Free Rugged and Relentless by Kelly Hake Page A

for placing emphasis on that last part. She’d refrained from adding, “and not in person!”
    “He don’t seem to care too much, but that were a good way ta give the locale.” A bulge in the man’s cheek tattled of a wad of chewing tobacco. “We came early to up our chances.”
    “I believe that’s because he—and I’ll have to admit we, as well—were expecting written responses to that ad.” Naomi didn’t shy away from being more blunt. God bless her. “We never imagined you might travel all the way here before we responded.”
    “Best way to pick a man is to look him over in person,” one of the better-looking candidates insisted. “Only natural.”
    “Well, now that you’re all here”—Evie decided to make the best of things—“would you be interested in saving us the trouble of hiring other loggers to do the preliminary work? You’ll have room and board and all the food you can eat.”
    “Evie!” Naomi caught on in a flash. “You’re not promising
your
cooking? That’s outrageous. You’ll work yourself to the bone with those creations of yours.”
    “They’ll work hard, too.” Evie beamed at the men then allowed her smile to fade. “Or if not, we’ll hire men who will. Besides, I’m going to marry one of the loggers. They should all sample my cooking. It’s a fair reward, I think.”
    “More than fair.” The twinkle in her friend’s eyes belied her grumble. “Though maybe we should hire others just to have more prospects? I hadn’t even considered that, but—”
    “Now, now!” Mutters and murmurs among the men exploded into outright protest. “A deal’s a deal, missy!”
    “You don’t lay an offer on the table then yank it away before a man decides whether or not to accept it.”
    Another frowned at them. “That’s not honorable business practice.”
    Evie made note of him. She liked the sound of his values.
    “Especially not if it involves the
dinner
table!” Outrage colored that exclamation, and it evoked the biggest round of agreement yet. “You never mess with a man’s meals.”
    As though I don’t already know that
. She gave in and grinned.
Looks as though my plan to bribe them with supper wasn’t too far off the mark. Meals work in any situation
.
    “Should I take that to mean you’re accepting the offer?” She widened her eyes as though unsure and waited for the nods.
    “We aren’t fools, are we, boys?” The spokesman started off the round of verbal agreements, and in no time, they had a deal.
    “I’d be happy to make a fine supper for you this very evening, but I’m afraid your first meal will have to wait until we’re unpacked, and my stove”—she ran a loving hand along the top of the largest crate—“is in place in the café.”
    The one who’d mentioned the dinner table volunteered on the spot. “We’re more than happy to see to it, ma’am.”
    “You seemed … hesitant … when Mr. Draxley made the request.” Now was the time for Evie to establish him as theirmouthpiece. He may not be much, but with Braden ill, he’d have to do.
    “We don’t work for him,” the burliest one explained. “But we’re more than happy to take care of anything for you ladies.”
    “Anytime.” The men hurried to add their assurances.
    “Just ask and it’s done.” They played right into her hands.
    “Mr. Draxley might ask on our behalf sometimes.” Naomi spoke the words, sliding a glance at the anxious man and then looking back to the others with an almost helpless shrug. “If we can.”
    “You can do anything you want, ma’am.”
    “At the moment, we need to discuss our bargain with the other ladies so we can arrange proper introductions with all of us present.” Evie didn’t want to overlook good manners, but they needed to talk to Lacey. Now. “And then I’m going to fix something special for our first supper together!”

    It was, Jake decided, a meal he’d never forget.
    He speared what the cook tried to pass off as a green bean