It seemed for a long time to the man that his brain would burn from the fire kindled in his heart. The sight of the marked baby horrified him, but he took the basket from her hands, and placed her forcibly in a chair. Tess allowed him to do so without speaking.
Young set his teeth fiercely.
"Tessibel Skinner, do you want to save your father—from hanging?"
"Yep," she answered, her eyes roving toward the babe.
"Then listen to me. Is that child yours?"
Her glance sought his for a twinkling, as if she thought he had lost his mind.
She shook her head.
"Nope."
She was not disloyal to Teola in saying this.
"I have offered you all the help a man can give to another human being." Here his voice broke a little. "All I have offered to do for you, you have refused. Now, if you want me to continue to help your father, you are to tell me whose child it is."