Page 20 of Montana Lawman Rescuer
“Would you mind if I heated enough water to give him a little bath?”
The door opened and closed, and Jesse entered in time to hear her request. “You will do no such thing. Sit down and amuse the little guy while I take care of the water.”
She opened her mouth to protest and then sat. Fatigue had set in. “I take it the town was quiet.”
“Quiet as church. Good thing, too. Or you would be trying to deal with kettles of hot water.”
Gram snorted. “Do you really think I would have allowed that?”
Jesse seemed to remember his grandmother was in the room and chuckled. “I don’t suppose you would, but now I’m here, and I’ll take care of it.” He gave Emily a stern look. “All of it.”
She didn’t know what he meant, but she was too weary to care.
“I’d like to spend a bit more time in my sewing room, so I’ll leave you two to manage.” Gram left the kitchen and soon could be heard singing softly in the other room.
Jesse put water on to heat, then went outside and returned with a square washtub. He soon had several inches of warm water in it.
Emily lifted Mikey to her lap, kissed the top of his head, and removed his dirty clothes.
With a giggle, he escaped her arms and ran across the room.
Emily was about to chase him when Jesse crossed the room in long strides and scooped the little boy into his arms.
“You little rascal. You come back here.” He tickled Mikey.
Jolly, belly-rolling chuckles indicated the boy’s enjoyment.
Emily laughed, too. “He has the best laugh.”
Jesse grinned at her. “Just hearing it makes the world a better place.” He headed for the tub, and Emily hurried to join him.
She fully intended to take care of washing Mikey, but Jesse knelt by the tub, too. Their arms brushed.
He looked at her, something warm and sweet in his eyes.
She jerked her gaze to the little boy. She understood what was going on. Lost, without memory, she clung to the man who’d saved her. He made her feel safe. But it meant nothing.
Jesse grabbed the bar of soap while Emily sorted out her thoughts. He lathered up the boy and rinsed him off. All the while, Mikey chattered away and splashed.
Emily wiped water from her face and stole a look at Jesse. Liquid dripped from his chin. The front of his shirt was dark with water. He turned his head to wipe his face on his shoulder and looked straight into her eyes. He grinned. “Happy child. Wet adults. Is this the usual mix?”
“I think so.” She held his gaze and caught her breath. Her answer had come swiftly and surely as if she was speaking from experience. But no memory came. “I’ll wash his hair.” She bent Mikey backward and scrubbed the dirt from his head.
“You certainly know how to handle him.”
She lifted him from the tub and wrapped a towel around him. “I suppose it indicates something. I just wish I knew what.” She stared at the tub of water and remembered laughter and joy. She’d bathed a child in a tub like this.
She sat back on her heels. “I remember bathing children.” Her eyes refused to blink as she looked at Jesse. Was it possible Mikey was hers? A sob caught in her throat. How could she forget her own flesh and blood? Not to mention a husband. She looked at her ring finger. Bare. She rubbed it. Could not remember ever wearing a ring. Perhaps she’d never married. That made Mikey...
Pain tore through her insides. Who was she? And why was Mikey being adopted by someone else if she was his mother?
Jesse caught her around her shoulders. She leaned into his damp shirtfront.
“You’re tired and overthinking all this. I think a good night’s sleep might be what you need.”
Mikey patted her cheeks. “Mem, mem, mem.”
She realized they were nose to nose, both leaning on Jesse’s chest. At some point, he had taken Mikey from her, and she hadn’t even noticed. The realization made the dark hole inside her expand, and she shuddered.
