Read Online Raspberries and Vinegar (A Farm Fresh Romance Book 1) by Valerie Comer - Free Book Online
Authors: Valerie Comer
Ads: Link
really do know how to cook.” Would she consider opening a can or preparing packaged noodles cooking? “At least enough to get by.”
Jo pointed Domino at a folded blanket behind the door and, to Zach’s amazement, the pup wandered over and plopped down on it. Jo looked back at Zach and indicated a chair in front of the window. “Have a seat, if you like. I’m just going to wash up.”
He edged behind the farmhouse table and slid into a sturdy wooden chair. Grandma’s drop-leaf table had been much smaller, but that was far from the only change in the old trailer. The place looked a lot better than the day he’d helped Jo and Sierra clean it up. Was it really only a month or so ago?
Claire sat down across from him “This was your grandmother’s home?”
Zach nodded. “She sold out in Spokane and bought this piece of land when my grandfather died. She lived here for more than twenty years, and my dad farmed it.” So many memories. “I’d often sneak over after school for cookies and milk. Plus she kept band-aids for scraped knees on hand.” He grinned. “I think she liked having me around. I had too many sisters and needed to get away sometimes.” And yet here he sat with a room full of females and barely felt uncomfortable.
Jo came back into the kitchen. “Your grandmother is very sweet. Stopping by to see her is a highlight of my day.”
He glanced over at her, but she turned away, her cheeks pink. Intriguing.
What time did her rounds take her to Grandma’s room? He might have to visit more often. Maybe bring some dark chocolate. Not that he was considering a relationship, of course. Now that was a ridiculous thought. It meant weighing the pros and cons of city life, and he’d been all over that. He’d chosen.
Domino, sound asleep on his blanket, let out a snuffle.
Zach had chosen something that didn’t include Border collies. Or fruit trees in bloom.
Jo drifted past him toward Sierra. “Need a hand?”
“Sure, if you’d like to get the biscuits out, that’d be great.” Sierra lifted the cast iron Dutch oven and carried it to a trivet on the table.
Zach’s stomach grumbled. Whatever Sierra had put in there — even if it turned out to be tofu — would be mighty tasty.
Jo popped open the oven and rescued a baking pan then deftly transferred them to a platter while Sierra dished up bowls of the stew.
The tantalizing aroma wafted closer. “Wow, you’re spoiling me. You went all out here.”
Sierra frowned at him. “All out? This is pretty basic. Even I can barely mess up stew.” She passed a bowl to him.
He closed his eyes and inhaled the fragrance. All the right mixes of meat and vegetables and seasoning. Even Claire, no matter her reputation, could hardly improve on this. Or maybe it had been too long since Zach had spent hours working up an appetite in the sunshine.
A little clink and the aroma of baking powder biscuits joined the stew.
“Would you like to ask the blessing?”
Zach’s eyes flew open and he focused on Sierra, who’d spoken. “Um. Sure.” He closed his eyes again. Where to begin? How long had it been since he’d thanked God for anything? Couldn’t announce that in front of these women, though. “Dear Lord, thank you for this good food and the hands that have prepared it. Please bless it in Jesus’ name, amen.”
“Amen,” the women agreed.
When he looked up again, Jo passed him the biscuit platter and he helped himself to three. A dish of butter followed. Zach tucked into his meal, as tasty as it smelled. For a few minutes the only sound to be heard was the scraping of spoons in bowls.
Sierra turned to him. “Was your grandmother a quilter?”
What brought that on?
At his puzzled look, Sierra added, “Oh, I wondered if she was the one responsible for the quilt on your mom’s swing. And the one airing on her clothesline.”
Ah, those. “She did some, but mostly out of old clothes. My mom is really into it, though. She loves all the colors and
Jo pointed Domino at a folded blanket behind the door and, to Zach’s amazement, the pup wandered over and plopped down on it. Jo looked back at Zach and indicated a chair in front of the window. “Have a seat, if you like. I’m just going to wash up.”
He edged behind the farmhouse table and slid into a sturdy wooden chair. Grandma’s drop-leaf table had been much smaller, but that was far from the only change in the old trailer. The place looked a lot better than the day he’d helped Jo and Sierra clean it up. Was it really only a month or so ago?
Claire sat down across from him “This was your grandmother’s home?”
Zach nodded. “She sold out in Spokane and bought this piece of land when my grandfather died. She lived here for more than twenty years, and my dad farmed it.” So many memories. “I’d often sneak over after school for cookies and milk. Plus she kept band-aids for scraped knees on hand.” He grinned. “I think she liked having me around. I had too many sisters and needed to get away sometimes.” And yet here he sat with a room full of females and barely felt uncomfortable.
Jo came back into the kitchen. “Your grandmother is very sweet. Stopping by to see her is a highlight of my day.”
He glanced over at her, but she turned away, her cheeks pink. Intriguing.
What time did her rounds take her to Grandma’s room? He might have to visit more often. Maybe bring some dark chocolate. Not that he was considering a relationship, of course. Now that was a ridiculous thought. It meant weighing the pros and cons of city life, and he’d been all over that. He’d chosen.
Domino, sound asleep on his blanket, let out a snuffle.
Zach had chosen something that didn’t include Border collies. Or fruit trees in bloom.
Jo drifted past him toward Sierra. “Need a hand?”
“Sure, if you’d like to get the biscuits out, that’d be great.” Sierra lifted the cast iron Dutch oven and carried it to a trivet on the table.
Zach’s stomach grumbled. Whatever Sierra had put in there — even if it turned out to be tofu — would be mighty tasty.
Jo popped open the oven and rescued a baking pan then deftly transferred them to a platter while Sierra dished up bowls of the stew.
The tantalizing aroma wafted closer. “Wow, you’re spoiling me. You went all out here.”
Sierra frowned at him. “All out? This is pretty basic. Even I can barely mess up stew.” She passed a bowl to him.
He closed his eyes and inhaled the fragrance. All the right mixes of meat and vegetables and seasoning. Even Claire, no matter her reputation, could hardly improve on this. Or maybe it had been too long since Zach had spent hours working up an appetite in the sunshine.
A little clink and the aroma of baking powder biscuits joined the stew.
“Would you like to ask the blessing?”
Zach’s eyes flew open and he focused on Sierra, who’d spoken. “Um. Sure.” He closed his eyes again. Where to begin? How long had it been since he’d thanked God for anything? Couldn’t announce that in front of these women, though. “Dear Lord, thank you for this good food and the hands that have prepared it. Please bless it in Jesus’ name, amen.”
“Amen,” the women agreed.
When he looked up again, Jo passed him the biscuit platter and he helped himself to three. A dish of butter followed. Zach tucked into his meal, as tasty as it smelled. For a few minutes the only sound to be heard was the scraping of spoons in bowls.
Sierra turned to him. “Was your grandmother a quilter?”
What brought that on?
At his puzzled look, Sierra added, “Oh, I wondered if she was the one responsible for the quilt on your mom’s swing. And the one airing on her clothesline.”
Ah, those. “She did some, but mostly out of old clothes. My mom is really into it, though. She loves all the colors and
Similar Books
