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Authors: Lauri Robinson
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alone in case his brothers came sneaking around. He was pretty sure they wouldn't, but didn't know about Russell. The man's inability to care for his little sister really irritated him. After seeing the sod shanty she'd been living in, he was even more annoyed.
This morning after telling Joe to stay about the house, he'd gone out and helped the cowboys separate the livestock. Once the task was completed, he'd instructed the boys where to drive each group then rode over to gather some of Jessie's belongings, knowing she'd need a few things. What he'd found was disheartening. No one could possibly live in that soddy. He'd heard the hissing of snakes before dismounting Jack.
71
Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]
by Lauri Robinson
Luckily, they were only bull snakes. The storm had sent a dozen or so into the shack. And it hadn't been the first time. Holes along the base of the entire structure showed the reptiles had used it as a shelter for some time. The inside, though neat as possible, had puddles deep enough for frogs to live in and the storm had ripped the weathered shutters from the one window. Rain had completely soaked the worn quilt of the only bed. He'd searched high and low for clothes and personal belongings, but found nothing other than the silver handle hair brush in his back pocket.
The only other salvageable things were the small table and one crudely built chair. He had no use for either and left them behind, after he released the three grouse that had somehow managed to trap themselves in a small wooden pen. If the birds were a bit smarter they would have realized they could have easily flown over the low sides of the haphazard enclosure. He shuddered at the thought of anyone, even prairie chickens, living in such conditions. Sammy's bark emitted from the back door. The sound forced Kid to make his way toward the house, knowing the dog had alerted Jessie to his arrival. Thick mud from traipsing through the soddy had gathered on the bottom of his boots. He knocked it off on the rock near the steps before climbing the porch stairs and opening the door.
The smell of scorched food made his nose and throat sting. Black smoke billowed from the oven door. Jessie stood beside the stove, waving a cloth at the swirls. He hurried across the room, grabbed the cloth from her hands and used it to 72
Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]
by Lauri Robinson
remove the pan from the oven. Coughing at the acrid smoke, he carried the unrecognizable charred mass out the door. After setting the hot container on the ground, he waved the smoke away from his face and gulped for fresh air. Whatever was in the pan continued to crackle and hiss as he turned to walk back to the house.
Jessie stood on the porch, wringing her hands together.
"Oh, Mr. Quinter, I'm so sorry. I've never used an oven before. I thought I could bake some biscuits for supper. I..."
"Those were biscuits?"
She nodded. "I thought I just smelled the wood burning, until I opened the oven door." Her face scrunched with a worried frown.
"Did you burn yourself?"
"No, Sir." She glanced down at her hands, inspecting them.
Kid reached out and took the small fingers into his, looking for red marks. The tiny digits trembled, each one shivering in his palms. His gaze rose up her arms, past the slender neck to the top of her head. The long tresses had been smoothed away from her face and fell behind her shoulders like a cascade of corn silk. The flush on her round, elfin cheeks once again reminded him of a china doll. His fingers itched to see if the flawless skin felt as smooth and soft as it looked. The long, curled lashes of her lids fluttered up and down, making it hard for him to connect with the unique blue of her eyes. Then he caught the moisture on the tips of the lashes. The tears melted his heart. He brushed one thumb over the wetness. "Don't cry over burnt biscuits, Jessie." 73
Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]
by Lauri
This morning after telling Joe to stay about the house, he'd gone out and helped the cowboys separate the livestock. Once the task was completed, he'd instructed the boys where to drive each group then rode over to gather some of Jessie's belongings, knowing she'd need a few things. What he'd found was disheartening. No one could possibly live in that soddy. He'd heard the hissing of snakes before dismounting Jack.
71
Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]
by Lauri Robinson
Luckily, they were only bull snakes. The storm had sent a dozen or so into the shack. And it hadn't been the first time. Holes along the base of the entire structure showed the reptiles had used it as a shelter for some time. The inside, though neat as possible, had puddles deep enough for frogs to live in and the storm had ripped the weathered shutters from the one window. Rain had completely soaked the worn quilt of the only bed. He'd searched high and low for clothes and personal belongings, but found nothing other than the silver handle hair brush in his back pocket.
The only other salvageable things were the small table and one crudely built chair. He had no use for either and left them behind, after he released the three grouse that had somehow managed to trap themselves in a small wooden pen. If the birds were a bit smarter they would have realized they could have easily flown over the low sides of the haphazard enclosure. He shuddered at the thought of anyone, even prairie chickens, living in such conditions. Sammy's bark emitted from the back door. The sound forced Kid to make his way toward the house, knowing the dog had alerted Jessie to his arrival. Thick mud from traipsing through the soddy had gathered on the bottom of his boots. He knocked it off on the rock near the steps before climbing the porch stairs and opening the door.
The smell of scorched food made his nose and throat sting. Black smoke billowed from the oven door. Jessie stood beside the stove, waving a cloth at the swirls. He hurried across the room, grabbed the cloth from her hands and used it to 72
Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]
by Lauri Robinson
remove the pan from the oven. Coughing at the acrid smoke, he carried the unrecognizable charred mass out the door. After setting the hot container on the ground, he waved the smoke away from his face and gulped for fresh air. Whatever was in the pan continued to crackle and hiss as he turned to walk back to the house.
Jessie stood on the porch, wringing her hands together.
"Oh, Mr. Quinter, I'm so sorry. I've never used an oven before. I thought I could bake some biscuits for supper. I..."
"Those were biscuits?"
She nodded. "I thought I just smelled the wood burning, until I opened the oven door." Her face scrunched with a worried frown.
"Did you burn yourself?"
"No, Sir." She glanced down at her hands, inspecting them.
Kid reached out and took the small fingers into his, looking for red marks. The tiny digits trembled, each one shivering in his palms. His gaze rose up her arms, past the slender neck to the top of her head. The long tresses had been smoothed away from her face and fell behind her shoulders like a cascade of corn silk. The flush on her round, elfin cheeks once again reminded him of a china doll. His fingers itched to see if the flawless skin felt as smooth and soft as it looked. The long, curled lashes of her lids fluttered up and down, making it hard for him to connect with the unique blue of her eyes. Then he caught the moisture on the tips of the lashes. The tears melted his heart. He brushed one thumb over the wetness. "Don't cry over burnt biscuits, Jessie." 73
Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]
by Lauri
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