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In the distance, the school bell pealed Its h the on, her hands curled in a tight, nervous ball in her lap

At the schoolhouse, Jih the crowded yard to a spot alongside the rickety fence

Tess sed hard, steeling herself for the ordeal that lay ahead Everything depended on her Jack's life, their future, the children's future Everything

Today?now?she had to be what she'd never been in her life She had to force her chin up, s and pleasant and persuasive

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Her self-confidence slipped She wasn't sure she could do it All her life she'd been quiet and isolated and alone A wallflower

Don't think about that It was the past She was no longer the Tess Gregory who round Now she was Lissa Rafferty Jack's wife And she had no choice but to succeed Jack's life depended on it

"Lissa?" Ji for you"

Tess forced her chin up and tried to s across the splintery plank seat, she took his hand and got down When her feet hit the solid ground, her knees almost buckled

Jiht?"

She nodded stiffly "Fine Let's go" Together they wove their way through the wagons and horses that cluttered the grassy yard With every step, Tess felt her stohten

They cli of the boards, the hushed conversations in the schoolhouse died away A silence fell across the saze at Tess

She stood in the door, feeling as conspicuous and out of place as a weed in a rose garden "H-Hello" She winced at the breathy, hesitant sound of her voice and cleared her throat Nodding a silent thanks to Ji matter-of-factly on the wooden floor

At the front of the room, she turned and faced the ain "I'm Lissa Rafferty I know most of you don't knoell, and have no reason to trust me, but I've come to ask for your help"

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