“Then why did you come to Sweetwater?”
“The Millers are friends of mine. Since they weren’t going to use the house this summer they offered it to me. It met my needs.”
She opened her mouth to ask what needs but immediately pressed her lips together. Nick Blackburn was a private man who she suspected had opened up more in the past fifteen minutes than he usually did. Whereas anyone meeting her for the first time could glean her whole life history if he wanted. She wouldn’t push her luck. Besides, he would be gone in two months.
“Daddy, I’m hungry. When’s Boswell gonna be back?” Cindy asked, entering the kitchen. She came to a halt when she saw Jesse sitting at the table with her father. Her eyes widened, fear shining bright in them.
“Don’t worry. I left Fred and Ethel at home.” Jesse smiled, wanting to wipe the fear from the little girl’s expression. “I came over to bring some cookies and to tell you how sorry I am about my geese this morning. When they’re guarding their nest, they can be extra mean.”
“I just wanted to pet them.” Cindy’s eyes filled with tears. She stayed by the door.
“They don’t like strangers much, especially right now. Maybe later I can introduce you if you want.”
Horror flittered across Cindy’s face. “No.” She backed up against the door.
“That’s okay. Do you like animals?”
The little girl hesitated, then nodded.
“Do you have a pet?”
She shook her head.
An uncomfortable silence descended, charging the air as though an electrical storm was approaching. Jesse resisted the urge to hug her arms to her. “Maybe you can come over and meet my son and his dog, Bingo.”
“He has a dog?” Cindy relaxed some.
“Yes, a mutt who found us a few summers ago.”
“Found you?”
“Or, rather Fred and Ethel. You thought their racket was loud this morning. You should have heard it when Bingo came into the yard. I found him hiding under a bush, his paws covering his face. Of course, you would think that would teach him a lesson. Oh, no. Bingo still tries to play with them. They won’t have anything to do with him.”
“Not too smart. I’ve learned my lesson after only one encounter. Stay away from the geese,” Nick said with a laugh.
“Actually, Bingo is pretty smart. Nate has taught him a lot of tricks. Maybe you can get Nate to show you, Cindy.” Jesse felt drawn to the little girl who seemed lost, unsure of herself.
“Can I, Daddy?”
“Sure, princess.”
“Great. Nate will be home later this afternoon. Come on over and I’ll introduce you to my son and Bingo. I promise you Bingo is nothing like Fred and Ethel.”
“Do you have any other pets?” Cindy took several steps closer.
“I’m afraid I could open my own zoo and charge admission which I probably should since it costs so much to feed them all. Nate has a fish aquarium and a python as well as three gerbils.”
“He does!” Cindy’s big brown eyes grew round. “He’s lucky.”
“I don’t think he feels that way when he has to feed them. You should hear him complaining.”
“I wouldn’t mind doing that if I had a pet.” Cindy’s hopeful gaze skipped to her father.
“Princess, we’ve talked about this. We live in an apartment. Not the best place for an animal.”
Cindy sidestepped to Jesse and whispered so loud anyone in the kitchen could hear, “Daddy’s never had a pet. I think one would be good for him. Don’t you?”
Nick looked as uncomfortable as the silence had felt a moment before. He raked his hand through his dark straight hair that was cut moderately short. “I have enough on my plate without having to take care of a pet, too.”
“But I’d do that, Daddy.”
“Cindy, I don’t think we should bore our guest with this.”
The firmness in his voice brooked no argument. The little girl’s mouth formed a pout, her shoulders sagging forward.
“Well, I’d better be going before Gramps wonders where I disappeared to. Come over after three, Cindy. Nate should be home by then.” Jesse stood.
Nick rose, too. “Let me show you to the door.”
“That’s okay. I know this place well. I often visit when the Millers are here. I’m glad since they’re going to be gone this summer that someone is going to be living here. I hate seeing this old house go to waste.”
Nick smiled, the gesture reaching deep into his eyes. “Thanks for the cookies. I know I’ll appreciate them.”
His warm regard sent a shiver up her spine. She backed away. “Welcome to Sweetwater,” was all she could suddenly think of to say. Her mind went blank of everything except the man’s smile. Before she made a fool of herself, she rushed from the kitchen, relieved he would only be here for a short time.
“I’m sorry Nate couldn’t be here this afternoon. He ended up staying at Sean’s,” Jesse said, running her palm over Bingo’s wiry brown hair.
The medium-size dog rubbed himself up against Cindy, nudging her hand to keep her petting him. “That’s okay. Bingo sure is nice.”
“Yeah. We were lucky he found us. He has more loving in him than most dogs.”
Cindy buried her face against Bingo’s fur. “I wish Daddy would let me have a pet. I’d take good care of him.”
“I bet you would.” Jesse knew of a family down the road whose poodle had puppies a few weeks ago. They would soon be looking for homes for them. Maybe she could convince Nick that a dog would be good for Cindy. A poodle was a small enough dog to live in an apartment. “While you’re here, you can play with Bingo any time you want.”
“Nate won’t mind?”
“Are you kidding? He loves to show off his animals. He wants to be a zookeeper one day.”
Forehead creased, Cindy looked at her. “And you don’t mind the snake?”
“I have to confess at first it bothered me. But now, I don’t mind it. He usually keeps it in its cage. It’s only gotten loose once.”
“Mommy would have had a fit—” Suddenly the little girl stopped talking and stared down at the sidewalk.
“Snakes, especially big ones, can be scary.” Jesse placed her hand on the child’s shoulder, wishing she could take her pain away. She remembered having to deal with Nate’s feelings after his father had died. She wouldn’t have been able to help him as she did if it hadn’t been for her faith in the Lord.
“Yes,” Cindy mumbled and proceeded to pet Bingo some more, her face still averted.
“How long has your mother been gone?” Jesse asked, her voice roughened with sudden intense emotions.
Cindy lifted her tearful gaze to Jesse’s, her lower lip trembling. “About a year. She died in a car wreck. Daddy was in the car, too. He was in the hospital a long time.” Her voice wavered. “Daddy doesn’t like to talk about it.”
Jesse drew the child into her arms, stroking her hand down her back. “If you need to talk to someone, I’m a good listener.” It had taken Nate a while to open up to her about his father’s death, and after he had, he had been much better.
Sniffing,