Chapter 17

“Where have you been?” Chuck asked.

Tess swung the saddle over the post and picked up the brushes. “I was out riding with Jack. It was very enlightening.” She shook her head in amazement and started brushing Stella.

“Enlightening how?” Chuck asked.

“What’s enlightening?” Jed asked as he walked into the stable.

Tess groaned and put her head on Stella. “Nothing.”

“Tess went for a ride with Jack that was very enlightening,” Chuck said to Jed.

“Really? Enlightening how?”

“That’s what I asked, but she ain’t sayin’,” Chuck said.

Tess heard them snicker and raised her head. “Will you two go away?”

“I don’t think so,” Jed said. “Now tell us.”

Tess looked from Jed’s eager face to Chuck’s innocent grin. “Jack told me about his father, which I can’t go into until I talk to Claire. So don’t even ask.” She took the brush to Stella once again.

“That can’t be all,” Chuck said.

Tess felt Jed’s gaze and looked up to see him smiling. “It’s not, is it?”

“Nope. It appears that young Mr. Redmond is quite the worldly fellow and is in tune with his mother, whom he adores.” She smiled fondly, remembering their conversation.

“And whom you adore, as well,” Jed said.

Tess avoided both men but nodded obediently while she continued to brush Stella.

Chuck’s mouth dropped. “You adore Claire?”

Jed slapped his back. “Of course she does. You don’t think Tess is just after sex.”

Tess felt the color flood to her face. She looked around for a hole to jump into.

“Of course I don’t,” Chuck said. “I’d never think that of Tess.” He looked back at Tess. “So now what? Does Claire adore you, too?”

“Guys,” Tess said.

“Of course she does!” Jed exclaimed. “What’s not to adore about my daughter?”

“Dad…” Tess tried again.

“I didn’t say there wasn’t. I’m just askin’ if Claire adores Tess, too,” Chuck said angrily.

Both men looked at Tess. “Well?”

“I don’t know,” Tess said slightly amazed and very petrified that Claire might not.

“Then you’d best find out,” Jed said.

Chuck agreed. “How?”

Tess shrugged and nervously played with the brushes and mumbled, “Jack says she likes daisies.”

“Daisies, huh?” Chuck scratched his chin. He then slapped Jed on the arm. “The north pasture by the fence up on the ridge.”

Tess frowned, trying to think of the spot. She didn’t remember seeing any wildflowers up there. However, she really never looked.

Jed raised an eyebrow. “How do you know about daisies?”

Chuck turned bright red. “Remember that little brunette a few years back? We were up…”

Tess put her hands over her ears. “Oh, my God. I don’t want to hear this…” She hummed loudly and walked in a circle.

Jed laughed and fished the keys out of his pocket. “C’mon, we have daisies to pick.”

Tess gave him a disturbed look. Chuck grinned and grabbed the keys.

“Guys…” Tess tried to argue while they pulled her out of the stable.

Claire was still sick to her stomach. Tess had not come back from her talk with Jack, and Jack was not telling Claire what they talked about. When he came back, he grinned, kissed her cheek, and grabbed an apple.

Claire decided on a shower and a good book. It was only eight o’clock, but no one was in the house. She had no idea where Jed and Chuck had gotten to, and Jack was in the bunkhouse with Manny and the other men.

An hour later and freshly showered, Claire grabbed her book and had a taste for the cookies she had made earlier. “I’d better get one before Tess smells them.”

Claire walked into the kitchen and stopped dead in her tracks when she glanced at the kitchen table. In the center of the table was a beautiful vase, and in the vase were white daisies.

Claire smiled. “Jack, you son of a gun,” she whispered.

As if on cue, Jack walked into the kitchen. Claire put her arms around him and kissed his cheek. “Thanks.”

“For what?” he asked. “And please don’t go kissing me. What if the guys walk in?”

“Oh, shush. Thank you for the daisies.”

Jack looked at the table and shrugged. “I didn’t do it.”

Claire now was confused. “Then who did?”

“Beats me. Yum, cookies.” Jack walked over to the counter. “What kind?”

Still staring at the daisies, Claire slowly responded, “What? Oh, oatmeal raisin and wash your hands.”

Jack grumbled but obeyed. He grabbed a few cookies from the plate on the counter and walked out of the kitchen.

Blinking back the tears that flooded her eyes, Claire reached over and plucked one daisy from the vase. She didn’t even dare think who left them, but she sincerely hoped it was not Jed or Chuck. She walked outside and stood on the porch, twirling the flower. When she heard the screen door creak, she turned to see Tess standing there, a sheepish grin covering her face.