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She hadn't even made it to the door when he burst out
crying.
Perfect. Tess gave him a soothing smile. "Don't worry, honey, you'll be okay in a minute." With a last lingering look at him, she headed out of her room and strode into the kitchen. Savannah and Katie were waiting.
"Okay," Tess said, plucking the basket of supplies off
the
table. "Let's go."
Savannah's smile faded. "But Caleb's in the bedroom. ..."
Tess grinned. "Oh? Did I forget to mention that this was a 'girls only' expedition? We have serious business to attend to, and a baby would get in the way."
Katie and Savannah exchanged confused glances, then spoke at once. "But who's gonna watch him?"
Tess's lips twitched traitorously. "Your father."
They gasped.
Tess waved her hand in an airy gesture of impatience.
"Let's go."
"But he's cryin', and Daddy won't?"
"Trust me. Now, we'd best get moving. Mrs. Hannah is waiting." Tess breezed past the gape-mouthed girls and left the house. Furious whispering erupted in the kitchen and followed Tess down the steps.
She had just passed the chicken coop and was halfway to the barn when they made up their minds. "Wait, Mama!" Savannah yelled. Tess paused and turned around. "Well, hurry up. We
haven't got all day."
Grinning, the two girls bounded down the steps and ran
to catch up with her.
Jack was splitting fence rails behind the barn when they reached him. He paused in his work and pushed the tired old hat off his forehead, swiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his arm.
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"Hi, Jack." Tess carefully shielded the contents of the baby basket in her arms. "How are you?"
"Fine." He glanced at the girls, noticing their drab, much-washed work clothes. "Where are you girls going dressed like that?"
Savannah shrugged. "Mama's takin' us someplace special."
Katie nodded solemnly. "We got wimmen's work to do."
Jack smiled down at her. "Do you, now? Well that's mighty important. Have a good time."
"Jack," Tess said solemnly, "I left something in the house for you."
Katie let out a quick giggle and immediately smothered it with her pudgy hand.
