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Then he saw Marcus open the door and look over toward the barn. Apparently finding the coast clear, Marcus motioned to Seth to follow him. They each carried a fishing pole and Seth carried a bucket. Quickly, the two of them ran from the bunkhouse and disappeared into the woods. Geoffrey couldn’t prevent the laugh that rose in his throat.
As she cooked supper, Tessa thought about what Lydia had said to her that day. She wasn’t sure she could go through with it. Tessa felt that she wasn’t experienced enough to pull something like that off. She was mixing up a batch of biscuits when Marcus came stomping into the kitchen and marched right over to her.
She’d never seen such a furious expression on his face as she did just then. Normally, Marcus was smiling and pleasant. He wasn’t either of those things at that moment. He put his hands on his hips as Tessa stared at him with wide eyes.
“You need to make up and make love with your husband or else you’re gonna be a widow because I’m gonna kill him,” Marcus said. “I’ve had about all of him I can take. I’m goin’ home so don’t wait supper on me.”
Tessa watched him stride angrily out the door. That was the second person that day who’d told her to be intimate with her husband to end their fighting. As she finished the biscuits and put them in the oven, Tessa thought that maybe there was something to it after all.
After supper, Tessa sent Jack and Sadie upstairs to get ready for bed. Geoffrey was once more outside on the swing. He seemed to be developing an affinity for it.
“Dean, please sleep in our room tonight,” Tessa said nervously.
Dean looked at her. “You mean on the floor?”
She gave him a meaningful stare. “No. Not on the floor.”
Dean stared at her back as she turned around to wash dishes.
As she did every night, Tessa brushed her long hair out. Dean undressed and sat down on the bed a little hesitantly. He was afraid she was going to change her mind and want him to sleep on the floor again. Like hell I will. I’m here now and I’m not leaving this bed. His mind made up, Dean pulled his side of the summer weight bedclothes down and lay down.
He wanted in the worst way to reach out to touch Tessa’s hair, but didn’t want to be rebuffed. With great effort, Dean kept his hands to himself. Tessa stood up and went over to their door and locked it. She gave him a lightning fast glance and blew out the lamp. Dean’s eyes never left her as she went to stand by her side of the bed.
Tessa was nervous as she removed her nightgown and slid under the covers completely naked. What is he thinking? Does he want to? Oh, Lord, what if he doesn’t? She felt the bed shift suddenly and she was in Dean’s arms so quickly that she couldn’t register what had happened at first. Then his mouth descended on hers and there was no question that he wanted her. Tessa willingly surrendered to her husband and passion took over their mind and bodies, and for the moment anger and pride were left behind.
As she lay against Dean’s side, Tessa toyed with his hand where it rested on his stomach.
“Dean?”
“Hmm?”
“Are you asleep?”
“Umm hmm,” was followed by his soft laughter. “No, Tessa. I’m awake.”
“All right. Good. Can we please talk now that we’re, um…”
“Resting?”
Tessa hated how shy she felt about all of this. “Yes. Resting.”
“Sure. What’s on your mind?” Dean said as her hand moved over his chest.
“Well, I’m sorry that we’ve been fighting,” she said.
“Me, too, honey. I hate fighting with you,” Dean said.
Tessa had lost control of her hand and couldn’t stop touching Dean. It was interfering with her train of thought. “I don’t want to fight with you, either. We shouldn’t fight like this.”
“No, we shouldn’t,” Dean said as he rolled over to look at her. He brushed her back hair from her cheek and she shivered slightly as his fingers touched her shoulder.
Now it was Dean who couldn’t control his hands. “It doesn’t get us anywhere.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Tessa said and moved closer to him.
“Then let’s not fight,” Dean said as he put an arm around her and then kissed her.
Tessa gave up on rational thought and kissed him back fervently.
The next morning, Tessa woke to an empty bed. She groaned as she remembered how miserably her plan had failed. Yes, they’d made love several times, but they hadn’t resolved their differences. She looked at the clock on the dresser and was shocked to see how late it was. She hurried to get dressed so that she could make breakfast.
She needn’t have worried. Marcus presided over the stove with ease as he flipped eggs and made bacon.
“Good morning,” she said as she watched him.
“’Morning, Tessa. Slept in a little,” he said with a knowing grin.
She blushed and said, “I guess so.”
Suddenly, Marcus hugged her and said, “God bless you.”
Then he released her and went back to cooking. “How do you want your eggs?”
“Uh, scrambled. I didn’t know you could cook,” Tessa said.
“Yep. Ma taught me when I was younger. I’m glad she did. I cook at home whenever I’m not up here,” he responded.
She sat down at the table as Marcus went to the stairs and shouted, “Hey, kids, shake a leg! Breakfast is ready. You, too, Geoffrey! I ain’t got all day!”
Soon, running footsteps sounded and Sadie and Jack appeared. Jack sat down and Marcus put a plate in front of him. The boy began eating with his usual zeal and Tessa and Marcus shared a smile over it. Sadie ate more sedately. Marcus gave Tessa her plate. Geoffreystill hadn’t appeared.
“Where is Papa?” Tessa asked.
“Well, I forgot. He played cards with us in Seth’s place last night. Ended up killing a fifth of whiskey. He’s probably sleeping it off,” Marcus said with a naughty grin.
Tessa laughed as she thought about her father being hung over. “I wonder when the last time he did that was. I think you’re all a bad influence on him.”
Marcus said, “Nah.” He stepped outside and yelled, “Hey! Breakfast!”
Seth came from the barn. He didn’t run, but his long, easy strides ate up the ground quickly. Dean wasn’t far behind him.
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