Emmy's Equal by Marcia Gruver Read Free Book Online Page A

raised the corner of the cloth to find fat rolls of shredded beef wrapped in corn tortillas. He whistled appreciatively. “These could easily spoil my appetite for lunch, Miss Rawson. But they will be well worth it.”
    She angled her head. “This is your lunch, Mr. Marcelo. I prepared it myself. You and Cuddy missed the noon meal by a half hour.”
    “We did?” He chuckled and nudged his hat aside. “No wonder these smell so good.” He took the plate from her hands and sat on a nearby hay bale, balancing the feast on his knees. “I suppose we got so busy we lost track of time.”
    Greta perched beside him and offered him a napkin from the stack in her lap. “We figured as much, with everyone so set on getting the place in shape.”
    He folded the cloth back from the mounded dish and breathed in the aroma of seared beef, spices, and diced chilies. “Yes, ma’am, these look mighty fine.” He widened his eyes and lifted his brows, as innocent as a fresh thrown calf. “But where’s the rest?”
    She blinked twice. “The rest?”
    Diego elbowed her and winked. “I thought you made some for Cuddy, too.”
    Clearly pleased by his appreciation of her cooking, Greta tittered with glee and returned his jab in the ribs. “Oh, Diego. You’re such a tease. I bless the day you came to this ranch.”
    Mid-bite, he twisted to look at her.
    Blushing brighter than the red squares in the cloth, she busied herself refolding Cuddy’s napkin. “What I meant to say is there was never any fun on the Twisted-R until you showed up.” She stole a peek from under her lashes. “Now, we just laugh all the time.”
    Grinning, he gave an exaggerated tip of his hat. “Glad to be of service, Señorita Rawson. I will happily play the clown for you whenever you wish.”
    Greta tilted her still-rosy face, nearly blinding him with a smile that revealed tiny dimples he’d never noticed before.
    Charmed, Diego stared, forgetting the savory lunch in his lap.
    No doubt about it. The time had come for a discussion with John Rawson about his lovely daughter.

CHAPTER 6
    Magda stood on her tiptoes to search past the bustling platform for any sign of Bertha then quickly regretted her impulse. The bunion on her left big toe and the bursitis in both knees throbbed a painful reminder that a woman her size ought not to try resisting gravity.
    Shading her eyes, she peered along the tracks to the crossroad where Bertha Bloom had best show her irksome behind ... and soon. The train to take them south was long overdue. Snarling in frustration, she snatched her skirt with both hands, hefted it up, and whirled on the platform. “Where is she, Willem? I sent Nash with the wagon most of an hour ago. They’ve had enough time to beat us to the station.”
    Willem arched one brow. “Sending Nash was your first mistake. No one can draw out a simple chore longer.”
    Magda sniffed. “You’ve got that right. Still, you’d think Bertha would hurry him along. This was her harebrained scheme. I don’t know how she managed to drag me along on this excursion and then persuade you to boot.” She curled her top lip. “Cattle of all things. Why can’t she learn cattle-raising in Humble? We’ve got ranchers closer to home than Carrizo Springs, and that’s for sure.”
    Willem latched onto his suspenders and puffed out his chest. “Not ranchers like John Rawson. There’s no better man to teach Bertha what she needs to know.” A smile plumped his ruddy face. “Besides, this will give John and me a chance to catch up. It’s been quite a spell since I saw him last.”
    Magda gripped his hand. “I do look forward to seeing John again and meeting his family.” She shot a careful glance over her shoulder.
    Emmy stood behind them, fiddling with a lock of her hair, a vision in her pale rose carriage dress and matching hat.
    Most of the men standing nearby stared openly, eyes wide as if reluctant to blink and miss something.
    Catching sight of her mama gazing at