Page 57 of Luna

Dally smiled. “Thank you. It used to be my bedroom, but we turned it into a guest room. Take your time changing. If I’m not in my room still wrangling with my dress, come on downstairs to the kitchen.”

“Oh, let me help,” Luna said, setting aside the skirts and her bag and stepping behind Dally so she could unbutton the back of her gown.

“Thank you. I used to be able to work the buttons free with no trouble at all, but the wider I get, the harder it is.” Dally grinned and walked back into her room and quietly shut the door.

Luna closed the bedroom door, kicked off her dress shoes, and hurried to change out of her new shirtwaist and skirt. She’d brought along a plain white cotton top with a wide collar that was cool yet still looked nice to wear. The first riding skirt she tried on felt too tight in the waist. Before she tried on the second, she concluded she’d have to remove her petticoats and did so, feeling instant relief from the heat. She slipped on the aubergine-hued split skirt and found it fit well. After carefully folding her clothes and tucking them into her bag, she pulled on a pair of comfortable walking boots, then opened the bedroom door and saw Dally’s door was open. She set the two riding skirts she hadn’t selected on Dally’s bed, then hurried downstairs and followed the sound of voices to the kitchen.

Hunter and Nik were kidding around as they dished up the food, and Dally took a pitcher of tea from the refrigerator.

“I think we’re just about ready,” Dally said, handing Luna the pitcher and then lifting a pitcher of lemonade. Luna followed her to the dining room.

The table was set, and Rowdy and Cornelia were there, placing a napkin by each place setting. It seemed apparent napkins had been forgotten when the table was set earlier.

“Why is it those two in the kitchen can’t ever remember most people don’t want to wipe their mouths on their shirtsleeves and prefer a napkin?” Cornelia asked with a teasing grin.

“Because they would use those shirtsleeves if the women in their lives didn’t fuss about it so much.” Dally set the lemonade on the table and took the tea from Luna. “Which would you prefer to drink?”

“Lemonade, please,” Luna said, wanting to offer to pour, but Dally was already filling glasses.

Hunter and Nik walked in with a carved roast, a bowl of mashed potatoes, and one of gravy, and a basket of bread.

“This all looks wonderful,” Luna said when Hunter pulled out a chair for her, then took a seat beside her.

“We’re so glad you could join us today, Luna.” Nik smiled, then bowed his head and asked a blessing on their meal and time together.

The food was good, and the friendship was wonderful as they talked and ate. Rowdy mentioned an article he’d read about the possibility of war arising from the assassination that had taken place the previous month in Sarajevo. Luna didn’t like to think about such things, but the open way the people around her discussed the possibilities made it feel important to talk about happenings in the world.

Once they’d finished the meal, Hunter and Nik insisted on doing the dishes while Dally and Luna went to the sitting room to rest.

“It was sure nice having lunch with you today, Miss Campanelli,” Rowdy said, tipping his head to her as he and Cornelia prepared to leave. “We’re mighty glad you could join us.”

“I’m grateful for the invitation and pleased to share that delicious meal with you.”

Cornelia smiled and squeezed Luna’s hand. “Don’t be a stranger.”

“Thank you,” Luna said. She watched as they left, then joined Dally as they took seats on the comfortable leather couch.

Unlike the furniture in Ilsa’s home which was more about style than comfort, Dally and Nik’s furniture was meant to be used and enjoyed.

Luna leaned back against the soft cushions and relaxed.

“Tell me more about your family, Luna. Nik mentioned you have several younger siblings,” Dally said, easing back against the cushions and placing her feet on a footstool. It wasn’t until the woman propped up her feet that Luna realized Dally was barefooted. How good that had to feel in the summer heat.

Luna wished she could toe off her shoes, peel off her stockings, and let air blow up the wide legs of her borrowed riding skirt. At any rate, it felt decadent to be able to forego her petticoats for the afternoon. Perhaps she’d ask Ilsa for a pattern and make her own riding skirt to wear around when she was working in the garden or helping Aundy at Nash’s Folly.

While she spoke of her siblings and life in New York City, Luna watched the horses in the pasture, visible out the side window of the sitting room. A soft noise drew her gaze to Dally who had fallen asleep with her head tilted at an angle sure to leave her neck stiff when she awakened.

Uncertain what to do, she’d just stood when Nik and Hunter walked into the room. Luna held her finger to her lips and Nik walked over, moving Dally so she stretched out on the couch. Hunter disappeared and returned with an electric brass desk fan. He set it on an end table so it would blow on Dally, then the three of them left the room.

“I’ll take Luna out to see the horses and show her around the ranch while Sleeping Beauty gets her rest. When we come back, maybe we can enjoy that ice cream Dally mentioned making this morning,” Hunter said, edging toward the front door.

“Take your time. I have a feeling Dally will sleep a while. She tossed and turned most of the night.” Nik glanced at his wife with such love evident on his face, it made Luna ache to be loved with the same devotion and intensity. Perhaps someday.

Instead of missing Matteo, though, when she thought about love, the face that came to mind was Hunter’s.

Luna shoved the thought aside and followed as Hunter led the way outside. He guided her over to the pasture fence, where they watched the horses graze for several moments while he talked about the animals. Most of them belonged to Dally or Hunter, but a few were Rowdy’s, and one was Nik’s.

Another pasture held the horses Hunter was training. Some were Dally’s horses, and others belonged to her clients.

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