Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 47222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
“What, you know how to cook?” I ask in a sassy voice.
“I know how to do a lot of things.” His suggestive smile almost makes me cream in my panties, and I’m shocked by my physical reaction to his grin.
“Well okay then.” In a desperate attempt to steer clear of any further flirting, I turn to go back in the kitchen to make breakfast. Just as I open the door, it occurs to me that I need to go to the hen house to fetch the eggs.
“So any chance I can get around you to get to the coop? I need eggs if I’m going to make us some omelets.”
“Of course. Here.” Ranger offers me his hand gallantly, making sure I don’t tumble over the lack of a bottom step. Part of me wants to trip and fall so he has to catch me, but the saner part of my mind simply takes his hand and skips to safe ground. But in my attempt to be overly careful, I actually do trip and Ranger’s quick to catch me at the waist. His big hands are square and firm, and I can feel a blush rising on my cheeks.
Yep, dreams are becoming reality.
“Sorry,” I mutter and dash to the hen house. I want to pretend I felt nothing when his hands grasped my waist, but I’m too on-edge to deny the electricity that had surged through my body at so minor an encounter.
I try not to think about the fact that he’ll likely do the same thing once I need to go back up the stairs. Gathering the eggs, I steady my breath and return. But Ranger has already finished fixing the step, and now he’s moved on to the porch railing, which has fallen completely askew.
I’m disappointed not to touch him again, but I know it’s probably better this way. It’s not like he’s sticking around just to make you tingly, you ninny.
Pushing the thought out of my mind, I smile and tell Ranger I’ll let him know when breakfast is ready and return to the safe haven of my house. Soon, breakfast’s ready, and I call through the screen door.
“Time to eat!”
He grunts and comes in, suddenly making the kitchen feel very small. Then, we sit down to the table like we had the night before. Ranger eats breakfast just as he had consumed supper the night before: with good manners and polite banter. It puts me at ease, his carefree demeanor and easy conversation.
“Well, if you want, I can drive you to the next town, so you can catch the bus from there. Not sure where you’re headed next, but since your horse ran off, it’s the least I can do.” I try to conceal the fact that I don’t exactly want the handsome cowboy to leave by serving us both more coffee.
Ranger nods thoughtfully. “Not too many farms in these parts, you said, right?”
“Just me and the McLaughlins some ways over. But trust me, you don’t want anything to do with the Lazy M.” I shudder from the memory. “They’re just not the best of people, that’s all.” I stuff omelet into my mouth in order to deflect any additional questions about the larger farm that surrounds mine.
“Well.” Ranger pauses mid-bite, a thoughtful look on his chiseled face. “Look, Darcy. I don’t mean for this to come off as insulting, but it looks like you could use a lot more help on the farm than you’re letting on.”
I’m not exactly offended by Ranger’s observation, but I am prideful. And I intend to let him know it, too.
“Now just a minute,” I begin. “I’ve been running this farm just fine for the last six months since Pa died and I am perfectly capable of doing so all by myself. I have a good garden, Miss Bethy gives me what I need for dairy, and the chickens are pretty content just going about their business laying eggs.”
Ranger holds up a hand to interrupt me but I’m on a roll now, feeling emboldened by the need to defend my livelihood.
“Now I acknowledge that harvesting is hard, but I’ve been doing it for the last twelve years of my life alongside my Pa so I will get on just fine when it comes time for that. Don’t try to say it’s a man’s work, either.”
I lock eyes with him, the words a challenge in the air.
“Darcy.” Ranger takes my hand into his. “I didn’t mean to offend you. All things considered, you’re doing okay on your own. But there’s a lot more you could use help with, and it’s not shameful to ask for help from time to time.”
Calmed by his gentle touch and his soothing voice, my anger starts to dissolve.
The cowboy continues. “You’re right in that you’ve got a real nice place, but it’s falling apart.” He lets go of my hand and gestures around the kitchen. “The faucet leaks, sure, but that’s just one of ten things not working in this room alone.” He stands up and pulls on the bottom of his chair, tugging one of the legs clear off.