Dakota Father. Linda Ford
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studied Jenny with bottomless eyes. Finally she nodded. “Set de table.”
“Great. How many?”
“Burke and three men. Me.”
She hadn’t included Jenny and Meggie. Was it intentional? Was she not going to be allowed to eat with the others? That wasn’t going to work. Not if Meggie were to feel at home with whomever lived here. Her mind made up, she nodded. “With myself and Meggie that would be seven places.”
She held Paquette’s startled gaze, refusing to back down. Finally the older woman nodded. “Seven.” And turned back to the big pots on the stove.
Jenny found the plates and silverware. She found battered tin cups and put them on. “Shall I fill a jug with water?”
“Water at pump.”
Jenny already had noticed the pump at one end of the cupboard. Much more convenient than having to run outside for water. She found a large enamel jug. As she pumped the water, she looked out the window.
Burke stood at a low building with three men at his side. They all stared toward the house as if waiting for something. Burke reached up and pushed his hat back. The sun hit his face, making each feature sharp. Suddenly he grinned, his gaze still aimed at the house. Her heart skittered in alarm. Did he see her? She backed away. But if he did, he wouldn’t likely smile. He had been less than welcoming. And she had been even less compliant. She had forgotten her upbringing. Father God, forgive me for being so quick to speak my mind. Help me cause no offense.
She vowed she would not react to any further comments from Burke about how soon she would leave and how glad he would be for that time.
The jug was full. As she lifted it Burke and the men trooped across the yard and past the house. A few minutes later they returned, all with their arms full of the things she’d hauled from the bedroom. She chuckled.
Paquette looked out the window to see what amused her. “Boss not like moving stuff.”
Jenny shrugged. What could he do about it? “What else does the boss not like?”
Paquette turned as fast as her crippled body allowed and her mouth worked as she stared at Jenny.
What on earth? It was a simple enough question meant only to help Jenny know how to avoid any upsets. Why did the woman look so sad? Or was it anger?
Paquette ducked away. “Boss not like be hurt.”
“Ahh.” So it was probably both sadness and anger. “And has he been hurt somehow?”
“He not say. I not say.”
That was extremely unhelpful but Jenny knew Paquette would say no more. She couldn’t help admiring the woman for not dipping into gossip or sharing secrets. A most honorable trait.
Paquette checked the pots again. “You ring for men.”
“Sure. How?”
“Out de door.”
Jenny took that to mean the bell hung outside the door. “Come on Meggie, want to help me ring the bell?”
“Me help.”
Hand in hand they went outside. Jenny looked around for a bell. Saw none. She looked again. Saw a metal rod hanging from the rafters. Another piece of rod hung from a nail nearby. This must be the bell. She banged the rods together creating a great clatter.
“Me help.”
She gave the metal bar to Meggie and held her up to bang the bell. Meggie laughed. “Me do more.” She banged and banged, giggling with each crash. Then she handed the rod to Jenny. “You do again.”
Jenny batted at the rod, the racket vastly satisfying. A great way to deal with frustration and she hit the swinging bar as hard as she could. It went flying. She followed its journey and gulped as it landed at the tip of a pair of boots.
Jenny was almost certain she had seen that particular set of footwear already today. Knew they belonged to a man who wasn’t terribly glad to have her here. This would not make him any more glad. Slowly she raised her gaze until it connected with a pair of dark eyes. “Whoops. Guess I got a little too vigorous.”
“Either there’s a fire or the meal is about to dry up and blow away.”
She swallowed hard.
The men she’d seen earlier flanked Burke. She couldn’t look at any of them as embarrassment journeyed up her neck and seared its way across her cheeks. She shifted Meggie closer, feeling the child’s wariness of all these strangers.
“Supper’s ready.” She fled indoors.
Paquette chuckled. “Big racket. Bring de man fast. No?”
“Yes.” Next time she would be more circumspect, more controlled. But a grin tugged at her mouth. It had been fun and maybe next time she’d ring it every bit as hard.
The men had paused at the washstand outside the door and now trooped in and began to take places at the table. Suddenly they saw the number was off and paused, glancing around for someone to direct them.
Jenny hung back, Meggie still in her arms. It wasn’t her place to say where they should sit but all eyes darted at her. If she wasn’t mistaken they all held a bit of nervous wariness. “Please, just go ahead as you always would.”
Paquette placed the heaping bowls on the table. “You be sit at end?” She indicated one of the chairs. The other chair stood at the far end and Burke stood at it like it was his customary place.
Why the sudden cautiousness? Was there a secret order or something? A place she could choose that would usurp some subtle hierarchy? One way to find out. “Where do you usually sit?” She directed her question at Paquette.
Paquette didn’t answer but her gaze sought out the chair.
“You take the chair. I’ll sit wherever is convenient.”
“Sit,” Burke ordered.
A general shuffle followed. Jenny hung back until the men sorted themselves out. The only empty places were next to Burke. She would have chosen to be closer to Paquette but the die was cast and she sat. Meggie refused to leave her lap so Jenny held her.
“Jenny,” Burke said, “Let me introduce my men.” He turned to his right. “Dug—
A man who appeared to be in his early twenties, as lean as a twist of rope, but with a friendly enough expression, grinned at her.
“Lucky—”
The man she’d glimpsed in the barn. Short, stocky and with a wide grin that made Jenny feel more welcome than she had since she landed on the ground in front of the house.
“Welcome, Miss Jenny,” Lucky said.
Burke’s gaze shifted across the table to the man at Jenny’s left. “And Mac.”
The man had red hair and a red beard and even though he smiled at her, he looked like he’d better fit a frown.
“Pleased to meet all of you and I look forward to getting to know you better during my visit.”
If she wasn’t mistaken they all shot wary looks at Burke. She wondered if he had told them she wouldn’t be staying long.
“Eat,” Paquette said. “Before de fat form.”
Hands reached for the bowls.
Jenny cleared her throat. “Shouldn’t someone say grace?”
The hands jerked back and disappeared under the table. A startled silence filled the room.
Jenny met Burke’s eyes. “Lena would want Meggie raised in a Christian home.”
Burke’s eyes were hard and unyielding. “I ain’t much for praying.”
Wasn’t he a Christian man?