He found his voice, though he still felt off balance. His heart hadn’t found its normal rhythm yet and the abrupt loss of his panic made his body shake. He took a deep breath. “Good morning, sweet pea.”
Tresia turned away from the stove, those pretty pansy eyes of hers opened wide even as a blush reddened her cheeks at his attire—or lack thereof. She seemed to recover her surprise rather quickly, faster than he did. He took a step back—or at least tried to but she stopped him.
“Good morning, Marshal. Coffee’s ready.” She gestured to the coffeepot resting on a trivet on the table as if his near nakedness didn’t bother her. Perhaps it didn’t. She had been married before, but in truth, it wasn’t appropriate. She nodded toward the ice box. “I met Mr. Shaeffer as he was leaving your milk, cream, and butter this morning. I already put them away.” She smiled as she waved the whisk toward the bowl in her hand. “Your eggs will be done shortly. I hope you like scrambled.”
“Eggs?” He repeated, rather stupidly. Was he losing what little remained of his mind? He didn’t recall having eggs in the house. Actually, he hadn’t remembered a lot of things when he woke up this morning.
“I stopped at Goldwater’s last night on my way home. You have eggs.” She nodded, her smile gentle and full of understanding. She then pointed toward the pantry with her chin. “I also picked up bread and a few other things.”
A little taken aback, he blinked before he finally found his wits. “Thank you, Mrs. Morgan.”
Her smile dimmed a little. “I thought we agreed that you would call me Tresia.”
“We did. My apologies. I’m a little?—”
“Surprised? Confused? Maybe even a little disoriented?”
He gave her a sheepish smile. She was right. He was that and more, waking up as he had in a strange room with unfamiliarsurroundings, the sound of his daughter giggling, a sound he hadn’t heard in a while. “All of the above.”
She bit her lip, probably in an effort not to laugh. “Did you forget I’d be here?”
“I did.”
Avery scooted down from her chair and gently tugged on his hand. “Sit, Daddy.”
He glanced down at her little hand then at her face and finally, at his own bare chest. “I should make myself more presentable. Excuse me.” He made a hasty exit.
This morning wasn’t the first time he had awoken like that—disoriented and not quite knowing where he was or remembering Hannah was no longer with him. He wished it would be the last. He went back upstairs, more slowly this time, in full control of his emotions, the fear that someone had been with Avery—perhaps to take her away—having dissipated. It was one of his biggest worries—that Frances would, once again, try to make his life a living hell. He had vowed he would never be caught off guard again.
He drew a deep breath and went about getting ready for the day. When he came back downstairs, shaven, cleaned up and dressed appropriately, his gun belt riding low on his hips, he was much calmer.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized as soon as he took his seat.
Tresia glanced at him as she moved around the table. “For what? You didn’t do anything wrong. Clearly you were startled.”
If she had seen the gun in his hand, she didn’t mention it. Nor did she seem disturbed—now—that he’d entered the kitchen shirtless, though at the time, her eyes had rounded in surprise, and a blush covered her smooth cheeks.
“I was.” He gave a short laugh then cleared his throat as his gaze roamed over her. “What are your plans for today?”
“Well, after your trunks arrive and we put your things away, I thought Avery and I would visit Lucy, then do a little more shopping.” She poured him a cup of coffee, then one for herself, gesturing toward the bowl of sugar and little pitcher filled with cream. “Would you like anything special for dinner? We can stop by Mr. Crandall’s. He’s the butcher.”
“I can’t think of anything. Surprise me.”
“And what are you going to do? It’s your first official day on the job.” She drew his attention back to her, her voice soft and filled with what sounded like compassion. Not only was she forgiving, but sympathetic as well. What Merrill and Rafael told him yesterday was true and he remained glad he’d hired her.
“I’m going to meet the rest of my deputies. I met Merrill Shotton and Rafael Zepeda yesterday and then I thought I’d start getting to know everyone in town.”
“Sounds like a good plan. Make sure you stop by Sweet Somethings if you have a sweet tooth. Polly bakes the most extraordinary confections.”
He speared a mound of scrambled eggs. “I had a piece of her strawberry rhubarb pie yesterday. It was very tasty.” He reached for one of the biscuits; it was still warm. He split it open and smeared it with butter, then took a bite. It was delicious. She could probably give Polly a run for her money in the baking department.
He finished eating and glanced up at the clock ticking merrily on the wall above the sink. “I should go. Thank you for breakfast.” He drank the rest of his coffee and rose from his seat. Turning toward Avery, he bent low, holding out his arms. “Come give me a kiss.”
Avery scooted off her chair and jumped into his open arms. She squealed when he lifted her high and giggled when he made raspberries on her cheek. Her little arms wrapped around his neck, as if she’d never let go. It filled his heart and made leavingfor work a little more difficult, but he had no choice. Well, he did. He didn’t need the money, having inherited a great deal when his mother and father had passed away within days of each other. He could have retired when Hannah died, but that wasn’t his way. Despite the danger, he loved what he did.
He gave Avery a quick kiss on the cheek and set her down. “You be good for Miss Tresia now, you hear?”
Avery gave a quick nod, the smile she’d been wearing disappearing. Leaving her in the morning was the hardest part of his day, even harder than facing criminals who could kill him without a by-your-leave. He left after giving Tresia an appreciative smile, grabbed his hat from the rack by the front door, and walked out the door though he didn’t go very far. He stopped on the front porch and just stood there for a moment, filling his lungs with the cool morning air, before he walked down the steps and headed to work.
