Free A Life Restored by Karen Baney Page B

chest, he said, “And here I thought ya were beginning to like me.   Now I find I’m just a messenger bringing news of yer adopted grandson.”
    “Yes, well, anyone bringing me news of baby James might get a treat—in the form of blackberry pie.   So I’m sure it will be worth it.”
    “Mmm.   I can taste it already.”
    Waving her hand in the air, she turned to serve her other customers.
    “I think she’s sweet on you,” Snake said between large bites of biscuits and gravy.
    Shifting uncomfortably in his seat, Ben stuffed a biscuit in his mouth.   It was one thing for him and Betty to tease each other.   He just didn’t like anyone else jumping to conclusions.
    Of course he liked Betty.   Everyone did.   She liked him—well, she liked everyone.   That didn’t mean she was sweet on him like Snake suggested.
    Quit lyin’.   Ya know she don’t squeeze just any body’s hand when she serves ‘em dinner.
    Ben shoved more food in his mouth to stifle a sigh.   Maybe he was lonelier than he wanted to admit.   Twenty-five years was a long time.
    Living with a bunch of sixteen to twenty year olds was, well, getting old.   Most of them horsed around all the time.   They needed steady guidance.   Half of Will’s men were fairly green, though they didn’t see themselves that way. Two or three years hardly counted as experience.   They still had a lot of learning to do about ranching and about life.
    While his evenings weren’t quiet—there was always a few of the men in a tizzy over one thing or another—he longed for the quiet.   He was tired of acting as a father to the boys.   Tired of breaking up fights.   Tired of reminding them to bathe every now and then.   He wished he could have his own place.   But then that might be a bit more quiet than he could handle.   Maybe it would be better if he had someone to share it with.
    Naw.   That would require opening up parts of himself that were better off tucked away.
    Why couldn’t he just be content with life as it always was?   Just keep plugging on one day at a time.
    As the dining hall crowd started to thin out, Snake rose.   “Think I’ll catch me a game or two of cards.”
    “Meet ya over at Hardy’s store in ‘bout an hour.   He should have our supplies ready by then.    We’ll load up and be home just in time for supper.”
    “Sounds good,” Snake agreed, leaving Ben as the lone diner in the room.
    Betty appeared in the doorway of the kitchen with two plates in hand.   One had a piece of pie on it.   The other looked to be her meal.   As she slid the pie in front of him, warmth flooded his body.   She had a way of disarming all his defenses without even trying.
    “Now,” she said taking a seat directly across from him, “tell me all about baby James.”
    He allowed the brief stab of pain in his heart, over the loss of his own Elijah, before he recovered and began regaling her with the latest tales of baby James.

Chapter 10

    Betty listened intently as Ben began describing her grandson’s latest mannerisms and noises, despite having caught his brief frown.   No, frown wasn’t the right word for it.   Seems like Benjamin Shepherd might be hiding some pain.   Well, eventually she would get to the bottom of that.   Just not today.
    As she finished her last bite of food, she said, “Thank you, Ben.   I can’t tell you how much I appreciate hearing what little James is up to.   I so miss being around my grandchildren.”
    “How many do you have?”
    “Oh, let’s see.   Catherine, my oldest girl, has two boys and one girl.   Nancy has three girls and one boy.   And Frank, I think his wife just delivered their third boy.”   An unexpected moment of sadness brought tears to the corners of her eyes.
    Ben reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze.   “Must be hard being away from ‘em.”
    Allowing a half-smile to grace her lips, she retrieved her handkerchief from her shirt sleeve.   Seems she would cry at