Kisses With KC (Cowboys and Angels Book 11)(10)

Eliza made sopapillas for lunch with the ham and beans. The time had come and gone, and KC hadn’t come in to eat. Kailin and Rayna ate and went to collect asparagus from the banks along the stream. Ellis rode out to Dorothy’s house, and still, KC hadn’t come in. She’d waited to eat when he did, but maybe he wasn’t coming in today.

She sat on a chair and pulled a sopapilla to her plate, poking a hole in the top and dribbling a generous amount of honey inside. She rolled her eyes at the first bite of the doughy pillow, closing them as she savored the taste.

“I think I’d like to have a little of that, Eliza.”

She opened her eyes, and KC stood in the doorway. “I’m late, but if you don’t mind, I’ll eat with you.”

“I’d like that. Have a seat.” Eliza got up and filled a bowl with beans and turned to see KC casually sitting in the chair next to hers, one arm stretched over the back of her chair.

As she approached, he sat up and moved his arm. She felt a little disappointment—how silly she was being. “What brought you to Colorado, Mr. Murray?” she asked, setting the bowl in front of him.

“I wanted to see the Rocky Mountains. I heard so much about gold and silver, I thought I’d come take a look for myself.”

Eliza sat back down in her chair. “Do you want to be a prospector?” She liked eating a meal, just the two of them.

“I don’t think so, but I’m undecided about what to do at the moment.” He ate a bite. “These are good. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. You’ve been such a help to our family. I’ve watched you working. To anyone else, it might look like you own the place. We’re blessed to have had you stop by the very day when we needed someone.”

“You watch me work?” KC’s spoon was suspended above his bowl, and his gaze was on her. The corner of his mouth tipped up at one corner.

Eliza couldn’t tell if he was happy or surprised. She didn’t know how to answer his question. “Yes,” would be the truth, but she couldn’t make herself say it.

KC’s arm went over the back of her chair again. He leaned close to her and looked at her lips. Oh, my. She felt like she was sitting next to the fireplace.

“You have a little …” His finger reached up and touched her chin. “… honey right here.” He smoothed it away.

Eliza could barely breathe. She sat very still as did KC. She could see him thinking, his eyes searching hers. He had implied that she would enjoy kissing him very much—at least that’s the way she’d decided to understand his earlier comment. There was no time like now. They were alone and likely to be for some time. She smiled softly at him, tipped up her chin a bit, and waited.



On Sunday before the church meeting, Eliza joined a group of women in the churchyard, catching just the last part of a conversation.

“They had proved up on their land just last week, and now they’ve sold and left,” Mrs. Shaw said.

“Who left?” Eliza asked.

“The Henshaw family. They lived over by Lake City. The Watkins Spice lady came by my place yesterday and told me about it. She said that half a dozen of her regular customers along this byway have just up and gone. Most of them even left all their furniture when they abandoned their homes.”

Although Lake City was a three-day trip by wagon from Creede, there were homesteads strung all along that way. With tall mountains and swift rivers in the canyons, the homesteads wandered along the most passable route from here to there. A trickle of worry slipped down Eliza’s spine. This problem wasn’t just in Creede. She hadn’t made it to Bad Egg Baldwin’s home to check things out, but she was determined now to see if there was anything that would give a clue to the mystery.

She sat through the service, barely hearing the sermon. She hadn’t heard of homesteaders to the east or south having this problem. Maybe there were some. She’d have to talk to people after the meeting to see. And the question she wanted to ignore but couldn’t—when would trouble come to their place? The thought made her stomach lurch and the muscles in her back tighten. How would she keep her family safe until her parents returned? And maybe after that?

Eliza was drawn out of her worrying by hearing soft snickering down the row. When she turned toward it, she saw KC looking at her cousin. Kailin sat between her and KC with Rayna on her lap. The toddler was imitating everything Reverend Theodore did, which KC seemed to enjoy. If the reverend pounded his fist on the pulpit, Rayna pounded her dimpled fist in the air. Like she was his mirror, she leaned forward and scowled. She pointed back at him accusingly. She crossed her arms, and she shook her head with mock rage just as he did. When the reverend pointed to heaven, so did Rayna.

Eliza had to look away several times to keep from laughing aloud. She could honestly say that she’d never enjoyed a service more.

Each week, the congregation stayed seated while Reverend Theodore walked to the door followed by Mr. Anders. She didn’t know why the reverend treated Anders with deference. The man was rich but hardly pious.

This week, Benita jumped out of her seat at the front of the church. “Theodore. Wait for me,” she called.

“Sit down, Benita. I’ll make my processional alone.” His voice was low but harsh. The reverend didn’t even look at her as he spoke out of the side of his mouth.