Chapter 5
It was a couple of hours later when the wagon pulled on top of a ridge. Ernest stopped the horses to allow Amanda to get her first look at the ranch and her new home. The house had been built in the valley for several reasons. One was to protect it from strong winds, and another was the valley was very fertile for growing vegetables. There were several large trees that provided shade for the house during the day, and helped keep the winds at bay during the harsh summer storms.
Amanda’s breath caught in her throat. Ernest had not done this place justice while describing it. The house was a large, two-story log structure that sat at the end of a long drive that was lined with trees. To the right of the house was a barn that was just as big and impressive as the house. Behind the barn was a long structure that had several windows, but Amanda could not guess what it was.
“The building that you are looking at behind the barn is the bunk house,” Ernest said. “The ranch hands live there. It is close to the barn so that the hands can hear if there are any distress calls from the cattle in the evening. That is especially important at this time of year since many of the cows are ready to give birth any day now.”
“I never expected anything so grand,” Amanda exclaimed. “The house is huge!”
“It is comfortable,” Ernest said. “In generations past it was filled with children, but I was the last child to live in this place. My parents had me later in life and my birth was very taxing on my mother. After that they decided they would not try for any more children. It is my hope that one day you and I will fill it with children of our own.”
Amanda had not even thought about that, but of course every man wished for children of his own. Being an only child herself, she didn’t have experience dealing with young children, but she supposed that she could learn. Right now all she wanted to do was pass through the front door of that house and discover what was on the other side.
Ernest turned the horses up the long drive towards the house while Amanda took everything in. The shade of the trees made the temperatures much more bearable, but all of a sudden Amanda had forgotten all about the heat. This stately looking house was her new home! She had to force herself to keep seated until Ernest stopped the wagon in front of the house. When he held up his hand to help her down, she quickly grabbed it and nearly fell to the ground in her excitement.
“Take it easy,” Ernest said. “After coming all of this way we don’t want you getting hurt now.”
Ernest led Amanda up the steps of the front porch, stopping just in front of the massive front door. He reached for the handle and quickly opened the door wide for her to get her first glimpse. Before she knew what was happening Ernest leaned down and picked her up in his arms.
“I believe that the bridegroom is supposed to carry the bride across the threshold,” he said with a laugh. “Welcome home Mrs. Latimer!”
Amanda blushed from the intimacy of the moment. She threw her arms around Ernest’s neck to hold on while he stepped across the threshold and into the cool entryway of the house. It was the closest she had been to him and she could feel the heat coming from his lean, hard body.
Amanda’s eyes were bright when Ernest put her back down on the floor. They were standing in a large hallway where a flight of stairs led to the second floor. Along the side of the staircase were doors that led to the sitting room, dining room, and kitchen. To Amanda’s surprise, the house was tastefully decorated, something she was not expecting of a bachelor.
“I am going to get our belongings out of the wagon while you explore your new surroundings,” Ernest said. “All of the bedrooms are located up the stairs. The bathroom is also upstairs, but in the future I have plans to add an additional bath to the first floor. The largest bedroom is located at the right end of the hall, and that is the one I currently use. Feel free to explore to your heart’s desire. When I get the wagon unloaded I must go and meet with my ranch hands to get caught up on what has been happening while I have been away. I will be gone for a couple of hours so you will have time to take a nap if you desire.”
Amanda was too excited to take a nap. She wanted to explore every nook and cranny of the house. This was so much more than she had expected. She wandered from one room to the other while Ernest brought their bags in from the wagon. She failed to notice that he placed her bags in the same bedroom as his.
The sitting room held a comfortable looking couch, end tables, a couple of easy chairs, and a large fireplace dominated the room. Amanda couldn’t imagine needing a fire in temperatures like this, but she supposed that the winter months might be cooler. Across the hall the dining room held a large table and eight chairs. Along the side of the wall was a long table that she believed was used to hold food for large gatherings. In the corner was a large china cabinet that was filled with some of the most beautiful blue china she had ever seen. She thought the china must have belonged to his mother, for she could not imagine Ernest wanting something so delicate. She was delighted to find the kitchen was well furnished with a stove, sink, pantry, and plenty of cabinets that were used for storage. She opened one and peered inside to find a set of sturdier dishes that she felt would be suitable for everyday use. There were plenty of pots and pans, cleaning cloths, silverware, and dishes of all kinds. This kitchen was well stocked and screaming for somebody to cook in it.
After checking out the downstairs, Amanda bounded up the stairs two at a time. The first two bedrooms faced the front of the house and both seemed similar in size. She discovered the bathroom in the middle of the hallway and was delighted to discover a large, claw foot tub tucked in one corner. Making her way on down the hall she found a third bedroom that looked out on the rear of the house, giving her a good view of the lush garden. She made her way to the fourth bedroom that was much bigger than the others. She came to a quick halt when she discovered both her and Ernest’s bags sitting on the bed. She had never shared a bed before, but she knew that husbands and wives usually slept in the same room. At least that had been the way of her parents. Now it looked like Ernest expected her to sleep in the same room with him. She eyed the huge bed that dominated the room and suddenly she felt very shy. Not wanting to dwell in the room any longer, she turned and went back downstairs. She wanted to get a quick look at the garden and see if there was something she could find to prepare for supper.