“This is a great opportunity.” Tori rotated her neck to relieve the tension. It wouldn’t do to begin arguing right away. “If Mrs. Bonner likes the cookies, we’ll be able to make money until a teaching job opens up.”
Rachel stomped her foot and stormed away.
“Where are you going?” Tori’s jaw clenched.
“I’m going to get a drink of water from the creek. Is that allowed, boss lady?” She didn’t bother to wait for an answer.
Tori scratched at her chest where the bindings pressed into her. She needed her disguise one more day. It didn’t pay to take a chance on a man in line thinking he could bully her into giving up her lot. Ellie stumbled back with the bucket as Tori pushed her hair into the battered hat. Tori took the heavy bucket from her and, hand in hand, they set off for the Land Office.
As he continued to work on his small office, Jesse’s gaze kept wandering over to the Henderson family. Tori already had those kids running around. He’d heard bits and pieces of the conversation, and it sounded like they were going to start selling baked goods right away. With all those mouths to feed, she didn’t have a choice. Admiration grew as he observed her. It took a gutsy lady to take on four kids by herself and keep them in control.
The one she introduced as Rachel had stomped off in a huff, but once she came back, she kept glancing his way. When she caught his eye, she would purposely toss her hair over her shoulder, and one time even stuck out her young, but well developed, chest. He broke into a sweat. Damnation. He had no intention of going near the girl. Now if the aunt stuck out her chest in his direction, that’d be a whole different story. He smiled as he recalled the interesting shadows that had played against her tent the night before.
The sun had set by the time Tori and Ellie arrived back at their wagon. Tired, but happy, Tori wandered over and peeked in the pot filled with bacon and beans Rachel had fixed. Ellie refused supper and went into the bigger tent Michael had placed next to her small one.
Michael sat by the fire, and Tori joined him, sitting cross-legged on the hard ground. The food she shoveled into her mouth had no taste. Her taste buds must have been as tired as she. But the tantalizing smells rumbled her stomach, and if she skipped supper like Ellie, she’d regret it before dawn.
“How did things go today?”
“Good. Mr. and Mrs. Bonner introduced themselves. They’re nice people. Rachel got the cookies made and gave them to Mrs. Bonner. She liked them.” He chuckled. “Hunter hung around her campfire long enough for her to give him a bowl of stew. He ate every bite. Since we both know how picky an eater Hunter is, I think her restaurant will do well.”
She poured a cup of coffee and sighed as the warm liquid slid down her throat.
“How did things go at the Land Office?”
“Wonderful. I got our claim all registered.” She smiled then shifted and cast a glance over her shoulder. “Is the tent crowded?”
Michael shrugged. “A bit. Rachel seems more put out than anyone. I’ll sleep outside.”
“I’m hoping our oven will arrive tomorrow. As soon as we set a little bit of money aside, we can put up an actual house.” She motioned with her head in the direction of Jesse’s lot. “I notice Mr. Cochran has his almost finished.”
“Yeah, he worked on it all day. For a lawyer, he’s pretty handy with a hammer.”
“He’s a lawyer?” Her eyes grew wide.
He nodded. “I talked to him for a little while today. He gave me some tips for when we start to build. He’s a nice guy.”
“I don’t trust him.” Tori snorted her opinion.
“Why not?”
“I don’t know. A feeling I have.”
Michael regarded her for a minute, then stood and stretched. “Well, I’m turning in.” Smoke rose and the fire sizzled when he threw dirt on it. He unrolled his bed and set it between the two tents.
After staring at nothing for a while, Tori crawled into her tent. She lit the lantern, and with a sigh of relief, removed her shirt and undid her bindings. Only too happy to be done with them, they’d go right into the fire tomorrow. She closed her eyes and rubbed her aching breasts.
“Tori!”
She jumped from the alarm in Michael’s voice and reached for her shirt. “What?”
“Blow that lantern out. I can see
your shadow.”
Heat rose in her face as she ducked and blew out the light. A low, deep chuckle and footsteps sounded past her tent, heading in the lawyer’s direction. A lantern light came on, the soft glow coming from Jesse’s lot.
Damn that man! He probably enjoyed the show.