Keegan's Bride (Mail Order Brides of Texas 2) by Kathleen Ball Read Free Book Online Page B

dressed.”
    Glancing down at her night rail, she blushed. “That would be very good of you.”
    He pulled his boots on, buttoned his shirt and opened the door. “Not a problem. I’ll be back in a bit.” He closed the door behind him.
    “He seems to be a good man, doesn’t he, Peg?”
    Peg nodded and squirmed until Addy put her on the floor. “Puppy!”
    She laughed. He’d made Peg happy, and that was on the top of her list of qualities for a good husband. “Let’s get dressed.”
    She washed Peg and herself with some warm water she poured into a bowl. Then she got Peg dressed. After Peg was ready, she grabbed her dress and stared at it. It was a mess, but it was the only whole dress she had to wear. Sewing would take priority today. She put it on and looked in the small mirror hanging on the wall. Immediately her hands flew to her hair. Keegan had seen her with her hair standing on end. Groaning, she shook her head and immediately set her hair to right. As right as she could get it.
    “Hungry, Mama.” Peg tugged at the skirt of her dress.
    She leaned down and picked her up again. “I suppose we should do something about that. Don’t you think?”
    “Yes,” Peg answered definitively with a nod of her head.
    “Let’s get busy.” Setting Peg back down, she went over to the shelves. Eggs were easy, but she didn’t see any. She grabbed the flour. “We’ll have pancakes.”
    “Yum!”
    She set a bowl on the table and poured in a good amount of flour. Next, she added some water and stirred. The batter was lumpy and sticky. She added more water and shook her head. It didn’t look anything like the pancake batter she’d seen before. Next she hunted for something to cook it on. Spying a skillet on one of the shelves she smiled. Keegan would be proud of her.
    Adding more wood to the fire she waited for the flames to get higher. Then she ladled batter into the skillet and got close to the fireplace. Goodness it was hot. With one hand on the very end of the skillet she tried to lean in enough to cook the batter. Perspiration ran down from her forehead as the handle grew hotter and hotter. Finally, she couldn’t hold it anymore and she pulled away from the fire and dropped the skillet on the table. She hadn’t even turned the cake over but it was all charred.
    Her left hand was fiery red, and searing pain set in. She grabbed a rag, wet it and wrapped it around her hand. Next, she grabbed a knife and tried to pry the burnt food out of the skillet. Unfortunately, it held fast.
    “Need some help?” Keegan asked, in an amused voice.
    Looking up she grimaced. “Ouch!” Her burnt hand slipped and the knife clattered to the floor.
    Keegan rounded the table, took the skillet from her, and took her left hand in his big one, palm up. “What happened?”
    “It’s nothing.” She tried to snatch her hand back.
    He held on to her. “What are you trying to cook?”
    Her face heated as he stared at the skillet. “Pancakes.” Her voice was just above a whisper.
    “Oh. Well let’s get some salve on this hand, and then I’ll rustle up some breakfast.” He pulled out a chair and gently guided her to it. “Sit.”
    “But—”
    “I’ll take care of it. Peg, come and make sure your Ma stays put.”
    Peg eagerly ran over and put her arms across Addy’s lap. “Stay, Mama.”
    Amused, Addy looked up and met Keegan’s gaze. He arched his left brow and grinned. Her heart flipped in her chest. She’d never met another like him. He actually liked children, well maybe not all children but he sure had taken to Peg. Warmth wrapped around her as they stared into each other’s eyes.
    “Mama?” Peg interrupted the moment.
    “What is it my love?” She stroked the child’s hair.
    “Puppy?”
    Keegan laughed. “Let me grab the salve. Make sure your mama stays put.”
    She watched as Keegan dug around in an old wooden trunk. She had an excellent view of his… Oh my . Glancing away she berated herself for such thoughts.