Page 22 of A Cowboy's Trust
Tansy paused. “You’re okay. You’re not here every night. And you have homework and stuff.”
“I do. But I also need to help. The days I’m home, you need to let me know if it’s plates or bowls, but I’ll make sure the table is set.” Jinx nodded firmly then all but pushed Tansy toward the oven. “You have the important job of getting that lasagna out because it smells so good I’m drooling.”
“Yes, ma’am. But thank you. One thing off my to-do list.” Tansy slipped on oven mitts, pausing to hip check Jake who had studiously stayed out of the conversation by staring at the pitcher as it filled. “Thank you, as well,” she offered quietly. “I appreciate that you noticed something that will make my job simpler.”
He shrugged. “You’re working hard, and with the retreat house starting up and ranch hands arriving, your job just got bigger. We need to make it easier where we can.”
She wasn’t about to argue. She put the piping hot lasagna on the table, then while Jinx transferred the two loaves of savoury garlic bread from their foil wrappers to serving bowls, Tansy tossed the salad one last time.
Minutes later when she sat at the head of the table, staring down the row at seven very appreciative dinner companions, Tansy worked hard to keep from bouncing in her chair.
So far, working for High Water had been everything she’d hoped for.
Let’s hope nothing goes wrong.
God, she hated that little voice of doom. It always showed up at the most inconvenient and unwelcome moments. As her sister Rose had told her time and time again—she needed to shove that voice off a bridge.
Go away, melancholy. I have a home here and I’m valuable.
Then she mentally stuck her tongue out at the thoughts from the past that said when things were going well, that’s when everything would go wrong. Those terrible days were in the past. The far, far distant past, and gloomy thoughts had no place messing with her here and now.
She scooped up a hearty serving of her own cooking and dove in.
6
“Iagree. I consider the entire weekend a smashing success.” Aiden pushed back from the breakfast table on Monday, grabbing his plate and coffee cup and giving Jinx a nod. “We need to get going if we plan to pick up Sasha before heading to school.”
“I need to grab my stuff for drama class.” Jinx snatched up her dishes as well, pausing to nab a hug from Petra as she passed. “I won’t be late tonight. Sasha has to train after supper.”
“Someone will come for you. Weather report says it’ll be really cold, and I don’t want you walking back in the dark.” Petra shooed her out of the room. “I’ll load the dishwasher. Go get ready. You don’t want to keep Sasha waiting.”
“Tansy and I will grab you,” Jake offered. “Text me when you’re ready.”
“Okay.” Jinx left the room at a run, Dixie bouncing on her heels, barking with excitement.
Petra leaned back in her chair. “It doesn’t seem right that after working so hard all weekend, Tansy still got up at the crack of dawn and headed over to Buns and Roses. It’s her day off. She should be sleeping in and celebrating how well things went with the food services this weekend.”
“She said before the shop opened was the easiest time to meet with Marina.” Declan topped up his coffee cup and sat back down at the table. He glanced over at the ranch hand who was sitting quietly but seemed to enjoy being included in their group gatherings. “It’s too cold to do much outside. Chris, I was thinking of taking a drive today. I have to grab a feed order, but not much else. Want to come along?”
The man hesitated. “I don’t think going into any stores in the city is a good idea.”
“Nah.” Declan shook his head. “We’ll drive south to the Pincher Creek area and maybe beyond. It’s cold out there, but it’s pretty. Sometimes days like this are the best time to look at the scenery and think about the future.”
Chris’s lips twitched. “I seem to have done a lot of that lately, but yeah. I’ll head out with you.”
“I also know a great hole-in-the-wall pub about an hour from here. We’ll hit it for supper at the end of the day. It’ll be safe and a chance to listen to some music and play some pool.”
“Sounding better and better.” Chris smiled this time.
“Which means you two are on your own for supper,” Petra announced, glancing between Kevin and Jake. “Aiden and I are having dinner at my brother and sister-in-law’s.”
Kevin raised a brow. “I notice you seem to accept invitations to eat there at least one night of every two that Tansy has off.”
Petra pressed a hand to her chest. “Us? Contrive not to cook? Absolutely.”
From the front door where he was pulling on his winter gear, Aiden laughed. “If the rest of Petra’s enormous family lived closer, we’d be dining away both nights Tansy doesn’t cook.”
“Sorry to desert you, Kev, but I have plans for tonight as well.” Jake had debated all weekend whether he should tell the rest of them about his interest in Tansy. The final pro/con checklist had ended up five to four in favour of waiting until after their first date.
