clean.”
The woman sniffed. “I am not impressed with the wilderness.”
“Come along, dear.” The man, who must have been her long-suffering husband, urged her toward the basin. “You’ll feel better after you’ve washed the dust from your face.” He managed to edge her away.
“I’m covered with dust from head to toe. I need a full bath.”
Cassie resisted suggesting she could have one in the river and turned back to the others. Instead, she caught Roper’s gaze, full of laughter, and her spirits revived. How foolish to head out to the wilderness, then complain that it was wild. It was good to share her amusement with Roper. Then she snapped a mental door closed. She would not be involving Roper in the everyday aspects of her life.
The cowboy brought up the rear. He snatched off his battered hat to reveal a mane of blond hair that hadn’t seen a pair of scissors for many months if Cassie had her guess.
“Lane Brownley, ma’am. Got me a little place just over there.” He pointed in a vague northwest direction that could have been along the river, or toward the mountains or in the middle of nowhere. Not that Cassie cared for more specific directions. He dropped his coins in the can. That’s what mattered.
“I’ll gladly pay for a decent meal whenever I’m nearby, if you have no objections.”
“That’s what I’m here for.”
His blue eyes matched the sky and shone as brightly as he grinned at her. “You and your husband got a good idea, setting up a stopping station here.”
She blustered an embarrassed reply. “He’s not my husband. He works for Eddie Gardiner at the Eden Valley Ranch.”
“My apologies but I’ve seen him here several times over the past few days.”
“It’s the kids.” She explained the orphaned children and how they had a business agreement to work together to care for them until their uncle could be reached.
Lane’s eyes brightened. “Then you’re planning to run this place on your own?”
She studied him without answering. Did he mean to take advantage of her situation?
Roper must have wondered the same thing. He stepped to her side and dropped his arm across her shoulder. “’Spect me or the boss or one of the boys will be stopping by mighty often.”
Lane suddenly realized how his words had been interpreted and red crept up his neck. “Didn’t mean it that way.” He scuffled off to wash up.
Roper didn’t step back but as soon as Lane bent to splash water over his face, Cassie ducked away and put a good six feet between them. From that distance she shot him a warning look. He needn’t think he could make a habit of being protective.
He returned her hard look and after a moment she shifted her attention to the children.
Neil sat on a log with Pansy and Billy and watched the visitors.
Cassie waited until the guests were seated then took the potatoes to the table. Daisy brought the roast venison. They returned for the rest of the dishes only to meet Roper part way carrying gravy and carrots.
Cassie reached for the bowls but Roper shook his head. “I got them.”
“But—” she sputtered.
Roper gave her a mocking grin. “Did you think I’d stand idly by and watch you and Daisy work? Nope.” He took a step, then paused to face her. “Ain’t gonna stand by and see some young upstart boy who thinks he’s a cowboy come stomping in to make a nuisance of himself, either.”
“He came to eat. He paid his money. I intend to serve him.”
“And next time?”
“He pays his money, I feed him. Every time.”
“Just make sure he isn’t after anything but meat and potatoes.”
Her nostrils flared. How dare he insinuate she would allow someone to take advantage of her? “You forget I can take care of myself.” She kept her voice low so those at the table wouldn’t hear but made no attempt to keep the defiance out of her words. Daisy had thankfully returned to the shack so didn’t overhear this conversation. When would he realize she
The woman sniffed. “I am not impressed with the wilderness.”
“Come along, dear.” The man, who must have been her long-suffering husband, urged her toward the basin. “You’ll feel better after you’ve washed the dust from your face.” He managed to edge her away.
“I’m covered with dust from head to toe. I need a full bath.”
Cassie resisted suggesting she could have one in the river and turned back to the others. Instead, she caught Roper’s gaze, full of laughter, and her spirits revived. How foolish to head out to the wilderness, then complain that it was wild. It was good to share her amusement with Roper. Then she snapped a mental door closed. She would not be involving Roper in the everyday aspects of her life.
The cowboy brought up the rear. He snatched off his battered hat to reveal a mane of blond hair that hadn’t seen a pair of scissors for many months if Cassie had her guess.
“Lane Brownley, ma’am. Got me a little place just over there.” He pointed in a vague northwest direction that could have been along the river, or toward the mountains or in the middle of nowhere. Not that Cassie cared for more specific directions. He dropped his coins in the can. That’s what mattered.
“I’ll gladly pay for a decent meal whenever I’m nearby, if you have no objections.”
“That’s what I’m here for.”
His blue eyes matched the sky and shone as brightly as he grinned at her. “You and your husband got a good idea, setting up a stopping station here.”
She blustered an embarrassed reply. “He’s not my husband. He works for Eddie Gardiner at the Eden Valley Ranch.”
“My apologies but I’ve seen him here several times over the past few days.”
“It’s the kids.” She explained the orphaned children and how they had a business agreement to work together to care for them until their uncle could be reached.
Lane’s eyes brightened. “Then you’re planning to run this place on your own?”
She studied him without answering. Did he mean to take advantage of her situation?
Roper must have wondered the same thing. He stepped to her side and dropped his arm across her shoulder. “’Spect me or the boss or one of the boys will be stopping by mighty often.”
Lane suddenly realized how his words had been interpreted and red crept up his neck. “Didn’t mean it that way.” He scuffled off to wash up.
Roper didn’t step back but as soon as Lane bent to splash water over his face, Cassie ducked away and put a good six feet between them. From that distance she shot him a warning look. He needn’t think he could make a habit of being protective.
He returned her hard look and after a moment she shifted her attention to the children.
Neil sat on a log with Pansy and Billy and watched the visitors.
Cassie waited until the guests were seated then took the potatoes to the table. Daisy brought the roast venison. They returned for the rest of the dishes only to meet Roper part way carrying gravy and carrots.
Cassie reached for the bowls but Roper shook his head. “I got them.”
“But—” she sputtered.
Roper gave her a mocking grin. “Did you think I’d stand idly by and watch you and Daisy work? Nope.” He took a step, then paused to face her. “Ain’t gonna stand by and see some young upstart boy who thinks he’s a cowboy come stomping in to make a nuisance of himself, either.”
“He came to eat. He paid his money. I intend to serve him.”
“And next time?”
“He pays his money, I feed him. Every time.”
“Just make sure he isn’t after anything but meat and potatoes.”
Her nostrils flared. How dare he insinuate she would allow someone to take advantage of her? “You forget I can take care of myself.” She kept her voice low so those at the table wouldn’t hear but made no attempt to keep the defiance out of her words. Daisy had thankfully returned to the shack so didn’t overhear this conversation. When would he realize she
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