Lacy: (Sweet Historical Western Romance) (Pendleton Petticoats Book 5) Read online

  Pleased by Aundy’s praise, Lacy took a bite of the cookie. They had turned out well. The purchase of the cinnamon and sugar needed to make the cookies was a splurge, but she wanted to contribute something today.

  “How do you like working at the telephone office? Is it just our party line, or does everyone suffer from the busybodies listening in?”

  Lacy grinned. “It happens on all the lines, except the private lines.”

  Aundy looked confused. “Private lines? There’s such a thing?”

  “A few businesses in Pendleton have private lines. The telephone company can only run them for a short distance in town at this time and there is an additional monthly expense for the service.”

  “I should say so. When Garrett and I were courting, I constantly worried about saying something that might be repeated around town, taken out of context. I was afraid to call him by anything other than Mr. Nash. Even then, I fretted that someone would think I spoke with his father instead of him. That would have definitely kept the gossips working overtime.”

  A giggle burst out of Lacy. “That would have for certain. Other than the eavesdroppers on the phone lines, I do like the work. Millie is fun and I enjoy Bertie and Susan, too.”

  “And you’re doing well living above Ilsa’s shop? She mentioned you’re cleaning her store and Tony’s studio in trade for rent. I hope they give you some kind of bonus because the only thing worse than picking up after Tony is cleaning up after my sister when she’s intently focused on one of her design projects.”

  Aundy’s words made her grin. “I’ve seen worse. My two brothers can make the biggest mess in the shortest time. Once, John convinced Walker if he covered himself from head to toe in mud, he would turn invisible. John rolled him in the mud until all you could see were Walker’s eyes. He told him if he walked backwards inside the house with his eyes shut, he could snitch a treat and no one would know.” She stopped and took a sip of her tea.

  “What happened?” Aundy leaned forward, eager for the rest of the story.

  “He stomped inside the house. Mother turned around and screamed until she realized the mud-covered blob was her little boy. John watched through the window, laughing so hard he could hardly stand upright. Needless to say, they both got in trouble.”

  “Did they have to clean up their mess?”

  Lacy shook her head. “No. Ruth and I were stuck with that chore, although John had to do some of our other chores outside for a while. Walker was only four, so he couldn’t be held too responsible for the trouble.”

  Laughing, Aundy refilled their teacups and took another cookie. “Lars is just a year younger than me, but we used to have such fun together. Ilsa did, too, sometimes, but she was never quite as adventurous.”

  “Who’s adventurous?” Garrett asked as he stepped inside the kitchen, followed by Grant. He sniffed the air and homed in on the tin of cookies. “You girls are holding out on us.”

  When Garrett started to reach out for a cookie, Aundy slapped the lid on the tin and pointed to the sink. “Not until you wash those filthy hands, Mr. Nash.”

  Garrett rolled his eyes, but turned on the faucet at the kitchen sink and washed his hands then moved aside as he dried his hands so Grant could wash. Aundy took two mugs from the cupboard and pushed the coffee pot onto a hot part of the stove.

  “Would you like tea or coffee, Grant?” Aundy asked as he finished washing his hands and took a seat beside Lacy.

  His warmth penetrated her side and his scent tickled her nose, throwing her carefully balanced world slightly off kilter.

  “Whatever you have that’s hot is fine.” Grant gave Lacy a sideways glance, hoping she enjoyed her time visiting with Aundy. By the smiles on both their faces when he and Garrett walked inside, they appeared to have a good time.

  Garrett took a seat at the head of the table while Aundy poured tea then offered the cookies to Grant. After he took two, Aundy put the lid back on the tin and set it out of Garrett’s reach before winking at Lacy.

  Eager to eat his share of the cookies, Garrett grabbed the tin from the far side of his wife. Quickly removing the lid, he snatched up a cookie and took a bite. It was gone in the second bite and he took another cookie as he regained his seat. “These are delicious, Lacy. Thank you for sharing them with us.”

  “You’re most welcome,” she said, then glanced at Grant. He nodded his head encouragingly then finished eating his cookies.

  “Would you like to see the lambs?” Garrett asked as he finished his fourth cookie. Aundy started to take the tin away from him so he snitched another before she succeeded.

  “I’d love to see them.” Lacy followed when the rest of them stood.

  Aundy handed her a thick woolen coat that she obviously used for chores. “I don’t want you to get your other coat dirty. Between the lambs, calves, and dogs, something is sure to slobber all over you.”

  Lacy grinned and started to put on the coat, but Grant took it from her, holding it while she slid her arms into the sleeves. Garrett helped Aundy into a coat that looked like some of the barnyard babies had chewed the hem, then the four of them strolled outside.

  The men led the way out to the nearby pasture where the sheep grazed. Lacy took the opportunity to study Grant. Dressed in denims with cowboy boots, a flannel shirt, and a work-grade coat with a western hat, he could pass for one of the cowboys she often saw swaggering around town. She debated if he seemed more appealing in his suits or as he was dressed today. His current attire gave him a rugged, almost restless appeal that she found hard to resist.

  When he turned and smiled at her, motioning for her to join him and Garrett at the fence, her heart began to race. Forcefully tamping down her feelings for the banker, she turned her attention to Aundy’s sheep.

  A lone sheep wandered over to the fence and stared at Aundy. She finally walked over to the gate and opened it, letting the sheep out. It pressed against her legs and looked inordinately pleased at the attention Aundy lavished on it.

  She glanced at Lacy and smiled. “This is Butter. He’s been my special baby since the day the sheep first arrived on the place. He was a tiny little orphan so Nik and I bottle fed him.”

  “Aundy’s got quite a talent for taking in strays,” Garrett said, giving his wife an admiring glance and a teasing smile.

  “Including you.” Aundy offered her husband a tender look that Lacy found endearing. She couldn’t help but notice the love and affection the couple openly shared. Someday, she hoped to have that kind of relationship with someone.

  Mindful of Lacy’s gaze on her, Aundy held out a hand. “Would you like to pet Butter?”

  Lacy walked over and rubbed the sheep’s back and head. If he’d been a cat, she was sure he would have purred. She bent down to give him a thorough scratching and watched as two Border collie dogs raced across the pasture. They slid beneath the fence, yipping and chasing each other around, bumping into her and wanting attention. Lacy stood before they knocked her over and placed a hand on each black and white head.

  “Sam, Ralph, you two behave,” Garrett cautioned the dogs. They whined and turned around in a circle then sat down at Grant’s feet.

  He laughed and gave them a few good scratches. “That’s one way to get the attention you want.”

  As he spoke, he looked directly at Lacy. She sensed humor and a hint of implication in his words. If Grant sat at her feet, he’d certainly have her attention.

  Aundy turned Butter back in with the rest of the sheep then they walked out to the barn where a few bottle-fed calves bawled. True to Aundy’s prediction, one of them latched onto the coat Lacy wore and sucked on the wool, leaving behind a trail of slobbers. She rubbed the bovine baby’s head and admired his curly red and white hair. A newly arrived colt captured her interest. She and Aundy admired the equine baby while Garrett and Grant offered them indulgent smiles.

  After leaving the barn, Lacy received a tour that took her past the pigpen, a building where several men worked on equipment
repairs, and the chicken coop.

  Grant glanced around at the chickens with interest. “I see Napoleon has not yet met his demise, despite your constant threats.”

  Garrett laughed and pointed to a cocky little rooster as he strutted around the pen. “Mark my words, Napoleon will outlive us all. He’s like a cat with nine lives.”

  Lacy grinned. One evening while Tony waited for Ilsa to finish with a customer at the shop, he told her a story about a chicken named Napoleon terrorizing his wife the one and only time Aundy asked her to gather the eggs. Kade also laughed about a plucky little chicken that sent Caterina running for her life when she lived with Garrett and Aundy.

  The rooster didn’t look like one that should have earned such renowned status. However, when he squawked and marched around the pen, Lacy saw why he’d earned such a bad reputation.

  “If I hear that Aundy’s serving chicken and dumplings, I’ll wager it won’t be that ol’ cagey rooster.” Grant gave his hostess a teasing smile.

  “If it is, I’ll be sure to invite you.” Aundy grinned then looked up at the jingle of a harness. “Oh, look, it’s Mom and Pops.”

  Lacy and Grant joined Garrett and Aundy as they greeted the older Nash couple. Together, they walked over to the bunkhouse where Lacy met Aundy’s Chinese cook, Li Hong. He’d prepared a feast of traditional Chinese food, something she’d never experienced. One of the neighbors, Marvin Tooley, greeted her with a gruff expression on his face, but softened it with a wink.

  Throughout the meal, teasing banter among the hired hands, Marvin, J.B. and Garrett made for a lively atmosphere. Nora and Aundy held their own while Grant offered a few comments that made them all laugh.

  Unaccustomed to so much tomfoolery, Lacy liked the way everyone interacted. She thought of the many quiet, tense meals she’d eaten in her father’s home. All his joy and laughter, not that he’d ever had an abundance, died right along with her mother.

  “Like the foods?” Li asked as he set a bowl he’d replenished by Lacy.

  “Yes, Mr. Hong. It’s all very good.” Lacy smiled at the funny little man with his long braid and big smile.

  “Not Mr. Hong. Call me Li.”

  Lacy nodded her head. “Thank you, sir, um… Li.”

  Enthusiastically nodding his head, he moved around the table and picked up another empty bowl. Grant bent over far enough to speak in Lacy’s ear without the others overhearing him. “You’ve been awfully quiet. Are you not enjoying the meal?”

  Ruffled by his warm breath swirling around her ear, Lacy fought back the desire to lean against Grant and rest in his strength. She turned her gaze to his. “Truly, Grant, both the meal and the company are excellent.”

  “Good.” Grant gave her a long, probing look before refocusing his attention on his meal.

  Once the hands returned to work and Marvin thanked them for the meal then left, the women followed the men out to look over a new kerosene-powered tractor Garrett had just received that week.

  Lacy had never seen anything like it and jumped when Garrett started the machine and it backfired. Grant settled a gentle hand on her shoulder and gave a reassuring squeeze before stepping closer to examine the tractor.

  If her uncle saw the machine, Lacy had no doubt he’d want to order one. A delighted smile wreathed her face as she thought of her cousins clamoring to drive a tractor. Garrett offered to let Lacy take it for a little drive but she shook her head and stepped back.

  “I’ll stick with the four-legged mode of transportation.”

  “Me, too,” Nora agreed, then looked to Aundy. “I bet you’ve not only driven it but made Garrett tell you how everything works and why.”

  Garrett smiled first at his mother then his wife. “Twice. If you need a mechanic, Aundy’s the woman for the job.”

  “Oh, go on with you.” Aundy blushed and waved a hand at Garrett as he made room for Grant to climb up on the tractor. The two of them took it for a drive while the rest of them walked back to the house.

  Aundy made both tea and coffee, carrying the heavy-laden tray to the front room. Nora sat down at the upright piano and played a few songs while Lacy enjoyed the music.

  J.B. sat in a rocking chair and glanced around. “I miss hearing Nik’s harmonica when Nora plays. When is that boy ever gonna come home for a visit?”

  Aundy handed her father-in-law a mug of hot coffee then served Lacy a cup of sugar-laced tea. “Not soon enough, Pops. He promised to come home this summer, but it will only be for a few weeks. It seems like we haven’t seen him for years, even though he was home for almost a month last summer.”

  Nora turned around on the piano stool and smiled at Aundy. “Before you know it, he’ll be finished with school and back here where he belongs.”

  Grant and Garrett returned. The kerosene fumes clinging to their clothes made Lacy wrinkle her nose.

  After visiting for another hour, Lacy thanked Garrett and Aundy for a pleasant day. “I really should think about heading home before it gets dark.”

  Grant and Garrett strolled out to saddle the horses while Lacy helped Aundy gather the teacups and coffee mugs. J.B. escorted the women outside as Grant and Garrett led Star and Drew to the end of the front walk.

  Lacy hugged Aundy, grateful for the opportunity to get to know the woman better. “I enjoyed today, Aundy. Thank you for the invitation.”

  “I’m so glad you could join us. Come back anytime. We’d love to have you. You’d even be welcome to spend the night, if you wished.” Aundy walked with her down the porch steps to the front gate.

  Nora offered her a warm hug. “That goes for us, too, Lacy. You’re welcome to drop by our house whenever you like.”

  Lacy smiled at the two friendly women. “Thank you so much. I might take you up on it sometime.”

  “See that you do.” Aundy squeezed her hand then waved to Grant. “Thanks for making the trip out, Grant. It’s always good to see you.”

  He smiled back at her. “It’s always a pleasure to be at Nash’s Folly. Thank you for another fun day.”

  Garrett tipped his hat to Lacy as she took Star’s reins, mounted, and draped her shawl in front of her legs. “Thanks again for coming. We’ll see you both at church.”

  Star tossed her head and shook her mane, putting on a little show as she started down the lane. Lacy heard J.B. say, “Now that’s a gal with a little gumption.” She didn’t know if he referred to her or the horse and decided it was most likely Star that garnered the comment.

  Grant gave her long, observant glances as they rode down the lane, but remained oddly quiet. When they turned onto the road and headed back toward Pendleton, he smirked and raised an eyebrow at her. “I do believe, Miss Williams, being out here in the sunshine suits you quite well.”

  In fact, Lacy looked so at ease and at home on the back of her horse, he pictured her riding over the hills with her hair flowing around her, wearing a buckskin dress, heavy with beads.

  Lacy lifted her face and let the sun warm it before shifting her gaze to Grant’s. “I do enjoy the sunshine and being outdoors. I start to feel a little cooped up by the end of the week.”

  “If you ever want to take a ride after work, let me know. I’d be happy to accompany you.” Grant entirely liked the idea of going for an evening ride, since he often felt restless after a day spent at the bank. It was one reason he usually walked around town instead of riding his horse or driving a buggy to work. Often, he needed to stretch his limbs and thoughts with a brisk walk.

  Lacy studied him a moment. “If you really mean that, I’d love to go riding with you. Maybe you’d like to ride out to visit Grandmother. She’s only a few miles out of town. If you can manage not to plod along like a slowpoke, it wouldn’t take long to reach her place.”

  The coy grin she cast over her shoulder sent Grant’s temperature into a heated climb.

  “Who are you calling slowpoke?” He rode close enough his leg almost brushed hers. “Do I need to challenge you to a race to prove otherwise?” />
  “Yes! Absolutely!” Lacy settled herself deeper in the saddle and leaned slightly forward. “Whoever reaches the edge of town first, wins.”

  “Fair enough. Ready, set…”

  Lacy and Star took off before Grant said, “go.” He kicked Drew’s sides and the horse lunged forward. Grant almost overtook Lacy partway back to town, then she edged ahead. He nearly caught her twice then realized she held back Star by the way the horse seemed to fight against her. At the edge of town, Lacy reined the horse back and Grant rode up beside her.

  “Why do I get the feeling you and Star could have beaten poor Drew and me by several minutes?” Grant patted the neck of his horse as they rode into town.

  Lacy laughed. “Haven’t you ever heard about our fast Indian ponies?”

  “I have, indeed, but I’ve not had much opportunity to witness them in action.”

  “We’ll have to fix that, Mr. Hill. Uncle Charlie has some of the fastest, and my father still has a few, too. Perhaps you can ride one of Grandmother’s horses when we go to visit her. They’re used to someone old and frail on their back.”

  Entertained by Lacy’s teasing, Grant pretended to be affronted. “I say, Miss Williams, that’s no way to speak to your elders.”

  She let her gaze rest on him and he felt drawn into her luminous dark eyes. “May I ask you a question, Grant?”

  He grinned. “You just did, but go ahead. I’m feeling generous.”

  “How old are you?”

  Caught off guard, Grant wondered what prompted her to ask the question. It must have been his comment about speaking to elders. “I turned thirty a few months past. Does that seem ancient to you?”

  “No. Not at all.” Lacy studied the smooth leather covering her saddle horn. Grant was older than she thought. He seemed so friendly and fun, she’d assumed he was closer to her age. Before she could stop herself, she blurted out the question rolling around in her head. “Why haven’t you married?”

  Taken aback by her question about his age, that one left him dumbfounded. While he regained the ability to speak, he formulated a reply.