Don't Say a Word by Jennie Hansen

Author:Jennie Hansen [Hansen, Jennie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Suspense, romantic suspense, romance, clean, proper, wholesome, engagement, future, ranch, Montana, escape, forests, abandoned child, wild, deputy, mystery, origins, parents, danger, unknown, cross-country, country
Publisher: 9781524417123
Published: 2021-10-01T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Gage James sank slowly onto a kitchen barstool, setting his hat on the counter in front of him. His clothes reeked of smoke and his drawn face was covered with dark smudges. Lori rested a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. Shep crawled from his bed in the mudroom to lay his head against his master’s knee. Gage’s hand seemed to stroke the old dog’s head of its own volition. His eyes met Lori’s. “We didn’t lose the barn, and I’m grateful for that, but it was close. Replacing the hay we lost will cost us a bundle and there’s no way to know if we found all of the cattle that escaped onto National Forest Land through that downed gate. We’ll have to make another search in the next few days.”

“We have all summer to worry about that.” Lori patted his arm. “Now why don’t you get washed up and I’ll have your supper dished up by the time you get back. How about Jarom and Royce? How soon will they be in? They haven’t eaten either and it’s almost midnight.”

“They’ll be along in a few minutes. I told Parker to come get something to eat too. He and Jarom are going to keep an eye on things until morning. Some of our neighbors, said they’d stay until the boys finish eating, since Sheriff Gaines and his other two deputies were anxious to get back to town and start working on finding our gunman.”

* * *

Cassie’s spirits lifted at hearing she would soon see Parker. Ever since her father had returned to the house, she’d wanted to ask about him, but hadn’t wanted to draw attention to her interest in the deputy. She felt sympathy for him and Jarom, knowing they both had to be exhausted after the events of the day, but there was something reassuring about knowing Parker would be near through the night. She reached into the cupboard for plates for her dad and brothers, adding one more for Parker. Just as she finished setting the table, her brothers and Parker arrived and began taking turns washing up. Her heart ached seeing the fatigue on their faces.

No one spoke as they ate. Cassie judged by the lack of conversation and how many times she or her mother jumped up to refill serving bowls or serve another slice of her mother’s homemade bread, that the men had worked up big appetites and were more interested in food than in recounting their experience. At the end of the meal, as she passed around bowls of peach cobbler, Parker touched her hand and her eyes met his. “I was supposed to take you to dinner tonight. It would be hard to beat this meal, but will you give me another chance?”

She’d never before been asked out in front of her parents and brothers. Her brothers were watching her expectantly, and she caught a hint of a smile at the corner of her father’s mouth. She found she couldn’t speak, so merely nodded her head.

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