Chief Cook and Bottle Washer by Rita Hestand Read Free Book Online

it was hard not to compare them. But,
this man was her boss. If she still had a job. A man to be reckoned
with. A man who didn't like deceptions, didn't like games, and
maybe even didn't like women.
    Despite his anger and impatience, she
couldn't stop the train of thought that engulfed her. Deke Travers
made her feel warm and feminine for some reason. Not like any man
she'd been around. He made her want to go out and buy the prettiest
dress she could find, just to show him. But Emma was no fool, she
knew she couldn't hold a man like Deke. She wouldn't know where to
begin. She had no experience beguiling men.
    "Y-you don't like babies?"
    She had searched for something to say, to
alleviate the tension between them. And what tension. She sensed he
was only inches from wringing her neck, by the hard set of his jaw.
So why had she blurted out her next thought?
    For a moment he didn't answer. Just stared at
her. Then as though her question deserved some sort of answer, he
went around to Sammie Jo's window and stared down into the sleeping
little face. His stern features softened momentarily and a hint of
a smile played at his mouth. Just enough to let Emma know he was
human, very human. The boss might bark a lot, but Emma decided he
had a heart of gold. She might not know how to charm a man, but she
certainly knew how to read one.
    "She's a cute little heifer, it'd be hard not
to like her. It's just I wasn't expecting her, is all. I guess we
can accommodate you both though. I mean the house is plenty big.
Just see she doesn't wander off too far. Horses, cows and babies
don't usually mix too well."
    "She won't be a bother. She's a wonderful
baby, hardly ever cries."
    "Cries?" He looked at Emma again, another
frown lining his forehead. He looked as confused as the feelings he
stirred. "Oh, yeah, well, that's good."
    "Look. I could go back the same way I
came."
    "Don't tempt me Emma. I'm already regretting
the offer."
    Well tarnation, didn't the man realize that
babies cried? "I'm sorry I sprang this on you, Mr. Travers. It
wasn't fair. But consider this, in my position, what would you do?
A woman alone can't always play her hand out." She reconsidered her
tact. After all she had surprised him with this and he was handling
it.
    "You obviously needed a cook, and I was going
to lose my job back at Bertha's. You said so yourself. I have a
child to support. I gathered you hired me out of desperation, and I
took the job for the same reasons. As you can clearly see."
    He didn't say a word.
    "I really am a good cook, and I can handle a
big house too. I've had three older brothers to pick up after most
of my life. I grew up on a small ranch back in East Texas, so I'm
sure I can adjust to yours."
    Deke Travers turned about to look at her
again. He seemed to be studying her words. "Three brothers, huh?
Where were they when this jerk came along?"
    Emma scrambled for an answer, knowing he
meant Joel and not knowing what to say. "My brothers don't run my
life. No man does."
    "No man runs from responsibilities, either,"
Deke Travers shot her a questioning look.
    Emma's heart fluttered. God, he'd be hard not
to fall in love with. Such old fashioned principles struck a chord
with her. Of course she had more sense than that. He couldn't be
for real, he was a cowboy for God's sake. He was a lot like Frank.
Thinking of Joel she added, "Then maybe he wasn't much of a
man."
    "Took you a while to figure that one out, I
guess."
    "I guess so." She lied. Let him blame her, no
one was going to desecrate Kate's name while she was around. She
really should set the man straight though before he got the wrong
impression of her, but right now was certainly not the time. She
had a broke down truck, a hot and tired baby, and a job she needed
to secure before she admitted anything else. Lies or no lies.
    Deke Travers might be hard not to like. He
was obviously one of the good guys who wore white hats and saved
ladies in distress. But the truth could wait another day.