A Cook for Christmas Read online

  “I don’t know what that means, but it’s all he knows how to cook. The men around here want bacon and eggs, grits, potatoes and a good beef steak. You know how to mix up a batch of biscuits?”

  “Yes. Biscuits are one of my specialties.”

  Ginger slapped the front of her thighs. “I’m sure glad to hear that. I’ll spread the word that we’re gonna have a real cook. The miners will line up for that kind of food.”

  They each ordered a bowl of fried rice. While they waited Liliana wondered if the kitchen had everything, she needed to cook breakfast on Monday.

  She mentioned it to Barkley.

  “I wouldn’t worry. I can have a quick word with Jordan before we leave. I’m sure he’ll be only too happy to get the supplies you need.”

  “Barkley, I’m glad you’re interested in my new job, but I’m not sure you should be the one to talk to him about it. He might be offended by my fiancé trying to tell him what to do. Perhaps I should slip back to the kitchen and introduce myself? I can mention the supplies then.”

  Barkley nodded and Liliana stood. She made her way toward the kitchen. As she pushed open the door, Ginger stood nearby.

  “I thought I would introduce myself to Mr. Peterson and see if there are enough supplies. I’d like to begin cooking at the start of the week.”

  Ginger laughed and motioned for Liliana to follow.

  Liliana walked behind the woman, her head turning from side to side, trying to see everything the kitchen had to offer. As far as she could tell, everything was brand new. She could hardly wait to get started cooking.

  Ginger led her to a large pantry, completely stocked with flour, sugar, baking powder, pots, pans and more.

  “We have our own hen house, so there are plenty of eggs. We can get beef steaks ordered from the local ranchers.”

  “This is all so wonderful. I want to start right now.”

  Ginger cocked her head sideways. “Hmm, if I had me a handsome man like that one out front, the last place I’d be is in the kitchen, especially one who obviously adores you.”

  Liliana focused on Ginger. “What do you mean?”

  “I’ve known Barkley a while now. He’s never given me a second glance. But he can’t seem to keep his eyes off of you.”

  Heat flushed Liliana’s cheeks. “Do you know about him putting an ad out for a mail order bride?”

  Ginger nodded with a frown. “Yes. Can’t keep something like that secret in this town for long. You sure are lucky to have gotten a man like Barkley. He isn’t rich but he’s always kind and polite. I can tell he’s crazy about you.”

  “Barkley just met me yesterday. We have corresponded, but he barely knows me.”

  “Ever heard of love at first sight? If I know anything at all, I know that man is already in love with you.”

  Liliana reached over and took Ginger’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “I hope you’re right.”

  “What about you? Do you love him?”

  “I’m very attracted to him and he’s already been very kind. But I’m not sure about love.”

  “It’ll come. When a man really loves a woman, it won’t take long for her to fall head over heels.”

  Liliana chuckled to herself thinking. Oh, I’ve already done that.

  Ginger rushed away to wait on a group of miners. Liliana stood alone thinking.

  That was a silly conversation. I’ve come here to basically be a house maid for Barkley and for now, a cook in the Eating House. I shouldn’t have been talking to Ginger about fanciful things like love.

  ***

  Barkley stood and pulled out the chair for Liliana when she returned. “Did you meet Jordan?”

  “No, but Ginger showed me around. There are plenty of supplies for me to use Monday. I can discuss a new menu with Mr. Peterson in the next few days.”

  Barkley wanted to assure her that whatever she wanted would be fine, but he didn’t want her to have an inkling that he’d have anything to do with the Eating House. He did plan to sit down in the evening and write a long letter to Mr. Jordan Peterson and explain to him how Miss Liliana Riggs was to have his full cooperation in all aspects.

  Ginger brought bowls of rice which Liliana could barely eat. After a few bites, she pushed the bowl away.

  “Barkley. I realize we have only corresponded a few times. There are several things I feel I need to know about you.”

  Barkley gratefully set down his spoon. He, too, could hardly wait for Liliana to start doing the cooking here. He hoped she was as good as she indicated in her letters. “Feel free to ask anything you like. I’ll do my best to answer.”

  Liliana slipped the folded note from her pocket and pressed it onto the table in front of him. Barkley leaned forward and read. The first few questions made sense, but when he reached number seven, his heart froze. How much money do you have? Here it was again. The true indication that she was more interested in money than him.

  “Why do you need to know how much money I have? I’m sure I mentioned in my letters that I could provide for you. Are you questioning this?” His voice level rose.

  Liliana eyed him in surprise. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “No, Barkley. But as your wife, I need to know.”

  “Why?”

  “There are things women need. I wouldn’t want to make any purchases that might cause you financial difficulties.”

  “Is your desire for material things so great? I assumed you would be content with a plain, simplistic life. If you wanted the finery of Boston, you should have stayed in the east.”

  CHAPTER 5

  Barkley’s tone made Liliana cringe. Her brow rose in astonishment. “I’m sorry, Barkley. I don’t see why my question is such a problem. I believe a woman needs to know what she’s getting into financially. And if you remember, I’m from Maine, not Boston. I lived in a small fishing town in a boarding house.”

  “And if I tell you I’m as poor as a church mouse, will you run back to the rich men of Maine?”

  Liliana watched Barkley’s fist pound the table. She wondered if the table had not been available, would he have struck her? When his second fist pounded down, she stood. The chair beneath her tumbled. She tried to step back, but toppled over the chair’s legs and found herself laying over the chair with legs askew.

  From the ground she could only moan. I cannot believe I am once more sprawled on the floor in front of this man. When her eyes met his, she hoped to see his filled with merriment, but instead they were as cold as ice.

  He could at least ask if I’m hurt of not, no matter how mad he is.

  She rolled over, reached her hand up and placed it flat on the table to pull herself into a standing position. Barkley didn’t offer any assistance.

  Liliana rearranged her skirt, pushed an errant strand of hair off her face and stood with arms akimbo, glaring at him.

  “Mr. Maynard, I came to Sweet Water with every intention of marrying you and being a good wife regardless of your financial standings. If you were poor, I was willing to accept that. If you were rich, then so be it. But I refuse to live with a man I’m afraid of. For now, I will consider our engagement ended.” She turned abruptly, glad there was nothing more to stumble over, and stomped toward the front entrance.

  Liliana flung the Eating House door open, stepped out onto the boardwalk and hurried toward the Boarding House. She’d faced two frightful men today. She just wanted to lock herself in her small room and cry.

  I’m so glad I didn’t agree to marry Barkley when I first arrived. I haven’t even known him for a full twenty-four hours and I’ve already discovered he isn’t the man for me.

  Her shoulders slumped. Her dreams of marriage were crushed, even if it was only going to be a marriage of convenience. The only good thing was that at least she still had the job at the Eating House.

  It may not be my own Eating House, but it’s a job. Now that I’m not going to marry, I will have to ask Ma Baker how much the boarding house costs. I can’t have Barkley paying for my room
.

  ***

  Barkley ran his fingers through his hair and watched as Liliana stormed out of the Eating House. Her reaction cooled his own anger.

  Lord, what have I done? He replayed the last few minutes over in his mind and realized what a fool he had been. Yes, it bothered him that Liliana asked about his money, but he could also see the sense in her question. She shouldn’t be expected to live in the dark about her future husband’s financial situation. Still, he wasn’t ready to reveal just how much money he had.

  Is it too much to ask that she learn to love me first, before she finds out about my wealth? His shoulders dropped. She sure can’t fall in love with me if I treat her as I just did.

  “Umm, can I get you anything?”

  Barkley looked up. Ginger stood next to the table.

  He shook his head. “No.”

  “Are you okay? Where is Liliana?”

  “Things aren’t off to a good start. I just accused her of being a money-hungry woman.”

  Ginger’s eyes grew round.

  “She isn’t really. It’s just that she wanted to know how much money I have and I took offense at her asking.”

  Ginger placed a hand on her hip. “Seems to me, if she’s gonna be your wife, she has the right to ask, don’t you think? I sure wouldn’t marry anyone if I didn’t know how much money he had.”

  For such a young woman, she was very wise. Barkley nodded. “She had the right to ask. I’ll have to make it up to her.” He stood, tossed some money on the table and left the Eating House.

  Once on the street, Barkley wondered if he should go to the Boarding House and try talking to her.

  Better let it rest for now. It’s getting late. I’ll see her tomorrow. He turned back toward the Eating House. He had a snug home above the Eating House, a place he hoped to bring Liliana to live someday. But, until they were married, he didn’t want anyone to know he lived there and was the owner of the Eating House and owned the rooms above. He would have to wait ’til it was dark to slip up the back stairwell.

  She wants to know where I live. Where we’ll live. I guess I’ll have to take her out to the mine and show her around. His soul dreaded returning to the claim and to his father. If Liliana wanted to know what kind of life she would have with him, he would take her to the claim, show her around and promise once they were married, he would provide something better.

  I should have been better prepared, but I thought I was just getting a house maid, a helper. Not someone like Liliana who makes me want to take care of her, protect her, love her. Barkley could barely believe his own thoughts. The images of the mining shanty he and his father shared floated through his mind.

  She may say she can live with a poor man, but once she sees the shanty and meets Pa, that will change. He laughed bitterly and remembered his own mother’s face as she lay on the floor of the shanty, gasping her last words with her last breath.

  “Don’t ever bring a wife here, son. This kind of life will kill any love she has for you. Don’t let the love of money replace true love. Remember what the Bible says. The love of money is the root of all evil.”

  He stopped in the middle of the road and gazed up at the sky.

  I haven’t allowed gold to become my love. Not like Pa has. But will Liliana be able to love me once she finds out about the gold I already own, or will she too, succumb to its lure?

  Barkley walked to the livery, got his horse and trotted out of town. He would take a ride until it grew dark. His shoulders slumped as he rode by the mercantile, remembering the day he’d decided to place the mail order ad. So far it wasn’t turning out to be one of his better ideas. He had hoped to be married and settled in above the Eating House by Christmas. Now that seemed like a fairytale and Barkley had given up on fairy tales a long time ago.

  CHAPTER 6

  Liliana’s teeth chattered as she tried to snuggle further down on the hard bed, but the thin quilt thrown over her was not warm enough to keep out the chill.

  Cold air seeped in through the windows and cracks in the walls of the old Boarding House. This was already her second morning in the Boarding House and both had proven to be colder than she could ever have imagined.

  I’ll have to purchase some thermal undergarments, or I might actually freeze to death once winter really sets in.

  Finally, the need for some private relief outweighed the desire to stay warm. She sat up on the bed, reached for her robe and slipped her shoes on. Traipsing to the outhouse behind the Boarding House was not something she looked forward to, but necessity demanded it.

  Ten minutes later, she stepped back into her room, rushed to the bedside, grabbed the thin quilt and wrapped it around herself. For several minutes she stood waiting for the shivering to stop.

  Standing here shivering won’t make me warm. I’ve got to move. It’s time to begin working. Since Barkley didn’t come talk to me all day Sunday, he must consider our engagement over, but, Lord, I still think I ought to marry him. I came all this way… I don’t know why he got so upset when I asked him about money, unless its because he’s so poor that he was too embarrassed to tell me. But I can’t even talk with him about it if he refuses to see me.

  Liliana made up the bed with the quilt and then slipped on her warmest skirt and white button shirt. When she was ready, she sat and read her Bible. It was a habit she’d formed living with her grandmother. They always had a morning devotional time together. Her heart ached to have her grandmother here now. She needed someone to talk to about Barkley. Her grandmother’s words of advice filled her memory.

  “Lili, child… if you have no one else to talk to, you can always talk to God. He’s a fine listener.”

  Liliana bowed and lifted her worries to God. She prayed until she felt a sense of peace flowing through her. Then she tucked the Bible under her pillow and made her way down the stairs. She didn’t stop long enough to speak to any of the other guests who were staying at the Boarding House. She wanted to get started working as soon as possible, so she could pay her own way.

  I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do about Barkley. He paid for me to come to Sweet Water. I believe I’m still obligated to marry him, but I’m not sure he wants to marry me now. Please help me, Lord, to know what to do.

  Barkley’s image flitted through her mind and her head drooped. He was so handsome which would have made living with him and only being a house maid, difficult. However, she still wanted to pursue their relationship and try to work things out. Could she trust him though? His anger frightened her and he refused to tell her how much money he had. His refusal niggled at her good sense.

  Lord, something is wrong. Barkley seems like a fine man. I’m not sure why he got so upset when I asked him about money, but perhaps he has a good reason. Should I marry him without some indication as to what kind of life he can provide for me? Or should I put my trust in You, Lord, to be the provider for both of us?

  A calmness passed over her and her soul was filled with peace.

  Yes, that must be it. This is a test to see if I will trust God to provide for me.

  As she stepped outside, she was determined to find Barkley and make things right. Perhaps they could start all over again. This time, she would not question him about…Umph! All thoughts about starting over again left her as she smashed into a man’s chest and toppled backwards.

  ***

  “Good morning, Liliana.” Barkley tried not to bust out laughing, but seeing Liliana, once again sitting on the ground, seemed just too funny.

  “Good morning, Barkley. Can you please give me your hand? The ground is rather cold.”

  Barkley took her gloved hand in his weather-beaten leathery hand and gently pulled her to her feet. He enjoyed watching a pink hue rosy her cheeks. The cold air was already nipping at her nose and causing the tip to turn red.

  “I want you to know, I am not usually so clumsy. In fact, I don’t think I’ve fallen down this many time in my whole life. I would love to blame the snow, or the slick grou
nd, but since there are neither of those here, I can’t put the blame on them.”

  Barkley stepped closer. “What would you say the cause is then?”

  Liliana’s blue eyes gazed at him.

  “You.” Her voice was low.

  “Me? I am the cause? I haven’t touched you.” He sounded incredulous.

  “I know. For some reason, whenever I am near you, I get so flustered and turned around. I can’t seem to keep from stumbling over my own two feet or smashing into you.” A pink hue flushed her face.

  He smiled at her. “Liliana, I came to walk you to the Eating House. Even if you don’t wish to marry me, I promised to protect you. You assured me you would not venture out alone.”

  “Yes, but I didn’t expect you to keep your promise after the way I behaved. It was wrong of me to question you, Barkley. I know God brought me here to marry you. I trust Him; therefore, I trust you. If you can forgive me, I would still like to consider us engaged.”

  Barkley could barely contain his joy. No matter how many times he called himself a fool for bringing Liliana to Sweet Water just to be a housemaid and realizing how wrong it was, he couldn’t quite accept the idea of not marrying her. She was a beautiful woman and he wanted her as his wife.

  “You did nothing that needs forgiving, while I, on the other hand, must ask you to forgive me. My behavior was boorish and my anger uncalled for. I assure you; I am not usually prone to anger. I have never, and will never, raise a hand to a woman; especially my wife.”

  “Let us say we both forgive each other.” Liliana smiled at him.

  “Agreed!”

  “So, we are still engaged?” Her voice was barely audible.

  Barkley pulled her into a gentle hug and placed a kiss on her forehead. “I will be the luckiest man in Sweet Water once we are married.”

  Liliana’s eyes shot open wide. This was not what she expected. He’d written that he only wanted a helper in his home, but his kiss made her wonder… and begin to hope.

  CHAPTER 7