Cutty (Prairie Grooms Book 8) by Kit Morgan Page A

mischievous grin.
    “Changing your mind already?” she scoffed. “You’re as bad as a woman.”
    “Oh, I’ll never be that bad!”
    “Will you two stop yer fussin’?” Cutty scolded. “I’m tryin’ to think.”
    “About what?” asked Amon.
    “About headin’ out with Newton.”
    “Amon’s right,” Nettie said. “You should do it before winter sets in. Mr. Dunnigan at the mercantile told me the other day that it sometimes snows here as early as October.”
    “True enough,” Amon agreed. “If you two are going to go, you’d best do it the next few weeks.”
    “I know, I know,” Cutty grumbled. “I’ll talk to him when I see him again. I’m sure he won’t mind if I tag along. Maybe I’ll take him to where I used to live.”
    “I’d like to go with you if you do that,” Amon said.
    “And leave me here by myself?” Nettie groused.
    “You could come with us,” Amon suggested.
    “I will do no such thing! You’ll not see me traipsing around the countryside. I’ll go stay with Eloise.”
    “At the hotel?” Cutty teased. “No better place, I guess.”
    “Nowhere else as comfortable,” she added with a sly grin. “I could have Mrs. Upton cooking for me. It will be grand, I’m sure.”
    “She’s so civilized,” Cutty teased.
    Amon reached over and patted his wife’s leg. “That she is. Cultured, refined and beautiful. I’m a very lucky man.”
    Cutty saw the admiration in his eyes and was glad the two were married. Amon would take good care of his daughter. He didn’t have to worry about her. Newton, on the other hand …
    “When you see him,” Amon said, “tell him I’d like to come along.”
    “So soon?” said Nettie.
    “Best to do it while the weather’s good. Besides, I know you won’t mind spending a few days in town with Eloise.”
    “Indeed not. It will be like a holiday.”
    “I guess that settles it,” Cutty said. “Soon as Newton gets back from his latest adventure, Amon and I’ll talk to him about goin’ on another one.”
    Amon nodded. “Good.” He stretched and yawned. “In the meantime, I think I’ll turn in. Coming, Nettie?”
    “Yes, of course,” she said. She looked at Cutty. “You know where the blankets are kept.”
    “Yep. But I think I’ll sit here and read a while ‘fore I turn in if’n that’s all right.” He watched as they got up and headed for the staircase. “Good night,” he called after them.
    Amon went up the stairs. Nettie hesitated and turned to Cutty. “Pleasant dreams … Father,” she whispered.
    He smiled as his heart swelled. “You too,” he whispered back. “Daughter.”
     
    * * *
     
    The next morning Cutty awoke to the smell of coffee and bacon. He’d slept in one of the spare bedrooms, and dreamt of doing the same with grandchildren running into his room to aggravate him. He sighed. One day …
    He got up, dressed, washed his face and went downstairs. “What’s for breakfast?” he asked, though he already knew.
    “Sit down and find out,” Nettie said, pouring him a cup of coffee.
    “Where’s Amon?”
    “Feeding the stock – he’ll be along.”
    Cutty sat at the table and smiled. “Did ya say anythin’ to him last night?”
    She brought his cup to the table and set it down. “No.”
    He picked up the cup, took a sip and smacked his lips together. “Mm, that’s good.”
    “You know, you don’t have to act like that when we’re alone,” she said. “You can be yourself.”
    “Actually, I kinda like being Cutty. I don’t hafta watch my manners so much.”
    “You should, for Imogene’s sake.”
    “She likes me as Cutty, too.”
    “She loves you, either way.”
    “Yes, but she prefers the old coot over the English gentleman. I don’t mind neither – though sometimes it’s hard to keep the mask on, if’n ya know what I mean.” He studied her a moment. “That a new dress?”
    Nettie brushed a hand over the skirt of the light green calico dress she wore. “Do you like it?”
    “It’s