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“I love it,” she confessed. “I feel that I’m doing useful work here. In Denver, I was more or less an errand girl. I mostly delivered papers and dug out precedents for the other attorneys.” She grimaced. “It was my brother’s law firm. I got the idea that after he died, they were keeping me on for sentiment more than any real need. I was very uncomfortable there. Poor Lucy hated her school. And then we got left a ranch,” she said with a faint chuckle. “I’ve never been so happy in my whole life,” she added. “That goes double for Lucy.”
“I’m glad,” he told her. He closed his eyes, savoring the stew. “This is out of this world,” he murmured. “What in the world did you put in it?”
She laughed. “It’s a French stew. I make it with blackberry wine and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.”
He gaped at her.
She just smiled. “It’s the way it’s made,” she continued. “I thought it sounded terrible the first time I read the ingredients, but it’s a beautiful dish. Lucy and I love it.”
“I love it, too,” he told her. “Best stew I ever ate.”
“You’re just hungry,” she teased.
“It’s still the best stew I ever ate.”
“Got room for dessert?” she asked. “I made an apple pie to go with it.”
“I’ll manage room for it. Apple pie’s my favorite.”
She got the pie out of the fridge, unwrapped it, cut him a slice and put it back in its carrier. She put it in front of him, along with a dessert fork.
“That looks good,” he murmured as he cut into it. He took a bite and moaned. “Now that’s apple pie!” he exclaimed.
She laughed softly. It made her feel good that he enjoyed her cooking. “I’ve always loved to cook,” she confessed. “It was a good thing, too, because when I inherited Lucy, it meant paying a lot more attention to making healthy dishes. She’s a growing child.”
“You’re doing a wonderful job of mothering her,” he replied, searching her eyes.
She flushed. “I do the best I can. I know she misses her parents.”
“Just like you miss your brother and your sister-in-law,” he added.
“Yes.”
He reached out a big hand and curled it into hers on the tablecloth. “Thank you for my supper,” he said. “And thank you more for just being here, and listening to me when I feel like I’m carrying the weight of the world. I don’t know what I would have done when I lost Anyu if you hadn’t come looking for me.”
Her own fingers curled into his, feeling their warm strength. “Neighbors look out for each other,” she said gently.
He hesitated. “Yes,” he said. “They do.” He got up from his chair. “I have to get up early tomorrow. We’re expecting a new patrol officer to start in the morning. I hope he drives better than the last one.”
“What did the last one do?” she asked, fascinated.
“Rolled the squad car on his first day,” he replied. He shook his head. “Maybe this one can drive.”
She laughed. “I’ll cross all my fingers for you,” she promised. She studied his hard face. “You be careful out there,” she said finally.
“You keep your doors locked in here,” he replied with twinkling eyes.
There was a scratching sound, followed by a squeaky door opening, and little Snow exploded into the room. She ignored Abby and made a beeline for Cody, rearing up on her hind legs to be petted.
“You little doll,” Cody cooed. He picked her up and cuddled her. She was so much like Anyu. “Sweet girl.”
“No need to ask who her favorite human is,” Abby chuckled.
He glanced at her over the little dog’s head. He grinned at her.
“Just you remember who feeds you, young lady,” Abby told the dog with mock anger.
Snow wriggled until Cody put her down, and then she wobbled over to Abby and licked her hand.
