Free Iris (Suitors of Seattle Book 8) by Kirsten Osbourne

pie sitting on the worktable for dessert. "This is wonderful, Edith." Iris had learned from a young age that she should always compliment her hostess.
    Edith smiled. "My ma has been teaching me to cook for years."
    "She's done a good job."
    "Thank you."  Edith seemed pleased.  She turned to Francis.  "Uncle Fwansis?"
    Iris looked at Edith in surprise.  She'd spoken perfectly until she said Francis's name.  Why was that?
    "Yes?" Francis looked at Edith.
    "I...um...well I have a young man coming by to take me for a drive this evening.  I didn't think you'd mind since Dr. Sullivan will be here to help you."  Edith seemed nervous to broach the topic with Francis.
    Francis frowned.  "Who is it?  Where are you going?  Does your pa know about this?"
    "Samuel Garrity.  He goes to our church.  He's a ranch hand.  Yes, Pa knows.  We're just going for a drive.  Probably along the river for a bit."  Edith held her breath, waiting for an answer.
    "Samuel Garrity?  Is he new to town?  I don't know him."  Francis shook his head slowly.  "I don't know if this is a good idea."
    Edith sighed.  "Pa likes him.  We've been courting for a few weeks now."
    "Then why hasn't he been by yet?  If he cared, he'd have come by."  Francis knew he was being unreasonable, but he felt like Edith was practically his child.  Besides, he needed practice for when his girls thought they were old enough to court.
    Iris tried not to laugh at the way Francis was reacting to his niece courting.  She could only imagine what would happen when Mallie started going on drives with men.
    "He didn't come by, because I left a note for Pa to give him asking him not to when he went by to pick me up last Monday.  I told him I needed a little time to settle in here, and that I'd contact him soon."
    "How did you contact him then?"
    Edith shook her head in exasperation.  "Pa took him a note for me last night after you said you were having Dr. Sullivan over for supper tonight."
    "We can't ask our guest to do the dishes!" Francis knew he was grasping at straws, but he couldn't let her go.  He'd feel as if he'd failed as an uncle.
    "Ettie and Katie are perfectly capable of doing the dishes.  They've been helping me with them since I got here."  Edith finished her dinner and stood up, walking around the table to her uncle.  She leaned down and kissed his cheek.  "I'll be back before nine.  Can you wait until then to take Dr. Sullivan home?"
    Iris bit her lip, still fighting laughter.  When Francis didn't answer right away, she said, "That would work fine for me, Edith.  And please, call me Iris."
    Edith made a face.  "Oh, I couldn't do that.  You're a doctor!"
    Iris felt like she was destined to never hear her first name again at that moment.  "Your mother said the same thing.  Do I need to call you Miss Harvey?"
    Katie smiled, reaching over and taking Iris's hand from the table.  "I like it when you call me Miss Harvey."
    Iris laughed, reaching out to tap Katie's nose with her index finger.  "Then I will call you Miss Harvey.  It would be terribly confusing if I called your cousin that as well, wouldn't it?"
    Katie nodded, giggling.
    Edith nodded.  "I'll call you Iris."  She looked at Francis.  "Don't worry about me Uncle Fwansis.  I'll be fine.  I'm a big girl."
    "I just don't like it.  I want to meet him before you go anywhere with him."  Francis frowned at Iris as if he blamed her for his niece wanting to court someone.
    Iris just smiled at him.  "Four of my sisters were married by the time they were her age.  Three had given birth.  I think you need to let her go for a drive."  She winked at Edith.  "I'll help get the girls in bed.  You have a good time with Samuel."
    Edith rushed around the table and kissed Iris on the cheek as well.  "Thank you, Dr...I mean Iris."
    Mallie bounced in her seat.  "Dr. Iris!  I like that!"
    Iris grinned.  "I guess that works for me.  Dr. Iris."
    Iris watched as Edith slipped her shawl over