Page 11 of Sweet Home

There were always plenty of hands to do it too, but West knew that his mother had the same instinct to be kind to the girl that he did. They were both just looking for an excuse to take care of her for a little while.

If West had a generous nature, he had definitely come by it honestly. Maggie Lawrence was always quick to take in strays, whether it was an injured wild animal, a calfthat needed bottle-feeding, or a person who just needed a helping hand.

“Now, I know I said I’d fix her snack,” Mom said after a moment. “But I’ve got the early milking tomorrow.”

“I’ve got this, Ma,” he told her. “Thanks for being here for us, and for making her feel welcome. This was much better than having her come in and think she was in a bachelor pad or something.”

“It’s not much of a bachelor pad,” Mom said, looking around at the old-fashioned kitchen with twinkling eyes.

“I guess not,” he admitted.

“Sleep well, son,” Mom said, going up on her toes to kiss his cheek. “You’re a good boy.”

She patted his shoulder and then padded off for the front door. He heard her pull on her boots and coat, and then the front door creaked open and closed again.

The stew was bubbling now. He pulled down one of the glazed-clay bowls Mom had made from the cupboard, as well as a plate and a spoon. The timer went off, and he grabbed the rolls from the oven, feeling bad they weren’t homemade. He was just fixing her a big glass of chocolate milk when he heard light footsteps in the hall.

“Hey,” Dulcie said softly.

She stepped inside, looking so adorable with her long, damp hair and his pajamas rolled up at the ankles and wrists that his heart ached.

If he and Elizabeth had thought she looked like a princess before, she looked even more the part now. There was a regal quality to her posturethat he hadn’t noticed before when there was so much else going on with her.

“Come on in,” he said. “Sit down. I’ve got some supper ready for you.”

“Thank you,” she said, smiling. “It smells amazing.”

He smiled too. She was clearly more relaxed now. A hot shower and a little time with his mom would put anyone at ease.

He placed the glass of chocolate milk in front of her and her eyes lit up. She grabbed it immediately and chugged it down while he ladled out a generous portion of stew into the bowl.

“This may need to cool a little,” he warned her as he set it on the table.

She nodded to him, but her eyes were on the stew.

It made his chest hurt to think about how hungry she must be, so he busied himself putting a couple of rolls on a plate for her and pouring her a glass of water.

“Mmmm,” she moaned over a bite of stew after she’d blown on the spoon to cool it.

“It’s good, right?” he asked. “My dad made it, but Mom brought over a pot for Elizabeth and me.”

“It must be so good to have family nearby,” she said.

“You probably don’t remember it,” he said. “But there was a little stone house when we first pulled in. It used to be my grandparents’ place, but Mom and Dad moved in there when my brother Tag got married. They opened up the kitchen and modernized it, so we share a lot of meals over there.”

She smiled and he couldn’t help noticing the hint of sadness in her eyes.

“You have a big family?” he heard himself ask.

She only shook her head and took a big bite of stew, and he wanted to kick himself. If she had a big family, she wouldn’t be out here on her own, would she?

Her bowl was empty a minute later and she polished off a roll too, but stopped before eating the second one, patting her belly and leaning back, looking satisfied.

“Better?” West asked her.

“Much,” she said, nodding with a sleepy smile.

“Well, you’re welcome to sleep in as late as you need tomorrow,” he told her. “But it’s likely that you’ll wake up early even if you don’t really want to. The farm isn’t exactly quiet in the mornings.”

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