“Then there’s the soft gray color of it that makes everything look like a painting that’s been smudged. And after it passes, there’s the fertile damp-earth smell and the way everything looks fresh and clean and new.”
Sawyer, who’d been drying his hands, paused, captivated by the poetry of her words. This was a side of her he hadn’t seen before. Not that he’d been looking.
Then she straightened and a hint of pink crept into her cheeks. “I, uh, better get back inside and check on AJ.” She all but scurried toward the door. “The stew is simmering on the stove whenever you’re ready.”
He spread his slicker on the bench to help it dry quicker and set the boots on the other side of the door. Hanging his hat on a hook just inside, he found himself still thinking about the words she’d used to describe the rain. It seemed there was more to Miss Gilley than met the eye.
Shaking off this unwanted softening, he threw the towel on his shoulder and padded to his room to change out of his wet pants.
Just ’cause the woman could make pretty speeches didn’t make her a lady.
Chapter 15
Emma Jean bustled around the kitchen, serving up three bowls of the stew with thick sliced bread on the side, trying to pull herself together. How could she have spouted all her silly feelings about rain to Sawyer? What must he think of her?
A moment later Sawyer entered the kitchen. With his feet clad only in socks, he should have looked foolish. Instead, he looked solid, confident, handsome in a rugged, tousled kind of way.
He squatted down to where AJ lay in his basket on the floor, and the baby immediately started kicking his legs in that little dance of excitement that babies do. Sawyer responded with just the smallest hint of a smile as he tickled the baby’s tummy. The perfect picture of a loving father and son. Sweet enough to melt a girl’s heart.
Especially this girl’s.
Then he frowned as he reached in the basket.
“What’s this?” he asked, lifting a wooden rattle.
“It’s something for AJ to play with.” Did he disapprove?
“Where’d you get it?” There was only curiosity in his voice.
“I made it,” she said quickly. “It rattles when you shake it and it makes him smile.”
He shook it as if to verify her words, and AJ immediately kicked his legs again and gurgled excitedly. Sawyer studied the toy with a frown. “You made this?”
She shrugged. “I learned by watching my mom make toys for Henry when he was a baby. It’s just a hollowed-out piece of wood filled with some dried beans and covered with several layers of cloth sewn closed.”
He turned it over in his hands. “Clever.”
She breathed a sigh of relief as she turned to pull an apple pie out of the oven.
“Has he had his evening feeding yet?”
She glanced back over her shoulder. “Not yet. It’s a little early, but I can feed him af—”
“Not necessary.” He straightened and moved to the counter where the clean bottles waited. “I can take care of it while you finish up what you’re doing.”
His easy acceptance of the chore surprised her. “But your supper’s ready.”
“It’ll keep for the few minutes it takes Little Bit here to eat.”
So he already had a pet name for AJ. She watched from the corner of her eye as he picked up the baby, then sat in one of the kitchen chairs.
Once AJ had settled into his feeding, Sawyer turned his attention to Henry. “How was school today?”
Emma Jean stiffened, but Henry only shrugged.
“I don’t go to school,” her brother answered.
“Why not?” Sawyer’s accusing look was directed her way. “I never said he had to work here during school hours.”
Emma Jean kept her gaze on her work as she answered. “Henry’s never gone to school. Our pa didn’t think attending school was a good use of our time. So Ma taught me to read and cipher, and now I’m teaching Henry.”
Her explanation didn’t seem to satisfy him. “You learn a lot more going to school than how to read and cipher.” His expression hardened, as did his voice. “And your pa’s not around anymore.”
AJ must have picked up something of what Sawyer felt because he quit feeding and started fussing.
While Sawyer settled the baby down, Emma Jean sliced the bread, using the time to collect her thoughts on how best to respond.
As she set the platter of bread on the table, she sent Henry out to put a dirty dishrag in the laundry hamper. Once he’d left the room, she turned back to Sawyer. “Even though Pa’s not around anymore, his reputation is splattered on us like cow dung. I don’t think Henry would be welcomed with open arms in the schoolhouse.”
“Miss Trosclair has always struck me as a fair-minded woman. I don’t think she’d turn any kid away from her classroom.”
“It’s not Miss Trosclair I’m worried about. Kids can be cruel, especially when they pick up attitudes from their parents.”
His brows came down at that, then his expression closed off entirely.
She wasn’t sure if he intended to say more on the subject, but Henry returned and Emma Jean quickly turned the conversation. “It looks like AJ is done with his bottle. If you’re ready to eat, I’ll get the stew on the table.”
Sawyer seemed to notice the three place settings on the table for the first time. “There wasn’t any need for you and Henry to wait on me for supper.”
“Nonsense. It’s your house and your food. It’s only proper that we wait. Besides, we don’t mind, do we, Henry?”
“No ma’am.”
Sawyer didn’t comment further.
As Sawyer ate his surprisingly tasty supper, he mulled over what she’d said about Henry not being welcomed by the other kids at school. It reminded him of the way Lanny had been treated back when they were kids. His brother had been mocked and teased unmercifully by some of the bullies, and even the less vindictive kids had ignored or looked down on him. It had made Sawyer so furious he’d wanted to fight those battles on his brother’s behalf.
But his parents had forbidden him from doing so.
“You should look after your brother, sure,” his father had said, “but blacking someone’s eye won’t make them like him more.”
“But it might make them leave him alone,” Sawyer had insisted.
“Just let your brother know he has someone he can always count on,” his mother added, “and that will be enough to take the sting out of the other children’s teasing.”
Of course, a lot of the teasing and jibes had gone right over Lanny’s head.
That wouldn’t be the case with Henry. And he didn’t have anyone to watch out for him except his sister, and she couldn’t go to school with him.
It wasn’t right the boy couldn’t go to school though.
And apparently Emma Jean hadn’t gone to school either. Strange that he hadn’t realized that before. Of course, she was probably eight or so years behind him. Still—
She cleared her throat, interrupting his thoughts. “I hope you don’t mind, but Henry and I moved the crib into the room Henry will be sleeping in.” She bounced AJ on her lap, securing him with one hand while she ate with the other. “He knows what to do if AJ wakes during the night. And if he can’t quiet him, he’ll come fetch you. So you can sleep knowing AJ’s cries won’t go unheard.”
Sawyer still had his doubts about Henry’s ability on that front, but he’d promised to give it a try, so he merely nodded.
When he’d finished eating, he pushed back from the table. “Thank you for fixing supper. It was mighty tasty.”
She pinkened prettily at the compliment. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. There’s more if you’re still hungry.”
“I’m good.” Sawyer carried his dishes to the washbasin, then frowned as he looked out the window. The storm didn’t show any signs of letting up. “The rain’s still coming down at a fair rate out there.”
Emma Jean didn’t seem unduly concerned.
“It’s only water,” she said as she placed AJ back in his basket. “And it won’t be the first time I’ve gotten a bit wet.”
Henry was a bit more alarmed. “But the road—”
“I’ll be fine Henry.” Emma Jean’s firm words were accompanied by a don’t argue look aimed at her brother.
What had Henry been about to say? Sawyer dredged up what he knew about where the Gilley place was located. Out past the east edge of town, he thought, on a little-traveled side road. He’d never been out that way himself.
Perhaps he should loan her his slicker and hat.
She turned back to him. “As soon as I get the kitchen set to rights, I’ll be on my way.”
Sawyer was surprised she was so matter-of-fact about the situation. His determination to keep things purely businesslike between them warred with his chivalrous nature for a few moments.
Finally, decision made, he folded his arms. “You’re not going out in this. You’re staying right here tonight.”
Chapter 16
Emma Jean stiffened. “I know you mean well, but I don’t think it’s appropriate to—”
He brushed her objection aside, irritated that she’d think he would be so insensitive to either of their reputations. “Don’t worry, your good name won’t suffer.” He heard the growl in his voice and deliberately moderated it. “There’s a cot over in the mercantile. I’ll spend the night there.”
“But—”
Why couldn’t she just do as she was told? “Don’t argue—you work for me, remember?”
Her chin came up at that. “Of course.”
“You can handle the sleeping arrangements however you want, just stay out of the room at the end of the hall.” He wasn’t about to let a Gilley sleep in Lanny’s old room.
“I’m sure we can make do. And thank you.” Her expression had softened and she was looking at him as if he were some kind of hero.
He quickly brushed her thanks aside. “I’m not doing this to be nice. I’m only doing what makes sense, given the circumstances. Can’t have you catching a chill and leaving me without a caretaker for AJ. The mercantile is a whole lot closer than your house.” He glanced out the window. “It’ll be dark soon, so I’d better go.”
Turning on his heel, Sawyer headed for the front porch where his still-wet rain slicker, hat, and boots awaited him. She followed right behind.
Sawyer quickly donned his rain gear, eager to be gone. “I’ll be back by in the morning to check on AJ before I open the mercantile.”
“I’ll have breakfast ready when you get here.”
With a nod, he headed into the storm.
Sawyer found himself once again wearily shedding his wet hat and slicker. He hung them on a coatrack by the counter, then sat down to pull off his boots. The thought that it had been nice to be met at the door with a dry towel and the aroma of supper simmering on the stove pushed to the forefront of his mind. And the way she’d looked, all soft and dreamy-like, as she’d talked about the rain—
Pushing that thought aside, he lit a lamp and padded to the rear of the store where the blankets were shelved. The chill in the air had seeped inside, and he’d rather not light a fire in the stove.
He turned down the lamp, stretched out on the cot, and pulled the blanket over him. The cot wasn’t as comfortable as his bed at home, but it would do.
Not quite ready to sleep, Sawyer stared up at the ceiling, which was visible in the soft bit of moonlight that bled into the room from the transom above the rear door. But instead of the ceiling, he saw the gratitude in Emma Jean’s eyes as he insisted she stay at the house while he came here.
Not that he’d done it to be kind to her. No, it had been entirely selfish. After all, if she got sick from walking home in the heavy rain, it would mean he’d have to start looking all over again for a caretaker for AJ.
Besides, he’d also realized he’d sleep a whole lot better here alone than he had the past three nights tending to AJ. He wouldn’t have to keep an ear open for sounds of distress from the baby or spend half the night trying to keep him from waking the neighbors with his piteous wails.
As Sawyer finally drifted off to sleep, he smiled, knowing that tonight AJ would be someone else’s worry.
A very pretty, motherly, green-eyed someone else…
Emma Jean quietly changed for bed, careful not to disturb the infant sleeping in the crib a few feet away. She’d given the sleeping arrangements some thought and decided it would be best if neither she nor Henry slept in Sawyer’s room. So Henry was now comfortably tucked in on the sofa in the parlor while she took over the bedchamber that had originally been assigned to him.
Not that either of them were complaining—far from it. With their stomachs full of hearty fare, a weathertight roof over their heads, and cozy places to sleep, they were more comfortable than they’d been since before their mother died.
They were living the kind of life—simple but comfortable and secure—that she’d always dreamed of for herself and Henry. Temporary, but comforting all the same.
Yes, tonight both of them would sleep better than they had in quite some time. And it was all due to Sawyer. Regardless of how he’d chosen to couch it, what he’d done tonight was incredibly kind.
She slipped into bed and under the covers. Was her plan working? Was he actually starting to see her and Henry as individuals apart from their father?
Despite the common sense hammering at her not get her hopes up, Emma Jean found herself smiling as she closed her eyes and surrendered herself to dreams of possibilities.
Chapter 17
Sawyer showed up the next morning just as Emma Jean was putting the platter of biscuits on the table. She thought he looked more rested this morning. In fact, he seemed to be in a good mood.
“Thank you again for letting me spend the night here last night,” she said feeling suddenly shy. “I hope you managed to get a good night’s sleep at the mercantile.”
He shrugged. “It was comfortable enough.” Then he added with a smile, “And blessedly quiet.”
Rather than taking a seat at the table, he waved toward the front of the house. “Come out to the porch for a minute. I want to show you something.”
Curious, she wiped her hands on her apron and followed him down the hall and through the front door. With a flourish, he waved a hand toward a wheeled white wicker contraption.
“It’s a baby buggy,” he said as if she might not recognize it.
“I see that.” She moved closer to examine it, running her fingers along the handle. “And it looks like a very nice one.”
He nodded. “I bought it from Mrs. Lowell yesterday, but I didn’t want to bring it home in the rain. Her youngest is five years old now and she doesn’t have a need for it anymore.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I thought it would come in handy when you have to go out and do some shopping or run other errands.”
“It sure will.” She gave him a hesitant smile. “In fact, I need to run one of those errands this morning, with your permission of course.”
“What’s that?”
She took a deep breath, wondering how he would react to her request. “We have some livestock left out at our place, just some chickens and a pair of goats. I had planned to feed them each morning before I came here, but since I spent the night here, I haven’t had a chance to take care of that today.”
He frowned. “Your place is about a mile out, off the old spring road, isn’t it?”
His knowledge of her home’s location surprised her. She hadn’t ever seen him out that way. “Yes, but don’t worry. Henry and I make that walk all the time. And I give you my word we won’t dawdle, just feed the animals and come back.”
He waved a hand dismissively. “It’s not that. After last night’s storm, the roads are muddier than a pig wallow. I’m not sure how the baby buggy would do.”
“Oh.” He was right of course. “Then I suppose I’ll simply carry him. He doesn’t weigh much more than a sack of groceries.”
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br /> “I can’t allow that.” His tone brooked no arguments.
She hadn’t expected an outright refusal. “Are you saying I can’t go tend to my animals? Because that’s not—”
“Simmer down.”
Emma Jean’s hands curled into fists at her side as she struggled to contain her temper. Had she actually been sweet on this ill-mannered lout of—
“What I’m suggesting,” he added calmly, “is that when I shut down at noon, I get a buggy from the livery and we drive out there and take care of feeding your animals. If you think they can wait that long?”
His offer took the steam out of her ill-humor, restoring her faith in his gallantry. “Of course. And thank you.”
But again he waved off her thanks, almost as if her gratitude irritated him. “I’m doing this for AJ’s benefit, not yours.”
“I understand.” She angled her head toward the house. “And that sounds like him looking for some attention now.”
She moved toward the door. “Come on inside and eat some breakfast before it gets cold. I’ll wipe the baby buggy down and bring it inside after breakfast.”
She headed inside without waiting to see if he would follow, a smile on her lips. She was beginning to believe the man’s gruff tone and refusal of her thanks was just his way of hiding his kind heart. Because despite his sometimes churlish attitude, he’d shown her nothing but kindness and consideration since she’d first discussed his hiring her.
Sawyer deftly handled the reins, turning the buggy onto the puddle-riddled road as they reached the edge of town. He was acutely aware of Emma Jean seated next to him, close enough for her skirts to brush against his trousers as she hummed sweetly to AJ, who was seated on her lap.
Henry was seated behind them along with the baby basket that Emma Jean had insisted on bringing.
“It sure is a pretty day,” she said happily. “Mother Nature did a good job of freshening everything up.”
Sawyer (Bachelors And Babies Book 6) Page 7
