Chapter 29
Declan opened his closet and rifled through the shirts hanging there. He pulled down a couple that were maybe smaller than the others. Bunching them in his arms, he made his way back to the kitchen, expecting to find Gran busily cleaning up the breakfast mess. Instead, Jesse stood at the sink, his arms emerged in bubbles up to his elbows.
“KP duty?”
Jesse jerked, and with an automatic reflex, ducked his head under an arm, back hunched, as if waiting for a blow.
Declan stopped in his tracks and proceeded as though he hadn’t noticed.
Jesse flushed, lowered his arm, and making a pretense of carefully washing an already clean plate, nodded.
“Uh, Miz Ida is upstairs with Kade. She made Hope let her sit with him while she took a shower. I thought I’d wash the dishes, if that’s okay. I didn’t mean to take over. I just thought it would help. But I can go out to the bunk house if . . .”
“Slow down. Of course, it’s okay. Why wouldn’t it be?”
Not waiting for an answer, Declan held up the shirts. “Take off that rag you’re wearing. I planned on us taking a trip into town to outfit you, but I don’t want to leave just yet. I think I’d better stick around until the munchkin wakes up, and I know Kade hasn’t run Hope off with his bark. I’m not worried about Gran,” he chuckled. “She won’t take any sass, not that Kade would give her any.”
“I wouldn’t take on Miz Ida either.” Jesse backed from the sink, drying his hands on a towel. “I sure appreciate your offer of shirts, Mr. Declan, but I can’t impose on you that way. Mark said you’d take my outfitting out of my wages, but since I haven’t earned any . . .” His voice fell off as he eyed the shirts.
They were a couple of Declan’s oldest, but the kid eyed them as if they were store-bought new.
“Take off your shirt,” Declan ordered, holding out the red checked one that seemed to have caught Jesse’s eye. “I’ve outgrown this one and was going to take it for rags.”
“Rags? Why it’s too good for that.”
Declan gave an indifferent shrug. “Naw. Planned on giving them to Gran. She’ll cut the buttons off and use them for cleaning.”
Silence stretched between them, Declan still holding the shirt out.
“Miz Ida won’t care?” Jesse asked softly.
“Nope. She’ll be pleased. She likes her men clean and tidy.”
Her men. Jesse knew he’d give anything to be considered one of Miz Ida’s men. He’d spent last night in a bed, under clean-smelling sheets. And this morning he’d awakened to the smell of bacon frying. He’d wanted to take a shower but wasn’t sure if that was part of the room and board or not. He’d ask Mark if he could use the one in the bunkhouse. Now, this man was offering him a shirt that sure hadn’t come from Goodwill’s give-away box.
Carefully, his hand closed around the shirt. “I’ll just take the one.” He pulled it to his chest, not realizing his finger was stroking the fabric. “Do you think it would be okay if I showered first before putting it on?”
Declan frowned as he mentally kicked himself. None of them had realized how wary Jesse was. Just looking at his ragged shoes, torn pants, and shirt two sizes too small should have told them something. Sure, they’d been focused on Kade, but still.
“Jesse, here in this house showers are highly recommended. I just wish I had shoes to fit you. Those,” and he glanced at Jesse’s feet, “have had some hard wear.”
Jesse flushed, ducking his head. “Yeah. Guess they have at that.”
Declan regretted his words. He’d embarrassed the boy.
“Used to wear mine to rags, too. Now give me that shirt you’ve got on. I’ll put it in Gran’s rag bag.” Declan knew he’d do no such thing. The trash was where it was going, and fast. Someone should have taken the initiative last night.
“Uh, I’ll take it off upstairs,” Jesse muttered.
“Naw. Do it here. No one’s around, and we’ll dispose of it now. I mean Gran’s . . . just do it, Jesse.”
With fumbling fingers, Jesse undid the buttons and quickly turning his back from Declan, whipped off the shirt and backed toward the door.
“What the hell.” The words exploded from Declan’s mouth. Jesse hadn’t been quick enough.
“Jesse,” he bellowed, stopping the boy’s retreat.
Jesse jerked, and with a defensive motion, ducked his head.
“Who beat you?” Declan crossed over and gently touched one of the healed welts crisscrossing Jesse’s back. Mixed with the older scars were newer, fresher welts still in the beginning stages of healing.
“No one,” Jesse mumbled, head still down. “I scratched myself going through the willows.”
“Don’t insult my intelligence, Jesse,” Declan said quietly. “Who?”
“I can’t tell. He’ll kill me if I tell.”
“No one’s going to hurt you here. They’d have to go through all of us first. I’m guessing it was your stepdad.”
Jesse gave a short nod, neither agreeing or disagreeing. “I’m always doing the wrong thing. I’m a clumsy . . .” he stopped short of saying the filthy words often used to describe him.
“Won’t blame you if you want me to leave. I’ll just put my own shirt back on. I sure do thank you for your hospitality.”
“Don’t even think it. You’ve been hired by the Double K, and here you’ll stay.” Declan thrust the balled up red shirt at him, wishing he’d never pushed the issue. “Go take that shower.” He cleared his throat. “If you ever want to talk, I’ll listen.”
“What about? Mr. Kade?”
“What about him? He knows you didn’t mean to hurt him.”
“Yeah, but he’s the boss and probably won’t want me around.”
“He will. You can bet, though he’ll want an explanation. He’s got one coming. But Kade’s fair. And if you need protection, he’s the one to go to. Morgan and I went to him a plenty. He’s the biggest, meanest, best brother in the world.”
“Huh.” Jesse wasn’t doubting Kade was the biggest and meanest. But the best—well, that was debatable. Leaving the room, he avoided looking at the cupboard where he’d stashed pancakes, two cold pieces of bacon, and a napkin full of leftover egg. Most was from his own plate hidden when no one was looking. And the remainder of egg he’d scraped from the other plates. Jesse felt guilty knowing that he hadn’t had to rely on other people’s scraps to fill the hole in his belly. He’d eaten his fill of the best cooking he’d ever had, both yesterday and this morning. The squirreled away food might be gross, but it would be one of the best meals his brothers would have eaten in a long time. He’d find some way to do better. He had to. They were depending on him. Now all he had to do was sneak away and get to the pre-arranged meeting place. Caleb would be there—waiting.