Kisses With KC (Cowboys and Angels Book 11)(6)

“Add me to that list,” Dad said as he sat down at the table. “Glad you dodged that sidewinder.”

Eliza had no idea her family felt strongly against the man. “And why didn’t anyone tell me you didn’t like him before?” She looked around the table. None of them piped up to answer as the silence stretched.

“If he’s a member of the family, we have to like him. Since he’s not, we don’t,” Kailin said.

“You too?” Eliza asked.

“Yup.” Kailin took a bite of bacon, then answered, “Love you. Not him.”

Before they stood from breakfast, Pa made work assignments. Eliza wasn’t surprised that all her assignments were easy on her leg. Pa planned it that way each day.

Eliza went about her work until just before the midday meal. She was sweeping the sand out of a rug on the front porch when the red delivery wagon from the Jacksons’ mercantile rumbled down their road. “Ma, they’re here with our order,” she called into the open door before she walked out to greet them.

John Jackson and Willie Meeks waved. Willie called out, “Mr. Jameson asked me to deliver this telegram to your pa.” When they pulled up close to the porch, they jumped down from the seat and another man climbed out of the back.

Eliza couldn’t believe her eyes. Maybe she was mistaken. She squinted with a sideways glance. Nope. It was him—the man who knocked her from her saddle. Only, in the daylight, he was . . . memorable. He had features she hadn’t noticed last night—strong jaw and chin, the piercing blue-gray of his eyes beneath eyebrows a few shades darker than his sand-colored hair. She looked closely, appreciating his full lips and straight nose. Gawking. She realized that’s what she was doing when his smile broadened further, defining his chiseled features. She shook her attention away from him, feeling her cheeks burn.

Willie stood holding a telegram in one hand waving it as if to get her attention. “Will you tell him? Is he home?”

“I’ll get him.” She walked inside, glad to be out of the man’s presence, to let her dad know.

When she returned with her father, Willie handed him the telegram. The men had unpacked most of the sacks and boxes. The stranger was watching her. His eyebrows pinched toward the bridge of his nose. His mouth was in a straight line, and he looked curious.

Then she realized what he was looking at—her, limping as she walked back.

He threw a sack of oats over his shoulder and walked to the porch near her. As he set it down, he said to her, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you last night.” After he put the sack down, his head tipped up, and his eyes were round with concern.

She was touched by his sincerity. Sooner or later, he’d learn the truth. “You didn’t. But thank you,” she replied softly.

He nodded as he straightened, clearly not believing her response.

Her father had finished reading the telegram. “Seems I’m going to need to hire some help for a few weeks, John. Do you know anyone looking?”

“I am, sir,” the new man answered instead of Mr. Jackson. He pulled his hat off and held it in front of him. He offered his hand to Eliza’s father. “KC Murray, sir.” They shook hands, and he slipped his hat back on.

Eliza panicked. He could not work on their homestead. He was too . . . too… Oh, dang. Her mind found a dozen ways to finish that thought. Her favorites were handsome, daring, strong, interesting, definitely distracting. And none of them were a good reason why he couldn’t help around the farm except they were all the reasons she wanted him at the farm. So much for swearing off men!

“Well, we can’t steal you from Mr. Jackson. I’m sure they need you for deliveries.”

John spoke up then. “It’s all right, Mr. Turley. We said we would only keep him busy on Saturdays since it’s our biggest day for deliveries. He’d probably want a job that’s more constant. Is that right, KC?”

KC. She completely didn’t need his name to evoke more curiosity. Too late.

Eliza thought he looked a little stunned, but he answered, “I’d be obliged, Mr. Turley. I’m a hard worker.” His eyes slid to Eliza and quickly away but not before a thrill ran up her back.

Did he wonder if she trusted him after their unusual meeting last night? She didn’t know him, so probably not, but she wasn’t sure if she trusted herself, either. Just because a fine looking man was going to be around the homestead every day didn’t mean that she had to develop a tendre for him. Oh, and he was fine—at least the part of him between the tips of his boots and his black felt hat. Get your heart off your sleeve, Eliza. Get in the house and stop staring at him. All good advice, but she didn’t take a single step toward the door.

“Can you start on Monday?” her father asked. “You’re welcome to sleep in the barn unless you have a place in town already.”

“Yes, sir. Monday will be fine, and so will the barn. Thank you.”

“Come to dinner after church tomorrow. You can meet the family and get settled in. We’ll start you early on Monday.”

“Thank you for the invitation. I’ll be here.”

“Let’s get the rest of this delivered,” John said as he stepped from the wheel spoke to the toe board, then sat on the seat. Willie jumped up beside him, and KC sat in the back of the wagon. Eliza thought he watched her as they left.