Page 24 of A Cowboy's Bride
“You’ve got good friends,” Jake said quietly.
“The best,” Petra agreed. She patted her stomach. “That was delicious, Aiden, but don’t expect me to eat that much every morning. I’m not a hard-working cowboy.”
“No, but you are part of the household now.” Declan looked thoughtful. “You need to tell Jake your favourite meals so they get added to the rotation.”
“Jake’s our planner of plans,” Aiden explained.
She smiled. “You’d all better hope my favourites aren’t your least favourites.”
“It’s food.” Declan shrugged. “There’s not much you could put on the table that we won’t demolish.”
“Speaking of which…” Petra turned to Jake. “While you’re adjusting the menu plan, you can add me as a cook. Same number of meals as you’re each doing.”
Declan shook his head. “We don’t expect you to?—”
“If I live here, I expect to do my part,” Petra cut in. “Also, which of you is the master planner for how much I’ll owe for room and board?”
“Fuck that.” Aiden couldn’t stop himself. A sharp kick in the shins just made him swear again as he glared at Jake. “Petra’s heard swearing before, and it was called for.”
“No swearing at the table. No swearing in front of the ladies.” Jake turned an angelic smile on Petra. “But I agree with Aiden. You’re helping us a lot. We don’t expect you to pay for the privilege of living with us.”
“I’d be paying for rent and food no matter where I lived,” Petra pointed out.
“Not here,” Declan added his voice to the chorus. “If you want to help cook and clean up until we hire a full-time person, it’d be appreciated, but not expected.”
She lifted her chin firmly. “Fine. I won’t fight you on the rent issue, but I want on the schedule. It only makes sense, you know. The young woman who’s showing up will expect me to dosomework around the place.”
True. Aiden started stacking the plates. “You got time to do a revamp, Jake?”
“Yup, along with that chore list we talked about.” Jake shoved back from the table and nodded politely at Petra. “We’ll work you being head chef for a few meals into the next rotation since we’ve already done groceries for the next week. In the meantime, feel free to cook treats. We’ll all do that at times.”
“No problem,” she assured him.
“I’ll be back later to hang up extra hooks at the entrance. Probably shouldn’t overwhelm the woman.” Jake slid out the door.
Petra raised a brow. “Is he talking about me, or the new ranch hand?”
Declan made a soft noise of amusement. “Both?”
Aiden outright laughed.
“I’m headed out as well. Let me know if you need anything.” Declan slipped from the room as silently as he’d entered it.
Aiden grabbed the plates in front of him and headed for the sink, speaking over his shoulder to Petra. “You’re welcome to help me clean up, or do you have things to do this morning?”
“I have no other tasks for the next week except settling in here. What time do we expect Danielle to show up?” Petra stepped in front of the sink and got the hot water going.
“Should be around ten from her text this morning.”
She nodded. “I’ll wash, you dry and put away until I figure out where everything fits.”
Aiden grabbed a dry cloth and stood ready, leaning back on the counter as she squirted soap into the water and got started on the glasses. “We’re running on the most basic items right now. Declan suggested we wait for the cook to decide what else she, or he, needs. So cleaning up should be simple. We have an industrial size washer on order, but it won’t be here for a while.”
“Breakfast plates for four is not a lot to hand wash,” Petra said as she dove into the task.
“Dishes for five starting tonight. If we end up with a full house at some point in the future, we could have up to twelve at the table.” He grinned as she whistled. “Yeah. That’s why the dishwasher’s on the way.”
Petra washed quietly for a bit then met his gaze firmly. “I’m glad to be a part of this. I’m glad to be here at the start of High Water.”
