Chief Cook and Bottle Washer Read Online Free PDF Page A

wasn't about to retract it.
    "But you should know–."
    "You married?" He blurted. He'd be up front,
and hoped she'd be the same. He didn't have time to pussyfoot
around. He needed an answer.
    "No, but . . . ."
    Great, as long as she wasn't married, that
was the main thing. There was plenty of time to unravel Emma Smith.
Right now he was too busy putting his plan into action.
    "Then we can straighten out the details
later. Right now, I just don't have the time."
    He glanced out the kitchen window and swore
under his breath, "Dammit, Steve's out there talking to Clint. Run
out there and tell Clint he better not run off with him, will ya
Andy. We gotta eat and get back. The ranch is a ways from town, and
we still got a days work to do when we get back."
    Andy nodded.
    "Look, we'd be taking you on for as long as
you'd want to stay." He heard himself say, despite his
reservations. "You'd be family. Be treated as such. How does that
sound? I can personally guarantee no one would lay a hand on
you."
    "It sounds . . . nice." Her voice suddenly
softened. "But do you always hire on the spot like this?"
    "No, but that's just it. I'm in a spot, so's
everybody else. Besides, I got a nose for good people. Now, I'll
tell you beforehand it's lonely out there. Some gals don't like all
that quiet. It's understandable. And if you find you're one of
those, you're free to leave, just give me some time to replace you.
Is all I ask."
    "There'd be no problem there," Emma
murmured.
    She was definitely hiding from someone. He'd
find out, but right now he wasn't too anxious to add to his own
problems.
    "So what do you say?"
    "I say, good luck Andy, and goodbye, Bertha.
I guess I'm working for you–Mr.–uh, Travers, did you say?" She
handed the apron to Andy who walked back into the kitchen.
    "Great, problem solved, Bertha. The ranch is
about thirty miles south of town. Bertha will give you directions.
Come as soon as you can."
    Deke left them all standing with their mouths
open as he rejoined his brothers.
    "So what have you been up to, big brother?"
Jake cast him a suspicious glance as Deke slid into the booth
again.
    "I just hired us a cook and housekeeper."
Deke declared his eyes going around the table stopping on Clint.
He'd found a solution. The smell of Emma's cooking was making his
mouth water.
    He knew just how to settle Clint's roaming
butt down. If Clint couldn't read the signs from Abby, then Deke
would do a little matchmaking himself. Marry him off. And poor
unsuspecting Emma would be the first bride on the 4 Bar None Ranch
in over thirty one years.

Chapter Two
    "What have I done," Emma muttered aloud.
"Taking a job with a complete stranger, heading for God only knows
where, with the truck from hell."
    The old truck spit out one big puff of smoke,
and died right in the middle of the road, as though on cue. She
turned the ignition. Nothing happened. Steam sputtered from the
hood. Emma groaned.
    She glanced over at Sammie Jo. Luckily the
baby had gone to sleep. Emma envied her. Fifteen month old Sammie
Jo constantly surprised her with her amazing ability to adapt to
almost any situation.
    Lightly kissing her on the forehead, Emma
slid out of the truck, and raised the hood. She jerked her hand
away from the hot hood. She should have known better, she silently
scolded herself. She'd looked under hoods before.
    Noticing a big puddle of water beneath the
engine and steam rising from its source, she grimaced. This wasn't
good! Melting rubber permeated the air. Tugging the hose she
spotted a huge hole and jumped away before it spat in her face. How
many times had Charlie warned her about busted hoses. Good thing he
wasn't around, he'd certainly have a good laugh at her expense.
    Not the right time to think about Charlie,
either. He was history. All cowboys were. From now on she was
setting her cap for a man in a business suit with a nine to five
job. If she set her cap at all. If she could juggle motherhood and
a job she might not need or want a