“I had a feeling you’d feel that way.”He pushed his bowl away.
“Would you like more?”
He grinned.“If there’s more, I’ll take some!”
She laughed, getting to her feet and refilling his bowl.“Make sure you save room for dessert.I made us a cake as well.”
“You’re just feeding the whole town these days.”
“I’m not sure about that.But I am doing my best to stay busy.That’s what’s important to me.After working fourteen-hour days for the past five years, I don’t know that I could sit around doing nothing.”
“I can understand that completely.Just know I’m happy if you want to work, and I’m happy if you don’t.We don’t need the money, but if it makes you feel good about yourself, have at it.”
After their dessert, she washed the dishes while he sat at the table and read an old newspaper from Seattle.It had to be three weeks old, but he said it was new to him.Everything was back in its place when she finally sat beside him.
“You finished everything you wanted to do today?”
She laughed.“I always wish I’d done more.But I think I did a good deal.”
“Supper was delicious.It’s hard to believe you were a waitress and not a chef.”
Belle nodded.“I picked up work wherever in the hotel I could.I have scrubbed and ironed linens, cleaned rooms, cleaned the kitchen, waited tables, and I even had the responsibility of cooking meals a few times.I usually worked with the chef when it came to cooking, but if the chef was sick, it became my job.”
“Why did you work so many hours?”he asked.
She shrugged.“I was slowly putting money away so I could get far away from the hotel.Very slowly.And I helped the other waitresses when something happened to one of them...”
“What kind of thing?”Everett asked.
“My friend Jane was in the family way after she spent a little too much time alone with one of the guests.The hotel wouldn’t continue to employ her with her reputation in ruins.So, I gave her some of my savings so she could move away and pretend to be a widow.She worked for a hotel in Boston after that.”
“Are you still in touch with Jane?”he asked.
She nodded.“I haven’t written to her about leaving Massachusetts yet, but I will do that this week.And I need to write to your friend at Lake Bennett.I promised.”
Everett laughed.“Rusty asked me to promise the same thing the first time I met him.I do enjoy the letters he sends me.”He took her hand in his.“Tonight is the night we said...”
“I know.And I’m still willing.”Belle gripped his hands and smiled.“I expected it to happen that first night on the trail.”
He looked offended.“I couldn’t ask you to have your first time on the ground!”
“You’re a good man, Everett.I’m glad I chose you.”
He pulled her onto his lap and kissed the side of her neck.“If I do anything you don’t like, you’ll let me know?”
“I’m not sure I like it that you stop to talk so often...”
He laughed at that.“Fair point!I’m just nervous, I guess.”
She pulled back.“You’re nervous?”The few worries she’d had about the night faded away at his words.
He nodded.“I’ve never done this either.I was raised to believe this was meant only for a husband and wife.So, I waited until I had a wife.”
“And then waited weeks more!You silly man.We could have done anything you wanted a month ago.”
“Perhaps.But I think I’m glad we waited.I want tonight to be special.”He sighed.“I want every night to be special for the rest of our lives.”
“So do I.And I’m sure they will.”She leaned into him, kissing him the way he’d shown her.“I do like it when you kiss me, Everett.”
