WestwardWindsV2Arebooks (7 page)

The whole time, she kept whispering to him. Once he’d gotten her scent, Tessa stroked the pretty white blaze enjoying the soft hair and velvety skin of Buster’s muzzle. The horse seemed hypnotized by the treatment and lowered his head to her. Tessa slipped up close to him and embraced his neck briefly.

She then repeated the process with Nugget, who was much friendlier and more mischievous. Tessa laughed softly when he wanted to nibble at a bow on her jacket. She quietly disciplined him and Nugget behaved.

“They’re splendid,” she said as she turned back to the men.

Dean had been watching raptly and found he was jealous of the horses. Her pretty hands stroking their coats made his male flesh remember what it was like to feel a woman’s touch. He shifted his feet a little and cleared his throat.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to delay our departure. I adore horses and can’t stay away from them. However, I’m dying to see your ranch and meet everyone,” she said.

“I didn’t mind at all,” Dean said. “We’ll get your things loaded and get underway. I’m sure you’d like to get settled in and rest a little.”

“Yes, that would be lovely,” Tessa agreed.

Dean and Marcus moved her belongings to the wagon and they headed out.

Tessa was thankful to Dean for thinking to place a thick folded blanket on the wooden seat of the buckboard wagon. The going was rougher than she was used to and her bottom kept smacking against the seat. Her rear was beginning to get sore. She could imagine how much worse it would have been if there had been no blanket.

As they rode, she kept sneaking looks at Dean and found him quite attractive. His blond hair was disheveled from the wind and his jaw was beginning to show stubble. He was tanned and muscular and filled out his clothes in a way that the men she knew didn’t. Tessa smiled to herself, thinking that Edwina would certainly be jealous when she wrote her and told her that Dean was incredibly handsome and virile.

She’d been charmed by Marcus and had pegged him a likable troublemaker. She wondered from which parent each of the brothers got their looks. Outside of the shape of their jaws, there wasn’t much resemblance between them. Marcus’s jet black hair and gray eyes were far removed from Dean’s golden locks and vivid blue eyes.

Dean looked down at Tessa and her stomach did a little flip. His gaze did things to her that she hadn’t expected so soon. She thought she saw the same thing flicker in his eyes, but couldn’t be sure.

“See that big maple tree over there?” he said.

Tessa looked where he indicated. “Yes.”

“That’s the start of our land,” Dean told her with pride. “Those steer you see are some of our finest cattle.”

Tessa took a small notebook from her reticule and began looking around with interest and writing down her observations. Dean watched with curiosity, remembering Tessa had told him that she was working on improving her creative writing skills. “What are you writing?” he asked.

“I’m writing in detail about how everything looks and how it makes me feel,” she responded.

Dean arched an eyebrow at that. “How it makes you feel?”

“Yes.”

“What do you mean by that?” he asked.

Tessa didn’t look at him, but responded as she wrote on. “I mean how what I see and hear and smell makes me feel.”

“I don’t get it.”

She looked at him then. “Look at the steer.”

Dean did. “Ok.”

“How do you feel when you look at them? You just told me that they are fine animals,” Tessa said.

Dean looked into her deep blue eyes looking at him so eagerly and he wanted to please her. He thought about it carefully. “Proud, I guess. It took a lot of hard work to breed such good stock.”

“Yes! Proud! And you should be. I’ve seen some steer back east and I don’t think they’re as nice as these. Look at how strong their shoulders are and sleek and healthy their coats are!” Tessa was still writing as she talked. After a minute, though, she put away her notebook and pencil.

Marcus leaned up from the wagon box. “Someday, I’d love to read some of your observations.”

Tessa turned to him. “Really? Do you enjoy reading?”

“Oh, yeah. He’s always reading. You’ll have to go to his house sometime. There are more books than anything else in it. I’m surprised he doesn’t just sleep on them,” Dean said.

Marcus smiled. “It’s true.”

“When I get them more polished, I would certainly welcome your insight. In fact, you are both welcome to read them,” Tessa said.

Dean said, “I’d like that. I really enjoyed your letters, so I can just imagine what your other writing is like.”

Tessa was flattered. “Thank you,” she said with a smile and blushed.

“Pa! Pa! Is that her?”

Dean looked up and saw his children running toward them as fast as they could.

“Here we go. Prepare yourself. Both of them have been on pins and needles waiting for you to get here. We all have,” Dean told her.

Tessa looked in his eyes and saw that flicker of something unnamable. Then the children arrived and her attention became focused on them.

“Hi! I’m Jack. Boy, you’re pretty. Can you cook? I like to eat,” Jack stated as he climbed on board the wagon and squeezed between Tessa and Dean.

“Mind your manners, Jack,” Dean said a little gruffly.

Jack barely gave his father a glance. “Ok. But can you?”

Tessa smiled down at him. He looked a lot like Dean. “Honestly, I haven’t had much chance, but I’m a quick learner. I’m Tessa and it’s very nice to finally meet you. I’m looking forward to becoming friends.”

Jack nodded. “Yeah, me, too. It’s ok if you can’t cook. I can’t either.”

Tessa smiled and then turned and looked down at Sadie. “And this pretty young lady must be Sadie,” she said.

Sadie blushed and smiled. “Thank you, ma’am. Pleased to meet you. Jack’s right; you’re beautiful and your clothes are so pretty.”

“Why, thank you,” Tessa said.

“C’mon, Sadie. I’ll help you up here,” Marcus said and held out an arm.

Sadie grabbed on and giggled as Marcus swung her up into the wagon. She came to stand behind Jack, holding on to the back of the wagon seat. “What’s Pittsburgh like?” Sadie asked as they drove beneath the arch that marked the entrance to their ranch.

Dean chuckled. “Sadie, let Tessa get settled and a little rested before asking so many questions. We’re all
gonna have time to get to know each other, but it doesn’t all have to happen right now.”

“Ok, Pa. Sorry, Miss Theresa,” Sadie said respectfully.

“That’s quite all right. I promise I’ll tell you anything you want to know. And I have a lot of questions of my own. Oh, and please call me Tessa,” she said.

“Tessa?” Sadie said.

“It’s my nickname,” Tessa informed her.

Dean pulled the team to a stop in front of the house. “Ok. Here we are.”

Tessa turned and was instantly charmed by the house. It was a wooden two story structure with quite a few windows. A nice porch wrapped around it and several wooden rocking chairs sat behind the railing. A swing hung from the porch rafters. The house was a rustic brown color. Tessa didn’t know a whole lot about construction, but it looked sturdy and well put together.

Dean watched her closely as she looked the place over. He was nervous about what she’d think of it because he knew her family was rich and lived in a large mansion. He knew their place couldn’t compare to the kind of home Tessa was used to. Her eyes moved quickly, he noticed.

As he looked at her profile, Dean was struck again by how beautiful Tessa was. She had a pretty, straight nose and a graceful neck. Her dark hair shone with good health. He had a sudden urge to touch it to see if it felt as soft as it looked. Dean’s hands tightened imperceptibly on the reins as he fought the impulse.

Tessa turned to him with her eyes shining. “It’s lovely! I can see the care that went into building it and you certainly keep it well maintained.”

Dean grinned as relief flowed through him. “Thanks. I was afraid you wouldn’t like it.”

“No need to worry,” Tessa said.

“Good.” Dean stepped down from the wagon. “I’ll help you down.”

“All right,” Tessa said.

Dean grasped her by the waist and helped her down. The physical contact sent a jolt of awareness through Tessa. Her hands rested on his large biceps and his scent reached her nostrils. He smelled of hay and horses and a little sweat. The combination was far from repulsive. It was a little primal and she felt a stirring of desire.

Dean was having much the same feelings. He hadn’t touched another woman since Sarah and her waist and lower back felt soft, yet firm. It scared him a little that he could desire another woman. He cleared his throat and stepped back quickly.

“There. Ready for the tour?” he asked.

Tessa had sensed the change in him and frowned a little. Then she chastised herself for being so silly. Of course he was not going to engage in anything physical in front of the children or Marcus. Besides, they didn’t know each other nearly well enough for anything like that.

She brightened. “Of course.”

As they moved through the house, the kids told her a lot of things about it. She found the interior of the house as charming as the exterior. The kitchen was clean and orderly. The cupboards were carved with intricate flowered patterns. Tessa ran her fingertips over them.

“Wherever did you get these beautiful doors?”

“Uncle Marcus made them,” Sadie said.

Tessa turned to him. “You did these?”

Marcus nodded.

“You are an expert craftsman, Marcus. I have to say I’ve never seen any finer work. In Pittsburgh, your services would by highly sought after,” she said.

Marcus was a little bashful, which wasn’t like him. “Really? Thank you.”

“He’s always doing something with wood. People around here get him to carve and whittle a lot of stuff,” Dean said.

“I can see why.”

They moved to the front parlor and Tessa fell in love with it. The light coming in the windows made it a bright, cheery room. Pretty white eyelet curtains dressed the windows. The furniture was of good quality. A large braided rug of browns and pinks covered much of the shiny wooden floor. Tessa saw a woman’s touch all over the room.

“Your wife was very talented in furnishing a home. It’s lovely. Did she make the curtains?” Tessa asked.

Dean nodded. “She could make almost anything that way; clothes, quilts, baby blankets, curtains. You name it.” It made him feel good to see Tessa appreciating Sarah’s handiwork.

Tessa saw a picture on the mantel of the fireplace and crossed the room to it. It was of Dean, Sarah, and younger versions of Jack and Sadie. They were all dressed in their finest clothes and they were all smiling. Tessa focused on Sarah. She was a beautiful woman with brown eyes and light brown hair.

They all looked so happy. It was such a shame that her life had been cut short and that their baby had perished. Those thoughts brought tears to Tessa’s eyes. Dean saw her lips tremble and wondered at the cause.

“Are you ok?” he asked.

Tessa looked up at him and he saw that her eyes were bright with unshed tears. “I’m so sorry for your loss. She was a beautiful woman and I know that she will always be missed.”

Dean felt a lump form in his throat and he found it difficult to speak. “She was beautiful and Sadie looks just like her. It’s been hard.”

Tessa nodded. “How could it not be? As I said in my letters, I am not here to take her place, but to make my own in your lives. Please don’t feel that you cannot talk about her around me. I would like to know all about such a wonderful woman.”

“We have all kinds of stories to tell you about her,” Sadie said. “She was so much fun and made great cookies.”

“I’m sure she was. Do you have the recipe?” Tessa said.

Sadie nodded.

“Maybe we could make them together sometime.”

“I would love that!” Sadie said.

“Me, too,” Jack piped up. “I really like cookies.”

Tessa laughed. “I have a feeling that you like almost any kind of food.”

“Yup,” the little boy said.

Dean was glad the children had lightened the moment. It gave him a chance to compose himself. “Well, why don’t I show you your room? Follow me.”

It went against societal norms for a single woman to stay in the same house as a single man, but there was no other place for her. Marcus’ house would not accommodate a guest and it was the same type of situation as at Dean’s house. Their close friends, the Bensons, also had no room and, without a hotel present, Dean’s house was the only choice. Tessa had
no qualms about it. She sensed that Dean was an honorable man and she didn’t fear for her virtue.

Tessa followed Dean up the staircase. The boards under her feet creaked a little, but they were sturdy and she had no fear that they would fall through. The stairs opened into a wide hallway. There were two doors on the right and one on the left. A window at the end of the hallway let in light. Dean opened the door on the left.

“This is the wash room.”

Tessa walked into the room. It was equipped with a large metal tub, wash stand with a porcelain basin and pitcher. The stand itself was elegantly crafted. “Marcus did this as well?”

“No. I made it for Sarah’s birthday five years ago. I wanted her to have a nice place to bathe. I know how important that kind of thing is to women,” Dean replied.

Tessa raised her eyebrows. “Craftsmanship seems to run in the family.”

“Our mother was really skilled at it. Her pa taught her,” Dean said.

“Really? How unusual,” Tessa marveled.

Dean shook his head. “Tessa, you’re
gonna
find that, out here, women often work right along with the men doing things like growing crops, carpentry, and taking care of the livestock. When the men are off on a cattle drive, it’s the women who are left to keep things going.”