His smile broke free. “So…you want to ladle while I hold the bowl?”
Snapping her mouth shut, she nodded. “Yes. That will be fine.” Her words sounded breathless, as if she couldn’t quite figure him out.
It broke his heart that being treated with kindness and respect warranted confusion for Ella. He vowed to do whatever it took to make her feel at home on the ranch. It would be good for her. It would be good for the children.
And it would be good for him.
CHAPTER 9
The next morning, Ella woke to muffled grunts. She slitted her eyes open. Cody sat on the floor, rubbing his neck. Guilt sliced through her as he craned his neck this way and that. The man shouldn’t be sleeping on a pile of blankets in the middle of winter. In his own home. Because of her.
She stifled a sigh. How could she continue to put him through such misery? She’d seen the way he stretched his neck when he thought she wasn’t looking. He deserved the comfort of his own bed. But was she brave enough to invite him there?
Cody got to his feet. She let her eyes fall shut, contemplating her dilemma. Minutes later, Cody had a fire blazing. Ella welcomed the warmth. She stretched and opened her eyes.
And promptly shut them again, trying and failing to erase the image of her shirtless husband from her mind. Her cheeks flamed. It looked as though ranch life kept him physically fit.
His footsteps neared the bed. “Darlin’, I know you’re awake. You’re redder than a sunburnt cowboy.”
Being a redhead had its drawbacks. She peeked up at him through her eyelashes, relieved to see that he now wore a shirt. “Sorry,” she squeaked. “I didn’t know you were dressing.”
His hands rested on his hips. “No harm done. How’s your hand?”
She blinked, trying to keep up with the abrupt change in subject. “It stings a little but is fine otherwise.”
“Good.” He looped his suspenders over his shoulders. “I thought I’d come back early today. Take you and the kids shopping in town.”
Ella pushed herself up. “What?”
“You need practical clothing. The kids are outgrowing what they have. We’ll visit the seamstress to get that taken care of.”
“But…aren’t you strapped for money?”
“Not so badly I can’t provide for my family.”
The matter-of-fact way he said the words told her this wasn’t a snap decision. She scooted back against the headboard. “All right.”
Cody shifted from foot to foot. “Well, then…I’ll get some breakfast going.”
“I can do that.” She pushed back the covers.
He put a restraining hand on her shoulder. “I’ve got it, Ella.”
Something sparked in her chest. She stared up at him, caught in the brilliance of his eyes.
Cody blinked, then blinked again. He took a step back, letting his hand drop from her shoulder. “See you downstairs.”
Ella chewed her bottom lip. The warmth from his hand lingered on her skin long after he walked out the door. She slipped out of bed and readied herself for the day. As soon as she finished tying her hair back, Addie babbled from the other room. Ella headed there.
In her crib, the little girl sat playing with her toes. When she saw Ella, she clambered to her feet and held up her arms. Ella’s heart surged with love for her new daughter. She lifted Addie and cooed. “Oh, sweetie, you need a clean diaper, don’t you?” Ella kept her voice low so she wouldn’t wake the boys while she chatted and changed the baby’s diaper. Isaiah and Jonah slept through it all. With Addie on her hip, Ella eased over to Isaiah and touched his forehead for fever, relieved to find it cool. She ran a hand over his hair, then did the same for Jonah. Tapping Addie’s nose, she headed for the door. “Should we go see Uncle Cody?”
By the time she made it downstairs, the fires Cody had built had warmed the house. He turned when she entered the kitchen. His gaze landed on Addie. A smile touched his lip, his eyes softening before he turned them toward Ella. “The boys still asleep?”
“Peacefully.”
“Good.” He pointed to a bowl on the table. “Eat up. It’s not much, but it’s warming. I’ll get a bottle ready for Addie.”
Ella lowered herself into a chair. The steaming bowl of oatmeal smelled of brown sugar and cinnamon. She settled Addie on her lap before taking a bite. The oats had a pleasant, chewy texture, and it tasted good. By the time Cody brought the bottle over, Ella had nearly finished the bowl.
