by Jillian Hart
Anna brushed a stray curl from Maisie’s eyes. “Want to help with the pancakes?”
Maisie slammed her slate down on the worktable and dashed across the room to drag a chair back with her.
Anna caught Cooper’s gaze. Intense. Measuring. She fought the little flip-flops in her stomach. How her body reacted to him. She tried to remember he wasn’t hers to want. She didn’t belong here.
Cooper strode toward her, the knell of each step ricocheting through her body. His nearness dizzied her. He set the steaming cup on the table at her elbow. “Sugar?”
“Please.” He opened the crock in front of her. So close she could smell the morning-soap scent of him, see the clean-shaven texture of his jaw.
He stirred in the sugar, then moved away. But the coffee kept swirling, spinning around in the cup. Just like her thoughts.
“Is Laura moving very far away after she marries?”
“Larry has a house on the other side of town. Not far. But she won’t be next door, either.” Cooper crossed the room, taking his coffee cup with him. “I’ve depended on her too much over the years.”
“She doesn’t look to me as if she’s minded.” Anna thought of Laura’s open affection toward her nieces.
“No. But it’s time for her to leave.” Cooper unfolded the morning’s newspaper, but didn’t read it. “That’s why I’m glad you’re here. Laura said she was going to invite you to the wedding.”
She bowed her head, concentrating on her work. She measured the sugar, then folded in the dry ingredients. “Yes. I’m agonizing over what gift to get her.”
“Me, too.”
She felt him watching her. His brazen and hot gaze stayed square on her back. When she turned to check the fire in the stove, he didn’t look away. Her pulse jumped, wondering what he was thinking.
“I’d forgotten how nice it is to have a woman in my kitchen.” Low and caressing, that voice. “Someone who can make everything right.”
“But Mrs. Potts was a girl, Papa,” Maisie argued.
“Mrs. Potts wasn’t just a woman,” Cooper explained. “She was scarier than a charging buffalo.”
Glad she wasn’t being compared to a big woolly animal, Anna turned to her work with a smile.
Morning dragged by. Cooper didn’t like paperwork, and especially not today. He kept thinking of the woman in his house. How she’d made his daughters laugh all through breakfast. She’d made him laugh, too.
“Do you want to go take the early dinner break?” He offered Tucker. “I can do the noon rounds.”
“What? I thought you went home for dinner right at noon every day,” his little brother teased as he carried out the prisoner’s empty tray.
“I’m behind in my paperwork.” Cooper didn’t look up.
“Sure. It wouldn’t have anything to do with Anna Bauer, would it?” Tucker sat on the edge of the desk. “Don’t try to deny it. A woman’s gotten to you and it’s driving you mad.”
“She hasn’t gotten to me.” Cooper wanted to wipe that damn jaunty grin off his little brother’s face.
“Sure. She’s just about the prettiest woman I’ve seen since Denver.”
Cooper grabbed his hat. “I’m going out to check with the deputies I posted at the clinic. You’d do better if you attended to your work and not my love life.”
“Love life! Ha!” Tucker chortled. “I knew I could get you to admit it.”
Cursing his slip of tongue, Cooper strode out into the hot afternoon sun and slammed the door behind him. Dust hung in the air and he tried to calm himself, tried to erase Tucker’s taunts. Right now Anna Bauer was in his house, taking care of his girls. He’d seen how happy they were. That’s why he’d hired her, for his girls.
The busy street was filled with horses and riders, mules and wagons, teamsters hauling supplies and women carrying shopping baskets from store to store. A pair of boys darted past, kicking cans.
What he needed to do was to concentrate on his work. Protect the peace. Hunt down Corinthos. Worry about transporting the gold that had been on that doomed stage. He did not need to spend all day thinking about Anna.
But he couldn’t help it. As he strolled through town, he saw a blond woman everywhere he looked.
He simply couldn’t get her out of his head.
Her presence had transformed his house in the way no other woman’s had. She’d made it warm and happy, as if she’d brought the morning sunshine with her. Her voice sounded like music. From the moment he’d seen her showing Maisie and Katie how to make smiling-face pancakes at the stove, he knew he was in trouble. And they’d tasted better than any breakfast food he’d had before, sweet, light, tempting. Something he wanted to savor.
Maybe he was getting his feelings toward the pancakes and Anna confused. His blood heated remembering the swish of her pretty checked skirts over slender, curving hips.
There was no denying the spark warming his blood when he looked at her. And that spark was a frightening thing. Cooper Braddock didn’t want to need any woman. It was safer on a man’s heart that way.
Anna heard the knock on the open back door. Looking up, she saw Laura step into the kitchen.
“Whew, it’s starting to get warm outside.”
Anna reached for a hand towel. “Come in and cool off. I have apple cider.”
“Sounds good. No, I can get it myself.” Laura found a glass in the cupboard. “I saw two little outlaws out front still trying to evade that pesky sheriff.”
Anna’s heart warmed. “They’ve been at it most of the afternoon. Katie is over at Davy Muldune’s house.”
“Into all sorts of trouble, no doubt.” Laura’s eyes twinkled. “I was hoping to steal the girls this evening. The closer this wedding gets, the more I realize my life is going to change. I won’t be living next door to my nieces. I won’t be able to come over and share supper with them any time I want.”
“You’ll be sharing supper with your new husband.”
Laura set aside the pitcher. “I’m looking forward to that. I just want to spend more time with Katie and Maisie before I leave. Katie doesn’t take well to separations. Not with the way her mother left her. She pretends differently, but I know it affects her.”
“She’s a sensitive girl.”
Laura cocked her head. “Most people would say she’s trouble. But you’re right. She’s a good girl, too, once you get past the reptiles and the mud. Look, you’ve got supper almost ready. Let me help you set the table.”
Anna uncovered a plate of biscuits and set it on the counter beside the crock of new butter. “Why don’t you stay for supper? Mandy and I can leave if you want—”
“No!” Laura gave the cupboard door a slam. “You ought to stay. Why, you practically belong here. Besides, Katie would never speak to me again if I chased you off.”
Pounding footsteps echoed through the house. “Laura! Laura!” Maisie burst into the kitchen, wearing her play cowboy hat and carrying her little enamel teapot.
Mandy trotted in behind her, wearing Maisie’s too-big pair of fringed chaps.
“We’re needin’ tea, Anna.” Maisie folded herself into Laura’s arms.
“We’re parched,” Mandy explained.
Anna rescued the teapot from Maisie’s precarious grip. “I’ll get this filled right up. Do you two outlaws need any grub?”
“We’re needin’ some cookies, too.” Maisie hopped down, serious as a hanging judge.
“Cookies, Mama.” Mandy sighed. “It’s important.”
“And right before supper, too.” Anna tried not to be charmed. And failed miserably. “Here you go. Two each.”
She heard the crock rattle. Little-girl giggles filled the room with happiness. Anna filled the play teapot with more apple cider. “Here you wild outlaws go.”
“Thanks for the cookies.” Maisie grabbed the teapot and headed for the door.
Laura stood. “You girls want to come hide out at my place? Anna, can I take Mandy for a little bit?”
Tw
o excited cheers nearly deafened them.
She laughed. “I guess so.” Mandy waved goodbye to her, happily trotting after Maisie and Laura. What a fun outlaw tea party they were going to have.
Cooper stood in the doorway, his shadow long and lean on the floor. She looked up into his laughing eyes. “What was that?”
“Laura’s taking the girls.” Anna considered the timing. She saw through the open window how Laura glanced back at the house, then hurried the little girls toward her cottage. “I think she just lied to me.”
“She set us up.” Cooper swept off his hat, hung it on the peg on the wall. “She told me to be home at exactly five o’clock. It sounded important.”
Anna looked at the table. There were two place settings. Two. “I never should have let her get away with this. Does she still think we’re having a fight?”
Cooper’s half grin drew her gaze and held it there. “She’s a good sister, but she’s in big trouble now. I’ll go fetch the girls. You don’t have to put up with my company. Where’s Katie?”
“At Davy’s.” Anna set the plate of chicken on the table. “I smell another plot.”
“I do, too.” Cooper glanced at the window. “A plot getting bigger by the moment. I’ll be right back.”
He loped out the door, leaving her with a steaming bowl of dumplings. Anna set them on the table. She could see him through the window, heard the low rumbling of his voice as he called out to Laura.
Laura’s horse and buggy were parked in front of her cottage. Anna saw the little girls inside it. Mandy grinned broadly on the seat beside Maisie. Maisie was still clutching her teapot and wearing her cowboy hat. Laura waved as Cooper approached and slapped the reins against the horse’s rump. They took off out of sight.
“I can’t believe it.” He strode into the kitchen. “My sister just kidnapped our children.”
“Kidnapped?” Anna untied her apron. “I’m sure she’s taking them somewhere to eat. It’s suppertime. We just have to follow them.”
“No.” His fingers wrapped around her wrist.
Heat skidded up her arm, jolted through her whole body. She looked up into eyes dark and deep. “Mandy—”
“Will be just fine.” Cooper led her to the table. “Laura told me you and I need time alone.”
“We do?”
“We need to start planning our wedding.” That half grin was back, tugging at the dimples in his left cheek.
“Our wedding? Does she still think—” Anna took a breath. Stared down at his fingers on her arm. He released her and she stepped away. “I’ve never given her reason to assume that. You must think that I—”
“I don’t,” he interrupted. He held out a chair at the table. “Katie and Laura planned this. You wouldn’t have made a whole platter of chicken and dumplings if you were in on the plot. Although, it is my favorite meal.”
“Katie asked me to make it.” Anna collapsed into the chair. “I feel weak.”
He laughed. “Now you know what I’m up against. I’ll take you out to find your daughter if you want. But it would be a shame for all this food to go to waste.”
“It does smell good. I haven’t had chicken and dumplings in the longest time.”
“That gravy smells tasty.” Cooper’s smile dazzled. “Come join me for supper.”
“Laura and Katie will think they’ve won.”
“But we’re not getting married, so what’s the harm?” Cooper’s arm brushed hers as he pulled out a chair.
Her stomach fluttered at his touch. A lot of harm could come from spending time alone with him.
He held the platter of chicken for her. “I have a lot to thank you for.”
“You do?” Anna set a chicken leg on her plate.
“Every night I used to come home from work in fear. What did Katie do today? Is the housekeeper going to quit? Do I have to give her a bonus to stay?”
“Do you still come home in fear now that I’m here?”
“No.” He grabbed a chicken breast and dropped it on his plate. “Now I come home and see my daughters happy and well cared for and a delicious supper on the table. What you’re doing for the girls means a lot.”
“I’m not doing anything different from what Mrs. Potts did. Minus the grumbling.”
“That’s not true.”
“Well, except for maybe my dried-berry pie. I have it on very good authority that Mrs. Potts couldn’t make pie half as tasty as mine.”
“I’ve never had a pie that good.” He handed her a folded dishcloth from the pile on the shelf. “We haven’t had a lot of things around here.”
“What could your family possibly be missing?” Anna spooned up a couple of dumplings, then handed him the platter. “You have a cozy, beautiful home, more books than I’ve ever seen, laughter at every meal. You have everything that’s important.”
“That’s where I beg to differ.” Cooper ladled gravy over his meat and dumplings. “I didn’t realize what we were missing until you.”
“Me?” She laughed at that. “You mean you haven’t missed the arguments and demands for higher wages.”
“No.” His voice rang low with sincerity. Honesty burned in his eyes. “My daughters are happy. Have you noticed how Katie smiles instead of scowls? That she’s actually behaving herself?”
Anna laughed. “See, I told you. Your girls don’t need a housekeeper, they need mothering. You owe me a big favor for figuring out the solution to your problem.”
“Now you are teasing me.”
“Someone has to.” She stared hard at the glass. She took a sip of cider so she didn’t have to look into his eyes and feel his captivating pull. She had to remind herself he was only being nice to her, that any glimmers of warmth and caring were in her heart alone. He was helping her out of charity. He was helping her because it was best for his girls. Nothing more.
“Like I said, I can’t thank you enough.” The smile in his voice drew her gaze. Her whole body tingled just looking at him. She wanted his kiss, his touch, more. Things it wasn’t right for her to have. “You’ve done more than the job requires.”
“Then we’re even, because I can’t thank you enough for paying both the doctor and the hotel bills. That was beyond the call of duty, Cooper. Even if I do intend to repay you.”
“Oh, I don’t know. That call of duty is a pretty large one. I’ve been a lawman for a long time.” He lifted his own glass. “It’s more than walking around with a badge on my chest. I try to do all I can for everyone. It makes for a better town, and for a better life.”
“Too bad you aren’t more humble,” she couldn’t help but tease.
“I deserved that.” He laughed. “Actually, being a lawman is a family tradition. My father was a marshal, but he’s retired now.”
“Does he live close by?”
“He and my stepmother live over near Billings. They have a cattle ranch there.” His fingers brushed hers when they both reached for the butter crock at the same time. She drew her hand back.
He hesitated, then offered her butter. “You know Tucker’s a deputy. Two brothers are sheriffs over in Silver Bow, and another is a marshal.”
“Five boys? Poor Laura, being the only sister.”
“Not the only. The youngest girl is still at home with Mother and Pa. I was the oldest.”
“So was I.” Anna tried not to think of all the hopes her parents had for her. And how she failed them.
“It’s nice having you in my house, Anna. I hope you can stay with us for a while. Katie needs you.”
Her heart thumped twice, just gazing into his eyes. How impossible it was not to care for this man of iron strength and courage, of kindness and humor.
“Mama?”
Anna turned from the open window. “I thought you were sleeping.”
With a rustle of the sheets, Mandy sat up, nothing but shadow in the dark room. “Do you got bad dreams?”
“No, pumpkin.” Just troubled thoughts.
“Will the man in the moon h
elp?”
“That’s what I’m hoping.” Anna gazed out at the nearly full moon, high in the zenith. Silver light filtered through dark pine branches.
“Do you see him?” The ropes creaked.
Anna’s breath caught as Mandy slipped from the bed wearing Maisie’s too-big flowered nightie. Her bare feet padded against the floor.
“Let me hug you.” Anna held out her arms, and her daughter stepped into them. The little girl felt so wonderful in her arms. She settled her daughter onto her lap and together they gazed at the moon.
“Is he watchin’, Mama?”
“I think I see his shadow right there on the moon. He’s keeping both of us safe.”
“And Maisie and Katie, too?”
“All little girls.” Anna had spun the story to help Mandy sleep when she was afraid of monsters in the dark. But now, she wished the story were true.
She wanted someone to watch over her. To keep Dalton Jennings away. To keep her from caring too much for Cooper.
Chapter Twelve
Cooper looked forward to mornings. Anna greeted him with a smile and he held out his hand to help her down from her horse—not that she needed it. The brush of her palm to his made his pulse beat crazily. He breathed in the breeze of her flowery scent and ached to feel her body against his. Never quite touching, she moved away. Desire beat fast and hard in his blood, leaving him wanting more from her each day.
Good thing he was a man capable of self-control.
One morning, when he was bringing in the eggs, she came out to meet him halfway. Bob, just escaped from the corral, rushed up and grabbed Anna’s hat right off her head. She only laughed, and that started Katie’s and Maisie’s mad dash to capture Bob and rescue the straw bonnet.
Katie retrieved the hat, but it was missing a decorative ribbon and had a bite taken out of the brim. Anna accepted everyone’s apology with a rippling smile and turned down his offer to buy her a new bonnet.
Another morning she made her smiling-face pancakes, to the delight of the three little girls. Mandy discovered huckleberry syrup tasted better without a fork and started licking the purple juice right off her plate. Maisie followed suit.
