Julie Garwood - Come the Spring

herself from laughing.

"You shouldn't be talking like this."

"Like what? I simply answered your question. Your hair isn't brown,

by the way. It's cinnamon." She didn't like being the focus of his

attention. It was wrong of him to try to fill her head with sugared

remarks that weren't true. She wasn't a fine-looking woman, as he'd

declared. She was a plain, sensible one.

"Why haven't you married? " she asked.

"I never wanted to, " he replied. "Besides, in my line of work,

marriage is out of the question."

"But why haven't you wanted to? " she prodded.

"I don't like the idea of being tied down. I don't want any strings.

" She nodded agreement. "I understand. I don't want any either. "

"You're too young to be set in your ways."

"Are you trying to tell me I'm cynical? I am, you know."

"The right man will change your mind.

" "The right woman might change yours, " she countered.

He stared at her for several seconds, then turned his gaze to the

fire.

There was a brooding expression on his face that puzzled her, and she

wondered what he was thinking about now.

She got up and put her brush away, dug through her valise for one of

her ribbons, and then went to sit on the blanket next to Caleb.

"I've decided I'm going to tie my son's wrist to mine. If he tries to

get up, he'll wake me."

"Jessie, that isn't necessary. I'll hear him." She wasn't willing to

take the chance. She looped the yellow ribbon around Caleb's left

wrist and secured it to hers. Then she lay down and closed her eyes.

"I won't sleep a wink worrying about him." She was sound asleep less

than a minute later. Cole added some twigs to the fire, then reached

over and untied the ribbon from Caleb's wrist.

Jessica had left a long strip of ribbon between them so that Caleb

could move, but Cole was concerned that in his sleep the baby would get

the ribbon around his neck. He wasn't about to take the chance.

Besides, he would hear the baby if he stirred. When Cole was away from

home, he never slept straight through the night, and he always heard

every little sound.

Jessica sighed in her sleep and rolled on her side, facing him. He

stared at her lovely face, knowing in his heart that if ever there was

a right woman for him, Jessie was the one, and that realization made

him angry.

It could get complicated, and he hated complications.

He stretched out on his back again, closed his eyes, and let the cool

night air soothe the fire inside him while he reminded himself of his

basic philosophy of life.

No strings.

t_) heriff Tom Norton and his wife, Josey, lived in a two-story gray

clapboard house on Grant Lane, just two blocks east of Middleton's town

square, where Tom's jail was located. Three stone steps led up to the

front door, and there were recently painted black wicker chairs on the

porch. Two large black flower pots filled with pink and red summer

flowers flanked the top step. Tendrils of ivy trailed down the

sides.

The house, though small, was charming.

It was dark out, but Cole still insisted on going around to the back

door. He carried Caleb in one arm and half dragged Jessica with his

free hand.

"I'm sure they've gone up to bed. It's late."

"It isn't that late, " he argued. "And they wouldn't have left all the

lights on if they'd gone to bed. Come on, Jessie. We have to do

this." She pulled on his arm as he tried to lead her forward on the

cobblestone path.

"If I don't like these people, I'm not leaving Caleb with them.

Agreed? " He held on to his patience. "We've been over this. I

agreed two hours ago, remember? " "I just didn't want you to forget.

" He put his arm around her shoulders and squeezed. "It's going to be

all right, just like I promised." He was just about to knock on the

back door when she asked him to wait a moment. Then she reached up and

threaded her fingers like a comb through Caleb's hair. The baby

promptly dodged her hand.

"You ready? " She took a deep breath. "Yes, " she answered. "I hope

we aren't disturbing them. It's late, " she stubbornly added once

again.

The Nortons were thrilled to have company and weren't at all put out.

Josey had just finished the supper dishes when Cole knocked on her back

door, and Tom Norton was still sitting at the table, having his second

cup of coffee.

Cole had to gently nudge Jessica to go inside as he followed with Caleb

into the brightly painted kitchen.

Josey was already making over the baby, who was overcome with a sudden

bout of shyness and tucked his face into the crook of Cole's neck.

"My, he's a handsome boy, and just look at those curls, Tom. I didn't

know you had a family, Cole, and this pretty lady must be your wife.

It's right nice to make your acquaintance, " she added.

"I'm not his wife, " Jessica explained. "But this is my son. His name

is Caleb." Tom Norton stepped forward to shake Cole's hand, then

pulled out a chair for him and one for Jessica.

"Sit down and tell us what in thunderation you're doing back in

Middleton. You don't think there's going to be another robbery, do

you? " "No, " Cole answered as he sat down and perched Caleb on his

lap. "We came here to talk to you."

"Is that right? " Tom asked.

"I was just thinking about you the other day. Yes, sir, I was. I see

you're still wearing the star. Have you taken to the notion of being a

marshal then? " "For the time being, " Cole answered. He thanked

Josey for the cup of coffee she placed on the table in front of him,

and then turned back to Tom.

"I haven't been a marshal long enough to know if I like the job or

not.

" After making the comment, he glanced at Jessica. She was watching

Josey closely and seemed to be weighing every move the older woman

made.

Caleb reached for the hot coffee. Before either Jessica or Cole could

react, Josey moved the cup out of his reach.

"Can the little imp have a cookie? I just made some fresh. They've

got nuts in them, though, and some babies don't like nuts. What about

some ilk? I've got plenty."

"I'm sure he'd like some milk and a cookie, " Jessica answered. "But

he'll make a mess. Will you mind? " "No, of course not. He's too

young not to be messy, " she added.

"Have you folks had your supper yet? I could fry upţ" "No, we've

eaten, " Cole hastily interjected. "But thanks for offering.

"I'm not at all hungry, thank you, " Jessica answered.

"Tom, could I have a word alone with you for a minute? " Cole asked.

The sheriff led the way into the living room. Caleb was still a little

suspicious of his strange surroundings and wouldn't let go of Cole. He

handed him to Jessica, winked at her, and then left the room.

Jessica wrapped her arms around her baby and held him protectively

against her. The kitchen was clean. She noticed there wasn't a speck

of dirt anywhere. Josey was obviously a good housekeeper, but if she

and Tom agreed to look after Caleb, would she be able to keep up with

him?

And would she be patient?

She wished there were more time for her to find out everything she

needed to know. She was relying on Cole's judgment, but he was a man

and he wouldn't have the concerns a mother had. He trusted the

Nortons. She didn't, at least not yet, and she wasn't going to leave

an innocent baby in the hands of fiends.

They weren't monsters, though. The kindness in Josey's eyes told her

she loved babies. She'd already taken to Caleb, and he was quickly

warming up to her. Granted, his thumb was still in his mouth, but he

was smiling at her.

What did he know? He was just a toddler. It was up to her to make

certain he was well cared for, and, oh, God, how could she leave him

with anyone? No one could love him the way she did.

Josey put a plate of cookies on the table. She poured two glasses of

milk, the taller one for Jessica and the smaller one for Caleb, then

sat down across from her and let out a loud sigh.

"It sure was hot today, wasn't it? " "Yes, it was, " Jessica agreed.

She smiled at Josey and tightened her hold on Caleb when he tried to

scoot off her lap. "You have a lovely home."

"You've only seen the kitchen, " Josey said with a chuckle.

"Do you have children? " "No, we don't. We always wanted a large

family, but we just weren't blessed. I've taken care of a bushel of

nieces and nephews, and I sure do know my way around babies, but I've

got a longing in my heart to raise some of my own."

"You could still have children. How old are you? " It was a bold

question, but Josey didn't seem to mind. "I'm too old to start having

babies. Why, I'm going to be forty-seven next month. It seems kind of

odd for you to be asking me such a question."

"It was rude, " Jessica said. "And I apologize if I seem a bit

abrupt.