Page 333 of Conveniently Wed
Aundy smiled and looked over at Garrett. He narrowed his gaze and shook his head at the deputy. She laughed and offered Kade an approving nod. “I will do that.”
“I better be on my way.” Kade tipped his hat to Aundy with an engaging smile. “It was truly a pleasure to meet you, ma’am. If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to contact me.”
“Thank you, sir,” Aundy said, liking Garrett’s friend. He was fun and seemed kind.
Garrett sat on the buggy seat and picked up the reins. “Since we’re here, want to have some lunch?”
“That would be agreeable,” Aundy said, pleased at the idea of spending more time with Garrett.
He parked the buggy a few blocks from a busy restaurant and they strolled along, her hand on his arm. Anyone looking at them saw an attractive couple, one fair, the other dark, enjoying a beautiful spring day.
After lunch, Aundy requested a few moments to purchase supplies at the store. Garrett left her there while he attended to some errands of his own and caught up with her just in time to carry a box packed full of supplies to the buggy.
“You buy out the store?” Garrett teased, easily carrying the loaded box.
“Of course not,” Aundy said, waiting for Garrett to assist her in the buggy, not because she needed the help, but because it was the proper thing to do. At least that’s what she tried to tell herself. It couldn’t have anything to do with the proximity of Garrett, or the feel of her hand in his, or the opportunity to inhale his masculine scent.
Once the busyness of town was behind them, Aundy let out a deep breath.
“Do you really think Fred will quit?” She looked at him with such concern in her moist eyes, he felt his chest constrict with pain.
“Fred is the only one who can answer that question, but it’s certainly a possibility.” Garrett wasn’t convinced Aundy going into the sheep business was a good idea, but it was too late to worry about it now. She’d signed on the dotted line and made a partial payment to O’Connell.
Garrett sat in the meeting with the attorney and then the banker, but he kept quiet. Fully expecting to help Aundy negotiate the price and terms, he was surprised she did so well without any assistance. She even bartered down the price on the sheep and got O’Connell to agree to deliver them.
O’Connell blustered and fumed, putting on a good show. Aundy appeared calm and collected, refusing to budge from her offer. Everyone in the room, including O’Connell, knew he would agree to her terms.
“Do you plan on telling Dent about the sheep before they show up?” Garrett thought Aundy had already waited longerthan she should have to share her plans with the foreman. He might have a thing or two to say about a flock of sheep descending on the farm.
Due to the reaction she anticipated receiving from the men in her life, she kept her plans a secret. Regardless, she still should have been more forthcoming about what she wanted to do.
Then again, it was her farm and she could do whatever she wanted, whether Garrett, or any of the men, liked it.
“Of course. I plan to make a nice breakfast and tell the men after they’re full of good food and strong coffee. I figure I need all the help I can get and they always seem to appreciate a hot meal.” Aundy’s impish grin made Garrett chuckle.
“You are something else.” Garrett placed his hand on her knee and squeezed before realizing the gesture was far too intimate for two people who were just friends. Jerking his hand back, he grabbed the reins with both hands and glanced at Aundy. “If a home-cooked meal changes Fred’s mind, your pancakes must be a lot lighter and fluffier than Ma’s.”
“Maybe.” Aundy shot him a sassy grin. “Why don’t you tell me why you don’t like sheep? Either you do, or I’ll have to pay a visit to Deputy Rawlings.”
11
Unable to rest most of the night due to a dreadful case of nerves, Aundy finally gave up on sleep and found things to do to keep her hands busy. Long before the sun began sending streaks of golden light across the horizon, she had baked a sheet cake and cookies, washed a load of laundry and strung it on the clothesline to dry, and dusted the front room.
By the time she heard the men clomping their way down the bunkhouse steps, she’d already gathered the eggs and made her morning threat to Napoleon to turn him into chicken dumplings if he didn’t refrain from pecking at her or flogging her head.
She hurried back to the house, whipped up a batch of biscuits, set bread to rise and put a big pot of beef stew on to cook for lunch. Strips of crispy bacon scented the morning air while she scrambled a big pan of eggs. Potatoes fried in another pan as she made a pot of coffee then called to Dent through the open window when she saw him walk toward the barn.
Although he didn’t appear to increase the speed of his steps, his stride quickly covered the distance to the house. He stuck his head inside the kitchen where Aundy stood at the stove making sure the eggs didn’t burn.
“Morning, Missy. Need something?” he asked, taking in the smells of breakfast. His stomach rumbled in anticipation.
“I’d like you and the boys to join me for breakfast if you haven’t eaten. It will be ready in just a few minutes.” Aundy smiled over her shoulder at her foreman. If she could get the hands in a good mood, maybe they’d be more receptive to her plans. Despite Garrett’s skepticism, a hearty breakfast had to be a good start.
“I’m sure they’ll appreciate a hot meal none of us had to prepare. I’ll round them up.” Dent hustled down the steps and across the yard toward the bunkhouse.
He soon returned with the other men, their hands and faces bearing traces of a thorough scrubbing.
“Good morning,” Aundy said, setting a bowl of fried potatoes on the table next to the eggs.
