Bachelor Cowboy Read Online Free Page B

propped on another chair. “I’ll bet she took off to do some writing. She was hunting for her notebook earlier while you were in here getting food ready. Or she left with Morgan, but I didn’t see him drive up.” Reaching over to the platter, she snatched a sandwich. “Any chips to go with this?”
    Kate sighed again and reached behind her to pull a bag of potato chips from the cupboard. “Just a handful. Leave some for Dusty.”
    Aggie opened the bag and popped a chip in her mouth, a satisfied smile on her lips. “He’s working out real good,” she commented, reaching for another.
    Kate grabbed the bag and pulled out a handful of chips, set them on the table in front of her aunt and folded the top of the bag over. “He’ll do.”
    “You get along with him all right, don’t you?”
    Kate nodded. She couldn’t tell her aunt how being around Dusty made her feel. She couldn’t even explain it to herself. But she knew she didn’t like feeling it, and she didn’t like him telling her what to do. “Maybe you can take these sandwiches out to him,” she suggested. She didn’t want to spend any more time with him than she had to.
    “Can’t,” Aggie told her, pointing at her elevated leg. “My knee’s really been bothering me today.”
    Kate frowned. “I hope that doesn’t mean rain.” Shehated thunderstorms, and rain would put a stop to harvest for a day or two, at the least.
    “Could mean a lot of things,” Aggie replied.
    Kate looked at her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    Aggie shrugged, picking up her sandwich. “Maybe it was just driving that truck today. Or maybe it’s another sign that it’s time I retired from active farming.”
    There it was again, and Kate wasn’t sure how to answer. Was her aunt hoping for a different response from her than she’d had earlier, now that she’d had a little time to think it over? “You’re not that old, Aunt Aggie. We both know that.”
    “Getting older every day,” Aggie answered. “Now you get those sandwiches out to Dusty. I’m sure he’s hungry again by now, and I can see the combine headed in this direction.”
    Kate looked out the door to the field. “He’s hardly been out of it since dinner,” she commented, more to herself than the other woman.
    “He’s a hard worker,” Aggie agreed. “A good man, I’d say.”
    “A hard worker, for sure, but a good man? That remains to be seen.” Kate turned back and noticed her aunt looking at her, a slight smile on her face. “Don’t you be getting any ideas.”
    Aggie’s eyes widened. “Who said I was?”
    “Right,” Kate said, unable to hide her sarcasm. Picking up the plate of sandwiches again, she stuck the bag of chips under her arm. “I guess I’d better get out there before he takes off on another round.” Heading for the door, she grabbed a jug of iced tea.
    “We’ve got a good week and a half of this if it doesn’train,” she heard Aggie say as she stepped out the door. “Think you can hang on that long?”
    “Sure,” Kate answered. As long as she didn’t have to spend all of it with Dusty.
    The combine slowed and came to a stop as Kate reached the edge of the field where she’d left the diesel tank earlier before going in to fix the sandwiches. She waited as Dusty set the machine to idle and climbed down.
    “I need to fuel up,” he told her, eyeing the pile of sandwiches in her hand.
    She handed him the plate and bag of chips and set the jug on the ground. “You go ahead and eat, and I’ll fill the combine.”
    She had turned toward the tank when he grabbed her arm. “I can fill it,” he told her, his eyes hard.
    Pulling away, she tried to steady her suddenly thumping heart. “It’s my job.”
    “Not by a long shot.” He handed the food to her. “Do you think I don’t know what my duties are as combine driver?” he asked, softening his voice with a smile. “And I won’t waste away. Not after that dinner today.”
    Kate didn’t move while Dusty put