standing beside Laura and nodded. “I would enjoy that.”
Confusion lined Clint’s forehead as he looked from her to Pearl. His gaze shifted to Hope and then back up to Laura. She sighed, knowing he had questions about the little girl who snuggled against her as if seeking assurance that she wasn’t going anywhere.
“If you two will follow me, I’ll get you a quiet corner in the back.” Pearl grabbed two menus and began leading the way.
Laura followed Pearl, aware that Clint and Grace followed her. She wondered how much Hope and Grace would understand when she explained Hope’s circumstances to the rancher.
Pearl stopped beside a small square table with four chairs and asked, “Is this all right?”
Clint nodded. He helped Grace into one of the chairs. Laura was aware of the muscles that worked across his shoulders as she helped Hope into her chair. She pulled her gaze away from him and focused on the place settings in front of her.
Pearl ran a respectable restaurant and made sure that each table had nice place settings. The linens were clean and the food always good.
Once they were seated, Pearl handed them menus. “Today’s special is roast beef sandwiches and fried potatoes. What can I get you to drink?”
Laura answered, “Hope and I will have milk, please.” She looked to Clint.
He grinned up at Pearl. “I’d like a hot cup of coffee for myself and a glass of milk for Grace.”
For the first time, Laura allowed herself to really examine him. His rich brown hair curled about his collar as if it had a mind of its own. The deep richness of his hair seemed to pull the bottomless blue from his eyes. He was muscular and lean. A working man.
Laura’s gaze moved to Pearl, who still stood beside their table. The other woman seemed captivated by the blue of his eyes, as well. She smiled like a schoolgirl at him. A soft pink filled her cheeks in just the few moments she’d been standing there.
Laura cleared her throat. “Hope and I will share the special. Can I substitute mashed potatoes with gravy for the fried potatoes?”
As if taken by surprise, Pearl jumped. “I’ll, uh, go get your drinks.”
Pearl hadn’t heard anything she’d said. Laura shook her head in amusement. Mr. Shepard was a nice-looking man, but personally she didn’t see him as a distraction.
Laura turned to make sure Hope was behaving. The little girl had decided to stand up in the chair and reach across the table to take Grace’s hands in hers. “No, sweetie. We do not stand in chairs.” Laura gently sat her back down. She handed Hope the ball of yarn from her handbag, then gave Grace a spoon that rested on a napkin beside her plate. The little girls immediately began to play with their items.
Clint chuckled. “You have a way with children, Mrs. Lee.”
“I’m a schoolteacher, Mr. Shepard. It’s my job to have a way with children.” She smiled to take the sting out of her words.
Pearl returned with their drinks and a basket of bread. She placed each person’s drink in front of them and the bread in the center of the table. “I have your order going in the kitchen, Laura, but I seem to have forgotten to take yours, Mr.—?” She turned and smiled sweetly at Clint.
“Shepard. Grace and I will share the special also, but I’d like to add a steak to my order.” He smiled up at her, flashing white teeth in her direction.
Laura noticed a small gap in his front two teeth and thought it charming. She quickly turned her attention to the girls. Grace had decided to stand up in her chair and help herself to the bread. Laura took the bread from her and frowned. “Grace, sit down, please.”
Clint turned at the sharpness of her voice. He started to say something, but Laura stopped him with a stern look. If he wanted her to help him with the child, he’d have to let her do it her way. He turned back to Pearl. Grace was a handful, and because she’d never had a mother, he’d let her get away with much more than he probably should have. “I’d like that steak cooked medium well.”
Laura focused on Grace. When the little girl was seated once more, she tore the slice of bread in half and gave each of the girls their portion.
Grace babbled, “Tant too,” then tore into the bread with her tiny teeth.
Hope smiled and did the same.
“I’ll be right back with your orders,” Pearl stammered as she backed away from the table.
Laura giggled. Pearl was clearly smitten by Clint Shepard.
He turned and looked at her and the girls. “What is so funny?”
She leaned forward. “I do believe you have an admirer, Mr. Shepard.”
Clint frowned. “I’m not interested.”
Laura sat back and studied him. “Why not? Pearl is an attractive woman with her own business. Most men fall all over themselves for her attention.”
He shook his head. “I suppose I’m not most men.” He pulled the napkin off the table and tucked it into the front of his shirt.
“I suppose not.” She looked to where Pearl could be seen pouring coffee into one of the local lumbermen’s cups. The man looked as smitten with Pearl as she had with Clint.
“Mind if I ask you a question?” Clint asked, reaching for a slice of the bread.
Laura knew what he wanted to know. “Does it have anything to do with being Grace’s nanny?”
“Yes and no.” He bit off a chunk of the bread and chewed.
She smoothed her napkin on her lap and nodded.
Clint leaned across the table and asked in a very low voice, “Is Hope your daughter? Or not?”
Laura sighed. “Yes and no.”
He chuckled. “I see. Which is it?”
She took the note from her bag and handed it across the table. Laura watched his blue eyes scan the paper. He looked to her and quirked an eyebrow.
“As you can read, that paper says she is. I spoke to the sheriff this morning and he confirmed that she is mine, at least for the time being. He’s searching for her parents, and when the judge arrives next month, well, he’ll have the final say.” Laura held out her hand for the note. The last thing she wanted to do was lose that piece of paper. It was the only thing that proved Hope had been given to her.
Clint handed it over. Pearl walked back to the table with her arms laden with plates. Laura waited until the other woman left and asked, “Does this make a difference in your job offer?”
“No, if Matt thinks you are fit to take care of one little girl and the school board has placed the care of all the children in the community to you, who am I to say you aren’t fit to be a mother and a nanny?” He spooned potatoes onto Grace’s plate.
Laura smiled. “Thank you.” She prepared Hope’s plate. She prayed the circuit judge thought the same
