Author's Note: Wow, it has been a long time. I hadn't intended to wait so long to write this chapter, but it was a long and difficult section to write. Thanks to everyone who is still interested in this story. I will try to update the next chapters more quickly, so don't lose hope. I will finish this story! I have everything planned out already and there will be some interesting scenes in the chapters to come. Just hang in there and keep reviewing! I need to know that people still care about this story. Anyway, happy reading!

Chapter Twenty-eight: Bread

Jesse and Winnie arrived back at the house dripping wet, though neither of them really noticed. When they stepped into the front hall, Mae poked her head out of the kitchen.

"Oh, I was so worried about you both! Just wait right there and I'll fetch you some towels." Mae rushed off to the bedroom, the ties on her apron swinging wildly behind her. Jesse turned to Winnie and reached over to squeeze her hand.

"I'm sorry you got all wet," he whispered.

"It's okay. I'm used to it by now."

Jesse smiled gently, and Winnie did the same. However, the moment was cut short when she heard footsteps approaching. She looked up to see Tuck standing by the counter studying them closely. Embarrassed, Winnie let go of Jesse's hand. Tuck noticed the gesture, but didn't comment on it.

"Are you both alright?"

Jesse nodded. "Yes, sir."

Tuck started to speak, but was interrupted when Mae rushed past him with an armload of towels. "These are the last of them. I haven't had time to clean anymore after what happened yesterday, so you'll have to be careful until I can wash again." She glanced at Winnie's dress and shook her head. "Well, at least you have one more that you can wear, don't you?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Mae smiled sympathetically. "You poor thing. You get soaked to the bone every day you're here. Now, go back into the bedroom and change."

Winnie thanked her and took a towel, then made her way once again to the Tuck's bedroom. When she had finished changing into her last clean dress, she walked back into the kitchen, where Mae was taking out everything she would need to make the bread.

"Oh, good, I'm not too late."

"You're right on time," said Mae. "You want to fetch me that bowl over there? Yes, that's the one. It looks like we're ready."

Winnie heard footsteps on the stairs and looked up to see Jesse stepping down from the last one. His hair was still wet, but he had changed into a dry shirt and trousers. He gave the two women a smile as he approached the counter. "You about to start your lesson?"

Winnie gave him a coy smile. "Yes, you're just in time."

"In time? In time for what?" Jesse's confused expression gave way to one of realization. "Oh, no, I'm not. Men aren't good at cooking."

"We'll just have to change that then, won't we?" Winnie reached back to retrieve the last apron from the hook in the wall. She presented it to him with a bright smile.

Jesse blinked. "I am not wearing that."

Ten minutes later, the three of them had successfully created a fairly large lump of dough that Mae said would create two loaves of bread by the time they were finished. Jesse looked skeptical.

"It's not even big enough for one, Ma. Are you sure we don't need more flour?"

"No, honey, it's going to get bigger. That's why we knead it and let it sit. It's going to rise."

"We're going to need it? What does that mean?"

Mae sighed and smiled patiently at Winnie before turning back to her son. "Kneading means we have to work with it like this." Mae rolled the dough in her slightly wrinkled hands and pushed into it with all of her strength. "Now you try it."

Jesse approached the lump uncertainly and grabbed the dough with both hands. He worked with it as Mae had done, pushing it in and around as it squashed audibly between his fingers. Mae and Winnie shared a surprised glance as they watched him.

"You're doing so well, Jesse! I'm proud of you," said Mae approvingly. She reached over to squeeze his shoulders as the sound of footsteps echoed from the stairs. The three of them looked up to see Miles. He started to speak, but stopped short when he saw Jesse. He looked shocked at first, but was soon laughing. Jesse flushed bright red, but remained silent.

"What are you wearing, Jess? Is that one of mother's old dresses?"

"Miles Tuck!" Mae leaned forward to swat him, but missed by several inches. Miles glanced back at Jesse, who looked as though he would have loved to rip the apron off right there. Instead, he removed his hands from the lump of dough and wiped the flour on the pink and yellow fabric.

Mae sent Miles into her bedroom to help Tuck fix a broken window. Jesse continued to look embarrassed, but allowed himself to be coaxed back into his work. Mae proceeded to give them tips for kneading and informed them of how long they should allow the bread to rise in between. However, before she could finish her lecture, a soft thud was heard from the bedroom. It was followed by an exclamation from Tuck and indecipherable questions from Miles. Mae frowned and made her way back to the bedroom to investigate.

Jesse watched her go, but did not follow her, most likely because he did not want his father to see him wearing anything with a lace trim. He continued to knead the dough as Winnie watched. His strong, slender fingers moved in a rhythm, pushing and pulling. She remembered how his fingertips had brushed against her lips in the forest in the rain. She blushed slightly at the memory, then turned even redder when she wondered if he would kiss her again.

"What's wrong?"

Winnie started slightly at the sound of his voice, but shook her head. "Nothing. Why?"

"You look all flushed. Are you too warm?"

Winnie was amazed that she didn't turn scarlet at his observation. "No, I'm fine."

He nodded and looked back at the lump. His hands stopped moving in the dough, and he wiped them on the apron. "Winnie, I've been thinking…"

Before Jesse could finish his thought, Mae and Tuck came bounding into the living room, with Mae holding Tuck's left hand in her smaller one with his palm up. "Now, stop fussing and let me bandage it up for you."

"It's not bad, Mae. It's only a small cut."

"I don't want it to get any worse, Angus."

"Mae…" Tuck's voice trailed off as his wife let go of his hand to get her box of medicine. He sighed and turned to see Jesse and Winnie standing close together on the other side of the counter. Winnie thought she saw a shadow of disapproval in his dark blue eyes, but he glanced down at Jesse's apron before she could be sure. "Having fun?"

Jesse blushed, but nodded. "Ma's just teaching me how to bake."

Tuck nodded as Mae came back into the kitchen with a bottle of salve and some cotton wrappings. A few minutes later, Tuck's thumb was wrapped up in a thick layer of pale guaze. He eyed the treatment uncertainly, but a stern look from Mae kept him silent on the matter.

Winnie turned to speak to Jesse and found that he had already removed the apron. "What are you doing?"

"I think Miles is going to need some help with that window. Besides, I think you and Ma are better at this than I am." He gave her a small smile and disappeared into the bedroom.

"You may as well take a rest too, Winnie," said Mae as she wiped a drop of salve from the counter. The bread needs to take a break for a while so it can rise."

Mae exited the kitchen to put her medical supplies away, leaving Winnie and Tuck alone in the kitchen. Winnie untied her apron and hung it on the wall beside the one Jesse had been wearing. She turned to find Tuck watching her carefully. "Well, since both of us appear to have nothing better to do, would you like to take a walk?"

Winnie hesitated, then nodded quickly so as not to offend him. They stepped out onto the porch and walked down the rickety wooden steps. Tuck led them to the edge of the water, then began walking along its banks. Winnie followed apprehensively, still remembering her experience the day before. Her eyes darted over the surface of the lake, which had seemed so beautiful when she and Jesse had been talking on the dock. Now all she could see was the brown murkiness that was so deep she couldn't see the bottom. She could still feel the way her feet kicked below her, struggling to find the soft, muddy bottom of the lake when all she felt was water. A shiver passed through her body at the thought and she forced herself to look away. Tuck, however, noticed the movement and gave her a worried glance. "Are you cold, Winnie? I could get you a blanket or a coat from inside."

"No, thank you. I'm fine."

Tuck paused and nodded. "Are you still thinking of your experience yesterday in the lake?"

Winnie was somewhat startled by his intuition, but she did not show it on her face. "A little bit."

"Well, that's understandable. I'm sure it was very frightening for you."

"Yes."

"I know that Miles and Jesse were very concerned for you. It gave them quite a scare as well."

"I know."

"I know they wouldn't want to lose you so soon after you found us again."

Winnie halted, but Tuck took a few more steps before turning back to look at her. She studied him seriously for a moment, but for once he did not study her. Winnie realized that he knew everything that he needed to know.

"You haven't taken the water yet, have you, Winnie?" Angus Tuck's eyes were tender now and held none of the hardness she had seen in the days before. Her defenses crushed, she could do nothing but shake her head. He waited a few more seconds, then spoke again. "But you are going to, aren't you? You've made up your mind."

Winnie nodded mutely, then changed her mind and shook her head. "I don't know what I am going to do."

"I know you have a difficult decision to make, Winnie, and I know that each choice has its negative effects. But you can only truly understand the effects of one of them. I've discussed this with you before, many years ago now, but I will say it again. Living for fifty years without the people you love is hard, but living forever either way is even worse. It is hard to see that now, but I assure you that it is true. People are meant to die, Winnie. It is nature's way."

Winnie forced away the tears that stung the back of her eyes. "I understand what you are saying, but there is so much involved. I can't just…" Her voice trailed off as the lump in her throat grew larger.

Tuck's voice was low when he spoke. "You can't leave Jesse?"

Winnie managed to nod as the dam broke and tears flooded her eyes. She brushed them away with her hands.

"I know that you feel strongly for Jesse and I am certain that he feels the same about you, Winnie. However, I don't want to see either of you getting hurt. You aren't just responsible for your own life anymore; you're responsible for his, too."

Tuck's words struck Winnie in the heart and settled heavily into its chambers. She wiped away the last bit of moisture from her eyes and swallowed. "I would never hurt him," she whispered.

Tuck smiled, but it didn't touch his eyes. "I know you wouldn't." He looked down at the pocket watch chained to his belt. "I reckon Miles and Jesse are probably wondering where I wandered off to. Are you ready to go back inside?"

Winnie nodded and followed him back to the house. However, she knew that she wasn't ready for anything that was to come.