64.

his mother's direction answered the question that he looked down at her. Comprehension immediately set his face. While the other men headed for the living room, he walked around the table to his mother's side.

"Do you have anything to take, Mom?"

"What?"

"You're hurting, aren't you?" he said softly. Sarah looked up, apologetic and woeful. He put his arm around her. "Stop acting like you've done something wrong. Arthritis is a disease, Mom, not an insult. I want you to take something for the pain and go into the living room and relax. Caroline and I will take care of this." He nodded at the table.

"Oh, no," Sarah said. "You go watch the game. I'll-"

"We won't be a minute," Jesse said firmly. "Now, do you have something to take or not?"

Sarah reached into her pocket and pulled out a small plastic box. "Caroline put them in a flip-top box for me," she said. "I . can't get the bottles open anymore."

"We have a. lot to thank Caroline for these days," Jesse said, reaching for Sarah's water gla.s.s.

"We certainly do," Sarah murmured. Using her thumb to push up the top of the box, she shook out two small pills before closing the box and dropping it back into her pocket She put the pills into her mouth and reached for the gla.s.s Jesse held. The gla.s.s wavered and shook in her hand, but she got the pills down, and Jesse took the gla.s.s away, returning it safely to the table. He glanced worriedly at Caroline, who was quietly gathering up dishes. "Go on," Jesse said to his mother, gently pushing her toward the doorway. "I want to talk to Caroline, anyway, and this is as good a time as any."

Sarah relented. "Oh, all right. But I'll be in to help you wash up later, Caroline. The hot water seems to do my hands good." Caroline smiled and nodded. Sarah shook a crooked finger at Jesse. "You two hurry up, now."

"We will," Jesse said, reaching for a half-empty bowl of potatoes whipped with sour cream and roasted garlic. "We want to watch the game, too."

"We'll be quick," Caroline a.s.sured her. Sarah went off with a little smile curving her mouth. "You wanted to talk to me?" Caroline asked of Jesse after Sarah was gone.

He shrugged. "I just said that to get her moving, but I might as well tell you how much I appreciate what you do around here. You're right about her being in pain too much, and I appreciate you letting me in on that particular secret."

"Thanks, but I'm just trying to do a good job."

"I don't think we have to worry about that," he said lightly, adding, "I'm looking into getting her help, and my brother is, too: I spoke to him about it the other night."

"I'm glad to hear that, but you don't have to help with the table," Caroline told him. "I'm perfectly capable of handling this by myself. It is, after all, what you pay me for."

"Don't be stupid," he said bluntly. "This is a holiday, and today you're not just the cook and chief bottle washer, you're a guest, too. Now move it. I really do want to watch that game."

Caroline laughed. "What is it about men and football?"

"It's not just men," he said defensively. "Mom loves football. You probably would, too, if you knew anything about it."

"Maybe you can teach me."

"Deal, provided we can get in there before the first quarter ends."

"What's a quarter?"

Jesse laughed and launched into an explanation as they carried dishes into the kitchen. Her head was spinning with football rules, objectives and anecdotes by the time they joined the others in the den, the leftovers put away and the dirty dishes soaking. Jesse was glad to hear that no one had scored by the time they joined the others watching the game. Caroline was relieved to hear mat me first quarter had not yet ended. He dropped down on one end of the couch next to Shoes and Tiger. Haney occupied his usual easy chair and Sarah the other. She shoved the comfy ottoman at Caroline with her foot. Caroline rolled it over to the end of the couch and sat down next to Jesse, who was busily and loudly explaining what was taking place while talking encouragement to his team of choice.

Caroline didn't understand a moment of it, but she had great fun just watching the others and listening to Jesse's convoluted

66.

67.

explanations and the good-natured arguments they inevitably sp.a.w.ned. She began to realize that watching the game was as much a game as the game itself! And she naturally took Jesse's side in every argument. After all, he was her teacher. His point of view was the only one that made any sense to her or even registered. At halftime, Sarah asked who wanted dessert, and to Caroline's surprise, everyone did.

Shoes raved about the lemon meringue pie. Haney gobbled up two pieces of the pumpkin without comment or pause. Jesse savored a huge chunk of fresh apple cake, which Sarah had told Caroline was his favorite, and Tiger, to Caroline's amazement, ate some of everything. Sarah nibbled pumpkin pie and cake, but Caroline couldn't bear the idea of swallowing another bite. She concentrated on getting everyone served and keeping their coffee cups filled before the game resumed.

As they all trooped back to the den, she was surprised and pleased when Jesse volunteered to trade places with her, saying, "You're probably tired of sitting on that ottoman without anything to lean back against." It was Kanaka who insisted on taking the ottoman, however, and so Caroline wound up sitting right next to Jesse on the couch. When Jesse lifted his arm and stretched it along the back of the sofa at one point, Caroline told herself that it was a casual, thoughtless gesture having more to do with his own comfort than any intention to get closer to her, but she couldn't help the small flutter of excitement that began in her chest and moved lower until she was almost embarra.s.sed by it. No matter what Jesse was thinking-and he didn't even seem to notice that his arm was almost around her-the fact remained that this was the best Thanksgiving she'd ever known, and it was all due to Jesse. She intended to make sure that he knew how happy he'd made her today.

Jesse stretched and inhaled the cold, sharp air. It had been a good day-the company, the food, the atmosphere. His team had even won. What more could a man ask for? The door opened, and Shoes Kanaka stepped out onto the porch with him, shrugging into his coat.

"Hey, chief! You out for a breath of fresh air, too? Or are you leaving us?"

"I'm off. It's getting late, and all that good food is making me sleepy."

Jesse nodded. "You know you're welcome to stay for the night. We always have a bed with your name on it."

"I know, and I appreciate it. You. are my second family. But my first deserves some of my time, too. I'm heading out to the reservation. My uncle expects me."

"How is Man Father?"

"Well. Di'wana's death is still difficult for us all, but his faith is strong, and she is at peace. It helps, frankly, that Rye and Champ are happy with Kara now."

"I know what you mean. I worried Rye would never find real happiness, and that would surely affect Champ. I'm glad for mem all."

"I, also." He lifted a hand to the back of his neck, slipped it beneath his ponytail and rubbed leisurely. "It's kind of hard to watch sometimes, though."

"What do you mean? What's hard to watch?"

"Rye and Kara," Shoes said. "They're so hot for each other they practically smoke. They kind of eat each other with their eyes, you know? Kind of like you and that little Caroline."

Jesse nearly dropped, his knees suddenly weak. "Are you nuts? You been smoking or something, having visions?"

Shoes chuckled and tucked his fingertips into his jean pockets. "Jesse, that girl hangs on every word you say. She can't keep her eyes off you-and vice versa."

Jesse tried to laugh it off. "She's just a kid. She wants to impress the boss."

"She doesn't look like any kid I ever saw," Shoes commented, "and don't try to tell me you haven't noticed."

"She's a pretty girl," Jesse said tartly, "but she's way too young, and she's not my type."

Shoes sent him a scathing look. "She's every man's type, and you darn well know it Long silky hair, face like an angel. There's nothing wrong with her figure, either. She ought to be six feet tall with all mat leg."

68.

Jesse clenched his hands into fists and bit his tongue. She wasn't a piece of meat, for pity's sake, to be chewed over like a morsel tossed to the dogs. But he knew that any comment would d.a.m.n him for sure. He managed a shrug.

"So what? The world's full of-"

Shoes cut him off. "Yeah, right, and every one of them hovers around you like a fairy G.o.dmother waiting to grant your every wish."

Jesse gulped. He'd feared that he was the one hovering. "Teach me football," she'd said, and he'd taken it as a calling. Had everyone noticed? "You, uh, you're reading more into it than is there," he finally said, hunching his shoulders against the cold. Funny, the air no longer seemed brisk and bracing. It had developed a definite bite rather quickly.

Shoes kept staring at him for a long, awkward moment, but then he sighed and said, "Man, you Wagners have heads like cement." He was smiling when he said it, though, and Jesse chose to laugh it off.

"Well, when that's where you keep landing, you either develop a thick skull or you die."

"We Indians prefer thick souls/' Shoes said cryptically, and Jesse shook his head.

"Philosophy, now? What next?"

"War paint and weapons," Shoes quipped.

Jesse threw up both hands. "I give! Just leave die hair."

"No self-respecting warrior would be caught with your hair on bis belt."

"Insults are the last resort of a desperate man."

"Naw, just a sleepy one." Shoes rubbed his eyes with both hands. "I'm gone, my friend. See you at Christmas, huh?"

"You bet Give my best to your uncle."

Nodding, Shoes went down the steps and out into the night A few moments later, Jesse heard his truck start up. He watched the headlights come on and the sweep of the twin beams as the heavy van made a U-turn and headed for the road, turning right toward the reservation.

Jesse stared long after the truck was gone around the bend. He kept hearing Kanaka's deep, resonant voice inside bis head.

69.

Doesn't look like any kid I ever saw. Six feet tall with all that leg. Hovering over you .like a fairy G.o.dmother ready to grant your every wish.

He thought about sitting next to her on the couch, her slender form tucked neatly against him. They hadn't touched, but he'd felt her all along his side. It had seemed silly for her to sit anywhere else, right for her to be next to him, and that chilled him more than the cold night He'd had enough fresh air. He turned toward the door just as it opened and a, familiar rabbit coat stepped outside.

"Jesse."

He backed away instinctively. Finding his voice took a moment, but he was relieved to find it hearty and light. "Caroline. Calling it a night? I was just about to go in myself. Eating's real tiring work. Cooking and eating, now, that must be downright exhausting. Rest well. Good night."

He meant to push past her and on into the house, but she pulled the door closed, effectively blocking his way, and suddenly he was scared. Big, brawny Jesse who could control brute horses with a flick of his wrist, scared of sweet little Caroline. She barely came to his shoulder, and he'd never been so afraid of anyone or anything in his life.

"Jesse, I want to tell you something." She stepped closer. He flinched but managed to stand his ground. What on earth was wrong with him, anyway? What could happen here on the porch in the cold? She swayed closer still. "Today was the best day of my life."

The best day of her life. h.e.l.l.

"Everyone was so kind to me today, so complimentary. I just wanted to thank you. None of it would have happened if it wasn't for you."

That was one idea she had to get over. "I...I didn't do anything."

"You hired me."

"Mom-"

"But you're the boss. You sign my paycheck. And you invited me today."

"Now that was-"

71.

70.