by Linda Bridey
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 and she was getting 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 bit of a troublemaker, but the kind that you couldn’t help but like. She wondered which parent each of them looked like. Outside of the shape of their jaws, there wasn’t much resemblance. 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 Tessa’s 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 about how everything looks, in detail 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. “Okay.”
“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 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 steers 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. “Okay. 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 okay 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 onto 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.”
“Okay, 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. “Okay. 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. It was a rustic brown in color. Tessa didn’t know a whole lot about construction, but it looked sturdy and well put together.
Dean watched Tessa 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.
Sh
e 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.
“Where did you ever 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, cherry 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 okay?” 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.”
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. That one was me. 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.”
“I never thought of that,” Tessa confessed.
Dean smiled at her. “I have a feeling we’re gonna learn a lot from each other.”
“Me, too.”
“Well, c’mon. I’ll show you your room,” Dean said.
She followed him again. He opened the first door on the right and motioned her through. Tessa saw a large four-poster bed standing sentinel in the room. A quilt done in bright greens and blues covered it. There was a dresser and a small chest at the foot of the bed. Tessa saw that there was no closet, but there was a long row of pegs on one wall.
“It’s probably not as big or pretty as yours back home, but it’s homey,” Dean said.
“Yes, it is and I’ll be quite comfortable here, I’m sure.”
“Sadie’s room is the other one up here. Jack’s room is downstairs. He likes the little one off the kitchen. Mine is the one beyond the parlor,” he told her.
“All right.”
Marcus arrived with a couple of Tessa’s bags then. “There’s only a couple more. You travel light for a woman,” he teased.
Tessa chuckled. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“I’ll just put them on the bed for now,” Marcus said.
“Thank you,” Tessa said.
The two men left her and retrieved her other bags. Dean was a very strong man, but by the time he reached the top of the stairs with one of them, he was huffing.
“What the hell is in that thing?” he asked. “Pardon the language.”
Tessa laughed. “A lady is allowed to have her little mysteries, gentlemen.”
Dean smiled back. “If you say so. Well, we’ll leave you to get settled in. We’ll get some supper going. I imagine you’re pretty hungry.”
“Yes, very. All of the fresh air has given me quite an appetite,” Tessa said.
They left and Tessa stood still for a few moments, getting her bearings. She looked around the unfamiliar room and felt a pang of homesickness. She also felt guilty about leaving the way she had but knew that it had been the only way. Her father especially would have never allowed her to leave and would have had her watched to make sure she didn’t. It would have been out of love, but Tessa knew that eventually, it would have made her bitter to be trapped in a life she didn’t want.
Then she brushed off the negative feelings and let all of the excitement return. She looked down at her clothing and decided to change. She was disheveled and it would feel good to be in fresh clothing and wash up a little.
She opened the valise that contained her new clothes and pulled out the necessary items. She was excited to wear a little less clothing, as the women in these parts did. All of the undergarments were binding and it was hotter here, so it would feel good to wear something cooler.
Tessa chose a pretty calico print dress, gathered her toiletries, and went next door to the wash room. She didn’t have time for a bath, so she just used the cool water in the bucket on the floor to wash up in and then put on her new clothes. She checked her appearance and was pleased with the way she looked. It was a more relaxed fashion, yet still attractive. Her hair was still in the more formal style, so she took it down and brushed it out. She then French braided it. Again, Tessa was happy with the way it looked. She dabbed a little bit of rosewater behind her ears and her toilet was complete.
She hurriedly put away her things and headed downstairs. As she reached the landing, Sadie and Jack met her there. Sadie took her hand and led her to the kitchen.
&
nbsp; “Aunt Lydia is here to meet you. She helped make supper, too,” the girl said.
“Splendid!” Tessa was happy to have another woman to talk to.
As Lydia watched Tessa walk into the kitchen hand in hand with Sadie, she thought that some kind of an angel was coming her way. The girl was certainly beautiful and Dean and Marcus and the children seemed to like her, but Lydia was going to test her right away. She was protective of these people who had quickly become her family and she wasn’t going to put up with any funny business.
“Hello, Theresa. I’m Lydia Benson, neighbor to the Samuels, and adopted family. It’s good to finally meet you,” Lydia said formally.
“Please, Lydia, you must call me Tessa. All of my close family and friends do, and I certainly hope we quickly become friends. It’s so good to meet you, as well. Dean has told me many good things about you and your husband, Charlie,” Tessa said. She understood that Lydia’s words were meant as a warning and wanted to put the older woman at ease.
Tessa extended her hand and gave Lydia a warm smile. Lydia looked closely at Tessa, searching for any sign of falsity or malice. Finding none, she took Tessa’s hand and shook it.
“Likewise. I like your dress and you have beautiful hair,” Lydia said.
“Thank you. Something smells good,” Tessa said.
“Aunt Lydia made fried chicken and mashed potatoes,” Jack told her. “That’s my favorite.”
Dean laughed. “Almost everything is his favorite.”
He had finally been able to speak again after watching Tessa come into the room. He remembered feeling the same way about Sarah when he’d first met her and the fact that he was having similar feelings made him uncomfortable.
“C’mon and sit down. We’re almost ready to eat,” Lydia said. To Jack, she said, “Go find your Uncle Seth and let him know to get his rear to supper.”
Jack tore out the door, intent on his mission.
“Is there something I can do to help?” Tessa asked.
“No, no, dear. Please sit. You traveled a long way and need to rest yourself,” Lydia replied.
Tessa smiled. “All right, but I intend to earn my keep, you know.”
Lydia laughed. “Don’t worry, you will.”
Supper was delicious. Tessa had never eaten fried chicken before and wondered at how tasty it was. The mashed potatoes were creamy and flavored well with butter. There was also canned corn from the last season. Between her empty stomach and the stress of meeting Dean and his family, Tessa’s appetite was great and she cleaned her plate quickly.
She’d always eaten with decorum but wasn’t shy about eating her fill, even at social events. Women had remarked how jealous they were that she could eat like that and still retain her figure. Tessa told them it was the horseback riding and a lot of walking, both of which were true.
Finally, she put her fork on her plate and dabbed her mouth with a napkin. She leaned back with a contented sigh. “That was incredible.”
Dean smiled at her. “It’s always nice to see a woman eat well and I’m glad you enjoyed it. Not surprised, though. Lydia’s a wonderful cook.”
“Yes, she is,” Tessa agreed.
“Now go on with you both,” Lydia said, but Tessa could tell she was pleased by the praise.
Seth said, “Quit acting so shy about, Lydia. If your cooking stunk, we wouldn’t want you to make stuff.” He winked at Lydia.
Tessa smiled. Seth and Dean looked a lot alike but had different personalities. Marcus and Seth had similar attitudes. Dean was more serious than the two of them and Tessa wondered if it had always been that way or if it was only since Sarah and their baby had passed. She became lost in her musings for a few moments.
“Tessa?”
It was Sadie who brought her back. “Yes?”
“Will you show me how to braid my hair like that? I can braid, but yours is different,” the girl said.
“Of course. I’ll show you tomorrow,” Tessa promised.
“Thank you.”
Tessa looked down into her eager little face and felt something inside her tilt a little. She had a sudden feeling that it would be hard for her to deny Sadie anything. “You’re welcome.”
“I don’t need my hair braided,” Jack stated. “What do I get?”
“Jack!” Dean said. “Mind your manners.”
“Yes, Pa,” Jack said, but didn’t seem very sorry.
Tessa had a hard time not smiling. She looked at Lydia to distract herself but the other woman seemed to be having the same problem. “Well, actually, I have a little something for each of you. I’ll be right back.”
She rose from the table and hurried upstairs.
Dean watched her go, her skirts swishing as she went. He couldn’t help appreciating her fine figure. He turned back to the table and saw that both of his brothers were watching her as well. “Knock it off,” he said.
“C’mon, Dean. You can’t blame us,” Seth said with a smile. “You say she has sisters?”
“Don’t get any bright ideas,” Dean warned. “Not unless you’re suddenly serious about settling down?”
Seth snorted and finished his iced tea.
“Didn’t think so.”
Marcus chuckled. “Let’s see; she’s beautiful, cultured, educated, and brings presents? I’d say she’s a keeper.”
Lydia smacked his arm. “Be serious for once, Marcus. This isn’t a game.”
“Sheesh! I was just kidding,” Marcus rubbed his arm but sobered.
Tessa came back into the room carrying one of her suitcases. Dean rose and took it from her. “You should have told me what you were up to. I’d have carried it for you.”
She laid a hand on his arm briefly. “You are quite the gentleman, but I was quite capable.”
“All right.”
Tessa pulled her chair out a little more and then sat down with the suitcase in front of her.
“I didn’t wrap them in fancy paper because I was afraid it would get ripped, so I hope you’ll pardon the wrapping. Sadie, this is for you.”
She handed a package to her. Sadie took it carefully and opened it. It was a little white jewelry box done in white satin with a pink bow on the top. She opened it and inside stood a tiny ballerina. Tessa showed her the winding key on the bottom and soon, the ballerina began to spin, dancing to pretty music.
“It’s beautiful!” Sadie said. “Thank you!”
“You’re welcome.” Tessa turned to Jack. “And now for the young master.” She reached into her suitcase and pulled out another package.
Jack pounced on it and ripped it open. He stopped when he saw the little tin train and train tracks. His mouth hung open and everyone laughed.
Dean said, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him speechless except when he’s sleeping.”
“Thanks, Tessa. It’s great,” Jack said finally. He promptly began playing with it on the kitchen floor.
Lydia was shocked when Tessa handed her a present. “For me? Why?”
“Because I know that you are family and there was no way I was going to leave you out. Besides, as one woman to another, you can never have too much of this,” Tessa answered.
Lydia opened the package and gasped. It was a fine French perfume. Delicately, she sniffed at the bottle and closed her eyes. It was glorious. “You didn’t have to, but I’m sure glad you did. You’re right. I haven’t ever smelled anything like it. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Marcus. You’re next.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. Here.”
He took the gift, which turned out to be a set of leather bound journals. He gave her a questioning glance. “They’re beautiful.”
“Oh, shoot. That’s the wrong one. I mean, it is and it isn’t,” Tessa was slightly flustered and pulled out another one. “This is the real gift.”
The second one revealed an autographed copy of Dickenson’s A Tale of Two Cities. He looked at Tessa sharply. “How? Why?”
“I was privileged se
veral years ago to be able to meet him and have him sign this book. I’ve gotten much joy from it and would like to pass it on to you because as another avid reader, I know that you would draw as much enjoyment from it as I,” Tessa explained. Before Marcus objected, she said, “I shall be extremely offended if you do not accept it.”
Dean was enjoying watching her get the best of his little brother. Usually, it was Marcus getting his own way about something. It was nice to see the tables turned.
Marcus smiled, realizing she’d beaten him. “Very well, milady. As you wish.”
Tessa clapped and then handed Seth a package. Seth frowned a little but took it when she raised her eyebrows at him. He opened it and found a fine dress shirt and silk tie.
She laughed at his confused look. “As I understand it, you are a bit of a scoundrel. No lady will be able to resist you in those. Trust me.”
Seth laughed. “I’m not sure what to think of you.”
“Good. I enjoy keeping people guessing,” Tessa responded. Then she turned to Dean. “And for you.”
Dean looked uncomfortable but took the gift she offered recognizing that he couldn’t refuse any more than his brothers had been able. He unwrapped a fine pair of work gloves that were soft yet highly durable. He looked at Tessa in surprise. How had she known he had needed a pair? In fact, all of her gifts were very thoughtful and appropriate to each person.
“Thank you, Tessa,” he said. “These will be useful, that’s for sure.”
“I’m glad.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t have anything for you. We weren’t expecting gifts,” Dean said.
Tessa sought to soothe his pride. “Yes, you have. You’ve opened up your home to me and allowed me to meet your family. Not only that, but I want you to teach me some things. So although the presents may not be purchased, think of them as education. Lydia, will you please show me how to make chicken like that and some other things?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Marcus, I’d be very grateful if you were to show me how to whittle something?”
“Sure,” he said with a smile.
“Seth, I would enjoy it if you were to tell me what a real cattle drive is like so I can write about it.”
“Okay, but that doesn’t seem like much of a present,” Seth replied.
“To someone like me, it is,” Tessa assured him.
“And Dean, please show me how to cut a calf from the herd?” Tessa leaned toward him, her eyes pleading with him. “You said that when the men are gone, the women have to carry on, so I see no reason why I shouldn’t be allowed to learn something like that. What if one becomes sick and needs tending? I might need to separate it so it can be treated.” She heard a snicker behind her and frowned at Marcus.
“Sorry, but you’re awful cute when you’re determined,” he said.
Dean tried not to, but he couldn’t prevent the laugh that started in his chest. “Not you, too!” she said in dismay.
“I’m sorry. Marcus is right. You’re very pretty with your eyes all bright and your pink cheeks. Are you sure you really want to learn that? It’s dangerous.”
Tessa crossed her arms over her chest. “Are you implying that I’m a weak woman and can’t handle it?”
Lydia heard the steel under Tessa’s cultured voice and sat back to watch the show.
“Uh, no, not exactly,” Dean said.
“Mr. Samuels, I should like you to explain to me in exact words, then, what your concerns are so that I may put them to rest,” she said.
Dean frowned at her formal tone. “All right. Have you ever ridden a cow horse?”
“No, but I have ridden a lot of horses, including rather difficult ones,” she said.
“Okay. Have you ever been around cattle, I mean, up close?” Dean said.
“Does being able to milk a bad-tempered cow count? Or being unafraid to pet a bull?”
Dean nodded. “I guess so. How fast do you ride?”
Tessa gave a snort. “I think you mean race and jump, sir.”
Marcus and Seth exchanged surprised looks.
“What kind of saddle are we talking? Side saddle?”
“Yes, but I also ride astride,” Tessa said. “I know! If you teach this to me, I’ll teach you how to jump sidesaddle.”
Everyone laughed, even Dean. Marcus had tears in his eyes, he laughed so hard. He couldn’t get the picture of Dean in a dress, riding some pretty mare sidesaddle, out of his head.
When the laughter died, Dean said, “All right. You’re on.”
“Thank you,” Tessa said.
Lydia stood and said, “Well, I’d better get this cleaned up. It’s starting to get late.”
Tessa stood with her. “Please let me help. I’ve never washed dishes and I’d like to learn.”
“No time like the present then,” Lydia agreed.
An hour later, she and Lydia had finished and Lydia set about getting the children ready for bed. Tessa decided to leave her to it, figuring she would be learning that soon enough. She also had to remind herself that although she was eager to learn, she didn’t want to overstep and offend. She went into the parlor and found a lantern and matches. She lit it and sat in the rocking chair. It was very comfortable. Tessa thought about the day and knew that before she went to bed, she would have to write as much down as possible. Her eyes closed as she rocked gently and soon, she drifted off.
Dean found her that way. He and his brothers had gone to the barn to make sure things were secure and feed the stock while Lydia and Tessa had cleaned up the kitchen. The kitchen was empty when he came in. Seth had retired to his bunkhouse and Marcus had headed on home. He saw the light coming from the parlor and went in.
Tessa sat in Sarah’s chair, her head tilted to one side. Her eyes were closed and her chest rose and fell slowly. Dean experienced a hollow feeling in his stomach. She was so different in both appearance and personality, but she was a woman and no other woman but Lydia had sat in that chair since Sarah had died. It was both unsettling and nice.
Tessa was a fetching woman and the male part of him responded. Any man would be lucky to have her. Dean wondered why a woman of her age wasn’t married, especially one who obviously came from money and had all of the positive attributes Tessa had.
Tessa stirred and opened her eyes. Their gazes locked and that unnamed something passed between them. Tessa smiled, her soft lips curving and her eyes shining softly in the lantern light.
“Hello. You caught me nodding off, I’m afraid,” she said.
Dean smiled. “You looked comfortable.”
“Very. This is a wonderful chair,” she said.
“I bought the set of chairs when Sarah was expecting Sadie. I traded a heifer for them. Her feet would swell and her back would hurt when she was farther along,” he said.
“She was a lucky woman to have such a thoughtful husband and I know you were all lucky to have her,” Tessa said.
Dean nodded. “Isn’t it strange for you to come here with the possibility of marriage and be talking about my late wife?” He sat down in the other chair.
“Did you expect me to be jealous?” Tessa asked.
“Something like that. I reckon that a lot of women wouldn’t want to talk about her, that they wouldn’t want to be compared or something.”
“Yes, I’ve known women like that. They somehow felt as if they were walking in the shadow of the first wife,” Tessa agreed. “I think that’s unreasonable, especially when that family had such a happy life together. Of course, they’re not just going to forget all about her and I don’t expect any of you do that with Sarah. Dean, I knew what I was getting into when I answered that advertisement. Do you know why I chose yours?”
Dean laughed. “I have no idea.”
“Because though it was brief, it was full of heart and honesty. There have been a lot of marriages that have had neither of those. Marriages in my circles have been built for purely business reasons and the need to produce heirs. I didn’t want tha
t kind of life.”
“Is that the way it is with your parents?” he asked.
Tessa’s smile lit up her face. “Oh, no. They are an exception. My father is Irish, hence the O’Connor name. My mother is of English decent. He’s hot-tempered, humorous, and ruthless in business and sometimes in personal relationships. She’s sweeter tempered, but cold as ice when she’s angry. They’re fire and ice and completely in love.”
Dean smiled. “My parents were the opposite. Two peas in a pod. If they ever fought, I never knew it. They had a great marriage.”
“That’s what I’m after. I know this will take time, but I’m confident so far,” Tessa said.
Dean smiled and said, “I’m going to turn in. Do you need anything?”
Tessa rose. “Yes. I should do the same. I’m fine. Good night, Dean.”
“’Night, Tessa.”
He watched as she left the room and listened as she walked up the stairs. Dean felt bad that he hadn’t been able return her sentiment, but it was best he was honest. As he went to bed, Dean tried to not think about the fact that a very attractive, available woman who had come there to possibly marry him was now sleeping above him. He failed.
Chapter Eight