Page 29 of A Whiskey River Princess

One side of his mouth curled into a smile. “Since we’re going to be together anyway for the holidays, would you like to make an agreement?”

Gabriella slowly pulled her hand away as she narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”

Dirk laughed at her reaction. “No, it’s not what you think.” He took her hand in his and she relaxed. “Since my men are gone, I need the help and you need a place to stay. So, why don’t you stay here until New Years and take care of the house and cook. I’ll take care of the ranch and the animals, and you can stay here for free.”

Gabriella returned his smile, but her heart sank a bit. The suggestion that they spend the holidays together since they would be together anyway was valid. This arrangement would mean that she would have more time with him and would be able to spend Christmas and New Years with him, too. But then again, she would be expected to cook and clean in exchange for room and board—a business arrangement.

“Yes, of course! It sounds wonderful!” she answered, her eyes bright.

Dirk smiled as he narrowed his eyes. “Is it true that you’ve never had Thanksgiving dinner before?”

She smiled. “Yes, so you’ll have to tell me what to cook and teach me how to do it.”

Dirk chuckled. “I’ll do my best.”

A broad smile spread across Gabriella’s face, for in her heart, there was no one she would rather spend the holidays with than him, business arrangement or not.

Chapter 8

Dirk

Dirk was taken aback at first by her suggestion of celebrating Thanksgiving together. But then he had brought up the idea of spending the holidays together through New Years. This would be the first real holiday season that he would spend with anyone since Sarah left. Dirk wondered what Gabriella might come up with for their celebrations. He chuckled at the thought. If the blizzard would let up, he could take her to town to shop. But then again, if the blizzard let up and the pass opened up, she might insist that he take her to the train station, and he wasn’t sure if he was ready for her to go just yet. He was enjoying her company too much. That’s why he had suggested the arrangement, so she would have an excuse to stay through to New Years.

“Gabriella, I have an idea,” Dirk gushed as he excitedly grabbed her hand. “Thanksgiving is in two days. I have some things in the root cellar, but let’s go into town and we can get what we need for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.” When she hesitated, he shrugged. “I can check on Billy at the livery stables while you shop. Oh! And don’t worry about the money. Put everything on my tab.”

She shook her head. “No, I couldn’t do that. I can pitch in—”

“Nonsense!” he cut her off as he cut into his poached egg and yellow yolk ran out. He took a bite and swallowed. “Um… this isgood. Anyway, this shopping excursion is on me. Your money’s no good.”

One corner of Gabriella’s lips curled into a smile. “Will you teach me?”

Dirk looked at her, stopping his fork in midair, almost to his mouth and then set it down. “Teach you what?” His heart stopped at her question and a multitude of possibilities ran through his mind. But he quickly pushed the thoughts aside.

Gabriella let out a deep breath. “I know about the currency in my country, but I don’t know anything about the American dollar. Will you teach me?”

He nodded as he let out a sigh of relief. “Yes, of course. It’s easy.” He began a lesson about the value of the coins and bills while they ate. Gabriella listened, intrigued. “I’ll show you more when we go to the general store. What did you do about money in your country?”

She shrugged. “Usually, Manfred would pay for everything.”

Dirk’s heart sank. “Manfred?” She had said that she had never married, but he suddenly wondered if she had been a kept woman, or someone’s mistress, although she didn’t look the type.

Gabriella nodded. “Yes, he was my caretaker.”

Dirk narrowed his eyes. “Caretaker?”

She smiled as her eyebrows pulled together in concern. “My uncle had hired him as a caretaker and… bodyguard.”

His eyes bulged. “You had a bodyguard?”

She smiled and nodded. “Yes, I had many.”

A crease formed between his eyes. “Who are you… exactly?”

She shrugged as she rose to her feet and took her plate with her. “I’m someone who needs to keep up my end of the bargain and clean this mess. But I warn you. You might be getting the worst end of our deal.”

Dirk chuckled. “I sincerely doubt that.” He took the last bite of his egg, downed his coffee, and then rose to place his dishes in the sink. “I’ll finish up with the livestock while you clean up in here, and then we’ll go to Whiskey River.”

Gabriella grew silent but gave him a small smile as she rose from her seat and set her dishes into the sink along with his.

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