An Unexpected Husband (The Colorado Brides Series) by Carré White Read Free Book Online Page B

having?”
    “Sage hen with raspberry ice for dessert.”
    “I better hurry. I wouldn’t want my dessert to melt.”
    He grinned. “No, of course not. Would you like some wine?” He held a bottle.
    “I shouldn’t.”
    “Because of last night?”
    “Well, yes, sir. I…hardly behaved myself.”
    “I don’t see the harm in one glass.”
    “Oh, plenty,” I blurted without thinking. “I mean, I’m not used to liquor. It’s not something I do, sir.”
    “I’ll pour you a glass. Go bring Megan her plate, and hurry back.”
    “Yes, sir.” Without knocking, I entered Megan’s room, finding her with Joshua at her breast. “Here’s your food.”
    “Just leave it on the bed.”
    “Are you certain you don't want to join us? Eating on a bed is horribly inconvenient.”
    “I’m fine.” She placed the baby over her shoulder. “It smells nice.”
    “There’s raspberry ice for dessert.”
    “Oh!” exclaimed Judy. “Can I eat that first?”
    “I’d best go before my food turns cold.” I joined Mr. Carlyle at the table, placing the white napkin in my lap. “Everyone’s fed now.” I met his gaze. “Do you normally eat here?”
    “Not often.” He’d waited for me, leaving the metal cover on the plate. Now he lifted it, exposing a baked hen, surrounded by greens and potatoes. “I usually have meetings in the evenings, but tonight was cancelled.”
    “You’re procuring money for the railroad?”
    “Yes. I find it surprising that I have to convince businessmen that it would be a benefit to have the line extend to Denver City. They don’t want to pay for it. Whatever is invested will be recouped within a short period of time. Why this is so difficult to grasp is beyond me.”
    “Times have been hard. Businesses have been hit with fire and flood. Most of the city burned to the ground a few years ago. Then people left to go back east. We went through a grasshopper infestation also about two years ago.”
    “I heard about that.” He speared a small piece of meat, bringing it to his lips.
    “Two farms of family members were devastated. We tried to get rid of grasshoppers, but it was useless.”
    “You said you came here from Ohio.”
    “Yes, with my brothers and sisters.”
    “Your parents died.”
    “Yes, first pa and then my mother. She was sick for a while. Then the infection finished her off. My older sister Jane took care of us.”
    “And you have younger brothers.”
    “And a younger sister, Susanna.”
    “How do you like Denver City?”
    “I’m not all that acquainted with it. I’ve been to Friday socials at the town hall, but, other than that, I only came for school and church or shopping.” I glanced around the room. “I must say; it’s rather nice being here, sir. I do feel spoiled. Seeing to Rosalind’s welfare is rather easy. On Fanny’s farm, we’re required to wake by six. Then there’s the cow to milk, and water to fetch for cooking. She doesn’t have domestic help.” He had been politely listening, eating and sipping wine. He didn’t seem to mind that I babbled on. “This is like a holiday for me. I don’t mind getting up in the middle of the night. I can sleep all morning, if I wish.” Had I said too much? “I mean, it’s hard work, sir, but…not that hard.”
    “I understand.”
    “Then I’ll get wages on top of everything.”
    He scratched the side of his neck. “I’m glad you’re settling in.”
    “I do hope you’re in town for some time, sir.” I hadn’t meant to sound quite so enthusiastic.
    “How’s the hen?”
    I’d been too busy talking to mind my dinner. “Oh, goodness. I really should eat before the dessert melts completely.”
    “Maybe you should eat it first?”
    “That would be…scandalous.”
    “To eat dessert first? Is that all it would take?”
    I giggled, while driving the spoon into the frozen concoction. “I’ll eat it first, but don’t tell anyone.”
    “It will be our secret.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    Once we had eaten, a