Aundy (Pendleton Petticoats - Book 1) by Shanna Hatfield

Author:Shanna Hatfield [Hatfield, Shanna]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2013-05-26T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Awake most of the night with nerves, Aundy finally gave up on sleep and found things to keep her hands busy. Long before the sun began sending streaks of golden light across the horizon, she had baked a sheet cake and cookies, washed a load of laundry and strung it on the clothesline to dry, and dusted the front room.

By the time she heard the men clomping their way down the bunkhouse steps, she’d already gathered the eggs and made her morning threat to Napoleon to turn him into chicken dumplings if he didn’t refrain from pecking at her or flogging her head.

Hurrying back in the house, she whipped up a batch of biscuits, set bread to rise and put a big pot of beef stew on to cook for lunch. Frying strips of crispy bacon, and scrambling a big pan of eggs while potatoes fried in another pan, she made a pot of coffee and stuck her head out the door to call to Dent when she saw him walk toward the barn.

Although he didn’t appear to increase the speed of his steps, his stride quickly ate up the ground and he soon stuck his head in the kitchen where Aundy stood at the stove making sure the eggs didn’t burn.

“Morning, Missy. Need something?” he asked, taking in the site and smells of breakfast. His stomach rumbled in anticipation.

“I’d like you and the boys to join me for breakfast if you haven’t eaten yet. It will be ready in just a few minutes,” Aundy said, smiling over her shoulder at her foreman. If she could get the hands in a good mood, maybe they’d be more receptive to her plans. Feeding them a hearty breakfast had to be a good start, despite Garrett’s skepticism.

“I’m sure they’ll all appreciate a hot meal none of us had to prepare. I’ll round them up,” Dent said, hustling down the steps and across the barnyard toward the bunkhouse.

He soon returned with the other men, their hands and faces bearing traces of a thorough scrubbing.

“Good morning,” Aundy said, setting a bowl of fried potatoes on the table next to the eggs.

“Mornin’, Miz Erickson,” Bill said. “We’re mighty grateful for your invite for breakfast.”

“I’m glad you all could join me,” Aundy said, pouring five cups of coffee and making herself a cup of tea. Sitting in the chair Dent held out for her, the hands took their seats and Dent asked a blessing on the meal.

Aundy encouraged small talk, asking the hands about things they’d done or seen in the past few days, their growing up years, anything she could think of besides the topic of sheep.

George consumed the last piece of bacon while Aundy refilled coffee cups and took a deep breath.

“You’re probably wondering why I asked you to join me for breakfast,” Aundy said, looking around the table. At Dent’s nod, she continued. “I purchased something that I think will add to the value of the farm and provide additional income without increasing the work load by much.

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