Chief Cook and Bottle Washer (11 page)

"Hi," she said shyly.

"Hi, Emma. Where's Sammie Jo?" Maybe he did
need to find himself a woman, cause Emma was sure reminding him how
long it had been since he'd been near one. Every move she made
alerted him to his own body.

"Asleep. She still likes a nap every day."
Her eyes traveled him slowly.

"Well, I guess Clint talked to you about the
dance tonight, didn't he?" Deke asked hoping his brother hadn't
forgotten.

"He mentioned something about a dance." She
went back to beating the rug.

"Are you going?" Deke blurted out when she
didn't respond with an answer.

"Me?" She whipped about to face him. "I
wasn't asked, and besides, I have a baby, remember. I don't do
dances anymore."

Damn, maybe Sammie Jo was the reason Clint
hadn't asked. Maybe Clint didn't even see her as eligible. Built in
baby-sitters didn't grow on trees. Still, there was dad. "I
remember, but I'm sure Dad would enjoy watching her. They really
get along well. Don't be shy about asking. I'm surprised he hasn't
said something to you about it," Deke said watching her face. He
hadn't realized it before, but he'd been thinking about that face
all morning. And other things, like how she laughed, how she
smiled, and about the night he'd caught her reading a fairy tale
story to the baby. Something had hit deep inside him when he saw
her cuddling that baby to her, her face shining with love.

"That's very sweet of him, but I don't think
I'll go."

"Why not?" he blurted out then regretted it
when he saw her face pale. "I mean it would give you a chance to
meet a lot of people in the area."

"I'm not much of a dancer. Charlie used to
say I had two left feet." She hit the rug once more her voice going
lower as though she might be ashamed of the fact. She had no party
clothes, she couldn't dance, she had a baby. How many reasons did
he need to hear?

"Who is this Charlie, you keep referring
to?"

"Oh, just a friend."

She wasn't going. And if she didn't go, how
would Clint ever see her as a real woman. If she dolled up, he'd
notice, he'd have to. Clint wasn't blind, most of the time.

"Sounds like a kinda important friend."

"He was my boyfriend. My ex-boyfriend."

"Sammie Jo's daddy?"

"No. Charlie had nothing to do with Sammie
Jo. That was the problem. He couldn't see me as a mother."

"I see. So this Charlie, you still have
feelings for him?"

She looked away. "I thought I did."

"Well, then would you go with me?" Deke found
himself asking and wondering how he got himself into such deep
waters. He knew it was a mistake, even before it was out of his
mouth, but he couldn't recall his words.

"You? Is that proper? I mean, you're my boss.
I'm sure you must know dozens of girls to ask. Don't you have a
girl, Deke?"

"I'm askin' you. And it'd be more than
proper. It would give you a chance to meet people around here.
You're young Emma, you should get out more."

Emma put her hand on her hip and leaned into
it, staring at him with a frown. "And you are old, I suppose?" When
he didn't answer she dropped the broom and sighed, "Thanks for
asking, but–I don't have any party clothes."

It took a lot to admit it, but that was the
real reason she didn't want to go. She was embarrassed.

"We'll make a run to Sweetwater, and you can
get what you need. I've got to pick up some supplies, anyway." Deke
turned away and started walking, so she wouldn't refuse.

"B-but–"

Good, he had her where he wanted her. He'd
take her to town, find a nice dress shop and let her have whatever
she wanted. She'd show that rodeo brother of his.

He didn't need any supplies, and he knew it.
But Emma didn't. He'd make it look real good. And his plan would
work, tonight.

First he needed to find his dad, though. He
didn't go around inviting his father to baby-sit, but this was
important, and if need be, he'd tell him all about his plan.

Cal was talking to the vet, when Deke caught
up to him.

"So how's she lookin', doc?" He glanced from
Too Bit to the two men in front of him.

"She's fine. Just a bad lot of grain looks
like, nearly everybody had some sick ones from it. Although I
checked with the manufacturer the other day about this same thing,
and no one outside this area has had the least bit of trouble. It's
an ingestion problem. So it's got to be the grain. Good thing we
caught it early. It could have been a disaster. Although with this
drought it might not be a bad idea to check your springs and creek
beds."

"Tainted?"

"Could be."

Deke nodded with an exasperated frown. "Let's
hope not. So, you going to the barn dance, tonight, doc?" Deke
asked glancing at his dad.

"Probably not. I've got a couple of problems
over at the River's Ranch. Be there most the night. I guess you
boys will be there, though."

"Wouldn't miss it," Deke replied with a
grin.

Cal seemed to study him as the doc moved
towards his truck. After a short conversation, and the doc left,
Cal came back to stand in front of Deke. "You planning on going to
the dance?"

"Y-yeah. I thought I'd take Emma, introduce
her to the people in the area. She'll probably get a little tired
of being surrounded by nothing but men. We don't want her wandering
off because she's got no lady friends."

"Good thinkin' son. I'm glad you asked her.
Although I'm a little surprised Clint or Jake didn't ask her to go
with them."

"Yeah. When Clint overlooked the matter, I
felt it my responsibility to take her. Her being new here. Jake's
been too busy, and Clint still doesn't have his head on straight
about women, I guess. Well listen dad. I've got to make a run into
Sweetwater, and Emma needs a few things. Would you watch Sammie Jo
for her?"

Cal bent his head in a quick smile then
glanced up at his son, putting his hand on his shoulder. "Be glad
to. Ya'll go on, we'll be just fine. And I'll watch her tonight,
too."

"Don't you want to go to the dance?" Deke
held his breath.

"We might go," Cal said at last, letting out
a little chuckle.

"We?"

"Yeah, me and Sammie Jo might go to the dance
together. At least that way, I'll have an excuse not to dance with
all the widows in the county."

"I thought you kinda liked some of them.
Especially Bertha."

"Let's just say I like to keep them
guessing."

"I wouldn't wait too long, women tend to be a
little on the fickle side, Dad."

Deke nodded and went to pull the truck around
front. Emma came out of the house with her purse on her shoulder
and Cal took Sammie Jo out of her arms. Sammie Jo was eager to go
with Cal, cause he promised to show her a real pig. And because of
the older man Sammie Jo was showing signs of saying some real
words. Pig was one of them.

Funny, Deke smiled as he watched his father
with the little tyke. Cal Travers hadn't lit a cigarette in a week.
Emma and Sammie Jo fit in well with the Travers bunch.

Emma got into the truck and hugged the door.
Deke noticed she wore a newer pair of jeans and she had on a nice
white blouse instead of a T-shirt. The blouse wasn't sexy like the
T-shirt, but Deke was beginning to realize that the more a woman
hid, the more curious a man seemed to get. He certainly was.

Deke didn't say a word to her for a long
while. But the bumps and ruts in the road threw Emma much closer
and conversation seemed easier than the sudden electric
silence.

"Emma, I realize your finances are pretty
low, and I don't want to embarrass you. So let me give you some
money for a nice dress and we'll call it payday."

"I couldn't do that."

"Okay, then let me give this back to you.
It's the money you threw at me the night you ran into me. I never
spent it. My insurance took care of it."

Emma hesitated, staring at the money. "I
really shouldn't spend the money on me. Sammie Jo should come
first. I need to buy a highchair, and I had planned on getting her
some new shoes too." She looked directly at him. "Maybe I shouldn't
go."

"Trying to stand me up."

"No, of course not."

Deke cast her a curious glance. "I feel the
same way sometimes Emma. I know the ranch needs supplies more than
I need anything, but sometimes you've got to be good to yourself.
That way, you can be good to others. Do you know what I mean?"

Emma was silent a moment, then looked at him.
Her big eyes drew him in. "Yes, I think I understand. All right,
just this once. I'll give in."

"Once is all it will take. And don't worry
about the shoes for Sammie Jo. I'll spring for that. She's walkin'
pretty good right now, so I'd say she needs something sturdier than
sandals. Somethin' like a pair of boots."

"Boots?" Emma laughed, "But she's only . . .
."

"I know, but the way that kid gets around the
yard and barn, she's gonna need something to keep the mud off her."
Deke chuckled.

"You noticed?"

"Couldn't help but notice, she was muddier
than a pig with an itch the other day. Must have took you an hour
to clean the tub after you bathed her."

"It did. Okay you win. You're the boss." Emma
laughed.

"You have a nice laugh Emma, you should do it
more often."

Pink dotted her cheeks.

"So, tell me, where's the baby's father? What
was his name, Charlie."

"His name was Joel, and I have no idea where
he might be. He's a lot like Clint, he goes where the wind blows
him. Charlie was our closest neighbor's son. My brother's best
friend."

"Oh yeah. That's right. The man who didn't
want to be burdened with a kid."

"That's right."

"Too bad for him," he blurted, as he braked
too quickly from a passing car and skidded. An unfamiliar car sped
past at high speed, forcing him to the edge of the road. Emma
bumped her head on the dash, and Deke stopped the truck, pulling
off the side of the highway.

"Damned fool idiot. He should have looked
where he was going." Deke declared as he reached over to check
Emma. His heart was hammering so hard he couldn't think straight.
"Are you all right?"

His hand was on her arm, and he felt her
pulse speed up, or was that his own? He wasn't sure, he didn't
care. All he wanted was to be closer, suddenly. To touch her cheek,
to what? Something about touching Emma sent a shock wave of
reactions through him. Maybe it was the contrast of soft skin
against calluses. He didn't know. Just then she looked up at him,
with such wide eyed anticipation. He couldn't stop himself from
tipping her chin up, and feather touching her lips with his own.
And her lips were as sweet as he'd been imagining all day. He felt
like a bear stealing honey from a bee-hive.

"God, I thought you were hurt," he murmured
against her cheek as he kissed her thoroughly on the lips again. So
sweet.

Emma felt soft and warm, and yielding and he
wanted more of her than what the truck would allow. A lot more. But
good sense prevailed when his arm knocked the horn and jolted him
back to reality. He sighed heavily knowing the rest of the day and
night would be painful to get through. He definitely needed to find
himself a woman.

What had he been thinking? Emma wasn't for
him! God, he was blowing his own plans. It had to be the
circumstance of riding in a enclosed truck with her, smelling that
sweet smell of lilacs that was all her own, and the brushing of her
hair against his arm. That and the fact that he hadn't been with a
woman in a while. Nothing else made sense.

That was one mistake he wasn't about to
repeat. But what could he say to her? Hell, he wasn't sorry, he
wanted to do it all over again. But maybe apologizing, would
impress upon her that he wasn't interested in carrying it any
further. Yet he didn't want to hurt her feelings. She had to know
she wasn't for him. Best he set her straight right now.

"I'm sorry Emma, I shouldn't have done that.
I was way out of line."

Emma pinked again, and he thought he saw a
flash of anger in those warm brown eyes. "It won't happen
again."

"No, it won't."

He nodded slowly not liking the sound of that
any better than his apology.

When he found himself in a bad situation he
usually kept his mouth shut, so that's what he did.

He could see by the startled look on her face
she was as confused as he was.

Half hour later he took Emma to one of the
local dress shops in Sweetwater and stood around a few minutes
waiting on her. Emma looked at several dresses then turned back to
him.

"It's a little expensive, here, don't you
think?"

"I don't know, I've never shopped here,
myself." He found himself irritated. And why not, he had lost his
mind back there on the road. Being out of control wasn't where he
wanted to be.

"Look, maybe this isn't a good idea. Maybe
you don't really want to take me to the dance, tonight," Emma
suggested.

"I invited you, didn't I? Now, find yourself
a dress." He didn't mean to bark at her, but he wasn't really
barking at her, he was barking at himself. He should have known
better, controlled his urges. But there was something about her . .
.

"I can't Deke. I've never bought a dress
before." She didn't look at him, and he felt all his anger drain
away as though it had never been.

Deke frowned, then suddenly it dawned on him.
Emma had never been treated like a woman in her family. She as much
as said so before. It didn't take much deducing that those three
ignorant brothers of hers and that ram-rod father hadn't so much as
paid attention to the fact that she had grown into a lovely young
woman under their noses.

"Maybe the saleslady can help." Deke looked
around for one and saw her with another customer. After a short
time he went over and asked the woman for help.