Cutty (Prairie Grooms Book 8) Read Online Free PDF Page B

in the barn.”
    Cutty’s eyes darted to the door again. Mrs. Upton could come back at any moment. “After Ryder builds his house, his old one’s gonna be empty.”
    “I would imagine so.”
    “He offered it to me.” He gazed into her eyes and smiled. “Right cozy little place it is, too.”
    “Cutty, what are you saying?” she said with a smile of her own.
    “Ya know perfectly well what I’m sayin’,” he said in a low voice.
    Mrs. Upton entered the dining room. “Here you go,” she said as she set their tea tray on the table. “Is there anything else I can get you?”
    “No, thank you,” Imogene said.
    “It’s nice to see you,” Mrs. Upton told her. “My, but it’s been a while.” She smiled at Cutty, then turned back to Imogene. “Are you going to be in town long enough to attend the ladies’ sewing circle?”
    “Good heavens, is it Thursday already?” Imogene said. “I had no idea. Neither Belle nor Sadie said a word to me about it this morning.”
    “They probably figure you plan to attend, then ride home with them,” Mrs. Upton suggested. “You should go. You missed last week’s.”
    “I’ll do what I can,” Imogene said.
    “Wonderful! I made cookies just for the occasion!” Mrs. Upton bustled back to the kitchen.
    “That woman sure loves to cook,” Cutty remarked.
    “And I suppose if you have me tucked away in that new little house of yours, you’ll expect me to do the same?”
    “Well … it ain’t like we’re gonna hire a cook and a maid now, is it?”
    “I said nothing of the kind. Pour the tea.”
    “Why should I marry such a bossy woman?” he groused as he reached for the pot.
    “Because you can’t help but do as I say,” she said proudly.
    “And why is that?” he demanded as he handed her a cup.
    She gave him a bright smile. “Because you know you love me, you old coot.”
    He poured his own cup, set the teapot down and glared at her. “And you love me, so that makes us even, don’t it?”
    “I suppose it does,” she said and took a sip of her tea.
    “Women!”
    “Oh, be quiet and enjoy your tea, will you?” she said. “Then when we’re done you’d best find Newton.”
    “Yeah, I know,” Cutty agreed. “I just wish I knew where to look.”

Four
     
    “And them there’s rabbit tracks,” Ryder said and pointed.
    Newton knelt next to him and studied the ground. “I appreciate you teaching me how to track. Call it a boyhood fancy, but I’ve always wanted to learn. I still can’t get over that you and your brother learned from a woman.”
    Ryder chuckled. “In case you ain’t figured it out yet, Mrs. Awahnee ain’t your average woman. I don’t know where she learned to track so well, but she’s the best I’ve ever seen. She and her husband.”
    “An odd pair, to be sure,” Newton said and stood. “Have you seen much of them lately?”
    Ryder stood as well. “Not much since Amon finished his house. But my guess is they’re still around.”
    “I wouldn’t mind spending some time with them.”
    “Why’s that?”
    “Isn’t it obvious? You don’t meet people like that every day. I find them fascinating.”
    “They’re fascinatin’, all right,” Ryder agreed, then changed the subject. “Why don’t we hunt some deer tomorrow? It’d have to be early in the mornin’, though.”
    Newton smiled. “Splendid – I look forward to it. But for now, I think I’d best get back to town.”
    “I reckon yer kinda lonesome now that yer sister’s married.”
    “Yes and no. I don’t have to look after her anymore, so I have time for myself to do things like learn how to hunt and track. But you’re right, I do miss her company.”
    Ryder headed for their horses, and Newton followed. “It’s nice to hunt and track, but those things don’t keep ya company, if’n you know what I mean.”
    Newton gave him a bemused smile. “You’re talking about women.”
    Ryder shrugged. “Well, how can ya not think about ‘em? Yer a healthy man and