AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Gabi hugged her around the waist, and Rena hugged her back, grateful for the simple gesture of affection. It made warmth curl through her and a smile wreath her face. The child looked up at her and grinned. “Is your name really Rena, or is it like my name is Gabi and Gabrielle?”
“Everyone calls me Rena, but my name is Renatta Liliana Burke.”
Gabi pulled back and studied her. “Why do you wear pants like my papa? I’ve never seen a lady in pants.”
Rena was of a mind to inform her she wasn’t much of a lady but refrained. She could only imagine the barrage of questions that would incite. Instead, she danced a few steps of a jig she’d learned from a boy she once liked at school, then ended the performance with a sweeping bow.
Gabi clapped her hands and squealed in delight.
“Oh, do it again, Rena. Please? Do it again!”
Despite the pain it caused her leg, Rena was set to give the child a second performance when the floor creaked and Josh stepped inside with the milk bucket.
“Do what again?” he asked as he walked over to the sink.
Rena hoped he hadn’t seen her impromptu performance. Because of the growing ache in her leg, she eased onto one of the chairs, surprised when Gabi climbed onto her lap, then gave her father an innocent grin.
“Rena was showing me why she wears pants like you, Papa. Only hers are gray like Noah Coleman wears instead of brown.” Gabi patted a hand on Rena’s leg. “I like dresses. I don’t think a princess wears pants.”
Rena nodded in agreement. “I think you’re probably right. It’s good you like dresses if you want to be a princess.”
“How come you don’t like dresses, Rena?” Gabi asked with such an earnest expression on her sweet face, it made Rena want to hold the child close and shelter her from all the pain life tended to rain down on a person when they least expected it.
“That’s enough questions for now, Miss Nosy,” Josh chided softly as he strained the milk into a pitcher. When he finished, he rinsed out the milk bucket and the cloth he’d used to strain the milk. He set the pitcher on the table, then hefted a basket to the chair across from where Rena and Gabi sat and began taking out items.
The sight of a platter of golden, crispy fried chicken made Rena want to snatch a leg and start eating, but she tried to ignore her growing hunger.
“That creek water is still cold,” Theo proclaimed as he walked into the cabin in a set of clean clothes, his face shining from a recent scrubbing. He knelt down and held out his arms. “Now I’m ready for my Gabi hug.”
The child hopped off Rena’s lap and raced over to Theo, throwing her arms around his neck. Theo lifted her in his arms and stood, then noisily kissed her cheek. “How was school today, Gabi?”
“It was fun. I got to help the teacher pass out papers.”
Rena was surprised the little one was old enough to attend school.
As though he could read her mind, Josh leaned down and whispered, “She won’t officially be in the first grade until the fall, but she likes to sit in class and learn. The teacher has been good to let her. If she gets tired, she comes to my shop to rest.”
“I see,” Rena said, standing as Theo walked over to the table and deposited Gabi on the chair closest to the wall.
“Rena moved the table, and I helped. We’re strong!” Gabi made a face that she’d perhaps intended to be fierce, but it caused all three adults to laugh.
“Well, since you’re the strongest one here, Gabi Jo, how about you offer grace tonight?” Theo asked as he motioned for Rena to take the seat across from Gabi.
She sank onto the chair, draped the napkin across her lap, and bowed her head.
Gabi offered a sweet prayer, one her father had no doubt taught her, then they all joined her for a hearty “amen.”
“The food is from the hotel, Miss Burke. The chef at the restaurant is good, and Mrs. Piedmont is a wonder at packing picnic baskets.” Josh set a drumstick on Gabi’s plate, then passed the platter to Rena.
It hadn’t escaped her notice that Theo had directed her to sit between him and Josh. She hoped he didn’t have any matchmaking plans in mind. If so, he’d be sadly disappointed. Besides, he knew her feelings about remaining alone. Even if she were interested in marriage, there wasn’t a single decent man alive who’d want her. Certainly not a man like Josh Gatlin who exuded virility along with kindness.
Throughout the meal, Rena observed how attentive he was to Gabi. The child ate quietly and with fine manners, further impressing Rena that she’d been taught well.
When they’d consumed the meal and enjoyed the dried apple pie Mrs. Piedmont had sent along, Josh stood and carried dishes to the sink.
“I’ll do the dishes,” Rena volunteered, seeking any distraction from how comfortable it felt to be around Josh and Gabi.
“I’ll help,” Theo said, carrying more dishes over to the sink. He glanced over his shoulder at Josh as he shaved a few slivers of soap into a pan of warm water he’d dipped from the reservoir on the stove. “Thanks again for bringing out such a fine meal. How about I treat you to lunch at the hotel Sunday after the church service?”
