The Rancher Takes a Cook

by Misty M. Beller

  Aunt Lola patted her hand as Anna placed the little bundle into the older woman’s grip.

  “You’re a special one, Anna Stewart. I think we’re gonna keep you around.”

  Anna squeezed the older woman’s hand, emotion clogging her throat at the tears that glimmered in the dark blue eyes.

  When she made it back to her seat, Anna glanced around. The men looked expectantly at her. “Well, open them.” She almost laughed at the way they tore into the paper. These rough cowboys were just overgrown boys after all.

  Anna peeked over at Jacob to catch his expression as he peeled the paper from the blue flannel bandanna, the same color as his sky blue eyes. He fingered the soft cloth and rubbed his thumb across the letters JOB she had so painstakingly embroidered. Why had she given him such a silly gift? What did a cowboy care about a piece of cloth? He wouldn’t know she had gone to two different stores to find flannel just the right color and had redone the stitches three times so the letters in his initials would be perfectly angled. When he looked up, though, Anna didn’t see scorn in his eyes, only appreciation…and something else.

  “It’s not much.” she whispered, almost afraid to speak as the intensity of his gaze deepened.

  “It’s perfect.” A smile played on his lips. Yes, perfect.

  The “Thank you’s” and “Muchas gracias, Seniorita’s” tore Anna’s attention away from Jacob as she settled into the warm spirit of Christmas giving.

  The next round of gifts came from Mr. O’Brien and included a bag of peppermint sticks and a five-dollar gold piece for each of them. Anna flashed him an appreciative smile. Gold pieces were not easy to come by since the War, especially in the Southern states.

  After the meal, Jacob held Anna’s chair while she stood then touched her elbow as he leaned forward to speak softly in her ear. “If you’re ready, I’ll saddle the horses while you get your coat.”

  Anna nodded, not meeting his eyes. “I’ll be right back.”

  As she hurried upstairs to gather her cloak and gloves, a tickle built in her stomach.

  In the front yard a few minutes later, Anna rested her left boot in Jacob’s cupped hands and he boosted her onto Bandita’s back. As she settled the reins in her gloved hands, a motion on the front porch caught her eye.

  Monty settled in a rocking chair and eyed them with a speculative grin. “You two checkin’ on the cattle or just headin’ out to enjoy the warm weather?” he asked in a teasing Mexican accent.

  Heat rushed up her neck, but Jacob didn’t seem a bit embarrassed by the remark. “We’re tired of hanging around a bunch of grubby cowpokes and thought we’d get some fresh air.” Mounting his own horse, Jacob called over his shoulder, “Good luck in the checker match, amigo.” Then he motioned for Anna to precede him, and they started off. Monty’s deep chuckle drifted after them.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Anna settled into the ride as they skirted around the edge of the herd, and Jacob pointed out a few of the most ornery cattle that had caused particular trouble at one time or another.

  “See that cow with full white face and the really long horns? Last year she lost a calf in the birthing. She had a full bag of milk, and Vegas needed to milk her so it wouldn’t spoil and cause infection. You should have seen the ruckus she caused. He got the job done but had so many bruises, he couldn’t sit straight in the saddle for days.”

  Anna laughed until tears sprang to her eyes. It was captivating the way Jacob’s face lit up as he talked of the cattle and the men. The ranch was so much a part of him, and passion radiated from his voice as he spoke. She couldn’t help a bit of envy at the way he seemed to know what he wanted from life. He’d been settled in one place since childhood, pursuing his dreams.

  When they made it to the river and dismounted, Jacob tied the horses to a large pecan tree about twenty feet from the river while Anna strolled toward the water’s edge. She loosened her bonnet, allowing it to dangle by the strings as she relished the warmth of the sun on her face. A pair of Cardinals danced on the bare branch of a small tree down the bank. The sun glinted off the surface of the gently flowing water, giving the illusion of warmth. But she had a feeling it was ice cold from the winter nights.

  Jacob joined her, and Anna was thankful he didn’t speak to disturb the beauty around them. After a few long moments, he bent down and picked up a branch from the ground then pushed the dry leaves away as if searching for something. She looked over his shoulder, curious. He rose and moved along the river’s edge, following the current but staring at the ground as he walked. His brow was puckered a bit, like he was trying to figure out a puzzle.

  “What’s wrong?” Anna finally asked. But Jacob just continued plodding downstream. Anna followed at a distance. What was he doing? And why was he ignoring her? They were almost out of sight from where they’d started when Jacob squatted to examine the ground, then peered across the river. Hundreds of hoof prints molded the muddy patch of ground at the water’s edge. They were not the rounded prints of horses, but the two smaller oval prints of a cow—and there were lots of them.

  “Is this where our cattle come to drink?” she asked cautiously, still not sure what to make of Jacob’s behavior.

  “Not usually. There are a few tracks from horses, too, and one of the horses is wearing a bar shoe that doesn’t match what our animals wear.” He sighed, rising to stand next to her. “These prints don’t look like the cows just came to the water’s edge to drink. It looks like they walked right out into the river. My guess is they were driven into the river and came out somewhere downstream on the other side.”

  Anna stared at Jacob in horror, not liking the implication of his words. “Do you think it was the rustlers the other ranchers are talking about? How many do you think they took?”

  “It’s hard to say for sure, but it looks that way. There are enough tracks to be about fifty head but hard to tell for sure there, too. I guess we’ll be adding a night watch for the herd.”

  Anna studied Jacob’s expression. He had a hard set to his chin and a worried look in his blue eyes. Losing fifty cows was not good for the ranch, but he was probably worried about the threat of losing even more. Still, the thought of their men running into a gang of bandits in the dark made her stomach queasy. “Who would you send out for the night watch?” Some of the older cow hands might welcome the solitude.

  “We’ll all take turns, two each night.”

  The nausea in Anna’s stomach threatened to bring back the plum pudding she’d eaten for dessert. “Everyone? You, too? But what if you run into the thieves and they have guns?” Then another frightening thought occurred to her. “But surely not Edward, right?”

  * * *

  Jacob read the near panic in Anna’s eyes and tread carefully. He turned to face her and laid a hand on each of her shoulders. “Anna, night watch is part of a cowboy’s life. We don’t usually stay with the cattle when we’re around the ranch, but if there’s a threat to them, it has to be done. We all carry guns and stay in pairs, so there’s not really much danger. Edward will be fine. He’s a man now and a smart one at that. He knows how to handle himself, and I’ll make sure he knows to head back for reinforcements at the first sign of trouble. In fact, I’ll make sure I have night duty the same time as him so I can keep an eye out for him.”

  As he spoke the last words, tears pooled in Anna’s brown eyes. When one of them broke through the dam and rolled down her cheek, Jacob couldn’t help himself any longer. He pulled her against his chest and stroked her back. She felt so good against him, like coming home. After a minute, Anna’s shoulders relaxed and she drew a deep shuddering breath then took a little step back, putting space between them. Jacob loosened his arms around her but didn’t let her go completely, sliding his hands to Anna’s elbows. He immediately missed her warmth against his chest.

  Anna focused her gaze on his chin, not meeting his eyes.

  “Anna, look at me.”

  She raised her gaze until it locked with his, t
hose brown orbs stirring strong emotion within him. “No matter what happens, God will be with us.” He stroked her cheek. So soft, but still a little damp from her tears. “And if I can do anything about it, nothing will ever hurt you again.”

  “Jacob…”

  His name on her lips was more than he could stand. Jacob leaned down and covered her lips with his own. Her kiss was every bit as sweet as he’d imagined, and he pulled her closer, sliding his hands around her waist. Anna reached her arms to his shoulders, touching the nape of his neck and adding fuel to his desire. He deepened the kiss, kneading her back and pulling her even closer. Craving flooded his body. Anna moved a hand down to his chest, clutching his shirt. Jacob wasn’t sure if she was pushing him away or pulling him closer, but the movement was enough to help him reclaim some of his senses. He took one last sweet taste then ended the kiss, bringing his forehead to rest against Anna’s. He stood there for a moment to catch both his breath and his self-control. Anna seemed to be doing much the same.

  “Jacob…”

  “Hmmm…” He moved back a few inches to see her face and cupped her cheek with his palm. Wow, she was beautiful. Lord, I’m still not sure why You brought this incredible woman into my life, but please help me not to blow it.

  “Do you think we’d better head back now? The others might start missing us, and I need to get supper started soon.”

  Jacob groaned and pulled Anna’s head back to his chest. “I don’t know how you can think of food after that Christmas dinner we had.” Giving her one last gentle squeeze, he finally released her. “But I guess we’d better get back to the house, though. Knowing your brother, he’ll be ready to eat a side of beef by the time we get there.”

  Anna laughed, creating a warmth that spread through Jacob’s chest. “He’s still a growing boy.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Over the next few weeks, the men took turns guarding the stock at night. Worry was Anna’s companion during the darkness, especially when Jacob and Edward were on duty. But as time progressed and the men experienced no trouble, her fears began to fade.

  Anna handed Jacob a cup of coffee in exchange for the basket of eggs one morning after he had come in from milking. The white liquid had a thin sheet of ice over the top when he set the bucket on the counter, confirming Anna’s suspicion that it was extra cold outside that morning.

  “Temperature’s dropping.” Jacob rubbed his hands together and blew between them, creating a bit of heat in his fingers. “It looks like there’s a storm coming.”

  “Are the men going to stay in today until after the storm is over?” Not much snow fell in South Carolina, but Texas storms might be worse than the mild snowfalls she had experienced. After all, everything was bigger in Texas.

  “Nope. Need to move the stock to cover under the trees in the north pasture. One of the men will head out to the line shack, too, so we can keep someone close to the cattle if things get bad.”

  Anna looked up from stirring oats over the cookstove. “The line shack?”

  “It’s a shed out on the northern corner of the property. That area has the best cover when the snow storms hit. The men take turns living there for a week at a time during snow season. That way, someone is always close by to open up water holes and help with early calving.”

  Anna didn’t like the sound of that, but she was learning these cowboys were a tough breed. They could handle anything that came at them and then some. And, too, they all trusted in the Lord to keep them safe. That helped her to bite back the concern she wanted to voice. “Who will stay in the line shack first?”

  Jacob took another swig of coffee then set the cup down and shrugged his shoulders. “That’ll be up to Monty. But I do know you’ll probably want to get food provisions ready for whoever goes. Mostly beans and cornmeal, but enough to last at least three weeks.”

  * * *

  A snowstorm did hit that day, and Anna was amazed at the fury it unleashed. After two hours of snowfall so thick she couldn’t see more than four foot out the window, it finally slowed to a light misting. She’d planned a hot stew for dinner that night and was relieved when the men came in not long after their usual time, stomping off snow on the front porch and shedding ice-covered coats in the front hall.

  The snow definitely made things harder around the ranch, and they were all relieved when it melted in a couple of days. But a week later another storm hit, bringing with it almost a foot of frozen precipitation that lasted for a week. This pattern continued through the middle of February and Mr. O’Brien said this was the most snow they’d experienced in at least fifteen years.

  Each evening, the cowpunchers would drag themselves in for supper, exhausted from trudging through the snow or mud, pulling cattle out of drifts, breaking through thick ice to create water holes, and who knew what else. The men continued to take turns staying in the line shack, rotating each Monday. Anna was relieved neither Edward nor Jacob had been required to perform this particular role yet. It still amazed her that even though Jacob was part owner of the ranch, he worked side by side with the cowpunchers and took orders from the foreman like any other hired hand.

  * * *

  “Do you want to tell me what’s wrong?” Anna set down the knife and potato she’d been peeling and focused her attention on Jacob. He’d been sitting at the kitchen table all morning, coffee untouched, with his brow furrowed and his mind somewhere far away from the cozy kitchen they were in. She’d studied him curiously at first but couldn’t stand the suspense any longer.

  Jacob’s brows rose at her question. “Why do you think something’s wrong?”

  Did he think she was that dense? His innocence would have been endearing if she wasn’t so worried about what was bothering him. “Because you’ve been sitting there for twenty minutes stewing over something. Are more cattle missing?”

  He shook his head. “It’s too hard to tell with the snow and all the cattle taking shelter. I know we’ve lost a few from the weather, but we haven’t seen any more sign of rustlers. We won’t be able to get a good head count until spring round-up and branding.”

  “So…” Anna prompted.

  “So, what?”

  Anna let out an exasperated sigh. “So are you gonna tell me what you’ve been stewing about?”

  Jacob breathed his own sigh. “I’ve been stewing because I’m headed to the line shack today.”

  Anna dropped her knife on the counter with a clatter. “You?”

  “Yep, I was just thinkin’ how I’m gonna have to make my own coffee in the mornings.” His blue eyes turned to her with the hint of a twinkle.

  Heat rose to her cheeks, but then the full meaning of his words began to sink in. Jacob would be gone for a week? No early morning time with him all to herself, drinking coffee and talking while she cooked breakfast. No more sitting next to him at the dinner table. She had come to enjoy and depend on his presence. He was a good friend, but it was something more than friendship. But, how much more? He hadn’t touched her since that kiss by the river on Christmas Day. Had she dreamed the whole wonderful event?

  “Are you gonna miss me?”

  At Jacob’s words, the heat rushed past Anna’s neck and flamed in her cheeks. She dipped her chin and focused on peeling the potato in her hand.

  Jacob released a husky chuckle, and his figure loomed in the corner of her vision as he rose from his chair and moved to stand next to her. Furiously peeling the poor potato, Anna didn’t dare look up or even breathe. Her insides were too jumbled with him standing so close.

  After what must have been an eternity with Jacob standing near, Anna’s nerves were stretched tighter than a banjo string, and her hands flew around the tiny nub that was left of the potato. He finally reached out and placed his large work-roughened hand over both of hers, stilling them instantly. She chanced a cautious peek at his face and froze at the intensity in those deep blue eyes. She was putty in his hands as Jacob extracted the knife from her grip and turned Anna to face him.

&n
bsp; “You haven’t answered my question.” His deep voice broke through the fog swirling in Anna’s brain. “Are you going to miss me?” He reached out a hand to cup Anna’s cheek. “Because I know I’ll miss you.”

  Anna’s stomach was a ball of nerves. “Is it me you’re going to miss or my coffee and food?”

  Jacob took a step toward her, eliminating all but a few inches of distance between them. “You. I’ll definitely be missin’ you.” He moved his hands to Anna’s shoulders, trailing them down her arms to rest on her elbows. Her skin tingled everywhere his fingers grazed. He pulled her to him, and her eyelids fluttered closed as his lips came down to touch her own. His kiss was sweet and yet his mouth melded to hers with an intensity she had only dreamed about. Anna’s heart responded in kind as her hands reached out to caress him, one coming to rest on his heart and the other stretching around his neck to tug him closer. Closer. She couldn’t get enough of this man she had come to—

  “Uhh-hmm…”

  A throat cleared in the doorway. Anna jumped back. Her face was surely the color of the chili peppers she had set out to use for dinner that night. Monty stood in the doorway, grinning like a cat with a cornered mouse.

  “What do you need?” Jacob’s voice was low, almost a growl.

  Monty didn’t seem fazed by his less than enthusiastic welcome. “Sorry to interrupt.” He sauntered into the room, hands in his pockets. “I needed to fill you in on a couple of things before you head to the shack today.”

  Jacob sighed and ran a hand through his curly brown locks. “All right, have a seat.” He motioned toward the chair then turned to Anna with an apologetic look.

  She could barely meet his gaze, heat still searing her cheeks. As Jacob sat down across from Monty at the kitchen table, Anna set a second cup in front of Monty and poured steaming coffee into both mugs. She kept her head down, trying to be as invisible as possible.