She watched a gleam come to Hank’s eyes. “I wouldn’t mind getting the garden going again. I like gardening.”
“You can do as much or as little as you like here. This is your home from now on, the both of you. Feel free to do whatever you want when Rowan doesn’t need you.”
“Thank you,” the men chorused. “We’re much obliged.”
She had noticed on a few occasions they often said the same or similar things at the one time. “I’m getting something out of the deal too. With your help Rowan won’t need to spend so much time on chores. It will give him more time to spend with me.”
Everyone laughed.
The two men stood ready to go off and explore the ranch further, and she knew Rowan wanted to do the same, yet he hesitated.
“You go off with them,” she said.
“Well...”
“If you stay here, I’ll have to give you household chores to perform, besides, I plan on having a nice long soak in the bathtub. I’m giving myself the day off from all except the most essential tasks.”
“If you don’t mind, I will go with the men. We can check the pastures, fencing and so on.”
“Supper will be served at six o’clock.”
Rowan gave her a quick kiss before following the other men out of the house. She fought down a twinge of, was it, jealousy? She would have him to herself after supper. Only sensible for all three men to familiarize themselves with the ranch and work out the best way to get it running more profitably.
An enclosed section of the back porch was their washing room. A dented tin bath hung from a hook on the wall. Two large wooden washing tubs had been secured to the wall. Pa had run a pipe outside to take the water away when she finished washing, making life easier.
He had built extra shelves in an old closet where she kept towels, washing rags and soap. Ma always used homemade lye soap, but Miranda could not come at it. The one luxury she always allowed herself was store-bought soap.
After a relaxing bath she decided to wear a brown dress with a lighter shade of trim around the cuffs and neckline. She brushed her hair and let it hang loose about her shoulders where it fell in soft waves. Wearing a white apron to keep her dress clean, she headed for the kitchen to continue her supper preparations.
Chapter Thirteen
Rowan strolled through the kitchen door. “Something smells good. Well, lots of things smell good,” he said with a grin.
“Glad you approve.” She could scarcely hide her hurt because he never mentioned her appearance, and she had worked so hard on it.
He stepped over to her and wrapped his arms around her. “You look beautiful, Miranda.”
He said the words with such sincerity tears filled her eyes.
“I’m the luckiest man in the whole of Colorado.”
He kissed her, a long, passionate kiss that ricocheted through the whole of her body, not stopping until it reached her toes.
“I guess I better clean up, too.” He rubbed his palm across his stubble covered chin.
“You can have a bath if you like. I boiled extra water in case you wanted to.” She trailed off on seeing the gleam in his eye.
“Ooh, darlin’, I want to. I want to real bad.”
She was not sure whether he was talking about the water or not.
Half an hour later, he sauntered into the kitchen, freshly shaved, his dark hair plastered damply to his head yet still managing to curl. He had changed into a clean shirt and pants and looked so handsome her heart skipped a couple of beats.
“You scrub up well,” she said, noticing the huskiness in her voice.
“As long as you find me pleasing.”
“I do.”
He laughed. “I’ve heard you say those two words before.”
***
Supper was successful, all four of them tucked into perfectly roasted chicken with vegetables and gravy. They finished off with apple cobbler. It was a source of pride being able to use the apples she had picked and stored from their own trees.
“This is the best meal I’ve had in years,” Tom said.
“Me, too,” Hank chimed in. You’re a real good cook. Rowan is a lucky man.”
“I know I am. It was a lovely meal, darlin’.”
The men got up to go shortly afterward. Night was falling, yet they assured her they needed no lamp light to find their way back to the cabin.
Rowan helped her with the dishes and when they were done, they sat in the sitting room having a coffee. “I’m starting to get nervous,” she said.
“There’s no need to be. It will be good between us, darlin’.”
“The bank tomorrow.”
He laughed. “I thought you were getting anxious and excited for me.”
“I am, that’s a good kind of anxious, but the bank isn’t. Clem hates me, well, probably all women, and deliberately intimidates them.”
“Don’t you worry your pretty little head about him; he’s got me to deal with now and I don’t care how important he thinks he is.” He yawned. “Do you need to go out the back?”
She shook her head.
“I do. You get yourself ready for bed, I won’t be long.”
Feeling decidedly nervous, Miranda walked to the main bedroom and folded back the bedclothes, before slipping on a white cotton nightgown with a lace trimmed yolk. With nerves building up she lay waiting for him to return. What if he was disappointed in her? She fretted and worried.
He strode into the room with an easy, loose limbed grace and immediately started stripping off his clothes. Once he got to his drawers, he snuffed the lamp out
