To Love and to Cherish by Leigh Greenwood Page B

nothing could help her right now. She indicated the table that was covered with empty plates and bowls of food. “Sit down and serve yourselves. I’ll pour the coffee.”
    Except for Steve, you would have thought they were being served their last meal. They moved to the table only to take up a position in front of a plate.
    â€œSit down.”
    â€œWe can’t,” Steve announced. “You aren’t seated.”
    Laurie started to protest that it wasn’t necessary, but she could tell from Jared’s expression that it was. She quickly took her seat. The men sat, but when the severity of their expressions remained unchanged, she sighed and accepted defeat. “Please serve yourselves.”
    â€œWe have to wait for you,” Steve announced.
    That was too much. “No, you don’t. I have to be up and down serving coffee and refilling bowls. Serve yourself from the bowl in front of you, then pass it to your left.”
    Steve wasn’t ready to give up. “Mama said a gentleman never served himself before a lady.”
    â€œI’m not the lady of the house. I’m here because fixing supper is my job. If one of the soldier’s wives had fixed supper, would you wait for her to sit down and serve herself?”
    Steve was backed into a corner. When he didn’t answer, Jared answered for him.
    â€œNo, he wouldn’t. Nor would he make up a list of demands and pretend they’d come from you. In the future, it would be better if you communicated your requirements to me.” His gaze was frosty enough to freeze boiling coffee.
    Could this first meal be going any worse? “My only wish at the moment is that you will enjoy your supper. The coffee is on the stove. I would serve it, but I need to be excused for a moment.”
    She left the room with as much of an appearance of calm as she could manage, but she nearly burst into tears the moment the door closed behind her. She looked for somewhere to hide, but she didn’t want to go into the parlor because it was too closely associated with Jared. She escaped to the front porch and moved to the end farthest away from the kitchen. She couldn’t understand why she was so upset. She’d endured years of disapproval from Noah. She should be immune to it by now. Why was tonight so different? She barely knew Jared and Steve. She knew nothing about the other men. She might as well have been cooking for strangers. The opinion of people she didn’t know had never bothered her before. Why should it matter now?
    Steve had substituted his own requirements and attributed them to her. Now that she had explained everything to Jared, it would be all right. But what was all right ? And why was it so important? Was it because she found Jared attractive? If so, what was she hoping would come of that attraction?
    Nothing. Thanks to that hateful will, she hadn’t fully escaped from Noah. She certainly wasn’t looking to get involved with another man.
    The front door opened, and Jared came out onto the porch. When he saw her, he came toward her. “Are you all right?” His expression showed concern.
    â€œDo you care? I cooked your supper. That’s all you want from me.” That was unfair, but she was feeling aggrieved.
    â€œSteve admitted he made up what he said you said about taking a bath and dressing up. The boys would like to thank you for supper. It’s very good.”
    â€œIt would have been much better thirty minutes ago.” There was no need for her to say that now. “I’ll be careful what I say around Steve. He probably thought that’s what I wanted.”
    â€œHe’s at a very impressionable age, and he didn’t want to leave Texas. He wants everything to be like it was before he lost his parents. In his mind he knows nothing can be like it was before the war, but he’s still struggling emotionally.”
    Knowing that made her feel small and