Ride With Me (A Quaking Heart Novel - Book One)

  Chapter 7

  Jessica entered the kitchen to the smell of hot flapjacks and the sight of Mabel fussing over the stove. Maybe the old woman would leave her alone this morning. One could only hope. Ever the killjoy, Mabel glanced over her shoulder. "Stayed up a bit late last night, eh girl?"

  "Got home about 12:30 or so, I guess." Jessica paced to the cupboard and started pulling out plates.

  Jessica sensed Mabel's stare on her profile, but didn't stop in the gathering of dishware. A tremor of uneasiness sliced through her. She guessed she'd be reprimanded for tuckering herself out before her work day even started.

  Mabel stuffed one hand on her rounded hip, the other flapped the spatula at Jessica as she spoke. "Now, don't you go gettin' yerself all worked up over the big guy. I already told ya he's a lady's man. He's not for you, so stop thinkin' about him."

  Jessica plunked the plates on the counter with a clatter. "I wasn't thinking about Clint."

  "See, what'd I tell ya. You knew exactly who I was talkin' about."

  Caught in her own trap, she wanted to groan, but instead she went back to the cupboard for mugs. It took so much stamina to face Mabel each day. Without sleep she felt the fight desert her. "Maybe I was thinking about him," she mumbled. She should stop here, but her mouth didn't listen. She turned to face Mabel. "What makes you say he's not for me?" The moment the question escaped her lips she regretted it.

  "Pfff. You're not his type, girly. He likes 'em blonde and beautiful." She moved the pan off the burner, and scrunched her face in contemplation. "And dumb as a rock."

  A strangled giggle escaped Jessica's lips. She bit her bottom lip to keep it in, but to no avail. With a loud whoosh of air she burst into unrestrained laughter.

  Mabel joined her and they both laughed until tears streamed down their faces. Sadness at the reality of it all tried to engulf Jessica, but she laughed all the harder. Tension from weeks of trying to please Mabel ebbed from Jessica with every bout of laughter they shared.

  For the first time since working with the ranch cook, Jessica realized Mabel just spoke the plain truth, whether people liked it or not. She couldn't help but admire that.

  "But I don't get it," Jessica said. "He's a smart man. Foreman of a huge cattle ranch. At thirty-one." She shook her head, and moved to the stove to toss the sausage in the hot skillet. "Why ever would he be interested in dumb girls? That seems so . . . so beneath him somehow."

  The cook quieted a moment. Jessica could sense Mabel choosing her words carefully. "Well, Jess, he's been hurt a great deal in his young life, something most people don't know anything about. But because of that hurt I think he finds it easier to court girls he can stay distant from, ya know? Wants to have fun, not get too close." Her face grew somber. "But Roy's tired of it. Been pushing him to marry."

  Jessica choked as she tried to swallow, then coughed. "Marry?" she squeaked out. "Is there someone he wants to marry?"

  "Oh, no you don't, girlie. That's for Clint to know and for you not to."

  "Mabel! You can't mean that!" She was at risk of Mabel's harsh words, but she didn't care. "You have to tell me more. Is Clint getting married?"

  "I'll not be a party to gossipin', so turn yourself right around here and let's get this breakfast done before the boys hit that back door."

  Jessica stared at her, mind buzzing until a splatter of sausage grease burned her wrist. The pain was almost welcome.