Chapter 7 #2
“Kevin? He didn’t really notice at first. Some men just never notice ever, from what I’ve been told, but he did eventually pick up on the changes.
Then, when he did, he got a little angry about a couple of things, but I talked him around to my side,” Anita said with a wink.
“Don’t worry. If it worries you, then talk to Hunter about the changes you want to make.
I’ve found most of the folks here are reasonable. Even the men.”
“Thanks,” Grace said. “I think I’ll try that. I’ve been avoiding being at the house alone. I come from a huge family and that place is so quiet. I keep wondering where everyone is.”
Anita laughed. “Come and have some lemonade. Then I’ll walk you home, and we can see what we can do about that endless silence.”
“Thank you so much,” Grace said.
It was getting dark when Hunter finally came up the road to the house. Grace was sitting on the front porch. Dinner had been made and was keeping warm on the range, and she had a notebook and pencil with her.
She had taken Anita’s advice but gone about it in her own way. She didn’t think it wasn’t fair or polite to simply change things, and so she had made a list of things and thought she would discuss them with Hunter over dinner.
However, when she saw the look on his face, she decided against it.
“Are you okay?” she asked. “You look exhausted.”
He tried to smile, but it was very lackluster.
“I didn’t think that being a deputy could be so tiring.
When you left, Robert had me write an account of what happened at Mr. Emmerson’s farm.
Then, when he and Andrew went to question the bandits in the cell, I had to be their scribe.
” He massaged his hand. “It was a lot of writing for very little information, if I’m being honest. Those men hardly said anything except to warn us to let them go before their friends come for them. ”
“Do you think they mean it?” Grace asked.
Hunter shrugged. “I can’t say. El Aguila is a strange man. He does odd things that I wouldn’t have thought of and that will now result in paperwork for me, no doubt.”
“It sounds dull,” Grace said. “I mean, after this morning and all of that excitement, paperwork sounds dreary.”
Hunter chuckled, and his smile finally reached his eyes. “Well, better dull than dodging bullets, don’t you think?”
She nodded. “Indeed. Are you hungry?”
“Starving,” he said. “Something smells wonderful.”
“It’s my mother’s recipe,” she said proudly. “Although, I had to improvise a little since we didn’t have some of the ingredients.”
“Well, it’s making my mouth water,” Hunter said. “I’ll just go and wash up.”
She nodded and stood up from her chair. She pocketed the notebook and went inside to set the table and dish dinner up for them.
A couple of minutes later, they sat down to dinner together. It was really nice to do so. This time, it felt more like home for Grace. Perhaps it was her conversation with Anita that had made all the difference, along with her list of small things she would like to change around the house.
None of them were structural except the porch on the east side. Other than that, it was a few small things like replacing the gray curtains in the kitchen, which she didn’t like. And getting a table to put out in the yard under a huge tree. It looked perfect for summer dining.
“What did you do with your afternoon?” Hunter asked as he began to eat.
“I went down to the farm and met Kyle and Anita,” Grace said.
“You did?” Hunter asked. “Were you returning the horse?”
She nodded. “You know me well.”
“Yes,” he said. “Only because you were so particular in your letters. A place for everything and everything in its place.”
“I thought you should know what you were getting into.”
“I’m very glad for what I got myself into,” Hunter replied. “I think you’re wonderful.”
“You’re only saying that because you’re hungry and the food is good,” Grace blushed.
“Oh no,” Hunter said, shaking his head. “I’m saying that because it’s true. And I know words don’t mean much, but Grace, I am so glad I found you.”
“I found you,” she said, correcting him but with a grin on her face. She still couldn’t believe that he liked her and wanted her around, but she was slowly starting to think he really meant it.
Reaching out, Hunter took her hand in his and looked into her eyes.
“Grace, you mean the world to me. I mean it. Even if we’ve barely spent any time together, you really do.
The thought of something happening to you today was more than I could bear.
I couldn’t face losing you. Not after all the things we wrote to each other.
You’ve touched my heart in a way I never thought possible.
And I am going to spend the rest of my life making sure that you feel cared for every single day. ”
Grace’s heart jumped into her throat and threatened to choke her with happiness. Her eyes teared over, and before she knew it, she was out of her seat and flinging her arms around Hunter’s neck, hugging him tightly.
Just then, there came a knock on the front door.
Frowning, Grace let go of Hunter, who looked just as dismayed as she did at the interruption.
“It’s open!” he called.
There was the sound of the door opening and feet coming down the corridor. Robert and Jeff stepped into the kitchen.
“Oh, sorry to catch you at dinner,” Robert said, eyeing the plates. “But we have a problem.”
“What is it?” Hunter asked.
“I lost the trail,” a weary-looking, dust-covered Jeff said. “The little blackguard got away from me. We don’t know where El Aguila’s camp is.”