LITMIR.BIZ

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to help them.” She knew such work would be hard on the old man, but he readily agreed.

      Just as the sun first peeped over the skyline in the east, she heard a truck pull in to their place. She looked out the window and saw the horse trailer behind it. This had to be Doug and “Hinney.” What an odd name.

      She hurried out and welcomed them. “Have you had breakfast? I can cook something quickly.”

      “Yes, ma’am, we had breakfast.”

      “All right. I’ll have lunch ready at one.”

      They both seemed embarrassed, but she gave them a bright smile and went back inside. She wanted Mr. Know-It-All Walker to know that she could provide for the men as well as he could. She spent the morning baking a cake for lunch, mixing up a special beef casserole, and calling every person she could think of who might be able to help her find some cowboys.

      Unfortunately, she heard the same thing over and over again. “Call Ryan Walker. He’d know if there are any good ones available.”

      After the fifth such response, she quit trying. She’d had the children coloring some pictures at the kitchen table while she worked, but she wanted them to eat before the men came in. She had them clear the table and go wash their hands.

      Once they had eaten their lunch, she put Mandy down for her nap and reminded Josh that it was quiet time. He was supposed to remain in his room, preferably on his bed, reading or looking at picture books.

      Then she cleared the table and set it again for the three men. Even though it was early spring, it was warm outside during the day, so she had tall glasses of sweetened tea, ice cubes floating in them, waiting for the workmen.

      “Wow, Miz McCoy, this looks good,” Doug told her as they came in.

      She took the casserole out of the oven and the salad out of the refrigerator. She also had a bowl of corn, because she’d been told by her cousin that hearty food was important for hard-working cowboys. Hot rolls completed the lunch menu. When she served them big chunks of chocolate cake after they’d finished off the casserole, they groaned with pleasure.

      “I just want you to know I appreciate your work.”

      “Yes, ma’am,” they agreed enthusiastically.

      She repeated the process that night for dinner.

      “But, ma’am, we’re expected at the supper table over at Ryan’s,” Hinney protested.

      “As hard as you’ve worked, you probably deserve two dinners. Besides, I’ve got too much cake left over.”

      The men fell into their chairs.

      Suzanne felt a surge of triumph, knowing Ryan Walker would know she’d treated his men well.

      RYAN WORRIED all day about his two men working on the Howe place. The new owner, Rodger Howe, hadn’t been a bad man. Just unknowledgeable. He’d visited Ryan several times to ask for advice. Ryan hadn’t minded. That was how a man learned. The fact that he’d learned at his grandfather’s and father’s knees from the time he was old enough to walk made him grateful and willing to share his knowledge.

      But not with a city lady. He hoped she fed his men. She probably had only served them salads. That seemed to be the only thing city women knew to fix. He left word for the men to check in with him after they got back.

      He ran into town to pick up Beth. He’d told his cousin he’d have someone to take care of Beth by the end of the week. He didn’t want her to lose a job opportunity that would pay her more money than he was paying her. Millie had used the excuse of her baby-sitting options to urge him to consider Florence and Mabel’s marriage suggestion.

      All the way home he worried about how he was going to find someone to take care of Beth. When she started school, most of her day would be covered. Except for holidays and summer vacations. Damn. He might as well figure on a permanent housekeeper. A nice meal ready in the evenings would be a bonus. He occasionally even took Beth to the bunkhouse to eat. But, though they tried, the men would forget themselves and let loose an inappropriate word. Beth was old enough to notice now.

      He fed her fast food again tonight while he waited for the men to report. Finally he called the bunkhouse. His manager answered.

      “Steve, haven’t the guys gotten back yet?”

      “Just got in, boss. I’ll send them right up.”

      He tucked Beth into bed and stepped out on the back porch to wait for the men.

      “Howdy, boss,” Doug said cheerfully. “Everything went fine today, though it’s sad that those men did so little work and then stole from them kids.”

      “Hinney, you okay, too?”

      “Yeah, boss, she’s a good cook. And she didn’t make fun of my name.”

      “Good,” Ryan said, trying not to grind his teeth. “You can tell her you have to come home for lunch if you want.”

      Both men jumped to their feet and yelled no, then suddenly sat back down, embarrassed by their reactions.

      Ryan eyed them carefully. “She cooks that good, does she?”

      Surprisingly, it was shy Hinney who answered. “Yeah, and she makes it all pretty. And she’s so pretty!” he added, his cheeks turning red.

      Ryan definitely ground his teeth. “Tell me about the work,” he ordered sharply, unwilling to listen to any more praise about Ms. Suzanne McCoy.

      When they finished their report, Ryan, though he already knew the answer, asked if they’d mind going again the next day. He got the answer he expected, a resounding agreement. He discussed with them what they would do the next day. Then he sent them off to the bunkhouse.

      He stayed on the porch, his feelings torn. He hated to see the land and animals mistreated as they had been by that thieving crew. He was pleased his men were helping. But he wanted to keep his distance from a city woman…who could cook. Mercy, his men were eating better than he was!

      He thought about her offer to baby-sit and share water in return for his help. If she weren’t so pretty, he might even consider it, but he was afraid he’d be easily caught by her beauty and then have his heart broken if he did any such thing.

      Not that his wife had broken his heart. By the time she’d run away, he’d already realized his mistake. She hadn’t contributed much to his life except whining and complaining. And Beth. He was grateful she hadn’t taken Beth away with her.

      But he wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice. He thought about Ms. McCoy last night, in her black suit, her hair tortured into some kind of a knot. She didn’t belong here and she wouldn’t stay. So much for her.

      He just had to wait for her to go back to the city and put the place up for sale. He’d buy it and increase his own place, with good water rights. He looked forward to the day.

      SUZANNE ACTUALLY enjoyed the week. She enjoyed the domestic routine and the time spent with Josh and Mandy. She’d found a store in Cactus that carried educational materials and she’d bought several books for the children. Mandy loved to draw, and she was learning her colors. They were going to work on the alphabet next. And Josh was learning words, spelling them and sounding them out.

      She loved cooking, especially for an appreciative audience, and the cowboys were definitely that. She’d tried several new recipes with great success. Cooking for hungry men was very rewarding.

      She was also keeping the house clean and working on a budget she could submit to the lawyer who held the children’s finances. In fact, she was feeling very successful in her new life, except for one thing.

      She hadn’t found any new employees. Not even one.

      She occasionally wondered if Ryan Walker had told the neighbors not to help her. But they offered good advice, lots of sympathy and the ladies even brought desserts over.

      Finally,

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