A paltry presentation by her aunt and uncle’s standards, but in the wilds of Montana a hot meal and fine linen tablecloth were nothing short of a miracle. The coach riders would be her first customers. And she wanted everything to be perfect.
Satisfied, she went outside.
The sun was bright and hot and the sky crystal-clear. The boys jumped up and down by her skirts clapping their hands.
“You two settle down now,” she said. “We’ve got guests to take care of.”
“Candy!” Tommy shouted.
Abby knelt down. “Now don’t be asking Holden about candy. It’s polite to wait. And remember to say please and thank you.”
“Okay,” Quinn said.
Tommy squirmed, too excited to stand still.
She wiped a smudge of dirt from his nose and, smiling, stood. “Now run out and play.”
Skimming her hands on her skirt, she watched as the coach rumbled down the dusty trail. Puffs of dirt swirled around the coach wheels as the horses’ hooves dug into the earth. In the driver’s seat sat Holden, his dark hat pulled low over his eyes.
Holden pulled the wagon to a stop fifty feet from the front door. Before he could tie off the reins the door to the coach opened. A tall lanky man dressed in gray stepped out of the coach. He wore a floppy hat and carried a knapsack on his shoulder.
Another man emerged from the coach. Short with a muscular build, he wore denim workpants and a faded red shirt.
Holden hopped down from the driver’s seat. He smiled at Abby, touching the brim of his hat. “Good to see you again, Miss Abby.”
Abby felt her sprits lift. It was nice to have company. “You’re looking fit, Holden.”
He sauntered toward her. “Can’t complain. Like for you to meet your first customers. This is Mr. Webber,” he said pointing to the tall man. “And this is Mr. Pike. They’re headed up north to survey lines for the railroad. Both have come a long way and are hungry as bears.”
She nodded to both men. “It’s a pleasure. I’ve a pot full of stew, bread baking in the oven and more rising.”
“Ma’am,” Mr. Webber said. “Your words couldn’t be sweeter if you were an angel.”
Mr. Pike pressed his hand against his belly. “I could eat a bear. And if I may say ma’am, you’re a sight for sore eyes. Haven’t seen a woman in two months.”
Self-conscious, she smoothed a loose strand of hair back down. “Thank you.”
“Obliged,” Mr. Pike said.
“Where do you gentleman call home?” Abby asked.
Mr. Pike pulled off his hat. “I’m from Ohio and Mr. Webber is all the way from Maryland.”
“So you gentlemen are setting the course for this new railroad I’ve been hearing so much about?” She’d heard a few tales from Mrs. Clements of the men who worked the advance party of the rail lines. All a breed apart, these men made their own rules.
Mr. Webber took his hat off. “Yes ma’am. Railroad is paying top dollar, and I’m hoping to make enough money to buy me a farm back home.”
Mr. Pike hooked his thumbs in his belt. “Takes a lot of money to outweigh the risks. But so far, it’s been worth it.”
Dreams. She’d come to this land with dreams. “Well, I wish you both the best of luck. There’s a barrel of fresh rainwater on the side of the house if you want to wash your hands and face. The water’s cold but clean. Now wash up and I’ll have your supper ready in fifteen minutes.”
As she turned toward the cabin, she caught sight of a rider galloping toward the house. A glance at the black mare told her it was Mr. Barrington. He sat tall in his saddle, his muscular thighs hugging the horse with ease. A familiar black Stetson shadowed his eyes.
Even at this distance, the sight of him made her stomach flutter. She could feel the familiar weakness in her limbs. She closed her eyes, her mind immediately turning to the night in the barn.
Instead of waiting for him as she might have done a week ago, she lifted her skirt and went inside the house. Her eyes adjusting to the dimmer light, she noted her hands trembled a little as she started to pull down the plates and set the table for her guests.
Mr. Barrington’s deep masculine voice echoed across the front lawn and into the house. Her spine pricked with unwelcome sensations and she cursed her body for not having the sense to ignore him as her mind was so desperately trying to do.
Minutes passed as she sliced bread and ladled hot stew into the bowls. She filled cups with fresh milk then checked the chokeberry pie she had cooling on the sill.
The boards on the steps creaked, signaling the arrival of her guests. Smoothing a stray lock of hair from her forehead, she turned and smiled. “Well, come right in.”
Instantly, her smile vanished. In the doorway stood Mr. Barrington, his broad shoulders all but blocking out the noonday sun. Dark stubble covered his chin and his long hair was tied at the base of his neck with a strip of rawhide. He looked more like a desperado than a rancher.
His hat in hand he stepped inside the cabin. His spurs jingled as he walked toward her.
“Where are Holden and the others?” She readjusted the forks on the napkins for the tenth time today.
“Using the outhouse, stretching their legs. Holden is unsaddling my horse. They’ll be here in a minute.”
Even after two days, having him this close made her stomach flutter. “Did you have luck finding the bear?” she said coolly.
“No, I lost his tracks about half a mile from here.” He hung up his hat on a peg by the door. “I thought by now you’d be calling me Matthias.”
She took an extra moment to smooth out the last napkin, needing some simple task to keep her nerves steady. “That seems a little familiar.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Too familiar? After what happened?”
“I’d rather keep things more formal.”
“It’s too late for that.”
Her hands started to shake. “Are you hungry?”
His dark gaze locked on her in a too-familiar way. “Yes.”
She could feel the color rising in her cheeks but she turned toward the cupboard before he could see. “Let me set you a place then. You can visit with our guests.”
A heavy silence settled in the room as she set another plate, fork and cup on the table.
His gaze bore into her. “It’s rare we have time in the middle of the day to talk.”
Color burned her cheeks. “We don’t have time. Our guests will be here any moment.”
“I asked Holden to see that we had a couple of minutes.”
Her head snapped up. Her throat felt as dry as dust. “Why?”
He leaned against the counter. His stance seemed casual, but his gaze was harder than steel. “Like it or not we need to talk.”
The wind howled against the cabin, making it creak. “If you’re wondering about the baby, I don’t know anything yet.”
“When will you know?” he said stiffly.
Tears glistened in her eyes. “A week, maybe sooner.”
He shifted, uncomfortable as if talking was the last thing he wanted to do. “Look, Abby, there’s more to talk about other than the baby.”
“I don’t think so, Mr. Barrington. I’ll be leaving at the end of the summer as we discussed.” A tear escaped and she savagely wiped it away. “Now if you’ll excuse me. I’ve got to finish getting the table ready.”
Annoyance flashed in his eyes but he went silent. He glanced down at the table. There were three places plus the one she’d added for him. “Aren’t you joining us?”
“No, I thought I’d take the boys outside and keep them out of everyone’s way. It can be hard to eat a meal when they’re running about.”
“I want you to sit, relax for a few minutes.”
“I’ve never been one for sitting and relaxing.”
Before either could speak another word the men filed inside the cabin. With so many people in the single room, the space felt painfully small. Mr. Barrington was only inches from her, and the heat from h
is body scalded her skin.
Abby wished the cabin had more space. Her mind drifted toward a project she’d considered from the start—adding on another room. Perhaps expand the kitchen, and then she could bake extra goods and send them into town with Holden for Mrs. Clements to sell in her store.
She caught herself.
She was leaving soon.
There wouldn’t be any need for the expansion because, once she left, Holden would stop bringing customers by for a meal.
Sadness tugged at her before she refocused on the men who stared at the food with longing.
“Dig in, gentlemen,” Abby said. “Don’t wait on my account. Enjoy your lunch.”
Needing no other encouragement, the men grabbed slices of bread from the platter in the middle of the table. They started to eat.
Mr. Barrington stood with his back straight. He looked ready to turn on his heel and leave when Holden arrived. “I turned the horses loose in the corral and I washed my hands.” There was a wide grin on Holden’s face as he held up his hands to Abby. “Quinn told me you’re a stickler for clean hands.”
She grinned. Having him in the cabin diffused the tension and she felt as if she could breathe again. “Have a seat. I’d say you pass inspection.”
Holden glanced up at Mr. Barrington. “Aren’t you going to have a seat? Shame to waste a hot meal.”
A muscle pulsed on the side of his jaw. “I’ll sit if Abby does.”
She took a step back. “I thought I’d leave you men to your meal. And I really should check on the boys.”
“The boys are playing inside the coach,” Holden said quickly. “I told them no climbing on top.” He popped a piece of bread in his mouth. “Sit.”