“Quiet,” Morgan snapped in a stage whisper. “I told you, Jane’s still sleeping.”
Jessop replied in a similar tone. “Then you tell me how I’m supposed to prepare them with the shell still on.”
Scowling, Morgan muttered something under his breath and sat back in his chair.
Jem answered for him, sotto voce. “Hard-boiled.”
Equally hushed, Jake said, “Soft-boiled.”
Max said, “Anyone want more coffee?” When everyone just stared at him, he shrugged and set the pot down.
Jessop turned back to the hot griddle and dropped the contents of the eggshell onto it. It sizzled and crackled loudly on a thin layer of bacon grease. Behind him, he heard Morgan swear softly and everyone else snicker.
Jake asked, “Is she all right?”
“She didn’t say she isn’t,” said Morgan. He glanced over his shoulder to the doorway. “Do you think I should check on her?”
The men all looked at each other, then at him. No one answered.
“What?” he asked.
Jem shrugged. “Just surprised you asked, is all. Usually you do or you don’t. Whatever it is.”
Max stretched his legs under the table. “Guess she’s got you tied up in knots, boss. That sound about right?”
It sounded about right, but what Morgan said was, “You think she’s got me in knots because I asked you if I should go back and see if she’s all right?”
Max shrugged. So did everyone else.
Morgan picked up his coffee cup. He had it almost to his lips when he said, “I love her.”
No one said anything.
Morgan looked at them over the rim of his cup. “Well?”
Jessop glanced over his shoulder. “Hell, boss, I reckon we all knew that.”
“Yeah,” said Jem. “What made you say it?”
“It’s the knots,” said Max. “You’ve got them yourself, Jem. You should know they provoke a man to say peculiar things.”
“Well, sure, but it don’t happen much at the kitchen table, not without cards and liquor to ease the way. Jessop, how’re those eggs comin’? Boss is hungry and talkin’ out of his head.”
Morgan’s mouth twisted to one side. “You all had your fun? Jake, you have something you want to say?”
“Nope, but if you want to say it again, I guess that’d be all right. Sounds like you could use the practice.”
Morgan set his cup down. “Does it?”
This time they all nodded.
He cleared his throat and rolled his neck. “I love her.”
Jane stepped into the kitchen, a forefinger pressed against her lips. “Shh,” she whispered. “You’ll wake her.”
Morgan scowled at Jake. “You knew she was standing there.”
Affecting innocence, Jake held up his hands.
