Free Ride the Rainbow Home by Susan Aylworth Page B

tottering trustingly into her arms just as Tommy had done. Meg almost sobbed as she drew the child to her.
    Joan was right behind him. "What's the matter, honey?"
    No one was more surprised than Meg when Tyler clung to her, holding on until his mother eased his fingers away and took him into her own arms. Joan's eyes were warm as she searched Meg's. "He trusts you," she said, picking up her child. Then her voice dropped meaningfully as she looked toward Jim. "He trusts you too." She carried Tyler toward the house, leaving the full impact of the message to ring in the air.
    The family gathered in the kitchen, preparing roast beef sandwiches and dishing up peach cobbler with fresh whipped cream. Jim offered to help Meg find things as they each made a sandwich, then Jim dished up two monstrous helpings of cobbler and handed one to Meg, who quietly put half of it back when Jim turned to fill their glasses. "We can eat on the porch swing," he offered. "Watch the sunset, maybe."
    "That sounds lovely." Meg followed him to the porch.
    When they were seated in the swing with their supper in their laps, Jim murmured, "So did my mother quiz you?"
    Meg swallowed. "No, she left that to your sister."
    Jim chuckled. "I was afraid they'd want to check you out. That's how a family is, I guess."
    "Joan remembered me."
    "I wondered if she would."
    "She said you still had a picture of you and me and Sally in the doctor sketch." Meg hoped Jim would pick up her hint. "She said it's on a corner table in your front room."
    "Yes. I like that one," Jim said, but he didn't offer more.
    They soon found themselves rocking slowly in the swing, dirty plates on the deck beside them. The sun touched the horizon and shot shafts of light across the sky, turning the distant clouds crimson. "Comfortable?" Jim asked.
    "Mmm," she answered, snuggling.
    "I was just thinking about the barn this morning," Jim said, then reached two fingers under Meg's chin to turn her face to his.
    "You were? And what were you thinking?"
    "I was thinking," Jim began, running his thumb over her bottom lip, allowing her to feel the roughness, "that if Chris hadn't come along just when he did—"
    Jim leaned forward. Meg waited breathlessly, starved for the kiss she'd anticipated for hours, maybe days. She saw Jim's eyelids drift closed as his face brushed near hers, then—
    "Two little lovebirds sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g!" Alice burst onto the porch, chanting, then giggled as Jim looked up, the mood broken once again. He looked at Meg and sighed.
    "I love your family, Jim," she said from between clenched teeth. "I do. Honest."
    Jim laughed aloud. "I might have known we'd find little enough privacy. Still, I'd hate to disappoint a child..." He let the sentence drift as he returned his thumb to Meg's mouth.
    "You don't mind that Alice is watching?"
    "Not if you don't."
    "I don't!" she said with vigor. "Jim, are you finally going to kiss me?"
    "Yes, I think I am." He leaned forward and placed a tender, chaste kiss on her mouth. It wasn't enough. Meg melted against him, pouring her all into her answering kiss.
    "Well, son." Kate McAllister stepped onto the porch just in time to catch the showy embrace. "I'm pleased to see you still know how to make a guest feel at home."
    Meg drew away, coloring again, but Jim held her close.
    "Never let it be said that I don't give a guest my very best," he replied calmly, running his fingers through Meg's hair. She felt like purring.
    Kate looked at Meg. "The family gathers here every Sunday after church, Meg—at least whoever's in town. You're welcome to join us any time, and if he doesn't invite you, remember I did."
    Meg could only mumble, "Thank you. I will."
    Jim stroked Meg's hair. "Come on," he said. "Let's go inside before they form a line."
    The party broke up soon afterward, with Joan and Bob the first to leave. As their car pulled away, Jim announced that he and Meg would be leaving too. They spoke little in the car on the way back to