Page 10 of Smoky Mountain Dreams

“Because you want her to have it.” Jesse studied him a bitlonger and added, “Because you feel like you owe her for something, and you’llnever be able to repay her, and you want her to know that you’re grateful, andthat you love her.” Jesse tapped his pen lightly on the paper. “I make a lot ofjewelry for a lot of people, and they all have their reasons. A lot of them arethe same reasons.”

“So you have a lot of customers like me?”

“Not really. But I do have a lot of clients who want to givethe jewelry more than the other person wants to get it. It’s an interestingthing.” Jesse bit his lower lip and for the first time looked uncomfortable. “Butback to your grandmother…”

Part of Christopher wanted to challenge Jesse’s change oftopic and make him explain what was so interesting about it, but then a tinycrinkle appeared between Jesse’s eyes and Christopher let him move on.

“Okay, so,” Jesse said. “Do you know if she likes any gemsin particular? Or has any favorite jewelry of her own?”

“No…well, yes. She wears a ring my grandfather brought backfrom Germany after the war. And that’s about it.”

“Tell me about it.”

“It’s gold. It has tiny oak leaves that’ve been pinned onone by one. They hold two baby deer teeth in place. A lot of people think they’reshiny moonstones or something if you don’t know, but nope, they’re deer teeth.”

“Deer teeth,” Jesse murmured, making notes.

“My grandfather left a gold band with a German jeweler andsaid he’d be passing back through in a few months if he survived, and could theguy please make something beautiful for his girl back home.”

Jesse looked up, focusing intently on Christopher.

“And when he went back, the guy had made him this ring. Ithad deer teeth in it.”

“For luck,” Jesse said. “It’s calledJagdschmuck.Hunting jewelry. It’s an old German legend that setting the teeth—or tusk,bone, or hair—of an animal a hunter had killed into a piece of jewelry wouldbring him luck on his next hunt. Interesting symbolism given the war and yourgrandfather being a soldier.”

“You think he was passing on his hunting luck to mygrandfather?”

Jesse shrugged. “Maybe. Or maybe he just thought yourgrandfather wouldn’t come back, and he’d made the ring for himself.”

“It’s a decidedly feminine piece,” Christopher said,thinking back to the unique ring he’d always seen on his grandmother’s hand.

“Then maybe he was wishing your grandmother luck on snaringher wild beast of a soldier upon his return.”

Christopher chuckled, his heart tripping a little at the wayJesse’s thick lashes lay against his cheeks as he smiled down at his notes. “Isuppose we’ll never know.”

“Each piece has a secret story. But the piece will nevertell,” Jesse said, his head down still as he wrote. “I think I have an idea forthe front, but I need some time with it. Can we meet again on…” He consulted acalendar on his desk. “Wednesday? I’ll have a sketch for you.”

“I could only meet in the evening,” Christopher said. “I’mscheduled for performances all day.”

“That’s fine. How about six o’clock?”

“Okay, but sometimes I have to take on last-minute shows atnight. It depends on…things.”

“Let me guess, it depends on if Lash is sober enough to geton the stage, but drunk enough to put on a show,” Jesse said. “Don’t looksurprised. I’ve known Lash since I was a kid. He was drinking even back then.”

“Oh. So you’re from around here?”

Somehow he’d just assumed that Jesse was from somewhereelse. He didn’t have a strong accent, and he had such good taste, and so muchskill. It seemed impossible to Christopher that Jesse could really be from Tennessee,too.

Well, ain’t you just a little self-hatin’hick?Gran scolded in his mind.You’re Appalachian,boy. Be proud of it because you ain’t never gonna be nothing else.

Jesse spread his arms wide, encompassing the room, the town,and the mountains in his next words. “Gatlinburg. Born and bred. Wouldn’t liveanywhere else.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely. Okay, let’s plan on Wednesday evening. Justcall me if there’s a problem, and we’ll figure something out. I’m excited towork with you, Christopher.”

Jesse licked his lips. They were shiny and perfect, andChristopher could imagine too clearly the slick slide of them against his own.A coil of want gripped him, and he was struck dumb, unable to reply or evenlook away.