Tempy sat back in her seat. “Oh, my goodness, how could I have forgotten? I didn’t even bring a gift!”
David laughed aloud. “My dear Temperance, you are the gift!”
Reese nodded, his cocoa-colored eyes sparkling, “The best gift I could hope to give her.”
Chapter Twenty-three
“Is everything ready?” Reese asked as he entered the kitchen of the main house.
“Yes,” Sarah replied. “She thinks we’ve forgotten her birthday.” Sarah lifted the large sheet cake from its resting place on the work table. “All I have to do is take this to the dining room.”
“Good,” Reese said. “David and Faith’s aunt, Temperance, are hiding in my study. They’re part of her surprise.”
Sarah’s face brightened at the mention of her son’s name.
Reese smiled down at his beloved aunt. “And part of yours, Aunt Sarah.”
Sarah wanted to hug him, but didn’t dare display that sort of childish affection for a grown man. She rapped him on the arm with her wooden spoon instead. “You should have told me.” she chided.
“And spoil your surprise?” Reese asked. “Not likely. You take the cake on into the dining room, then spend a couple of minutes with David. I’ll go upstairs and get the birthday girl.” Reese smoothed a stray hair back from Sarah’s face as he moved past her.
Faith looked up from her book as Reese entered the bedroom. Her gray eyes hungrily scanned his face. It had been days since she’d seen him. She missed him. “Hello.”
“Hello yourself,” Reese replied, his brown-eyed gaze soaking up the sight of her. She was wearing a ruffled, flannel nightgown and a quilted bed jacket. Her black hair was loose and falling over her shoulders. She looked wonderful. He moved to the foot of the bed for a better view.
“I haven’t seen you lately,” Faith murmured. “I thought you’d forgotten all about me.” She turned back to the page in front of her, pretending disinterest.
“I’ve been out on the range for the past three days. The snowstorm was hard on the cattle. The newborn calves were in danger of freezing. We had to get them in.” Reese felt awkward standing there in front of her.
“Really? I hadn’t noticed,” Faith lied.
Reese didn’t know whether to shake her or to burst out laughing at her bald-faced lie. How could anyone not notice snow whirling past the windows and a fifty degree drop in temperature? “Well,” he decided to play along. “I guess you’ve been busy.” He sneaked a glance at her to gauge her reaction. “Sewing baby clothes and all…”
Faith glared at him. The baby clothes were still a sore point with her. She’d done nothing but sew on the tiny garments for the past three days. How dare he imply she hadn’t on the one afternoon she decided to read? It was her birthday after all, even if no one on this godforsaken ranch remembered it! “As a matter of fact, I have been very busy. And I’m busy right now…”
“Too busy to join us downstairs for dinner?” Reese asked softly.
“What?” She was startled by his invitation.
“You did invite Dr. McMurphy to supper tonight, didn’t you? Or, perhaps, you’d rather he dined up here with you?”
“Yes. No.” Faith faltered.
“Which is it?” Reese’s tone of voice was harder, almost cutting.
“Yes, I did invite him,” she answered, “and no, I don’t want him to join me up here.” She looked up at Reese. “I’d like to eat downstairs with the rest of you. If it’s all right?”
“It’s fine with me,” Reese told her. “Kevin said it would be all right if someone carried you downstairs. I’m the someone. Take it or leave it.” He glared at her, demanding an answer.
“I’ll take it!” Faith practically bounced up and down on the bed.
“You’ll need this.” He thrust a gray velvet robe at her.
“Can’t I get dressed?” Faith pleaded. “It won’t be too hard if you help me.”
On the contrary, Reese thought, he wouldn’t be anything but hard if he helped her dress. Looking at her was bad enough. He cleared his throat. “One thing at a time. The doctor didn’t say anything about letting you dress for supper. Take it or…”
Faith opened her mouth to protest, but a glance at Reese stopped her. “Leave it.” She finished his ultimatum for him.