Baby On Her Doorstep. Rhonda Gibson
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Grace pulled on Hope’s arms until she stood steadily on her feet. The two children looked up at Laura expectantly. Did she understand the children were waiting to go eat?
Laura grinned. “I see that I am outnumbered. We are going to go over to Miss Pearl’s for lunch. You and Grace are welcome to join us.” She picked up the ball of yarn Hope had been playing with and dropped it into her handbag. Then Laura scooped up Hope and swung the child on to her hip.
Grace tugged on his shirt. Clint lifted his daughter up and set her on his shoulders. “Then that sounds like a nice place for us to go, too. I’ve never eaten there. I usually do my business and get right back to the ranch.”
Mrs. Potter snorted. “Dinner is at six.” She left the room with her skirts swirling around her.
Clint followed Laura and Hope out the door. Why hadn’t Laura had lunch at the boardinghouse? Maybe the food wasn’t as good there as it was at Pearl’s.
He stepped into place beside Laura when she made room on the sidewalk for him. Grace giggled and chattered above his head. “She really is a talker, isn’t she?” Laura grinned up at Grace.
“That she is. I just wish I understood more of what she’s saying.” Clint patted the little girl’s leg. In return, she patted the top of his head.
Laura laughed.
Clint grinned. He had to admit that he’d not heard a woman’s rich laughter in a long time and to be honest, he’d missed the sound. His gaze moved about the town of Glory.
It was growing. Lumber and farmland were both plentiful, and men from all over were coming to Glory. The sound of hammers pounding a steady beat filled his ears as they passed the construction of the new hotel.
Laura stopped in front of the restaurant and opened the door for him to pass. He ducked low, so as not to hit Grace’s head. Once inside they were immediately greeted by a redheaded woman with green eyes and a rich Irish accent.
Clint pulled Grace from his shoulders and set her on the floor beside him. He held tight to the little girl’s hand and smiled at the lady. Grace chattered happily, probably telling him that this woman had an accent just like his housekeeper, Mrs. Murphy.
“Hello, Laura.” The woman reached out and touched Hope’s fine blond curls. “Who is this sweet little lamb?”
Laura’s lips tipped into a soft smile. “Pearl, I’d like you to meet Hope.”
“Hope?” Fine red eyebrows went up into the woman’s hairline. “Now that’s a pretty name.”
What was this? If Laura really was the schoolteacher, wouldn’t everyone know the child? Especially since this little girl was at least a year old? He’d assumed Hope was her daughter. Had he assumed wrong?
Laura smiled at her friend. “Yes, Hope. I’ll tell you more about her tomorrow morning. Maybe we can grab a cup of coffee and a sweet roll?”
Pearl looked to the handsome man standing beside Laura and nodded. “I would enjoy that.”
Confusion lined Clint’s forehead as he looked from her to Pearl. His gaze shifted to Hope and then back up to Laura. She sighed, knowing he had questions about the little girl who snuggled against her as if seeking assurance that she wasn’t going anywhere.
“If you two will follow me, I’ll get you a quiet corner in the back.” Pearl grabbed two menus and began leading the way.
Laura followed Pearl, aware that Clint and Grace followed her. She wondered how much Hope and Grace would understand when she explained Hope’s circumstances to the rancher.
Pearl stopped beside a small square table with four chairs and asked, “Is this all right?”
Clint nodded. He helped Grace into one of the chairs. Laura was aware of the muscles that worked across his shoulders as she helped Hope into her chair. She pulled her gaze away from him and focused on the place settings in front of her.
Pearl ran a respectable restaurant and made sure that each table had nice place settings. The linens were clean and the food always good.
Once they were seated, Pearl handed them menus. “Today’s special is roast beef sandwiches and fried potatoes. What can I get you to drink?”
Laura answered, “Hope and I will have milk, please.” She looked to Clint.
He grinned up at Pearl. “I’d like a hot cup of coffee for myself and a glass of milk for Grace.”
For the first time, Laura allowed herself to really examine him. His rich brown hair curled about his collar as if it had a mind of its own. The deep richness of his hair seemed to pull the bottomless blue from his eyes. He was muscular and lean. A working man.
Laura’s gaze moved to Pearl, who still stood beside their table. The other woman seemed captivated by the blue of his eyes, as well. She smiled like a schoolgirl at him. A soft pink filled her cheeks in just the few moments she’d been standing there.
Laura cleared her throat. “Hope and I will share the special. Can I substitute mashed potatoes with gravy for the fried potatoes?”
As if taken by surprise, Pearl jumped. “I’ll, uh, go get your drinks.”
Pearl hadn’t heard anything she’d said. Laura shook her head in amusement. Mr. Shepard was a nice-looking man, but personally she didn’t see him as a distraction.
Laura turned to make sure Hope was behaving. The little girl had decided to stand up in the chair and reach across the table to take Grace’s hands in hers. “No, sweetie. We do not stand in chairs.” Laura gently sat her back down. She handed Hope the ball of yarn from her handbag, then gave Grace a spoon that rested on a napkin beside her plate. The little girls immediately began to play with their items.
Clint chuckled. “You have a way with children, Mrs. Lee.”
“I’m a schoolteacher, Mr. Shepard. It’s my job to have a way with children.” She smiled to take the sting out of her words.
Pearl returned with their drinks and a basket of bread. She placed each person’s drink in front of them and the bread in the center of the table. “I have your order going in the kitchen, Laura, but I seem to have forgotten to take yours, Mr.—?” She turned and smiled sweetly at Clint.
“Shepard. Grace and I will share the special also, but I’d like to add a steak to my order.” He smiled up at her, flashing white teeth in her direction.
Laura noticed a small gap in his front two teeth and thought it charming. She quickly turned her attention to the girls. Grace had decided to stand up in her chair and help herself to the bread. Laura took the bread from her and frowned. “Grace, sit down, please.”
Clint turned at the sharpness of her voice. He started to say something, but Laura stopped him with a stern look. If he wanted her to help him with the child, he’d have to let her do it her way. He turned back to Pearl. Grace was a handful, and because she’d never had a mother, he’d let her get away with much more than he probably should have. “I’d like that steak cooked medium well.”
Laura focused on Grace. When the little girl was seated once more, she tore the slice of bread in half and gave each of the girls their portion.
Grace babbled, “Tant too,” then tore into the bread with her tiny teeth.
Hope smiled and did the same.
“I’ll be right back with your orders,” Pearl stammered as she backed away from the table.
Laura giggled. Pearl was clearly smitten by Clint Shepard.
He turned and looked at her and the girls. “What is so funny?”
She leaned