Jessie Read Online Free Page A

what?”
    â€œInvite men for dinner.”
    â€œWell,” Seth said slowly. He certainly hoped this evening would lead to much more, but he didn’t like seeing her upset. “You have to eat supper, and I took you at your word that it was a supper invitation, and that’s all I’m here for.”
    Jessie stared at him.
    â€œYou did make enough, didn’t you?” Seth asked, doing well at looking stern without meaning it.
    â€œYes,” Jessie said, a grudging smile coming to her lips.
    â€œIs it ready?”
    â€œJust about.”
    â€œWell, hurry it along. I’m half-starved.”
    His teasing relaxed her. Jessie finished the meal, and they were sitting down to eat just ten minutes later. Jessie waited for Seth to taste it, trying not to be obvious, but looking very pleased when he filled his fork, tasted it, and then chewed very slowly.
    â€œThis is good,” he said at last.
    â€œThank you.”
    â€œAre there things you can’t do?” Seth suddenly asked.
    â€œMany, I can assure you.”
    â€œSuch as?”
    Jessie only shook her head at him and didn’t try to answer. Seth ate for a time but found that his questions would not remain inside.
    â€œSo what happens now?”
    â€œAbout what?”
    â€œAbout you? Do you keep running the store forever on your own?”
    â€œI hadn’t thought about it,” Jessie admitted with a small shrug. “It’s all I’ve ever known.”
    â€œDo you wish for change?”
    â€œFor some things, but not in leaving the store.”
    â€œWhat type of changes do you want?”
    â€œIt would be nice to have a house. Living and working in the same place gets old.”
    â€œWhere would you build?”
    â€œSomeplace close, so when the weather changes I don’t have far to go.” Jessie stopped and smiled. “I guess that’s the one advantage to working and living in the same place. I don’t have to go out into the cold to get to work.”
    Seth smiled at her smile and went back to eating.
    â€œSo who did you leave in Kingdon?” Jessie asked.
    â€œNo one. My mother lived there for a long time, but she met someone and moved on.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you go with them?”
    â€œI wasn’t invited.”
    â€œWhere is your father?”
    â€œI don’t know. I’ve never known him. My mother’s last name is Handley; Eliot’s is McDermott; and mine is Redding. We’re not what anyone would call settled.”
    â€œWhen was the last time you saw your brother?”
    â€œIt’s been awhile. He visited two houses ago.”
    Jessie digested this a moment before commenting, “It sounds like you’ve moved around quite a bit.”
    â€œNot too far from Kingdon. Most of our places were in that area.”
    â€œWhere all have you worked?”
    â€œI’ve done some mining, something I don’t plan to do again. I worked on a ranch for about five years, but other than a beef dinner every night, it wasn’t a life I enjoyed. I’ve worked in plenty of saloons and a mercantile too.”
    â€œWhat was your favorite?”
    â€œYou won’t believe me if I tell you.”
    â€œTry me.”
    â€œThe general store.”
    Jessie’s mouth opened for a moment, but then doubts flooded in. Was he just saying that to be charming?
    â€œI knew you wouldn’t believe me.”
    â€œI didn’t say that.”
    â€œYou didn’t have to.”
    Jessie went back to her meal, but she couldn’t quite stop the small smile that turned up the corners of her mouth. She made herself not look at him, but suddenly every part of her being was glad she had invited him.
    When the meal ended and they talked for a little while and he took his leave without once hinting for more, Jessie was glad again. Indeed, she had to do everything in her power to hold her heart in check.

    â€œIs that you, Seth?”