Page 7 of Heart of Stone
Stone retrieved the toast and straightened, looking down at Luke and keeping his expression carefully neutral. “You’re awfully cheerful for a man who ain’t had coffee yet. I’m not so cheerful. Might be safer to remember that.”
“Will do, boss.” Luke seemed unperturbed as he turned his attention back to the coffee, remaining quiet until it was done, and he offered Stone a generously filled cup, prepared just the way he liked it. “Maybe you’ll be a little more cheerful after this.”
Stone filled his plate with buttered toast and a slice of ham, and then he took the cup. “Thanks,” he replied, moving to the table and taking the seat which after a week already felt like ‘his’. He sipped the coffee and glanced at Luke, watching as he got his own plate and took the seat across the table.
There were things about the foreman that Stone found unsettling. There was no denying that the man was a hard worker, and he knew everything about how to run a ranch as big as Copper Lake, but he seemed determined to keep Stone flustered, which, unfortunately, he seemed to find rather easy to do. Stone wasn’t used to being teased, and while he really didn’t think that Luke meant it in a hurtful way, he simply didn’t know how to respond most of the time. Especially when the way Luke’s lips curled up when he smiled was beginning to become all too distracting, which only made Stone feel more out of his depth. But he couldn’t deny that he needed Luke around, so he would have to put up with the man somehow.
He finished his coffee, then rose and went to fetch the pot from the stove to refill his cup. “More?” He raised the pot and looked at Luke.
“Might as well,” Luke replied, holding out his cup. “I might need it. Our preacher ain’t the most soul-stirrin’ of men in the pulpit.”
“Oh?” Stone poured the coffee carefully so as not to spill it over Luke’s hand and burn him. “Well, can’t say as I’ve heard many who are.”
Luke chuckled, and his eyes were warm as he gazed up at Stone. “Neither have I, but Miss Priss was always big on doin’ the right thing, and that included showin’ up at church on Sunday mornin’. If it was up to me, I’d probably stop, but somehow, I can’t bring myself to go against what I know she’d want.”
Stone put the coffee pot back on the stove, then pulled out his pocket watch, pleased to see that they had plenty of time before they needed to leave. If what Luke said was true, he’d need the second cup of coffee, too.
“Well, doin’ the right thing makes sense.” He took his seat again, stretching his legs out comfortably underneath the table. “Especially if you don’t want to give folk reason to look too closely at other parts of your life. Seems to me that a lot of time people see what they want to see.”
“That they do.” Luke nodded. “That’s what Priss, Sarah, and I counted on, as a matter of fact.”
Stone looked at Luke over the rim of his cup. It appeared that Luke had found an almost perfect situation for himself, and he seemed comfortable with himself in a way Stone envied. Luke didn’t seem to live in fear of having his secrets discovered, which was almost beyond Stone’s comprehension. He’d lived with the feeling of having to look over his shoulder for so long that he wasn’t sure that he’d ever be able to completely relax and trust anyone ever again.
“It’s lucky you got a job here, then,” he said finally, gazing down at his cup. “I wish I’d known about her. I wish I’d gotten to meet her.”
“You’d have liked her.” Luke’s voice was soft. “She’d have liked you, too, I think.”
“Really?” Stone lifted a brow, but he couldn’t deny that the thought of his aunt actually liking him was rather nice. “Not many people like me.”
Luke seemed surprised by that. “I don’t see why not. Sure, you’re on the quiet side, but you ain’t the unfriendly kind. Priss weren’t overly talkative herself. Sarah was the one who always had a word and a smile for everyone, whether she knew them or not.”
Stone shrugged. “I ain’t exactly comfortable with most folks. I’m better with animals.”
“Nothin’ wrong with that.” Luke smiled reassuringly. “It don’t mean you ain’t likable.” He paused, fixing Stone with an oddly intense look. “I like you.”
Stone felt himself blushing, which he hated. He couldn’t help it, though, not when the look in Luke’s eyes was so unsettling, making him feel as though Luke could see all his secrets. “I bet you like everyone,” he said dryly. “You’re just sociable.”
Luke laughed and shook his head. “Nah, I don’t like everyone, but I’ve been called a sociable man before. No harm in bein’ friendly, after all. Especially to folks who don’t like me. Nothin’ makes them madder.”
That made Stone chuckle, surprising even himself. “I can imagine.” He finished off his coffee, then rose with a sigh. “I suppose we should get goin’. I’ll clean up if you’ll hitch up the buggy.”
“Sure thing, boss.” Luke drained his cup, and then he pushed back his chair and stood up. “I’ll see you out front.”
Stone nodded and set about clearing the table and washing up. When he finished, he dried his hands, picked up his hat, and headed out the front door, finding that Luke was already there, the buggy hitched to a matched pair of lovely Palominos, their golden hides gleaming in the sunlight. He walked down the steps and stopped for a moment to pat the horses, then pulled himself up into the seat beside Luke. “Ready?”
“I’m ready if you are, boss,” Luke replied, nodding at him and giving him a smile that somehow seemed more than just friendly.
Stone looked away, feeling confused again. He was going to either have to get used to Luke and his ways or learn how to run the ranch on his own; neither option set well with him, and he growled silently to himself, crossing his arms over his chest as Luke steered the horses toward the road leading to town.
Luke either didn’t notice Stone’s crankiness or he wasn’t letting it bother him, because he leaned back and hummed “Buffalo Gals” quietly as they rode along. It wasn’t until they were almost to town that he spoke again, glancing over at Stone with a mischievous look.
“I reckon you’re goin’ to have to be a little sociable today. But don’t worry. I’ll introduce you around, and you can say howdy and leave the rest of the talkin’ to me, if you like.”
“That’s fine,” Stone replied, then sighed. “I suppose I’m goin’ to to have to make the effort.”
“It’s natural curiosity.” Luke gave him a sympathetic look. “It’ll wear off in time. It’s just excitin’ right now. We don’t get many new folks out here.”
“Really?” Stone was surprised. “But it’s beautiful! I’d think people would be comin’ along all the time.” He had to admit, if only to himself, that he was growing more attached to the ranch every day. “Well, I’ll try my best. Sometimes I just don’t know what to say.”