Nervously, Evie ordered them to mind their manners, and aware of the stranger in their midst who might disapprove and go away again, the children went stiff and silent, passing the bowls as they had been taught.
Evie thought she might break like brittle glass. She forgot to take a piece of chicken as it went around, and only rolled the peas around on her plate. She watched the stranger furtively as he ascertained each child's name and made an awkward comment or two to get them talking. They responded with wariness, causing Evie's tension to shoot up another notch.
She had been cooler-headed in a saloon filled with gamblers and when she had been abducted than she was in this perfectly normal setting with a man who might be her father. Evie closed her eyes and shut out that thought. She was a Howell. Just because her middle name was Peyton she shouldn't get her hopes up. Her mother may have been a Peyton. There was nothing to prove her speculations right or wrong.
But she wanted to know. All her soul screamed to know. She couldn't eat for wanting. And at the same time, she was afraid to find out.
When Jose dumped his glass of milk and it flooded across the table to Mr. Peyton's lap, Evie calmly cleaned up the chaos, soothed Jose's terror, offered the use of her bedroom so Mr. Peyton could change into dry trousers, and when all was calm again, she walked out the front door and didn't look back.
Chapter 33
Sending an apologetic look to Peyton, who had watched Evie's exit with perplexity, Tyler stood up, made his excuses, and went after her.
She was wandering aimlessly down the street, looking bewildered and sad. When Tyler caught up with her, she donned a bright smile and gestured to a bolt of cloth in the mercantile window.
"That would look nice on Maria and Carmen. Do you think they would wear matching dresses?"
Tyler grasped her shoulders and forced her to face him. "I'm not Peyton or Hale or any of those other men you've fooled with that face, Evie. I know what's worrying you, but worrying about it isn't going to make it go away. Now let's get back to the house before the kids' uncle thinks you're crazed and unfit to take care of them."
Evie searched Tyler's face. He had known enough pain of his own to recognize hers. The determined set of his jaw reassured her somehow. Tyler turned a smiling, easygoing face to the world, but he wore the same kind of mask she did. Only what was behind his mask had been shattered long ago, while she was still relatively whole. She thought maybe she was beginning to understand him just a little bit. He needed something to replace what had been lost, but he was afraid of it, afraid of suffering the pain again.
Her smile faltered, but she offered a brave face. "Kiss me, Tyler."
They were standing there in the eyes of the whole world, but Tyler didn't hesitate. Gently, he cupped her face with both hands and touched his lips to hers until they both moved closer together. Nothing could tell him that they had something special more than that small movement, that natural gravitation. It was a little frightening, but Tyler dropped his hands to Evie's waist and pulled her into his embrace for a brief moment before releasing her.
"Hold your chin up and let's beard the devil. What would Jane Eyre do if she were you?"
Evie didn't want to pretend that Mr. Peyton was Mr. Rochester, but she knew what Jane Eyre would do. Picking up the skirt, she sailed back down the street to confront the man directly.
Carmen was cleaning up the table and Daniel was embarrassedly entertaining their guest when Tyler and Evie returned. The boys were fidgeting, not wanting to miss anything, but reluctant to hang around the house on a Sunday afternoon. Evie sent them to change clothes and go play, put Maria in for a nap, and helped Carmen finish cleaning up. Carmen was old enough to know what was about happen.
When the children were out of the way, Evie set cups of coffee around the table, invited Daniel and Carmen to join them, and sat down beside Tyler to face the man who could take the children.
"We sent several telegrams, Mr. Peyton, but never received a reply. We had just about given up hope." Evie had learned to take the initiative a long time ago.