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

when he comes into the room. Second, he doesn’t complain about the vittles. Third, he asks for what he needs from a lady’s kitchen, he doesn’t just take it. Fourth, he inquires whether chores need to be done before he heads for the bunkhouse. And finally, he doesn’t talk with his mouth full.”
    Jack swallowed. The soft bread felt like spiny tumbleweed as it grated over the constriction in his throat. This was the kind of dressing-down his father might have given him. The kind oftalking-to he hadn’t had for more than a year, since his father’s death. He resented it. Even though he knew deep down that the hired hand was right.
    Jack angled his face to his mom, to see what she was going to do about the drifter’s interference. He felt sick in the pit of his stomach when he saw how pale her face was. Jack turned from his mother and confronted the hired hand. He let the hostility he was feeling show in his eyes, but for his mother’s sake, struggled to keep it out of his voice. “Maybe I was wrong,” he conceded.
    Jesse continued to stare at the boy and was pleased when the gangly teenager turned to his mother and gritted out, “Hello, Mom. Thanks for the sandwich.”
    Jack looked down at the mess in his hand and grimaced.
    â€œYou can wash your hands in the sink,” Honey said.
    Jesse stepped aside to allow the boy to pass and in doing so, glanced at Honey. Her dark blue eyes were afire with emotion, but it wasn’tgratitude he saw there. Obviously he had stepped amiss. He clenched his teeth over the explanation for his actions that sprang to mind. She didn’t look as though she wanted to hear reason.
    Jesse and Honey stared at each other while Jack washed his hands. He turned from the sink, still drying his hands with a dish towel, and asked his mother, “Are there any chores that need to be done before supper?”
    Since Cale’s death, Honey had taken the responsibility for almost all the ranch chores her husband had done in the evening. When Jack offered, she realized there was work that still needed to be done in the barn that she would appreciate having Jack’s help completing. “You can feed the stock,” she said. “Also, I let General out into the corral. Would you bring him back inside the barn for the night?”
    â€œSure, Mom. Anything else?”
    â€œThat’s all I can think of now.”
    Without looking at Jesse again, Jack pushed his way out the screen door and let it slam behind him.
    The tension was palpable once the two adults were alone.
    Jesse started to apologize for interfering, then bit his tongue. He had been hard on the boy, but no more so than his father had been with him. A tree grew as the sapling began. Now was the time for Jack to learn courtesy and responsibility.
    â€œI don’t quite know what to say,” Honey began. “I don’t agree with your methods, but I can’t argue with the results. Maybe I’ve been too lax with Jack the past few months, but he took Cale’s death so hard, I…”
    Jesse heard the tremor in her voice and took a step toward her. As soon as he did, she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin.
    â€œIt hasn’t been easy for any of us,” she said in a firmer voice. “But we’ve managed to get along.”
    Jesse heard “without your help” even though she didn’t say the words. So be it. This was the last time he would get involved. If she wanted to let the boy walk all over her, that was her business. It was just fine with him.
    Like hell it was.
    â€œLook,” he said. “I can’t promise I won’t say anything more to the boy. We have to work together, after all. But I’ll try not to step on any toes in the future. How does that sound?”
    â€œLike the best compromise I’m going to get,” Honey replied with a rueful smile.
    â€œGuess I’ll go work on that