Capturing the Cook, Page 5

  “If you’re not going to eat that,” William pointed out, “I will.”

  Ashleigh shrugged and pushed her plate over to William.

  Gilbert frowned.

  “Ashleigh, please—what has gotten into you?” Gilbert thought Ashleigh hadn’t been herself since the attack. He worried that she had been hurt more than she’d let on. If that were the case, he wanted to be able to help her.

  “I’ve just been thinking how fortunate I was that Alexander was there to save me from those masked men,” Ashleigh explained. When she said his name, her lips curled up into a smile.

  Gilbert sighed. He knew what that meant. He was happy that his cousin had a crush—he couldn’t remember her pining for any young men back in Stillwater—but he also didn’t want her to get hurt. The Steepletons only planned to be in Colorado for a short period of time. Soon, they’d be on their way to California, and Ashleigh would have to forget about her romantic ideas.

  Ashleigh wondered why Gilbert had such a concerned expression on his face. “What about you, how are all of you doing?” She didn’t know much about the mines in Creede, but she knew the hours were long and the work was grueling.

  “It’s not so bad once you get used to it,” William explained, wiping his mouth with a linen napkin.

  “I don’t think I’m used to it yet,” Philip admitted.

  “Fortunately, the pay is good. Within a few weeks, we should be on our way to California,” Gilbert said gently.

  Ashleigh felt her pulse increase as she thought about leaving Creede and never seeing Alexander again. “A few weeks? I thought we had more time here than that.”

  William frowned. “The longer we wait, the more dangerous the weather will get. If we don’t leave soon, we’ll be stuck in Creede until spring.”

  Ashleigh wanted to tell her cousins that staying in Creede might not be such a bad thing, but instead she bit her lip. She knew they wouldn’t understand the connection she and Alexander shared. Just then, an idea occurred to her.

  “I see. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to bed early this evening. Good night,” Ashleigh said, pushing back her chair and standing up suddenly.

  Gilbert looked at her with a questioning look in his eyes, but Ashleigh smiled simply and went upstairs.

  “Did either of you think Ashleigh was acting strangely?” Philip asked between bites.

  Gilbert nodded. “I’m a little worried. She hasn’t said anything, but I’m afraid she’s developing feelings for the cook at Graham’s Grub.”

  “That would be foolish. We’ll be gone soon, and I don’t expect we’ll have a reason to return to Creede.” William laughed.

  Gilbert was uneasy. “I’m worried Ashleigh’s not going to want to leave.”

  “Then we can’t allow her to see him,” William said. “We have to go to California. It’s what Father would have wanted.”

  “I agree with you. But Ashleigh loves working. She’s not going to give up her job at Graham’s Grub,” Gilbert pointed out.

  Philip thought for a moment. “We’ll need to keep a close eye on her then. Make sure they’re not talking before or after work. And absolutely no seeing each other outside of the restaurant.”

  “That sounds like a good plan.” William nodded his approval.

  Gilbert felt a rush of relief. It was rare that the Steepleton triplets agreed on anything. It was nice not to argue, especially where Ashleigh was concerned. They all wanted what was best for their cousin, and what was best for her was steering clear of Alexander Pierce.

  Meanwhile, upstairs, Ashleigh wrote in sloping cursive strokes. She didn’t know how to explain how she felt about Alexander, so she didn’t even try. She wanted to tell him about her cousin’s plan to move to California, but she also found herself telling him all about her life back in Oklahoma and her parents’ illness. She wrote until her hand felt cramped and stiff.

  Ashleigh sat back and reviewed the letter. Was she sharing too much personal information with a stranger? She couldn’t explain it, but something about Alexander’s easy demeanor and kind gaze made her feel like she could talk to him for hours.

  After a few moments, Ashleigh signed and sealed her letter for Alexander. She decided to slip it into his jacket pocket at work the following day. With a quick prayer that he wouldn’t think she was being too forward, she set it on the dresser, ready to take it with her in the morning.

  Ashleigh yawned, realizing how exhausted she was from work and her excitement over spending time with Alexander. She blew out the candle that lit her room and prepared for bed. As she drifted off to sleep, she imagined herself and Alexander on a picnic, talking and laughing as they broke bread together. Ashleigh knew it was a dream that would never come true, but that didn’t make her want it any less.

  Ashleigh woke up feeling invigorated and ready to tackle whatever was in store for her. She washed her face and got dressed, selecting one of her favorite skirt and blouse combinations. She slipped the letter she had written the evening before into a pocket that was sewn into the apron she wore each day to work.

  Downstairs, the boardinghouse was a flurry of activity as the guests prepared for the day to begin. William, Gilbert, and Philip had saved a place for her at their usual table. ”Good morning!” Ashleigh sat down and greeted her cousins.

  “Good morning, Ashleigh,” Gilbert replied.

  William grunted as he practically inhaled his sausages, and Philip tipped his hat to her.

  “It’s my turn to walk you to work today,” Philip said once he’d finished chewing his eggs.

  “Thank you all for helping me by walking me to and from work,” Ashleigh told her cousins. “I’m so grateful that you’re all here. Ever since those men tried to attack me, I’ve been scared to walk on my own.”

  “That’s what we’re here for!” Gilbert squeezed his cousin’s shoulder.

  “After work,” Ashleigh continued, “You may not need to walk with me. Yesterday, the head chef, Alexander Pierce, walked me home.”

  William paused with his fork in mid-air and frowned at Gilbert, who made a face at Philip.

  “We’d prefer it was one of us who walked you home, Ashleigh,” Philip explained. “It’s easier if we keep it in the family.”

  Ashleigh nodded. “I understand.” She felt a twinge of disappointment. She and Alexander hardly ever got to speak with one another at work. He was always so busy and had so many people around him, while she was still new and learning the ways of the kitchen.

  Philip looked at the clock hanging in the boardinghouse dining area. ”I suppose we should leave now so I have enough time to get to the mine.”

  Ashleigh finished eating her few bites of breakfast and nodded. She stood up, wiping her mouth with her linen napkin and placing it on the table. With a wave goodbye to her other cousins and Becky, Ashleigh followed Philip out the door.

  On their walk, Ashleigh thought about the letter that was tucked into her apron pocket, imagining Alexander’s reaction when he opened it. Would he be happy? Irritated? She wondered if he would think she was strange for sending him such a personal letter.

  “Are you paying attention to anything I’m saying?” Philip’s words pulled Ashleigh out of her distraction.

  “I’m sorry!” Ashleigh tried to focus on what Philip was saying.

  “I asked you what it’s like to work in the kitchen. Is the restaurant busy?” Philip asked again.

  “Oh, I love it!” Ashleigh clapped her hands together. “There’s always something to be done; we never have a dull or idle moment! The only problem is . . .”

  Philip’s ears stood at attention. “What’s the problem?”

  Ashleigh sighed. “I feel guilty that we’ll be moving in a few weeks. They’ll have to find a new worker. Everyone’s been so nice to me.”

  The expression on Ashleigh’s face made Philip think that there was a specific person who Ashleigh was thinking of. He knew they needed to keep her away from distractions.

  Graham’s Gru
b loomed closer as they continued to walk. The morning air was chilly and a bit damp from the rain of the previous evening. As they neared the restaurant, Ashleigh impulsively threw her arms around her cousin.

  Philip blushed, smiling bashfully. “What was that for?’

  “I’m just so thankful to have you in my life,” Ashleigh declared. “Thank you for walking me. I can take it from here.”

  Philip looked around Main Street. The people who were walking around seemed to be elderly or young mothers with small children. There didn’t seem to be much of a risk to Ashleigh. Still, he didn’t want to take any chances. He shook his head. “I’ll stay here until you’re inside the restaurant.”

  Ashleigh sighed. She hated feeling weak and helpless. She knew her cousins were trying to keep her safe, but it could get frustrating. “Thank you, Philip,” she said dutifully as she walked into the restaurant.

  Philip waited until Ashleigh had disappeared inside Graham’s Grub. He stayed for a few more minutes, surveying the area around the restaurant and wondering what kind of men had attacked his cousin earlier that week. Philip was usually a peacemaker but thinking about what those men had done made him furious. He knew he should be happy that Ashleigh hadn’t been hurt, but he still wished he knew who the men were so they could be brought to justice.

  After a few minutes, Philip turned around and walked back toward the boardinghouse. He and his brothers would leave together to put in a day’s work in the mines. Although he wasn’t used to the filthy conditions or the demanding work, he felt a sense of accomplishment when he returned to the boardinghouse each evening after a full day of labor. He felt his body growing stronger each day.

  Philip sighed as he walked along in the crisp, cool air. Part of what made the work in the mines tolerable was knowing it was temporary. He and his brothers would only have to work there for a few more weeks, just long enough to earn enough money to go to California. Despite his excitement for California, Philip couldn’t shake a nagging sense of unease. He knew it had to do with Ashleigh, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. He hoped she and Alexander spent the day in completely separate areas of the restaurant. He didn’t want anything to jeopardize their plans to go west.

  Inside Graham’s Grub, Lydia Graham put a hand on Ashleigh’s shoulder, and Ashleigh jumped, startled.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you, dear!” Lydia exclaimed.

  “It’s no problem, Mrs. Graham.” Ashleigh blushed. She had been daydreaming about Alexander in a fancy suit, the kind her father had worn on his wedding day. Her mother had told her all about how they both had looked on the day they’d married. She wondered if she’d ever get to have that experience herself.

  “We just got several crates of freshly picked apples. Will you work with Alexander on them? He’s preparing a special dessert for dinner and needs some help because of how many apples there are!” Lydia explained.

  Ashleigh felt her heart beat faster as she thought about working closely with Alexander. “Of course!”

  “Wonderful, thank you, dear,” Lydia said distractedly as she paused to stir a nearby pot. “He’ll tell you where everything is!”

  Ashleigh tried to walk calmly over to where Alexander was working. “Good morning,” she said, smiling brightly.

  Alexander grinned. “Good morning, Ashleigh. I hear you’ll be helping me with my apple torte dessert?”

  “That’s right.” Ashleigh swallowed. She could hardly breathe, standing so close to Alexander. She thought about her letter, still safely tucked into her pocket, and wondered when she would have a chance to give it to him.

  Alexander gestured at a bowl nearby. “I’ll have you start by peeling the apples and putting them in this bowl when they’re finished. While you’re doing that, I’ll start on the dough.”

  Ashleigh nodded and found a peeler. She set to work immediately. “What exactly are we making?”

  “You shared one of your family recipes; now it’s time for me to share one of mine. It’s an apple torte. We’ll serve it with some ice cream,” Alexander said.

  “That sounds delicious!” Ashleigh exclaimed. “Too bad I’m not a paying customer at this restaurant.”

  Alexander winked and lowered his voice. “Luckily, the chef of this restaurant is quite fond of you. There’ll be a piece waiting for you when you finish your shift.”

  Ashleigh felt her face flushing. Was Alexander really fond of her? She hoped he wasn’t teasing, but she didn’t know how she could be certain. “That would be wonderful.”

  Alexander kneaded a thick ball of dough until it was flat. Ashleigh continued to peel apples, and together they built a steady rhythm that made the morning pass quickly. After some time, Alexander spoke. “How are you and your family liking Creede so far?”

  Ashleigh thought about the question. “I really enjoy it here. I know there are dangers, but everyone I’ve personally met so far—unless you count the men in the masks—have been truly kind and genuine. My cousins are working in the mines, though, so they might answer the question differently,” she said truthfully.

  Alexander smiled. “Yes, I can imagine the mines are an entirely different story. I had a brother who worked in the mines . . .” Alexander trailed off, lost in thought.

  “What does he do now?” Ashleigh asked. She enjoyed their conversation and didn’t want it to end. She placed a peeled apple in the bowl and picked up the next one.

  Alexander’s face darkened. “He died in an accident.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Ashleigh whispered, horrified. She’d had no idea that Alexander had lost his brother. “Was he older or younger than you?”

  “He was older,” Alexander said shortly. “He always wanted to be a chef, but he had to work in the mines to support my mother and me after our father passed. When he died, I decided I wanted to be a chef in his honor.”

  Ashleigh felt tears welling in her eyes. Alexander had experienced uncommon loss just as she had. Although she didn’t have siblings of her own, she knew she’d be in terrible shape if anything ever happened to one of her cousins. Impulsively, she put a hand on top of Alexander’s.

  Alexander stopped what he was doing and stared at her, his expression unreadable. Ashleigh took her hand back, scared that she’d crossed a line. He turned back to his dough, and Ashleigh returned to peeling apples.

  Ashleigh wanted to tell him about her own losses, but she couldn’t find the words. She had explained everything in her letter, and he could read her story for himself.

  Once Ashleigh had peeled all of the apples, she was sure Alexander would send her back to work in her usual part of the kitchen. She didn’t want to go back. It was fun and exciting to work alongside Alexander. She admired the way he flew through various tasks. Chopping, slicing, and dicing were a breeze for his deft hands. She reluctantly showed him the bowl of peeled apples. “I’m all done.”

  Alexander nodded. “Excellent. Now you can help me with the dough.”

  Ashleigh’s eyes widened. Alexander smiled at her, snapping back into the carefree attitude he’d had with her earlier, before she’d asked about his late brother.

  Most of the other workers were out in the restaurant, serving lunch, or outside eating lunch themselves. Ashleigh wasn’t hungry at all. She assumed she’d have plenty of time to eat later.

  Alexander pointed at the dough and positioned himself behind Ashleigh. “It’s your turn.”

  Ashleigh spun around and looked at him, puzzled. “For what?”

  “You’re going to spin the dough. It’s a special trick,” Alexander instructed.

  “Excuse me?” Ashleigh was worried she was going to do something wrong.

  “Like this.” Alexander stepped closer to Ashleigh, his body pressing against hers. He took her hands in his, gently guiding them as they sculpted the dough. Ashleigh felt overwhelmed by the sensations that poured through her body as Alexander touched her. She felt as if every part of her came alive under his touch.

  Alex
ander showed her the technique his family used, and she followed his instructions. Soon, he helped her scoop some of the peeled apples along with sugar, flour, and cinnamon into the crust they’d formed.

  “I wish I could taste it right now!”

  “There are a lot of things I wish I could do right now,” Alexander whispered into her ear.

  A wave of feeling rippled through Ashleigh’s body. As an unmarried woman, she’d never been this close to a man’s body before, and she could hardly keep from moaning in intoxicated pleasure. She longed to feel his lips on hers or his strong hands in unmentionable places.

  Just then, Mr. Graham walked into the kitchen, carrying a crate. “Alexander, where should I put this? It’s part of the onion shipment.”

  Alexander stepped away from Ashleigh and straightened his posture before he responded. “Please put them in the storeroom. Thank you, Mr. Graham.”

  Mr. Graham rushed away.

  Ashleigh let out a sigh of relief. “I don’t want to get you in trouble,” she whispered.

  “That’s a given,” Alexander whispered back with a little wink.

  In no time at all, Mr. Graham was back in the kitchen, and Ashleigh and Alexander maintained a respectful distance from each other as they continued to prepare the torte. She couldn’t wait to try it later, but even more, she couldn’t wait until the next time she was alone with Alexander.

  As the afternoon passed by in a blur, Ashleigh tried to ignore a nagging doubt that kept interrupting her giddy thoughts. The idea of moving to California and never seeing Alexander again seemed unbearable yet inevitable. Ashleigh tried to ignore her sadness and fears and focus on Alexander and the dish they were preparing. One day at a time, her mother used to say. And, Ashleigh thought to herself, One slice of apple torte at a time, too.

  Chapter Five

  Alexander usually walked everywhere he needed to go, except for weekly church services. That evening, however, he decided to take his horse and wagon for a ride.

  His head had been reeling ever since he’d read the letter that Ashleigh had slipped into his coat pocket. She had been through tragedy, losing her parents to illness the same way he had lost his brother to an accident. But she was still determined to live her life to the fullest and find the joy in living. He needed to be with her. He knew without a doubt that Ashleigh would make him be the best man he could possibly be.