Chapter Nine #2
“I have a stew recipe that is usually very good. It is simple if you have the stew meat, tomato sauce, potatoes, onions, corn, peas…goes good with corn bread.” Had Erin really said that? Tillie smiled and nodded.
“You are an angel. Cassie will gather the stuff for you, and you can have at it. We should have it ready for the group at seven… Can you manage that? You can plan for at least fifty the first go-around. I know you can handle it. Just tell your helpers what to do and they’ll do it.
In the meantime, I’ve got to get back over to the courthouse for a meeting of merchants. ”
She was gone and Erin looked around at the eager faces ready to help her. Oh dear. She was certain that cooking for two or even three was a lot simpler than the fifty or so number Tillie had tossed out as she went out of the door into the rain.
Ally smiled and patted her arm. “We are all yours, Chef. Tell us what you need.”
And so she graduated into a kitchen apron, and the big pans she asked for appeared on the stoves. “I need onions finely chopped. I need potatoes peeled and then diced. The sweet, canned corn and peas need to be opened and ready to be added. But I need the stew meat first to season.
“After the stew is ready, then we’ll make pans of corn bread to have ready right before we serve. Can someone find all the bowls we need for say sixty people and small paper plates also?”
Her helpers scattered to their responsibilities.
Erin kept busy to not allow a feeling of panic to take over.
Was she out of her mind? Yes, she had learned the recipe from her housekeeper and had often cooked it for herself and friends on cold winter days.
Everyone enjoyed the flavor and asked for more.
But this was a lot more. No turning back, so she pushed up the sleeves of her blouse and said a quick prayer.
An hour later, the smell was on target. People were asking to try it.
She had made four individual gallon pots.
She had gone a little overboard but better safe than sorry.
The kitchen helpers got the first taste.
And they gave her the thumbs-up across the board.
Tillie was the last to try it, and Erin held her breath.
Tillie took a second spoonful. “Two things,” she finally said.
Here came the criticism…or so she prepared herself to hear.
“First…I want the recipe. This is better than Earl’s by a long shot. It will go on the menu for fall and winter. Second…I don’t know what you do for a living, but if you aren’t a chef, then you should be. This is the best I’ve had.”
Erin took a moment to make certain she had heard right. Then let out the breath she had been holding. But then she caught it again when Tillie spoke.
“I have something to add.”
She looked at Erin and slowly shook her head. “My final comment is a question. Care to quit your day job and work here?” Everyone broke out laughing and so did Erin.
The pans of corn bread went into the ovens.
Drink canisters and all were replenished.
And when Erin finally was able to sneak a peek outside, it was very dark, but she could see that the heavy rain had been replaced by a heavy misting.
Maybe the creeks would calm down if the rain had left the surrounding counties above them, too.
“We need butter on the tables also,” she said as she walked back into the kitchen. “I’ll get it out of the cooler.”
People from the courthouse emergency offices had begun coming in, getting bowls of piping-hot stew and then the corn-bread pans came out.
The line kept growing and Erin kept busy in the kitchen.
After a while, things slowed and the noise level of the crowd lowered, a sign that people were busy eating and drinking.
Tillie stuck her head around the door into the kitchen. “Hey, Erin, could you come out here a moment?”
Erin left the next batch of corn bread she was cutting into squares, wiped her hands on her apron as she went into the main dining area, which was full of people…
most of whom she had never seen before. Tillie motioned to her to stand beside her, and she did, mystified by what Tillie was up to next. She didn’t have to wait long.
Tillie had a loud voice when needed and she used it.
“Everyone…hey, friends…can we have some quiet for a moment? I know volunteers don’t really want to be thanked repeatedly, but I think we need a round of applause for all the ladies you see around the room who are serving as they have been doing here all day. ”
The applause was loud and went for a few more seconds before Tillie waved her hand.
“And there is someone, and you have all been asking me how I made the stew so good and all, well…I did not. A volunteer, someone who is just a visitor to our town, stepped up and she used her recipe, and she became the chef who masterminded this great stew and corn-bread meal tonight. This is Erin and she’s Rance’s guest and one we do hope to see more of… hint, hint, Rance Parker!”
The applause erupted again and this time there were whistles included and laughter mostly for Rance’s benefit.
And she met Rance’s gaze from where he sat on the second row of tables and he simply smiled and nodded and then he winked at her, which only produced more good-natured kidding and applause.
Erin could feel her face growing hot and she had to be turning beet red.
She nodded her thanks and managed to slip back into the kitchen…
and marched straight to the back door and out onto the small porch.
She needed fresh air to cool down. She used her hands to fan her cheeks.
They needed to return to their normal color.
“You aren’t thinking of running back to the inn, are you?” Rance had followed her exit. “It’s still threatening more rain.”
“Actually, I was thinking of running back to Austin and not stopping until I get there. Talk about keeping a low profile. I didn’t know Tillie would do such a thing.”
“Well, she wants to give credit where it is due. And I for one am shocked. I had no idea that you had those hidden talents of cooking for a group like that—and it tasted great.”
“Well, it was news to me too,” she confessed. “I was sure it would be a mess. But I gave it my best shot.”
“Well, your best shot is awesome. And seeing you go from a fancy black robe with those spiky red-bottom heels to sneakers, jeans and a semi-clean chef’s apron…well I have to say I might be speechless.”
“Speechless?”
“Yeah…I might have to say that the way you look right now is the best. I think it might be far closer to the real Erin Latham. And she is awesome.”
There was something in his gaze that sent her stomach into a flip. She needed something witty to come back with but had nothing.
“You look tired.”
For a moment, he blinked. Then she wanted to just melt into a puddle and pretend she hadn’t said that.
“Well, I am tired. And I’m not sure if I’m supposed to thank you for that comment or not. But it’s been a long day for everyone. I just wanted to add my thanks in person. You didn’t have to step up and help but you chose to do so. That means a lot. Has the chef eaten yet?”
“Hmmm, no, come to think of it, I haven’t.”
He held out his arm for her to take in formal fashion. “Then allow me the pleasure of dining with your honorable chefness? Is that even a word? But you get my meaning.”
She couldn’t help the grin that appeared.
Quite a few men…many notable ones…had offered their arm to her in very different settings.
But somehow, this one was the one she really wanted to accept over any other.
She did so. And if gossip began at the sight they presented as they walked back into the dining room and took seats at the table with the other Parkers, well then so be it.
*
After dinner was done, people went back to their workstations…some to continue the work and some to take rests for three hours and then they would change out.
“Okay, here is the situation,” Rance told Erin as they walked across the room with the last of the people to leave.
“We could take the big truck and make it back to Primrose. But we have no guarantee we could make it back with the rain forecasted up in the canyons. I don’t want to take the chance that I can’t get back to help.
So, I’m going to get a friend to take you back to the truck in my place.
He has family on that side and can stay over until morning light.
If he can get back, he will. But it will get you back to Primrose.
I can take one of the couches in Tori’s office for some shut-eye. Sound like a plan?”
She seemed surprised. “Not really,” was her response. “I want to be able to help out in the morning also. If there is a chance, as you say, that I might not be able to cross back, then I am staying here as the safe bet.”
“Are you being stubborn? You need rest also, and a short sofa is not that great.”
“I thought you weren’t supposed to let me out of your sight, Marshal Parker? Me on one side of a river and you on the other does not sound like what you’ve been charged to do. Does it to you?”
“You want to throw my duty in my face now? Rather convenient don’t you think? Not too fair a fight I would say…Your Honor.”
“We’re back to that…Marshal?”
“You are being stubborn, but you made your point,” he grudgingly gave in. The woman had thrown a few curve balls his way, but he had to admit to being too tired to sort it out now. They bid the remaining crew good night and walked across the main street to the three-storied limestone courthouse.
“These old courthouses have so much character. I would love to see more of them.”
“You might find their courtrooms are a lot smaller than what you’re used to. The benches not as tall.” He held the door open for her to enter.
“What does that mean? Are you saying something because my bench is higher? I’ll have you know it’s that way as an added security measure, which your own marshal service suggested for all judges’ benches.”
“Thank you for sharing that tidbit. I will keep that in mind.”
There was a lot of activity throughout the building even though it was late.
He pushed the button for the third floor.
The doors opened and he led her through double doors that stood open with lights on, and a couple of people were on phones at desks in the outer office.
They waved him through to another door. This one had a nameplate that denoted it belonged to Victoria Parker, Mayor.
The large room was empty when they walked in. A woman followed them.
“Mayor Parker wanted me to make sure you were both comfortable. We have some blankets, and I found a couple of pillows, all borrowed from the furniture store across the street. They have done a lot for people who’ve had to stay here. Will the two couches work?”
“This is fine, thank you,” Rance said and she left them alone.
“I’ll take the shorter couch,” Erin said, moving to check it out. “You would be miserable on it, being too tall for it.”
“I’m not even going to argue over it. And I hope you don’t snore.” Rance sat and began removing his rain boots.
“I don’t snore. I say the same to you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Well, I haven’t stayed awake to listen,” she tossed the sarcastic-tinged response in his direction before plumping the pillow beneath her head.
“If I wasn’t so tired, I might try to laugh at that witty response. I’ll let you know in a few hours if you do snore.”
“Good night, Marshal Parker.”
“Good night, Judge.”
He flipped the light switch on the table lamp and darkness surrounded them.