Cinderella And The Cowboy. Judy Christenberry

      “No need,” he said with a shrug. “It was my pleasure.”

      Pleasure, indeed.

      Once Jenny had eaten and fallen asleep, Jack suggested that Brady show his mom the puppies in the barn. She hesitated, then agreed once Brady had told her how much he missed her when she was gone.

      As soon as they left, Jack figured he had a half hour to get things in place. He started with Brady’s purchases, removing tags and putting things in the dresser and closet. Then he went to Elizabeth’s room. The new underwear and clothes filled three drawers, and her closet took all the dresses on hangers and the shoes and high heels in neatly stacked boxes.

      He had fifteen minutes left to fill Jenny’s room. After putting away her shoes and coats he set up the baby monitor and mounded disposable diapers beside the bed. Then he ran downstairs and put the bed sheets and clothes in the wash as the saleslady had suggested.

      Grabbing his tool set on the way back up, he started setting up the crib. That’s where Elizabeth and Brady found him when they came in.

      “What did my grandpa get me from town, Jack?” Brady whispered.

      Jack replied in a matching tone. “It’s hanging in the closet.”

      Elizabeth followed Brady as he bolted to his room.

      She was back in a few minutes, a scowl on her face.

      “Why did you buy him a sport coat and dress slacks?” She lowered her voice the moment she remembered her sleeping baby.

      “Tom wanted Brady to be able to go to church with him.”

      “But I don’t think that was necessary.”

      Jack merely shrugged his shoulders and went back to the crib setup.

      “What else did you buy?” Elizabeth mused aloud as she began to look around the room. She was fuming. Here she thought she’d managed to pull one over on Jack, and instead he’d been the sly fox. But when she noticed the baby monitor on the dresser, she couldn’t stop the smile.

      Jack must have seen her face soften because he said, “I thought you might enjoy the diapers even more.”

      “You bought diapers?”

      He nodded to the bedside and the closet.

      She found two boxes of larger-size ones in the closest. On the trip she’d used disposable diapers but they were about to run out. Without cash she figured she’d have to resort to cotton ones again. But not now.

      Thanks to Tom. And Jack.

      She turned to him and said thanks.

      He grinned at her. “Glad to hear that I did something good.”

      “I didn’t mean you—” Chastised, she hung her head. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t very nice about shopping today, but you were good to me.”

      “Um, don’t praise me too much,” he muttered.

      “Why not? You bought some things that Jenny needs.”

      “I hope so.” After a minute he said, “You’d better go put the wash in the dryer.”

      “What wash?”

      “Jenny’s sheets and blankets.” He hesitated, then added, “And a few other things.”

      She didn’t bother asking for an explanation. Running down the stairs, she went to the laundry room to see what was going on. When she opened the washing machine, she found a barrelful of outfits, blankets, sheets. She put all the laundry into the dryer and went back upstairs.

      “You did an interesting job of shopping, didn’t you?”

      He looked up at her standing in the doorway. “Yeah, the saleslady was really good.”

      “Yes, I see she really earned her commission. Though I’m not sure Jenny will be little long enough to wear all of this.”

      “Tom wanted the best.”

      “Yes, I guess so.”

      After a moment she asked, “Did you put my dress in my room?”

      “Um, yeah, I did, but could you help me with this last piece? I need another pair of hands to finish this crib.”

      She knelt down beside him and held the bar sides while he worked them into the ends. This close to him, she noticed his muscular forearms and strong hands. Against her better judgment she let her eyes travel up his arms to his neck and face. Was he wearing cologne on his neck, or was that woodsy scent his own? It seemed to suit him. She could easily picture him out on his horse, swinging his Stetson as he rounded up cattle.

      He turned to her then, and she was struck by the blueness of his eyes. Was this the first time she noticed their color? A blue so unlike her own, more like the sky on a clear Oklahoma day.

      “Okay, now we have to stand the crib up.”

      His voice broke into her daydream, and she hurried to her feet to follow his order.

      When they had the crib upright, Jack pushed it and watched it rock gently. “Another suggestion from the saleslady.”

      She nodded in approval. “That’s nice, Jack. Thank you.”

      “You’re welcome, Elizabeth.”

      Their eyes lingered on each other a little too long, and she suddenly felt uncomfortable. “I…I’m going to check on my dress,” she said as she went to the door.

      “Uh, Elizabeth, you might… Don’t be mad at me, okay?”

      She stopped. “Why do you think—” Standing akimbo, she assumed a menacing tone. “Jack Crawford, what did you do?”

      He shrugged. “It’s just a few extra things.”

      She ran for her room.

      Jack went downstairs, as if in search of cover.

      Brady caught up to him after coming out of Tom’s room. “Thank you, Jack.”

      “For what, Brady?”

      “Grandpa said you picked out all those clothes for me.”

      “Now you have extra things so your mom won’t have to do so much laundry.” He hunkered low so that his eyes were level with the boy. “Do me a favor, Brady, and let’s not tell your mom just yet.”

      That’s when they heard Elizabeth scream.

      CHAPTER THREE

      JACK didn’t move fast enough. Before he could exit the kitchen, Elizabeth appeared in front of him, enraged.

      “Jack, how could you do this! I don’t need all those clothes! And six dresses! That’s ridiculous!”

      He affected a calmness he didn’t feel. “Now, Elizabeth, you don’t know how many dresses you’ll need here. Tom is well liked.”

      “I don’t care how well liked he is. That’s not the point. You tricked me. And made a fool of me.” Her eyes flashed fire. “I don’t appreciate that.”

      He speared her with a look. “Like you weren’t planning to trick me?”

      “Hey, y’all. What’s all the yelling about?” Tom asked as he came into the kitchen.

      Jack read the expression on Elizabeth’s face and knew she didn’t want Tom to know what she’d tried to do. Because he feared it would hurt Tom, he went along.

      “Sorry, Tom. Elizabeth felt like I spent too much on her and the kids, that’s all.”

      “But you told me what you spent. I didn’t feel it was excessive,” Tom said calmly.

      “But, Tom, I couldn’t possibly need six dresses.”

      “That’s