RNWMP: Bride for Theodore (Mail Order Mounties)(14)

“I hope so too. But if not, I'll have given it my best shot. I'll have taken a chance on love, and I don't think I could ever regret that.” Jess quickly mashed the potatoes and put the carrots into a bowl. She noted the men had carefully pushed the two tables together, so she set the second table, then put the roast beef and potatoes on each end of the long table formed. They could pass the carrots. She cut two loaves of bread up into thick slices before setting out butter from the icebox.

She surveyed the table for a moment, realizing something was missing. “I'll be right back!” Hurrying outside, she went to a bush covered with perfect purple flowers. She carefully removed several, hurrying into the house and putting them into a water glass.

She put the glass in the center of the two tables. “There. That's perfect.”

Ms. Hazel looked up from her book. “Yes. That looks beautiful, Jess.”

Jess removed the apron she’d been wearing all day, hanging it on a hook by the door. She smoothed down the front of her dress, her hands going to straighten her hair. Why, she didn't know. Theodore had just been in there looking at her. He would know she primped for him. Was that a bad thing?

The Mounties came in then, each of them in their spotless uniforms. Kendall, the youngest of the five, seemed almost shy in her presence. It gave her a bit more confidence. “I sure hope everyone is hungry.”

Nolan rubbed his stomach. “You know I am, ma'am. It feels like I haven't eaten in months!”

“I know for a fact that you ate sixteen pancakes for breakfast. And several pieces of bacon. And I believe I saw you steal some bacon from Joel's plate. So you can say you feel like you haven't eaten in months, but we all know better.”

Nolan shrugged. “What can I say? I'm a growing boy.”

Joel shook his head. “I wondered why I had so little bacon at breakfast. You need to keep your hands off my plate.”

“It was only one piece!”

Theodore shook his head at both of them. “Thank you for cooking for us, Jess.”

Jess smiled. “I love to cook. It's nice to have someone enjoy my food for a change.”

“For a change?” Elijah asked. “Are there people back home who do not like your food?”

“It's not that. I just don't get much chance to cook. I work full-time. Or I did. My mother still does all the cooking in our home. She doesn't like other people in her kitchen. She taught me to cook, because she knew I needed to know how, but she hasn’t let me back into it very often.” Jess shrugged waving everyone toward the table. “Let's eat! I made fresh bread. And dessert is on the work table.”

Nolan perked up at the word dessert. “You made dessert? If Theodore decides not to marry you, I'm keeping you.”

Jess blushed. “Someday someone will love me for more than my cooking.”

Theodore took a seat at the table, looking up at Jess. “Don't act like that day is so far away. You never know.” Already he felt himself drawn to her more than he imagined was possible. The little girl in braids had changed into a beautiful young woman.

Jess sat at one end of the table, and she noticed that Miss Hazel sat at the other. Joel and Elijah sat on either side of her. Elijah had that one curl hanging down over his forehead again. She watched as he swiped it away, but it fell right back to where it was.

Theodore bowed his head and said the blessing for the table. When he was finished, the men all immediately reached for food. “I can't remember the last time I had a decent pot roast. I think it was the last time I was back in Regina.” Nolan reached for the platter with the meat on it, and piled food on his plate.

“I hope you enjoy it.” Jess knew she could cook for these men every day, because it was so obvious they enjoyed every single bite. Her brothers had liked her cooking, but they been used to good meals growing up with their mother, so it hadn't been such a big deal to them.

“Teddy tells me that you play the guitar,” Jess said to Kendall. “I'd love to hear you play sometime while I'm here.”

Kendall seemed embarrassed. “I'd be happy to play sometime. Do you play?”

Jess shook her head. “I had some piano lessons when I was younger, but I haven't played in years.”

Theodore smiled at Jess. “We’ll make sure we have at least one night in with Kendall playing for us before you go. If you go.”

Jess was surprised. He hadn't really talked about the possibility of her staying. Was it possible that she wouldn't be going back to Ottawa embarrassed? “I'd like that a lot.”

“What I'd like a lot is to plan a wedding before I leave.” Miss Hazel took a bite of her potatoes. She was obviously not at all shy about saying what she felt. Jess wished she could be just a bit more circumspect. She looked down at her plate in embarrassment.

“Mom, please don't embarrass Jess. I want her to want to stay here. She's going to run far, far from our family if you keep that up.” Theodore knew it wasn't true, but maybe if his mother believed it was she’d stop.

Miss Hazel shook her head at her son. “You underestimate Jess. She was raised with two older brothers. She's seen more than her share of teasing over the years. I promise you she can handle anything I have to say.”

Theodore shrugged at Jess. “I tried.”