“Have you discovered something?” Sweat trickled beneath Grant’s collar. He shifted his weight, trying to tame the panic beast clawing for release.
Right this second, he was glad Jessica had given them privacy. He tried to decipher the sheriff’s expression as he removed his Stetson and ambled over, using a nearby stall to prop up his weight.
“I haven’t heard from anyone yet. Should get a response from the nearest offices this week.” His hard gaze swept the barn’s interior before pinning Grant to the spot. “I stopped by to check on things here.”
In other words, he wanted to ensure Grant was toeing the line. Treating the O’Malleys with respect. Some of the tension left him.
“Everything’s fine. I’m helping out where I can.”
Shane’s gaze narrowed. “You and Jessica were having an intense conversation.”
While the lawman had every right to dig up Grant’s past, what happened in the here and now was off-limits. “Maybe.”
“What about?”
“That’s between the lady and me.” He retrieved his cane.
Pushing off the stall, Shane followed. “That girl has been through enough without you compounding the problem. If you hurt her, you’ll regret it.”
Grant ground his teeth. “You’re threatening me?”
“I’m speaking not as a lawman, but as her friend.”
“Rest assured, Sheriff. I wouldn’t intentionally hurt Jessica. I’d like to be her friend.”
He scoffed. “You really think that’s wise, considering?”
Anger at the other man and the situation pounded at his temples.
Will’s lanky form blocked the entrance. He must’ve just arrived. “Hey, Sheriff. Grant. Miss Alice wants to see you both inside.”
When he’d gone, Shane speared him with a hooded gaze. “Think about what I said.” Then he spun and stalked out.
Grant lagged behind, his mind full for someone who couldn’t recall 99 percent of his life.
* * *
He was finishing up the milking the following morning when Jessica entered the barn. Lowering the slat on the stall door, he looked up in surprise. He’d left her in the kitchen making gravy. “Was I taking too long?”
“Oh.” She fingered the gold chain around her neck. “I didn’t expect to see you.”
Carrying the brimming pail, he headed her direction. “What do you mean? I told you I’d be out here.” His words trailed off as he tracked the downward motion of her hand, which landed on her very swollen stomach. “Uh...”
Confusion scrambled his thoughts. It was rude to stare, but he couldn’t take his eyes off her changed form. “Is this some kind of joke?”
She could’ve put a pillow beneath her dress, he supposed, not convinced. That didn’t look like a pillow.
Her eyes twinkled. A tinkling laugh escaped. “I see Jessica didn’t tell you she has an identical twin sister.”
“Twin?” He almost dropped the milk. This woman looked exactly like Jessica. A mirror image. If it weren’t for her obvious pregnancy, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to tell them apart.
She extended her hand. “I’m Jane. You must be Mr. Parker.”
He mutely shook it.
Her smile was kind. “I apologize for giving you a shock.”
“It is a bit much to absorb before I’ve had my breakfast,” he said ruefully. He belatedly noticed the wedding band on her finger. Her hair was pulled off her neck in a complicated twist, a more formal style than Jessica favored.
He followed Jane outside. For someone close to having a baby, she moved with easy grace. How strange it would be to have a copy of himself in the world. He’d heard the bond between twins was a unique one. If they were as close as he imagined, no wonder Jessica had taken Jane’s injury to heart.
Entering the cabin, Jane announced her presence. Grant came in behind her and stood off to the side. Alice emerged from the kitchen first, wiping her hands on her apron before hugging her daughter. When Jessica entered the living room and he watched them embrace, he couldn’t help but be fascinated.
They broke apart, and Jane chided Jessica for keeping him in the dark. “I frightened the poor man.”
Jessica took one look at his face and burst out laughing.
“You think it’s funny, do you?” he said with mock injury. “For a minute there, I suspected you’d slipped laudanum in my water.”
“You look like you’ve never seen a pregnant woman before.” Her brilliant smile did funny things to his heart.
He arched a brow. “Or twins.”
Alice shook her head. “I suppose we did leave out that important tidbit.”
“Are there any other surprises I should know about? More sets of twins? Triplets?”
“No more surprises.”
Jessica linked arms with her sister and nudged her toward the kitchen. “What brings you by so early?”
“I wanted to ask if you’re going chestnut picking this weekend. I really want to go, but Tom thinks it’s too close to my delivery. He’s being very cautious.”
“He’s right to be.” Alice lowered a stack of dishes from the wall shelf. “This is your first child. Neither of you know what to expect.”
He hefted the pail onto the counter, uncomfortable with where the conversation was headed.
“In all the recent excitement, I forgot about the trip.” Jessica’s gaze touched on his for a brief moment. “What do you think, Ma? Should we stay home this year?”
“We have more canning to get done.” Alice wore a doubtful expression. “But the chestnuts bring in decent revenue.”
Leaning against the counter, Grant folded his arms and regarded the trio. “What’s this about?”
“Every year around this time, families in our community go camping in the higher elevations. That’s where the chestnut trees grow,” Jane explained. “We spend a couple of days gathering chestnuts to sell in Maryville. They are shipped to big cities like New York and Boston, where street vendors sell them freshly roasted.”
“We keep some for ourselves, as well,” Jessica said. “The nuts make a fine stuffing for our holiday turkey.”
Alice paused in laying out the silverware. “Jessica, why don’t you go? Take Grant along with you. I’ll stay and get the canning done.”
Jessica’s jaw went slack. “Grant and me? Alone? Ma, you know that’s not possible.”
“You’ll hardly be alone. Your cousins and their wives will be there.”
Rubbing slow circles on her stomach, Jane regarded him with unmistakable pensiveness. Jessica waved a hand of dismissal. “He’s not fully recuperated from his injuries.”
“How long is the trip?” he asked.
“About four hours.”
“You travel by wagon?”
“Yes, but it’s rough terrain. If an axle broke or a wheel needed to be repaired, you wouldn’t be able to do it without risking reopening your wound.”
“Could we take Will along?” he said.
“I suppose.”
“The trail will be used by other families,” Alice pointed out. “There will be people around to lend assistance if you run into trouble.”
Jane sank into one of the chairs and snagged a biscuit from the platter in the middle. “Why are you interested in going, Mr. Parker?”
“Please, call me Grant.”
Jessica set a mug of coffee at his usual setting. Murmuring his thanks, he took his seat. “I figure the more people I’m around, the better chance someone might recognize me. Will there be people from other communities?”
“Some.” Jane split open her biscuit, slathered butter on each side and drizzled it with honey.
Carrying a bowl of boiled eggs, Jessica took her spot beside him. “I understand your reasoning, Grant, but I think it’s risky. What if someone does recognize you and that person is the one who attacked you?”
Her question indicated she cared about his safety and that she believed in his innocence. “I’ll be prepared. I’ll take the gun you loaned me.”
She smoothed a napkin over her lap. “I don’t know.”
“Jessica, I have to try to find answers, no matter the outcome.”
Jane’s assessing gaze bounced between them. He supposed that after the fire and the events leading up to it—not all of which he was privy to—she would naturally be protective of her twin.
Alice urged them to start filling their plates. “I agree with Grant. Besides, there will be plenty of folks around. Caleb will be on alert for danger.”
The twins exchanged a look that Grant couldn’t quite interpret.
Under the table, he nudged Jessica’s shoe. “I have you to protect me, don’t I?”
“You’re a better shot than me,” she retorted, mashing up her egg with more force than necessary.
“Then what’s there to worry about?”
She sagged against the chair back. “You’re as stubborn as a mule, you know that?”
Alice’s bubble of laughter rose to the ceiling.
Jessica’s chin jutted. “What?”
Jane lifted her napkin to hide a smile.
Grant shrugged. “Apparently I’m not the only one in this room who could be compared to an animal.”
She rolled her eyes. “Fine. Have it your way. Let’s go camping.”
The excitement her words evoked had everything to do with being in a new environment and possibly finding clues to his identity, he reassured himself. It had nothing to do with spending time with the beautiful redhead.