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The smell of roasting chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy assailed Brandon’s senses as he walked back to the main house with Jacks a few hours later. The foreman had called him from the bunkhouse where he had been swapping stories with the old cook that fed the cowboys, and now walked with him to the front door.
“It’s nice to see you out this way preacher,” the man said as he paused, tipping his hat to a pretty woman with light brown hair who was being lifted from a wagon at the stoop. “Miss Peri,” Jacks drawled, “Bear.”
“Hello Jacks,” Peri said with a grin. “I hope you’re staying to eat, Preacher,” the young woman smiled.
“I’ve been invited, and I’d be loco to miss a meal at your sister’s table.”
“Preacher, good to see you,” the big man next to Periwinkle said, grinning through his luxurious brown beard. The man everyone in Needful called Bear was actually Bartholomew Cassidy, and he seemed a happy man since he had married Peri only a few months earlier.
“Have you visited with Miss Beechen?” Peri asked, her blue eyes twinkling. “She seems a lovely girl, and I’m so pleased she could come to work with Prim.”
“Miss Beechen is probably in the kitchen,” Brandon said. “We took your mother for a walk earlier.”
Peri smiled, her blue eyes twinkling with a cheery light. The girl always appeared to be up to something, though often you couldn’t guess what it could be. “Then we’ll have a nice cozy visit,” she nodded.
In a whirlwind of activity, Brandon found himself seated at an elegant table in front of a roaring fire as plates of delectable looking food were served around.
Prim and Beth had been busy while he had spent a quiet couple of hours in the bunkhouse with Cookie. The food looked and smelled wonderful, but the young woman across the table from him was beyond lovely and Brandon realized that he was developing feelings for Miss Beechen. The fact nagged at him as the conversation picked up, and he wondered if he was ready for the feelings that now grew in his heart.
“Is Prim treating you alright?” Peri asked, leaning toward Beth as she carefully cut her mother’s food into manageable pieces. “I hope she isn’t working you too hard,” the blue-eyed woman teased.
“Periwinkle, you know very well I’d never ask anyone to do a job I’m not willing to do. And for your information, Beth and I are getting along very well. She’s been a tremendous help.”
Peri wrinkled her nose at her sister then winked at Beth, showing that she wasn’t done with this conversation yet. “So how do you like Needful?” she asked, beginning to eat her meal.
“It’s a very nice town over all,” Beth said hoping not to offend anyone.
“Yes, but the men are rather forward,” Peri giggled. “Why Prim received at least three proposals a day at the Hampton House, and it wasn’t much better for me until Mama and I moved to the house here.” Peri jumped, reaching down and rubbing her ankle where her mother had just kicked her but didn’t slow down. “Even after I moved I worked at the Hampton House though,” she continued. “Olive needed the help, but now that her family has arrived I think she’s alright.”
“Yes, she seems to have things well in hand,” Beth agreed. “Her sons work most days with Orville at the sawmill, and her daughters-in-law cook, serve, and care for the rooms in the boarding house.
“Did you get along well with all of them?” Peri asked. “I know you weren’t there long, but it took me a while to get them all sorted out.”
“My wife likes to visit Olive as often as possible,” Bear said with a knowing grin. “I’m sure they are plotting something, but I haven’t figured out what it is yet.”
“Bear Cassidy, that is not kind,” Peri scowled. “You know I don’t plot, I only plan.”
The table erupted in laughter as everyone shook their heads.
“Peri, you are a wonder,” Prim laughed. “You have such a quick mind and a soft heart.”
Peri grinned at her sister then turned to the head of the table to speak to Anderson. “I think you’re spoiling my sister,” she said, “big house, fancy furniture, and now house help. You’d better watch she doesn’t get fat, dumb, and lazy.”
Anderson smiled, his eyes falling on Prim at the other end of the table. “I have no fear of that happening,” he said, his crisp English accent clear in the large room. “Prim is one of the hardest working people I have ever known.”
“Good thing, too,” Jacks spoke from the far side of the table. “We have plenty of it to do.”
The conversation turned to cattle and plans for expanding the ranch and the upcoming drive.
“Of course, we’ll have to do the big barn raising at Dan’s place soon,” Jacks said. “He put it off for the worst of the winter, but the man needs his big day just like you had.”
Beth watched as Anderson’s face flushed slightly. “I suppose you’re going to tell me not to get in a fight this time,” he grinned at his foreman.
“I don’t think that will be necessary,” Prim laughed. “We seem to have settled that misunderstanding.”
Beth looked at Mr. Tippert, who whispered a reply about Anderson thinking that Dan was interested in Prim when they had first started building his big house, but didn’t give any details.
“What about the rodeo the boys are talking about?” Jacks looked down the table. “It might be a fun distraction as the weather warms.”
“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” Peri said, her blue eyes flashing. “In another month the weather will be good, and we could have a barn dance as well.”
“Do you dance Preacher?” Bear asked, looking at Brandon and offering a grin.
“I’ve been known to cut a rug,” Brandon replied easily. “I might even know a few steps you’ve never seen.”
Beth couldn’t help but grin and wondered if she would get the chance to dance with Mr. Tippert. He was quickly becoming one of the most interesting people she knew.
