a closet, but the doors were shut.
    Large windows looked over the street, and to the left of these was the kitchen area. A small dining table with just four chairs sat in front of the windows. Between that area and the stairway door was what Seth saw as the living room. There was a long sofa and two comfortable-looking chairs. Dark wood tables sat next to the chairs, and two ottomans rested before the sofa. A brightly patterned rug brought all the furniture together. Against one wall sat an oak bookshelf that held knickknacks and a dozen books or so.
    Jessie thanked Seth from her place by the stove but didn’t turn to face him. She had let him in the storeroom door and led the way upstairs but, suddenly nervous, had gone back to cooking as soon as she could. She had never had a man in her rooms. She didn’t know where the boldness had come from to invite him, and now that he was there, she was at loose ends.
    â€œBe careful,” Seth said, suddenly near enough to see that she had just about burned herself.
    Jessie pulled her hand back and looked as uncomfortable as she felt.
    â€œAre you sorry you invited me?”
    Jessie turned to him, ready to deny it, but was honest instead.
    â€œI don’t usually do this.”
    â€œDo