Author's Note: Maybe it's just me, but it seems like no one is reading this anymore. I think the length is keeping people away. Anyway, don't leave me all alone! Keep reading and reviewing, okay? My classes are still keeping me incredibly busy this week, so I am lucky to be posting this at all. So, enjoy this because it may be a couple of days before the next one is posted. Oh, and yes, Erin Faith, I do have the entire story locked up inside of my head. I already know the destiny (or is it fate?) of Winnie, Jesse, and the others, so stay tuned…

Chapter Twenty-six: Lie

Tuck was angry.

Jesse and Winnie were walking up the steps to the porch when Tuck burst through the front door. His face was flushed and his eyes were narrowed. He looked at Winnie, who was still shaking visibly, though Jesse had given her his shirt to dry her off. His eyes softened a little when he saw her like that, but hardened again when he moved his gaze over to his son. "What happened?"

"It was my fault, sir." Jesse cleared his throat and stepped forward. "I was going to teach her to swim, but didn't watch her the right way."

"That's not true," Winnie protested, coming up beside him. "I panicked and started to go under. It wasn't his fault."

Tuck remained quiet as his eyes drifted over the two of them, who were still dripping lake water from their clothing. "Well, don't just stand there. Come inside and dry off." He turned and went back inside, holding the door open for Winnie and Jesse.

Mae rushed in from the bedroom with a stack of worn towels. "Oh, thank God you're alright, Winnie," she said, embracing the younger girl in a fierce hug, despite her wet clothes. When she released her, a huge wet spot was left on the front of her dress. She handed Jesse and Winnie the towels. "Now go get changed. Jesse, your shirts are on the bed upstairs, and, Winnie, I have your other dress laid out on the bed in here." She motioned to the bedroom as Jesse went up to the loft.

Dinner that night was quieter than usual, if that was possible. Everyone focused on their plates and the food, not because they cared about what they were eating, but because they didn't want to have to look at one another. Winnie was especially embarrassed about the day's events. It seemed that dinner in the Tuck household had become a very uncomfortable affair since she had arrived, and she knew that she was entirely responsible.

Miles was the first to excuse himself from the table. "I think I'm going to go to bed now."

"But it's only 7:00," said Mae.

"I know, but it's been a busy day." Miles stood from the table and pushed in his chair. His eyes locked onto Winnie's and she saw guilt residing in their depths. She smiled at him softly in reassurance and thought she saw him give a small nod. "Good night, everyone."

Mae and Winnie washed the dishes as Tuck went outside to smoke his pipe and Jesse went up to his room. Mae chattered on about the rocking chair the men had completed earlier, describing the wood, the cuts, the finish, and the future sale. Winnie listened politely, though she knew that Mae was only talking about the chair so she wouldn't have to ask what everyone else was already thinking.

Tuck came back in a few minutes later and announced that he was going to bed, too. Mae nodded and continued scrubbing a pot covered in soap. Winnie looked up to say good night, but realized that he was already studying her curiously. "How are you feeling?" His voice was much kinder than it had been earlier.

"I'm fine."

"Good." Tuck nodded and turned back towards the bedroom. "Very good."

Winnie watched his retreating form until he closed the door behind him, then turned her attention back to the cup she was holding.

"He isn't angry with you."

Winnie glanced up at Mae, surprised to hear her speaking so seriously about the situation that no one seemed to want to discuss. "He seems like he is," she whispered.

"No, he's just worried." Mae handed her the pot she had finished washing and picked up a plate. "He gets like that sometimes. I don't know why."

Winnie watched her own hands as she made slow circles over the metal surface with a hand towel. "Am I causing too much trouble here?"

Mae's head snapped up and she looked at the younger girl, surprised. "Why would you think that?"

"I don't know. I just seem to be creating a lot of problems. I mean, telling Jeremiah your last name and now almost drowning…I just don't want to make things difficult for you all."

Mae put down the plate she was holding and grasped onto Winnie arm, nearly causing her to drop the pot. "Don't you ever think that, honey," she said, her eyes dark and bright with feeling. "We're all so glad you're here, even Tuck."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. Now, I think this is the last of it," Mae said, handing Winnie the plate. She wiped her hands on her apron as Winnie dried off the dish and placed it in a pile on the counter.

"Where do these go?"

"Oh, just leave them there. We'll let the menfolk put them up tomorrow," she said, laughing. Winnie smiled and removed her own apron.

"I'll do it for you."

Winnie glanced up to see Jesse standing by the stairs. He motioned towards the stack of plates and walked around the counter until he stood beside her. Mae sighed and untied her apron. "Well, it's settled, then. I get to go to bed." She gave Jesse and Winnie kisses on the cheek as she walked by. "Good night, you two."

"Good night," they echoed, watching her as she followed Tuck's path into the bedroom, closing the door with a click. Suddenly nervous to be with Jesse alone, Winnie stared at the stack of plates.

"Where do these go?"

"In the cabinet up there, but I'll put them away." Jesse took the stack in one arm and used the other to open the glass door of the cabinet above the stove. When he came back for the pot, he stopped and looked at Winnie. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

He paused, then held up the pot and looked inside of it as though it would tell him how to proceed. "Did you drink the water?"

Winnie knew that he would ask her that sooner or later, and she knew that the entire family was wondering the same thing. However, she had never come up with an answer to the question should it ever come up, probably because she had not come up with an answer for her own question. She tried stalling. "What water?"

Jesse peered at her as though he didn't quite understand what she meant. "Well, the water. You know, from the spring back in Treegap."

Winnie looked down at the floor and licked her lips. She didn't know how to answer him. She obviously hadn't taken the water yet, but she was going to soon, right after she convinced herself that it was the right thing to do. After the episode earlier that day, she was almost ready. Almost, but not entirely. But how could she say that to Jesse? He would be hurt if she said no and would probably wonder why she had even come to them in the first place. That's a good question anyway, she thought wearily.

"You don't have to answer me if you don't want to. I mean, I kind of guessed you hadn't anyway after this afternoon…" Jesse trailed off, but his eyes were still focused on her, asking her to confirm or deny his assumption.

"I have," Winnie said boldly, surprised at her own words. "I did drink the water. Before I left home."

"Really?" Jesse's face showed surprise as well, but it was a more pleasant version. "I just thought since…"

"Yeah, well, I just panicked," said Winnie with a fake chuckle. "It's hard getting used to this."

"Yes, I know," said Jesse, looking at the pot again. He turned away and placed it in the cabinet beside the one for the dishes. When looked back, Winnie was watching him with an expectant look on her face.

"So, you seem surprised."

"Do I?" Jesse wiped his hands on his dry trousers. "I guess I am. Part of me thought I would never see you again, so it came as a surprise that you were even here in the first place. I just didn't know what to expect."

"And now?"

Jesse looked at her calmly. He swallowed and parted his lips slightly, then closed them again. "I still don't know."

Winnie nodded. "I don't either."

Jesse and Winnie looked at one another for a long moment. The house was silent, save the sound of Tuck's snoring that filtered in front the bedroom. Winnie smiled at the sound and Jesse followed, chuckling softly.

"I don't have to work tomorrow, so maybe we could spend some time together. I could even take you to the forest and show you my favorite spots."

"I would like that."

"Great. I'll see you tomorrow then." Jesse walked around the kitchen counter and towards the stairs. "Good night, Winnie."

"Good night," she whispered to the sound of his creaking footsteps. She walked into the living room and stood near the staircase, listening for sounds from above. Jesse's feet padded against the wooden floor, echoing down to her waiting ears. She heard him rustling with the blankets for a moment, before settling into bed, causing the bed frame to creak. After some more rustling of the bed sheets, the loft ascended into silence.

Winnie tiptoed over to the couch and pulled back the sheets. She lay on the worn cushions and brought the quilt up around her shoulders. Though she was tired, she could not close her eyes, and though she wanted to sleep, she could not get comfortable. All that she could think about was how she had lied to Jesse Tuck.