feet. “May I get you some coffee?”
“Please, sit down.” He smiled back at her, liking the way she greeted him. “I can help myself. If you don’t mind me joining you two sweet ladies this beautiful morning.” He was laying it on a little thick, but he’d decided last night that he’d give this courting thing one more try. He’d never walked away from a game until all the cards had been played, and he’d had the dream of a home and family too long to let it die. If all the saloon girls liked him, surely one of these ladies would see something worth taking home.
Rose handed him a cup and let him pour his own coffee while she watched, as if ready to step in if he made a mistake. She barely reached his shoulder, and he decided that if he could win her heart, he’d call her Little Darling.
He leaned down to smell the warm cinnamon air coming from beneath the cover of a white towel.
She wiggled one finger at him, silently telling him to leave her baking alone. “Later,” she whispered. “I promise.”
The thought crossed his mind to lift Rose off her feet and kiss her right here, right now, but Mrs. Allender would probably have a heart attack, and he wasn’t all that sure Rose would welcome his advances. She was nice, and friendly, but not all that friendly.
Mrs. Allender broke the mood by saying, “Join us. By the time you finish that cup of coffee, the breakfast rolls should be cool.”
“You two seemed deep in planning. Maybe I should leave?”
“Oh, no.” Rose followed him to the table and took her seat when he held out her chair. “We were just thinking about what we’d like to do today. Finally, it looks like we are going to have a sunny day. It’s a little cold and damp to have a picnic, but we could ride out to where the men do the spring branding. There’s a fire pit out there and rocks that would work as chairs. We could have lunch there and then ride up to the summit. The view is grand this time of year. Sometimes I think you can see for a hundred miles.”
“Sounds like a good plan,” Lewt said, thinking at least there wouldn’t be any singing. He also felt a little more comfortable on a horse than he had when he’d arrived, thanks to Em.
“I won’t be going, of course.” Mrs. Allender shook her head. “Reverend and Mrs. Watson told me that if the group plans an outing anywhere a buggy can’t go, they’ll stay at home as well. The three of us could probably all use a nap. You young people are keeping us up too late.”
“I think we’ll manage without babysitters,” he said, winking at Rose.
She looked down, not returning his smile. He wondered if he’d been a little bold. “That is if I’m invited, Miss Rose.”
Those dark beautiful eyes met his. “Of course you’re invited; you’re our guest. We’d love to have you come along.”
Lewt might have thought her invitation a little more inviting if she’d said she’d like him to come along.
They talked of little things for a while, and the table slowly filled.
First Boyd arrived and shouted with the excitement of getting to ride after two days of being in the house. For all his talk of loving horses, Em had told Lewt that he’d never come to the barn to check on his animals. Since the night they’d played cards, Lewt had the feeling Boyd Sinclair was playing more than one game.
Next came the other two sisters. Bethie didn’t seem very excited about the picnic, and Emily complained that she feared she might not finish her sewing. Lewt couldn’t help but wonder if either of the girls was aware of how they’d hurt Rose’s feelings by dashing her plan.
He watched her carefully. She didn’t say a word. Didn’t defend the plan. She just packed a lunch for them all. He wasn’t sure if Rose didn’t care what her sisters said, or if she was just sure that, in the end, they’d give in and follow her suggestions. It was a good plan. After all, they’d been cooped up in the house all day thanks to the rain. Except for me, Lewt thought; he’d been out riding with Em.
As soon as he finished breakfast, Lewt said he’d go out to the barn and help get the horses ready. Davis was still eating breakfast, so he