Page 538 of Conveniently Wed
Before she could sit down, Franklin pulled his chair close to Michael. “Can I feed him tonight?”
She stopped and stared at him a minute, her eyes widened. “If you want to. I’m not sure if he’s very hungry.”
He grasped the small spoon she handed him, their fingers brushing briefly. He should have been more careful. Every time he touched her, his body reacted. Heat spread up his arm, and he had to look away. He wasn’t sure he could live years, even decades, like this. Whooshing out a deep breath, he dipped up a small amount of mashed potatoes and held them toward the baby. Like a little bird getting fed by its parent, Michael’s mouth popped open, and Franklin slipped the potatoes inside. He watched the baby suck on the food and roll it around in his mouth until it was gone.
That little mouth popped open again. Franklin gave him another small bite.
When Lorinda fed the baby, she took bites of her own food in between. Franklin could do that. He forked some meatloaf in his mouth before Michael finished his.
He glanced at his wife. “This is very good. I believe you’ll have to move on to learning to cook something else. You’ve mastered meatloaf.”
The rosy tint he loved crept into her cheeks, and she glanced down at her own food. “Thank you, Franklin.”
Michael banged on his table and opened his mouth. Franklin gave him another bite.
“Aren’t you going to say grace tonight?” Lorinda’s eyes twinkled as she glanced at him.
“Of course.” Heat rushed intohischeeks. How could he have forgotten something so important?
He bowed his head and blessed the food and the hands that prepared it. By the time he uttered those few words, his son was once again pounding his fists on the table tray.How do women keep up with everything so well?
Lorinda was quietly eating, but she looked up at him. He smiled at her and took another bite of the meatloaf.
Why had he waited so long to get married? Having a wife and child to come home to every night was wonderful.
At first, Lorinda wasn’t thrilled with Franklin feeding their child. Even Mrs. Oleson hadn’t asked to do that. But the men of the house were having so much fun, she pushed down the flicker of jealousy. She glanced out the window and drank in the beauty of the mountains. That always settled her.
As Mrs. Oleson had told her, Franklin had gradually changed since the wedding. He became more talkative about the ranch, and Lorinda enjoyed hearing what was going on.
“So what were you doing today, Franklin?” She slowly turned her cup of tea in its saucer.
“We had to brand all the new calves. It’s a dirty, smelly business.” He slipped another bite into the baby’s waiting mouth. “That’s one reason I washed up in the barn. During branding, I always keep extra clothes out there so I won’t bring the stink into the house.”
She grinned. “I’m sure glad you do.” She nodded toward Michael. “This little guy makes more than enough messes that don’t smell very good.”
Mrs. Oleson and Franklin joined her laughter. Lorinda enjoyed their banter. For too long, things had been uncomfortable in the household. Now they had settled into a pleasant relationship.
While Franklin fed the baby another bite, she took the chance to really study her husband. Since the first time she laid eyes on him, she’d realized just how handsome he was. It used to make her uncomfortable. Now it bothered her in a whole different way, making her wish once again that she’d never agreed to their marriage deception.
A curly lock of hair fell across his forehead, drawing her attention. She clenched her hands together to keep from reaching across the table and brushing it back.
He grabbed another bite of his own dinner and chewed vigorously while watching Michael.
“Franklin, why don’t you let me feed Michael, so you and Lorinda can visit while you eat?” Mrs. Oleson reached for the small spoon.
Lorinda didn’t mind the housekeeper’s interruption. Now maybe she could keep her husband’s attention and learn more about what was happening on the ranch. Of course, she didn’t want to raise the subject on everyone’s mind. When would their mountain valley be safe from cattle thieves, murderers, and arsonists?
Franklin did turn toward her and smile, his dark eyes sparkling like the water in one of the springs scattered across the ranch. “I’ve contacted the buyer from the Swift Packing Plant in Chicago, and he’ll arrive in Frisco on Monday. That’s the same day the extra cattle cars will get here. So we’ll spend tomorrow making sure all three hundred fifty head of cattle we’re shipping are healthy.”
Lorinda loved hearing about the ranch and what it took to keep it running. She hoped someday she would be able to workright along beside him as other wives in the valley did with their husbands.
Mrs. Oleson glanced toward him while the baby ate the last bite of potatoes. “When will the cattle drive start?”
Franklin laid his fork on the edge of his plate. “I don’t want to push them too hard. Instead of heading toward the Breckenridge side of the mountains, we’re going to herd them toward Ten-Mile Creek. We’ll move them slow, letting them feed along the way. We’ll bed down beside the creek, so they’ll have plenty of water. When we get to the railcars, they won’t have lost any weight.”
Lorinda realized her husband really hadn’t answered the housekeeper’s question. “How long does it take to get there?”
“We’ll take over four days.” He picked up his fork and started eating again.
