“What happened?” Kenzi asked like the eight or nine-year-old she was.
Zach felt sure they didn’t want the wee ones knowing the details. “I got lost, and my people at the festival left without me. Colton gave me a ride.”
“Why’d they leave you?” the middle girl in the Princess Sophia nightie asked.
He searched the table trying to think up a good way to end this conversation. “They needed to go, and I wasn’t paying attention to the time. It’s fine. I’ll catch up with them later today.”
“Colton says you’re the best fiddle player he’s heard,” Kenzi said. “Cousin Tyler is learning to play.”
This was better than tiptoeing around what had happened at the fair. “I don’t know that I’m the best fiddle player, but I’ve practiced hard all my life.”
Nanette cut off the conversation by placing bowls in front of the girls. “Here you are, girls. Dig in.”
They ate as if there was chocolate pudding in the bowls. The sweet aroma and hint of strawberries made his stomach rumble.
“Can I help, ma’am?” He moved to get up, but she put a hand on his shoulder.
“Thank you for asking, Zach, but you’re a guest.” Something passed between her and her father-in-law.
“Colton’s a good judge of people,” Jerry’s comment was about more than music. “If you have time, maybe you can play for us after supper?”
He’d planned to leave as soon as he could, but wanted the rain to stop. Otherwise, it would be a wet walk into town. “I don’t plan to impose on your family that long, sir, but I can play after breakfast if you like.”
Jerry side-eyed Nanette as she brought more bowls to the table. Zach knew he’d missed something important.
“Ted wants you to wait until he gets home,” she said. “He said he’ll call before lunch.”
Betty snorted. “That boy has never once missed a meal if he wasn’t forced to, and he likes a good story even better. He’ll be back here before Nanette finishes making beds.”
“You’re not wrong,” she said, smiling. “Who all wants toast? I made a panful, and there’s strawberry, apricot, huckleberry, and… plum jelly in here.”
“Toasts!” The littlest girl lit up like a candle. “With purple!”
“Huckleberry it is!” Nanette winked at Zach. “I hope you’re used to a little insanity. We’re a busy house.”
“I’ve lived with the festival most of life. Can’t be more crazy than that.”
Zach cleared the table over Nanette’s objections. He knew better than to offer them money for their hospitality—not that he had any to spare—so helping was all he had.
“You don’t need to do that,” Nanette said again.
He ignored her, and went back to the table for the rest of the dishes. Jerry and Betty disappeared after eating, and it didn’t seem right to leave Nanette to clean up for seven alone.
“My granddad might have been a tough old coot, but he taught me better than to sit and let others wait on me.” Mostly, Pop expected Zach to wait on him, but no matter. “Besides, I have nothing else to do.”
The tone was harsher than he meant, and it certainly wasn’t directed at Nanette, but he was riding a bull without a rope.
She gave him a sympathetic glance. “Ted’s got his reasons for keeping you here, and it’s not because he wants to lock you up. There’s a jail for that. This is about keeping you safe.”
“No offense, ma’am, but if I’m in danger, leaving me here is the worst thing for you and the little ones.” Not to mention Betty and Jerry.
“That’s sweet of you to think of us, but there are two dozen hands on the ranch who’ll shoot anything that doesn’t belong. Jerry was sheriff for thirty years before Ted. He knows how to keep his family safe.”
That was comforting and disturbing at the same time. “In that case tell me what I can do to help? You’ve got some insanity to corral, and I’m good at following directions.”
“If you really want to help, go get your fiddle and play with Jerry.” She put the last pan in the drying rack and opened the dishwasher. “He’s bored most of the time and gets in the way. Keep him busy, and I’ll owe you before the day is out.”
The way Jerry had watched him scared Zach, but he’d asked. Nanette inserted a touch of humor, but he got the idea she wasn’t kidding. Keeping Jerry busy would be the kindest thing he could do for her. It would also help pass the hours until Colton returned.
Lord that man set him on fire like no other. The way Colton saw him made filthy thoughts seem tame. He couldn’t go there, but he could soak in enough details to last a long time.
“Yes, ma’am. I can do that.”
“Thank you.” She swatted him with the towel. “Now get to it. I need to get started on lunch for the grands, and he’ll be in here in ten minutes if you don’t distract him.”
