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“What’s with the shovels?” Far as she could figure he needed to wield hammer and saw, not shovels.
He moved closer so she saw the green glints in his eyes. “Got to thinking. Didn’t you say you plan to bake bread for the store?”
She nodded even though he knew the answer.
“And feed travelers?”
She didn’t bother to nod again.
“Seems you might be needing a cellar. You know. To keep things cool in the summer and stop your canned goods from freezing in the winter. So me and Neil are gonna dig you one.”
No way could she hide her surprise and she knew he read it on her face by the way he grinned in satisfaction. He held her gaze for several seconds.
She tried to tell herself she didn’t notice the way his eyes flashed pleasure at coming up with an idea that seemed to please her. Tried to convince herself he was only doing what he always did—making sure people were happy. But try as she might she couldn’t deny a little start of something both sweet and reluctant. It was sweet to have someone appear to care about what might please her. But she dare not let herself think past that. A woman in her situation could do no better than maintain her independence.
Still grinning, Roper called Neil and handed him a shovel. Together they marched to where she’d marked the boundaries of her house and began to dig.
An hour later they’d made little progress.
She began to suspect digging a cellar hole would consume an inordinate length of time.
Had that been his reason for suggesting it? Not concern for her at all but only an excuse to hang around and do for her what she preferred to do for herself?
He’d always balked at her independence.
She glanced about at the children. Daisy brushed Pansy’s hair and talked softly to her. Neil worked alongside Roper trying his best to dig at the same pace as Roper, which was impossible yet Roper told the boy how well he was doing. Billy carried the dirt to the designated area. How could she tell Roper she suspected him of delay tactics?
She didn’t need or want him trying to take care of her.
Chapter Four
As Roper and Neil dug, Cassie turned her attention to other things. First, she had to prepare meals for the children and Roper. With the stove set up in the little shelter, she could bake, using this time to her advantage to start paying off her debt at Macpherson’s. She mixed up a hearty stew of meat and vegetables and as it simmered, she cut lard into flour for biscuits. By noon, she had several dozen baked and cooling.
“This place is steaming hot.”
She turned at Roper’s voice behind her and brushed a strand of hair from her burning face. “I’m baking.”
“Both yourself and biscuits, I presume.”
She grinned at his teasing.
“You need a breeze going through here.” He ducked outside and made a racket on the wall. Then the canvas rolled up and blessed cool air blew through the shack. Roper peered through the opening. “I can roll it down at night.”
“Oh, that feels good.” She fanned herself. “I didn’t realize how hot it was.”
He came in again and eyed the biscuits covering the table. “You’ve been busy.”
“Dinner is ready.” She reached for the pot then realized she had no place to put it.
Roper grabbed a towel and took the pot. “Come see what I made.”
She wrapped a selection of biscuits in a towel and followed him outside. “A picnic table. Perfect. Now we can eat outdoors in comfort.”
He set the stew in the middle of the table. “I thought you could use it for feeding travelers, too.”
“Thank you, but—” Oh, dear. How were they going to manage working together if he constantly took care of her when she was determined to take care of herself?
Though, on her own, it would take a little longer to build a house and get herself organized. Macpherson understood she’d take time to get established.
“Just part of the business deal.” His dismissive tone warned her not to make a fuss about it.
She stifled a sigh. She might as well take advantage of all this arrangement offered. So she tucked away her resistance as Daisy passed around the plates and cups.
Cassie waited for the children to sit, then chose a place that wouldn’t put her near Roper. She didn’t want to be forced to hold his hand again during prayer. But as soon as she was seated, Neil and Billy slid down on the bench opposite her and made room for Roper to edge in and sit directly across from her, an unrepentant grin on his face. He’d correctly read her attempt to avoid him.
She barely restrained herself from wrinkling her nose at him but let him guess at the silent message in her eyes. Don’t think I’ve changed my mind about wanting to keep this businesslike.
He winked, and when he saw her draw her eyebrows together in affront, he sighed. “Cassie, don’t be looking for offense when none is meant.”
She forced a smile to her lips but figured it looked as wooden as it felt.
Roper wagged his head in mock frustration. “Cassie, Cassie, what am I going to do with you?”
She tipped her chin. “You could try saying the blessing so we could eat before the ants find us.”
The children giggled.
Roper chuckled. “Very well.” He eagerly reached for her hand, giving her a look that said he enjoyed her discomfort. Then he bowed his head and uttered a few words. “Amen.”
When she jerked her hand free, his eyes practically glittered with triumph. Oh, bother. By overreacting to an innocent, meaningless touch of hands, she’d given him reason to think it meant more than it did when she only wanted to remind him this was a business deal.
They ate in companionable silence except for Pansy who fretted.
Daisy hushed her. “She needs a nap.”
“Finish your meal, then put her down,” Roper said.
“And the dishes?”
Goodness, the child had an overblown sense of responsibility. Cassie patted her hand. “I can manage a few dishes.”
Daisy nodded gratefully, scooped up her little sister and disappeared inside the shack. For a few minutes Daisy’s gentle murmurs blended with Pansy’s fussing, and then all was silent.
Roper helped Cassie clean up the table. “Daisy reminds me of you,” he said.
“How’s that?” She filled a basin with hot water, and began to wash the dishes. She scrubbed the plates and Roper dried them.
“She feels she has to do everything herself.”
“Independence is good, especially when she has no one else.” Seems that should have been self-evident even to a man like Roper, determined to help everyone he met.
“But is that true?”
“Her father and mother are dead. Who knows what her uncle will decide about their future? Seems the best thing they can do is learn how to manage on their own, expect nothing from anyone else.”
“What about people who want to help?”
She couldn’t tell if it was hurt or warning that made his voice so low and decided it was safest to assume the latter. “I suppose she has reason to wonder what other people want in return.”
“I don’t want anything but to help. What do you want?”
Maybe she’d been talking more about herself than the children. “I expect nothing from them. I hope they understand that.”
“Your words are contradictory.”
“Maybe so. But it seems best to count on no one but yourself.” She had to change the direction of this conversation before she said more than she meant to...things she hadn’t even reasoned out yet. “How long do you think it will take to dig the cellar?”
He shrugged, his gaze lingering on her as he understood her attempt to avoid explaining herself. “Depends on how hard the ground is. And I don’t want to overwork young Neil. He’s determined to match me shovelful for shovelful. Besides, I don’t want him to think the only thing I want from him is work. In fact, I’ve decided to take a break for some play.” He paused. “If you have no objection.”
“Of course I don’t.” Did he think all she cared about was work? “The children should certainly be allowed a little fun.”
Maybe he was right. She seemed to know little about how to play.
“You’ll join us, won’t you?” Had he read her mind and determined to teach her?
“I have biscuits to deliver to Macpherson’s.”
“You might wake Pansy if you go into the shack.”
Cassie scrambled to find an excuse to avoid joining Roper and the children. Before she could, Roper waved to the boys.
“Who wants to play a game?”
Neil and Billy perked up and raced toward him. Daisy slipped from the shack and hesitated.
“You, too.” Roper waved to her. “Everyone’s going to play.” He shot Cassie a challenging look. “Play refreshes the soul.”
Cassie swallowed hard.
“Come on. We’ll go down by the river so we don’t wake Pansy.”
The boys ran after him, while Daisy followed more slowly, cautiously, as if uncertain she should let herself play.
It was Daisy’s hesitation that convinced Cassie to join the parade. Daisy was still young enough to enjoy a game or two. She shouldn’t let her responsibilities take away that pleasure. So Cassie linked arms with Daisy. “Let’s see what he’s up to.” She could feel the girl relax beneath her touch.
Roper glanced over his shoulder and grinned.
Cassie knew he’d heard her and, furthermore, she guessed he might have some inkling as to her motive. Though she felt a strong urge to wrinkle her nose at him, she hoped the toss of her head convinced him of her lack of concern for his opinion.
Roper waited until they all reached the bank of the river. “Who knows how to play Sneak Up on Granny?”
No one said they did.
“I’ll be granny. You line up there.” He drew a line in the sand. “I’ll stand here.” He went about twenty feet away. “When I turn my back, you try and sneak up on me. When I shout ‘stop,’ don’t move because when I turn around and see you moving, you go back to the start.”
“What’s the point of the game?” Cassie refrained from saying it sounded silly because she recognized the voice in the back of her head as that of her grandfather. Waste of precious time. For that reason alone she would play the game and waste as much time as she pleased.
“If you can sneak up on me and touch my shoulder without me catching you moving, you get to play granny.”
Cassie snorted. “Great. I’ve always had a hankering to play granny.” She drew her lips in, hunkered over like an old woman and smacked her gums loudly.
The three children giggled and Cassie knew a sense of satisfaction. Was this how Roper felt when he made others happy? She shot him a look, wondering if her surprise showed.
Their gazes caught and held, and the look of triumph in his eyes seared away something she couldn’t identify. Didn’t want to acknowledge. All she would admit was it felt good and right to make the children laugh. It seemed fitting to see them enjoy life.
She would not listen to the strident voice of her grandfather telling her to stop wasting time.
The children toed up to the line he’d scratched in the ground. She did the same as Roper took his place ahead of them.
“One, two, three.” He counted, turning his back.
Neil raced forward. Billy took a giant leap. Daisy tiptoed.
Cassie took one cautious step, and then another.
“Stop.”
Neil skidded but not in time. Billy was in midair and landed with a thud.
Roper chuckled. “Boys. Back to the start.”
Daisy and Cassie grinned at each other. He hadn’t caught them.
“One, two, three.” He turned away again.
Billy and Neil tried to make up for lost time but Cassie edged forward, knowing she must be ready to stop quickly.
“Stop.”
Again the two boys were sent back to the start amid groans.
Roper gave Cassie and Daisy a long stare as if daring them to waver. Neither of them did.
They continued. Cassie was within two feet but Roper called stop so often she daren’t move. She tensed. One step was all it would take. As soon as he began to turn away, she leaped forward and reached out to clap his shoulder. At the same time he hollered stop and turned to face her, and they collided.
She staggered, off balance and about to fall, until he caught her, his hands warm on her arms as he steadied her.
She looked deep into his hazel eyes, saw his concern over bumping her. Her heart beat a frantic tattoo against her breastbone. Longing rose up within her, a hunger to be valued and appreciated. To be cared for.
