Fritz glared at her. "Don't you ever read the Bible?"
Nothing made the hours pass faster than a lively discussion, and Fritz was always fair game. She tossed out the verbal bait and waited for him to strike.
"Of course I read the Bible. In no place does it say a woman shouldn't wear pants."
Fritz pointed a stubby finger at her. "Not in so many words, but it says women shouldn't dress in men's clothing."
Yes, he took the bait and he was running with it. She smiled sweetly. "So who says pants are men's clothing? Didn't Jesus wear a robe?"
Davis chuckled softly. "I believe she has you there, Fritz."
Fritz shot Davis a warning look and abruptly stood, glaring down at Cassie. "You're deliberately missing the point. Women aren't supposed to assume a man's role."
She shrugged. "Maybe that's what it means, maybe not. Anyway, what is a man's role?"
Fritz studied her warily. He hated it when she won an argument. He gave the question some thought before responding with an illusive and general answer. "A man's role is to feed his wife and family."
"And if he doesn't? Then who is supposed to feed them?"
He focused his attention on the coffee in his cup, swirling it while he avoided her probing gaze. "Then a woman has to do the best she can on her own."
He knew he was being backed into a corner. His determined gaze finally shifted to her face. "I'm not against a woman having a job, as long as she sticks to work meant for women."
Cassie's brows arched. "You mean like cooking? Or helping with the plowing or hitching up the team? Or maybe driving the family wagon in for supplies or ..."
"I get the point," he interrupted in a brusque tone. You hired on as a cook. We're short handed so you wind up taking care of your own team and wagon. Why Pete hired you instead of a man, I'll never understand."
That wasn't the point she was trying to make, but maybe a man would never understand what she was talking about. She didn't mind tending the team. In fact, she enjoyed it. What she didn't like was the idea that when she finished paying for the ranch, her father could come back and claim it. A woman could do all the work but somehow the man got the credit and benefit. It wasn't fair but that was how the law read - and how most men felt. Not surprising, since they made all the laws. Getting upset about it wasn't going to change anything, though, so she forced a grin as she met the troubled gaze of Fritz.