Chase (Prairie Grooms, Book Four) (16 page)

“
Oh, I had no idea you aspired to be a farmer,” she said, her voice lowered a notch.

“I hadn’t at first. I
came up to Oregon from San Francisco a few years back on account…” he snapped his mouth shut.

“On account of what?”

He shrugged. “My father and I had a disagreement.”

Her brow slowly rose at the disclosure. So, that’s what
darkened his soul
. She could see it in his eyes. “I’m sorry, I understand how disagreements between family members can … cause a lot of damage.”

He was about to comment when Mrs. Upton came into the room pushing a small cart. A tureen of soup and several bowls rattled atop it at her approach. Whatever sort of soup was in the tureen, smelled wonderful. “Here we are!” she said happily. “I made this especially for the two of you. I hope you like it.”

Imogene sniffed the air from her table, and gazed at the cart like a hungry bear. “I say, but that smells heavenly. What is it?”

“
Something of my own invention,” said Mrs. Upton with pride. “If you like it, I’ll give you the recipe.” She filled three bowls, served them, and then disappeared back into the kitchen.

Chase looked into Lena's eyes. “I'll say the blessing.” She smiled at him, nodded, then bowed her head and closed her eyes. He smiled at the peaceful picture she made, then glanced at her cousin. Where as Lena looked like an angel with her head bowed and her eyes closed, Imogene looked like the devil about to go on a rant. She glared at her soup, spoon in hand, and waited. His eyes widened at the stark contrast between the cousins, before he too bowed his head. “Oh Lord,” he began. “I thank you for the pleasant company tonight. May you bless this food to our bodies and continue to give us great bounty, all the rest of our days. Amen.”

“
Amen,” whispered Lena.

“
About time,” said Imogene in a huff. She then began to eat.

Chase leaned toward Lena, and in a whisper, asked, “Is she always in such a hurry, when it comes to food?”

“
No,” said Lena. “She's just been very cross today. I'm not sure why.”

Chase tasted the soup. “Mmm, well this ought to keep her quiet for a while. It's delicious!”

Lena also tasted it, and he watched as her eyes filled with pleasure. “You're right, this is good.”

“You'll have to ask
Mrs. Upton to give you the recipe.”

She
stiffened in her chair, and stared at him over her spoon, then took another taste. “I don't know I’ll ever be as good a cook as Mrs. Upton.”

“Sure you will. I
t just takes practice. I didn't always know how to shoe a horse.”

“Shoe
ing a horse may be an easier skill to acquire than learning to cook.’

“
We can always trade,” he suggested. “You can become the new blacksmith, and I’ll stay at home and cook your meals.”

She laughed, a beautiful, wonderful sound that sent a chill up his spine. He itched to take her in his arms and kiss her, and wondered if he could make her emit another sort of sound.

He quickly took another spoonful of soup.

S
he watched him and smiled. “I'm afraid I would make a very poor blacksmith. The thought of harming such a magnificent creature is appalling to me.”

“A
ppalling? Pardon me ma'am, but you must not know much about smithin’ a horse. It don't hurt them none.”

“
It looks like it does.”

“
Not if you know how to do it the right way,” he told her. “Come by the livery stable tomorrow and I'll show you.”

She set down her spoon and smiled. “I'd… like that. But might I also ask if…” Again she hesitated, and he wondered what was wrong.

“Ask
what?”

“
Well, just as you had to practice and learn how to become a blacksmith, I've recently discovered I need to learn and practice how to… be a wife.”

He dropped his spoon. It landed in his bowl with a clatter as he
gawked at her. “What?”

She swallowed hard. “I… that is…”

“She wants to get some practice in at your house before she marries you, you imbecile!” her cousin blurted from the other table.

Now Chase gawked
at both of them. “Isn't that what you're doing out at the Triple C?” he retorted, ignoring the insult. “Ain’t Belle and Sadie learnin’ ya on how to cook and all that sort of thing?”

“
Yes, yes they are,” said Lena. “But I also understand that the Triple C has more… shall we say… amenities, than you as a blacksmith, might have.”

He stared at her, his pride pricked. “What do you mean,
as a blacksmith
?”

She turned away a moment, then back, her face red. “My sisters and I thought it might benefit us both, if I practiced in the environment I'm to find myself in.”

“
You mean you want to come to my place and learn how to cook?”

“
Yes,” she said with a nod of her head. “That's exactly what I'm saying. Aside from cooking, I’d like to do your laundry and learn whatever else I can before we’re married. That way, I’ll know what I’m in for.”

He sat back in his chair, his mouth half open, as he took in what she was saying. “Is this a test?” he finally asked.

“
No, it is not a test,” she informed him. “At least not for you, perhaps for me…”

“
What's the difference if you learn how to cook out at the Triple C or my place?”

She began to fidget in her chair. Have you seen the Triple C’s kitchen?” she asked. “Do
you
have a kitchen like that?”

H
e sat up again. “No, can't say that I have. I think I'm beginning to understand.” He stared at his now-empty soup bowl. “All right, but I'm gonna be working down a the livery stable, and won't be there.”

“
I understand. Jefferson and Edith have agreed to teach me what I need to know, and then bring me home. You'll never know I was there.”

He glanced at her cousin
as she continued to eat her soup, then glared at them both. “Is she going out there with you?” he asked out the corner of his mouth.

“
No. Only Edith and Jefferson,” she whispered back.

“
Then it's a deal,” he said. “You can do your learnin’ at my place. Sounds logical since you're gonna be livin’ there in another week.” Her entire body relaxed. Is this what she'd been nervous about asking him? Having cooking and sewing lessons at his place? Now that he thought on it, if it would make her more comfortable, he was all for it.

“T
hank you so much,” she said as she reached across the table and touched his hand. “You won't regret it, I promise.”

Chase stared at her hand, his skin feeling as if it had been seared by a mere finger. He wanted to kiss her so much it almost hurt.
One week
, he said to himself. One more week and he'd hold her in his arms and kiss her as much as he wanted. He just hoped and prayed he could hold out that long. The thought of having her in his home before they were married thrilled him. There was only one problem, he suddenly realized. His house looked like a tornado had gone through it. After she saw it, would she still be as keen to marry him?

Eleven

The rest of dinner was a quiet affair for which Lena was grateful. It was enough to ask her intended to practice her domestic skills at his home without coming across like some  ninny twit. She watched him as they ate their way through the roast chicken, vegetables, mashed potatoes, and right into dessert. Which by the way was delicious. Mrs. Upton certainly could make a wonderful cake! They sipped their coffee in silence as Mrs. Upton cleared away the dishes. She was about to thank him for a wonderful evening when Imogene interrupted. “Lena,” she snapped. “Colin is waiting for us.”

Lena turned to her. “I distinctly remember him saying he would come fetch us once he finished his business. Don't you remember?”

“
Yes, I remember,” she agreed. “But what sort of business would take this long? Something might be wrong.”

Lena
turned Chase. “As much as I hate to admit it, I do believe she has a point.”

“Allow me to escort the two of you. I
t is, after all, getting dark,” he pointed out.

“
That would be most kind,” said Lena. They got up from the table and joined Imogene where she sat. “Coming cousin?” asked Lena. “Mr. Adams has offered to escort us to the Waller's house.”

“So that's where Colin is?
” asked Chase. “Down at Doc’s?”

“Yes,” said
Lena. “He wanted to speak with Sheriff Hughes, Doc Waller, and that man, Cutty.”

“Poor ol Cutty. I bet he’s gettin’ pretty tired of all the questions folks keep
askin’ him,” said Chase. “How would he know anything about the outlaws?”

“
One never knows,” said Imogene, as she stood. “Lena lets go.” She suddenly stopped up short. “Mrs. Upton,” she called and turned. Mrs. Upton looked at her as she continued to put things away. “Thank you ever so much for the lovely meal. It truly was satisfactory.”

“Coming from you,
I'll take that as a complement,” Mrs. Upton told her.

Imogene turned, started
for the dining room doors, and without looking over her shoulder said, “Come along Lena. Don't waste the evening.”

Chase held out his arm and she took it. “Thankfully, I don’t anticipate a run in with outlaws between the hotel and the Wallers,” she told him. “But I am glad you're coming along.”

Chase smiled
and patted the arm looped through his own. “Happy to be of service. Course, it's just my way of sneaking in a few more minutes with you, but that's all right.”

She’d blushed
so much that evening, she didn't wonder if her cheeks were permanently pink. “If my company pleases you, then perhaps we could see each other tomorrow?”

“Why
, I’d like that fine, Miss Lena. Seeing as how you're gonna be using my kitchen to learn how to cook, maybe you can cook somethin’ up for my supper.”

“
I wouldn't put too much stock in my culinary skills as yet, Mr. Adams. At this point, I'm afraid I would disappoint you.”

He stopped
and looked at her. “Call me Chase. I'd prefer it.”

She smiled
and nodded. “Lena,” she said softly. “Just Lena.”

“
Lena,” he repeated his voice low. “It's a beautiful name, I like the way it sounds.”

“
I'm glad,” she said smiling. She didn't dare tell him her real name. With her luck, he'd like it, and want to call her by it all the time! She might not bear telling him she hated it.

They caught up with Imogene
and continued down the street to the Waller's house. By this time it was after dusk and the evening was growing chilly. Lena hadn’t thought to bring a shawl, and wished she had. As if sensing her thoughts, Chase pulled her to him, and smiled. She inched closer in response. The heat from his body was heaven.

Imogene went straight to the front door and knocked. Doc answered. “Evenin’ folks,” he said. “I guess you must be looking for Colin.”

“Is he
still here?” asked Imogene.

“
Yep, he's here.” Doc opened the door the rest of the way, then motioned them down the hall toward the patient room. Once there, he opened its door and stepped aside.

Imogene
entered first, stopped short, and gasped.

Lena and Chase followed her into the room. “Are you all right, Cousin?”

Imogene’s face
paled as she stared at the man on the bed. “I… Yes… I'm quite all right,” she stammered.

“
Perhaps we should wait outside,” suggested Lena.

“
No, it's quite all right,” repeated Imogene. She turned to Colin, who sat in a chair beside the man's bed. “Are you finished with your business?”

Colin got up from the chair. “I was just about to read a few verses to ol’ Cutty here, before he turned in for the night. But I do still need to speak with Doc before we leave. Would you mind doing it for me, Cousin Imogene?”

“
What?” she asked. “Me? Read?”

“
You do know how to read, don't cha?” drawled Doc.

She spun to
him. “Of course I know how to read. Do I look like an idiot?”

Cutty
choked. Colin was immediately by his side, but soon realized he was laughing. “Cousin, I really think you ought to read to him. Trust me, he's going to enjoy it.”

Imogene straightened. “I am not in the habit of reading to invalids.”

“Cousin Imogene!
” scolded Lena. “Where's your Christian charity?”