The Redhead (Romancing the Ponderosa Book 2)

Chapter 7

About two hours later, just as Hop Sing starts to put lunch on the table, Hannah and Misty appear at the top of the stairs. We all turn as they walk down. All of us but Joe, who seems to only be relieved that Hannah came back down alive, nearly have the socks knocked off of us. I can barely recognize the stunning redhead following Hannah down the stairs. She looks like a completely different girl than the one who sat tied on the sofa about two hours ago. I had thought up until now that Hannah's transformation from men's clothing to a dress was something to behold, but she looks almost plain next to Misty. No offence to Hannah, she's a beautiful young lady, but Misty's beauty is almost exotic, a rare form indeed. She has all of her red, waist length hair swept up on her head and is wearing that green dress and somehow it fits perfectly and shows just the right amount of creamy white neck and chest.

Quickly getting my head back I walk over to her, offering her my arm as Joe does the same with Hannah. "Miss Eleveth, may I have the pleasure of escorting you to the table?"

"Yes, Mr. Cartwright." She loops her hand around my forearm as I walk across the room to the dining room table. I seat her next to me, while everyone else takes their places around the table. Sitting down, I turn to her, "Miss Eleveth, would you please just call me Adam. It feels strange to have you call me Mr. Cartwright in my own home, especially since Pa isn't even called that. Actually, all of us would appreciate it if you called us by our first names."

"I'll call you by your first names only if you all call me Misty."

"Of course we will, it'd be our pleasure to."

"Little Joe, it looks like I won the bet." Looking up, I see Hannah smiling mischievously at Joe.

"Yes, it appears you have, darling," He picks her hand up off the table. Turning it over he kisses her palm. Hannah's cheeks pink up in a pretty blush, "but you'll have to wait for later for your payment."

Slowly Pa sits his water glass back down, looking between the two of them a look of confusion and concern on his face. Joe and Hannah seem lost in their own little world, not at all noticing the rest of us sitting at the table with them, which must be the reason why they jump slightly at the sound of Pa's voice. "Joseph, I hope you haven't taken to gambling with your wife."

"No, of course not." He smiles at Hannah. "Yesterday on the way to town we were joking about whether there would be any food left over from yesterday."

"Joe betted me there wouldn't be a bite left after Hoss got finished with it all. But I betted him right back that even a man as big as Hoss couldn't eat that much in that short amount of time." She waves her hand across the table at all the leftover food that Hop Sing served us. "And apparently I was right."

"What'd you win?" I ask, more than a little curious.

"A new store bought dress." She nods, giving Joe a big goofy grin, which he grins right back to. "And now I don't have to make him an apple pie."

A small giggle escapes Misty. We all look at her. She has her hand over her mouth trying to contain her laughter. Knowing the Indians aren't a very mirthful people, I reach over and take her hand off of her mouth. "It's alright to laugh, don't hide it under your hand, let it all come out. You have a very beautiful laugh which we'll all enjoy hearing."

"You are all very funny people!" She looks at us all with a grin on her face. "I'm glad I can laugh here. I couldn't laugh around the Indians because it scared them. They thought I was casting a spell on them. But since I'm going to be staying here, I'm glad I can, it's going to be very hard not to!"

"Well, Misty, you'll find that my youngest sons cause lots of laughter in this house whether they intend to or not!" Joe and Hoss look at Pa with fake hurt looks. Misty laughs again and it sounds somehow almost like tinkling bells.