The Deardons Complete Mini-Series

by Kelli Ann Morgan

  Lucas took a deep breath and dismounted, the horse still at a full gait. As Adonis rounded the corral again, he stepped in sync with the horse, grabbed ahold of the reins and pulled himself back up into the saddle. He drew back on the reins and stopped.

  Several large targets made of round coiled straw mats sat perched on wooden easels at various distances. The painted cloths had yet to be strung over them for the tournament.

  He dismounted, pulling a handful of dried apple slices he’d swiped from the kitchen while Tillie wasn’t looking, and fed them to Adonis. “Good practice, Donnie,” he said, rubbing his neck. He led the horse from the corral, removed the saddle, and released him back out into the pasture again with the other horses.

  If tomorrow was this Deardon Thanksgiving tournament, he figured he’d probably best not do anything that could reinjure the shoulder. He carried the saddle, blanket, and tack back to the barn and strung it up on the hook he’d been given.

  “I’m sorry I left you alone in the attic.”

  Lucas whipped around to see Lucy leaning against the barn door. A halo of light shone round her face as the sun lit the edges of her hair. She was striking.

  “Is everything all right?” he asked hesitantly.

  “Better than all right,” she said with a smile. “Let’s just say I got a lot of answers to questions I didn’t know I had.”

  “Okay.”

  “Come on. Liam said I need to show you around the place. We can do that while we check that everything is in place for tomorrow.”

  “So, a log toss, an archery match, a stick pull, leg wrestling, and a riding course.”

  “Yes.”

  “How many are coming?” he asked as they reached the stables, his boots crunching the ground beneath him.

  “Nine Deardon competitors, if you take Liam’s place, and then a few of the hands are also given the opportunity to compete. Only those over sixteen are allowed to participate—which Sam’s youngest is still bitter about—he’s only fourteen—and the winner gets a hefty prize.”

  Sam was his father’s youngest brother. Back home, Lucas had nearly forgotten he had a whole family outside of Oregon—except for Aunt Leah and her family in Kansas. None of them could forget her. He liked the idea of having a big family.

  “Granddad still participates in these events?”

  “Not this year, for obvious reasons.” Lucy swung open the doors and stepped inside of the stable. “We’ll need the sleigh hitched please, Jake,” she told the stable hand, who placed his shovel against the wall, nodded, and disappeared around the corner of an empty stall.

  “Who are the others?”

  “You know Hank and Sam.” She stopped and turned to look at him. “You do know Hank and Sam, right?”

  “I know they’re my uncles, but I haven’t seen them in years.”

  Lucy’s eyes closed into discerning slits and she shook her head. “Their ranches aren’t too far from here. They are each bringing their families. Your Aunt Leah sent her regrets for this year. It’s just too long of a trek from Kansas to Montana with her little ones. Did you know she’s got eight children? Eight! You Deardons certainly don’t do anything small.”

  Lucas laughed. “How do you know so much about my family?”

  “I’m sorry. You must think me entirely improper. I’ve only been here a month, but Liam likes to talk and I listen. When you’re helping to plan an event as big as the Deardon tournament, you learn a few things.”

  Wait, did she said nine competitors?

  Her words just hit him and suddenly, he wasn’t at all sure he was prepared to meet so many new relatives who might not hold his father in the highest esteem. When he’d thought about coming out to see his granddad, he’d tried to remember anything he could about Uncle Hank and Uncle Samuel. Jonah and Noah had had a few stories, but he’d been so young when they’d left that he didn’t remember anything about them or their children. Aunt Leah, however, had made a point to write often and he and his brothers had spent time at Redbourne Ranch after their mama left. Aunt Leah had wanted to make sure they’d had some female influence in their lives so they didn’t turn into a bunch of scroungy backwoodsmen in the wilds of Oregon.

  “Ready?” Lucy looked up at Lucas expectantly.

  He wasn’t sure where they were headed. How big could Whisper Ridge possibly be? But, he wanted to learn as much as he could about the tournament tomorrow. That way he would be prepared for what awaited him. So, if accompanying Miss Russell for an early afternoon ride was going to provide that, who was he to argue?

  “Mr. Deardon,” she said, pulling him from his thoughts. “Are you ready?” she repeated.

  “When you are.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  The double doors of the stable groaned in protest as they opened. She turned to say something to Liam’s grandson, but froze when her face nearly met with his broad chest.

  Good heavens.

  Lucy could hardly breathe. Being so close to Lucas Deardon had become all too familiar too quickly. She was sure they violated several rules of propriety, not that she minded much here or in the attic. She was quickly learning that the rules that governed society in New York were not the same here. Her cheeks warmed at the thought.

  When Lucas had first arrived at the ranch, she’d not known what to make of him, but after seeing how confidently he handled himself under pressure, and the tenderness he’d displayed with his grandfather, she’d had to stop herself on more than one occasion from dreaming of those thick arms wrapped around her.

  Stop it right now, Lucy Russell.

  She took a step away from him. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder what it would have been like had a man like Lucas Deardon requested the mail-order-bride instead of Gilroy Hearn.

  “The sleigh is ready, Miss Lucy.” Jake handed her down a large cozy blanket for the ride, then he pulled the horses out into the yard and jumped down.

  “Thanks, Jake. We won’t be out too long.” She told him, though she guessed Lucas wouldn’t have a problem unhitching the sleigh when they returned. The light afternoon breeze blew the hair away from Lucy’s face, allowing the sunlight to warm her skin. It felt good.

  “Shall we?” she asked Lucas as they made their way to the front of the sled. The snow had already started to melt, unusual for this time of year, but the chill still nesting in the air promised the crystal-topped ground would be around for a while. In her experience, an Indian summer was generally followed by the harshest of winter seasons and she shivered at the thought.

  Lucas slipped his hands around her waist and lifted her effortlessly up onto the bench. His touch sent gooseflesh cascading down her arms.

  “So, where are we going?”

  This was a mistake. If she cared anything about protecting her heart, she would get down off the sleigh and as far away from Lucas as possible.

  “To show you Whisper Ridge.”

  “Aren’t we already here?”

  “Take a look out, as far as you can see, in every direction.”

  Lucas looked around him and although the stables blocked his view to the south, she saw the same wonder in his eyes as she’d felt when she’d first arrived and learned of the immensity of the ranch.

  “That is Whisper Ridge. All of it. Hi-yah!” she called out to her two favorite draft horses.

  Before they could even get out of the main gate, sleigh bells jingled in the distance. It had to be Hank. She’d sent Denver out to his place early this morning and then to Sam’s to inform them both about what had happened with their father.

  Hank and his oldest son, Seth, emerged through a small thicket of pines and hastily crossed the wide bridge separating the homesteads.

  “We were just on our way to see you.” Lucy said as Hank pulled up next to her.

  “Mara had one of those feelings last night that something was wrong.” Hank’s eyes shot to Lucas and back to her. He raised his gun heavenward, lifted the fore-end into the air, and cocked it. “When Denver sho
wed up this morning, we came as soon as we could get away. What’s going on, Lucy?”

  “I’m glad to see you,” Lucy said, daring a glance at the man seated next to her.

  “Your father is going to be unable to participate in the games tomorrow and Lucas is going to take his place.”

  “What’s wrong with Dad?” Hank asked, raising a brow. “I’m sorry, who are you?” he asked, not waiting for the first question to be answered. He clutched the rifle menacingly, fixing his gaze on Lucas.

  “There was an accident with the water tower. A stampede knocked out the braces and the tower fell. Granddad’s up in his room resting. Doctor’s orders. I’m Lucas, by the way. Lucas Deardon,” he said, standing up and leaning over with his hand extended.

  Hank ignored it, but he dropped his gun to his side.

  “I’m Seth. Deardon,” the younger man said with a grin as he jumped down off his sleigh.

  Lucas climbed down to meet him.

  Hank didn’t say a word, but slapped the reins and drove up next to the stables where he handed the straps to Jake.

  Seth’s brows scrunched together as he took Lucas’s proffered hand. “Uncle Gabe’s kid, right?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “What’s all this ‘sir’ nonsense? We’re cousins. Family.” Seth pulled Lucas into stiff hug, then followed Lucas’s eyes to Hank’s retreating form. “Don’t mind him. He’s still mad at your dad for leaving. Even after all these years.” Seth looked up at Lucy, who still sat on the wagon bench. “I’m sorry, were you two headed somewhere?”

  Lucy felt the color rush into her cheeks. “Not anymore. It can wait. I’m sure Lucas would like the chance to get to know you. Why don’t we head back up to the house?” She drove the sleigh back to the barn. “I told you we wouldn’t be gone long,” she said, smiling at Jake.

  She was glad to see Lucas and Seth already getting along so well. They hadn’t stopped talking to each other as they followed her on foot. Lucas walked up to the side of the sled and reached up to help her down. She smiled at him and allowed him to lower her to the ground.

  “Your grandfather’s fever has broken, but it’ll be a while before he’ll be back to his old self.”

  The silence that followed as Seth looked between her and Lucas put Lucy at a loss for words and she folded her lips together, careful to avoid the man’s eyes.

  “I’m sure there’s a story here, but it’ll keep. For now,” Seth said, a grin spread across his face as he patted Lucas on the shoulder. “Glad to have you back, cousin.”

  There was a story, but the ending had yet to be written.

  Mrs. Lucas Deardon. The name had promise. After all, it couldn’t be a coincidence that both of their names started with the same few letters. She might have thought it fate. If she believed in such things. It wasn’t like her to entertain such silly notions, but he affected her more than she cared to admit.

  “You staying long?” Seth asked.

  Lucy glanced over at Lucas, attempting to keep the hope from her eyes. With several eligible Deardon men surrounding her at any given moment, this was the first time she’d found herself wanting, hoping, to be noticed.

  She held her breath, waiting for him to answer.

  How long are you staying? She asked silently, as if by thinking the question, would will him to respond more quickly.

  “That...,” he said as he stole a glance at her, “has yet to be determined.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Thanksgiving Day

  DING! CLANG! DING! CLANG! DING!

  Lucas shot up out of his bed and scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding wildly in his chest as he swiftly collected his rifle from the side of the nightstand next to his bed.

  “Whoa, slow down there, partner.” His cousin, Seth, broke out with a huge guffaw, nearly bent over with laughter, a metal meal triangle clutched in his hands.

  “I’m sorry,” Seth said with a snicker, “did we wake you?”

  Lucas glanced at the other culprit leaning up against the vanity dresser.

  “I’m Daniel,” the dark-haired stranger said with a smirk and a wave. “Sam’s oldest.”

  Lucas stepped back, wondering if his mind was playing tricks on him. If he didn’t know any better, he would have thought it was Henry. There was no doubt they were related. He had to give his cousins credit. Generally, this kind of tomfoolery was his doing at home, but he’d never been on the receiving end.

  “You’re lucky I didn’t kill you.”

  “Eh, you’re a Deardon. Instincts are what keep us alive around here. You weren’t going to shoot us. Come on.” Seth threw the denims Lucas had left draped over the chair last night in his face. “We eat breakfast early on tournament day.”

  “I just want to check in on Granddad this morning and then I’ll be down.”

  “It is odd to see him weak and so tired looking, but you’ll find out he can’t sit still for long. He’s already eaten his breakfast and is working on something with Mr. Tacy in the study.”

  With all these new names and faces, Lucas was having a hard time keeping track of everyone. He had no idea who Mr. Tacy was, but after seeing the exhaustion in his granddad’s eyes yesterday, it worried Lucas that he wasn’t resting as ordered.

  “Does Miss Russell know he’s up?” Lucas wanted to ask his cousins how Lucy had come to be on the ranch, but thought better of it. He was sure he’d learn soon enough.

  “Lucy? I’m sure she does. She knows everything that goes on around here. It’s only a matter of time before granddad agrees to let one of us marry the girl,” Daniel said just before disappearing out the door.

  Lucas tilted his head and squinted his eyes as he pondered that last statement. His granddad had practically insisted on him marrying the woman. If there had been plenty of Deardon men already willing to do so, why had he chosen Lucas for the…opportunity?

  His heart skipped a beat at the thought, but he ignored the sensation. It was Noah’s turn to get married. Lucas chided himself for not volunteering to be the one to go to Markham’s and learn the cattle trade. Then, maybe granddad would have insisted that Noah marry Lucy.

  The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he didn’t like the idea of his brother marrying her, or anyone else for that matter. There was something about Lucy that almost made him forget his reasons for saying no. Not only was she beautiful, but she was smart and had a kind heart.

  It didn’t take long to shrug into his britches and join the rest of his family down in the kitchen for food. The over-sized table was covered with steaming plates piled high with flapjacks, eggs, an assortment of meats, and a large pot of what looked to be creamed porridge. It had been a long time since he’d seen this amount of food at breakfast time. Back home, they were lucky to have day-old biscuits and jerky with fresh milk.

  When he stepped into the room, it fell silent and several pairs of eyes turned to look at him. Some were faces he now recognized, but others were still unfamiliar.

  The competitors, he guessed. However, he didn’t see Uncle Hank or Sam among them.

  “Hello,” Lucas waved awkwardly.

  Seth shoved a plate of food into his hand and Lucas followed him to an open seat at the table in front of the door. He glanced out the window. Water dripped from the fence where the brightly shining sun continued to melt the snow. If it weren’t for the ground covered in a blanket of white, he would have believed it a fresh spring morning.

  “Well, you boys ready to compete?” A firm hand warmed Lucas’s shoulder as his granddad came up behind him. Liam squeezed, however lightly. He bent over to Lucas’s ear. “How’s the shoulder today?” he asked.

  Surprised, Lucas turned to look at him and his granddad winked.

  “Good, thank you.” He stood to allow Liam a place to sit, then leaned with one foot against the wall, next to the door, holding his plate. As he scooped a spoonful of food into his mouth, he watched how easily his granddad interacted with the others.

  Now,
it’s my turn to get to know him, he thought with a smile.

  At first glance, the older man seemed to be feeling better, but despite his easy smile, there was something in his face, in his eyes, that still betrayed his weariness.

  The kitchen door opened. Before Lucas could move out of the way, Lucy stepped inside, brushing wet droplets from her coat all over him.

  Runoff from the roof, he gathered.

  “Denver assures me that the cloth targets have been secured to the round straw boards and the ring in the barn has been swept and readied for the leg wrestling matches.” She brushed wet tendrils out of her face. When she glanced up, her eyes locked with Lucas’s.

  “Oh, excuse me,” she said with an expression that told Lucas she’d just seen him.

  Lucas was taken aback by the feelings she evoked in him. He’d been tempted by several beautiful women, but all of them paled in comparison to her. Even with wet hair and her nose red from the cold, she was beautiful.

  I’m not getting married. I’m not getting married. Who was he trying to convince?

  A different voice interrupted his thoughts as Lucas could hear Emma’s constant reminders of how a gentleman should treat a lady, but before he could get his body to cooperate with his mind, his granddad prodded him.

  “Well, aren’t you going to help her with her coat, son?” Liam asked as he turned around and looked at Lucas.

  He set his plate down on the table and reached out to her. “Yes, sir.” He didn’t need any more encouragement. Being a gentleman didn’t require any kind of commitment.

  “May I?” he asked.

  Lucy looked around at the table, color flooding her cheeks, but she allowed him to remove the covering.

  “Thank you,” she said as he handed it back to her. “I’ve had Jake pull two of your stuffed chairs out onto the porch where you will have a wonderful view of the outdoor events, Liam,” she told his grandfather.

  Lucas appreciated the warm pink glow that now highlighted her face.

  “…and then we’ll move them into the barn where you can be close enough to watch the indoor events and feel like you’re a part of it all.