Winning the Spinster's Heart (Clear Creek Brides #1) - Kit Morgan Page 0,10
kissed her on the cheek and looked at the pot she was stirring. “Soup and biscuits?”
“I’m sorry it’s not more substantial, dear, but with my meeting this morning I’m running late.”
“You and me both. I barely got home before you did.”
“What’s this?” she said with raised eyebrows. “I thought you were going to come straight home after Mr. Adams shoed your horse and you picked up a few supplies. You weren’t waiting for me to get out of my meeting, were you?”
“No, I know you’re perfectly capable of driving yourself home.”
“A good thing too. The meeting went much longer than expected.”
“What was it about?”
His mother turned to the pot and gave it another stir. “Oh, this and that. We’re planning some social functions.”
He arched an eyebrow in suspicion. “What kind of social functions? Or is it a grand secret?”
She glanced over her shoulder at him. “Secret? Whatever gave you that idea? Besides, even if it was, Fanny was there.”
He sniffed at the pot. “Adele Cooke and I were sitting on the mercantile steps watching ladies sneak into the saloon. I didn’t think anything of it until Grandma poked her head out and looked up and down the street like she’d been followed.”
Ma laughed. “That’s Grandma for you. We’ve decided to hold a street dance.”
Liam took the spoon from her and sampled the soup.
“Son, did you hear what I said?”
He nodded and took another spoonful.
“And you have nothing to say?”
He handed her the spoon. “Nope.” Best he escape while he could.
“Dancing in the street,” she said with a smile. “Doesn’t that sound like fun?”
“I don’t know.”
She waved the spoon at him. “For crying out loud, Liam, almost nothing exciting ever happens in this town! Granted, when something exciting does happen, one never knows if it’s going to be the good kind. Remember when those strangers came to town and were looking for that silly bird? Caused such a stir around here people didn’t know if they were coming or going. By the time the picnic came along everyone was so wound up a fight broke out!”
Liam pinched the bridge of his nose. “Ma, the fight had nothing to do with the bird. It was a personal matter between Harrison and Sadie’s houseguest Mr. Weaver and Mr. Van Cleet’s assistant Mr. Branson. You know that.”
“Oh, never mind. We’re having a street dance a week from Saturday. And you’re going.”
He lowered his hand and smiled at her. “Whatever you say, Ma.” He turned and left the kitchen. It was a good thing he wasn’t too hungry, or he’d have to sit at the table, try to eat and listen to his mother natter on about all of the wonderful young women in town. It was the same lecture over and over, and he was tired of it. He was never going to find the wife he wanted in Clear Creek.
Back in the barn he cleaned out a couple stalls and polished some tack, then decided to brave the kitchen again for a quick bowl of soup. He knew she’d leave it on the stove so he and Pa could snack on it through the afternoon until supper. Sometimes he wished Caleb still lived on the farm, but his younger brother moved to Morgan’s Crossing, Montana to work on the Joneses’ horse ranch years ago. Now it was just his parents, his sister Neve and himself.
Part of him wanted to leave for some big city, but whenever something ailed his parents he hesitated. If something happened to Pa, who would take care of his mother and sister? Yes, his parents had sent him off to college and he now had an engineering degree. It would be a shame to waste it. But …
“There you are, son,” Pa said as he entered the kitchen. “Having another bowl of soup?”
“My first, actually.” He waited for Pa to serve himself before going to the table.
“This is seconds for me,” Pa said. “I wouldn’t mind having it for supper too.” He rubbed his belly.
Liam’s chest pinched in alarm. “Are you feeling okay?”
“You mean aside from the aches and pains I’ve had?” He chuckled. “To tell you the truth, an ailing stomach is new.”
“That’s it, I’m taking you to see Doc Drake.” Liam pushed his bowl away and stood.
“This minute?” Pa said in surprise. “Sit down, son.”
Liam sat, but couldn’t ignore the warning bells in his head. “You should see the doc.”
His father waved off the suggestion. “I’ll be fine. I’m just tired, that’s all. Not getting any younger,