House On Windridge Read Online Free PDF

usually indicated a spring or pond, creek or river, and because they were generally the exception and not the normal view, Jessica took note of these places and wondered if their gold and orange leaves hid from view some small homestead. Her father had once prided himself on having no neighbor closer than an hour’s distance away, but Jessica knew that time had changed that course somewhat. Kate had written of a rancher whose property adjoined her father’s only five miles to the south and another bound him on the west within the same distance. The latter was always after Gus to sell him a small portion of land that would allow him access to one of Gus’s many natural springs. But Gus always refused him, and the man was up in arms over his unneighborly attitude.
    Jessica wondered at her father’s severity in dealing with others. Kate told her it was because he’d never managed to deal with life properly after the death of Jessie’s mother. But Jessica thought it might only be an excuse for being mean tempered.
    Her conscience pricked her at this thought. She didn’t know her father well enough to pass judgment on him. Her Christian convictions told her that judgment was best left to God, but her heart still questioned a father who would send away his only child and never suggest she return to him for anything more than a visit. With this thought overwhelming her mind, it was easy to fall asleep. She felt the exhaustion overtake her, and without giving it much of a fight, Jessica drifted into dreams.
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    Her first conscious thoughts were of a baby crying. Then her mind instantly awoke, and Jessica realized it was Ryan who cried. She sat up to find the nine month old trying to untangle himself from the blankets she’d so tightly secured him inside.
    â€œPoor little boy,” she cooed. Pulling him from the confines of his prison, Jessica immediately realized his wetness.
    Looking out the window, Jessica wondered how much farther it was to the house. She hated to expose Ryan to a chill by changing him in the carriage. Wrapping a blanket around the boy, Jessica shifted seats and knocked at the little window slide. Within a flash, Buck slid it open.
    â€œSomething wrong?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder.
    â€œHow far to the house?” she questioned.
    â€œWe’re just heading up the main drive. Should be there in five minutes. Is there something you need?”
    Jessica shook her head. “No, thank you. I’m afraid the baby is drenched, and I just wondered whether to change him in here or wait. Now I know I can wait and not cause him overmuch discomfort.”
    â€œKate will probably snatch him away from you anyway. That woman just loves babies.”
    Jessica cringed. What she didn’t need to face was yet another woman seeking to steal her child.
    â€œSure wish you’d told us about him sooner. Kate would have come east in a flash to help you out and see the next generation of Gussops.”
    She didn’t bother to correct Buck by pointing out that the baby was an Albright. She thought of him as a Gussop as well. Despite the fact they both carried the Albright name, Jessica considered both herself and her son to be Gussops.
    Buck left the slide open in case Jessica wanted to say something more, but she held her silence. She was nearly home, and the thought was rather overwhelming. Home. The word conjured such conflicting emotions, and Jessica wasn’t sure she wanted to dwell on such matters.
    â€œWhoa!” Buck called out. The carriage slowed and finally stopped all together. Jessica looked out and found they were sitting in the wide circular drive of Windridge. The house stood at the end of a native stone walk, and it was evident that her father had sorely neglected the property in the last five years.
    â€œWell, we’re here, Ryan,” she whispered against the baby’s pudgy cheeks. “I don’t know about you, but I’m