Rescuing Ruby Red (The Red Petticoat Saloon) by Maggie Ryan

Author:Maggie Ryan [Ryan, Maggie]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Blushing Books Publications
Published: 2016-04-05T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

When Jeb came in for dinner, Rebekah hurried to his table. Before she even took his order, she launched into her proposal. "Miss Nettie wants to make pies and the thimbleberries should be ripe now. Remember those berry patches not that far from the river? I bet they are just loaded. Would you take me berry picking?"

"I'd love to, Red."

She bent down and kissed his cheek and then flushed scarlet at her cheekiness. His grin told her that he didn't particularly mind even if a few people at nearby tables began to hoot and holler. "I-I can't believe I…"

"I didn't mind in the least," Jeb said, reaching up to tuck a red curl behind her ear. "Just don't be buzzing around any other customers or you'll get stung."

"Stung?" When he grinned and flexed his fingers, her cheeks weren't the only part of her body heating. "Um, I-I'll go get your supper." She scurried to the kitchen, cursing her pale skin which she could feel growing ever more colorful at the thought of that hand swatting the set of cheeks even now clenching beneath her skirts.

"What has you so flushed, child?" Nettie asked.

"Oh, Miss Nettie, I just kissed the sheriff! Right out in front of everybody!"

"Ah, so the man has finally discovered the benefits of honey." Rebekah looked up to see Nettie grinning ear to ear and she remembered the words she and Jeb had exchanged the night before.

"I'm not so sure about that, Miss Nettie; he seemed more interested in the southern end." As Nettie's laugh filled the kitchen, Rebekah blushed again. "Not my southern—I-I meant where the stinger is!"

"Of course. That's what I thought," Nettie said though they both knew she was telling a fib. "So, what does that sheriff of yours want tonight? Stew or fried chicken?"

"I-I forgot to ask!"

Jeb was grinning when she returned to his table. "Forget something, Red, or did you come back to buzz my other cheek?"

When his comment had the occupants of an adjoining table chuckling, she lifted her hand to swat his arm but then thought better of it. She didn't think he'd actually 'sting' her in public but she wasn't absolutely positive. She smiled at his brief look of disappointment when she managed to control herself. "Miss Nettie would like to know if you'd prefer her stew or fried chicken. Both are served with buttermilk biscuits."

"Tell Miss Nettie that tonight I'll have the stew but ask her to save some of that chicken for me. I have a date with a very pretty little gal and she'll need some sustenance tromping around in the woods. Berry picking is hard work but a picnic by the river will be a nice break."

She smiled at his reference to their outing. She hadn't even thought of including a picnic but agreed it was a wonderful idea. "I'll tell her. Do-do you want jam or honey with your biscuits?" When he reached out to take her hand, lifting it to press his lips against her palm, she no longer cared about the other people in the room.

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