didn’t need or want coddling? She grabbed the jug of gravy from him.
Roper put the carrots on the table, gave her a look full of judgment, then took the younger children and disappeared over the bank toward the river.
Cassie shrugged. Sooner or later he’d realize she didn’t need him watching over her shoulder. She turned her attention back to her guests. “Help yourself and enjoy the meal.”
The men dug in with gusto and if the way they hunkered over their plates indicated pleasure, then they enjoyed the meal.
The fine lady shivered as a fork scrapped against a tin plate. “I’d think a person charging for a meal would use real china.”
Cassie smiled but didn’t respond. China was fine in a restaurant but she wasn’t running a restaurant.
The lady held up her hands. “I could do with a napkin.”
Cassie fetched a small towel, which earned her an impatient sigh. Cassie glanced about trying to see the place as others would. The table was crude. The plates were tin. They ate outdoors. She’d been so pleased to get her business started that she hadn’t thought of the deficiencies. “Once I get my place built I’ll have things nicer.”
“In the meantime—” The look on the woman’s face said just how lacking the present conditions were.
Petey lifted his head, and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. “I remember you from last fall when I brought you out with Miss Edwards who was set on marrying Eddie. Glad they finally got hitched. You’re doing okay, too, with this setup. I’ll be back on a semi-regular basis and the bull trains will run until snow blocks the road. The drivers are always ready for a big feed. Once they hear about this place you’ll find yourself busy as two beavers.”
Cassie’s tension released. “Thank you.” It was hungry men who would make up the bulk of her business and they cared nothing for fancy tablecloths and napkins.
Lane leaned back with a sigh. “Best meal I’ve had since I left England three years ago.”
“Wait. I have coffee, tea and cake.” She bustled back to the shack and with Daisy’s help served each customer.
The fancy lady spoke not a word of appreciation even though she ate every crumb of the piece of cake Cassie served her.
Cassie determinedly ignored the woman’s constant sighs and furrowed brow. She’d grown adept at turning away such insignificant signs of displeasure. She glanced toward the river where she could hear the children playing and Roper’s laugh.
A few minutes later everyone left. All except Lane. He sat with his elbows on the table watching her as she and Daisy scraped the dishes and stacked them to be washed. His attention screeched along her nerves as much as the sound of metal scraping metal.
Neil and Billy climbed up from the river, with Roper following on their heels, Pansy perched adoringly in his arms.
Cassie stared. They fit like hand and glove. Why wasn’t Roper married with a baby of his own?
She choked back an unfamiliar emotion. Was it loneliness she felt? Impossible.
She shook her head to clear her confusion. It must remind her of her father and all she’d lost when he died.
Roper had been grinning down at Pansy but glanced up, saw Lane still at the table and instantly scowled. He shifted Pansy to one side and veered toward the table where he plunked down opposite Lane. “Where did you say you have this ranch?”
Lane barely pulled his gaze from Cassie and distractedly jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “That way.”
“You got livestock? Farmland? Family?”
“Small herd of cows. Half a dozen horses. A pig and some chickens. Broke some land and planted oats for feed.” He offered the answers in sharp bullets as if paying no attention to his words.
“Family?” Roper prodded.
“None this side of the ocean. I’m all alone.”
Daisy giggled at the mournful note in the cowboy’s voice and leaned close to murmur in Cassie’s ear. “Think he’s wanting to change that.”
Cassie gave her full
Roper put the carrots on the table, gave her a look full of judgment, then took the younger children and disappeared over the bank toward the river.
Cassie shrugged. Sooner or later he’d realize she didn’t need him watching over her shoulder. She turned her attention back to her guests. “Help yourself and enjoy the meal.”
The men dug in with gusto and if the way they hunkered over their plates indicated pleasure, then they enjoyed the meal.
The fine lady shivered as a fork scrapped against a tin plate. “I’d think a person charging for a meal would use real china.”
Cassie smiled but didn’t respond. China was fine in a restaurant but she wasn’t running a restaurant.
The lady held up her hands. “I could do with a napkin.”
Cassie fetched a small towel, which earned her an impatient sigh. Cassie glanced about trying to see the place as others would. The table was crude. The plates were tin. They ate outdoors. She’d been so pleased to get her business started that she hadn’t thought of the deficiencies. “Once I get my place built I’ll have things nicer.”
“In the meantime—” The look on the woman’s face said just how lacking the present conditions were.
Petey lifted his head, and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. “I remember you from last fall when I brought you out with Miss Edwards who was set on marrying Eddie. Glad they finally got hitched. You’re doing okay, too, with this setup. I’ll be back on a semi-regular basis and the bull trains will run until snow blocks the road. The drivers are always ready for a big feed. Once they hear about this place you’ll find yourself busy as two beavers.”
Cassie’s tension released. “Thank you.” It was hungry men who would make up the bulk of her business and they cared nothing for fancy tablecloths and napkins.
Lane leaned back with a sigh. “Best meal I’ve had since I left England three years ago.”
“Wait. I have coffee, tea and cake.” She bustled back to the shack and with Daisy’s help served each customer.
The fancy lady spoke not a word of appreciation even though she ate every crumb of the piece of cake Cassie served her.
Cassie determinedly ignored the woman’s constant sighs and furrowed brow. She’d grown adept at turning away such insignificant signs of displeasure. She glanced toward the river where she could hear the children playing and Roper’s laugh.
A few minutes later everyone left. All except Lane. He sat with his elbows on the table watching her as she and Daisy scraped the dishes and stacked them to be washed. His attention screeched along her nerves as much as the sound of metal scraping metal.
Neil and Billy climbed up from the river, with Roper following on their heels, Pansy perched adoringly in his arms.
Cassie stared. They fit like hand and glove. Why wasn’t Roper married with a baby of his own?
She choked back an unfamiliar emotion. Was it loneliness she felt? Impossible.
She shook her head to clear her confusion. It must remind her of her father and all she’d lost when he died.
Roper had been grinning down at Pansy but glanced up, saw Lane still at the table and instantly scowled. He shifted Pansy to one side and veered toward the table where he plunked down opposite Lane. “Where did you say you have this ranch?”
Lane barely pulled his gaze from Cassie and distractedly jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “That way.”
“You got livestock? Farmland? Family?”
“Small herd of cows. Half a dozen horses. A pig and some chickens. Broke some land and planted oats for feed.” He offered the answers in sharp bullets as if paying no attention to his words.
“Family?” Roper prodded.
“None this side of the ocean. I’m all alone.”
Daisy giggled at the mournful note in the cowboy’s voice and leaned close to murmur in Cassie’s ear. “Think he’s wanting to change that.”
Cassie gave her full
Similar Books
