Page 4 of Falling For Her Cowboy
He missed that woman something fierce. It was a shame how something as ugly as cancer had barged into their lives and claimed the most graceful soul.
“Is that you, Ridge?” Bee’s voice sailed through the air.
How the hell did that woman know he was in the house? He hadn’t made too much noise. He arrived at the kitchen door and found Belinda “Bee” Butler standing at the stove stirring something in a large pot. She glanced over her shoulder and offered him a warm smile.
Bee had been a wonderful addition to the ranch. His father had hired her on a few years after his mother had passed. She was in charge of the cooking and cleaning at the main house and even cooked for the hands. Her homecooked meals were legendary and what many of the men and women who came through the ranch needed. There was a saying that food could soothe the soul, and Ms. Bee sure knew how to make a man feel whole with her cooking.
“Morning, Bee.” His gaze landed on Andy and Buck sitting at the table. “Pops. Buck. Morning.” He pushed off the doorframe and headed to thetable.
The two older men echoed their greetings.
“Now don’t you go sitting down at my table when you haven’t washed your hands, young man,” Bee announced.
Andy chuckled and tipped his coffee mug toward Ridge. “You know the rules.”
Even Buck smiled slightly. His attention was on the newspaper in front of him. His plate barely showed any evidence that food had graced it.
“Yes, ma’am.” Ridge spun on his heels and walked over to the sink. There would be no disrespecting Ms. Bee. He quickly washed his hands and dried them off on the paper towels she had waiting for him.
“Famished, are we?” She arched an eyebrow at him. Those twin dimples of hers appeared as she smiled. When she’d first arrived at the ranch, she’d immediately blended in as if she had been running it for years. She’d taken Ridge and Draven in as if they were her kids. She had two daughters, and he and his brother were the sons she’d never had. She spoiled the two of them like she did her own.
When Ridge was in the Navy, Bee had mailed care packages. She never wanted him to feel forgotten while he was stationed around the world. Many of his fellow crew had been jealous of thesnacks he’d received, and when he’d been stateside, she’d send freshly baked goods that were always appreciated. She was a good woman, and he couldn’t even imagine the ranch without her.
“I feel like I haven’t eaten in three days.” He chucked the paper towels in the trash before heading over to the coffee pot.
“Boy, have a seat. I’ll bring everything to you.” She gently pushed him toward the table. The woman didn’t like having anyone in her space.
He held up his hands and backed away. He didn’t want to be a victim of her towel. She was deadly with towel snapping.
“I know how you take your coffee. Been making it for years.” She turned away, muttering.
He chuckled and took a seat across from Buck.
“Gotta lot of calls today?” Andy finished off the rest of his coffee and set his mug down.
The elder Harvey man shared the same blue eyes as his boys. Ridge took his father in, and it was like looking at his future self. His hair had once been dark like his sons’ but was now completely gray.
“Not quite sure. I’m going to run into the clinic first. I’ll make my rounds then I’m going to come back here. I believe we need to do some vaccines today.” Ridge sat back as Bee arrived.
She set a steamy mug of black coffee in front of him along with his plate. His mouth watered at the sight of two large biscuits, home fries, sausage, bacon, and buttery grits. She’d even had his grits doctored just the way he liked them with cheese.
“Ms. Bee. You sure outdid yourself this morning.”
“Well, I need to make sure you all have your strength.” She walked away and snagged the carafe and came back to the table.
“Strength? You’re trying to fatten us up,” Ridge teased.
He reached for the jam sitting on the table. She filled Buck’s mug up and moved over to Andy. Ridge didn’t miss the way Andy’s eyes tracked Bee or the way her hand rested on his shoulder while she poured him another cup of coffee.
“Like you have worries about getting fat.” Bee gave an unladylike snort.
She went back over to return the carafe, and again, Andy tracked her.
Something was going on between them, but Ridge was not going to ask at the moment. His father should come clean. But he’d picked up on the two of them years ago. He didn’t have anything against them being together. They were good for each other.He made a mental note to say something to the old man…he should make an honest woman of Bee.
Ridge bit back a grin. He dove into his food and groaned. The woman definitely should not be single with cooking this good. Bee brought her own plate down and sat next to Ridge.
“Ms. Bee, it’s because of your cooking that I make sure I keep up my workouts.” Ridge grinned.
