Winning the Spinster's Heart (Clear Creek Brides #1) - Kit Morgan Page 0,26

Penelope said. “Where will you put the others?”

“Adele?” Merritt prompted when she didn’t answer.

Adele caught her friend looking up at Liam and felt a flash of jealousy. This was becoming ridiculous! She was not interested in Liam White. She couldn’t be, shouldn’t be and wouldn’t be!

“Adele!”

She jumped, making the ladder wobble. “Hey!” Liam called. “Be careful down there.”

“Sorry!”

“What’s the matter with you?” Merritt whispered. “Why are you so nervous?”

“I’m trying to hold this ladder. It’s harder than it looks.”

“I’ll help you.” Merritt grabbed the ladder just above her right hand.

“You don’t have to help, I’ve got it …”

“It doesn’t look that way.” Merritt kept a firm grip as Ruby and her mother looked on.

Adele fought the urge to roll her eyes. She hated not having control of her emotions. Why should she be jealous? It was stupid. If Merritt wanted to stare at Liam perched on a ladder, let her.

Soon others came to watch. But that was Clear Creek for you, where something exciting rarely happened. And most of what did was about marriages – Lorelei Carson and Jefferson, her cousins and sister marrying some Weavers. At least Parthena and her new husband Leonardo got to travel between Clear Creek and Nowhere and spend six months in each place. So far she hadn’t traveled anywhere! It made going to England to visit Uncle Duncan and Aunt Cozette all the more appealing. Besides, her family could afford it …

“What’s going on?” a man asked.

Adele and Merritt turned at the same time. “What does it look like, Mr. Comfort?” Merritt replied.

Benedict Comfort and his younger brother Matt watched Liam with interest. “Is something going on we should know about?” Matt asked.

Adele sighed. “If you’d come to the ranch to visit your brother and sister in-law once in a while, you’d know.” Not that she expected them to, despite Honoria wedding their elder brother Major. He sometimes went to dine at their sister Pleasant’s house where his remaining single brothers ate as often as they could, as neither could cook well.

“If Major and Honoria came to visit us,” Benedict said, “they could keep us informed.”

“Your brother has a wife and children to take care of,” Merritt said. “It’s easier for you two to go to him.”

Benedict frowned at her. “That’s no excuse. He could come by now and then.”

Adele abruptly let go of the ladder. “What’s wrong with paying the Triple-C a visit?”

“Hey, down there!” Liam called as the ladder wobbled.

Merritt shifted, trying to stabilize it. “Adele!”

She grabbed hold again. Liam glared at her, but she shrugged and almost stuck her tongue out at him, an old habit. He couldn’t help a smile, and it made her laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Matt asked, hands on hips. “Can we help it if we break our backs to survive and keep up our places?”

This time Merritt answered. “Break your backs? Doing what?”

“Come along, Ruby,” Penelope interjected. “We don’t need to stand here and listen to this argument. We’d best get home.” She looked up at Liam. “Good luck with the banners.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Bennett!” he called back.

“I’ll repeat my question,” Merritt said, ignoring the exchange. “What backbreaking work?”

The Comforts stared at her, open-mouthed. “You don’t know what we do, do you?” Benedict asked.

“Not if you won’t answer me.”

Adele faced the ladder again as Liam climbed down. She liked watching him. “Benedict, Peaceful …” She caught her slip. “Sorry. Benedict and Matt have started a sawmill.”

Matt’s jaw tightened, then relaxed. He hated his Christian name – for obvious reasons – preferring his middle name, Matthias, or a shortened version. On occasion, Adele forgot. “That’s right,” he said after a deep breath. “We have.”

Merritt stared at them. This was obviously news to her. “So you’re no longer doing odd jobs around Clear Creek?”

Benedict laughed at her like she was a dolt. “We stopped doing odd jobs over a month and a half ago.”

Merritt looked at Adele. “How long have you known about this?”

“Well, about a month. Major didn’t tell us until they had the mill underway.”

“I knew,” Liam said with a smile, moving away from the ladder. “How’s it working out?”

“Fine,” Benedict said. “We’re getting more and more work. We’ve already made enough to purchase a second wagon and more mules.”

“Glad to hear it. I might be buying lumber from you soon. There are some things I need to repair.”

Benedict smiled. “You know where to find us.” He gave Merritt a pointed look. “We’re always there, as we’re so busy.”

She rolled her eyes.

Matt nodded. “It’s true – we’re so