The Rancher Takes a Cook Read Free

that seemed to be a
Texas standard. She wished it was as easy to escape her
worries.
    The memory of Edward being tossed back and
forth between the soldiers, face covered in dirt and blood, was
imprinted in her mind. And why had they done it? For no better
reason than because he was the son of a Confederate soldier. A man
who had taken action to stand for his beliefs, the same way these
soldiers had. Of course, her father was much nobler than these
good-for-nothing ruffians. He never would have pushed around
innocent women or children. Her insides seethed all over again.
Were all Union soldiers so mean-hearted? Papa had always said there
were good and bad men in every lot. She and Edward would need to be
careful to mind their own business until things settled down.
    The two women worked side by side, the
silence between them companionable. At last, Aunt Laura spoke.
“You’re not happy here are you, my dear.” It was a statement, not a
question. Aunt Laura had always been intuitive, and her caring
nature made her an easy confidante.
    Anna cringed and let out a breath. “Oh, Aunt
Laura, I’m just so worried—about Edward, the soldiers, our future.
You and Uncle Walter have been so good to us. I hope you don’t
think I’m ungrateful. But I keep thinking I should be doing
something more to protect Edward and make a home for us here. We
can’t trespass on your hospitality forever, and I’ll eventually have to find a way for us to have our own home. I just
haven’t figured out how to do that yet. I keep feeling like I’m
missing something—that God has a bigger plan for us, but I can’t
find it.”
    “Anna dear, you can’t take on the world by
yourself. Give it a little time and you’ll see that God will work
all things together for good, as long as you stay in His will.”
    The lines around Aunt Laura’s eyes deepened.
“Edward seems to be enjoying himself, except for his run-in with
the soldiers. That boy loves doing odd jobs around town. Did you
hear the stories he told at supper last night? He seems to be
enamored with the cowboys that come into the blacksmith shop,
spinning their wild tales about the cattle and living on the range.
It wouldn’t surprise me if he joined on to a ranch one of these
days.”
    A new tightness settled over Anna’s chest.
“You don’t think so, do you? I know Edward’s a capable horseman. Pa
made sure we were both competent in the saddle. But there’s no way
he could be a cowboy. That’s way too dangerous.”
    Aunt Laura chuckled. She opened her mouth to
respond but was interrupted when the door banged open and Edward’s
lanky form shuffled into the room, one hand over his eye and the
other holding his head.
    “Edward. What’s wrong?” Anna dropped the wet
pants she’d been scrubbing and was by his side in an instant,
leading him toward a chair. “Here, sit down.”
    “Oh…” He moaned, plopping down and leaning
back to look at her through his one uncovered brown eye.
    “What in the world happened to you? Where
are you hurt?” Anna perched in the chair across from him and rested
a hand on his bony knee.
    “It was those blasted soldiers again. I was
cleaning stalls at the livery, minding my own business, and two of
’em appeared out of nowhere. I tried to be polite, but they kept
insultin’ Pa and I couldn’t take it no more. I got in a couple good
licks, but then one of ’em caught me from behind and the next thing
I knew I was on the ground with boots flying all around and into
me. I must’ve got knocked out ’cause when I woke up, Mr. Tucker was
swinging a pitchfork and yellin’ at ’em to get out of his barn. He
helped me wash up, then sent me home.”
    Anna gasped and sat back in her chair, fire
burning her insides. How could anyone be so cruel as to hit an
innocent boy like Edward, especially soldiers who’d been put there
to protect the town? It was unthinkable.
    “Stay right there, dear boy,” Aunt Laura
crooned, peeling his fingers back to