House On Windridge

by Tracie Peterson

  When she did see him, she froze in place on the next to the last step. Her heart began to pound. Was this some ruffian cowboy who’d come to rob the place? She forced herself to stay calm.

  “May I help you?” she asked coolly.

  He stood fairly tall, a good five inches taller than her own statuesque five- feet, seven. He met her perusal of him with an amused grin that caused his thick bushy mustache to raise ever so slightly at the corners. His face, weathered and tanned from constant exposure to the elements, appeared friendly and open to Jessica’s study.

  “You must be Jessica,” he drawled as though she should know him.

  She bristled slightly, feeling his consuming gaze sizing her up. His cocoa brown eyes appeared not to miss a single detail. “I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage,” she finally managed.

  “I’m Devon Carter, your father’s foreman for these past five years.”

  Devon Carter. She thought of the name and wondered if anyone had ever mentioned him in their letters, but nothing came to mind. Buck had always been foreman over Windridge, but she knew he was getting up in years and no doubt needed the extra help.

  “I’m Jessica Albright.”

  His smile broadened. “Good to have you at Windridge. Heard tell you have a little one.”

  “Yes,” she replied and nodded. “He’s upstairs.”

  “Kate has done nothing but talk about you and the little guy for days,” Devon said with a chuckle.

  Jessica stepped down from the stairs and folded her hands. It seemed fairly certain she had nothing to fear from this man. “Is there something I can do for you, Mr. Carter?”

  “Devon.”

  She eyed him for a moment before nodding and saying, “Devon.”

  “I just came up to the house to talk to Buck about the feed situation. You don’t need to pay me any never mind.”

  “I see.” But in truth she didn’t. Was this man simply allowed free run of the house? Did he wander in and out at will?

  “Oh, good,” came the sound of Kate’s voice from the stairs. “You’ve already met. Jessica, this man was a godsend to us. Your father took him on as a foreman when Buck said the workload was too much, and he’s quickly made himself an institution around here.”

  Jessica turned to find Kate coming down the stairs with Ryan. The baby appeared perfectly content in her arms.

  “You do go on, Katie,” Devon countered affectionately. “Say, he’s a right handsome fellow. It’ll be good to have him around. Keep us all on our toes.”

  “I won’t let you change the subject,” Kate said, coming down the stairs with Ryan. “Gus thought of you as a son. You earned his respect quickly enough.”

  Jessica felt her nerves tighten. Her father had never treated her with much respect, nor, as far as she was concerned, had he thought of her as a daughter. How dare this stranger come into her home and earn a place that should have been hers?

  She quickly reached for Ryan as soon as Kate joined them in the foyer. She didn’t want to feel angry or hurt for a past that couldn’t be changed, but it bothered her nevertheless. How could these two people act so nonchalant about it, knowing full well that she had suffered from the separation?

  “What with the fact you’ve spent all your life in the city,” Devon said.

  Jessica stared up at him, not at all certain what had preceded that statement. “What?”

  “I just told Devon that you plan to stay on at Windridge and take over your rightful place as mistress of the ranch,” Kate replied.

  Jessica looked at Kate for a moment while the real meaning of her words sunk in. It was true enough that her father had left her the ranch, but she’d not thought much about the fact that by moving in, she would become the mistress in charge.

  “And I was just saying I hoped our simple way of doing things wouldn’t cause you to grow unhappy and bored, what with the fact you’ve spent all your life in the city.”

  “I assure you, Mr. Carter,” Jessica said rather stiffly, “that I will neither suffer boredom nor unhappiness due to the location. Other things may well come about to make me feel those things but not the address of my new home.”

  With that she set off with Ryan to explore the rest of the house. She felt an awkward silence fall behind her and knew, or rather sensed, that Devon and Kate were staring after her, but she didn’t care. She wasn’t prepared for the likes of Devon Carter. And she certainly wasn’t prepared for her reaction to him.

  Chapter 2

  At thirty-two, Devon Carter was pretty much a self-made man. He held deep convictions on two things. One, that he loved Windridge and the Flinthills as much as any man could ever love a place. And two, that his faith in God had been the only thing to sustain him over his long years of loneliness and misery.

  He dusted off his jeans, wiped his boot tops on the back of each leg, and opened the back door to the kitchen without any announcement. He found Kate busy at work frying up breakfast and crossed the room to give her an affectionate peck on the cheek. Kate had become a second mother to him, and he saw no reason that their closeness should end now that Jessica Albright had come home to claim her fortune, if one could call it a fortune.

  “Morning, Katie.”

  “Morning, Devon. Did you sleep well in the garden house?”

  “It was good enough,” he replied. “Don’t know how you and Buck ever managed to keep warm enough out there, what with the drafts and such.”

  “We had each other,” Katie said with a grin. “Besides, nobody’s lived out there in twenty years. Gus had us move up to the house when the quiet got to be too much. We brought the kids and all, and he never once complained about the noise.”

  “Well, I’m going to have to do some repairs to it today if I’m going to have a better sleep tonight.”

  “Why don’t you just tell Buck what you need? That would be simple work for him, and I don’t want him overdoing it by following you over the prairie searching for strays. He just doesn’t have it in him anymore.”

  “Now, Katie, you’re selling me short again,” Buck announced as he came in from the pantry.

  “Just being sensible,” Katie replied, pausing long enough to turn over a thick ham steak from where it browned in a cast-iron skillet.

  “Well, sensible or not,” Devon replied, “the work still needs to be done. You want the pleasure, Buck, or shall I do it?”

  Buck laughed, watching Kate pull down her wire rims just far enough to look at him over the tops. “I’ll take care of it. You just give me some ideas on where to start.”

  “Will do.” Devon turned then to Kate. “Table set?”

  “Nope, you go right ahead and do the honors. Buck and I will bring in the food.”

  Devon nodded and went into the pantry where the fine china and everyday dishes were displayed in orderly fashion. He took down three plates then remembered Jessica and Ryan, as if he hadn’t thought of them all night long, and added one more. He grabbed silverware and saucers and decided to come back for the cups after seeing that he was juggling quite a load.

  He’d just finished laying out the arrangement and filling the saucers with cups when Jessica and Ryan appeared. She stood casually in the doorway, baby on her hip, looking for all the world like a contented woman. Devon smiled.

  “Breakfast is nearly on.”

  She looked rather surprised as she took sight of the table. “Who else will there be?”

  “Well, there’s Buck and Kate,” he answered, then added, “and me. Plus you and Ryan. That makes five.”

  “Oh,” she answered, and Devon immediately wondered if she had a problem with the arrangement.

  “Something wrong?” he asked.

  “I’m just not used to, well, that is to say,” she fell silent and shifted Ryan to the other hip, where he found he
r long chestnut braid much easier to play with.

  “Jessie,” Kate called out as she brought in a huge platter of scrambled eggs, “my, but don’t you look pretty. I like that you’ve left your hair down. Reminds me of when you were a little girl.”

  Devon watched Jessica blush as Kate continued. “Do you know, Devon, this girl would defy her nanny and sneak out of the house to get to the top of the ridge. Once she got there, she’d pull out all her ribbons and whatnots and let her hair go free to blow in the wind. Anytime she got away from us, we could be sure to find her there.”

  Devon grinned and cast a quick glance at Jessica, who was even now trying to help her son into the wooden highchair at the end of the table.

  “Here, let me help,” Devon said, pushing Jessica’s hands away. He made a face at Ryan as he positioned the boy in the seat and brought the top down around him. Ryan immediately laughed and reached out chubby arms to touch Devon’s mustache.

  “No, Ryan!” Jessica declared, moving back in position to keep her son from touching the cowboy.

  “It’s all right, Jessica. He won’t hurt anything,” Devon replied.

  She glared hard at him. “I’m his mother, Mr. Carter. It’s my place to decide what is right for him.”

  Devon saw the unspoken fury in her eyes, but rather than angering him, it made him want to laugh. Better not, he told himself. That would really infuriate her.

  He waited until Jessica took her seat at the right of the highchair before considering that he’d positioned himself at the left. He liked kids. Liked them very much and had, in fact, planned on having several by this time in life. But life often didn’t work out the way a person planned.

  Katie and Buck took their places, and Buck offered grace over the food. He also added thanksgiving for Jessica’s return, before putting on a hearty “amen” and directing everyone to dig in. If Jessica noticed that Buck was the one in charge of the meal, she didn’t say anything. She sat opposite Buck at the end of the table, while Katie sat at his right and Devon at her right. One entire side of the table sat empty except for the food platters, and Devon wondered if maybe he should have arranged things differently. He was about to speak when Buck voiced a question.

  “How did you sleep last night, Jessica?”

  She put down a forkful of fried potatoes and smiled. “Very well, thank you.”

  “I told him a person could get lost in that big old bed of your pa’s,” Katie said, “but you know Buck. He said we could always send out a search party to find you.”

  They all chuckled at this, and Devon wondered if maybe the tension of the morning had finally subsided.

  “Ryan also slept very well. In fact, it was his first time to sleep through the night without waking up to. . .” She reddened and stopped in midsentence.

  Kate seemed to understand her discomfort. “He’s a big boy now. Have you started him eating something more substantial?”

  Jessica shook her head. “No, in fact, this is his first time at the table.”

  She hadn’t noticed, but Devon had put several pieces of egg on the highchair tray, and already Ryan was stuffing them into his mouth.

  “Well, it looks as though he thinks highly of the idea,” Buck said with a laugh.

  Jessica looked down in confusion and noticed the baby reaching for a piece of buttered toast. “No, Ryan!”

  “He’s fine, Jessica,” Devon assured her.

  “Mr. Carter, I don’t appreciate your interference with my child,” Jessica said harshly. “He’s my responsibility.”

  “Around here, folks pretty much try to help out where they can,” Devon countered, meeting her haughty stare. “I figured since you’re staying on, I’d try to do what I could to fill in for the absence of his pa. I’m sure Buck feels the same way.”

  Jessica appeared speechless. She stared openmouthed at Devon and then turned to Kate and Buck. “And you think this is acceptable behavior?”

  Kate laughed. “We don’t hold any formalities around here. Ryan will be greatly loved and maybe even spoiled a bit, but those are good things, not bad. The ranch is full of dangers as well as benefits. You’ll appreciate that folks are willing to keep an eye open for him.”

  “No, I’m not sure I will,” she replied quite frankly.

  “Jessica, you shouldn’t worry about these things,” Kate told her.

  Devon watched her reaction and tried to pretend he was unconcerned with her hostility. But in fact, he was offended that she should be so put out with him. He was, after all, only helping. Maybe it was her upbringing that caused her to be so mulish about things.

  “I’d appreciate it if we could change the subject,” Jessica interjected. “And, I’d appreciate it, Mr. Carter, if you would leave the raising of my son to me.”

  Devon swallowed back a short retort and let it go. There would no doubt be time enough to take issue over these things. He felt deep gratitude when Buck did as Jessica requested.

  “Well, since you’ve decided to stay on, Jessica, there are a few things you need to be aware of.”

  “Such as?” The woman’s eyes were wide with a mixture of what appeared to be fear and pure curiosity.

  Buck looked at Kate for a moment, and after receiving her nod of approval, he began what Devon knew he dreaded more than anything.

  “It has to do with the financial affairs of Windridge.”

  “I see.” She busied herself with her food, and when Ryan cried for another piece of toast, she calmly buttered one and broke off a piece for him.

  “Well, anyhow,” Buck continued. “Windridge is not in a good state. Gus got into drinking these last few years. About the time you. . .” He fell silent.

  “Married Newman,” Jessica filled in for him.

  “Yes, well, when you got married, other things started happening around here as well. Your pa suffered a mild heart attack, and we had a round of viruses that took the lives of most our herd one year. One thing after another took its toll, and before we knew it, Gus was running pretty short on cash. After that, he just stopped trying. Wouldn’t even keep up his partnership with the Rocking W down in Texas.”

  Jessica dropped her fork. “What partnership?”

  Kate leaned forward to explain. “Your pa had an agreement to purchase cattle from a ranch in Texas. It was easier to get them that way, fatten them up here all summer, then sell them off in the fall—usually for a good profit. That way, we didn’t have to worry about keeping them through the winter.”

  “I suppose that makes sense,” Jessica agreed.

  “Well, for the last three years or so, Gus let things get so far out of control that he couldn’t even afford to purchase the steers. Jeb Williams, owner of the Rocking W, offered to spot him the herd. He knew Gus was down on his luck and knew he was good for the money, but Gus refused. He became more and more reclusive, spending most of his time nearby, but doing little or nothing.”

  “So you’re telling me that we’re broke?” Jessica questioned.

  “Pretty much so,” Buck replied. “Devon can give you better details on the matter.”

  She looked to him, and Devon thought from her expression that it had cost her a great deal to put aside their differences to pose her question. “What exactly is the situation, Mr. Carter?”

  “There’s not much in the bank. It’ll get us through another winter, if the winter isn’t too bad. There’s only minimal livestock—a dozen milk cows, about the same number of horses, and the place is in a state of disrepair. We’ve tried to keep up with things, but it takes money to do so. Come spring, we’ll be in a world of hurt.”

  “But I see cattle on the hills,” Jessica replied. “Kate, you even mentioned the hands would soon be driving the cattle to Cottonwood Falls.”

  “They aren’t ours,” Devon told her instead of allowing Kate to an
swer. “We leased out the pasture without telling Gus. He mostly stayed in his room those last few months, and if he noticed the herd, he didn’t say anything. The lease money is what we have in the bank.”

  “What are we to do?” Jessica asked, turning her gaze back to Buck and Kate.

  “Well, there’s a neighbor, Joe Riley, who’d like to buy a parcel of land that joins his property. It has a spring on it, and he’s been after your pa for all these years to let him buy it. Your pa just felt mean about it, I guess,” Buck replied. “Never did fully understand why that man refused to sell one little spring, but that’s behind us now, and I don’t intend to speak ill of the dead. He probably won’t be interested until spring, but it’s worth asking about.”

  “Then I thought I’d go down to the Rocking W on your behalf,” Devon said rather cautiously. “I know Jeb Williams from the cattle drives I’ve helped with before coming to Kansas. I think Jeb might be willing to extend the same offer to you that he offered to your father. We could purchase a small herd from him—on credit—and fatten them up for a profit come fall.”

  “Of course,” Buck threw in, “there’s always a risk. Viruses, weather, insects, and all other manner of complications. It could end up that we’d lose our shirts in the deal and be unable to pay Williams back.”

  Jessica nodded, appearing to consider the matter. “I have an idea for the place,” she said, surprising them all. “Back east, there is quite an interest in ranching and the west. Many people have never known much but the city—especially those in higher social classes.”

  “And your point would be?” Devon asked.

  “My point is that opening resort ranches has become quite popular. They offer an unusual respite for travelers who otherwise live their lives in big cities. I have a couple magazines upstairs that talk about this very thing.”

  “Dude ranches,” Devon said in complete disgust. “Your pa would sooner you sell the place in total.”