Free Always Remember by Sheila Seabrook Page A

of what you’ll be doing for some needy family, dear. Sunday In The Park is a tradition that’s almost as old as the town. You’d be willing to stick around for it, even if your sweet mama was gone, wouldn’t you, Jessie?”
    Nate stared at Mattie. Where did she get the gall? She didn’t even like Maude, probably wouldn’t show up for the funeral unless Josh physically dragged her there.
    “I don’t know.” Jessie gave a little shrug. “Maybe you should ask Nate first.”
    Nate reluctantly raised his gaze to her face. He could spend hours looking into her eyes. But singing side by side — did she have any idea what that would do to him?
    She looked away, but not before he’d seen the sparkle of moisture in her eyes. He had proof that she was capable of going against everything humane and decent. So why did he still feel something for her?
    “We’ll discuss it,” he finally said.
    “Remember we’re setting up the stage tonight, Nate. Why don’t you bring Jessie along and give us your decision then.” Mattie turned back to Jessie. “Right now, though, I really, really want your autograph.”
    Nate moved away from the crowd — from her — and headed toward the barn. At the edge of the red building, he turned back. Despite the people surrounding her, clamoring for her attention, she looked all alone.

    After supper, Nate slammed his hat on his head, grabbed the keys off the kitchen counter, and headed for the garage. What he really wanted to do was disappear until Jessie returned to her life and his returned to normal. Instead, because of Mattie’s interference, he’d been coerced into spending the entire evening with his unwanted guest.
    When had he lost control? The day Jessie walked out of his life forever or the day she walked back in?
    Gravel scattered beneath the wheels of the truck as he backed the vehicle down the driveway and stopped in front of Sam’s house. Jessie didn’t move from where she sat on the porch swing. She didn’t jump to her feet, laughing and calling his name, and run down the steps to join him in the truck like she used to.
    The memory of quiet evenings sitting next to her caught him by surprise and finally he understood why he’d fought her return to the ranch. He’d failed to banish the emotions he’d struggled so hard to deny. He’d allowed his heart to be held prisoner by the one woman he couldn’t ever forgive or trust again.
    The edges of her mouth drooped. “Did you come to pack me off to the airport? Or are you going to sit there and glare at me all night?”
    “Mattie’s waiting.”
    His two word reply garnered a shrug, the movement nearly lost in the old jacket she’d draped around her shoulders. “Then you better get going, don’t you think?”
    No way. After seeing her expression this afternoon, he wasn’t giving her an out. She needed to get away from the ranch, touch base with something normal in her life, as desperately as he needed to stay away from her. “You’re not going to play the prima donna star with me, sweetheart. Tonight you’re going to make nice with the neighbors.”
    She surged to her feet, her body stiff as she absorbed his words and the insult in his tone. “What?”
    “You heard me, Jess. I’m not spending the evening fielding everyone’s questions. Because by now, Mattie has told the entire community that you’re going to join us.” He yanked off his hat, tossed it onto the seat, and swallowed back the churning in his gut. He needed to stay away from her. So what the hell was he doing? “And I’m not going to make excuses for you either.”
    “Excuses?”
    “Yeah. You’re the one who couldn’t say no to Mattie.”
    She scowled, just like Sara always did whenever he was right and she didn’t want to admit it. “Well, who could?”
    “Exactly.” In the shadows of the setting sun, he studied her expression, saw her bottom lip tremble. Nate felt his heart stall in his chest. His voice deepened as he checked the