He cleared his throat. “Yes. I wanted to know how Ian is doing in school. I know it’s only been a couple of days, but I want to make sure he’s doing all right.” Hell, now that he actually stated the reason for his visit, it sounded as poor an excuse to his ears as it must have sounded to hers.
Priscilla had to swallow the laughter that threatened to bubble up from her insides. The expression on Mitch’s face would give her plenty of amusing memories in the future. He thought he knew her so well when he didn’t know her at all.
“Won’t you come in? It’s rather cold with the door open.”
“Oh, sorry.”
“I was about to have a cup of tea. Would you care to join me?”
“I’m not much for tea.”
“I can make coffee.”
He nodded and followed her into the kitchen. She turned in time to see him abruptly raise his eyes to her face, a slight blush appearing on his neck and spreading upward. There was no doubt in her mind he’d been staring at her backside as she walked in front of him. Why that thought made her tingle in places she wasn’t often aware of scared her.
She didn’t want to be attracted to Mitch, didn’t want to trade an overprotective father for a condescending husband who thought she wasn’t capable of taking care of herself. As much as she adored her father, he was too zealous in his caring, too anxious that she would harm herself in some way. That had been the reason he’d taught her to shoot.
Many times when she wanted to scream with frustration, she reminded Papa that Mama had only been a couple of years older than her when she’d made the Land Run with four adolescents. Tori Cochran was a strong woman.
And Priscilla was her mother’s daughter.
It had taken weeks of arguing, cajoling, and tears to get Papa to allow her to take the job in Dogtown. Although she missed her family something dreadful, she was loving the independence.
She busied herself with making tea and coffee, aware the entire time Mitch stared at her body. The tingle in her insides had turned to a thumping heart and an unfamiliar moistness between her legs. Goodness, maybe she was getting sick, and school had only been in session for two days!
After placing a plate of cookies and cups of tea and coffee on the table, she licked her dry lips as she took the seat across from Mitch. He made a slight sound, almost like a groan. “Are you all right?”
“Yes. Yes, just fine. Thank you for the coffee.”
Priscilla stirred sugar into her tea. “Your son is very bright. In fact, he is at the top of my class, right below the high school students.”
There was no way she could miss the glow of pride on Mitch’s face.
“I sent a wire to my parents in Oklahoma asking them to send my college textbooks. I know it will be awhile before he’s ready for them, but I think he might get some use out of a couple of them now.” She raised her eyebrows. “Were you planning on college?”
“The money is already in the bank. We do believe in education here in the backwoods of Dogtown, you know.”
She tightened her lips. “That is not what I meant, and I do wish you would stop putting words into my mouth. I never said Dogtown was backwoods, and from what I’ve seen, most parents here are very interested in their children’s education. Maybe they’re not all thinking about education beyond high school, but that doesn’t mean they are stupid.”
He reached across the table and laid his hand over hers. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I know you don’t think we’re stupid.”
Somewhat mollified, she removed her hand and took a sip of tea. “Thanksgiving is in a couple of weeks. Do you and Ian do anything special for the holiday?”
“We mostly spend it by ourselves. I cook a turkey, and Ian makes the potatoes and gravy. I usually buy a pie from Mrs. Gillis, the boardinghouse owner. She sells pies, cakes, and cookies around the holidays.”
Her eyes downcast, Priscilla drew small circles with her fingernail on the table. “Would you care to come here for Thanksgiving? I’ll even do the cooking if you supply the turkey.” She looked up and shrugged. “I have no idea where to get one here.”
She didn’t know why, but the idea of sharing a holiday meal with Mitch and Ian seemed the right thing to do. Of course, had he told her of plans that involved other people, she would have spent the day alone, catching up on school work. For all her desire to get away from an over enthusiastic family, the thought of being alone on a major holiday was depressing.
“There have been years when we were snowed in for Thanksgiving.”
“Really? Snow comes that early?”
“It sure does.” He leaned forward, as if sharing a confidence. “Yes, and there have been occasions when we are snowed in for weeks at a time.”
She leaned in. “Oh, my. And what does one do when snowed in for weeks?”
“Try to keep occupied.” He brushed a lock of hair behind her ear.