Help Wanted: WIFE (Santa Rita Series) Read Free

shoulder. “Oh, I told Nate to come to the house and be some help to you after he takes care of his chores in the barn. He’s a pretty good hand, for a kid, if you keep after him. He’ll be around most of the day.”
    Stacking up dishes and filling the big sink with soapy water, Cherilyn muffled a half-amused and half-annoyed set of replies. “I’m not going to wear out or break down, Cole Witherspoon. You said you wanted a wife. And I want a family, even if it’s only you and your brother, nephew, and uncle. You said you think two people can build a life together on a practical basis. Let’s see if you’re right.”
    She finished the dishes and was measuring flour when the screen door behind her squeaked. Nathan sauntered in. “Cole said I was to help you, Cherry. What in particular am I supposed to do?”
    She turned to see resentment flushing his thin cheeks. She suspected he took offense at being stuck with “woman’s work” while the men went off to various parts of the ranch.
    “Do you know how to peel apples?”
    “Peel apples? Heck, I guess so. Why?”
    “I’ve got meals to think about so you men will have something ready to eat. You might find apple pie to your liking. If you could handle peeling the apples for me, I believe I could promise a couple of pies for dinner.”
    Nathan’s face lit up and a hint of mischief tilted his grin. “If you promised me first half of one pie, I reckon I could just about manage that.”
    Leaving Nate to the apples, Cherilyn finished her pastry dough and applied herself to planning some meals in advance. If she could have something cool prepared for the men when they came in, it would give them longer to rest in the heat of the day. And what to do about dinner? She scanned the shelves for ideas.
    “Say…” Nate interrupted her thoughts. “Say, Cherry, are you and Uncle Cole really gonna tie the knot? Get married, I mean? Just like that? No courtin’ and spoonin’ and what-all?”
    She glanced across the room to where Nate was munching one apple and halfway peeling another. She pointed at the pile of apples that still awaited his attention. “When you need to know your uncle’s business, I guess he’ll tell you. Meanwhile, those apples aren’t peeling themselves.” He resumed peeling. She studied the roll of hills framed by the window behind him. “Would there be a reliable fishing hole somewhere on the place? One where the fish just beg to get caught?”
    That sudden grin lit his face again. “A fishing hole? You bet!” The grin widened. “Do you wanna go fishin’, Cherry? You know how to catch a fish?”
    Cherilyn smiled in return. “I’ve caught a few in my time. When I was teaching school, on the last day of class, we’d have a picnic and go fishing for our supper.” She tied on the big apron she’d found hanging in the pantry. “But I can’t go today. I have two pies to do, and I think somebody will be hungry pretty soon. Seems to me a nice mess of fish with cornbread and potato salad would go pretty well with apple pie. If there was someone willing to make a trip down to a special, never-fail fishing hole. After he finished peeling the apples, of course.”
    “Reckon I can take care of both those chores for you, Cherry.” He applied himself to the apples for a moment. “Kinda think it would be a good thing, you and Uncle Cole tying that knot. Might make life around here more interesting. And we’d eat a whole lot better.”
    ****
    Cherilyn put a cold lunch and a pitcher of sweet tea out for the men, spread a clean dishtowel over the meal, and slipped away for a cool shower and shampoo. With the big windows open to catch any breeze and the ceiling and attic fans churning, the house wasn’t uncomfortable in the Texas summer, but she was glad to leave the kitchen. She pin-curled her short ash-blond hair and, while it dried, took time for a little rest herself. Arabella reminded her someone else needed lunch. Cherilyn filled the empty food