nothing but put stuff on the table. If she expected to prove her worth she would have to do much better. “I’m sure I’ll manage.” If only someone would explain what to do with the supplies. Surely Cassie knew. She sent the woman an imploring look. They had to learn to enjoy each other’s company. “This is your second winter on the ranch, isn’t it?”
Eddie looked relieved to have something to talk about. “It is.”
“Tell us what it’s like.”
“Unpredictable.”
She laughed at his tone—half regretful, half admiring. “How so?”
“It can snow four feet. The temperature can drop out of sight. Then we get a Chinook that melts the snow and makes us all foolishly think the worst is over.”
Cassie perked up. “A Chinook? What’s that?”
“A warm wind that blasts over the mountains. We can go from shivering under a heavy coat to working in our shirtsleeves all within an hour or less.”
“It’s a legend then?” Cassie said, sarcasm dripping from each word.
Linette silently prayed Eddie wouldn’t be offended. Was she destined to spend her days interceding on Cassie’s behalf?
Thankfully Eddie chuckled. “Part legend in that the Indians have all sorts of stories about what it is, but there’s nothing remotely imaginary about what happens.”
“I can hardly wait,” Linette said. “It’s going to be exciting to experience a wild Canadian winter.”
Eddie’s look challenged her before he pushed his plate away to indicate he was done. Did he think she had undertaken this trip solely for the sake of an adventure? She willingly admitted she enjoyed seeing new and exciting things. But no, the impetus behind her bold venture was twofold—escape the specter of a marriage with a man who made her skin crawl, and hopefully, God willing, find a place where she could obey the dictates of her conscience without regard to foolish social expectations.
The kettle steamed again and Linette prepared to do the washing up with the hot water. Cassie turned her chair and pushed it closer to the stove.
Eddie stood and piled up the dirty dishes. “Everyone does his share here.” He glanced toward Cassie.
Linette’s hands remained suspended over the washbasin. She could manage on her own and didn’t mind doing the work, but Eddie gave her a warning look. She ducked her head. Seems he was intent on establishing his rules and she was helpless to do anything but cooperate. Not that she didn’t think Cassie should help, but she didn’t know how far he meant this rule making to go. She kept her head down as she studied him, measuring him, wondering what would happen if she refused to obey one of his directives. His expression remained patient. On the other hand, how pleasurable to share goals and dreams with such a man.
Slowly it dawned on Cassie that Eddie expected her to help. She pushed her chair back so hard it banged into the table. “Don’t see how much help it will be for me to be stuck under Linette’s elbow. There’s not enough room for one, let alone two.”
Linette pulled the basin closer and handed Cassie a towel. She took it silently and dried the few dishes.
Eddie strode outside.
“He’s lord and master here, that’s for sure,” Cassie grumbled. “I’m sick of men controlling everything. Why don’t we pack up and leave?”
“Cassie, where would we go?” She’d gladly leave if she could find an alternative that wouldn’t bring her father’s wrath about her head. Except—an errant thought surfaced—this was where she wanted to be. She’d dreamed of it for weeks as she prepared to leave home and as she crossed the ocean and the country. She pictured herself sharing life with a man who honored her heart’s desire, and the dream refused to die in spite of Eddie’s insistence that she go back home. She forced her mind back to Cassie’s question. “It’s not like there are hundreds of homes around here that would welcome us.”
“What about that ranch where those men
Eddie looked relieved to have something to talk about. “It is.”
“Tell us what it’s like.”
“Unpredictable.”
She laughed at his tone—half regretful, half admiring. “How so?”
“It can snow four feet. The temperature can drop out of sight. Then we get a Chinook that melts the snow and makes us all foolishly think the worst is over.”
Cassie perked up. “A Chinook? What’s that?”
“A warm wind that blasts over the mountains. We can go from shivering under a heavy coat to working in our shirtsleeves all within an hour or less.”
“It’s a legend then?” Cassie said, sarcasm dripping from each word.
Linette silently prayed Eddie wouldn’t be offended. Was she destined to spend her days interceding on Cassie’s behalf?
Thankfully Eddie chuckled. “Part legend in that the Indians have all sorts of stories about what it is, but there’s nothing remotely imaginary about what happens.”
“I can hardly wait,” Linette said. “It’s going to be exciting to experience a wild Canadian winter.”
Eddie’s look challenged her before he pushed his plate away to indicate he was done. Did he think she had undertaken this trip solely for the sake of an adventure? She willingly admitted she enjoyed seeing new and exciting things. But no, the impetus behind her bold venture was twofold—escape the specter of a marriage with a man who made her skin crawl, and hopefully, God willing, find a place where she could obey the dictates of her conscience without regard to foolish social expectations.
The kettle steamed again and Linette prepared to do the washing up with the hot water. Cassie turned her chair and pushed it closer to the stove.
Eddie stood and piled up the dirty dishes. “Everyone does his share here.” He glanced toward Cassie.
Linette’s hands remained suspended over the washbasin. She could manage on her own and didn’t mind doing the work, but Eddie gave her a warning look. She ducked her head. Seems he was intent on establishing his rules and she was helpless to do anything but cooperate. Not that she didn’t think Cassie should help, but she didn’t know how far he meant this rule making to go. She kept her head down as she studied him, measuring him, wondering what would happen if she refused to obey one of his directives. His expression remained patient. On the other hand, how pleasurable to share goals and dreams with such a man.
Slowly it dawned on Cassie that Eddie expected her to help. She pushed her chair back so hard it banged into the table. “Don’t see how much help it will be for me to be stuck under Linette’s elbow. There’s not enough room for one, let alone two.”
Linette pulled the basin closer and handed Cassie a towel. She took it silently and dried the few dishes.
Eddie strode outside.
“He’s lord and master here, that’s for sure,” Cassie grumbled. “I’m sick of men controlling everything. Why don’t we pack up and leave?”
“Cassie, where would we go?” She’d gladly leave if she could find an alternative that wouldn’t bring her father’s wrath about her head. Except—an errant thought surfaced—this was where she wanted to be. She’d dreamed of it for weeks as she prepared to leave home and as she crossed the ocean and the country. She pictured herself sharing life with a man who honored her heart’s desire, and the dream refused to die in spite of Eddie’s insistence that she go back home. She forced her mind back to Cassie’s question. “It’s not like there are hundreds of homes around here that would welcome us.”
“What about that ranch where those men
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