AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“For a drink.”
He stared again.
“I take it the women you keep company with don’t drink whiskey?”
“Not even a little bit.” She’d caught him so off guard, he wasn’t sure what to ask next. “Does your sister-in-law imbibe, too?”
“She’ll have an occasional shot of tequila, but not now. She’s nursing.”
“And her husband approves?”
“Why would she need his approval? Oh, I forgot. You’re from back East. Your menfolk get a say in those kinds of things there.”
“Here they don’t?”
“Some men do, or at least they try. My brother was that way until he married Regan. Now he minds his own business.”
“I see.” He didn’t really, but pretended to. “So you just waltz right into the saloon and order a shot of whiskey?”
“Maybe not waltz, but yes, McCray.”
“Is there a separate room for ladies?”
“I’ve never seen one.” She eyed him with a hint of a smile. “Why do you look as if I’ve grown another head?”
“I’m just surprised.” Still outdone, he asked, “And no one cares that you’re in the saloon?”
“The gossips do, of course.”
“Ah.” There was now challenge in her eyes, as if she was waiting for something. Judgment from him, maybe. That made him wonder if she continued to be the subject of gossip. If so, he couldn’t imagine her backing down.Lord, this woman was interesting.
She asked, “Anything else?”
“Maybe. I’m just not sure what.”
“While you figure that out, I’ll get some meat thawing for supper. Steaks or trout?”
He thought that over. “Steaks.”
“Good choice.”
Later, Spring pulled the skillet of cornbread out of the oven and left the kitchen to alert her houseguest. He was in his room, so she knocked on the closed door. “Dinner, McCray.”
“Be right there.”
She didn’t know how he’d been occupying his time all afternoon, but he hadn’t bothered her while she sorted seeds for her garden, so whatever he’d been doing was fine with her.
She’d just taken the plates down from the cupboard when he appeared in the kitchen.
“Anything I can do to help?” he asked.
“Grab that pot holder and put the cornbread on the table.”
She followed with the plates and tableware, then went back to retrieve the platter of steaks and the bowl of root vegetables.
“Steaks smell good,” he said, standing behind his chair.
She forked a steak from the platter and set it on her plate. Noticing him still standing, she asked, “You plan to eat standing?”
