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girls spilled inside, followed by Gavin, Stubs, and Jess Chamberlain. Sabrina carried the bucket of eggs to her mother as the two ranch hands sat down at the table.
    Gavin crossed to the stove and placed his hand on Dru’s shoulder. “How are you feeling?”
    “Much better this morning.” She smiled at him. “I always feel better when we’re here.”
    Gavin’s fingers squeezed her shoulder before he turned and reached for the dishes on the shelf to the right of the stove. Before he could ask for help, Sabrina and Petula joined him, and he handed the plates to the two girls.
    Emily felt uncomfortable, sitting idle while Dru cracked the eggs over another hot skillet and her daughters set the table. She knew what Gavin must think of her. She wanted to explain that she’d asked if she could help and had been turned down, but she feared doing so would only make her look worse in his eyes.
    Thankfully it wasn’t long before everyone was seated around the big table, their heads bowed as Dru blessed the food. “And thank you, Father, for bringing Miss Harris to stay with us. We ask you to bless her work and make her feel at home with our family. Amen.”
    Emily’s heart plummeted in response to the prayer. What if she failed as a teacher and governess? What if Gavin Blake was right about her?
    As if reading her mind, Dru addressed her from across the table. “After the men are out from underfoot, I’ll show you the school primers I bought for the girls. Brina reads well and is very good with her numbers, but Pet’s only started to learn her ABCs.”
    “I’d like to see the primers.” Emily glanced at the girls. “I brought some books with me too. Some of them were my nieces’ favorites when they were your age.”
    Dru said, “That’s wonderful. Isn’t it, girls?”
    Sabrina and Petula nodded.
    Emily returned her gaze to Dru. “Shall I give them their first lessons today?”
    “I think we should wait a day or two. After the boys leave with the herd will be soon enough. In the meantime, you and the girls can get better acquainted.”
    Conversation died as everyone turned their attention to breakfast. As she ate, Emily surreptitiously studied the others at the table.
    Jess Chamberlain looked to be about her age. Long and lanky, he was what people called a beanpole. He never looked up from his plate. Unless she missed her guess, Jess was shy around females.
    Stubs Martin, on the other hand, had winked at her twice since sitting down at the table. Though not a tall man, he was built like a rock. She supposed he was close to fifty but knew his grizzled jaw and graying hair might make him look older than he was.
    Next, her glance fell on Gavin. He was handsome enough, she supposed, although not as good-looking as many of her past suitors. But when he smiled and laughed with the girls, she found herself thinking he was the most handsome of all.
    Too bad all she ever garnered was his frown.
    Watching the family interaction, though, she wondered — why had Gavin married Dru so soon after the death of his friend? Had he been in love with her even before Charlie died? And if Gavin was as surly with others as he’d been with Emily, she was surprised that Dru agreed to marry him at all.
    She lowered her gaze to her plate, silently scolding herself. She was here to teach and look after the children, not to speculate on their parents’ marriage. Gossip was an ugly pastime, even in one’s own mind.
    Gavin’s chair scraped against the floor as he pushed away from the table and stood. A split second later, Stubs and Jess rose too.
    “Pa?” Sabrina said as he turned from the table, plate and utensils in hand.
    He stopped and looked at the girl.
    “Did you see my calf? I helped Jess rope him.”
    “You roped a calf?”
    “Yes, sir,” Jess said. “She done all right. I reckon she’ll be ridin’ with us regular in another year or two.”
    “He’s in the barn, Pa. Will you come see him?”
    Gavin carried his dirty