Now that a clerk knew he was searching Lindsey’s farm records, it was only a matter of time before word leaked out and Lindsey knew his intent. He thought about going to the sheriff with what he knew, but a confession from Hardwick would settle matters more quickly. He needed to find Stuart Hardwick first—and fast.
He took one last glance at Lindsey.
He was too close to the truth to let anything—or anyone—stop him now.
Hardening his heart, he went out into the cold night.
Chapter Nine
Waving a paper, Jade barreled down the lane, pink backpack thumping against her purple coat.
“Lindsey. Lindsey! Can you make a costume?”
On her knees, clearing away the remains of a tree stump, Lindsey braced as Jade tumbled against her. Mother love too fierce to deny rose inside her. Jade needed her love and attention, regardless of the sorrow Lindsey would someday suffer when the child was gone. She wasn’t foolish enough to think a man of Jesse’s talents would always work for minimum wage.
“What kind of costume, sweetie?”
“An angel. An angel.” Jade’s excitement had her fluttering around waving her arms like wings. “I’m the guarding angel for Jesus.”
Every year the elementary school put on a Christmas program. The conclusion of the play was traditionally a nativity scene with the singing of “Silent Night” by the entire audience. Once there had been talk of removing the religious scene from the school, but such an outcry arose that the tradition remained. The town loved it, expected it, and turned out en masse to see the little ones dressed in sparkly, colorful costumes. Jade, with her milky skin and black hair, would be a beautiful angel.
Jesse came around the end of a row where he’d been cutting trees for a grocer who had requested a second load.
“What’s all the noise about?” he demanded, his expression teasingly fierce. “I can’t even hear my chain saw with you two carrying on this way.”
Jade threw her arms around his legs and repeated her request for an angel costume. The fun drained out of Jesse’s face.
“Lindsey’s too busy with the farm,” he said shortly.
Jade’s happy expression fell, and Lindsey couldn’t bear to see her disappointment.
Jesse had behaved strangely all day, his manner brusque and distant. He’d even refused their usual lunch break of sandwiches in the Snack Shack, saying he’d eat later. But there was no reason for him to dim Jade’s happiness.
“Making a costume for Jade would be my pleasure. You know that.”
“Don’t bother yourself.” Jesse spun away and started back into the trees.
“Jesse.” She caught up to him, touched his arm. “I’d love to make the costume for Jade. What’s wrong with you today?”
“You’re not her mother. Stop trying to be.”
Stricken to the core, Lindsey cringed and pressed a shaky hand to her lips. Was that what he thought? That she wanted to take Erin’s place?
Jesse shoved both hands over his head. “Look. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry. It’s just that—” His expression went bleak. He squeezed his eyes closed. “No excuses. I’m sorry.”
“Daddy.” Jade, whom they’d both momentarily forgotten, slipped between them, tears bright in her green eyes. “It’s okay. I don’t have to be in the play.”
Lindsey thought her heart would break—for the child, for herself and even for the troubled man.
Jesse fell to his knees in front of Jade and gripped her fiercely to him, his face a mask of regret. “Daddy didn’t mean it, Butterbean. You can be in the play.”
Over her dark head, he gazed at Lindsey desolately. “Make the costume. It would mean a lot to both of us.”
Throat thick with unshed tears, Lindsey nodded, confused and hurt. She’d never intended to touch a nerve. She’d only wanted to see the little girl happy.
Pushing Jade away a little, Jesse smoothed her dark hair, leaving both hands cupped around her face. “You’ll be the prettiest angel in the program. Lindsey will make sure of that.” He raised pleading eyes. “Won’t you, Lindsey?”
Like the Oklahoma weather, Jesse had changed from anger to remorse. Bewildered and reeling from his sharp accusation, Lindsey’s stomach churned. But not wanting Jade to suffer any more disappointment, she swallowed her own hurt and agreed. “Jade and I can shop for materials tomorrow after school if that’s okay.”
She felt tentative with him in a way she never had before. What had brought on this vicious outburst in the first place?
“Whatever you decide is fine. Anything.” Rising, he turned Jade toward the Snack Shack. Lindsey knew their conversation wasn’t over, but he didn’t want the little girl to hear any more. “Better head up there and do your homework. You and Lindsey can talk about the costume later.”
With the resilience of childhood, Jade started toward the building, but froze when the German shepherd bolted from the trees to follow.
“Sushi!” Lindsey commanded. “Come.” The disappointed dog obeyed, coming to flop in disgust at Lindsey’s feet. Jade was making progress, but not enough to be alone in the building with the animal.
As soon as the door closed behind his daughter, Jesse said, “You have been nothing but good to Jade and me. I had no right to snap at you, to say such an awful thing.”
“I’m not trying to replace Erin,” she said quietly.
“I know. I’m sorry.” Absently, he stroked the adoring dog, his body still stiff with tension. “How can I make it up to you?”
“Forget it ever happened.” She smiled, perhaps a bit tremulously, although she felt better knowing he hadn’t intended to hurt her. “And I’ll do the same.”
His jaw tightened. Her forgiveness seemed to anger him. “Don’t be so nice all the time, Lindsey. When someone treats you like dirt, take up for yourself.”
She wanted to disagree. Arguing over small injustices and taking offense served no good that she could see, but Jesse seemed bent on picking a fight. And she refused to play into his bad mood. “I don’t understand you today.”
“Welcome to the club.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked up at the gray-blue sky. “I’m a jerk, Lindsey. You should fire me.”
She longed to comfort him, though she was the wounded party. Normally, Jesse was easygoing and pleasant company. More than pleasant company, if she admitted the truth. But something was terribly wrong today, and getting her back up wasn’t the solution.
“Your job is safe. I can’t get along without you.”
The Freudian slip resounded in the chilly afternoon air. She not only couldn’t get along without him, she didn’t want to. He’d become too important.
Resisting the urge to smooth her fingers over the rigid line of his jaw and tell him that, another wayward notion drifted through her mind. Jesse Slater, even in a bad mood, was a better man than her former fiancé would ever be. Her stomach hurt to make the comparison, but the ache cleared when she realized that no matter what torment beat inside Jesse, he was too honorable to do the kind of things Sean had done. Jesse knew when he was wrong and apologized. Sean never had.
His gaze riveted on the sky, Jesse’s quiet voice was filled with