Chance's Joy. Patricia Thayer

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ suggest you take advantage of this quiet time and get some rest.” Chance walked to the door. “I’ll check in on you later.” He left, closing the door behind him.

      Joy glanced around the recently cleaned bedroom. The floral wallpaper was old and faded. The sheer curtains in the window had seen better days as had the rug that covered most of the floor. The bassinet was wicker and probably fifty years old. Joy ran her hand over the freshly laundered white eyelet skirt with loving hands as her beautiful daughter slept peacefully in her new bed. “She looks like you, Blake. She has your eyes,” she whispered. Sadness nearly overtook her as she thought of her husband not seeing his child grow up; of Katie not having a father around. But Joy knew one thing for sure. She was going to give her daughter a home and plenty of love.

      Now she just had to figure out how she was going to make a living on a cattle ranch.

      Two hours later, with orders from Ella to check on the new mother, Chance walked through the back door and into the kitchen. The house was silent, which probably meant that mother and baby were still napping. But they would be hungry soon.

      He went to the ancient refrigerator and pulled out a container of homemade chicken soup one of the ladies had made. He poured the liquid into a pan and began heating it up on the small stove. Taking a tray from the pantry, he searched for a bowl in the cupboard, discovering several doors and drawers that needed fixing. The flooring was pretty worn, but it would hold for a while.

      He made a mental note of the repairs and wondered when Joy would realize that the ranch was too much for her and sell it to him. She wasn’t going to want to take on running a ranch when she had a baby to care for. If she needed to stay in San Angelo, she could buy a house in town.

      He placed the bowl of soup on the tray, along with crackers and a glass of milk and headed upstairs. On the way he glanced around the large house, seeing some other things that needed attention. Nothing he couldn’t handle. But when he bought the ranch, they were all going to have to wait, because his first concern would be the grazing land and enlarging the herd.

      He pushed open the partly closed door, looked up and froze at the sight before him. Joy was on the bed, but she was awake with her baby suckling at her breast.

      He felt the heat rush through his body to his face. “Uh… I’m sorry… I didn’t know….”

      Joy glanced up and saw a shocked Chance staring at her. She quickly pulled a receiving blanket over her shoulder, covering herself. “Chance, I didn’t hear you come in,” she said, trying to distract from the awkward moment.

      “Ella said you needed something to eat.” He walked into the room, set the tray on the other side of the bed, then started backing up toward the door.

      “Were you able to get any rest?”

      “Yes, I slept until about fifteen minutes ago.” She glanced down at her daughter. “I guess we were both tired.”

      He kept staring at her, then finally spoke, “Well, I should get back to my chores. Is there anything you need before I go?”

      “No, you’ve done so much already. I think I can handle things. Thanks for the soup. I was getting a little hungry.”

      He leaned against the door frame, his large body taking up most of the space. “It’s important you keep up your strength.”

      “I know.”

      “Oh, I called the phone company. They’ll be out in the morning. Until then…” He pulled a small cellular phone from his pocket and came back across the room. “Use this. Press one, then Send, and you’ll get the Circle B.”

      Joy was touched by his concern. “Thank you again.” Just then Katie started to fuss.

      Chance jumped. “I’ll be going,” he said. “I’ll check in later.” And he was out the door.

      Joy lifted her tiny daughter to her shoulder and began patting her back. “Well, sweetheart, like it or not, looks like we got ourselves a big cowboy looking out for us.” But for how long? she wondered, knowing the ranch was what he really wanted.

      The next morning, Katie was awake at six. She’d slept four straight hours. After feeding her, Joy tried her hand at the first bath. Her daughter wasn’t ready to be submerged in water, but a sponge bath was due.

      Joy loved the experience. All the talking and cooing to the baby and that clean powdery smell was so intoxicating. Soon Katie was worn out and went back to sleep. A few minutes to herself, Joy thought. Baby monitor in hand and last night’s bowl of soup a distant memory, she headed downstairs in search of food. She started for the kitchen, and the aroma of bacon assaulted her nose. She thought she was dreaming, until she found Chance standing at her stove.

      Looking as if he’d recently showered and shaved, he wore butt-hugging jeans and a blue western shirt over broad shoulders. His sandy hair was lying across his forehead, and she could see the mark of his hat just above his ears.

      Realizing what she was doing, she shook her head and stiffened. Didn’t this man have anything else to do? Was he here to badger her again about selling her ranch?

      “Aren’t your cows feeling neglected? I mean I don’t want to keep you from your job.” Pulling together her robe, she ran her fingers through her hair. She looked a mess.

      “I was out there at five,” he said as he glanced over his shoulder. “Everything’s fine. In fact we have five new calves.”

      “Oh, really?” she said, finding she was actually interested in the workings of the ranch. “I bet they’re cute.”

      “Cute? I don’t think about calves that way. It’s not wise to get attached to animals who are going to be sold at market.”

      “I guess you’re right.” She went to the coffee-maker, unable to resist the smell of the fresh brew. The doctor had assured her one cup a day wouldn’t hurt the baby. Taking a mug from the cabinet, she poured herself some.

      “How do you like your eggs?” he asked.

      “Look, I appreciate your help, but I don’t need you to take care of me. I can fix my own breakfast.”

      “Never turn down a man wanting to cook for you.” A woman’s voice rang out from the pantry.

      Joy watched as a tall, sturdily built woman with short gray hair walked to the table. She was dressed in dark jeans and a plaid shirt.

      “Hi, I’m Ella, the Circle B’s housekeeper. Sorry to intrude so early.” She smiled at Joy. “We were hoping to have your breakfast ready before you came down.”

      Embarrassed, Joy held out her hand. “Hi, I’m Joy. It’s nice to meet you. I’m the one who should be sorry. You and the other ladies have been so kind to me.”

      “But good intentions can be overwhelming,” Ella said. “We’ll leave.”

      “Oh, please stay,” Joy insisted. “You haven’t even seen the baby.”

      The older woman smiled. “Well, I wouldn’t mind hanging around for a peek just in case she wakes up. And Chance here can finish your breakfast. Don’t worry, he’s a good cook, he learned long before СКАЧАТЬ