Flower of the Rockies by Angela Breidenbach

Author:Angela Breidenbach
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Angela Breidenbach

Chapter 9

Emmalee helped Lettie pack fried chicken, freshly picked berries from the small garden, a jar of pickled green beans, and a loaf of bread. The blanket to spread on the grass covered the top to keep the sun off the food.

Emmalee's heart raced when she opened the door herself to the handsome man in a white suit who'd invaded her dreams last night. "Good afternoon." She couldn't control the giant bubble of joy popping through her heart and spreading across her lips.

Richard offered a small posy as a gift. "I smell those delicious cookies all the way outside."

She'd heard of flowers being given by gentlemen, but never received any. "Lettie's bringing a whole 'nother basket full of them." Accepting the posy of wildflowers, she tucked her nose close and inhaled the light fragrance. "Mmm, it smells like the mountians. Thank you."

"I'm glad you like them. How are you?" He asked.

"Well. And you?"

The scents of cinnamon, sugar, and butter grew stronger as Lettie walked in carrying a huge wicker basket. "You two bumpin' noses again? I swear those moo cows have more to say in the fields than comes outta you two on this front porch." Richard's surprise made the older woman snort. "Let me put those in water." She handed off the basket to Richard, switched a checkered tea towel folded across her arm to cover the cookies, and took the sweet little bouquet from Emmalee.

"Joshua," Richard called his driver. "It appears we are feeding an army."

Lettie started issuing packing orders to the men. To his credit, Richard did her bidding with the help of his driver, loading the two baskets, the blanket, an extra blanket "in case", then the box with the teapot and a large jar of water.

"You'd think we were going on a long journey." He joked with the other man on the stoop as he handed off the last of the picnic fixings.

Emmalee grinned. "No, we prepared to potluck. The ladies said we're all sharing each dish. We wouldn't want to run out now, would we?" She slipped the ruffled blue apron off and hung it over a lower hook on the hall hat and coatrack. "I learned from the committee visit how easy it is to underestimate. There wasn't a cookie left in the house the other night."

"I think you have the best housekeeper and cook in the entire city, Emmalee."

Lettie pinked at the compliment.

Smoothing her hair, Emmalee lifted a fashionable white, wide-brimmed hat and pulled the long hatpin out of the crown. She pinned the hat in place through the topknot of her luxurious pompadour and then let the red ribbons race down the back of her white and navy striped garden suit. A red brooch of enameled roses swooped in an arc on her sharp narrow lapel. Choosing this outfit of patriotic colors, made her feel confident she'd fit into the celebration. But seeing how Richard's eyes filled with admiration, those joy bubbles set to popping again tickling in her very core.

"Joshua," Richard called to his driver.

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