Caterina (Pendleton Petticoats Book 2) by Shanna Hatfield

Author:Shanna Hatfield [Hatfield, Shanna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance, Women's Fiction, Victorian, 19th Century, Forever Love, Bachelor, Single Woman, Love Possibility, Frontier-Pioneer & Western Romance, Hearts Desire, American West, Clean & Wholesome, Christian Stories, Faith Based, Inspirational Reads, Love Inspired, Life-Changes, Second Chances, Honesty & Trust, Home & Family, Lifetime Love, Romantic Schemes, Love-Family & Forever, Sweet Western Historical Romance, Pendleton Petticoats Series, Small Town & Rural Area, Beautiful & Feisty, Running From Italian Mafia, Hiding & Traveling Across Country, Police Officer, Law Enforcement, Lawman, County Deputy, Hidden Secrets, Pendleton Oregon
Publisher: Shanna Hatfield
Published: 2013-08-11T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Waves of heat unlike anything Caterina could ever remember bore down on them in Nora’s kitchen. Although every window in the house was open and the screen door let in a little breeze, the air in the kitchen was stifling.

It probably didn’t help that the three women had been cooking since before the sun began to rise that morning.

Wheat harvest officially began at Nash’s Folly with the arrival of a large harvest crew. Li kept watch over things at Garrett and Aundy’s place while the rest of the hands went over to J.B. and Nora’s where they’d start cutting the wheat.

Aundy and Caterina helped Nora cook. Li made several dishes the previous day and sent them over, along with the food the two girls already prepared.

Makeshift tables sat beneath the trees in the yard for the noon meal. The women would soon haul water and cookies out to the field to give the men a welcome break from their work.

Nik, who still hadn’t regained all his strength from his gunshot wound, assisted the women. After dragging a hand-pulled cart to the back porch, Nik helped Caterina and Aundy set the cookies next to a barrel filled with cold well water. He pulled it while they walked with him out to the field where the men worked.

Chaff from the wheat mixed with dust and thickened the air. Several of the men wore neckerchiefs over their faces to serve as a filter.

Caterina watched the men and picked out Kade in the group. She knew he worked the previous night and wondered if he’d gotten any sleep at all. As he laughed at something someone said, he didn’t give the appearance of being exhausted.

When the men spied the cart of refreshments, they stopped working to take a break.

Garrett started to give Aundy a hug, then thought better of it, covered as he was in chaff. Instead, he leaned over and pecked her cheek, accepting the cookie she held out to him.

“Thanks, honey. I was wondering when you’d come along so we could take a quick rest. It’s sure hot this morning.” Garrett removed his hat and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“Wait until this afternoon,” Kade said as he approached and offered Caterina a smile she realized he reserved just for her. It never failed to make her heart skip a beat or stomach flutter in response. “It’s going to be a real scorcher.”

“And how many days do you have to do this?” Caterina asked, never before witnessing a wheat harvest.

“We should be done in a little more than a week, if the weather holds and nothing goes wrong,” Garrett said, nodding his head at Kade. “Good help makes it go faster.”

“I can only help for a few days. I’ve got to go to The Dalles for a trial and won’t be back until it’s over.”

“Then I guess I’ll have to work you three times as hard while you’re here,” Garrett teased, taking another cookie and a drink of the cool water.

Kade

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