Page 19 of The Honorable Texan
She smiled.“I didn’t even eat breakfast.”
He smiled back.“Come in, then.It’s all ready.”
He opened the front door and let her walk in.There was a long hall with an elephant umbrella stand and a coatrack, with rooms opening off it on either side.
“Down the hall, to the left,” he directed as he closed the front door.
The hall was painted a pale blue, with a chair rail in a darker shade, and wallpaper up to the crown.There was a pale blue carpet as well.
“You’re probably thinking that it’s hard to keep clean,” Kemp remarked as he followed behind her.“And you’re right.I have a cleaning crew come in to steam it frequently.”
“I love the color,” she remarked.“It reminds me of the ocean.”
He laughed out loud.“It’s the color of Yow’s eyes,” he added.“And she knows it.She loves to sprawl on the carpet.Mee prefers the couch or my bed.”
Violet caught her breath as she walked into the formal dining room.There was a cherry wood table, already set with linen and crystal and china, and beyond it was a kitchen that would have been any cook’s dream.There was a tile floor, modern appliances, a huge combination sink, and a counter big enough to use for dressing half a steer.Over the sink was a large window overlooking the pasture and forest behind the house.
“I’ll bet you enjoy working in here,” she remarked.
“I do.I like enough space to move in.Cramped kitchens are the very devil.”
“Indeed they are, and I could write you a book on them,” Violet confessed.“I bump into the refrigerator or the stove every time I turn around at home.”
“What would you like to drink?”he asked, opening the refrigerator.“I’ve got soft drinks, iced tea, or coffee.”
“I love coffee, if it isn’t too much trouble.”
He grinned at her.“I always have a pot warming,” he said.
He got down two china cups and saucers and poured coffee into them.“Cream and sugar on the table.”
He carried them to the places, which were already set, amid platters of fish, vegetables, fresh rolls and even a cake.
“This looks wonderful!”she exclaimed.
“I counted on your being punctual,” he said with a glance.“You always are.”
He seated her, and then himself.
“I like to make a good impression,” she told him.
He chuckled.“Help yourself.”
She looked around curiously as she helped herself to trout and rolls and a potato casserole that smelled delicious.“Where are the cats?”
“They’re shy around people they don’t know,” he said nonchalantly.“They’ll show up when I cut the cake.They beg for cake.”
“You’re kidding!”she exclaimed.
He laughed.“I’m not.You’ll see.”
They spoke about the upcoming election and the local political gossip during the meal.Violet wasimpressed with his culinary skills.He was an accomplished cook.
“Have you always been able to knock out a meal?”she wondered aloud.
“I was in the Army—special forces,” he replied simply.“I had to learn how to cook.”
“You were in Cag Hart’s division, weren’t you?”
