Read Online Love Finds You in Groom, Texas by Janice Hanna - Free Book Online Page A

history too. She’s quite a pistol.”
    “Oh, she’s a pistol, all right.” Anne chuckled. “Let’s just hope she never gets her hands on one!”
    “Ooh, I wish I could shoot a gun.” Emily extended her hand, pointing her index finger in gun-like fashion. “Wouldn’t that be something? I’d wear boots and a ten-gallon hat and shoot anyone who looked at me cross-eyed.”
    “That’s my concern,” Anne said. “What if someone you loved accidentally looked at you cross-eyed? Then what? They would go to an early grave.” Anne wished at once she could take back her words. Why did the conversation always go back to death? She glanced at Kate, who sat on the floor playing with the dog. Thankfully the youngster didn’t seem to notice her choice of wording.
    At this point, Maggie took over the cooking of the meat. Before long, the platter on the counter was filled with thick, steaming slices of fried steak. The smell was almost enough to drive Anne to her knees. Still, they couldn’t eat until the others arrived. Besides, Maggie needed her help with the gravy and the biscuits. Oh, what a heavenly meal this was turning out to be!
    Minutes later the grandfather clock chimed six times. What happened next caught Anne completely off guard. The door to the house swung open, and a passel of children raced inside. The two in front—both redheads—were boys. They were followed by a little one, maybe three, in a darling yellow-checked dress. Behind her came a young woman not much older than Anne. Must be the mama.
    Within minutes, the house was full, side-to-side, top-to-bottom, with family. Anne had never seen so many people crowded into a kitchen before. And the voices! They overlapped, one on top of the other. Laughter rang out, along with slaps on the back and lots of chatter about how good the meat smelled.
    Through the crowd, she made out Jake’s smiling face. He grabbed one of the littlest children and swept her into his arms, giving her a tender kiss on the cheek. One by one he embraced them, laughing and talking as if they were his own.
    Introductions were made, but Anne felt sure she’d never keep all the names straight, especially since all the boys—little ones included—had J names. Thankfully, the females were a little easier. There was Pauline and Milly, Cora, and Ruth. Still, with so many, Anne hoped she wouldn’t be quizzed on the names later. And which one was it Maggie had said reminded her of Anne? Was it Cora? No, maybe it was Ruth. Or was it Pauline, the newlywed?
    Oh, bother. She couldn’t remember. Not that it mattered tonight. No, all that mattered now was sitting down to dinner with this amazing group of new friends.
    Maggie clapped her hands together, getting everyone’s attention. “Let’s gather around and pray before we dish up this meal. My chicken-fried steak tastes even better once it’s been blessed.” She nodded in her oldest son’s direction after everyone stood around the table. “John, would you do the honors?”
    “A-course.” He nodded then removed his hat and bowed his head. The other brothers followed suit, one after the other. Jake wasn’t wearing a hat, but he did bow his head…after flashing a smile Anne’s way.
    She tried to focus on the prayer. Truly, she did. But Jake’s smile, along with those dimples and gorgeous green eyes, drew her attention instead. Indeed, once John stopped praying, Anne was still deep in thought about Jake.
    “Annie!” Emily nudged her, and she startled to attention. “Don’t fall asleep just yet. We might never get another meal like this as long as we live. We need to enjoy it.”
    Anne tried not to let her embarrassment get the best of her as she took her seat alongside the others. She fussed with her napkin to avoid looking at Jake once more. I’m going to enjoy it all right.
    “Oh, I daresay if you stay on at O’Farrell’s Honor, you’ll see plenty of meals like this,” Milly said. “We eat like this nearly every day.”