“You don’t say? Well, I’ll be.” Waldo tapped his fingers to his chin. “Now, why don’t I take you for lunch?”
“Thanks, but I’ve had mine, and I’d better get back to the shop. Send me word when the safe arrives, and I’ll be right over.”
“I’ll do it. Have a nice day.”
Edward passed through the hallway to the lobby of the bank and on out to the sidewalk. It was a crisp, gorgeous Colorado day, just the kind he loved. One of the things he loved about the weather was that hours before it could be cold and snowing and then, just as fast, clear and pleasant. Of course, in the dead of winter there would be a few days that snow wasn’t so obliging and most folks hunkered down indoors. But at least he’d be with Anna. He strode over to his horse, anxious now to tell her about his new client, and to see her bright blue eyes light up when he got home.
“Edward!” Daniel called out to him. He turned around and waited for his friend.
“You stashing more money in your bank account?” Daniel asked, resting his elbow against the hitching post. He gave Edward’s horse a friendly pat and fed him a sugar cube from his pocket.
“You always carry sugar or carrots in your pocket, don’t you?”
Daniel chuckled. “As a matter of fact, I try to. Where would we be without our best friend?”
Edward leaned his head back with a smile. “Well, if you believe what Anna says, then a man’s best friend is his dog.”
“A dog? Then she hasn’t spent much time around horses, has she?”
“Apparently not. Where are you off to?”
“Back home. I came to meet up with my father and have lunch.”
“He still giving you a hard time about moving back to the ranch?”
“He’d like nothing better. But for now, I have a good business making furniture. And besides, I enjoy it. But I’m not crazy about renting the small house I’m in, that’s for sure.”
Edward scratched his chin. “Mmm . . . I see.”
“I’ve been saving when I can for my own house, but that’s in the future at this point.”
“Just like marriage?”
Daniel laughed again. “I don’t know who’d have me, to tell the truth. But I have hopes.”
“You do? Are you telling me that you have your sights set on someone?”
“Could be.”
Edward clapped his friend on the back. “You sure are being tight-lipped. Can’t you let me in on your secret?”
“You already know her. It’s Callie.”
“You kiddin’?”
“No, I’m not kiddin’.” Daniel straightened up with a serious look at him.
“Well, I’ll be danged. Does she know?”
“Of course not. She’s not going to look at me. Heck, I don’t even have a steady income. I work on commission, remember? With all her money and that fancy house, I don’t believe she’d give me the time of day.”
It was Edward’s turn to laugh. “Daniel, let me tell you a few things. When a woman is attracted to a man, it doesn’t matter if he’s rich or not. The other thing is, you’re second-guessing her. Why don’t you ask her for a ride out to your family’s ranch? What do you have to lose? Nothing, except maybe a chance at love with a pretty nice lady. Look at me—I took a chance.”
Daniel poked his finger in Edward’s chest good-naturedly and said, “You’re right as usual, friend. Maybe I will. But you’ve got the prettiest woman in these parts.”
“I have to agree with you on that, so keep your thoughts to yourself—I’m not going anywhere. We get along just fine,” Edward said.
“Ha! I know how particular you are, but I’m tickled to see you hitched and finally giving in a little.”
“Giving in? Who gave you that idea?”
“I ran into the ladies having tea, and Anna said something about taking care of animals.”
Edward pulled his shoulders back. “She did? Well, I guess it’s true. I’ve let her have two dogs and a cat . . . for the time being, that is.”
Daniel cocked an eyebrow. “Is that a fact? Wonders never cease.”
Edward folded his arms. “See what I mean about women? They can turn you inside out! Guess I’m proof of that. But I’ve got to get going. My shop’s locked up and I’m behind.” He climbed on his horse’s back. “By the way, that was quite a bit of horse riding you did at the rodeo. Impressed the heck outta me, that’s for sure. I didn’t know you had such muscles either. Want to tell me how to get my upper body stronger?”
Daniel stared up at him. “Are you serious?”
“Yes . . .” Edward’s voice trailed off.
“I do a few things to stay healthy, plus I’m outdoors every chance I get. You know, you could stand a little more sun yourself. Being inside makes you pale. Stop by sometime after supper. I’ll show you my tricks.”
Edward almost felt offended, but knowing his friend like he did, he knew Daniel’s comments were just observations. “I think I will. You have me curious now. See you soon.” Daniel nodded, and Edward tugged on the reins and set off for home.
Once there, he put his horse away and gave him oats and fresh water, then took the back steps to where Moose got up to greet him with a friendly lick. Baby jumped up, barking until he gave her a pat on the head. The kitchen door was locked. Hmm, Anna must still be out shopping. Well, he mustn’t fuss if all the chores weren’t done. He knew she’d get to them eventually.
He pulled out his key, opened the screen door to push open the wooden door, and stiffened. Cricket had dumped over the flour bowl that held the rising dough Anna had left on the table. The cat looked at him and meowed, then jumped from the table. After a hard landing, she ran underneath the kitchen cabinet to hide. Flour was on the floor and the pretty bowl was split in half. The dogs flew past him, barking at the cat. It was utter chaos—the dogs yapping and sliding around in the flour and the cat hissing to high heaven.
This is not good! Not good at all. Edward clamped his jaw tight. That had been his mother’s prized bowl. He leaned down to pick up the pieces, muttering under his breath, and remembered how she’d allowed him as a child to lick the bowl after the cake batter was poured.
“Blasted cat! Good thing you’re underneath that cabinet, or I’d be tempted to put you there right now!” I must be crazy for even entertaining the thought of buying wire for pens in the barn. Just as well—he’d forgotten to purchase it after talking to Waldo anyway.
The swinging kitchen door opened, and Anna waltzed through and set her groceries on the table. With her hands on her hips, she asked, “Just who are you talking to, Edward?” Then she looked around at the mess he was standing in and gasped. “Oh no!”
———
“I was yelling at Cricket!” Edward said. “Apparently she felt the need to check out the bread dough you left rising. Of course, the bowl shattered in the process.” He continued to pick up the broken pieces of the bowl, and after she got the dogs calmed down and pushed them back out onto the porch, Anna bent to help.
“I’m sorry. I left her fast asleep this morning with a full tummy. You know how frisky kittens can be.” Anna tried to smooth the situation over, but anger was written across his handsome face.
“You should have put her pallet on the porch with the dogs.”
Just when I was going to tell him about my idea to start an organization. She wouldn’t say one word about it for now. Paw prints from where the dogs had traipsed through the flour were everywhere. Her heart sank as she went to get the broom and began to sweep up the floor. “Edward, I will finish. Don’t you have work to do?” she asked when she heard the doorbell to his shop ring.
“Yes, but I want to talk to you about this later.” Edward set the broken pieces of the bowl on the table and hurried to his shop.
After cleaning the floor and putting away her marketing supplies, Anna got down on all fours and looked into the far corner under the cabinet. Cricket was cowering there, her large eyes wide and luminous in the dark. “Cricket, sweetie, come
on out. Your enemy is gone now.” But Cricket wouldn’t budge. So Anna laid down facing the opening of the cabinet and reached her arm in until she came in contact with Cricket’s fur. Finally she pulled her out, all the while cooing and speaking softly to the frightened kitty.
Anna pulled Cricket to her chest and rubbed her bony back until the delighted kitten purred with contentment. “What you need is something to eat. I think oatmeal would be just the ticket!” She grabbed her apron and put Cricket in the deep front pocket, filled a pan with water to boil for oatmeal, and began to snap the fresh green beans she’d bought. When the water boiled, she added oatmeal and hummed a tune while the tiny kitten stayed curled inside her apron pocket. Poor little thing. Edward’s yelling had scared her. How was she going to win his heart over when it came to the helpless creatures? He had finally taken to the dogs, but was she asking too much to get him to care about the kitty?
Her mind had been working overtime on the way home after Daniel had made his suggestion. She wondered if he could construct a couple of small individual pens at one end of the barn. Next time she went out, she’d drop by and ask him. No harm in that, right?
Once the oatmeal cooled, she added a teaspoon of sugar and a tad of milk and set it on the floor near the back door. She pulled Cricket out of her pocket, gave her a swift kiss on the forehead, and placed her in front of the dish. Smiling to herself, she watched the kitten lap the oatmeal right up, then went back to getting supper started. She needed to see what else she must do before the day was over. Moose and Baby were standing at the screen door, gazing at her for their share of supper, tails wagging. She had to laugh. It was almost like having children, but not quite.
20
“Today I had tea with Callie at the Red Rose,” Anna said, clearing their dinner plates after they’d finished eating. Edward shoved back his chair to help. “She was doing her marketing too. I really enjoy her company. She invited Daniel to the reading group.” She tried to ease into conversation and tell him about her idea.
“Good. I’m glad she asked him. She’s a lovely woman, and I’m glad you’ll be friends. I’ve known her since we went to grammar school.” Edward helped to stack the dishes in the sink. “Supper was good. You know, you’re a pretty good cook.” He winked.
Good, she thought. Maybe he’s not mad anymore. “I’m surprised you didn’t take her as your wife,” Anna said. She had wondered about that from the first day she’d met Callie.
“Oh, she’s sweet, but she’s like a sister to me. We’ve spent a lot of time together, though. School, church functions, and the like. My mother would have been pleased if I’d been serious about her, I think.”
“I’ll just bet she would.” Anna conjured up a picture of the two of them and envied all the time they’d spent together. Callie probably knew him better than anyone other than his mother when she was alive.
“Jealous?” Edward teased.
“A tiny bit,” Anna admitted.
“Well, don’t be. I never had those kinds of feelings for her.” Edward took the dish towel from her and laid it on the sink, pulling her to him and planting a kiss on her brow. “With you . . . well, it’s different. You and I have our differences, but I think we’re working through them. Except for the cat . . . or maybe animals in general. You really must get rid of Cricket. She’s nothing but a mischief maker.” He glanced over at the cat curled in a ball and fast asleep.
Anna stiffened. “That’s how kittens are—frisky! Edward, I plan to find her a home, but don’t you see I must first get her healthy? You really frightened her. I wanted to . . . I wanted to talk to you about an idea that Daniel gave me.”
“Daniel?” Edward gently pushed her back. “What does he have to do with this?”
“He stopped by our table today while we were having tea, and I mentioned his skill as a horseman. Then Callie told him how I like animals too and had rescued Moose and Cricket.”
“Oh great, Mr. Muscle Man himself.”
Anna wasn’t sure why he said that. Envy? Jealousy? “Daniel’s your friend, Edward,” she pointed out, but continued on. “He suggested I think about starting an organization to help abandoned or mistreated animals. I must confess I had it on my mind all the way home today. I began to get excited about the possibility.” She suddenly felt breathless trying to blurt it all out at one time.
“Just stop right there, Anna.” Edward held his hand up. “I can’t let this continue. Before I know it, our home would be overrun by strays.” Whereas only moments ago he’d been smiling and flirting with her, his face was now an immovable mask.
How could he be so stubborn? “I promise that won’t happen. If you let me have a small area to keep them in, then when I come across another animal in a situation, I’ll have a place for them. Besides, if I have an organization, then I’ll be able to garner interest from like-minded people. I just know it. I’ll print up flyers to announce—”
Edward stood with his legs spread apart, hands on his hips. “And with all that you’d be involved in, how would you have time to run the household?”
“Do you mean finish that stupid list every day? Am I not doing that faithfully?”
“It’s not a stupid list. It makes sense to have things itemized that must be attended to on a regular basis, or life is chaotic!” He stared at her as though she’d grown two heads.
“Chaotic only in your mind, Edward. But you didn’t answer me. Aren’t I doing what is required on that list?” She folded her arms across her chest, trying to keep her composure. She didn’t want to have another spat just when everything was falling into place in their relationship—or so she thought.
“I suppose, most of the time. However, you do get distracted easily. Why can’t you let someone else start a club for mistreated animals? Why does it have to be you?”
She struggled to keep angry tears back. “Because I care?” She threw the question back at him.
He appeared at a loss as to what to say. “But I don’t, so we have a problem, don’t we? In fact, the cat can sleep in the barn, starting tomorrow! I’m going to bed.” He started toward the hallway.
“We’re not finished talking, Edward,” Anna said.
“I am. I have a lot that must be done tomorrow.”
“Edward!”
He paused and turned around, the muscle in his jaw twitching. “What?”
Anna fished in her apron pocket and pulled out her list. “This is what I think about the list you tied me to.” She ripped the paper into pieces, and it fluttered to his feet. As she watched his expression, she added, “And I suggest that you do the same thing with your list!”
His mouth fell open for a moment, then clenching his fists to his sides, he strode from the room. Anna stared after him, trembling in fury.
Anna walked over and picked Cricket up, holding her tightly before sitting down in the rocking chair by the fireplace. “It’s going to be a long night, Cricket, but I’ll figure out some way to keep you inside until you’re healthy,” she whispered in the kitten’s ear. She’d never before seen that look in Edward’s eyes, and it frightened her. She knew she’d probably acted immature and childish, but why was he so against having animals around? The more she thought about it, the harder she rocked. Somehow they would have to compromise. But how?
When there were only embers of fire left in the grate, she finally put Cricket down and, with dragging footsteps, made her way to the bedroom. She was glad Edward was already asleep so she could do some thinking—if he was in fact asleep. But just in case he wasn’t, she quietly opened the bureau drawer and pulled out her least becoming nightgown of heavy flannel. She didn’t feel amorous tonight.
———
Edward heard Anna come to bed but didn’t so much as acknowledge the fact. If she wanted to be a little spitfire, then so be it! He lay on his side on the farthest edge of the bed, staring at the wall and making certain his body wouldn’t come in contact with hers. That was all it would take and he would be undone by those lusciou
s blue eyes. He had wanted to tell her about the job at the bank, which he’d felt so proud of, but now it didn’t seem important to tell her.
Was he being too unreasonable? Maybe he deserved to have the list be torn into pieces. In the beginning, he thought it would make things easier for her if she knew what he expected. His mind drifted to his own list. He would never show it to her now, but he’d never intended to in the first place. But you never asked her what she expected of you, did you? a quiet voice in his spirit reminded him.
Edward sighed. No, he hadn’t. I need to start all over again. He wanted to roll over and draw her to him, but something held him back. It was the whole thing about insisting on the pets and an organization that was going to take time away from him. He finally shut his eyes after what seemed an interminable amount of time, and he was soon dreaming . . .
Young Edward brought the dog home, despite his father telling him there would be no pets in the house. Sneaking the puppy to his bedroom at the back of the house, he figured his dad would eventually give in once he saw the cute puppy.
During the night his father heard the puppy’s bark and stormed into his room, yelling and demanding to have the dog. Edward handed it over, and his father tore from the room and shoved the dog out into the cold rain. It was raining so hard that Edward couldn’t see, but after his father left, he went outside, calling the puppy’s name. But there was no answer. The storm was getting worse, the winds increasing.
Finally, he heard the puppy’s bark and ran toward him just as the high winds brought down a huge elm tree right in front of him, one of its heavy limbs falling onto the puppy. The boy sat in shock on the ground in the pouring rain next to the unmoving puppy, wet and matted, vowing he’d never forgive his father—and he’d never again let himself care about an animal that much.
When Edward awoke from the dream, he was sweating, and he mentally shook himself, throwing an arm over his head and eyes. It had been a long time since he’d had the dream. A sliver of light shone through the slit between the curtains, and he could hear Anna’s deep, even breathing. He eased out of bed and slid on his pants. He’d hardly slept at all and needed a strong cup of coffee. If he hurried, he’d have time to catch the sunrise from the porch and have his coffee undisturbed.
Perfectly Matched (The Blue Willow Brides Book #3): A Novel Page 12
