“Uh? What?” She drew in a long breath. “Could you help me bring in my luggage?”
“Of course.” He should have thought of it.
“I’ve made coffee. Enjoy it while I clean the kitchen.” She set a steaming cupful before him.
“I hope there’s an adequate supply of coffee beans. I wouldn’t want to run out.” Wait. He made it sound like he was staying. “I’ll buy some when I go to town.”
“Lots of tea and coffee. As far as I can tell, there’s lots of most things.”
“Did you go to the cellar? Mae, the housekeeper, put up plenty of preserves. I expect there are still some left.”
Water splashed as she washed dishes. “I’ll have a look later.”
“Be careful on the stairs. They’re steep.”
“I’ll be careful.” A dish whispered across a shelf as she put it away. She finished the cleanup and dumped the water out the door, watering the bushes by the step just as Mae had done.
“Chet brought those bushes with him when he came west. Told me they came from a bush his mother was fond of.”
“It looks like honeysuckle.”
“That’s what Chet called it.” Everywhere Jace turned, something had Chet’s name on it. Reason enough not to stay. “The birds like it. Chet kept it pruned. Said if he didn’t, it would take over.”
“You’ll have to do it now.”
“Have you forgotten I won’t be here?”
She brought the coffeepot and refilled his cup, filling one for herself as well before she returned to her seat.
It didn’t escape him that she ignored his question.
“I didn’t have time to make dessert, but I’ll make something for supper. I see rhubarb by the corner of the shed.” She tippedher head to indicate the direction she meant. As if he didn’t know the location. “Thought I’d make a pie or two.” Her throat worked as she drank a mouthful of coffee before she added, “I make really good pies.”
Did she mean to tempt him to stay with hints of her cooking? It wasn’t going to work. He’d manage his own cooking even if it fell far short of what she offered.
He drained his cup and shoved it to the middle of the table. “I’ll bring in your things.” If he’d been thinking, he would’ve asked Cal or Lee to help, but it was too late for that.
She followed him out the front door to where the wagon stood. He dragged her trunk to the end. Together, they carried it into the house. He made sure she went up the stairs first so the bulk of the weight fell to him.
They set the trunk down in the hallway. “Where to?” Had she decided on a room?
“This one has two beds. We’ll stay here. I like the view.”
“You can see the river from this room. But there isn’t a direction where you don’t have a great view.” Why did each word choke from his throat? Did she notice? To divert her, he picked up one end of the trunk and waited for her to lift the other. They set it inside the door. He studied the room. Did it look spartan to her?
“Come, I’ll show you where the bedding is.” He led her to the closet across the hall that held not only sheets and blankets but also crates of books and Chet’s old letters and pictures. Carefully ignoring those things, he filled her arms and carried another stack back to the beds.
“Thanks for your help. I truly appreciate it.” Her smile was like sunshine on a blue-sky day. He could get used to seeing it on a daily basis. Whoa. No. That wasn’t going to happen.
“I’ll bring in your other bags.” The house echoed with the sound of his boots striking wood as he descended two steps at a time. Outside, he paused to catch his breath and right histhoughts. His gaze went in the direction of town and the cabin beyond, tucked away in the deep woods.
Laughter and excited barks drew his attention back to the ranch. At least they had Skip to guard them. Now where had that thought come from? He kicked it back into hiding, grabbed the hand luggage, and carried it upstairs. The beds were both made, and Dianne stood at the foot of one, smiling as if the sight pleased her.
He stopped in the doorway to watch. Chet would have enjoyed her company and that of the little boy. How often had the man stated that all the place needed was a child running up and down the stairs?“Ain’t that I don’t appreciate your company. You’re just like a son to me. Someday, I hope you’ll bring in a wife and children. ’Twould be my greatest joy.”
“Something wrong?” Her brow furrowed as she studied him.
“Nope.” He dropped the bags to the floor. “Guess that’s all. Time for me to be on my way.”
