Redwood Ranch: Sweet Simplicity (open)

[Evangeline Redwood]

Evangeline had started her morning as usual: wake, bathe, dress, eat, and go sit on the veranda. She had nothing to entertain her time, especially with her Papa out of town. When he was gone, he demanded that she not fool with the horses, for if she were to get hurt, things could go to hell. So she was stuck shut up in their pretentious manor with none but her maid, the butler, and a book as company.

She had chosen her green and white dress for the day, finding that she loved how beautifully it looked against her creamy skin, dark hair, and big, big eyes. Though she had no one to wear it for, she could not help but desire to look pretty even for herself. And she had caught the stable hands looking up to the veranda and cat calling when they made their way by. She didn't mind it. If anything, she loved it.

But, to keep up the appearances of her southern charms, she had to act put off and, if anything, offended by their cat calls. So when they would turn and look, she would huff, flip her hair, and call in an authoritative Southern drawl. "If you wanna look at the ladies, boy, I'd suggest you get off my land and go into town where they have ladies that'll let you look at 'em all day for a pretty penny, but I sure as hell ain't one of those ladies, so mind your work." And she would go back to her book and her tea.

It was mid afternoon before she had her first caller of the day. She could hear a knock on the front door through the open house and looked up to the butler standing not far from her. She nodded as a gesture that he could answer the door and then went back to her book, reading and sipping her tea idly.

-----------------------
dress here

[anskee]

Tom stood there on the porch, his hat in his hand still wearing his work clothes. The Redwood Ranch was the closest to him, if you consider the distance of 300 acres close. As he had been out checking his fences he found where one of his beef cattle had been killed by what looked like a puma. Concerned for the well-being of not just his animals but also the people who lived on his ranch he was also concerned about his neighbors.

He wasn't sure about the owners of the new ranch but wanted to be neighborly and share his information with them so that they too could protect their livestock and people. The home was beautifully decorated and cared for by loving hands and it definitely spoke of wealth and breeding. He bred horses and knew good stock when he saw it.

A man in a fancy suit that looked more like he would be more comfortable on a Southern plantation answered the door looking up at him with a slight sneer as though Tom were not of his class.

"Pardon me," Tom asked politely. "Might I speak with Mr. Redwood?" He didn't want to go into the house as he was covered with road grime and dirt. and hoped to tell the man his findings.

[Evangeline Redwood]

The butler nodded to the man at the door, sneering slightly at the appearance of dirt and grime. "Mr. Redwood is out of town for these few days, but Miss Redwood is on the veranda if you'll follow me." He held the door open for the man and lead him through the house to the back porch where the former General's daughter was perched, reading.

Evangeline looked up only when footsteps could be heard on the dark stained wood floor of the veranda. Only then did she notice another man was with the butler and immediately stood, jumping into the job of perfect hostess. "Thank you, Williams." Her voice drawled, laced with a thick Southern drawl. "Please ask Maggie to bring out another tray of tea, as well as a bottle of scotch for our company, if ya wouldn't mind." The butler nodded and disappeared back into the confines of the house while the little pit viper turned her eyes back to the rancher standing on her porch.

"Well, I'm assumin' you're here lookin' for my father and not callin' on me." She smiled as invitingly as she could manage, red lips parting to show straight, white teeth, She walked a little closer, offering her hand to him in a far more professional and friendly manner than a curtsy and a smile would have conveyed. "I'm Evangeline Redwood." She introduced herself, taking her hand back when she could before gliding back to her seat.

She couldn't help but be curious as to what this stranger wanted, and who he was. There were a few ranches around them, but most of them were hundreds of acres apart and, as such, she had not been given the opportunity to meet their neighbors. She could only assume that he was there to tell her a few of their cows had escaped, or to offer a trade of a few cows for a few horses, or something of the sort, but that wouldn't stop her from being a perfect hostess.

She lowered herself into her seat, gesturing to the one across from her. "Please, make yourself comfortable."

-----------------------
dress here

[anskee]

At first he was reluctant to enter the house as he had been out in the field but when the butler opened the door for his to enter he brushed off some of the dust and followed him inside. It was beautifully decorated speaking of wealth and taste. His boots clunked loudly on the pristine wooden floors as he followed the properly dressed man to the back porch where an incredibly beautiful woman was reading a book apparently utilizing the natural light. She was so beautiful it caught he breath. As beautiful as Esperanza was this woman far out shown her.

"How do,” he nodded. “I'm Tom Harte. I own the Harte Ranch down the road a ways,” he sounded nervous and cleared his throat. When she offered him a seat he looked at her. “With all due, respect, Ma'am," Tom had the usual Texan accent, soft, slow and easy going and he remained standing, "this isn't a social visit. Since your father is gone I reckon I should talk to you. I've been having a real problem with some of my stock being killed by a Puma. It's also called a mountain lion," he explained. "Anyway, I've been loosing more of my calves lately. I'm figuring a female with cubs has moved into the area. These are dangerous animals and I was trying to let some of my neighbors know about it so they could protect their stock and their families. A female with cubs can attack humans. It's a serious problem.”

[Evangeline Redwood]

Evangeline took no offense as the man chose to remain standing, and she stayed in her seat, placing her hands in her lap and looking up at him. So this was Tom Harte. It was nice to put a face to a name and she nodded politely as he mentioned that he should talk to her in her father's absence. "Yes, when Papa is forced to go out of the area for business, management of the ranch falls to me. So I act as his eyes and ears." The maid appeared with a tray of tea for the mistress of the house and ordered bottle of scotch, which now seemed unneeded as her suspicions that this was not a social call had been confirmed.

She filled her cup, as well as put a touch of sugar in it, then lifted the dainty cup in equally dainty fingers to her lips to sip on it while watching the other rancher. "A puma?" She asked curiously, only to nod her understanding when he used a name for the beast more common to her native tongue. "Jackson, one of my stable hands, told me the other day that we had a cow or two go missin', but I had just assumed they jumped the fence or bullied their way through the wirin'." She took another sip of her tea, flashing him a charming smile.

"I appreciate your warnin', Mr. Harte." She continued. "I'm a foreigner to the area. Back home in Savannah, we usually never had a problem with mountain lions since Savannah is fairly industrialized and they often don't wander into town anymore. My father will not be back for another week or so, so I assume it is not something that can wait until he returns. So, what do you suggest to be done about it?"

Her tone was genuinely curious, one that could make the person she was talking to believe that their opinion was the only one that she cared about. Of course, she would not immediately accept whatever Mr. Harte suggested, but the way she spoke almost made her sound like the damsel in distress, waiting on his word for how to act. Flattery was the best way to gain in society, and she had learned that very early on.

She sat forward a little to show him he had her full attention, the motion causing more of the voluptuous curve of her chest to be visible in the low neckline of her dress, dark eyes watching him intensely.

-----------------------
dress here

[anskee]

His eyes filled with the view of her voluptuousness and he unconsciously licked his lips. They were two white mounds of promise that made him want to see more. More of her feminine curves and it was as though for just the flicker of a moment he could imagine her in his arms in bed and him gazing on her hidden beauties.

Collecting himself he cleared his throat and purposefully raised his eyes to hers. “If they're not already you should make sure they are armed at all times. And have them check your herd in pairs. Make sure you have someone on guard around around you home grounds night and day just to make sure if that cat decides to come visit you and yours. And if you ever need my help,” he looked down at her and then back up not really meaning anything just getting another glimpse before he finished but then blushed beet red and looked back up, “you know where I live. I'd better got going. Nice to meet you, Miss Redwood.”

[Evangeline Redwood]

Evangeline took note of his suggestions, noting them to be rather good suggestions, ones worth listening to. Most of her hands were already armed to the teeth, being the cowboys that they were, there were a few of the younger ones that were not as fortunate. She would see to that. Had it been a fox or a coyote causing them problems, she would have organized a hunt already. And without her father home, no doubt a few of the younger and more impulsive hands would do such a thing to impress their lady employer.

As if on cue, a younger stable hand by the name of Logan came over, leaning against the rail to look at his employer. "Two mommas and their calves have gone missin', ma'am." Evangeline sighed, taking another sip of her tea and looked towards him. "Mr. Harte here was just tellin' me he thinks we have a cougar. So, Logan, be a dear and make sure all the hands are armed. I know Brady ain't got the money for a gun, so help yourself to my armory and make sure he gets a rifle and a shot gun. Leave the eight gauge though, that one is mine. Start checking the herd in pair. And set up shifts between the boys so at least two people are always watchin' at one point or another." The hand nodded and went about his orders, allowing Evangeline to turn her eyes back to Mr. Harte.

"Of course, I'll walk you out." She stood from her chair once more, the layers of her dress falling appropriately back into place before she turned and began making her way back through the house. She briefly mused that the interior may be a bit too elaborate for a place such as Del Fuego, and she would set about redecorating within the next few days to fix that issue. She most certainly could not have her neighbors that she was uppity.

She opened the front door for Mr. Harte and walked out onto the porch, turning to look at him. "Well, now that I know my neighbors, I demand you make a social call on me at some point. It gets so bland here by myself." Her tone was teasing, light, and playful. "Have a safe ride home, Mr. Harte." she curtsied low to him before stepping back to wait for him to get on his horse.
-----------------------
dress here

[anskee]

As he walked back through the house he smiled to himself. He liked how it was decorated and had a homey feel to it. Not exactly like the way his mother had decorated her home, which was now his, but very similar.

Outside now Tom donned his hat and mounted his horse, Aztec.

"If by any chance you need help don't hesitate to ask. I'd like to extend an invitation to come for a visit anytime you'd like, Miss. Redwood. You and your father. Good day to you," he nodded and turned Aztec to leave and down the road to his ranch.