The Ranger Takes a Bride by Misty M. Beller

Author:Misty M. Beller [Beller, Misty M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 25797090
Publisher: Misty M. Beller Books
Published: 2014-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Two days later, Edward carried his bedroll in one hand and the puppy in the other, as he tromped down the stairs. "You hungry, fella? We'll stop outside for a minute, then see what we can round up for us to eat."

A blast of cold air slapped his face when he opened the front door. On the porch, Edward dropped his bedroll by the door, then jogged down the steps and set the puppy in a grassy area. "Do your business, boy. Tired of cleanin' up after you in my room." It was a good thing Anna wasn't up and around much, or she'd never stand for the dog in his bedchamber. But the puppy was just a little tike, not big enough to stay by himself in the barn.

He examined the sky. Low gray clouds seemed to press down on him. Looked like the first snow of the winter would come today. Not something he was looking forward to riding through. A gust of wind whipped him, and Edward wrapped his coat tighter around himself.

So that raised the question, what to do with the animal when he left today? He couldn't drag a dog around on all his assignments. Besides, after a few days of good food, the animal was almost too big to ride in Edward's coat pocket. So what now? Juan might not mind taking care of him. But the weather was too cold for a young puppy to sleep in the barn without the warmth of its mother. Maybe Anna would take pity on the poor thing. But her mind was pretty busy getting ready for the baby. Especially since Doc said the infant might come any day. And she wasn't supposed to be up and around, either.

So that left… Dare he even hope that Alejandra might be willing to care for the puppy? She'd seemed to enjoy holding it that one time she hadn't fled the room the moment he entered. Even got a little teary-eyed. Anna said the woman loved horses, and she seemed to have a soft spot for dogs, too. Maybe she'd do it for the puppy's sake, even if she wouldn't for Edward.

The puppy's deed accomplished, Edward scooped him up and headed toward the kitchen. Following the aroma of hotcakes to its source, he found Mama Sarita pouring batter in a frying pan, and Alejandra whipping something in a bowl.

"Mmm... Smells good in here."

Mama Sarita smiled over her shoulder. "Will you eat breakfast with the family? Or should we pack food for your trip?"

He exhaled. "Afraid I have to leave early again today."

She nodded. "We'll pack your satchel then."

Her hands flew as she flipped a batter cake in the frying pan, then smeared jam onto some that cooled on a plate, and rolled them into skinny tubes.

His stomach growled. Alejandra wrapped the stack of hotcake tubes in a cloth, then stuffed them in his burlap satchel, along with several other cloth-wrapped bundles. The women worked together without words, as though they could read each other's thoughts.

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