There was a rocking chair and a footstool near a little bookshelf. Phil had certainly added some homey touches to the place.
Nate waited until Louise sat, then slid in beside her.
Phil looked around the table. Her gaze stopped at Archie. “Sir, would you object to asking the blessing on our food?”
“My honor.” He bowed his head and prayed.
Nate thought his words of gratitude for a fine meal were entirely heartfelt, echoing how all of them felt. Good food, beautifully served. What a pleasure.
His pleasure grew as they passed around roast venison, mashed potatoes, rich gravy, bright orange carrots.
“This is a feast fit for a king,” Sam said, color racing up his neck.
“Thank you. I love to cook.” Phil laughed. “I love hunting and riding, too. I love watching birds sing and flowers grow. I guess I love most everything about life out here.”
Sam just stared at her.
“Tell the others how you got to be here,” Miss Rolfe said, drawing attention from poor Sam, who seemed completely besotted by the lovely Philomena.
“Wasn’t anything special about how I came here. My pa brought me with him. He set up this way station. Many bull trains come by in the summer and we had a nice little business.” Her smile faded momentarily. “Pa got sick last winter and died this spring. I buried him out back with the help of some bullwhackers.” She grew solemn for a moment, then smiled again. “I planted bluebells over his grave. He loved those flowers. And no one has complained about me running the station for him.”
“Everyone is grateful,” Dutch said.
“That’s for sure,” Sam said, and color raced up his neck again.
Nate turned to Louise, to share amusement over Sam’s state.
She grinned back at him and he felt a connection that excluded the others.
Relief eased through him that she ate a decent meal and seemed to have no more pains. He could think of nothing he’d like more than for her to complete the journey and have the baby at Eden Valley Ranch as she hoped.
Phil gathered up the food when they were finished and brought a plate of cookies for dessert. “I’ve made tea if anyone cares for it.”
Nate hesitated. The last tea he tasted had left a metallic taste in his mouth. But this wasn’t Dusty’s place. “I’d appreciate some,” he said, and the others echoed him.
The cookies were fine, the tea even finer and they sat around visiting.
“Tell me where you are all going,” Phil said.
One by one, they told of their destination.
Nate’s turn came. “I’m going to meet a man and hopefully buy me a small ranch.” He glanced at the calendar hanging by the stove. According to Rufus, the mountain man usually visited the week before Christmas in order to send gifts to his daughter, and stayed a few days, often celebrating Christmas with Rufus before he returned to his cabin up the mountain. Nate still had time to get back to Edendale and meet him.
Phil rested her elbows on the table and leaned her chin on her hands. “A little ranch. That sounds lovely.” She chuckled. “Not that I mind running this stopping house, but maybe I’ll buy some cows and operate a ranch, as well.”
Sam’s eyes flashed admiration.
Nate thought the man saw where he could fit in.
Eventually, Phil moved to wash dishes. Miss Rolfe, Louise and Missy joined her.
“Looks like you need more wood.” Sam hurried outside and they heard the whack of an ax applied to logs. He returned with his arms full, and stacked enough wood to last her a day or two. “Anything else you need done?” he asked.
Phil chuckled. “I pretty well can do anything that needs doing.” She grew thoughtful. “But if you hear of someone nearby with cows they’d be willing to part with, you could let me know.”
“I’ll do better,” Sam said. “I’ll find you some. I’ll bring them in the spring.”
“You do that and I’ll be forever grateful.”
The pair looked at each other, unmindful of their audience. Nate turned away, feeling as if the moment should be private.
He slid his attention toward Louise and was caught in her dark, probing gaze. He couldn’t look away. All this talk about plans and the future had him thinking differently, wishing for things that were out of his reach. Wishing his cabin could be a real home.