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He rushed past her, pulling out a chair at the table and telling her he’d get a pot started.
“I’m trying to keep my end of the bargain, but when I called the window guy in Copper Creek, he couldn’t come out until next week.”
“The roof needs more attention than the window right now.” He was touched that she was seeing to his comfort and had already scheduled an appointment.
“You’re probably right, but duct tape and cardboard won’t hold up forever.”
“It won’t have to. Only until next week.” Deciding to shift their focus to something more pleasant, Jackson offered to cook breakfast, to which Amanda responded with an excited cheer. “What girl in her right mind would turn that down, Knight? You’re living up to your last name, aren’t you?”
“I aim to please.” He moved to the refrigerator and took out the fixings for breakfast. Gunner’s hopeful eyes followed the bacon. “Not today, buddy.”
Amanda drank deeply from her mug and set it down before she rose. “Since we’re expecting company and you’re already cooking, do you mind if I shower and change before they arrive?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
He laid several strips of bacon to sizzle in a pan while he scrambled eggs and toasted bread. By the time she came out looking far better than a woman in sweatpants and a T-shirt should, breakfast was ready.
They enjoyed a peaceful meal with only the slightest interruption when Catsby jumped on the table, and Gunner growled, informing the cat that the area was off-limits. Being a cat, he ignored the dog. Once Catsby realized he wasn’t getting any, he jumped down and lay by the fireplace, which reminded Jackson to start a fire.
As if they were on the same wavelength, Amanda said, “How about I do the dishes while you start a fire? I’m sure you’ll want a place to warm up.”
“Deal,” he said. “But it might reach sixty today.”
“Seriously? It was like negative one thousand yesterday.”
He shrugged. “That’s Colorado for you.”
The chair legs scraped against the wooden floor when he rose. Within fifteen minutes, the fire was blazing, the kitchen was clean, and a fresh pot of coffee was brewing.
A knock on the door had Gunner darting toward the entrance with an excited bark. The sight of Bowie, Wes Covington, and a few other friendly faces from the town had Gunner’s tail wagging in overdrive. Even Katie came with a box of muffins and brownies.
Jackson smiled at Amanda. “The cavalry has arrived.”
“And they brought goodies.” She invited Katie inside and offered her a cup of coffee.
Everyone said their hellos before Jackson ushered the men out the front door, leaving Amanda and Katie to visit.
They had a truck full of roofing materials, while Bowie brought a ladder and tools. Jackson fell into the supervisor role, with his military background proving useful as he coordinated the repair efforts.
The peaceful tempo of the day was broken only by Gunner’s attempts to “help.”
After several hours they took a break and enjoyed a muffin and coffee. Katie and Amanda were going through boxes of ornaments. From the conversation, he gathered that they were hitting it off and would probably become fast friends. Katie mentioned her need for a large pine tree for the town square. He followed her gaze out the window to a tree in the middle of the yard.
“One like that would be amazing. It’s perfect. I’ve never seen anything so grand.”
Amanda smiled as if she’d planted it herself. “That’s why it’s staying there. You can take any other tree from my property but not that one. It stood over my first night here like a protective soldier.”
Katie smiled. “And now you got a real one.”
Amanda nodded. “And he cooks.”
Katie’s mouth dropped open, and she stared at Bowie. “I may have to trade you in on a newer model.” She pointed to Jackson. “That one cooks.”
“Oh, I cook, baby, just not in the kitchen.”
Katie’s pale skin turned beet red.
“Don’t you have more work to do?”
