Colorado Courtship: Winter of Dreams / The Rancher's Sweetheart

In those brief moments while her gaze moved from his hand to his face, he went over all the reasons why he needed to keep his distance.

But everything about Violet appealed to him and made him feel protective. He told himself he held only a brotherly concern, like that he felt for Tessa, but the lie didn’t convince him.

She didn’t pull her arm away. Her curious gaze searched his eyes and moved to his lips. His chest expanded with warmth, and he reminded himself to breathe.

He wanted to kiss Violet Bennett.

Kissing would definitely be inappropriate. She was in his employ.

“Was there something else you wanted?” she asked finally.

He released her wrist finally. “I’ll carry that to the kitchen and bank the fire. Run along and get some rest.”

His voice was gruffer than he’d intended.

She straightened, wished him a good-night and left the room. Once she was gone, he could breathe more easily. He had a long day ahead tomorrow, and he needed to rest, not stir up his thoughts and reactions to the new cook. He had more fortitude than that.

By midnight he questioned that reasoning.

Chapter Six

Ben Charles and Henry both came to breakfast dressed in black suits and white shirts. Violet couldn’t help a second look at Ben Charles’s neatly combed hair. He wore a ring with a gold letter on a flat black stone on his little finger. She’d never seen the piece of jewelry before. As she served his coffee, she noted the initial was a cursive H.

He smelled good, too—clean with a hint of barely discernible spice. She remembered the warmth of his fingers on her wrist the night before. She hadn’t been able to sleep because of that touch. She’d lain awake thinking of the game the three of them had played and the smiles they’d shared. For brief moments during those hours she’d been able to forget she was alone in the world. In those minutes she’d felt accepted and like a part of something valuable.

This morning, seeing him in his funeral clothing ready to perform his duties, she was forced to remember how different the two of them were. She was curious now about the schedule and events, but too cowardly to speak of it.

Tessa surprised her by joining them, dressed in a lovely black dress with pouf sleeves. A sash belted her waist, the tail of the bow streaming down the front of the skirt. Up close, intricate silver-gray embroidery was visible on the bodice. Tessa would be attending the funeral?

As if recognizing Violet’s puzzlement, she spoke up. “I help arrange the flowers and chairs in the family room, and I greet family and friends as they arrive.” She glanced at her brother. “If a need arises, Ben Charles lets me know and I’m there to handle it.”

“You didn’t know Guy, but the service is at ten if you care to attend,” Ben Charles told her. “Don’t worry about our noon meal. There will be food served after the burial. You’re welcome to join us.”

Just the thought made Violet’s heart beat more quickly. She didn’t know how people could eat after something like that. “Thank you, but I’ll stay here.”

“That’s fine.” Ben Charles finished his second cup of coffee.

“There was a moose on the road this morning,” Henry said.

“Male or female?” Ben Charles asked.

“Male. He wasn’t inclined to move either.”

“Will you check the road again before ten?” Ben Charles asked. “We don’t want that animal hindering our guests’ arrival.” He looked to Violet. “If you go out of doors for any reason, keep an eye out. This time of year the moose can be aggressive. They’re hungry and traveling a long way to look for food. They see humans as threats and will attack.”

She nodded her understanding.

After they’d gone and she’d washed the dishes, she wondered if she’d done the right thing by insisting she stay here. Ben Charles hadn’t seemed perturbed by her decision, and it wasn’t part of her job to attend events at the mortuary.

It was Monday, and as such it was a good day to change bedding, gather the laundry and do some extra cleaning, especially since she didn’t have to plan and cook a meal midday.

Upon entering Ben Charles’s room, her attention was immediately drawn to an enormous stuffed owl perched on a branch atop a round table in the middle of the room. Its eyes seemed to follow her as she stepped around it, a chill spreading up her spine. The room was functional, with heavy pieces of furniture and a collection of feathers under a piece of glass on a long table. She changed the sheets, then dusted and swept the floor.

Tessa’s room was as cheerful as her own, with lacy curtains at the windows and an assortment of bisque dolls on a shelf. On one wall hung an arrangement of four magazine covers, all depicting Nellie Bly in her signature coat and carrying her carpetbag. Violet took a moment to study the colorful images, and she smiled, remembering the girl’s enthusiasm.

Quiet and bookish, Tessa was enamored by the adventurous story and the spirit of a world traveler, but when she’d been sent to boarding school, she’d begged to come home. Violet pictured her in this room as a child, mourning the death of her mother. She was fortunate to have Ben Charles.

Violet went about her work, changed her own bedding and still it was barely after nine. After finding the canvas bags for the laundry and packing it all up for Henry to take to the washhouse, she made herself a pot of tea and sipped a steaming cup.

It took her a few minutes to gather cleaning supplies. She planned to dust and sweep the two drawing rooms before noon. So far she’d kept away from the windows, and she intended to avoid them so she wouldn’t see the comings and goings next door.

Stopping beside the pocket door that led to the room they’d used the evening before, she set down her pail and rags in the hall, grasped the indented metal finger hold and slid open the door.

The unexpected sight of a dozen people dressed in black took her aback. Men and women mingled, speaking in low tones. Tessa, who’d been listening to a woman speak, glanced at Violet over the person’s shoulder. She gave Violet a soft smile. The woman turned to see who Tessa had looked at, but then distractedly went back to what she’d been saying.

Heart pounding with surprise and embarrassment, Violet tugged the heavy door closed as quietly as she was able. Grabbing her cleaning supplies, she darted into the formal parlor. She stood unmoving for several minutes, absorbing what had just taken place...and what she’d learned.

The lovely room where she’d felt such peace the night before was now being used as a gathering place for mourners. She hadn’t noticed another door on the opposite side until her quick glance today. The space had been open to a hallway on the opposite side.

Neither Tessa or Ben Charles had bothered to mention the room’s use to her. Should she find withholding that information disturbing—or hadn’t either one thought of it? She blocked all thoughts of what was going on next door from her mind.

Violet jerked into action and gave the room a good study before deciding what needed done. She covered all the furniture before dusting the ceiling, wiping the walls and cleaning light fixtures. She wasn’t going to get to the other room today, so she’d focus her attention here and do a thorough job.

Finished with the dusting, she pulled off the furniture drapes and carried them out the back door to shake them.

For the second time that day she drew up short.

Fifty yards from the back door stood an enormous moose. Its size—probably six feet high at its shoulders—shocked her. The beast swung its head to look at her as she exited the house. It had begun to snow and the fluffy white flakes showed up against the animal’s dark hide. The moose’s impressive rack of antlers spread over a foot and a half on either side of its blunt-featured head. The moose stared at her, but didn’t move.

She dropped the cloths in the snow and backed up, nearly stumbling in her haste to get safely back inside. Closing the door securely, she went to the long window. The moose had a huge hump across its shoulders and a long hairy beardlike thing hanging under its chin.

The connecting door opened, startling her yet again. She released an involuntary squeak and spun to discover Tessa.

“Are you all right?” the girl asked. “I brought you a late lunch.” She set a napkin-covered tray on the table.

“The moose,” Violet told her. “It’s outside the back door.”

Tessa joined her at the window. “He’s a big one. I’ll let Ben Charles know, so he can keep an eye out as the guests leave.” She glanced at Violet’s face. “Did you go outside?”

Violet nodded. “I was going to shake the furniture covers. I left them out there in the snow.”

“They’re fine. I’ll help you with them later.”

“What does that thing eat?”

“Roots and shoots. Conifers. They’re like giant deer. You’ve never seen one before?”

“Never.”