Riley's Bread Extravaganza

by Sara M. and Micaiah C.

 

Riley Prescott stepped inside his home, he saw his wife staring at her lumpy-looking bread, it had flopped, again it looked like he would be having leftover bread and milk from the Circle C tonight, Riley didn’t mind though.  “Hey, Andi! How’s it going?” he said.

Andi jumped, “Riley! Don’t scare me like that.”

“Sorry Andi, what happened to the bread?” he asked. 

“Don’t ask. Let’s go outside.”

“Did you ruin the bread again?” He couldn't help but tease his wife.

“Possibly?” Andi said with a small grin.

Riley was glad to see her smile again. “Come on,” he led the way outside and they sat on the porch steps, “You know, Andi, you can teach me how to cook and bake and I can cook for us,” Riley suggested while thinking about the time his mother had shown him how to cook well.

“You won’t know how.” Andi sighed, “I’ll go to Circle C tomorrow and ask my mother to teach me how to bake bread again.” 

“I might.” Riley’s eyes twinkled. 

“I won't let Mother and Melinda think I need you to bake for me.” She said, “That would be the crowning humiliation!”

“If you say so.” Riley said, “We will both go to Circle C tomorrow and I’ll watch the two of you bake.” he said, but while watching them he would learn how to bake.  

“Alrighty. If you must.” Andi agreed. 

**The next day**

 

Riley and Andi were getting ready to head for Circle C Ranch, Riley had worked a half day on Memory Creek Ranch and then went back home to head for Circle C. He couldn’t wait to see the look on Andi's face when he showed her how well he could cook. He smiled at the thought. 

“What’s the smile about?” asked Andi

“Oh nothing.” he replied “Just thinking.” he added.

 **An hour and a half later**

 

Andi and Riley entered the Circle C kitchen, Riley sniffed the air, “Something smells good!” he said, getting excited to learn how to bake. Andi would be so surprised! 

“Something does.” Andi agreed as her mother came out of the kitchen, “Riley, Andi! Nice to see you, what brings you by?” she asked warmly. 

Andi’s face flushed but she said, “I need to learn how to make bread again, I messed something up and I added everything to the dough and even kneaded it extra long!”

“I can help with that.” Riley’s mother-in-law said. 

“I’m here to learn also,” Riley said with a sly grin.

“No, he’s not!” Andi said quickly “He’s joking.”

“Maybe I am, maybe I’m not.” He said. 

Elizabeth laughed “Okay you two, scoot along to the kitchen. Riley, you can watch Andrea and I if you like or join the boys outside.” 

“I think I’ll stay, thank you,” Riley said, seeing Andi’s look but ignoring it. 

“Andrea, get the cookbook.” Elizabeth said.

Ah! Andi has a cookbook, I know I can use that to cook. Problem one, done. Riley thought as they started to get everything ready. 

He watched them measure everything out, “I did the same for everything yesterday.” Andi said just as they reached the time to knead the dough. 

Elizabeth just smiled. 

Riley came over closer and watched them knead the dough, it didn’t look that hard at all. 

“I bet I could do that,” said Riley.

“Okay, you try.” said Andi, Riley knew she thought he couldn’t do it, “Just wash your hands first,” Andi added.

Riley walked over to the sink, washed his hands, walked over to the table, and began to knead the dough like an expert.

“Where did you learn to do that?” asked Andi.

“My mother might have given me a few lessons.” .

Andi sighed, “My own husband can cook better than I can.”

Riley’s eyes twinkled, “I can knead bread but who said about the baking part?” .

Just then Chad and Mitch walked in while he was still kneading. Chad stopped short of the door, “Riley Prescott! What in the world are you doing?” Chad asked in a shocked tone. 

Riley smirked, “What’s it look like?” . 

“Kneading bread?” Chad was totally confused. 

“Yep,” Riley said. 

“Uh, why are you kneading bread?” 

“I wanted to show Andi I could,” Riley said firmly, not caring what his brothers-in-law thought of him. 

Chad threw up his hands and left the room. “Whatever.” 

Mitch watched them for a second and then followed Chad. 

Riley gave the dough back to his wife and resumed watching them, he kept track of each detail in his head for when he later made superb bread, much to Andi’s surprise.

About an hour later the bread was done and it was delicious! Riley smiled as he ate a slice, he couldn’t wait till he made bread and baked other things for Andi! Wouldn’t she be in for a surprise.

 **About a week later**

 Riley kneaded the bread dough, humming, his wife was out for a ride on Shasta and he decided to surprise her by baking bread for that evening instead of her doing it. He was still kneading it when he heard a knock on the door, “Come in!” he called cheerfully.

It was his brother-in-law, Chad Carter, “Howdy Chad, what’s up?” Riley said, seeing him enter. 

Chad took off his hat, not yet looking up, and threw it on the chair near the door. “Howdy Riley, came to see if you can help me round up some-” Chad broke off abruptly, “What in the world are you doing? Why are you kneading bread? Where is Andi?” he asked in a genuinely puzzled tone.

“I am baking bread, as you can see.” Riley kept kneading the dough calmly. 

“I see-” Chad stuttered, “But that’s woman’s work!”  he finally exclaimed.

“It is? Now, why can you or I do it?” Riley held back a smile. “Does it say somewhere in the Bible it’s woman’s work? If it does I’ll by all means stop.”

“Well no,” he admitted “do you think I want a bread baker working for me?”

Riley then couldn’t hold his laugh back, Chad then joined in.“Why wouldn’t you want a bread baker working for you?” Riley asked jokingly, “If he can do the work, why not?”

Chad just laughed harder, Riley shook his head at him and offered him some bread dough, “Want to help?” he asked innocently.

Chad held up his hand in mock alarm, “Me! No no! I think I’ll pass.” 

“You sure?” 

Chad nodded. 

“Not even if your wife does this almost every day?” Riley couldn’t help it but press farther, anything to get Chad to work the bread dough! After all, his arms were tired! How can Andi do this every day? He wondered.

“Come on Chad,” he tried again, “you know you want to.” 

Chad sighed and gave in.

 **15 minutes later**

 

Riley had finally convinced Chad to help. He wasn’t that bad, to Riley’s surprise. 

“This isn’t so bad!” Chad said “I-” He stopped short. “Howdy Andi.” He said with a lopsided grin.

Riley grinned, watching his wife’s reaction, Andi stopped right at the door’s edge, “You’re baking bread aren’t you!” she exclaimed she then burst out laughing, “Chad you're baking bread!” She doubled over in laughter

“Not a word little sister! Not a word. If this gets around I will be the laughingstock of the entire ranch!” 

“Oh but this needs to get around! Chad Carter the wealthiest rancher in California baking bread!” she then started another fit of laughter. Between her laughter, she said, “You should be working, not doing my chores!”

“Well, it looks like we are.” Chad grinned. “I better be getting back before the ranch hands wonder where I’ve been.” he dusted his hands off of flour. “Besides, this bread is ready to rise and then bake.”

Andi could barely stop her giggles but she made out, “And Chad?” 

Chad halted just before going outside, “Yes?”

“Don’t forget to dust off that flour on your shirt!” Andi said cheerfully, wearing a grin.

“What do you -” Chad looked down, “Ohhh!” and he left.

Andi turned to her husband, “I never would have ever thought I would see you and Chad Carter baking!” 

Riley just grinned, “Yep.” he said, “Remember what Chad said. He may fire me if this gets over the ranch!” he broke out in laughter, just thinking what could happen if it did! 

Andi put a finger over her lips and slipped upstairs. 

 **An Hour Later**

 

Riley entered the kitchen, washed his hands, and took the bread out of the oven. Perfect! Andi came in from the sitting room and sighed “How can you cook better than me?” Andi sighed again, “Even Chad can!” 

She came over and cut a piece of bread for herself, lathered it in butter, and took a bite. Riley did the same, then suddenly he said, 

“I know what your problem is Andi. It’s the stove.” 

Andi looked confused, “What about the stove?” she asked.

“You add too much wood. I only added a little, it did take a little longer to cook but at least it's not burned.” To soften his words Riley gave a crooked grin.

“I have been?” Andi was surprised, “I never knew.”

Riley stood and gave his wife a quick hug, “It’s just fine. Burned bread is better than no bread, right? After all, I’d rather have burned bread with you, than the best bread in the world alone.”

Andi gave Riley a lopsided grin,  “Thanks Riley, but I think you should start the fire from now on.”

“Of course my Princess, I can happily do that,” Riley said, “I can bake tomorrow too.”

“No!” Andi said quickly.