Chapter Ten
Ande
God, I felt so humiliated. My face burned with shame. How could I practically throw myself at Jake? He'd done nothing to show he was interested in more than friendship. I hated myself at that moment.
What if he decided to fire me? That he didn't want a woman like me in his house? Tears started to overflow and I angrily dashed them away. The kids were already asleep, so I took advantage of the quiet and walked over to lean on the fence by the horse pasture and surrendered to the emotions rolling through me.
"Hey, there, Ande-girl. You okay?" Johnathan's deep voice interrupted and I hastily wiped my cheeks.
"Uh, yeah, I'm okay." I couldn't let him know about this. If he thought I was interested in one of his boys, he would fire me himself, no matter how much he seemed to enjoy the kids, and no matter how many pet names he gave me.
He leaned on the fence beside me. "I'll never forget when the boys' momma left. She wasn't like you. I never really felt like we were enough, you know? My folks always called her flighty, and looking back, I can see that. She wasn't steady or dedicated. Your kids are lucky to have you, and now we are too."
I felt like shrinking into the dirt. "Johnathan, I—"
"No. You don't have to say it." He sighed. "I intended to protect you from feeling pressured to do anything you didn't want to do, but I see the way you and Jake look at one another. He's a good boy. He'll make a good daddy to your kids. I was a fool to threaten like that, especially when I already knew he was interested in you."
The tears fell with a vengeance. "You don't understand! He doesn't want me!"
He sighed and drew me into his arms. "You gotta give him time, Ande-girl. Momma always said the male species is dumber than a box of rocks, and I've come to the conclusion she was right. I made a lot of stupid choices myself. Jake's smarter than me. He won't." And he held me for a long time while I sobbed my heart out.
Finally, I excused myself and went inside, deeply shamed. That night, I dreamed of the many ways the Quicks could send me away. How could I feel so strongly about Jake, about the whole family, in just a matter of days? I dated my ex for years before I decided I loved him enough to marry him, and even then, I wasn't positive. Of course, what I felt for Jake wasn't love. Far from it.
Two more weeks of work and pining over Jake followed, but neither of us mentioned the night I threw myself at him. He stayed exactly the same, kind and patient with the kids, a perfect gentleman toward me. Every night he helped clean up after dinner. Every day he checked in when he came to the house for lunch to make sure I didn't need anything.
We had just finished a breakfast of pancakes and sausage, and the men lingered at table, sipping an extra cup of coffee and deciding on the day's work, when Shep, the old dog, began to raise a ruckus outside. Johnathan went to the door just as boots thudded on the porch.
"Sheriff Graham. Good to see you. Come in, have some coffee." He held the door for a tall man who looked to be somewhere between forty and ninety.
"Morning, Johnathan. Boys. I'm sorry, but I'm here on official business. Kyle tells me Andrea DuPont works for you?" He looked squarely at me.
I swallowed hard. "That's me. Ande. What can I do for you?" My heart thudded in my chest. This had something to do with Chris. I knew it. He'd somehow found a way to take the kids from me. My nails bit into my palms. Jake stood and came to my side.
"I got a call yesterday from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office. Sound familiar?" His faded blue eyes seemed to see straight to my soul.
"Yes." I took a deep breath to steady myself and fought the urge to wiggle like a bug on a pin, and Jake's arm slipped around my waist. "That's where I'm from."
The Sheriff nodded. "I figured as much. Well, it seems they been trying to find you. Guess you had reason to make yourself scarce."
I nodded, and the only thing keeping me upright was Jake's arm around me.
"Chris DuPont is your husband?"
I nodded again, unable to speak at this point. What had Chris done now?
"Ma'am, I regret to inform you, your husband was found deceased at his residence two weeks ago. They've been trying to find you since then."
My knees gave out and Jake scooped me up and carried me to a chair. "It's okay, baby." He brushed one hand over my hair and held me close with the other. "What happened, Sheriff? You have further information?"
The Sheriff took in the way I clung to Jake, missing nothing. "It's been ruled a homicide. Apparently, he was shot and killed during a botched robbery."
"They have any leads?" Johnathan's voice broke into the discussion.
"None worth following. I assume you all are willing to vouch for Miss Ande's presence here during the time in question?"
I caught my breath, suddenly feeling faint. "They can't think I killed him? I ran from him. I was terrified of him. I haven't gone back since the night he almost killed my daughter and me." Oh, God, what if they accused me? What would happen to Ian and Janna?
The Sheriff held his hands up like he was attempting to placate me. "Hold up there, miss. No one's accusing you. I'm just dotting 'I's and crossing 'T's. They'll eventually ask, and this way, I can go ahead and tell them."
Jake made a sound an awfully lot like a growl. "She's been here since we hired her. Two times she drove into town for supplies. I'm sure the clerks at Wilson's can verify that."
The Sheriff sighed. "That's what I figured." His gaze cut back to me. "His family went ahead with the funeral, but you're the legal next of kin. What address can I pass along for them to send you whatever information?"
Jake spoke for me again. "This address. She's living in Gramma's house. Is there anything else she needs to do?"
"Nope, not right now, anyways." He nodded my way. "I'm sorry for your loss miss. I best be getting back to town." Johnathan escorted him out and stayed outside talking with him for a long time.
I turned to Jake. "Do they think I killed him?" I had to know.
He paled a little under his tan. "No, they can't think that. Even if they do, you have solid alibis for every day and night since you came here. They'll have to get over it." He pulled me against his chest. "Are you okay?"
I nodded as sobs started to shake my shoulders. Whether they started from fear or relief I couldn't decide. They certainly weren't from sorrow.