Daughters of the Heart Read Online Free PDF Page B

hock—and only Jewel knew what else—on the supper table.
    Some fine day, when the right man came courting, the one her father would approve of, who would sweep her off her feet and down the aisle, then and only then she could eat all she wanted.
    It was altogether wrong that the men could wolf down piles of food and never gain an ounce. She strolled back as CeCe and Bonnie hurried past as though running some race. So immature!
    Acted like whoever put the most food on the table got an extra piece of pie or something. CeCe returned first, but instead of grabbing the plate of fried tomatoes, she stopped next to her and leaned in.
    “Who’s the gent sitting next to Elijah?”
    “A timber buyer Daddy’s showing around tomorrow.”
    “Why? We’re not selling any of our land, are we?”
    “How would I know? And who cares anyway?” She hadn’t intended for her tone to sound so irritated.
    Even though she’d only been ten when her mama passed, she remembered her always saying that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Gwen nodded toward the plate, but her sister didn’t respond.
    Seemed the older Cecelia got, the harder she was to control.
    Mama May reached in and grabbed the tomatoes. “Come on, ladies. Everything’s ready.”
    Instead of calling on anyone to bless the food, her daddy stood and waited a few seconds while the hubbub died down to only Houston’s blabber with Bart. Bonnie poked him and both hushed.
    “Everyone, this is Braxton Hightower. He’s come to Red River County looking for timberland and will be staying with us for a while.”
    Starting with Mama May, he introduced the whole clan right down the line and up the other side, ending with her. Mister Hightower smiled from the far end and nodded. But then instead of looking away, he held her gaze.
    His intensity caused her to lower her eyes. The man was too…what? She glanced back, and he looked away, but wore a slight winner’s grin.
    Had it been a game?
    Humph.
    A little arrogant it seemed. She hadn’t been playing a game with the dandy, not after just meeting him. After all! A bowl of cream peas came around. She dipped out only one spoonful, then made herself pass it on.
    And like a man, CeCe could eat whatever she wanted and never had trouble buttoning anything. Gwen hated it.
    Bonnie was almost as bad, but she was growing so fast. She stabbed two peeled tomato slices and sighed. Mama May understood about watching her weight, but she was married, so what did it matter?
    Daddy wouldn’t love her any less. Finally, the plates of food stopped whizzing past her nose.
    Taking a dainty lady-like bite, she smiled at Elijah. After washing that down, she cleared her throat and patted her lips. “How was your day, Mister Eversole?”
    He glanced up and finished chewing while giving her a wait-just-a-minute finger. “Good, real good. Got a lot done today. Hoping the boiler arrives tomorrow.”
    She could care less about the saw mill, but asked about it anyway to let Braxton know he was not the only eligible man at the table. Hmmm. Or was he? She’d assumed….
    For the next few minutes, Elijah talked instead of eating while she snuck peeks at the stranger beside him at the other end of the table. She liked the way the Californian explained things, almost had her interested in the mill’s working.
    Then Braxton asked a question and instead of talking to her, Eversole delved into a conversation with the mystery man and her father.
    Worked pretty well for her. Without being caught, throughout supper she kept taking little studies of the man from who knew where. She wouldn’t call him handsome really, not as good-looking as Elijah, for certain.
    She looked a little longer during dessert, Mammy’s—she meant Miss Jewel, was she ever going to get used to the cook’s beautiful new name?—skillet apple pie seemed to keep him pretty focused.
    But soon as he shoveled in the last bite, he glanced straight up at her. She went to Daddy’s