Read Online In His Will by Cathy Marie Hake - Free Book Online Page B

chores, Sondra made it a practice to bake something a couple times a week. The men cooked for themselves at the bunkhouse, but they definitely appreciated having her desserts. She soon learned Howie liked pie of any variety, Nickels shared her weakness for chocolate, and Frank didn’t care what it was as long as it was sweet. Edgar liked apples in his things, while Joseph could eat an entire batch of cookies all by himself. With those preferences in mind, she tried to rotate her choices.
    It wasn’t long before she ran into one of the men from Dylan’s spread at the grocery store. Scanning the flour and butter in her cart, he drawled, “Heard tell you make a mean apple pie.”
    Her lips parted in surprise. Folks in this small town were astonishingly friendly. Men and women she’d never met chatted with her at the store or on the sidewalk. They invariably asked about Dylan, too. She wasn’t comfortable talking about herself, and she had no idea what to say about him other than to mention he was a hardworking man. That always garnered a nod of agreement.
    Dylan’s ranch hand grinned. “Edgar came over. He and Dylan planned tomorrow.”
    Sondra still didn’t see the connection.
    “Edgar told Dylan they’d save him a slice of your pie. Said you just put a couple in the bunkhouse.”
    “Oh.” She wrinkled her nose. “What’s happening tomorrow?”
    “We’re going to cull the herds and sell off some beef. Dylan has Teresa making barbecue afterward.”
    “Why hasn’t Teresa called me?”
    “Ma’am, I never pretended to be able to read a woman’s mind.”
    She barely quelled her laugh. “Can you read a man’s?”
    “Every once in a while. Mostly when he’s lookin’ at a woman or something good to eat.”
    “That doesn’t take much skill,” Sondra decided with mock solemnity. “It’s a good thing you’re a decent cowboy.”
    He gave her a slow smile and shook his head. “You know, Dylan’s right. That spunk of yours might get you through this.”
    Sondra smiled and pushed her cart down the next aisle. She cruised to the produce section again to pick up more apples.
    The next day, Sondra called Teresa. At four thirty, she showed up at Dylan’s ranch, the Laughingstock. Teresa helped her transfer five apple pies, a chocolate cake, potato salad, and six dozen homemade rolls from her car to the picnic tables. She made lemonade as Teresa filled her in on snippets of news.
    The air was redolent with the heady aroma of roasting beef when the men sauntered over. Soon as Dylan asked grace, a solid dozen men attacked the table. “Hey! Sondra made pie!”
    “That’s dessert!” Teresa shouted. “You leatherhands leave it be ’til you’ve eaten everything else.”
    “Whoa! Them rolls ain’t store-bought.”
    “Pitch me a couple!”
    Dylan paced up to Sondra. She turned away and fussed to keep napkins from blowing away. She didn’t want to look at him. He made her breath hitch.
    Due to being in a wheelchair, Kenny had boasted impressive chest and arm muscles. Dylan, though—on him, those corded muscles spoke of heavy labor and the ability to tackle any task. He walked with rugged assurance, and every inch of him shouted masculine confidence. He’d easily held and carried her—and that somehow suddenly seemed significant. What am I doing even looking at him?
    Unaware of his effect on her, Dylan arrived at her side with a heaping plate of beef in his hands. He extended it to her. “You’d best elbow in and get some of that food or these hogs’ll inhale it all in five minutes flat.”
    Sondra shook her head. “I can’t eat a fraction of this.”
    “That’s nothing!”
    “It’s too much, seeing as I have a passenger on board. Plain and simple, there’s just not enough room.”
    “That passenger needs good nutrition. How much milk are you drinking? What about fruits and vegetables?”
    “Dylan, I’m a grown woman. I don’t need you to hover.”
    “How much weight have you gained?”
    Her