Forgotten Vows. Modean Moon

his shots so that—”

      “It’s all right,” Jennie told her.

      “But-”

      “It’s all right, Jamie,” she repeated again. “He was just playing.”

      “Something to clean it with would be in order,” Edward told the girl.

      “And I’m supposed to believe it’s all right to leave you alone with her?”

      “Yes,” Jennie insisted softly. “It is. And no, I don’t need any first aid.”

      Jamie studied him with Lambert’s wary, suspicious eyes. And then, because Edward couldn’t stop this, either, another, darker thought intruded. Meggie. Was this how his sister would have been at Jamie’s age? Tall, yes. That had always been a given. But would she have been poised and comfortable with herself beneath the mantle of security Jamie wore so casually? Or would she have been awkward and at war with a body growing too fast for her heart and mind to keep pace with?

      This was something else that Jennie had done to him. She had drawn him out of the shell he had so painstakingly erected and laid open wounds he had thought long healed.

      Forcing himself away from those thoughts, he smiled at the girl. “You might as well tell Reverend Winthrop I’m here, even though I’m pretty sure the innkeeper has already called your father and told him that he brought me into town.”

      Jamie grinned at him. “It’s a small town. It’s either great or a really big pain depending on your attitude and what you want to keep secret.”