Read Online Rocky Mountain Oasis by Lynnette Bonner - Free Book Online Page A

corner, its back to the side wall. Above it hung a shelf stacked with several pots and pans, some dishes, and a pile of poorly folded white towels. Pegs drilled into the wall below the shelf held an assortment of utensils and a metal wash basin. On top of the cupboard sat two crocks.
    In the middle of the back wall stood a rotund wood stove, a copper kettle on its polished black surface. Behind it, and on the floor underneath, a rock facade of white quartz stones mortared together formed a fire shield. The mantle had been constructed of flat rocks set into the wall horizontally. It’s beautiful , she thought as her eyes continued to scan the room.
    To the left of the stove was the room’s only bed. A colorful quilt smoothly spread over it, and there was a window just above it. To the left of the door were a cane chair and a loveseat that looked to have been made from stripped ash. The color of the wood was exquisite, but the chairs didn’t look very comfortable since they had no cushions. The room’s third window graced the wall by the cane chairs, casting a brilliant pool of light on the plank floor.
    She finished her perusal of the interior as Sky set her into one of the chairs at the dining table. He sat across from her and began to stack a scattered group of letters. “I want you to make yourself at home here.” He gestured to the cupboard. “There is food in the cupboard as well as in the cellar out back. I will give you a tour of the place as soon as I take care of the stock. If you find that there is anything you need, please don’t hesitate to ask. Pierce City is not too far away and we can get some things there, but it may be that I will have to make a trip to Lewiston.” He shrugged, glancing around the room. “It’s not much, I suppose, but I hope you will be comfortable.”
    She tried to smile reassuringly. “I’ll be fine, thank you.”
    With that he stood, set the bundled stack of letters on the mantle, and went outside. Returning a few moments later, he set her bag inside the door along with another small satchel she had not noticed before. When he went back out to take care of the stock, Brooke realized she hadn’t moved since he had placed her in her chair. Her leg was no longer asleep, so she had no excuse, but she felt dazed. She still couldn’t believe this man had not mistreated her in any way…had not even spoken roughly. Shrugging, she tried to push away these thoughts.
    Getting up, she crossed to the cupboard, remembering it was past noon and Sky would probably be hungry; she knew hunger pangs gnawed at her. Finding some bread, butter, and a chunk of dried meat, she made some sandwiches, placing them on two of the speckled, black tin plates.
    She was tempted to go ahead and eat without him but decided it would be better to wait. He came in a little while later and eyed the fare hungrily. “Would you like some milk?” he asked.
    “Yes, that would be nice. I thought of going to look for the cellar but didn’t know where to start.”
    “I’ll be right back. We can eat, and then I will show you around the place. Sound good?”
    She nodded, setting two of the tin cups on the table by their plates.
    When he had returned with the milk, he sat down and glanced across the table, holding out his hand to her. She eyed his hand and he said, “When I was growing up, we always held hands around the table as we said grace. Do you mind?” His tone was not condescending, merely questioning.
    She placed her small hand in his palm and bowed her head, but as he began to pray, she studied him with surprise.
    His prayer was not a memorized text but a true communion of the heart with God, giving Him thanks for the food, for Brooke’s safety as she had traveled, and for their future together as husband and wife. He prayed that God would lead them, guiding them closer to Him, and then closed in Jesus’ name.
    He picked up his sandwich and had it halfway to his mouth when he evidently noted her