Linda Ford by The Cowboy's Surprise Bride

eyebrow. “Shall I say the blessing?”
    “Of course.” She dropped to the chair and bowed her head.
    Eddie studied her a moment. Did she seem tense? Had she smiled since he stepped into the house? He couldn’t remember. And why did it matter? Except it did. A man liked to find peace in his home. And as he’d said to Cookie, Linette had a pleasant smile. He forced himself to add the comment he’d tacked on for Cookie. Matched by a stubborn attitude. He bowed his head and scraped together a sense of gratitude so he could pray genuine words of thanks.
    As soon as he said “Amen,” Linette passed him a pan of corn bread. He dug out a generous portion, doused it with beans and syrup and lifted a forkful toward his mouth, when he realized Linette watched him. He lowered the fork. “Is something wrong?”
    She laughed a little. “No, just waiting to see if you like the food.”
    He filled his mouth, chewed once then nodded. “It’s good.”
    She sank deeper into her chair. The corners of her mouth lifted as if her smile came from somewhere deep in her heart.
    But the second chew revised his opinion. The beans were hard pellets. He crunched bravely, hoping he wouldn’t break a tooth.
    She concentrated on chewing. “Are the beans supposed to be this hard?” She looked to Cassie for an answer.
    Cassie shrugged. “Guess they should have cooked longer.”
    Eddie eyed the generous portion of beans on his plate. But after another heroic mouthful he scraped them to one side. “Cook them overnight. They’ll be fine in the morning.”
    Suddenly the corn bread and syrup seemed far from adequate. If this kept up he’d have no choice but to throw himself on Cookie’s mercy.
    “I’ll do better.” Linette’s words rang with determination. “Like I said, I’m a fast learner.” Her gaze caught and held his, silently reminding him of other things she’d said. A long time till spring. He might grow to appreciate her company.
    The words taunted him. Mocked him. He pushed from the table. Snow still fell heavily, but he must find something to do elsewhere. He grabbed his coat and left the cabin to trudge through the deepening snow to the barn. Apart from sweeping the floor again, there was nothing to do.
    He considered going to the bunkhouse where the men would be gathered around the stove fixing their boots or at the table playing cards. They would welcome him, but it encroached on their spare time. He longed to go to the cookhouse and fill up on Cookie’s baking, but she wouldn’t give him a moment’s peace. She’d demand to know why he wasn’t entertaining those fine ladies while he had the chance. Even if he repeated a thousand times over that he wasn’t interested in whether or not they were fine women and that he was starving, she’d never hear a word contrary to her opinion.
    He stepped outside, pulled his woolen scarf around his neck and headed for the wintering pens.
    Snow swirled about him, clinging to his eyelashes. The herd pressed against the wooden fences, seeking shelter. They stirred at his approach. The men had put out sufficient feed. All he accomplished by poking around was to unsettle the animals.
    He retraced his steps toward the buildings. The house on the hill was barely discernible. If it didn’t mean starting a fire to warm the place, he would go there even though it required marching through snow up to his knees.
    His steps slowed. There was only one place for him. Back at the cabin. He squinted as he realized there was something he needed to do. No time like the present.
    He reached the cabin door, stomped snow from his boots and shook it from his hat before he stepped indoors.
    The room radiated warmth. He glanced about. Yes, there was a fire blazing in the small stove, but it was more. He still couldn’t put his finger on it.
    Cassie sat before the stove with yarn and knitting needles. Linette stood at the table chopping something and dropping the pieces into a cooking pot. He sniffed.