Jessie Read Online Free Page B

Pastor English asked when he heard the front door.
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œHow was your day?” the older man asked, coming from the kitchen with a dishtowel in his hand. “I’ve got some stew here if you’re hungry.”
    â€œI’ve eaten, but thank you. How did your pie social go?” Seth remembered to ask.
    â€œIt was fine. Most everyone sent an extra piece home with me, so if you’ve a hankering for pie, just name the type.”
    Seth laughed, but in truth pie sounded good. He chose a piece of peach crumble, and Pastor English took mince.
    â€œHow is Jessie today?” the pastor asked, assuming that’s where Seth had been.
    â€œVery well. She just fed me chicken and dumplings.”
    â€œI’ve heard she’s a very good cook.”
    â€œShe seems to be good at everything,” Seth said.
    â€œShe certainly knows her way around that store, but then I guess that’s to be expected.”
    â€œHave you lived here long, Pastor English?” Seth asked.
    â€œI have. I’ve known Jessie since she was a girl.”
    There was no threat in the words, but Seth was reminded that even though Jessie lived alone, she was not alone in this town. Seth had no plans to dabble with her heart or do anything that they both didn’t agree on, but this gave him pause.
    The conversation ranged to a few other topics before they turned in. Pastor English mentioned what he was studying for his sermon, but Seth only half-attended. As with the rest of his waking moments since arriving in Token Creek, his mind was on Jessie.

    Tuesday rolled to an end, and Jessie knew what she had to do. It was hard, but she reminded herself that she had a business to run and that was the bottom line. She watched Seth lock the front door, and the moment he turned to her, she spoke.
    â€œI’ve had you do everything in the back, Seth. Unless you want to learn the workings of the store or do some painting, I don’t have more work for you.”
    â€œYou would teach me how to run the store?” Seth asked.
    â€œIf you’re interested.”
    â€œAs a matter of fact, I am, but just last night Pastor English mentioned some work he hoped to get done around the church and the parsonage. He won’t let me give him anything for staying there, so I want to lend him a hand. He also said he’d heard that workers are needed and they’re paying well at the foundry. I thought I might check into that.”
    â€œFair enough,” Jessie forced herself to say, not wanting him to know that she wished he would just stay at the mercantile. “I’ll settle with you tonight, and you can come back if you want.”
    â€œYou don’t need to settle with me now,” Seth said, but Jessie was already headed to the cash register. She returned with the currency in her hands, but Seth did not reach for it.
    â€œI’ll be back,” he said.
    â€œBut if you don’t make it…” Jessie began, but stopped when Seth shook his head.
    â€œI’ll be back.”
    â€œSeth.” Jessie began to look impatient. “You probably won’t be back this week, and that way we’ll be settled.”
    â€œI’ll be back this week,” he said, watching her.
    Jessie’s look told him she was not happy, but Seth still did not reach for the money.
    â€œYou like to have your own way, Jessie Wheeler. You know that, don’t you?”
    Jessie’s mouth opened in surprise. She had never seen herself that way, but it was the very thing her mother used to say about her father. The memory was not a happy one, and soon the surprise gave way to anger.
    â€œIt’s just the way I do things, Seth. Take the money!”
    Seth’s brows rose in amusement, but there was also a good measure of stubbornness thrown in.
    â€œI’ll be back,” he said quietly as he turned away. Unlocking the door he’d just latched, he slipped outside and walked