Love Inspired Historical December 2017 Box Set by Regina Scott

Author:Regina Scott
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488018008
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWO

The next morning, Ben stood near the cast-iron stove scrambling eggs for breakfast. Snow and ice blew against the house with a vengeance, as if winter was shaking its angry fist at the world, daring it to lay dormant. He’d never seen a blizzard so early, and it didn’t bode well for the lonely months ahead.

A floorboard creaked and Ben turned to find Miss Wilkes fidgeting uncomfortably in the doorway. In the light of day, he found her to be even prettier than he’d first thought by the glow of the lantern. Her blond hair was twisted in a becoming knot, with tendrils curling around her face. Blue eyes, the color of wild forget-me-nots under a warm prairie sun were fringed with those long lashes, and she had the tiniest waist he’d ever seen. She didn’t look as young and defenseless as he’d first thought, either. He guessed her to be twenty-three or twenty-four, though she carried herself as if she had a fair share of life already behind her.

“Good morning,” Ben said as he nodded to the table. “I’ll have some eggs for you in a minute. Help yourself to bread and jam. The coffee’s hot.”

She took a tentative step into the kitchen as if afraid of being in the same room alone with him. Last night, they’d gone to their bedrooms immediately after they ate their flapjacks. It had been awkward and she’d fled the moment he’d said good-night. He didn’t blame her. It was a difficult situation she’d found herself in, but he’d do all he could to protect her reputation.

“Will I find a more suitable place to stay this morning?” she asked as she picked up a mug and filled it with coffee. “I’d also like to see the superintendent as soon as possible.”

Ben glanced out the window, but all he could see was snow and more snow. “I think the storm is worse today than last night.” He shook his head. “I don’t feel right about taking you out there again. At least not now. We’ll go later, if it lets up.”

She sighed and set the coffeepot back on the stove. “I suppose the damage is already done.”

Ben put the eggs on the table and motioned for her to take a seat. He also sat and then he bowed his head. “For this meal, and our lives, Lord, we are eternally grateful. Amen.”

“Amen,” she echoed.

Ben dished up her plate and she took a piece of bread and lathered it with strawberry jam. There was so much he’d like to know about her. He was always fascinated when a young lady braved the frontier and set out on her own—this one especially. She seemed so vulnerable, yet he suspected there was steel-like determination under that delicate exterior.

She glanced up at him. “Thank you for your hospitality. I’m sure this isn’t what you expected, either.”

He laughed. “I was definitely expecting Mr. Wilkes.”

She smiled, revealing a row of beautiful white teeth. “Do you take in many boarders?”

“He would have been my first.

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