Return to Whispering Pines

by Scarlett Dunn

  “I’m afraid I must insist. The farm is now the orphanage, my dear. I have every right to stay there as I am responsible for the welfare of my employees. Besides, we have much more to discuss.”

  Jack dismounted and walked to the buggy. “I can see you home, Addie.” He was silently delighting in the fact that Prescott Adler III needed a driver. The man was obviously out of his element out here in this wild territory.

  “That won’t be necessary, Sheriff. I was just about to tell Prescott I will ask Granny to stay at the farm since he does have a right to see the orphanage.” She took some pleasure in letting Jack know that another man was interested in her. She might not find Prescott as physically appealing as Jack, but he was an attractive man, even if he was maddening.

  Jack started seeing red. He couldn’t believe she was going to allow this dandy to stay at the farm. She sure as heck didn’t put up much of an argument to dissuade him.

  Prescott climbed from the buggy. “My dear, I’ll retrieve my valise and be back posthaste.”

  Addie ignored Jack after Prescott walked into the hotel.

  Jack walked to her side of the buggy and braced his arm on the back of the seat. “How long is he staying?”

  Addie smoothed her skirt as she considered her reply. “I have no idea.”

  “Why is he here?”

  Addie leveled her gaze on him. “I imagine he’s here to see me.”

  Jack leaned in until his face was inches from hers. “Tell me, are you going to kiss him like you did me?”

  Addie thought he had a lot of nerve to bring that up. She gave him a mutinous glare. “Why not? What does a kiss mean? I believe you’ve recently had more than one woman kissing you.”

  So she had seen Clarissa kiss him today on the sidewalk. “You didn’t see my lips on hers.”

  “She certainly seemed comfortable running her hands all over you.”

  Jack grinned at her. Clarissa did seem particularly interested in his chest today. “Men like to be touched. I guess Clarissa knows that.”

  Addie was so shocked by his admission that she had to search for an appropriate retort. “I’d say you got what you enjoyed today.”

  “You sound jealous.”

  “Ha! Why should I be jealous? What you do with Clarissa is of no concern to me. Just as what I do with Prescott is of no concern to you.”

  That wiped the smile off his face. “He doesn’t seem very concerned about the children.”

  Addie couldn’t deny that point. “That too is no concern of yours.”

  “I’m making it my concern. I care about what happens to Davey.”

  Addie wasn’t willing to give an inch. “I’d say you have your hands full with your own child.”

  Jack frowned at her. “What the heck are you talking about? I don’t have a child.”

  “Don’t you? I’d say Clarissa is almost young enough to be your child.”

  He couldn’t argue that Clarissa was fourteen years younger, but that wasn’t young enough to be his child. “She’s not that young. She’s a full-grown woman.”

  “And I’m sure you’ve noticed,” Addie snapped.

  Yeah, he’d noticed. Clarissa had a nice trim figure, and she was very pretty. But he liked the way Addie felt in his arms. She was generously shaped, her curves soft and warm. It angered him that he couldn’t forget how good she felt against his body. “She’s a beautiful woman.”

  Addie knew Jack was comparing Clarissa’s body to hers, and it wasn’t unreasonable to think he found her lacking. She felt like crying, but she wouldn’t dare in front of this cad. Thankfully, she spotted Prescott walking out of the hotel. “Well, I’m sure you two will have a fine date tomorrow. I’ll be saying good night.” She smiled at Prescott when he neared the buggy. “Are you ready to go?”

  “Yes.” He turned to the sheriff, who in his estimation, was much too close to Addie again.

  Jack felt like grabbing Addie and kissing her on the lips right in front of Prescott.

  “Are you accompanying us to the orphanage as well?” Prescott asked Jack.

  Addie laughed. “Heaven’s no. The sheriff must get his rest. He has a big date with a very young woman tomorrow.”

  Prescott was relieved to hear that news. Maybe he’d been misreading the sheriff’s interest in Addie. “Be careful, Sheriff, young women can lead you astray.”

  “I’m counting on it. But as it turns out, I’m going to Morgan’s for dinner tonight.” Jack didn’t say he was invited for dinner, but he knew he’d be welcome. He told himself he wanted to make sure they arrived at Morgan’s safe and sound. If they were accosted on the trail, he couldn’t depend on Adler to protect Addie. He also wanted to see how Adler treated the girls. He certainly wasn’t prepared to admit that he was jealous. How could he be jealous of a dandy like Prescott Adler III?

  * * *

  Once they reached the ranch, Addie and Prescott walked inside the house as Jack saw to the horses. Morgan was in the stable, and Jack was relieved he’d have the chance to talk to him alone.

  Jack told Morgan about Prescott Adler coming all the way from Boston to this wild territory. “Wait until you see this character. He doesn’t even know how to handle a buggy.”

  Morgan stopped brushing down his horse and looked at Jack. “You’re pulling my leg.”

  Jack held his hand in the air as if he were swearing an oath. “He asked Addie if the livery had a man for hire to drive them.”

  Morgan shook his head. “I guess it follows he can’t ride a horse.”

  “I don’t know what she sees in a man like that.”

  “Why is he here?”

  “By the way he kissed her right there on the sidewalk in front of God and everybody, my guess would be he is a lot more than the benefactor of the orphanage.”

  Morgan arched his brow at him. “Yeah?”

  “It wasn’t a brotherly kind of kiss, if you know what I mean.”

  Morgan thought he heard a hint of jealousy in Jack’s voice. “How do you feel about that?”

  “That’s Addie’s business. But it sure didn’t do anything to help her reputation with the folks in town.”

  Morgan finished brushing his horse, and looked at his best friend. “I thought you were getting pretty friendly with her.”

  “I think we’re friends, and I enjoy being with the children,” Jack replied evasively.

  That was a non-answer if Morgan ever heard one. “I got the feeling you enjoyed being around Addie too. You were spending your nights with her.”

  “I was spending my nights in her house, not with her. There’s a difference.”

  Morgan chuckled. “I guess there is.”

  “It would have been a whole lot more comfortable if I was spending the night with her instead of trying to sleep on that settee. That darn thing is so small I was eating my knees.”

  “The point is, you’ve been spending so much time with them, I can’t figure out how you are getting any sleep.”

  “I don’t like the thought of them spending nights alone on the farm without a man around.”

  “You think he’s planning on staying here, or wanting her to go back to Boston?”

  Jack hadn’t even considered the possibility Addie might leave Whispering Pines. “I don’t think he’s here to see the orphanage. And a man like that wouldn’t stay here long.”

  “Not likely.”

  “Anyway, I wanted to tell you I told them I was coming out here for dinner.”

  “You know you’re welcome.” They finished with the horses, and walked from the stable side by side. “Rose probably has dinner ready. Now why don’t you tell me the real reason you came out here with them?”

  Jack should have known Morgan would figure out there was more to the story. “Adler is planning on spending the night at Addie’s.” He told Morgan about Addie seeing Clarissa kissing him. “It was nowhere near the kind of kiss Addie received from that dandy. She participated. I did not.”

  So, Morgan had his answer.
Jack was interested in Addie. “Why don’t you just admit it?”

  “Admit what?”

  “That you’re in love with Addie.”

  “I’m not in love.” Jack shrugged. “Sure, I like her, but I’m not talking love here. I just don’t want folks to get the wrong idea about her.”

  “Are you in love with Clarissa?”

  “Nope.”

  “Are you spending the night with Addie too?”

  “She said she was going to ask Granny to stay at the farm tonight,” Jack replied.

  “Problem solved. Addie’s reputation will remain intact.”

  “But Granny’s room is at the far end of the hall. After the way Adler kissed her, and since she didn’t object, he might be thinking of taking liberties.”

  Morgan looked at his friend. “You don’t think Addie would let a man squire her around Boston knowing he couldn’t be trusted with her virtue, do you?”

  Jack shook his head. “No, but since she didn’t mind him kissing her like he did, he might think she’d be more amenable to . . .”

  “To what? Asking him to her room?”

  Jack thought of Clarissa, and he had a feeling she wouldn’t hesitate to invite him to her room. That was information he wasn’t willing to share, not even with his best friend. “You never know what women are thinking when they want to get married.”

  “Even if Addie wanted to marry, I don’t think she would do something foolish.”

  “And you didn’t see that kiss.”

  * * *

  “Jack, there is no reason for you to stay, since Prescott is here.” Addie had finally wrangled the girls into bed, and she was exhausted. Whenever Jack was around they wanted to be with him as long as possible.

  “You are going to need a buckboard in the morning to take the children to school. Not everyone is going to fit in that buggy. You can’t drive them both.”

  Addie had thought the same thing. She couldn’t believe Prescott had never driven a buggy. She was aware he couldn’t ride, but heavens, who would have ever thought he’d always hired a driver. “I will have one of Morgan’s men go with us.”

  “I told Morgan I would take you. That’s why I brought Granny over in the buckboard tonight.”

  Granny overheard their conversation, and she didn’t know why Addie was adamant Jack should leave. “Addie, Jack has had a long day, and I’m sure he’s tired. Now that I’m here, there’s no problem with him staying the night.”

  Jack smiled at Granny. “Thank you, Granny. I am tired.”

  Granny thought her granddaughter didn’t appreciate everything Jack had done for her and the children, and she planned to speak with her about that very thing when they were alone. If Addie preferred Prescott Adler over Jack, well, the girl needed to have her head examined. Oh, she thought Prescott was a nice man, but he wasn’t the kind of man that would make it in the West. He wasn’t the kind of man who would make Addie happy either. “Jack, you can have my bedroom. I’m sure Addie won’t mind if we share her room.” Granny looked at Addie and smiled sweetly. “That is okay with you, isn’t it, dear. Since Prescott has one bedroom, we are running out of rooms.”

  “Jack can take Davey’s room,” Addie said without enthusiasm.

  Jack liked the sound of that. Davey’s room was between Addie’s and the one where Prescott would be sleeping. He slept with one eye open, so he was bound to hear if Adler decided to take a midnight stroll.

  “I’m going to warm some water for my bath.” Addie was still angry with Jack, and she thought he had some nerve to be spending the night at her house when he was going to be with Clarissa tomorrow night. She was tired too, and with two men in the house, she was forced to carry water upstairs to bathe instead of pulling the tub into the kitchen, where it was more convenient.

  “I’ll carry the tub to your room,” Jack said.

  “I can manage.” Addie left the room, leaving Granny and Jack alone.

  “She seems out of sorts. I guess she’s worried about Davey,” Granny said, giving her granddaughter the benefit of the doubt.

  “I’m worried about Davey too. He’s not happy at the Coburns’.”

  “I was afraid of that. Sarah never talks much at church, but I think her husband is not the most pleasant person.”

  “That’s the truth,” Jack agreed. “He doesn’t want Addie involved in Davey’s life from now on.”

  “That would be difficult on the girls if they can’t see their brother.”

  “I’m not through with Coburn yet. I hope he’ll begin to see things my way.”

  “If anyone can convince him, it will be you,” Granny said. “I’ll be saying good night.”

  “Good night, Granny.” Jack heard the clank of the tub in the kitchen, so he walked in that direction. Addie had managed to pull it across the floor. “I’ll carry it up for you.”

  “I can get it,” Addie said, stubbornly refusing to accept his help.

  Jack picked up the tub and hoisted it on his shoulder. “Warm your water and I’ll carry that up.”

  It would have taken Addie twice as long to get the tub up the steps and carry the water, so she did appreciate his help, though she hated to admit it. “Thank you.”

  * * *

  Later that night when Jack carried the tub back down the stairs, he thought a nice hot bath sounded good. Though he was exhausted and desperately needed some sleep, the thought of a hot bath was more enticing. It was well past midnight and he figured it made more sense to bathe in the kitchen so he wouldn’t be carrying pails of water up and down the stairs and chance waking someone.

  He placed the tub by the kitchen table, and once it was filled with hot water, he grabbed a towel from the closet under the staircase. As he was stripping out of his clothing, he placed his holster on the table within easy reach. He pulled a cigar and match from his shirt pocket and placed them on the table beside his holster before he climbed in the tub. The tub wasn’t long enough to accommodate his long frame, but he leaned back, knees bent, and allowed the warmth to seep into his bones. It felt like heaven to him. He realized he’d left the kerosene lamp on the hall table, but the moonlight filtering through the kitchen window provided just enough light. He wasn’t about to move to retrieve the lamp. He quickly washed his hair and dunked under the water before he soaped his body. Finished with his ablutions, he reached for his cigar, arranged the towel as a pillow, lit his cigar, and puffed away as he leaned back and closed his eyes. He figured he’d have a few minutes to relax before the water cooled.

  * * *

  Addie hadn’t been able to sleep for worrying about Davey. Having Jack and Prescott both under her roof didn’t help matters. The whole evening had been tense, and she hadn’t wanted either man to stay at the farm. Prescott had made his displeasure known about Jack’s presence when he’d said good night. She told him that with Granny staying, there was nothing improper. She tried to explain that it wasn’t a rare occurrence for guests to spend the night so they didn’t have to ride back to town in the dark. Of course, Prescott’s next question was how many times before had Jack spent the night? Her response did not please him, but she wouldn’t lie. Everything had been proper, and it angered her that he would imply otherwise.

  She didn’t know why Jack wanted to stay overnight, and she’d given him no indication that she wanted him there. She was still angry about Clarissa, and she stubbornly refused to be civil to him. But once Granny voiced her opinion, Addie knew she was outflanked. And she grudgingly had to admit Granny was right. Jack had been going since before dawn, and it wasn’t fair to insist he ride all the way back to town. As tired as he was, he’d carried her tub upstairs, then back downstairs. She couldn’t imagine Prescott carrying the tub. He would have gone into town to hire someone to do that kind of chore. Trying to be generous, she reminded herself that while Prescott might have some limitations in this environment, men from the West would be met with similar issues in the larger cities. She thought of Jack in a city like Boston. While she tr
ied to think of something he wouldn’t be able to handle, nothing came to mind. She thought of the places she would go with Prescott. Dinners and balls. Prescott could waltz, and she doubted Jack had ever waltzed in his life. She did miss the balls because she loved music and dancing. As much as it rankled her to admit, she figured Jack would be a coveted prize with the ladies in Boston. Even if he couldn’t waltz, he was so manly, so physically appealing, women would jump at the chance to instruct him in the art of dancing. She grabbed her pillow from beneath her head, covered her face and groaned. She needed to stop thinking about Jack Roper.

  Unable to calm her racing mind, Addie tossed the covers aside and swung her legs over the bed. She decided she would warm some milk, which was Granny’s remedy for sleepless nights. At the bottom of the stairs, she saw the lamp on the table. Jack must have been really exhausted to forget to extinguish the lamp. That thought made her feel even guiltier for how she’d treated him tonight. She carried the lamp to the kitchen with her and placed it on the counter near the stove. After retrieving the milk from the ice box, she poured some in a pan. While waiting for the milk to warm, the memory of Clarissa running her hand over Jack’s chest came to mind. Every time she replayed that scene in her mind, she’d get angry all over again. She didn’t know why she couldn’t stop thinking about that, because she had plenty of other worries. Determined to put Jack and Clarissa out of her mind, she glanced down at the pan and saw the milk starting to bubble. She reached for a glass and filled it with the warm milk. Just as she turned from the stove and took a drink of her milk, she noticed the tub in the kitchen. Then she realized someone was in the tub, and she let out a shriek. Her glass of milk crashed to the floor.

  Mind foggy, Jack jumped up and reached for his gun on the table. When he turned with his pistol cocked, he quickly realized he was aiming directly at Addie. “What the . . .” He nearly dropped his Colt in the water when he remembered he was stark naked. He covered his lower region with his gun hand as he groped for the towel he’d used for a pillow. The towel had fallen in the tub, and he leaned over, searching the water with his free hand. He grabbed the soggy towel, held it in front of his lower half, and placed his gun back on the table. He was in the process of wrapping the wet towel around his midsection when Prescott ran into the kitchen.