The Rancher Takes a Cook (24 page)

Heat crept into Anna’s cheeks, but before
she could turn away, Jacob set the cup on the counter and hooked an
arm around her waist. With a teasing grin he pulled her to his
chest and tapped a finger under her chin. “Yep, a man would sure
like to get used to this.”

Anna’s breath caught and her heart fluttered
like the wings of a hummingbird. His pulse beat strong under her
palm on his chest. Every nerve in her body was aware of the
strength in his arms as they wrapped around her. She braved a
glance at his face and was suspended in the crystal blue of his
eyes. She needed to say something, and she finally stammered out
the first thought that made itself from her mind to her mouth. “Are
you hungry?”

Jacob’s eyes roamed down to her lips.
“Very.”

A tingle ran through her body as his blue
gaze darkened and his mouth came down to hers. The touch of his
lips was warm and strong, and their intensity flooded her even as
her own body responded. Anna’s hands crept up to his neck, through
his thick locks, and down his strong jaw. Jacob’s arms wrapped
tighter around her body, pulling her against him. His hands slipped
upward and kneaded her upper back. A little moan escaped from the
back of Anna’s throat as every part of her came alive. The sound
seemed to quiet something within Jacob, and he pulled back
slightly, resting his forehead on hers, faces inches apart. His
ragged breathing mingled with hers and Anna’s chest pumped as she
struggled to catch her breath.

“Anna.” Her name on his lips was spoken like
a prayer.

“Hmmm…” She ran her hands back around his
neck and gently fingered the short hair at his nape.

“Go riding with me today.”

She drew back a few inches to scan his eyes.
“Go riding?” She was sure the question played on her face. Today
was Wednesday, a workday. Didn’t he have work to do out with the
cattle?

He rubbed his hands over her back again and
pulled her to him so her head rested against his chest. His strong
heartbeat hammered next to her cheek. “Just for a few hours. I’ll
come back to get you around ten o’clock, and we’ll ride down to the
river before it gets too hot. Please?”

Anna remained quiet for a few moments,
relishing the warm protection of being wrapped in Jacob’s arms. At
last, she stepped back and gave him a contented smile. “Okay. Now,
you’d better get out of here so I can finish breakfast.”

Jacob left with the men after breakfast, but
true to his word, he marched in the front door promptly at ten.
Anna was in her room upstairs, putting the finishing touches on her
hair, when Abigail’s soft whine and tail thumping on the floor
boards signaled his return even before the front door closed. She’d
tried a new hairstyle today, something other than the simple braid
wrapped in a knot on her head that was her typical look. Today, a
few curls framed her face while the rest of her mane was pulled
into two braids that met in a low twist, offset on her neck.

Satisfied her hair was as good as it was
going to get, she took one last speculative gaze in the mirror,
eyes running over her yellow gown. She pulled the delicate gold
cross and chain from under her neckline and straightened it, then
headed downstairs.

Jacob was waiting at the bottom for her and
Anna’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. He was so tall,
and his forest green shirt stretched across broad, muscled
shoulders that contoured into a trim waist. His blue eyes held a
twinkle as they followed her down the stairs. When she was almost
at the bottom, he reached for her hand, halting her progress. His
lips were warm as they placed a gentle kiss on her fingers, but his
eyes never wavered from her own. A shiver ran through her body at
the contact, but she kept a smile planted on her face.

Jacob guided her down the remaining stairs
then tucked her hand under his arm. “M’ Lady, your steed awaits,”
he said, with a flourish of his free hand.

Anna turned on her best Southern Belle drawl
and gave him a coy smile, batting her eyelids. “Why, thank you,
kind sir.”

He chuckled and released her hand as she
reached for her bonnet on the peg by the door.

“Let me just tell Aunt Lola you’re stealing
me away.”

As they rode away from the house, a gentle
breeze flapped the edge of her bonnet. Lifting her face to the
sunshine, she released a contented sigh and stroked Bandita’s neck.
The mare bobbed her head, pulling at the bit in frustration at
their slow pace. Anna shook her head at the mare’s antics and gave
her a final pat. “You ready to move out, girl?” She looked to Jacob
and their gazes met. He had the beginnings of a grin on his face.
“You mind if we jog for a ways?”

He nodded. “Fine with me, but just for a
bit. You need to take it easy with your leg.”

She arched an eyebrow at him. “I’ll be
fine.”

As she squeezed her legs to push the mare
into a jog, however, the familiar burning sensation pierced the
outside of her thigh. But the pain didn’t stop her enjoyment as
Bandita’s stride evened out into a ground-covering gait. It seemed
like they had just begun when Jacob called them back to a walk. As
they rode on, Jacob pointed out the changes to the landscape over
the past few months and added in a story about the herd of deer the
men had surprised one day last week.

“There were five or six does, each with a
fawn, and the buck had a pretty good sized rack on him. They must
have smelled us coming because they were running when we first
found them. They sure were a sight to behold.” His tone held
reverence.

The familiar gushing of the river water
sounded even before they emerged from the wide trail through the
woods. As soon as she reached the river’s bank, she slid off her
horse, careful not to land on her bad leg, and stepped to the edge
of the water. The breeze was stronger here, so she loosened her
bonnet strings, allowing it to fall down her back so the wind could
tickle her face and hair. The grass on either side of the water was
always green no matter how hot the sun, and a few birds twittered
to each other in the trees across the water.

* * *

Jacob stepped up beside Anna as she stood on
the edge of the river bank. “It feels like heaven, doesn’t it?” He
spoke softly, not wanting to interrupt the spell of the beauty
around them.

She turned to look at him and her hazel eyes
glimmered more than usual. “I’ve missed this place.”

His body moved of its own accord, taking a
step toward her and reaching out a hand to stroke her cheek. The
time had come, but how could he put into words what he wanted to
tell her? He was a simple cowboy, definitely not an eloquent
suitor. He took a deep breath.
God, help me to find the right
words.
An image of his father popped into Jacob’s mind,
speaking a phrase he’d heard many times.
Son, just say what you
mean.

“Anna.”

“Yes, Jacob.” The sound of his name on her
lips warmed his insides.

He placed a hand on each of her arms. “I
want this to be your place, our place…always.” She stared at him
with a question in her eyes and he tried again. “I’ve always loved
the ranch, from the beginning it’s been a part of me. I never
thought I’d find a woman who felt the same way.” He brushed a
wayward curl out of her eyes. “I didn’t realize there was someone
as special as you out there. And frankly, it took me a while to
accept just how perfect you are.” The corners of her mouth turned
up, but her amber eyes remained locked on his. “And it took me a
while to realize how much I love you. But I know it now, so I just
have one question for you. Miss Anna Stewart, will you do me the
honor of becoming my wife?”

Anna’s eyes softened and her voice was low
and sweet as she spoke. “I’d love to.”

Jacob let out the breath he’d been holding
and allowed a grin to spread across his face. His eyes drifted down
to her lips. He could taste their sweetness already. He gave her a
teasing grin and murmured, “Now that’s settled.” He lowered his
mouth for a taste.

By jingo, she was sweeter than he
remembered. Her arms around his neck spread a wave of desire
through him and he pulled her closer. After just a few moments, he
forced himself to break their seal, resting his forehead on hers.
This woman was too irresistible to trust himself for long, but soon
she would be
his
.

“So what do you think, should we go see the
preacher this afternoon?” he said in a low, teasing voice.

Anna leaned back, her eyes forming wide
circles. “Today?” she squeaked.

Jacob chuckled and pulled her back into his
arms, tucking her head under his chin. She fit so perfectly there.
“Right this minute, if you’ll say yes.” He stroked her back,
enjoying her softness under his hand. “But if not today, you just
tell me when.”

The next few days kept Anna busy, with the
garden in full production and so much work to do, canning and
preserving food for the winter months. Everything was different
now. It would be her own family she prepared for. She was a little
like the woman in Proverbs chapter thirty-one who
riseth also
while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household.

“I don’t know what kind of day you have
planned, Anna.” Mr. O’Brien’s voice broke through her thoughts as
they all sat at the breakfast table one morning. “But Aunt Lola and
I are heading over to the Wallace Farm this afternoon and wondered
if you’d like to come along? I need to take them a load of beef in
trade for grain for the horses.”

A bubble of excitement built inside Anna.
She longed to see Ginny again and tell her about the wedding. It
didn’t take long for the bubble to burst, though. So much work
waited for her, both in the kitchen and the garden outside. She
only had a week and a half before the wedding and needed to get
things done.

She gave him a gracious smile. “I’d love to,
but I have so much to do here. I need to get started on things.
Please give Virginia my apologies for not attending with you. I’ll
send a basket with you, though.”

“Oh, come now,” he said with a wave of his
hand. “What do you have that can’t wait until tomorrow? And we’ll
be back in plenty of time to start supper.”

Anna wavered in indecision for a moment, but
another voice broke into the conversation.

“She’d love to go with you.” Anna’s head
whipped around to the source of the voice, and Jacob eyed her with
a stubborn set to his jaw.

“Wonderful.” Mr. O’Brien beamed. “It’s all
settled then. We’ll leave right after lunch.”

Anna hustled through as many chores as she
could during the morning hours, and by the time she settled into
the wagon seat after lunch, she was exhausted.

When they arrived in the Wallace farmyard,
Mr. O’Brien pulled the wagon to a halt beside a small building not
much bigger than a large outhouse. Anna and Aunt Lola strolled
toward the cabin in search of Ginny, while the men unloaded the
brown paper-wrapped packages of salted beef from the wagon and
stored them in the building. When the wagon was empty, they would
load sacks of grain back into it from the Wallaces’ barn.

Anna’s knock on the door was answered by a
pint-sized version of Ginny, complete with the head full of blonde
curls, heart shaped face, and laughing eyes. The little girl’s
porcelain skin had a few extra decorations, though, by way of red
smears around her mouth and cheeks. Probably strawberry preserves,
judging by the shade of crimson.

“Hi, Katie. Is your mama inside with Lilly?”
Anna bent down to be at eye level with the four-year-old.

Katie’s thumb slipped into her mouth and she
nodded.

“Can we come in and visit for a while? I’d
love to see how good a big sister you are.”

The little girl’s eyes lit, and her head
bobbed again. Anna chuckled, rose to her feet, and followed the
child through the doorway, Aunt Lola on her heels.

“Ginny?” Anna called through the house as
they trailed Katie toward the direction of the bedrooms.

“Anna? Is that you?” Ginny appeared through
one of the doorways carrying a chubby baby on her hip. “And Aunt
Lola. I’m
so
glad you’ve both come. Please come into the
parlor and have a seat. Just give me a second to get cleaned up.
Seems like I’m always changing diapers these days.” She gave them
both a wry grin, but her enthusiasm bubbled too close to the
surface to be overshadowed. “Can I get you both a glass of
lemonade? It’s so hot for tea, but I can heat a kettle if that’s
what you’d prefer.”

“Lemonade sounds perfect.” Anna reached for
baby Lilly and giggled at the way the little one ogled her with big
blue eyes. “I declare, Ginny. She’s gained ten pounds since I saw
her last month.”

Ginny flashed a proud smile, as she poured
the golden liquid into mugs. “That little one loves to eat, for
sure.”

They settled into an easy chatter as Aunt
Lola asked about the baby’s health. Anna listened as her mind spun.
How could she bring up her own news? She shouldn’t have
worried.

Aunt Lola turned to Anna with a gentle nudge
of her elbow. “Well, bonnie lass, are ya goin’ ta tell her or am I
gonna have to?”

Ginny gasped. “Anna Stewart, are you holding
out on me?” She leaned forward to perch on the edge of her
chair.

Heat crept all the way up to her ears and
her gaze dropped to the liquid swirling in her cup.

“Out with it.” Ginny was never one for
patience.

“Well.” Anna stirred her lemonade. “It seems
Jacob has asked me to marry him.”

Ginny erupted in a squeal and leaped from
her chair to hug Anna. “Oh, my friend. I am so happy for you!”

Anna giggled as she squeezed Ginny back. For
some reason, she was self-conscious with Aunt Lola looking on.

The older woman’s eyes held their usual
twinkle, though, and her mouth broke into a toothy grin. “It’s
about time that boy got around to doin’ somethin’ good for him. I
was beginnin’ to think he was going to let this little lady slip
away.”