Chapter 10: The Fire Tower

"You are not going," Dad said.

It was the first order he had ever given me in a voice that meant it.

"Why not?"

"I can't tell you."

"Then I'm going."

"Jessa," Mom whispered, from behind her hands.

"Somebody tell me why a man I met twice wants me alone at his table, and I'll consider staying home."

Nobody said anything.

Dad looked at Rhett.

Rhett looked at the floor.

I walked out of my own kitchen, because it was that or scream.

I didn't stop until I was past the barn and into the trees.

I knew he was behind me.

I could feel exactly where he was.

The old fire tower stands on the ridge behind our land, forty feet of gray timber.

It has a locked cab at the top and a flat landing halfway up.

I climbed to the landing with my heart pounding.

He came up the stairs a minute later and stopped on the top step.

The whole valley lay below us under a half moon.

"They're hiding something from me," I said.

"Yes."

"You know what it is."

"No. I know he asked me to wait until the wedding."

His voice was rough.

"I'm done waiting, Jessa."

"Then stop."

"Tell me to leave."

I looked at him.

"I'll go," he said. "Say it."

"Rhett."

"Say it, and I'm gone."

I didn't say it.

I crossed the landing in three steps and kissed him, and this time he didn't hold back at all.

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