Westward Moon by Linda Bridey Read Free Book Online Page B

with Marcus.  Her staying in the spare room was the only logical choice.  Nothing happened between us other than some kissing.”
                  Jack came to stand before Dean.  “What makes you think it’s any different with Sparrow and I?  Hell, Pa, we used to sneak out all the time and spend half the night together in the summers.  We’ve never been intimate with each other that way and we don’t plan to until we’re married.”
                  Dean said, “Jack, she’s been married for three years.  She’s used to—‘”
                  Jack pushed his father back against the carriage and said, “Be very careful with what you’re about to say, Pa.” The thought of anyone, including Dean, saying anything derogatory about Sparrow or her virtue got Jack’s dander up.
                  Dean was proud of Jack for defending Sparrow’s honor.  It spoke to his character as a man.  It shouldn’t have, but it made him smile.
                  Jack’s brows puckered.  “What are you smiling about?”
                  “You.  You reminded me of Seth when you said that,” Dean said.
                  Despite his best efforts not to, Jack smiled.  He let Dean go and laughed.  “Pa, not that it’s any of your business, but Sparrow didn’t want anything to do with Panther.  At all.  It was like doing a chore, like scrubbing a floor or beating the rugs.  Nothing more.  So she’s not going to attack me or anything.  We made a vow and we intend to keep it.”
                  Dean nodded.  “Jack, I don’t doubt it, but a lot of other people will.  You’re a deputy, a public servant, and you’re held to a different standard than other people.”
                  Jack’s smiled was sardonic.  “Yeah, and you’re a councilman.  You’re worried about your own reputation.  It wouldn’t look good for the son of a councilman to be living with his fiancée, would it?”
                  “I hadn’t really thought about that, but no, I guess it wouldn’t,” Dean said.
                  “Mitch and Sammi lived together for a few weeks before their wedding.  He’s the sheriff and no one said anything to him or demanded that he step down, did they?” Jack said.
                  “What about the tribe?  What are they going to think?” Dean asked.
                  “Aunt Hannah and Uncle Owl stayed together in camp and so did Uncle Marcus and Aunt Claire,” Jack said.  “I’ll bet you didn’t know that.  I don’t know what they did or didn’t do, but I don’t much care.  That’s their business not mine.”
                  Dean smiled and said, “Ok.  You talk to your mother about it then and see how far you get.”  He clapped Jack on the shoulder and went back to securing the harness on one of the horses.
                  Jack sighed and looked heavenward.  Tessa had been the one he’d always been more afraid of disappointing than his father.  He hated that Dean knew it and wasn’t afraid to use it against him.  Angrily he started working on his horse and began rehearsing what he was going to tell Tessa.
     
                  It was a good thing that Dean had insisted that Sasha came with them.  Another snow storm came through as they were on the return trip and the road became impassable at one point.
                  “Sasha, how attached are you to that carriage?” Dean asked.
                  “Why?” she asked.
                  Dean said, “Because we’re not going to get it through these drifts before we freeze out here.  We can unhitch the horses and lead them while you and Sparrow ride them.  That’s our best option right now.”
                  The wind drove the snow that had mixed with sleet in the last