CHAPTER 3
Julia drew back, as if he’d slapped her. She’d experienced the sorrow of the deaths of loved ones, but never, never the passing of her own child! That was an unimaginable sadness. And Dev was right—he’d had no choice. Jamie needed him.
But what of his needs? Suddenly, her perspective changed…perhaps Annella had been selfish. She’d left Dev alone, with no one to talk to. No one to share his own sorrow with—and had added to his devastating sadness—Oh, goodness…Annella hadn’t died on purpose! Yet, the thought niggled…even with a young baby boy to love and care for, she’d been unable to summon up the will to remain. And Dev seemed so…certain...so sure she could have pulled herself up by the bootstraps. But Julia’s heart cried otherwise. Some sorrows were too much to bear. Annella may not have been strong enough.
Julia watched Dev determinedly take another bite of food. He knew he had to eat—though he probably was no more hungry than she was now, with the way the conversation had turned. Julia could see he was not enjoying his food, but eating out of need. She’d not intended to bring him unhappiness.
“Our trip out West was full of excitement,” she ventured, sipping her coffee. “It was the first time Lauralee or I had travelled so far from home.”
“I imagine Indian Territory has been quite a different experience,” Dev said.
“Well, this snowfall has been wondrous!” Julia bit into her buttered biscuit with real hunger. She was determined to say something good about Dev’s home.
“Glad you made it in early—else you might’ve been stuck in town for several days before you could travel again. This is as bad as I’ve seen things in a good while, and it’s gonna get worse.”
“You mean more snow?”
Dev shook his head. “Way it feels, there’s gonna be ice followin’ before long. That’ll be a lot worse than snow—for the animals.”
“Men, too, I expect,” Julia said grimly. “You all will be the ones having to keep the animals safe. I’ll be sure to have a pot of coffee going. Being raised in the South, I suppose I never thought about the dangers of snow and ice. It’s so…beautiful.”
He looked up at her quickly, and she smiled. “Well, it looks as though I’ve surprised you again.”
He nodded. “You did. I wasn’t expecting—ah, hell, I don’t know what I was expecting, Julie. I doubt this place—this situation—me…” He cleared his throat. “If you want to travel back to Georgia, I’ll pay your fare. You’re a long way from home, and—”
Fear coiled in Julia’s stomach. He didn’t understand. She had no home to return to. No relatives. No friends. It had taken every ounce of her determination and the concern for Lauralee’s well-being to send them packing and set them on this journey. She couldn’t turn back, now. She was almost out of money, and there was nothing to return to.
“Devlin, I—I fear I am here to stay.” She raised her eyes and met his steady, dark stare. “This is my home now—unless you find me…unsuitable for the position.”
• ♥ •
Unsuitable? That was hardly a word that could be used to describe Miss Julia Jackson.
The woman had a way with Jamie, as well as the clear devotion of her niece. Jamie already looked up at her with clear devotion in his face—Dev’d seen that for certain before he’d ruined everything like a bull in a china closet when he’d come stomping through the door.
And Miss Julia had learned her way around Dev’s kitchen in a hurry, and made a meal fit for a king out of the meager stores that needed to be replenished—and they’d have to make do with, for now, until they could get to town.
With her soft, golden hair and blue eyes, she looked like an angel, even after her days of travel with a young child. And she’d uncomplainingly gone the extra mile, taking care of little Jamie and getting their meal together.
It had felt fine to know she was here, preparing their meal and feeding Jamie, while he had lit the fires and taken care of those things that needed tending. But traveling here, alone—that had been dangerous; she had determination—he’d give her that. And, as he tried to put himself in her place, he could feel how very afraid she must have been to have come so far from home. Then, she’d had to figure out a way to get herself to his ranch, still alone and responsible for Lauralee.
She was staring at him intently. He realized he’d not responded.
“Unsuitable—of course not!” He sat up straighter in his chair. “I thought maybe you—well, I know that living on a ranch is a come-down for a lady such as yourself, Julie.” He laid his fork on the edge of his plate. “You’re used to the finer things—” He shook his head. “Not—not like life is here.”
Julia drew a deep breath. “It’s true that I was raised to be a lady. But…well, can’t a lady live on a ranch?”
The sincerity of her question made him smile—a genuine smile that led to a chuckle. “I suppose so. I would be glad to have a lady on my ranch.”
“I won’t trouble you,” she said, sounding eager.
“Taking care of Jamie is the main thing,” Dev muttered gruffly, trying to ignore the wave of protectiveness that washed over him.
Julia nodded. “Have no worries. He’s dear to me already.” After a moment, she said, “I will be glad to prepare meals—should I make a list of supplies when we’re finished?”
The wind whistled around the eaves of the snug house, and Dev gave a wry shake of his head. “There’ll be time for that, by the sound of things outside. I should-a gone into town a couple of days ago. There just hasn’t been time—”
“Don’t worry. There’s plenty of flour and baking supplies. We can eat biscuits and gravy, if nothing else.”
Relieved, Dev smiled at her willingness. “I never get tired of that.”
• ♥ •
As Dev carried Jamie up to bed, then Lauralee, Julia washed the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen.
Dev appeared beside her, reaching for a dishtowel. He gave her a questioning glance.
“Yes. This lady does know how to cook and clean up,” she assured him.
“I am impressed,” he admitted. “You aren’t what I was expecting.”
“Oh…are you disappointed? I could—”
“No,” he said quickly, stacking the plates and serving dishes as he dried them. “I just wasn’t figuring on—you.”
Julia wasn’t sure what to think about Dev’s statement. “And I wasn’t expecting—” She felt heat rising to her cheeks. It was only the awkwardness of their uncertainty with each other, she was sure. “I’ll pour us some coffee, and we can go sit by the fire ’til it burns down some,” she said, to fill the silence.
“That sounds good,” Dev agreed.
They carried their cups to the Great Room and sat on the settee where Lauralee had slept earlier. The room was warm and cozy as the wind shrieked outside.
“We hadn’t been here too long when you got home,” Julia said, making conversation. “Those last couple of miles—the snow was blowing, and I wasn’t sure I was on the right road. The livery owner gave me directions—he couldn’t spare a driver.”
“You did just fine.” Anger shot through Dev’s heart at the thought of Neal Owens turning Julie down when she’d asked for a driver. A young woman in unfamiliar territory with inclement weather upon them—and with the trouble that had been afoot lately…The cut fences. The bad water. Things that didn’t ‘just happen’. Things he wasn’t sure he’d be able to stop before he was ruined. Stealthy attacks that were becoming bolder with each passing day. When he returned the rig, Dev thought, he’d damn sure have a word with Owens.
It was his fault, for being a Campbell, Dev knew. Oddly enough, this was probably the only instance where his Scottish blood was the point of contention over his Chickasaw heritage. Owens took his clan affiliation seriously—even two generations from leaving the auld country.
But, Dev wouldn’t allow anyone to slight Miss Julia Jackson, simply for being in his employ. She had no choice about working for him. What a fearful position that must put her in…no choice. What if he’d turned out to be an ogre? A man with no conscience? She would have been trapped. Yet, she’d had to take that chance…
“Julie—earlier, I only meant to offer you a choice; not suggest that you should go home.”
She nodded. “Thank you. I truly have no home to return to. Lauralee is my older sister’s daughter. My sister, her husband, and my brother are all gone now. So, I’m Lauralee’s guardian.”
“Forgive me. I don’t mean to be—indelicate—but can you tell me how you came to be in such dire straits? I’m sure this was not what you had planned for your life.”
• ♥ •
Julia gave him a direct look. “I like your honesty, but I’m not accustomed to it,” she admitted. A faint smile played on her lips. “No. It’s not at all what I thought my life would be. In short, after my parents died, my brother gambled our estate away. I’ll be honest—and blunt, as well. He was murdered—presumably, for not paying up on his debts.”
She took a deep breath. How she hated to revisit those bleak years! But Dev had a right to know. Best to get this conversation over with.
“My sister, Helena, married for security—for me and for herself. Her husband, Zion, was much older, with a son, Ellis, by a previous marriage. When his father died, followed soon after by my sister, Ellis inherited…everything.”
“But—what about Lauralee?”
Julia shook her head. “No. Ellis Redmond was particularly vicious in his description of what could happen to us if we fought him for her portion. We are perfectly happy to leave Georgia behind, and look forward to a new beginning here. It’s safer that way.” Feeling the melancholy subject settle on her, she shook it off with a bright smile. “And, much more adventurous.”
• ♥ •
That was the truth. More than she knew. For a brief moment, Dev debated with himself about telling her what had been happening for the past few weeks here at the Flying C.
But he couldn’t. Not yet. She was running to the relative safety he could offer her here at the Flying C—he didn’t want to scare her. She needed to feel secure.
And he would resolve it. She need never know. Until then, he’d make sure she stayed close to home. That shouldn’t be hard, with the aid of the bitter cold and snow.
“Ready for bed?” he asked, his mind registering his words as soon as he spoke them. “I mean—”
But Julia didn’t take offense. She only nodded and stood, reaching for his empty cup. “I am,” she said softly. “Thank you for lighting the fires—I truly do hate a cold bedchamber. Do you want me to see to Jamie before I retire?”
“Ah—uh, no. I can do it. Thanks. I carried your bags up earlier. First bedroom on the left, at the top of the stairs, if that’s okay with you.”
“Thank you.” Julia turned for the kitchen to set their cups on the cabinet.
“I’ll just bank the fire,” Dev said unnecessarily, filling the silence.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” Julia told him. She turned to go, then stopped and looked back at him. “Thank you, Dev. Lauralee and I appreciate—well…thank you.” Before he could respond, she started up the stairs.
He listened as her footsteps disappeared, then the door to her bedchamber closed softly.
It was a long time before Dev climbed the stairs. No matter how he wanted to believe the tumult in his heart was due to the chaotic feelings Julie had awakened within him, he knew that wasn’t it. Worry had seized his soul—and he wasn’t sure what to do to put an end to it.