Read Online Chief Cook and Bottle Washer by Rita Hestand - Free Book Online

when I was three. So I guess I'll feel right at home,
here."
    Emma was overcome with how easily these men
adapted to having a woman and baby around. Nothing seemed to shock
them. At least they appeared to adapt.
    "If there's anything you need, just ask. Any
of the boys around here will be glad to fetch it for you or Sammie
Jo. All our men are trustworthy and been with us for years. Not a
sorry one of the bunch. Deke's a right good judge of character, and
if he says someone's okay, you can bet on it," Cal explained.
    Emma glanced up at Deke and felt a blush
creeping up her cheeks. Had he said she was okay? Even with the
lies? Something about him made her feel things she hadn't felt
since she was a kid with a crush on Billy Daniels, in the fourth
grade. But that was silly too. She wasn't here to romance the boss,
she was the cook!
    Strange, now that she thought on it, her
feelings for Charlie weren't on the same level. Charlie had been
around for so long, a good friend of Jesse's, and they had started
going to dances together. Charlie hadn't been the romantic type. He
just took her, assuming she was going since she had her dress shirt
on. He never told her he loved her in so many words, he expected
her to assume it. She had. Up until Kate died. That changed
everything. But she didn't blame Kate.
    Surely she'd get over this infatuation with
the new boss. Probably as soon as he produced his wife.
    "I don't mean to be noisy, but where are the
women on this ranch?" Emma asked.
    "Women?" They chorused as though they hadn't
heard the word in a long time.
    "Yes, wives, sisters."
    "Well gee, I never thought of it as strange,
but I guess another woman might. Mom died a few years after Rusty
was born. There are no sisters. There aren't any wives at the 4 Bar
None." Clint explained. "Least ways, not yet."
    "I see. Well, we have a lot in common. There
weren't a lot of women around where I was raised either. Just my
cousin, Kate."
    She didn't want to think about Kate right
now. Her emotions were still raw.
    Emma glanced at Deke's face and felt her
heartbeat quicken. The look he gave her said he'd guessed how much
Kate had meant to her. How could he know.
    Why did he always look at her like that. As
though he could see right through her. Like he liked what he saw,
or something. She wasn't used to it. He was staring at her with
that quizzical expression. She suddenly wished they were all
married. She knew one thing for certain–she was in big trouble.
    They left her alone, and Emma bounced on the
feather bed. It was so soft, she'd never slept on a bed like this
before. She smelled the sheets. They smelled of sunshine and she
grinned. She twirled about her room happily.
    "What a nice family, and beautiful home. Oh
Sammie Jo we are finally off to a good start."
    Sammie Jo let out a little whimper, rolled
over and closed her eyes again.
    Emma unpacked and set her clothes out for her
and the baby for the next day. She sighed heavily when she realized
she had nothing beautiful to unpack. Maybe someday, she'd have
pretty dresses, like her Dad said she needed. If someday ever
came.
    She twirled around the room, and suddenly the
door swung open and Deke nearly barged right into her. She reached
for his arms to steady her, and realized with one slight squeeze
she was holding on to a real man. A man that wasn't her father, or
her brother or Charlie. A man that looked at her with probing eyes
and a sexy smile. Every nerve in her body sprang to awareness. She
temporarily felt paralyzed to the spot.
    "I'm sorry." She stepped away finally,
letting her hands fall to her sides. God, he must have thought she
was pitiful.
    "Yeah, uh, I brought you some linens for your
bed and bath. Anything else you need–for the baby or such?" he
asked looking down into her wide eyes.
    "No–thank you." She managed to sound
relatively normal.
    "Okay, supper will be ready in about an hour.
So come on down when you're ready."
    "Thanks, I will."
    His eyes traveled about the