Chapter 7
Kevin didn’t look too happy when he returned home that afternoon.
Anita had had a wonderful time in the dairy, starting the cheese-making process.
She also spent some time getting to know their new cows.
It was important to her that they knew her well since she considered them part of the family—they’d be helping to feed her and Kevin and their market customers, after all.
But her happy mood dipped a bit when she saw his stern face.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. “Did something happen?”
He shook his head and managed a small smile.
“I didn’t get to see Andrew,” he said.
“Oh?” she asked.
He sighed.
“Come and have some tea,” she said. She went to the cold cellar while the kettle was boiling and quickly fetched one of the soft cheeses she had already made.
It was lightly flavored with basil, thyme, and a little rosemary.
There was a package of crackers on the shelf in the pantry, and she quickly brought it to the table, guessing that her husband must be hungry for a snack by now.
He had brought out the teapot and was spooning the leaves into it. Two cups and saucers sat on the counter with a little jar of honey.
“Oh, what’s that?” he asked, spying the tray she was carrying.
Anita beamed. “I made us some cream cheese.”
“That’s wonderful,” Kevin said, smiling properly this time.
He put an arm around her shoulders and gave her a side squeeze that filled Anita’s heart with warmth and happiness.
She loved it when he did things like giving her a quick kiss or holding her hand for a moment.
She rather hoped there would be more of those soon …
And she might even try a kiss of her own one of these days.
Anita handed Kevin a plate, and he helped himself to the cheese and crackers. She had a few herself and deemed that she had done a good job.
“So, tell me,” she said. “What happened when you went to find Andrew? You were gone a long time.”
“I didn’t find Andrew, but I did find Robert,” Kevin said, spreading a second cracker with the cheese. “This is really delicious. Are you going to take some to the party?”
“I was wondering if we should,” Anita said a little bashfully.
Kevin fixed her with his gaze. It was warm and seemed to be full of pride. He nodded. “Definitely. Everyone brings something to these things. I’ll bet your cheese will disappear first.”
She chuckled. “Thanks. It means a lot to me that you have such faith in me.”
He waved her words away. “It’s well-deserved praise.”
“Okay, so who is Robert?” Anita asked. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I’ve met him yet, have I? There have been so many names and faces.”
Kevin chuckled. “You’d remember him. He’s a little rough around the edges. Anyway, he’s our sheriff even though he has other duties too. At least he was interested in hearing what I had to say.”
“And what did you tell him about?” Anita asked, spreading cheese on a cracker.
Kevin swallowed and looked as though he couldn’t decide if he wanted to tell her or not.
“What is it?” she asked.
“I didn’t want you to worry,” he said.
“Worry? Why would I?” she asked.
“Yes, I sort of downplayed the trouble we’ve had with the bandits,” he said, and a guilty look settled on his face. “I’m sorry. I thought you wouldn’t come out here if you knew what it was really like.”
“Okay,” she said, nodding. She had suspected that he wasn’t telling her everything about the bandit attacks. He had always kept those incidents to a couple of lines in his letters. “It’s fine. I understand why you did that. But maybe now is the time to come clean?”
He nodded. “All right. I promise I’ll tell you about the bandits in detail soon, but I told Robert about the men who were checking into the Lucky Bull while we were leaving.
I thought I recognized the one who wore all black.
He looked so familiar, and the more I’ve thought about it, the more I think I know him.
I think he’s one of the bandits we’ve been having trouble with. ”
“You don’t say?” Anita said in shock. Goodness, she’d been standing right in front of a real live bandit and had no idea!
“Don’t worry—I promise you were never in any danger,” he said hastily. “They’ve always acted outside of town. We don’t know where the bandits have their base. I know that Michael and Troy have been trying to find them but with no luck at all.”
“Perhaps telling Robert was a good idea,” Anita said, recovering rather faster than she probably would have a few days ago.
She was actually starting to get used to the Wild West, it seemed.
It was so much more exciting than back home!
To her shock, she liked it. “He’s the one in charge of law enforcement.
Maybe he’ll pass the information on to Michael and Troy. ”
Kevin nodded. “Yes, I also wanted to speak to Andrew about building the restaurant. I wanted to get a spot on what will eventually be this town’s Main Street, but he’s never available, and the open spots are disappearing fast.”
Anita considered this. A restaurant in town would be nice, but was it the only place to have one?
“You know, my folks run a small café from their farm. They built it right out front by the gate, and people come from all over. They stop for coffee and a muffin or a plate of eggs or something. Then they buy their cheeses and preserves and meats and off they go. It’s not a restaurant as such, but it does serve light meals and folks seem to appreciate it.
Also, we’re not far from the town. What’s a ten-minute ride?
We could build the same kind of thing right here on our own land without needing to ask Andrew for permission. I’m sure folks will come.”
Kevin’s expression took on an aspect of pleased surprise. “You know, you are a gem. Why didn’t I think of that? It’s perfect. It will save us having to cart the produce into town.”
Anita smiled and nodded. “Precisely. That’s what my father said too. He’s not keen on a lot of extra work.”
“We can start on the plans now,” Kevin said.
They spent the rest of the afternoon and the next morning ensuring they had covered all of their bases.
By the time they were done with the basic plan, it had a café section, an eating area with a veranda that could hold tables, a kitchen, a scullery, and a storeroom.
Anita also suggested that an outhouse should be added specifically for the café patrons, as well as a shaded area set aside for the horses and carts.
And there it was. The plans for the little business they would run together. Anita was delighted to see Kevin so excited. It was wonderful.
She moved the remains of their breakfast aside to make space for all the drawings they had done of what they wanted the café to look like.
“Oh, Kevin, I think this is possibly the perfect plan,” she said. She stepped close to him hopefully and was delighted when he put his arm around her shoulders and held her tightly for a moment. “It’s got everything.”
“Thanks to you,” he said. “Your experience is invaluable.”
She smiled up at him. Something passed between them, a feeling of belonging and warmth that curled Anita’s toes deliciously.
She was more than a little enamored with Kevin.
He wasn’t like a typical man who had to be right and always had to know better than a woman.
He seemed perfectly happy to accept that when it came to some things, she knew a lot more than he did.
Just like he knew a lot about things she didn’t.
That was the way it should be in a marriage, she felt, even if she was new at this. They balanced each other.
His eyes were like welcoming pools, and the more Anita stared into them, the more she seemed to be falling forward with no fear into his waiting arms. They were so close that their lips brushed against each other, sending thrills of excitement through Anita.
She reached up a little higher, and the contact became stronger, more present, and her heart began to really thud like a drum in her chest.
The kitchen door burst open then, and Anita was so shocked that she pulled back hastily from Kevin with a little squeal of surprise.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Kyle said, freezing in the doorway and looking very guilty. “I keep forgetting you’re both living here now.”
Kevin sighed. “Do we need to put up a sign?”
“No,” Kyle said. “Only, I’ve promised to get you two to the campfire party, and I wanted to make sure you would be ready for later.”
“Why wouldn’t we be?” Anita asked. Her cheeks were red with embarrassment, and she turned to face the range.
“You know, being newlyweds and all,” Kyle said. “You might be doing, uh, other things.”
Her cheeks felt like they were on fire.
“All the more reason to remember to knock, don’t you think?” Kevin asked.
Anita’s blush felt like a full-body roasting.
All of her skin was hot and no doubt red as a tomato.
Where could she hide without making it obvious that was what she was doing?
She hurriedly picked up the kettle and put it on the range.
It felt a little light though, and she realized there was no water in it.
“Okay, I understand,” Kyle said. “Just be ready around five this afternoon, all right?”
“Yes,” Anita said, still not turning to face anyone but hastily taking the kettle off the range before she burned the bottom.
“Yes, we’ll be ready,” Kevin said.
“Ooh, is that some of your cheese?” Kyle asked, probably eyeing the table, though Anita didn’t dare turn to look.
“Take it, please,” Anita said. “We have more.” She didn’t add take it and leave, figuring that would be exceedingly rude.
“Thanks, don’t mind if I do,” Kyle said, and he finally left, if the sound of the door banging behind him was anything to go by.
Anita took a couple of deep breaths. She felt someone behind her and, turning, found it was Kevin. He crooked a finger under her chin and lifted her face up.
“Now, where were we?” he asked with a teasing smile, and he leaned down to her, completely erasing her earlier embarrassment.