Hawk's Way by Joan Johnston Read Free Book Online Page A

she was aware of how small the room was, or rather, how he filled it. She took a step back, away from the very strong attraction she felt. “The room in the barn is bigger,” she argued. “You’d have more privacy.”
    He grinned. “I suppose that’s true, if you don’t count the livestock.”
    â€œI have to come in here sometimes to get food from the shelves,” she explained.
    â€œYou could knock.”
    â€œYes, I suppose I could.” It was hard to argue with logic. Yet Honey didn’t want to concede defeat. Otherwise, she was going to find herself with the hired hand constantly underfoot. She made a last effort to convince him the barn was a better choice. “The boys sometimes make a lot of noise. Morning and evening. You won’t get much peace and quiet if you stay here.”
    â€œI expect I’ll be going to bed later and getting up earlier than they will,” he replied.
    Honey sighed. This wasn’t working out as she had planned at all. Somehow she had ended up with this part-savage stranger, this drifter, living under her roof. She wasn’t exactly frightened of him, but she was uneasy. After all, what did she really know about him?
    He seemed to sense her hesitation and said, “If you don’t feel comfortable with me in the house, of course I’ll sleep in the barn.”
    There it was, her chance to avoid coping with his presence in the house. She opened her mouth to say “Please do” and instead said, “That won’t be necessary. I’m sure this will work out fine.”
    At that moment the kitchen screen door slammed open and Jonathan came racing through. “Hi, Mom! Hi, Jesse! I’m missing cartoons!” He was through the kitchen and gone before Honey could even gasp a hello.
    A few moments later Jack appeared at the door. He didn’t greet his mother or the hired man, simply dropped his books on the kitchen table and headed straight for the cookie jar on the counter. He reached inside and found it empty. “Hey! I thought you were going to bake some cookies today.”
    â€œI didn’t have time,” Honey apologized.
    He opened a cupboard, looking for something else to eat.
    Honey saw Jesse’s jaw tighten, as though he wanted to say something but was biting his tongue. Perhaps Jack wasn’t as courteous as he could have been, but from what Honey hadgathered from the mothers of Jack’s friends, it was typical teenage behavior. She was used to it. Apparently Jesse wasn’t.
    Jack seemed oblivious to them as he hauled bread, peanut butter and jelly out onto the counter and made himself a sandwich.
    Honey watched Jesse’s expression harden. She wasn’t sure whether to be more vexed and annoyed by Jack’s conduct, or Jesse’s reaction to it.
    Jack picked up his sandwich, took a bite that encompassed nearly half of it, and headed out the kitchen door toward the den and the television.
    â€œDo you have any homework?” Honey asked.
    â€œJust studying for tests,” Jack said through a mouthful of peanut butter. “I’ll do it later.”
    Honey hadn’t realized Jesse could move so fast. Before Jack reached the kitchen door, the hired hand blocked his way.
    â€œJust a minute, son.”
    Jack stiffened. “You’re in my way.”
    â€œThat was the general idea.”
    Jack turned to his mother, clearly expecting her to resolve the situation.
    Honey wasn’t sure what Jesse intended, let alone whether she could thwart that intention. For her son’s sake, she had to try. “Jesse—”
    â€œThis is between me and Jack,” Jesse said.
    â€œI don’t have anything to say to you,” Jack retorted.
    â€œMaybe not. But I’ve got a few things to say to you.”
    Jack balled his fist, turning the sandwich into a squashed mess. “You’ve got no right—”
    â€œFirst off, a gentleman greets a lady