More Than a Miracle by Raine Cantrell

Author:Raine Cantrell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION/Romance/Short Stories
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2014-06-12T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Three days later, Maureen, with a faint ghost of amusement in her eyes, turned away from the corner where Gabe and the children were whispering. There was a lot of that these days, and she left them alone to make their plans. Gabe Channing filled a void she hadn’t known was there. He had a quiet, easy way about him that drew her to spend time in his company. Her daughter adored him, overcoming her painful shyness to speak her mind whenever he urged her on.

Only last night, Kathleen confessed that she wouldn’t mind having a papa just like Gabe. Maureen had been so flustered, she couldn’t even remember what she answered.

She had never thought of another husband. Perhaps if she didn’t have money put by she would have done what most every other woman did—remarry as quick as a fox runs.

She wasn’t sure she was comfortable with how easy it had become to depend upon Gabe. He chopped the wood, he shoveled the snow from another light fall. He was up before her every morning and tended to chores out in the barn. And he took such pleasure in the work that she said nothing to him about usurping her place. He ignored her every query about the ownership of the cabin. Actually walked away when she mentioned that she would buy the land from him.

Patience, she warned herself. Lots of patience. Just as much as you have with teaching the children their sums or reading.

But it was hard to bridle emotions when the man took special care with her daughter. He was so gentle with her shy child. And Chris… Oh, she couldn’t believe the change in the boy. He was full of mischief, laughing and talking and making plans.

One thing she knew, Gabe didn’t have a selfish bone in his body. He was so considerate of her feelings, of those of the children that she knew it carried into everything he did. Tempting her. The man was temptation itself when he smiled at her in that special way of his, as if she were the prettiest lady in his life.

Maureen returned to mixing the thick batter for corn fritters. She had soaked the dried corn in milk with a bit of grated sugar before she added the eggs, cornmeal and flour.

“My mother always put a pinch of salt in the batter.”

Maureen almost dropped the bowl. The words were whispered in her ear and Gabe was so close that she could feel the heat of his body as he leaned over her shoulder. If she moved her head a fraction her lips would likely brush his cheek. As it was she felt her pulse leap and her heart seemed to speed up its beat.

She licked her lips, ready to answer him, but he had turned away.

“I’ll be in the barn until supper,” he said.

“I’m coming.” Chris jumped up from where he’d been reading by the fire. “Kathleen?”

“No. You go on. I’ll help Ma with supper.”

Maureen saw that her daughter had a dreamy expression as she stared into the fire.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.