The Rancher's Housekeeper Read online

  “I heard it was a little girl.”

  “Yes. She and Travis will be staying here for a while and her parents will be arriving today. I want to make sure that the guest room and bathroom are ready for Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham.”

  “Sure.”

  They went upstairs and down the hall past Colt’s and Hank’s bedrooms. Both beds were unmade. Colt’s looked thrashed, reminding her she was a restless sleeper too. Much as she would love to take a closer look at the pictures she could see on Colt’s dresser from the doorway, she would never go in there unless she was given a reason.

  His ex-wife must have been unforgettable for him not to have married again. Maybe this Sheila his brother had mentioned was someone important to him now. Geena didn’t want to be jealous, but the mere thought of him holding another woman the way he’d held her last night sent a strange pain through her heart. This was what came from being locked away from men for such a long time.

  Tomorrow was her day off. When she went to town to find an attorney, she’d drop by the store where she’d bought her Western gear and say hello to the guy who’d waited on her. If Steve was there and asked her out, she’d go and have a good time. She needed to do something to get Colt out of her system.

  She and Trish went through the guest room to get it ready. The bathroom needed more towels and some things from the pantry such as hand soap and tissues. The closet had plenty of hangers and extra pillows. They’d need clean pillow cases. The bed needed fresh linens and the bedspread needed to be fluffed.

  After leaving Trish to her duties, Geena went back downstairs in search of Ina and Laura. She found them taking a walk around the back of the house and joined them.

  “Ina? I want to try an experiment with Laura. When you’re through with your walk, would you bring her to the kitchen? I’m making some cookies to have on hand and thought Laura might enjoy helping me.”

  “That’s an interesting idea. I’ll bring her in a few minutes.”

  “Good.”

  When they appeared in the kitchen, Geena had made a place at the table to roll out a portion of the dough. She’d found a drawer full of cookie cutters and brought out the heart and the clover leaf along with a cookie sheet.

  “Let’s seat Laura right here. Colt told me she loved to cook. Maybe if she does a cutout and likes it, she’ll do another one.”

  “It’s certainly worth a try.”

  Geena got to work using the heart cutter first. It had a little knob that was easy to hold. She pressed it into the dough, then eased the cookie off the floured board with a knife and put it on the cookie sheet.

  “Do you remember making these, Laura?” She put the cutter in the woman’s hand and helped her press it down in the dough. After Geena lifted her own hand, Laura kept the cutter there and gave it another little thrust before lifting the cutter.

  “That’s perfect!” Geena cried. Before she could remove the cookie, Laura had found another spot and pressed all on her own.

  “Well, what do you know,” Ina marveled.

  Laura was like a machine. Geena put the pan of cookies in the oven, then hurried to the freezer and brought out the other half of the dough to roll out. When she handed Laura the clover leaf to try, she hung on to the heart, her cutter of choice.

  “It looks like you’re having fun, Mom.” Colt had come in the kitchen without them being aware of it and leaned between Geena and Laura to kiss her forehead. “Do you remember I like almond icing, too?”

  Ina smiled. “Geena’s idea is pure genius. I’ve never seen your mother enjoy anything this much.”

  Afraid the cookies were burning, Geena pushed herself away from Colt and rushed over to the oven to take them out. In truth, she’d felt the heat from his hard jaw searing hers. To her dismay he followed her and grabbed a paper towel so he could pick up a hot one.

  “I haven’t had a homemade sugar cookie in years.” His gaze found hers and clung while he ate it in one go. “Mom used to make hearts and put our names on them.”

  “I tried to get her to use the clover leaf, but she didn’t want it.”

  His eyes narrowed on her mouth. “That’s because the leaves came unattached while we boys iced them. Wouldn’t it be something if she still remembered?”

  “If only more of her memories could come back,” she whispered. If only Colt had met Geena under different circumstances and had asked her out because he couldn’t help himself. Then she’d know that he had personal feelings for her. But she was the housekeeper, and she knew he was wonderful to everyone.

  His eyes darkened with some unnamed emotion. “These cookies are delicious, by the way. Try one.” He picked up another heart and put it to her lips, forcing her to take a bite. His fingers against her mouth sent curling heat to every atom of her body. While she munched he said, “Thank you for including her like this.”

  “It was an experiment. Since she liked it so much, she’d probably love some modelling clay. She could cut out cookies for hours.”

  “I’ll pick some up and we’ll try it with her.” Maybe it was a slip of the tongue, but his choice of words gave her heart a severe pounding. “I’m going to shower and change. By then the Cunninghams will have arrived. I’ll settle them in their room and then drive them over to the hospital.”

  “Will they want a meal first?”

  “Not until tonight.”

  She nodded. “I’ve planned dinner around food that should taste good to Lindsey.”

  “If it doesn’t, it’s Travis’s problem.” Meaning he’d have to deal with his wife in princess mode. Colt’s tone had brooked no argument from Geena.

  After he left the kitchen, she worked steadily to prepare everything and ice the cookies in Colt’s favorite flavor. For dessert she made a lemon supreme pie. Anything chocolate might not be good if Lindsey was nursing.

  Later, with no sign of anyone around, she went into the main dining room. The buffet yielded a drawer full of tablecloths. She found one in pale yellow and put it on the table. Since this was to be a welcome-home celebration for the baby, she went outside and picked some white daisies growing in the west garden.

  She filled her arms with a large bunch and arranged them in two different vases from the china cabinet. One for the foyer table and one for the dining room. When she set it on the table with the china and crystal, it looked perfect. Now to get herself ready.

  Once dressed in another skirt and top in dusky blue, she put her hair back in a French twist and fastened it with a clip. On her walk back through the foyer to the kitchen, she heard voices outside and opened the front door. Two cars had pulled up in the front drive.

  Colt and Hank walked with Lindsey’s smartly dressed parents, carrying flowers, suitcases and several bags of supplies sent home from the hospital. Travis helped his blond wife from the other car. Then he reached for the baby carrier.

  When Lindsey’s mother saw Geena inside the door, her gaze flew to Colt. “Who’s this?”

  “Our new housekeeper, Geena Williams.”

  She half laughed. “You’re joking, of course.”

  Colt ignored her rudeness. “Geena? Please meet

  Martha and Jim Cunningham, Lindsey’s parents.”

  “How do you do?” Geena smiled. “What a great day for all of you having a new baby in the family.”

  Mr. Cunningham eyed her with interest. “Indeed it is.”

  “Let me relieve you of some of this.” She took the bags and flower arrangement he was holding. “I’ll run these upstairs.”

  In Travis’s room, she put the flowers on the bedside table and emptied the bags in the bathroom. They could arrange things the way they wanted. She took the empty bags with her and headed back downstairs, passing Colt on the stairs bringing up the suitcases. In a soft black shirt and tan trousers, he had an urban sophistication that showed h
er a whole new side of him.

  His eyes penetrated hers. “The dining room looks amazing.”

  She couldn’t stop her heart from thudding. “I hope it was all right.”

  “What do you think?” His question sounded fierce. “I told you to make this house your own. Everyone’s speechless. The place hasn’t looked like this since before Mother became ill and couldn’t remember anything.”

  His compliment meant so much to Geena, she couldn’t form words. Instead, she murmured her thanks and hurried on down. On her way to the kitchen, she saw that everyone had assembled in the living room. Travis had his arm around Lindsey, who was a beauty. She looked flushed and exhausted. Hank, not saying anything, sat across from Jim with his cast extended.

  Martha held the baby, who, so far as Geena could tell, hadn’t made a peep. She was all pink with fuzzy brown hair. So precious.

  Ina sat on the loveseat with Laura. One grandmother stared into space while the other one took over. Geena felt a wrench in her heart before she moved to the other part of the house.

  While she was making coffee, Colt entered the kitchen. “Lindsey’s tired, so I think we’ll eat now. She might not last through the whole meal.”

  “No problem.”

  After pouring ice water, she put all the food on the table where everyone could help themselves. Throughout the meal she poured coffee for those who wanted it.

  At one point Lindsey’s father glanced up at her while he was eating. “This is the best fried chicken dinner I’ve ever tasted.”

  “Amen,” Colt agreed.

  “Thank you.”

  Following their compliments Martha said, “Lindsey needs to go upstairs.” With those words, the dinner ended and Geena could start clearing the table.

  When all her duties were done, she put the dish towels and cloths in the washer. The tablecloth needed to go to the cleaners to be laundered and ironed. She’d take care of that tomorrow.

  Geena came out of the laundry room at the same time Lindsey’s mother entered the kitchen. “There you are.” She sounded put out.

  “You wanted to see me?”

  “Yes. Tomorrow I’d like you to serve breakfast upstairs in my daughter’s room at eight o’clock.”

  “For the four of you?”

  “Yes. She’ll want juice, bacon and toast. My husband likes his eggs over easy. I’ll only eat a little cereal with milk and a grapefruit. Travis will want scrambled eggs.”

  “I’d love to accommodate you, Mrs. Cunningham, but Saturday and Sunday are my days off and I’ll be away for most of it.” The older woman’s eyes rounded in surprise. “Fortunately I went to the store and there’s plenty of food for you to help yourselves. When I’m back on Monday, I’ll be happy to prepare your breakfasts the way you want.”

  She lifted her chin. “Mary was always on hand.”

  “I understand she was a paragon and is sorely missed. Before I go to bed, is there anything Lindsey needs for the baby or herself? A little snack maybe? I made some sugar cookies that might taste good. They’re in that canister next to the toaster.”

  “I think not.”

  “Then if you’ll excuse me, I’ll say goodnight.”

  Geena had barely reached her room when she heard a knock on the door. She opened it to find Colt standing there. She guessed her heart would never get used to the sight of him.

  “I saw Martha leave the kitchen like she was hurrying to a fire. Any problems?”

  “None.”

  The hint of a smile hovered on his lips. “Tell me what happened.”

  “She didn’t know I don’t work on the weekend.”

  “That explains it.” His eyes swept over her. “I know you’ve been waiting for tomorrow so you can visit your brother’s grave.”

  Colt knew her well, but he still didn’t know everything. If she told him, then he’d just take it on. She couldn’t let him do that. He had more than enough on his plate.

  “I was just about to phone you and talk to you about it. I don’t feel good about taking the truck to Rapid City. Would it be all right if I drive it as far as Sundance? I could leave it in the parking opposite the bus station. After my return from Rapid City later in the day, I’ll stop at the post office on my way back to the ranch.”

  He lounged against the doorjamb. “I have a better idea. Tomorrow I have some errands to run and want to get away early, so I’ll drive you. We’ll find a place to eat breakfast in Rapid City and spend as much time there as you want. On our way back through Sundance we’ll grab lunch and I’ll do my errands. How does that sound?”

  Geena knew how it sounded. His asking to spend the day with her fed into her fantasy about them. If she agreed, it would be stepping over that line between boss and employee into more personal territory. Maybe that was what he wanted. Did he? Did she dare dream?

  “It sounds like you’re going out of your way for me again when I know you’re needed in a dozen places at once here on the ranch. I’d feel better about it if there were some way to repay you.”

  “So far no one has any complaints about the new housekeeper. You’ve freed me to get on with ranch business, a luxury I haven’t known for a long time and feared I might never have again. That’s payment over and above what I expected.”

  Geena might have mapped out a long-term plan for herself for after she left his employ, but she hadn’t counted on this attraction to Colt that was deepening by the minute. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  He stood straighter. “Meet me at my truck at seven-thirty in the morning and we’ll escape before Martha comes looking for you.”

  Geena laughed quietly. “It seems rather cowardly just to slip away.”

  His eyes gleamed with devilment. “In some instances it’s better to run for your life, don’t you think?”

  “If you say so,” she teased. “You’re the boss.”

  She’d said it without thinking because she was enjoying their conversation so much. But maybe it had been the wrong thing to say because the amusement unexpectedly left his eyes. In its place she felt tension.

  “Is there anything you’d like to ask me before I go upstairs?” His polite question verified her suspicions.

  “No.” For some reason she’d offended him without meaning to. After he’d offered to drive her to Rapid City in the morning, she didn’t want any misunderstanding between them.

  But maybe she’d misread him.

  Maybe she was being paranoid.

  If so, it was because she was crazy in love with him. It shouldn’t have happened. It was too soon for anything like this to happen, but there was no other explanation for why he lit her up like an explosion of fireworks just thinking about him.

  “Then I’ll say goodnight.” He turned and strode down on the hall on those long, rock-hard legs. How would it be not to have to say goodnight to him? Oh, what she’d give.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  FLOWERS decorated many of the graves at the

  Mountain View and Mount Calvary Cemetery. When they’d reached Rapid City, Colt had stopped at a florist so Geena could get the flowers she wanted. She ended up buying five baskets of spring flowers. Once they were off again, she directed him to the cemetery and found the family plot.

  Her parents and her grandparents each had a joint headstone. Colt helped her carry the baskets to place against them. The last basket she put at the head of the unmarked grave. But when she leaned over, she sank to her knees as if her elegant jeans-clad legs would no longer support her.

  “Todd.”

  That one name was said in such a heart-wrenching tone, Colt’s throat almost closed off with emotion. Without conscious thought his hands closed over her blouse-covered shoulders from behind. He rubbed them gently while her body shook with quiet sobs he could feel resonate through him. All he co
uld do was hold on to her while she unloaded her grief.

  Colt had never met her family, but they had to have been remarkable people to have produced a daughter and granddaughter like Geena. He felt a terrible sorrow for her that she’d lost her only sibling. There was something about this woman that brought out his need to comfort her. Face it, Colt. You want to love her.

  Though Colt had lost his father, his death had been easier to handle because he’d lived a full life. Todd Williams’s life had been cut short, depriving Geena of her last relative, denying her that solace. She’d been in prison at the time, unable to do anything. Her pain had to have been unbearable.

  Colt knew he couldn’t relieve it, but there were other things he could do. When Geena finally stood up, he kept his arm around her shoulders. “Before we leave,” he whispered against her cheek, “we’ll talk to the sextant and arrange for a headstone to be made for your brother.”

  “I was just going to ask if we could do that. Thank you.”

  Still holding her, they walked slowly across the grass to his truck. He helped her inside and drove them to the office where she was able to order one. She put down a deposit using her credit card. They told her to expect a wait of a couple of weeks. When it was ready, they’d phone her.

  After they were in the truck once more, he turned to her, struck once again by the stunning picture she made. A woman had to have been born with a soft curving jaw and classic features like Geena’s to carry off the French braid she wore. “Have you tried to reach the man from the pipeline office?”

  “Yes, but I learned Mr. Phelps has been out of town this whole week and won’t be back until Monday.” Her tears may have stopped, but she was still in an emotional state.

  “I know you want to see him in person. When you’ve made an appointment, I’ll bring you again. While we’re at it, maybe you and I can track down this Janice together and you won’t need a PI.”

  Her head jerked around in alarm. “No—I-I mean I couldn’t ask you to do that,” she stammered. “Please—you’ve already done too much for me.”