The Cowboy's Christmas Plan Read online

  Now, though, she was glad her love of food was going to be put to good use.

  By the time Trent and Trey strolled in the kitchen door, Cadence had set the table for seven and was finishing breakfast preparations.

  “Good morning, Miss Greer,” Trey said as he washed up at the kitchen sink. “Did you sleep well?”

  “Yes, I did. Thank you,” Cadence said as she flipped another pancake. “The bed is absolutely wonderful. It was hard to get up this morning.”

  “Well, as good as it smells in here, I’m glad you did,” Trent teased as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

  Trey looked around the kitchen and admired the set table. His stomach grumbled at the smell of the food.

  “Why are there only seven places at the table, Miss Greer?” he asked as he counted them a second time.

  “I wouldn’t think of eating with you men.” Cadence added another pancake to the growing stack on a platter.

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Trent said, pulling another plate out of the cupboard and picking up another set of silverware. “Of course you’ll eat with us.”

  “But I don’t want to intrude.” She assumed the men had a routine and she was fairly certain they wouldn’t want her to be part of it. She also wasn’t convinced she could deal with seven cowboys this early in the morning. Her plan was to put the food on the table and disappear until they finished eating.

  “You’re kidding, right?” Trey asked, coming up beside her. “You would be the most welcome intrusion I could think of. Please, Miss Greer, join us for breakfast?”

  Cadence nodded her head, wishing Trey would step away from her. He smelled like leather, outdoors, and man. She could feel the heat of his body warming the air beside her and she knew if she turned around she’d burn the last pancake to a crisp while she got lost in those intense blue eyes.

  Swiftly stepping around him, she gathered up the platter of pancakes.

  “It will just take me a minute to get everything on the table. What time will the men be in?” Cadence asked as she scooped up a bowl of fluffy scrambled eggs.

  “They’ll be here as quick as I ring the triangle,” Trent said, walking into the mudroom and out the back door.

  Cadence could hear metal hit metal with a homey, almost pleasant ring. Before she could get the thick slices of ham on the table, men began pouring through the back door. They all removed their boots, coats and hats before coming inside. Every one of them politely smiled and tipped their head or said a word of welcome to her.

  When they were all seated around the table, Trey said grace and the men dug into the food.

  “Miss Cadence, may I please have some butter for my pancakes?” asked one of the hands, a fresh-faced boy who barely looked old enough to be out of high school.

  “Sure, Tommy.” Cadence started to get up from the table. “But I melted butter into the syrup before I warmed it up.”

  Trey motioned her to stay seated and the men passed around the pitcher of syrup.

  “I ain’t never had warm syrup on my hotcakes before,” said another cowboy named Larry. “This is really good, Miss Cadence.”

  “Thank you.” Cadence blushed, embarrassed by their praise. The way the men were digging into the food and offering up compliments, if she didn’t know better she would have thought they hadn’t had a thing to eat in a month of Sundays.

  Conversation was limited during breakfast since the men were much more intent on eating than talking. When all the food was gone, and the last drop of coffee consumed, Trey gave out direction on what he’d like each one of them to work on that day.

  Before the men got up from the table, they all thanked Cadence again for a fine meal.

  “You are more than welcome,” she said, pleased she had survived breakfast and everyone seemed happy. “Please call me Cadence. Miss seems a little too formal.”

  “Sure, Miss Cadence, but the boss said…” Tommy started to explain when a thump echoed from the far end of the table where he sat next to Trey. Rubbing his shin, Tommy clammed up and frowned at his boss.

  As the hands left the table, they all picked up their plates and carried them to the sink before shuffling out to the mudroom.

  Trent and Trey sat at the table discussing their plans for the day while Cadence started cleaning up the kitchen. When she bent near Trey to pick up an empty platter, he caught her hand and heat shot up her arm again, like it had the other day in the café. She nearly dropped the dish.

  “Please sit down a moment, Miss Greer,” Trey asked. After she sank into a chair, he cleared his throat. “Miss Greer, you did a great job on breakfast, but we don’t expect you to prepare an elaborate meal every day. You can keep things simple, we don’t mind.”

  “What’s simpler than ham, eggs, and pancakes?” Cadence asked, confused.

  “Oh, well, um,” Trey stammered, looking at Trent for some assistance. Trent instead got up from the table and walked out to the mudroom, unable to keep a smirk off his face.

  “I just don’t want you to overtax yourself. You’ll need energy for keeping up the house as well. Being a cook and a housekeeper is a big job and we don’t intend for you to work yourself to death. We won’t be here for lunch, so you can become familiar with the house and the layout of the place today or do whatever you like.” Trey knew he sounded like an overbearing dolt but couldn’t seem to keep his mouth shut.

  “I realize being out on a ranch is probably a new experience for you so I caution you to stay away from the horses and particularly the bulls. Don’t climb over any fences into pens where you see animals. Don’t grab hold of any single-wires stretched over the pole fences because they are hot and you’ll get shocked. Don’t wander any farther than you can keep the house in sight. Don’t step too close to the edge of the pond on the south side. The bank is soft and you’ll sink in up to your ears. Don’t be afraid of the dogs, they won’t bite. Don’t stay out in the sun too long. You can still get sunburned this time of year and you look like you aren’t used to being outside much. If you hear something rattling, it’s probably a snake and you need to get away from it as quickly and as cautiously as possible. We haven’t had any around the house for a couple of years, but it never hurts to be careful. Any questions?”

  Dumbfounded, Cadence stared at him.

  Trey rose from the table and hurried to the kitchen door. “If you run into any problems today, try calling my cell phone. Trent’s cell number is on the fridge as well. Have a good day and thanks for the good breakfast.”

  Cadence let out the breath she hadn’t even realized she was holding when Trey walked out the door. She didn’t know a thing about living in the country but after Trey’s spiel, it was enough to make her think twice about staying.

  Rattlesnakes? Electric fences? Dangerous bulls?

  If she wasn’t desperate, stubborn, and determined, she’d pack her bags and head back to Aunt Viv’s.

  Lucky for the Thompsons she wasn’t easily discouraged.

  All of Trey’s warnings didn’t bother her nearly as much as the fact that being around him scrambled her thoughts and made her stomach flutter.

  She would just have to stay far enough out of reach that he couldn’t touch her, stand close to her, or come around her with that wonderful scent of his. The last thing she needed was to get her heart and head all tangled up with another man, especially when just a few short weeks ago she was engaged to marry someone she was quickly coming to realize was all wrong for her. It wouldn’t do to have feelings like this for any man, even one as fine as Trey Thompson.

  ><><

  Trey could not escape the kitchen fast enough. In his haste to get as far from Miss Cadence Greer as possible, he forgot his gloves. Although he knew he’d regret that mistake before the day was over, he refused to go back to the house to get them. Shoving his hands deep into his pockets, he tried to clear his head before he headed out to work.

  When he first walked into the kitchen that morning, for a moment he thought a complete stranger ha
d taken over the kitchen - one that drew his interest like she had him tethered on a line.

  The two previous times he’d seen Cadence, she’d worn her hair pinned into a severe bun. He had no idea how long or lush or wavy her hair would be down, even with it pulled into a ponytail.

  The curls that drifted around her face made her look all soft and feminine and completely lovely. Her creamy skin, dewy from the shower, glowed with a healthy rosy hue. When he stepped close to her as she flipped pancakes, her fresh scent nearly buckled his knees.

  How was he going to keep his thoughts and feelings in check with her living in his house? What rancher went loopy over his housekeeper, especially a city girl like Cadence?

  One thing was for certain, he couldn’t do anything foolish to mess up the arrangement. She was about the best cook he’d ever come across and his hired men would hang him from the big old oak in the yard if he ran her off.

  Nope, Trey would keep his thoughts of Miss Cadence Greer firmly in hand so he could keep on enjoying her talents in the kitchen.

  ><><

  Cadence spent the morning cleaning the kitchen and dining area. Once she had the windows sparkling and the appliances all shiny, she made herself a salad for lunch and sat with her feet up looking out the big windows of the gathering room across the courtyard at the cattle grazing on a distant hill. Nearly dropping off to sleep, the ringing of the phone brought her wide-awake.

  She ran into the kitchen and answered, slightly out of breath. “Thompson Ranch, may I help you?”

  “Well, hello!” A female voice on the other end of the line sounded surprised. “Is Trent or Trey around?”

  “I’m sorry. At the moment, they are unavailable. May I take a message?”

  “You sure can,” the woman said, sounding pleasant, if somewhat confused. “Please tell them to call their mother.”

  “I will do that, Mrs. Thompson,” Cadence said, deciding to introduce herself. “I don’t know if your sons told you, but I’m their new housekeeper and cook. My name is Cadence Greer and my Aunt Vivian owns the café in town.”

  Cadence heard a soft laugh on the other end of the line.

  “So those two rascals finally got tired of their own cooking, did they?”

  “It would seem so, Mrs. Thompson.”

  “Oh, goodness, call me Denni. It makes me feel old to be called Mrs. Thompson. Until one of those boys gets married and makes me a grandma, I refuse to be old!”

  Cadence laughed along with her. “Okay, Denni it is.”

  “Now, don’t let them bully you, dear, or work you too hard. I used to enjoy the afternoons as my time to do what I wanted. If you play the piano, feel free to make use of the one in the parlor. If you like to sew, one of my old machines is around there somewhere. Trey has a bunch of books you can read in the office. If you haven’t found them yet, look behind the door and you’ll see the bookcase. Let’s see, what else? Oh, the dogs won’t bite. They like to get a treat now and then for good behavior and Trent keeps a tin of treats on a shelf in the mudroom. A couple of cats live in the barn. Occasionally, I take them some milk, especially on cold winter days. They’ll be your friends for life if you warm it up first. Watch out for Danny. He’s a good hand, but a little too fond of the ladies. Just set him straight from the get-go and you won’t have any problems.”

  Cadence liked Denni Thompson for her straightforward manner. “Thank you, Denni. I appreciate the information.”

  “Tell those boys to give their mother a call and remember not to take any of their sass, especially from Trey.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I’ll be sure and tell them,” Cadence said, then added, “and thanks for the chat. I look forward to meeting you.”

  “I expect you will one of these Sundays. If the boys don’t come here, then I go to services there with them. Your Aunt Viv goes to our church. Have a good day, dear.” Denni disconnected the call before Cadence could say goodbye.

  A quick check to the clock on the kitchen wall confirmed she had plenty of time before dinner preparations needed to begin. She put a load of laundry into the washer then wandered into the parlor. Although she hadn’t played the piano in years, she wanted to brush the rust off her fingers. Cadence found sheet music in an end table drawer next to the piano and pulled out a few pieces she thought she could play. An hour later, she realized how much she missed creating music and decided to spend her spare time practicing her skills at playing the piano.

  By the time she washed and folded a second load of laundry, it was time to start dinner. She carried clean clothes toward the south wing with no idea of what belonged to which cowboy. She left the clothes sitting in two baskets in the hallway by the bathroom and hoped Trent and Trey wouldn’t mind sorting out their clothes.

  She returned to the kitchen, planning to make one of her favorite chicken dishes for dinner along a chocolate cake for dessert.

  Cadence quickly whipped up the cake batter, poured it into a pan and slid it into the oven before she punched down the bread dough she had set to rise earlier in the day. Pinching off pieces just big enough to make breadsticks for dinner, she rolled out the remaining dough then added sugar, cinnamon and butter, rolled it up in a log, cut slices, and made cinnamon rolls. She hoped she could keep the guys out of the sweet rolls long enough to serve them for breakfast tomorrow.

  Just before six, Trent and Trey trooped in the door, tired and exhausted from a hard day’s work.

  “Hello,” Cadence said, barely glancing at them as she put the final preparations on the meal. “I’ve got a pot of coffee ready if you want some or I can get you something cold to drink if you prefer.”

  Trent washed up and took a soda out of the fridge. Trey spent extra time washing his hands, trying to clean the dirt out of the blisters he’d developed that day without his gloves.

  “Maybe you won’t forget your gloves tomorrow, boss man,” Trent teased as he watched his brother wince as he cleaned his hands.

  Cadence looked up long enough to see Trey shoot Trent a glare.

  “Before I forget, your mom called this afternoon and would like one of you to call her back,” Cadence said, dishing up each plate individually.

  “Thanks, Miss Greer. I’ll call her back after dinner,” Trey said, standing on the other side of the counter across from Cadence, watching her work. “You don’t need to serve each plate like a restaurant. Just put it on the table and the men will eat it.”

  “I know they will, but if they haven’t had this before, and they put on too much cheese, it would greatly alter their experience,” Cadence explained, continuing to dish each plate.

  Trent looked over Cadence’s shoulder and shrugged at Trey. “Can I help put the plates on the table?”

  “Thank you, Trent. That would be great. Those over there,” Cadence nodded toward the far end of the counter, “are ready to go.”

  “Why don’t you go ring the bell, Trey?” Trent said as he carried plates to the table.

  Within minutes of the metal bar clanging against the iron triangle, men hurried to the house and through the open mudroom door.

  Cadence worked at a frantic pace to dish up their food so it would still be hot.

  Trent asked the blessing on the meal and the men spent a moment scrutinizing what was on their plate. After their good breakfast, they’d been looking forward to a tasty dinner. Now they stared uncertainly at the streaming food, uncertain what it was they were about to eat.

  “Miss Greer, might you enlighten us as to the menu selection this evening,” Trey asked, attempting to be formal and doing quite well in his efforts.

  “Certainly, Mr. Thompson,” Cadence said, with an equally cool and formal tone. “You are eating chicken breast sautéed in marsala wine with mushrooms over a bed of spaghetti noodles in browned-butter sauce, topped by finely shredded mizithra cheese. A crisp salad and fresh bread sticks accompany your meal. If you are all good boys and clean your plate, I have chocolate cake for dessert.”

  “I won’t have any probl
em cleaning mine,” Tommy said as he dug in and took a bite. The teasing young man looked around the table and started to roll his eyes, pretending he’d tasted something awful before winking at Cadence. “You guys don’t want to eat this. Maybe you better go back to the bunkhouse and open a can of beans.”

  Tentatively, Trent took a bite of his and smiled his appreciation. Upon his approval, the rest of the men decided to give it a try. Larry didn’t like mushrooms, but other than that, they managed to clean their plates, have seconds, and still devour large slices of chocolate cake.

  “That was some fine cooking, Cadence,” said Henry, the oldest member of the crew, as he carried his plate to the sink. “Thank you for another good meal.”

  Not used to praise or attention, Cadence fought the blush that colored her cheeks. “You are most welcome. I like to cook.”

  “It’s darn lucky for all of us that you do.” The good-looking hand named Danny leaned close to Cadence when he set his dirty dishes on the counter. Before she could meet his gaze, Trey stepped between them, giving Danny a hard glare that sent him scuttling out the door without a backward glance.

  Once the hands departed, Trent and Trey helped Cadence clear the table, then she did the dishes.

  Trey retreated to his office to do some paper work and call their mom while Trent went into the gathering room and turned on the television.

  Finished with all she could do in the kitchen, Cadence wandered into the gathering room and sat down in a large rocking chair. Using her toe to set the chair in motion, she sat quietly for a while until a commercial came on advertising Halloween costumes and candy. She sat straight up, realizing she hadn’t given a thought to the holiday.

  “Trent, do you get any trick-or-treaters out this way?” Cadence asked, glancing at him.

  Relaxed, his eyelids looked droopy and his long legs sprawled out in front of him. “Nah. Not since Mom moved to town.” Trent turned his head her direction. “I guess everyone knows better than to expect us to have something to hand out.”