Read Online Second Chance Brides by Vickie Mcdonough - Free Book Online Page B

bowls, as if she hadn’t seen them. He rubbed the back of his neck, obviously uncomfortable with her serving him. She strode past him and reached for the bowls at the same time he did. His hand landed over hers. She lifted her gaze to his, and her heart stampeded. For a moment neither moved. His calloused hand warmed hers, and ever so slowly, he drew back, trailing his fingers over hers. All breath left her lungs until he stepped back. Her hand trembled as she took the bowls off the shelf.
    Dan leaned back against the cabinet, his gaze watching her every move. What had just happened? She’d only ever been attracted to one other man—and Sam Braddock had been just a boy compared to Dan. Sam. How long had it been since she’d thought of her first love?
    She busied herself so she could forget both Sam and Dan. “Do you have a ladle?”
    Leah removed the jar of stew from the basket and unscrewed the lid, sending a savory fragrance into the air. Footsteps sounded behind her, and a ladle appeared over her shoulder. All she had to do was turn around, and she’d be in Dan’s arms. She kept her feet from moving a speck and snared the ladle. “Thank you.”
    “Smells good,” Dan’s voice rumbled behind her, and her hand shook a little more.
    “Do you…uh…have something to drink? For dinner, I mean?”
    He stepped up next to her and grabbed a pitcher from the corner. “I’ll fetch some water.”
    Leah finally caught a decent breath once he left the room. What was wrong with her? She was acting like a lovesick schoolgirl. She was acting like her twin sisters did over a cute boy.
    Forcing her mind back on business, she ladled the stew into two bowls and carried them into the dining room. Mrs. Howard smiled again, and her faded eyes twinkled.
    “Dan’s a good son. He takes better care of me than most men would for their old mother.”
    Leah set a bowl in front of the woman and placed the second bowl on her right. “It’s good that you have him then.”
    Mrs. Howard nodded. “Don’t know what I’d do without him.”
    Leah returned to the kitchen and rummaged around until she found the silverware and some napkins. She folded the fabric and laid the silverware on top.
    “But there’s only two place settings. Where’s yours, dear?” Mrs. Howard looked up with such a hopeful gaze that Leah hated hurting her feelings.
    “Mrs. Davis is expecting me for dinner at the boardinghouse, but thank you for asking.” She hurried back into the kitchen and placed the biscuits on a plate and then sliced some of the cheese that Rachel had sent.
    Dan stepped back through the open door, his face and hair dripping wet, just like the tin pitcher. He held it up. “Got the water, and it’s fairly cool.”
    Leah smiled at his exuberance. She couldn’t imagine her own pa doing something so menial as fetching water. “That should taste good on a warm day like today.”
    He nodded and placed his fingertips in the top of three glasses and carried them into the dining room. In a half second, he stormed back to the kitchen. “Where’s your bowl?”
    Leah opened her mouth, prepared to explain again, but stopped. Rachel would probably figure out that she’d stayed and eaten with the Howards if she didn’t return for the noon meal. Why not stay and learn more about the Howards and maybe even brighten an old woman’s day? “I didn’t get one, but I will now. Thank you for inviting me.”
    A few minutes later, they all settled down to eat. Mrs. Howard’s eyes watched Leah and continued to sparkle as she nibbled her stew. Was the woman always so friendly?
    “Tell us about yourself, dear.”
    Leah winced. She dreaded talking of her family. She dabbed her lips with the napkin and sipped some water before answering. “I lived on a farm in Missouri with my parents and brothers and sisters before coming here.”
    “We lived on a farm—before my Owen died. I’d always hoped for a big family, but Dan is my only child to survive. Do you