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

Ben Charles sat to eat, enjoying Violet and Tessa’s chatter as much as the food. “The road must have been too bad for Henry to venture out this morning.”

“I can’t tell if there’s more snow falling or if all that snow in the air is coming from the roof and the trees,” Violet replied.

Ben Charles got up for more coffee and stopped at the window. “Looks like a little of both.” He filled his cup. “Will you two be all right today if I fill the woodbins and then go work in my shop?”

“We’ll be fine,” Tessa answered. “We’re making an applesauce cake after these.”

He took a doughnut from the plate of finished ones and tasted the warm sugary goodness. “What will you do with extra baked goods we can’t eat?”

Violet looked up with a stricken expression. “Is this wasteful?”

“Not at all. I’ve enjoyed every single treat to come out of your kitchen so far. And it’s obviously an excellent learning opportunity for Tessa. She’s enjoying herself, and that makes me happy.”

“Maybe we can take extras to people in town,” Tessa suggested. “Not today, of course, but when the weather permits.”

“Good idea.” Ben Charles nabbed another doughnut. “Now I’d better go before I eat the entire batch.”

“Will you be back at lunch?” Violet asked.

He caught the expectant look on her face, and his stomach dipped unexpectedly. “Indeed, I will.”

“What will you be doing today?” Tessa asked.

“I have a couple of more days’ work before Ivan Chambers’s stone is finished.”

“May we bring your lunch and watch you for a while?” She turned to Violet. “I love to watch him work. Will you join me?”