Read Online Linda Ford by Dreams Of Hannah Williams - Free Book Online
Authors: Dreams Of Hannah Williams
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neck.”
“And what do you think?”
“It took me hours to round up some feed for the animals. And it’s only enough for one day. I just want it over with so I can get home and take care of things.” His stomach rumbled loudly. “Sorry about that.”
“Haven’t you eaten?”
“Had to check on Mother and the boys first. I’ll go find something now.”
Hannah checked the time. “I doubt anything will still be open.”
“I’ll have to wait for breakfast, then.”
“I haven’t eaten, either. There’s enough for two—” She hesitated. Would he be willing to share her meager fare again?
“You’re sure?”
“I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t.” She headed for the kitchen then turned back, realizing Jake hadn’t moved. “Come on. You’re welcome to join me.”
He tossed his hat on the desk, brushed his hair back with his palms, and followed, hesitating in the doorway. “Remember, I’m not real good in a kitchen,” he murmured.
She laughed. “Not to worry. I can manage on my own.”
He nodded and sat at the far end of the table.
She stirred the fire to life and put the kettle on the hottest part of the stove and tried to decide what she could make for him. In the end, she fried eggs and potatoes and served biscuits left from the day before.
He reached for her hands as he bowed to pray.
She wanted to pull back, not wanting to get even remotely close to him. He objected to her independence as strongly as Otto had. But it seemed childish to refuse to hold his hands as he prayed, so she turned her palms into his, noticing the roughness of them, the way they seemed to overpower her and yet still feel so gentle.
When he said, “Amen,” he didn’t immediately release her.
But Hannah couldn’t keep her head down forever and slowly brought her gaze up to his. She saw warmth in his brown eyes and wondered what he felt.
Then he smiled. “Thank you for this.”
She nodded, ducked her head, and concentrated on her food.
❧
Jake savored the potatoes, crispy and salted to perfection, and the eggs with runny yolks just the way he liked.
Maybe if he itemized the merits of the food, he’d stop thinking about how her hands had felt—small, yet firm and strong. Not unlike the woman herself, he guessed.
Hannah puzzled him. Why did she insist she could fix this place by herself? The smell of smoke persisted in every corner. He swung off his chair and closed the pocket doors to the dining room.
She questioned him with her eyes.
“Thought it might keep out some of the smoke smell.”
“I guess I’m used to it.”
He wanted to protest she shouldn’t have to get used to such a thing but knew she’d take objection to his interference. Still, why should she? What was she trying to prove? He stuffed half a biscuit in his mouth to keep from asking.
She’d said something about her father. As if he would approve. He couldn’t imagine any man willingly allowing his daughter to take on such a task. “What happened to your father?” At her startled expression, he added, “I know he died. I’m wondering how.”
“Pneumonia.”
“Oh.” His mind flooded with questions, but a man could hardly blurt out things like, “How long did it take? Did he suffer?”
“It was mercifully quick,” she said, answering his unspoken questions.
“That’s a blessing.”
“I suppose you’re right, though it didn’t seem like it at the time. I thought my world had ended. In some ways it did. My father had gone into debt to build a big house. I guess he thought that’s what Mother wanted.”
“Did she?”
She shrugged. “I shouldn’t speak poorly of her, but it does seem she prefers comfort to independence. It’s the only reason I can think of for her marriage to Otto.”
Jake tried to digest that. His father had made him promise he would always see that his sister and mother were kept comfortable. He assumed that’s what a man did for a woman. But Hannah made it sound less than second best.
She
“And what do you think?”
“It took me hours to round up some feed for the animals. And it’s only enough for one day. I just want it over with so I can get home and take care of things.” His stomach rumbled loudly. “Sorry about that.”
“Haven’t you eaten?”
“Had to check on Mother and the boys first. I’ll go find something now.”
Hannah checked the time. “I doubt anything will still be open.”
“I’ll have to wait for breakfast, then.”
“I haven’t eaten, either. There’s enough for two—” She hesitated. Would he be willing to share her meager fare again?
“You’re sure?”
“I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t.” She headed for the kitchen then turned back, realizing Jake hadn’t moved. “Come on. You’re welcome to join me.”
He tossed his hat on the desk, brushed his hair back with his palms, and followed, hesitating in the doorway. “Remember, I’m not real good in a kitchen,” he murmured.
She laughed. “Not to worry. I can manage on my own.”
He nodded and sat at the far end of the table.
She stirred the fire to life and put the kettle on the hottest part of the stove and tried to decide what she could make for him. In the end, she fried eggs and potatoes and served biscuits left from the day before.
He reached for her hands as he bowed to pray.
She wanted to pull back, not wanting to get even remotely close to him. He objected to her independence as strongly as Otto had. But it seemed childish to refuse to hold his hands as he prayed, so she turned her palms into his, noticing the roughness of them, the way they seemed to overpower her and yet still feel so gentle.
When he said, “Amen,” he didn’t immediately release her.
But Hannah couldn’t keep her head down forever and slowly brought her gaze up to his. She saw warmth in his brown eyes and wondered what he felt.
Then he smiled. “Thank you for this.”
She nodded, ducked her head, and concentrated on her food.
❧
Jake savored the potatoes, crispy and salted to perfection, and the eggs with runny yolks just the way he liked.
Maybe if he itemized the merits of the food, he’d stop thinking about how her hands had felt—small, yet firm and strong. Not unlike the woman herself, he guessed.
Hannah puzzled him. Why did she insist she could fix this place by herself? The smell of smoke persisted in every corner. He swung off his chair and closed the pocket doors to the dining room.
She questioned him with her eyes.
“Thought it might keep out some of the smoke smell.”
“I guess I’m used to it.”
He wanted to protest she shouldn’t have to get used to such a thing but knew she’d take objection to his interference. Still, why should she? What was she trying to prove? He stuffed half a biscuit in his mouth to keep from asking.
She’d said something about her father. As if he would approve. He couldn’t imagine any man willingly allowing his daughter to take on such a task. “What happened to your father?” At her startled expression, he added, “I know he died. I’m wondering how.”
“Pneumonia.”
“Oh.” His mind flooded with questions, but a man could hardly blurt out things like, “How long did it take? Did he suffer?”
“It was mercifully quick,” she said, answering his unspoken questions.
“That’s a blessing.”
“I suppose you’re right, though it didn’t seem like it at the time. I thought my world had ended. In some ways it did. My father had gone into debt to build a big house. I guess he thought that’s what Mother wanted.”
“Did she?”
She shrugged. “I shouldn’t speak poorly of her, but it does seem she prefers comfort to independence. It’s the only reason I can think of for her marriage to Otto.”
Jake tried to digest that. His father had made him promise he would always see that his sister and mother were kept comfortable. He assumed that’s what a man did for a woman. But Hannah made it sound less than second best.
She
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