matter of fact I did. And, I have already moved in.” The sudden pleasure in his voice surprised her.
Rebecca really hadn’t expected him to follow through with his offer of a job. Her spirits lifted, knowing she now held a position and would be able to stay in Cottonwood Springs. She silently thanked the Lord for yet another blessing and smiled. “That’s wonderful.”
The dimple in his cheek winked. “Would you like to see it?”
“I’d love to, Marshal, and while we walk you can tell me what this job entails.”
He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and began walking. Her heart did a little flutter as tingles climbed up her hand and into her hairline. Seth Billings made her feel alive.
With Jesse Cole dead, could this be the man God sent her to the New Mexico Territory for?
Chapter Four
Seth led Rebecca toward his new home. He hoped she liked it as much as he did. The front was white and had a small porch that led off the right-hand side. Two windows faced forward with dark brown shutters on each side. It was small but could be added on to, should he ever decide to marry and have a family.
He liked the fact that it was on a side street and that there weren’t many other houses close by. Cottonwood trees surrounded the house, giving it plenty of shade. He stopped in the yard and waited for her reaction.
Her eyes seemed to drink in the front of the little house. She sighed and pulled her shawl closer about her shoulders. “It’s wonderful, Marshal.” Rebecca turned to look up at him. She tilted her head sideways and smiled up into his face.
Seth felt as if he would drown in the blue pools of her eyes. “Thank you. I’m glad you like it. I’m thinking of adding a couple of rosebushes to the front, under the windows. What do you think of that?”
She stared at the windows as if she could picture the flowers already in full bloom. “They will look and smell wonderful. What color roses?”
He reached up and gently brushed aside a wayward curl from her cheek. Seth was surprised when she turned to face him. Her cheeks flushed a soft pink. “Pink, I think.”
Rebecca stepped away from him and nodded. “I’m sure they will be lovely.”
Seth realized he had embarrassed her with his actions, and moved forward to open the door. She followed him up the steps and waited. His boot heels clicked against the hardwood floor as he stepped inside the doorway and allowed her to pass.
His gaze swept the sitting room trying to visualize how the space must look to Rebecca. It was small with a couch and end table. A bookshelf rested against one wall, empty of books at the moment.
It felt empty, but Seth had been blessed that the Wilsons were willing to sell it at such a low price and were willing to leave some furniture behind. Granted, he had plenty of money sitting in the bank, but he had hoped not to have to touch the money until his days of marshaling were over.
“This is beautiful, Marshal. I love that the living area is open to the kitchen.” She spun around the room, touching the furniture. “It needs a thorough dusting and the floors require a good sweeping, but other than that it is great.”
He leaned against the door frame and watched as she flittered from room to room. It wasn’t a big house—two small bedrooms, a sitting room, kitchen with a dining area. Each room opened off of the sitting room. With her gasps and excited squeaks, you would think it was a mansion on a hill.
Seth couldn’t stop the smile that lifted the corners of his mouth. For some odd reason he felt pleasure at her excitement. “Thank you, Miss Ramsey.”
Her skirts swirled about her ankles as she hurried to the kitchen. “How did you get moved in so quickly?”
Seth pushed away from the frame work and followed her. “It came fully furnished and I don’t have that many clothes.”
Her gaze moved about the rooms. “That was very fortunate for you.”
He nodded. Her eyes sparkled as she ran her hands over the shelves and stove. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was envisioning the kitchen as her own. Maybe she was, it was easy to do.
Seth decided right then and there to continue taking his meals over at the diner. The last thing he needed was to have Rebecca Ramsey getting too comfortable in his kitchen. Women and marshaling didn’t mix. He couldn’t live through another woman’s death caused by his job.
Rebecca looked about the area and spread her hands. “You will need a few kitchen things.”
“Kitchen things?”
Rebecca grinned. “Yes, kitchen things.”
Seth crossed his arms. He’d just decided on eating over at the diner like normal. He didn’t need kitchen things. He set his jaw and started to tell her that he didn’t need another thing in the kitchen.
“Wouldn’t you like to have a fresh pot of coffee first thing in the morning?” she asked, once again mimicking his stance and arms.
How did she know what he’d been thinking? A fresh pot of coffee first thing in the morning did sound nice. He nodded and grunted his agreement. All right, he’d give in on the coffee, but other than that, Seth refused to give in any further.
And then she walked over to the stove. A wistful longing sound entered her voice. “I can cook some marvelous dinners at this stove. Just think, a hot meal at the end of the day.”
The last part seemed to be more a thought to herself than a statement for him. He stepped closer to her. The hopeful sound in her voice pulled at his heartstrings. “Sounds like you miss cooking.”
Rebecca tilted her head to the side and studied him. “I do. Cooking was one of the few things I enjoyed back home.”
The desire to make her feel at home, in his house, overwhelmed him. “It’s a good thing, then, that I said I’d need a cook, too.”
As if she’d forgotten, joy filled her face. “That’s right, you did.”
Seth crossed his arms to restrain himself from reaching out and hugging her. So much for taking his meals at the diner, his inner voice taunted. Rebecca was getting too close and he couldn’t afford to allow that to happen.
He took a step away from her. “I need to get back to work. You go and get the things needed for cooking and cleaning from the Millers’ store.” His boots pounded across the wood floors as he hurried to leave.
“Have Mrs. Miller charge whatever you feel is needed to my account.” Seth rushed out the door and across to his horse. He needed to put some space between himself and Miss Ramsey.
* * *
Rebecca wrapped her shawl around her shoulders and followed him out the door. She pulled the door shut behind her. What had happened? One moment he’d been smiling and seemed happy she’d taken an interest in his home and her new job, the next he’d exited the house like a cat that had been threatened with a bath. She shook her head. The marshal was turning out to be one complex man.
