Page 4 of Her Saltwater Cowboy

Willow shook her head. “Please. No. Just …” She was about to tell him she’d take care of his mess this time. After all, that was her job—to feed the men and care for the kitchen. But she sobered quickly. Ace had made it clear from day one of her job here that she had very large and well-worn shoes to fill.

This room is your domain, Willow, and I expect you to manage it as such.

She glanced again at Chance, licked her lips, and said, “The dishwasher’s dirty.”

“Meaning?”

She pointed toward the sink. “Meaning it’s just waitin’ formoredirty dishes. Yours.”

His eyes expanded briefly, light from the afternoon sun illuminating their indescribable color, followed by a flash of … annoyance? Then a small, closed-mouth smile spread across Chance’s face. “So you’re giving me my comeuppance.”

“I wouldn’t be as dramatic as all that.”

He leaned a hand on the counter, considering her. “You’re serious.”

“As a heart attack.”

He nodded, pressing those lips together harder still, a bob to his head as he weighed the situation. She tried not to stare at the way his mouth curved as he thought, nor think about the fact that she’d had to pull her gaze away from him more than once since moving up here. Learning and organizing filled her head—that and how she would ever find time during the week to visit her mother. No room for anything … frivolous.

“Well, then, I suppose I ought to follow orders.” He stepped close enough to her that she could smell the earth on him. He slid his gaze down her face, and her breath hitched. His voice carried low. “May I?”

Willow’s mouth went dry.

He cocked a brow. Then he smiled that crooked grin at her.

Oh.Quickly, she moved away from the sink to give him access. From the corners of her gaze, she watched as Chance dug his used dishes and silverware out of the sink, quietly opened the dishwasher door, and gently found a place for each.

Without a word, he closed the dishwasher, straightened, and trained that knee-melting gaze on her. “Anything else, ma’am?”

Was he contrite? Or trying to intimidate her? Discernment hadn’t always been one of her strong points, though she was trying to overcome it now by questioning everything.

“Yes,” she said finally, gaining steam. “Go on and shave before dinner.”

Chance threw his head back at this, the first laugh she’d seen from the man all day. “Yes, ma’am.” Then he grabbed his hat, stuck it back on his head, and marched right back out the kitchen door.

ChapterTwo

Days later, Willow stepped out of church, the late morning sun kissing her cheeks. Ace had made it clear that Sunday mornings were hers alone, and for that she’d been grateful.

Another reason to be grateful: a spirit renewed. The pastor’s sermon had centered her somehow, reminding Willow that she was not alone in this life, though it felt like it a lot of the time.

But Jesus had not come to earth to live and die and rise again only for his story to be shelved like so many books from the past. He was to be known and his sacrifices to be remembered for the life he continued to give all those who believed.

She hung onto that truth with everything she had and found herself lingering on her thoughts when a familiar deep voice called out to her.

“Good morning, Willow.”

Ace rambled out the side door of the old church and raised a hand in her direction.

She slowed. “Hello, Ace.”

He wiped his forehead with a hanky and stuffed it into his back pocket, drawing a slow breath. “I don’t usually use this time to talk business, but I’m glad I caught you. Our new foreman, Rafael—you met him some weeks back—will be moving up to the ranch this week. He’ll be bringing his wife, Bella, with him, and they’ll be staying in Sparky’s old place.”

Willow gasped, but quickly covered her mouth with her fingers. From what she’d been told, Sparky had helped Ace run this place for decades, and that cabin hadn’t seen an update since. She didn’t dare imagine the shape it was in.

Ace laughed heartily at her knee-jerk reaction. “Don’t you worry about that old cabin. Some of the hands will be fixing things there this week in time for the couple to arrive. Kit, being the housekeeper, will tidy it all up.”

“I-I’m sorry if I was?—“

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