Chapter Eighteen
“Are you sure that you’ll manage alone?” Mrs. Mason asked, coughing after she spoke, her eyes glassy.
“Of course I can.” Anna urged her to drink from her cup before laying her down again. “You’re not well, and I’m not about to let you get worse looking after us.”
“Even so…”
“You need to rest up, and you’re going to end up collapsing if you continue. I’m surprised you didn’t yesterday.” Anna smiled gently and smoothed the older woman’s hair over her forehead. “Get some sleep, Mrs. Mason. I can take care of everything.”
Mrs. Mason didn’t look convinced, but she did as she was told. She was snoring loudly by the time Anna quietly let herself out.
She stood in the hallway and pinched the bridge of her nose. With everything going on, the last thing they needed was for the cook to be sick.
Anna would have to muck in and work the kitchens today, or until Mrs. Mason was better. This was going to be fun.
She headed downstairs and made her way to the kitchen, stopping in surprise when she saw the back door open. Hadn’t she locked the door the night before? Then Peggy appeared in the doorway, fanning herself with her hand. She stopped when she saw Anna.
“Oh, morning! Sorry, I thought I’d take a walk around the gardens while it was quiet. I didn’t realize it was going to be this warm, though.”
“We occasionally get a breeze, but it can sometimes be oppressive.” Anna got an apron off the door hook and tied it around herself. “I’m sorry that you’re not going to see me much. Mrs. Mason is sick, and I need to do the food for everyone.”
“Do you want some help?” Peggy offered. “I’m pretty handy in the kitchen, and I’d love to help.”
Anna winced. “You’re a guest, though,” she pointed out. “I don’t want…”
“I’m more than happy to help out. And it will give us a chance to get to know each other better.” Peggy grinned at her. “Where do we start?”
Anna wanted to protest and remind her that a guest wasn’t supposed to do the household work, but she was touched by the other woman’s offer. And, if she were honest, she would be happy for the help.
“If you’re sure?” Anna asked.
“I’m sure. What first?”
First was making breakfast for everyone—normally the largest meal because of the number of people.
Mrs. Mason was adamant about feeding them a good breakfast first thing, and she’d been doing it for years.
Anna had no idea how she managed it, and yet Mrs. Mason carried on without batting an eye.
The woman was remarkable, no doubt about it.
Anna and Peggy carried on throughout the early morning, working together easily.
It was like Peggy knew what was needed before Anna asked her for it.
She was on the move consistently, and soon they had the food ready.
They took it out to the bunkhouse, and the workers helped to get it on the table.
They were appreciative, and Anna felt a swell of pride in her chest as she left.
“That’s done!” she declared, slumping into a chair at the table. “We’ve got a bit of time to rest before we get going again.”
“It’s nice to sit down for a moment,” Peggy said, sitting across from her. She wiped the sweat off her forehead with her sleeve. “I’ve forgotten how hard it is to be a cook.”
“You certainly knew your way around.”
“My first job at sixteen was as a kitchen assistant on a horse breeding ranch. I was doing that until I got pregnant with Betty three years ago. Now I look after her and do odd errands for neighbors.”
Anna listened, nodding.
“I’m surprised you haven’t gone back to it,” Anna said. “Have you ever thought about it?”
“Sometimes. But it’s very long hours, and Betty’s still very young. Maybe when she’s older and able to look after herself more.” Peggy smiled. “I want to make the most of her childhood. They’re only little once.”
Anna didn’t know what to say to that. She wasn’t a parent, and she hadn’t considered becoming a mother, so she didn’t know how it would feel. But from the glowing look on Peggy’s face, it seemed like a blessing.
“What are you two up to?” Travis walked into the room, making Anna jump. She hadn’t even heard his footsteps approaching. “Sitting with your feet up when others are working hard outside?”
Peggy laughed and swatted his arm. “Oh, stop it. I’m sure you’re being lazy, too.”
“I wouldn’t say that. Have you seen the size of those hay bales out there?” Travis glanced at Anna, something flickering across his eyes. “Has my cousin been behaving herself?”
“Travis!” Peggy exclaimed.
Anna laughed. “She’s been a godsend. I wish she could stay here a bit longer. I could do with her help.”
Peggy blushed. “Thank you for the compliment, but I do have to get back to my family. I’m heading home tomorrow.”
“When you next come to visit, bring your husband and daughter,” Anna suggested.
Both cousins stared at her in surprise. Peggy was the first to react. “Are you sure?”
“Of course.” Anna smiled. “We’re family, aren’t we? And I’d like a cousin like you rather than the one I have right now.”
Peggy giggled, clamping a hand over her mouth.
“I shouldn’t be making light of your situation, but having met Edwin, I can see why you would say that.”
Travis frowned.
“When did you meet him? I haven’t seen him over the last couple of days.”
“We took breakfast to the ranch hands,” Anna replied, grimacing as she remembered what happened. “Edwin was with them. He caught sight of Peggy and immediately started flirting with her.”
“What?” Travis’s eyes widened. “He really did that? To a married woman?”
“He didn’t know I was until I pointed it out,” Peggy added, laying a hand on his arm. “Then he said it didn’t bother him. I simply told him if he’s happy with having an affair with a married woman and won’t take a refusal, then he’s definitely not someone I would find attractive.”
“And what did he say to that?”
“I didn’t give him a chance to say anything. I just walked away.” Peggy shrugged. “I can take care of myself. If he can’t be a gentleman, I’m not going to be around him.”
“Well, as long as he knows to stay away,” Travis said darkly. “I’m not about to have him pestering my cousin.”
Anna smiled at him.
“I think Peggy can handle things on her own.”
“I know that…”
“He keeps forgetting about that,” Peggy giggled. She stood up and stretched. “I’m going to stretch my legs and splash water on my face. How long have we got until we have to start again?”
“Probably an hour, maybe two.”
“Then I’ll be back by then.” Peggy winked at her cousin. “Enjoy yourselves.”
She walked out, leaving Anna wondering what she meant by that. Travis cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Do you need any help?” he asked somewhat hopefully.
Anna chuckled. “You’re just trying to get out of doing anything outside, aren’t you?”
“Can you blame me? It’s hotter than ever today.”
“That you’re going to have to get used to it, aren’t you? Don’t you work out in weather like this when you’re cutting trees up?”
“We’re normally in the shade of the trees. And there’s always a breeze, but not today.”
“Oh, stop complaining. You’ll be fine. You’re not going to melt.” Anna stood and headed toward the pantry. “I’d better make sure there’s plenty for lunch, otherwise I’m going to have to head into town for some supplies.”
“I can do that,” Travis said eagerly. “Just tell me…”
“You can’t get out of it that easily, Travis,” Anna smirked at him over her shoulder. “You don’t have to worry about anything.”
She entered the pantry and saw the ceramic jar of flour on the top shelf. She thought about making a pie for the evening meal. That would involve making the pastry, and that was going to take a while. She needed to get the bread out first and prepare it for lunch.
So many things were swirling through her head. She had no idea how Mrs. Mason managed to cope and make it look easy.
Rising up on tiptoes, she reached up for the flour jar. Her fingers brushed against it, but it didn’t move. How had she ended up so short that she couldn’t reach? She stretched a little more, and this time she managed to nudge the jar, just back onto the shelf with a wobble.
“Need any help?”
Anna didn’t look around, knowing that Travis was watching her now. It made her pulse skitter, and her heart pounded in her throat. Suddenly, the cool pantry was feeling a lot warmer. He was not close to her, but she felt as though she could feel the heat from his body. She swallowed.
“I’m perfectly fine.”
“Are you sure?”
Anna ignored him, reaching up for the jar once more. She could normally reach the top shelf, so why couldn’t she now? She put a foot on the bottom shelf and pulled herself up. Not ideal, but better than asking for help when she didn’t really need it.
But the bottom shelf broke suddenly, and Anna felt herself falling. She barely had time to scream as she fell back. Arms wrapped around her, and then Travis was lifting her onto her feet.
“Careful! You don’t want to cut yourself, do you?” Travis nodded toward the floor.
Anna looked down. Several jars had broken. Mrs. Mason was going to be furious.
“This can’t be happening,” she muttered.
“I’ll clean it up,” Travis said. “You sit down and take a moment.”
“I can’t…”
“I insist.”
Anna looked up at him. He still hadn’t released her, his arms wrapped around her protectively.
It left her frozen, wanting to back away but also wishing he would hold her for longer.
She had wondered, more than once, about sharing a dance with him.
Feeling him guide her around the dance floor would be heaven.
Anna allowed herself to relax into the moment, letting it linger.
His hands shifted against her back, and Anna could feel his fingers searing heat through her dress.
She was pressed up against his broad, solid chest, and she could feel his heart thudding fast beneath her palm.
She looked up, seeing his face inches from hers.
He looked concerned, his eyes searching her face.
Then that faltered, and his gaze drifted to her mouth.
Anna couldn’t help herself, and she licked her lips. Something flared in his eyes, and a sound emanated through the pantry.
She couldn’t look away. Was he going to kiss her? She was so close, it would just take a shift of her feet to rise up and press her mouth to his…
No, she couldn’t do that. She had to remember their arrangement. Just because he was handsome and made her feel warm and happy inside, and she smiled just by being in the same room…
She stepped away abruptly, clearing her throat.
“I… I think I should do that,” she mumbled. “I’ve got to… to check.”
She stepped around him, unable to meet his eye, and hurried out of the pantry and then out of the kitchen. She needed to find a place to sit and catch her breath. Until her heart didn’t feel like it was about to explode.