“And this is Marcus,” I continued, motioning to him.
He stepped forward. “Ma’am. Sure is good to have you here.” He reached for her hand, but instead of a handshake, he brought it to his lips for a kiss.
Anna flinched, and her smile didn’t reach her eyes. I hit Marcus with my hat. “Simmer down and eat before I make you hand carry the water tank up to the ridge.”
Marcus backed off with a wink even as Anna took another step back from him. Irritation flooded through me. I’d be having words with Marcus just as soon as we were out of earshot of everyone.
Other guys started filing in. They followed Bodie’s lead, filling their plates with pork roast, potatoes, carrots, and warm biscuits with honeyed butter. Moans of appreciation echoed around the table, along with multiple compliments.
Anna’s genuine smile was back as she refilled the bowls and brought them back to the table.
Colt, one of the younger hands, showed up a few minutes later. He paused in the doorway, his eyes bouncing from the table to Anna, then back again. “Whoa. Didn’t know we were eating like kings today. You better have left me some.”
Bodie pointed at him with his fork. “Shut up and takeyour damn hat off before she changes her mind about feeding us.”
Anna, now looking more relaxed, promised Colt, “Don’t worry. I made plenty.” She winced as more footsteps followed—Dean, Rick, and Jonah filed in, dirty and worn out, lured by the same scent that had dragged us in. “I think.”
Within minutes, the table was full, laughter bouncing around the room, and in no time, the plates were scraped clean.
I watched Anna as she moved gracefully among them. A little half-smile played about her lips, and a look of bemused disbelief filled her eyes as she continuously refilled bowls and platters. Eventually, she held up both hands and gave a soft laugh.
“That’s it,” she said. “There’s nothing left.”
Groans and playful protests rose immediately, but one by one, the guys stood, still smiling, and actually carried their plates to the sink, despite Anna’s insistence that it was her job to clean up.
“We’re not animals,” Bodie said, giving her a wink. “Unless there’s peach pie involved.”
“I’ll be sure to add it to the menu again,” she promised.
Each of them stopped to welcome and thank her.
But it was my eyes she sought when the last of them left. Her eyes were uncertain. Searching. Seeking approval.
I winked and smiled. “You’ve caused me a problem,” I said.
“What?” Her brow furrowed.
The stress in her voice instantly made me want to kick myself for teasing her.
“Relax. It’s only that you can’t leave now. I’ll have amutiny on my hands. They loved Marta, but they never responded to her cooking like that.”
“Really?”
“Promise.”
And this time, I got a full, genuine smile that lit up her beautiful face.
I knew I’d doanythingto see that smile stay.
“I’ll take care of everything,” I announced to the guys as they climbed out of the truck. “You guys can head on home.”
“You sure about that, Boss?” Bodie asked.
I made it a point to take care of my crew, especially my managers, by paying them well and making sure we had reliable equipment. Good employees were hard to find. But I rarely sent them home before the job was finished.
Today was different. I needed time alone with my thoughts.
I grabbed a shovel from the bed of the truck. “Yeah, I got it today. But don’t get used to it,” I warned jokingly, knowing they wouldn’t anyway.