CHARITY'S GOLD RUSH (A Strike It Rich in Montana novel) Read Online Free Page B

“That’ll be fine. Thank you.” She opened the cedar chest and pulled out her best apron. A navy blue with ruffles along the hem. She’d g et to work fixing supper. Tomorrow, she’d come up with a plan to spruce the place up a bit. Just because they lived in a hole like rabbits didn’t mean they couldn’t have a few nice things around them.
                  Once Gabe set the rest of things inside, he planted his hands on his hips. “Ain’t much, but it’s home. Figure you can add a woman’s touch. Whatever you want is fine by me.” He nodded, motioned for Sam to follow him, and ducked out the door.
                  “For sure, the man just hired a servant.” What she wanted was a floor other than dirt and at least one glass window.
    Charity yanked the tie behind her back into a bow. Why should the thought bother her? This way, there’ d be no pawing when she was tired at the end of the day. She’d seen how her Ma ma barely tolerated D a’s touch after a while . Of course, that could’ve been the whiskey on his breath. Still, Charity missed him. He’d loved his only child.
                  She stomped over to the shelf of canned goods. Most looked to be over a year old. Probably put up by his late wife. Charity sighed. She’d have to can , too , if they wanted to eat through the winter . No wonder the man wanted a wife.
                  By the time Gabe and Sam returned, Charity had set the table with her own tin blue dishes , biscuits wrapped in an embroidered towel nestled in a wooden bowl , and the luxury of a new candle stuck out of a jar . She ladled ham and beans onto each plate and stood back to see how the food was received.
                  “Sit, please.” Gabe waved his fork. “No need to stand over our shoulders while we eat.”
                  Charity raised her eyebrows. Da always wanted her to wait a few minutes to see whether he wanted something else. Eating while the food was hot was a rare treat. “Thank you.”
                  “Candle i s a nice touch.”
                  She speared him with a glance. “It is my wedding supper after all.” The dolt.
                  He jerked and locked gazes with her.
                  Lifting her fork, Charity gave him the sweetest smile she could muster.
    ###
                  Gabe toed off his boots, unhooked his suspenders and let his pants fall, and then climbed beneath the blanket with Sam. His son immediately curled into him. Gabriel chuckled. No sense in fooling himself. He’d rather it were Charity beside him, thorns and all. But there wasn’t any sense liking a gal that wouldn’t be around long , or one with claws .
                  She’d seemed downright annoyed at supper. For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out why. Seemed he’d been aggravating her all day. He’d been upfront with her about the marriage conditions. It couldn’t be the fact they didn’t share a bed that had her riled, could it? Maggie hadn’t cared much for that part of marriage.
                  Lord, I’m a fool. But you promise to look out for the foolish, of which I’m king . Gabe cursed his impulsive nature. Should’ve left things alone. But the sight of emerald eyes over a stack of paper wrapped parcels had left him addled. Then, she’d darted into the road after Meg, and cinched the thought.
                  He’d loved Maggie, no denying it, but their love hadn’t been the heart-stampeding, word-stumbling emotion he might be able to feel around Charity. Obviously, he’d been without a wife too long. He shouldn’t be having these feelings after only a day. But she shore was pretty, and her foot-stomping made him laugh inside .
    He glanced at the divider between the two beds. If he were to have Sam sleep elsewhere and invite Charity over, they wouldn’t be able to have an annulment .