Read Lucas for Free Online Page B

hurt.”
    “Thank you,” she
mouthed with a relieved smile before turning back for the kitchen.
    When he reached the top
of the stairs, his grandfather had already disappeared behind closed doors at
the end of the hall. He ducked inside his room. While there was a small hearth
in the corner, no fire had been set ablaze. The air still held a chill, but for
now, he’d settle for dry clothes. He laid his coat over the arm of the chair
and set his soaked boots next to the door. At least he’d brought one extra
pair. His Sunday best.
    He shrugged into a
fresh pair of long johns and clean denim trousers.
    SLAM!
    Lucas nearly jumped out
of his skin. The shutters on his bedroom window had burst open and shut. It was
a wonder they hadn’t broken the glass. He guessed the second level windows had
not yet been secured. He shook his head, slipped on a dry pair of socks and
tugged on his Sunday boots.
    Knock. Knock.
    “What’s taking you so
long?” his grandfather asked from the other side of the door.
    Lucas swung it open to
the teasing smile on the man’s face.
    “Come on. It’s a lot
warmer down by the fire.” Granddad stopped midway down the steps, turned his
head, nose scrunched. “Achoo!” He nodded curtly and finished his descent.
    As they walked into the
kitchen, two large bowls of steaming liquid accompanied by a small basket of
hot and flaky butter biscuits welcomed them at the table. Lucas sat down and
wrapped his stiff hands around the warm bowl. He looked up when Lucy started to
giggle. His grandfather also had his hands clasped around his dish.
    “They say it’s like
father like son, but I think the old adage applies,” she said with a smile.
“Here. I thought you both might want something special. Tillie picked some up
while she was in town.”
    Lucas set his bowl down
and took the mug from her. He looked down into the hot brown liquid swirled
with fresh cream.
    “What is it?”
    “Hot chocolate.” Lucy’s
tongue ran over her lips and she closed her eyes with an innocent shrug. “I
haven’t had any since I left New York. Isn’t it wonderful?”
    Lucas shifted in his
chair and chuckled. He’d only had hot chocolate once before that he could
remember. At Redbourne Ranch. He smiled at the memory and brought the warm cup
up to his lips, careful not to drink it too quickly. He’d made that mistake
before and nearly burnt the buds from his tongue.
    The distinct taste of
peppermint caressed his mouth with fresh, creamy indulgence. The sweet treat
trailed warmth down his throat to his belly and he shivered as the cold was
forced outward.
    “Thank you, Miss Russell.”
    Lucy pulled a blanket
from a large basket at the foot of the fireplace and tossed it over Granddad’s
shoulders. From what Lucas could gather, Lucy hadn’t been at Whisper Ridge very
long, but she fit here. He couldn’t explain how he knew. He just did. It was
easy to see how much she’d already grown to care for his grandfather and the
others on the ranch.
    “I don’t know how I
ever survived without her here,” Granddad said as they both watched her retreat
behind the counter to help the cook with vittles for the rest of the men.
    Silence passed between
them for a few minutes while they slurped their warm food.
    “I miss you boys, more
than most anything in the world, I reckon. Apart from your Grandma Sophia, God
rest her soul,” he spoke into his soup. “That’s why I wanted to invite you all
here to Whisper Ridge for the holidays.” He turned to look at Lucas. “I want
you all to be a part of the family you came from. To learn about and understand
your heritage. Who you are. Being a Deardon is a noble thing. I don’t want you
to be away from me, son. I want you to be here. With me. With all of us.”
    Cough.
    “You…what?” Lucas pushed
his empty bowl away from him and turned to look at his grandfather. “All this
time. And I thought…I thought you…” he shook his head back and forth, unsure of
what to say. “You