Chapter 7
Icy cold woke Cody. He groaned, his body wracked with shivers and his neck stiff. Why was he so numb?
Slowly, events from the night before flashed through his mind. Dinner at Cassie and Travis’s. Telling Travis he intended to take a wife. Ella offering herself for the role. Their wedding.
And his new sleeping arrangement on the floor. Cody glanced at the grate. Stone cold. No wonder he couldn’t feel his legs. He struggled to his feet, hopping in place to get his blood pumping.
His new wife roused. She looked around, confusion shadowing her face. Then her gaze landed on him, and she sucked in a breath. “Oh. I guess it wasn’t a dream.”
One side of Cody’s lips twitched. “No, ma’am.”
She eyed him, pulling the blankets up to her shoulders. “You’re cold.”
There was no denying her simple observation. Cody nodded once, reaching for his warm flannel overshirt. “It’ll be better once I start the fires.”
Ella ran a hand through her tangled hair. “Will you show me how?”
He paused, one arm halfway through the sleeve of his shirt. “You?”
She slid from the bed, wincing when her feet touched the icy hardwood, though she tried to hide her shock.
“Yes. It’s something I have to learn, isn’t it?
You’ll be out on the range during the day.
The fires won’t keep themselves going.” She turned back, tucking the covers around something.
A tiny baby sigh escaped the blankets. Addie?
Ella turned toward him. “She was uncomfortable during the night. Her gums hurt. I decided to keep her with me.”
Why did she sound defensive? He held up his hands. “Fine by me.”
She stared at him a moment. A little smile soon tugged at her lips. “You’re different.”
The way she said it, different must be good. He’d take it.
Her body convulsed with shivers. Cody took two long steps toward her, intent on giving her the piece of clothing in his hands.
Ella shrank back at his abrupt movement.
Too late, he realized advancing on her like that wasn’t the smartest idea.
He retreated a step before holding out his shirt. “Put this on.”
As her teeth began to chatter, she shook her head. “I’ll be fine once the fires are going.”
Stubborn woman. Muttering under his breath, he opened the shirt and wrapped it securely around her shoulders despite her protest. “This is the coldest winter we’ve had. I’d rather you not freeze to death. Wouldn’t want to try finding another wife so soon.”
She stared at him for a moment. Cody tried not to cringe.
Had his attempt at humor been that bad? He was about to apologize—again—when Ella’s lips turned upward.
She slipped her arms into the sleeves and buttoned his shirt with nimble fingers.
It nearly swallowed her, but at least it would keep her warm.
“Thank you.”
A man could get used to the light of gratitude in his wife’s eyes. It sure made her look pretty too. Halting the direction of his thoughts, Cody nodded. “It’s nothing.” He headed for the bureau and grabbed another shirt. Shrugging into it, he gestured at the door. “Let’s get this house warmed up.”
Her hand came to rest against his arm, stopping him in his tracks.
He glanced her way. The moisture in her eyes slackened his jaw.
Ella dropped her hand, crossing her arms over her waist. “I’m not used to kindness from men.
Travis was the only male I trusted for a long time, and it took a while for him to earn it.
So you offering me your shirt, marrying me to protect me from my father and ex-fiancé, being kind…
” Her chin wobbled, but she raised it in determination. “It’s not ‘nothing’ to me.”
Judging by the uncertainty in her eyes, it took a lot for her to admit that. Cody processed that information, his gaze never wavering from hers. “I’m glad you’re open to trusting me.”
A tiny smile lifted her lips. “I don’t have much choice.” She regarded him with those fathomless green eyes before looking away. “If Travis trusts you, I trust you. He has good instincts about people.”
“Did he like Howard?” He almost groaned as soon as the words left his lips. Why in the world did I ask that?
Her body stiffened. “No.” She stalked past him, heading for the stairs. “Should we start with the kitchen stove?”
Message received. Cody shoved his curiosity to the back of his mind and joined his wife.
When they reached the kitchen, he pointed to a stack of wood near the door.
“First, we gather some materials. There’s kindling in boxes by each fireplace.
That goes in first.” He reached for a handful of the kindling and put it in the center of the stove.
“Then we arrange some wood. Start with a couple smaller pieces, then add the larger ones like so.” When everything was adjusted to his liking, he motioned toward a matchbox.
“Then we light it.” Moments later, a roaring fire warmed the kitchen.
Ella scrutinized the stove. Cody hid a smile. Did she have any idea how adorable she looked with a wrinkled nose and focused gaze? Blinking, he banished the thought. “You ready to try the fireplace in the parlor?”
“Yes.”
Cody let Ella lead. He offered direction when she asked but allowed her to make the fire on her own.
It took much longer than it had in the kitchen.
Her brow furrowed in frustration with each failed attempt to light the wood.
Even so, Cody remained where he was. Experience had taught him that failing was part of the learning process. Ella would get it.
And she did. After nearly ten minutes of her trying, a fire crackled in the hearth. He had to give it to her—she was a determined woman. Not once had she uttered a word of complaint. Her failures only seemed to increase her desire to get it right.
That would serve her well in the wilds of the West.
The front door banged open. “Cody?”
The voice belonged to Hank, his foreman. Cody straightened. “In the parlor.”
“Sorry to bother you so early, Boss.” Hank’s voice came closer.
“But the wind blew over part of our fence, and some of the cattle got out…” He stopped abruptly as he came into the parlor and caught sight of Ella.
His gaze darted between the two of them.
“Uh—I didn’t realize you were…entertaining a lady friend. ”
Cody flushed hot, annoyed at the insinuation. He rubbed his sore neck. “This is my wife, you greenhorn.”
Hank ignored the insult and looked at Ella with curiosity. “Married, you say? Must’ve happened yesterday.”
Cody crossed his arms, taking a step back to stand beside her. “It did.” He looked at Ella, jerking his chin at the ranch hand. “Ella, this is Hank. He helps me run Brooks Ranch along with two other men. You’ll meet them all before long.”
Hank swept off his hat. His sandy hair shone almost blond in the firelight, and his brown eyes hinted at curiosity. “Nice to meet you, ma’am. I didn’t mean no disrespect. Sorry if I gave offense.”
Ella moved closer to Cody. It shouldn’t have given him such satisfaction, but the simple motion proved she trusted him at least a little. Either that or she was using his body to shield herself from view. Her cultured voice betrayed no hint of her feelings. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Hank.”
Hank slapped his hat back on his head. “Boss, we really need you in the west field. It’s going to take all four of us to get that cattle back and repair the fence.” His face tightened. “We don’t need to lose any more livestock.”
Heaviness settled in Cody’s stomach. No, they didn’t. If he lost any more head of cattle, he would be in deep financial trouble.
Ella’s hand settled on his arm. He turned his head, looking at her over his shoulder. She nodded toward Hank. “Go on. The kids and I will be fine.”
He hesitated. “Are you sure? I haven’t had time to show you the basics for the kids…”
Her hand tightened briefly before relaxing and dropping to her side. “I’ll figure it out. You take care of your cattle.”
Urgency pulled at him, but still he couldn’t seem to make himself move. Ella gave him a little push toward the stairs. “Go change. I’ll brew some coffee for you to take along.”
“How’d you know I like coffee?”
A faint smile touched her lips. “Cassie told me.”
Hank cleared his throat. The man shifted from foot to foot. “Boss, please hurry.”
That propelled him into motion. Within minutes, he’d dressed in all the necessary gear and made his way back downstairs. Ella met him with a canteen in hand and a wrapped bundle. He accepted them. “Thanks. What’s this?”
“Bread, cheese, and dried meat. I found them in the pantry while the coffee brewed. You need to eat if it’s going to be a long day.”
Her thoughtfulness touched something deep inside him, something he hadn’t felt before. There was no time to analyze it, though. He needed to get to the west field. Glancing around, he realized Hank was gone. “Where’d Hank go?”
Ella pointed at the door. “He said something about riding to a neighbor to ask them about caring for the barn animals today.”
Cody groaned. “I forgot about that.”
“Then it’s a good thing he remembered. Now go. We’ll be fine.”
This woman possessed a strength inside that astounded him. What else might be hidden under that cultured demeanor? As he said goodbye and hurried out the door, he was surprised to find he genuinely wanted to know more about the woman he’d married.
Ella’s shoulders ached with tension as Cody rode away at a gallop.
She wasn’t sure how she managed to hold herself together when she encouraged him to get to the pasture.
As she looked around the kitchen, a knot formed in her gut.
The last thing she’d wanted was for her new husband to leave.
She was all alone in a strange house, responsible for the welfare of three children. One of whom might still be sick.
She drew in a deep breath. One thing at a time. That was how she’d get through the day. But first, coffee.