Page 24 of For the Roses (Claybornes' Brides (Rose Hill) 1)

  9

  Friday turned out to be another lesson in humility. Harrison was up bright and early. He was determined to get the last of the horses he’d been assigned calmed down and decent before noon.

  He missed his deadline by several hours, but by late afternoon, and at least ten bruises later, the speckled mustang was finally obeying.

  Douglas was impressed with Harrison’s patience and endurance. He shouted to Cole to come over and see for himself what a fine job their houseguest had done.

  “Look how sweet and docile Speckle is now,” he remarked to his brother. “Harrison calmed him down all right.”

  Douglas had his arms draped over the top of the fence. He motioned for Harrison to ride Speckle over so he could give him a word of praise.

  “You’ve done a remarkable job,” he praised.

  “I used patience and understanding,” Harrison replied. He stared at Cole during his boast. “You would do well to learn a little of both.”

  Cole scoffed. “Patience and understanding? Hell, Harrison, you talked and talked until that poor animal would have done anything to get you to shut up.”

  Harrison refused to be goaded into an argument. He had better things to think about than Mary Rose’s stubborn, never-give-an-inch brother.

  He dismounted and removed both the saddle and blanket. Speckle followed him over to the fence. Harrison draped the equipment over the top, then took hold of the bridle and led the animal over to the largest of the corrals, where the other mustangs were being kept.

  Going inside the fenced area with Speckle turned out to be a mistake. It took him a long, long time to get the bridle off the horse, for the other mustangs were crowding around Harrison and nipping each other in their attempt to get his undivided attention. Each horse apparently craved a little notice, and Harrison couldn’t leave until he had patted and praised every one of them.

  He took the long way around the corral so he wouldn’t have to get into another discussion with Cole, picked up the blanket and saddle on his way, and continued on across the yard and into the barn.

  Douglas and Cole both stared at the horses.

  “Did you notice?” Douglas whispered to his brother.

  Cole smiled. “I noticed all right.” Then he shook his head. The mustangs were so besotted with Harrison they had circled the inside of the fence in a cluster and kept pace with their master as he walked around the outside.

  “I’ve never seen animals act like that before,” Douglas said. “Are you willing to admit Harrison’s talking might have worked a little magic?”

  Cole shrugged. “I’ll admit it, but not in front of Harrison. I wonder if he’ll try to sweet-talk the steers into following him home.”

  “Probably will,” Douglas replied. “Have you seen Travis?” he asked then.

  “He’s hiding in the barn.”

  Douglas didn’t have to ask why their youngest brother had taken shelter inside the barn. The reason was sitting on the front porch.

  Eleanor Border was rocking back and forth in Adam’s favorite chair, while she fanned herself with Mary Rose’s treasured, only-used-on-special-occasions fan.

  Douglas and Cole both turned to frown at their unwanted guest just as their sister came hurrying outside with a fresh glass of juice for Eleanor.

  “That woman sure is running Mary Rose ragged,” Cole commented.

  Douglas agreed with a nod. “Do you think she’ll ever let our sister leave for the ridge?”

  “I doubt it,” Cole replied. “At least not today. Mary Rose has been trying to leave since early morning and it’s going on three now.”

  “It’s her own fault, letting the time get away from her,” Douglas remarked. “She’s going along with Eleanor’s bossing. Mary Rose carried up two trays to her this morning. Eleanor didn’t like the first breakfast cook prepared, so our sister fixed her another one.”

  Cole shook his head. “She never lets us boss her around,” he said. “Besides, she shouldn’t have fixed her anything. Eleanor wouldn’t be acting like a persnickety princess if she wasn’t being treated like one.”

  “I think we should talk to Adam tonight,” Douglas suggested. “He’s being unreasonable about Eleanor staying here. You and Travis and I could gang up on him. We’ll vote to give Eleanor the boot. Mary Rose and Adam will vote to let her stay, of course, but it won’t matter. Majority rules.”

  Cole’s conscience got in the way of his agreement. He couldn’t block the memory of seeing Eleanor in such an anguished state. The poor woman had sounded plumb pitiful as she wept against Adam’s chest. Even though Cole hated to admit it, the memory gave him a heartache.

  “Let’s not jump the gun, Douglas. I say we wait a couple of days before we put it to a vote. Adam must have had some sound reasons for letting the woman stay with us.”

  “Why hasn’t he told us his reasons?”

  “I guess he isn’t ready to,” Cole replied. “Maybe Eleanor will quit complaining in a day or so. She’s about covered every topic around.”

  “She’ll just start over,” Douglas predicted. “She sure likes to hear herself whine, doesn’t she?”

  Cole smiled. He stared at the woman under discussion and couldn’t help but notice how pretty she might be if she ever tried to smile. “It’s the red in her hair,” he told his brother. “Makes her temperamental.”

  “Travis has red in his hair, and he isn’t temperamental.”

  “He’s hiding in the barn, isn’t he? That sounds a might temperamental to me.”

  Harrison walked over to join the two men. Douglas turned to him. “Can you believe it? Cole’s defending Eleanor.”

  “I only said we should give her a couple of days before we take a vote to toss her out,” Cole countered. “I think she’s scared and that’s why she acts bossy.”

  Harrison nodded agreement. “I believe she’s frightened too. Being difficult must give her some sense of control over her current situation.”

  Douglas shook his head. “I think you both have turned into milk toast. I’m going with Travis over to Hammond to barter and sell a couple of my horses. Are either of you interested in tagging along?”

  “Will you be stopping by Pauline’s place?” Cole asked.

  “Who is Pauline?” Harrison asked.

  “She runs a house outside of the town,” Douglas said. “Just past Sneeze Junction.”

  “She’s ...” Harrison began.

  “Friendly,” Cole supplied.

  Harrison declined the invitation. Cole, Travis, and Douglas left for the junction a short while later. The brothers had made the assumption that because of the lateness in the day, their sister wouldn’t still want to go up to the ridge to take Crazy Corrie supplies.

  They were mistaken in their assumption. The duty of escorting Mary Rose would fall on Adam’s or Harrison’s shoulders.

  Adam let Harrison decide. He called him into the kitchen and explained the situation. “One of us has to stay here and keep Eleanor company. The other one has to go up to the ridge with Mary Rose.”

  “I thought you never left the ranch,” Harrison remarked.

  “Where did you hear that?”

  “In town. Dooley or Ghost mentioned it.”

  “I only avoid going into town, Harrison. The mountains are my home. I often hunt with Cole, and fishing is my favorite pastime,” he added with a nod.

  “I would rather go with Mary Rose,” Harrison said.

  “Can you use a gun or did you exaggerate? I don’t mean to insult you, but I need to know you can protect my sister if the need arises.”

  “Yes, I can use a gun,” Harrison assured him. “If it will make you feel better, I’ll carry two.”

  “Strap a rifle behind the saddle as well,” Adam suggested. “We’ve had only one bad run-in with a bear in all the time we’ve lived here, but this time of year they’re roaming for food. You might take one by surprise.”

  “I’ll be prepared for any eventuality.”

  “Mary R

ose can hold her own, of course. I wouldn’t want you to get the notion she wasn’t educated. Cole taught her how to shoot to kill. Thank God, she hasn’t had to use her expertise.”

  “We should get going,” Harrison said then.

  “Just a minute more, please,” Adam requested. “I’m going to be blunt instead of dancing around the issue,” he said. “Mary Rose is attracted to you, and from the way you look at her during suppers, I have to assume the attraction is mutual. I expect you to behave as a gentleman. I realize I’m insulting you, but Mary Rose is more important than your feelings right now. Do I have your word?”

  Harrison wasn’t offended. Adam was acting like a loving brother. Harrison wouldn’t have expected less.

  “You have my word. I’ll keep Mary Rose safe, or die trying, Adam, and I will assuredly protect her honor.”

  Adam shook his hand and then walked with him to the front door. “I wish she’d wait until tomorrow, but she’s stubborn, Harrison.”

  “I noticed.”

  Adam smiled. “Yes, of course you noticed. I’ll be curious to get your take on this Corrie woman. Mary Rose tends to see only the good. Watch out for her when she’s talking to her new friend. I don’t like the idea of a rifle being pointed at my sister all the while she’s talking.”

  Eleanor stood up when the two men walked out onto the porch. She nodded to Harrison and turned her attention to Adam.

  “Are you letting her go, Adam? It looks like rain. She’ll ruin her clothes if she rides off into a thunderstorm. I do wish you’d tell her she has to stay home.”

  “Where is Mary Rose?”

  “She’s in the barn,” Eleanor answered.

  “Why don’t you come inside with me. You can keep me company while I prepare supper.”

  Eleanor looked thankful for company. She eagerly nodded and followed Adam inside.

  It took Harrison and Mary Rose two hours to reach the secluded cabin tucked up high on the ridge. The climb was slow, for the trail was broken in spots and nonexistent in other sections they needed to cross.

  The time passed all too quickly for Harrison. The landscape held him in constant awe. It kept changing with every turn he made, as did the colors and the aromas, and it required his full concentration to keep his eye on Mary Rose too. His gaze wanted to linger on the cascading waterfall to the right of the zigzag path and the rolling hills on the left, thick with heavily scented pines, with clusters of small meadows tucked in between. Wildlife was plentiful in the area. The animals had come down from the higher peaks to shed their winter coats and feed on berries and sweet spring grass. There were deer and elk, mule bucks and red squirrels as thick as cottontails. A whitetail fawn, more curious than afraid, didn’t move at all when they passed within inches of the animal. If Harrison had reached out, he was certain, he could have touched her brown, velvety nose.

  Mary Rose became his eager guide in the wonderland. She gave names to all the wildflowers he’d never seen before and pointed out several plants the locals used to cure their aches and pains. When the trail was wide enough to accommodate both horses, they rode side by side. She stopped several times to point out animals and views she thought would interest him.

  Her love for the land became more evident the higher they climbed. She pointed to a cow moose and calf feeding near a spring and whispered her opinion that they were simply adorable.

  She stopped once again near the top of the ridge and motioned to the hill below.

  “Brown bears,” she whispered. “On the left of the stream. Do you see them, Harrison? One’s just going in the water. If there were enough time, I would insist we watch them fish. They’re much better at it than we are.”

  “How do you know they aren’t grizzly bears?”

  If she thought his question was foolish, she didn’t let him know it. “A grizzly has a distinctive hump behind his head,” she explained. “We don’t see too many around here. Don’t be disappointed. They can be troublesome.”

  “I read that some men who live in the mountains like to hunt the grizzly.”

  She rolled her eyes heavenward. “I’ll bet you read that in a dime novel, didn’t you? Those stories are all made up. Men hunting grizzly bears? Only very foolish men perhaps,” she allowed.

  The tiny frown that creased her brow as she gave the earnest explanation and the enthusiastic tone of voice as she instructed him made him smile.

  He suddenly realized he was as much in awe of her as he was of the land.

  “Why are you smiling? Don’t you believe me?” she asked.

  “I believe you. I’m smiling because you make me happy.”

  She was inordinately pleased with his compliment. “Thank you,” she said.

  “Mary Rose?”

  “Yes?”

  “Why are we whispering?”

  The look of surprise on her face told him she hadn’t realized they had been whispering. She laughed with delight.

  “Adam and I used to whisper whenever we were up here. I was much younger then, and he tended to let me have my way.”

  “But why did you want to whisper?” he asked.

  “You’ll laugh,” she predicted.

  He assured her he wouldn’t. Then he had to promise. She made him.

  “I whispered because I thought I was in God’s backyard.”

  “You what?”

  “You haven’t been around many children, have you, Harrison?”

  “No, I suppose I haven’t. You really thought you were in ...”

  “Yes, I did,” she interrupted. “It seemed appropriate to whisper to show my respect.”

  “And now that you’re all grown up? What do you think now?”

  She decided to be completely honest with him. “That I’m still in God’s backyard.”

  He burst into laughter. She had to wait for him to quiet down before she spoke again. “I like it when you laugh, even though you promised you wouldn’t. Whenever you smile, which is a rare occurrence indeed, the worry lines at the corners of your eyes crinkle up. It’s very appealing. You do worry too much.”

  “I do?” He was actually surprised by her opinion. He couldn’t imagine anyone worrying too much. The notion seemed foreign to him. When a man worried, he stayed on edge, always ready, always prepared for any eventuality.

  “Oh, yes, you worry too much.”

  She softened her criticism by smiling at him. He immediately smiled back. And still they lingered. Neither one of them wanted to move. The moment suddenly became filled with promise. A new intimacy flowed between them, in this peaceful interlude when the outside world couldn’t invade. Just now she belonged only to him. He didn’t have to share her with anyone.

  A clap of thunder sounded in the distance, but Harrison ignored the warning. So did Mary Rose. She was fully occupied staring at him. He was just as content to stare at her.

  A twig snapped behind them. Harrison reacted with lightning speed. He turned in the saddle, his gun drawn and cocked, and waited for the next sound. A rabbit raced across the trail then, and, Harrison put his gun away.

  Mary Rose watched him in astonishment. She hadn’t ever seen anyone move that fast, except Cole, of course, but brothers didn’t count, and she couldn’t help but worry about where and why he had developed the skill. Or was it instinct?

  He was making her nervous again. There was definitely more than one layer to the man, and she didn’t know how she felt about that.

  “Now you’re frowning. What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “The way you moved just now. That’s what’s wrong. You’re used to being on your guard, aren’t you?”

  He didn’t answer her. She shook her head. “You’re a complicated man. You behave one way and then do something that changes what I’m supposed to think you are. I wish you’d stop it.”

  “Surprises can be good, can’t they?”

  “How?”

  “Intrigue,” he replied. “Occasionally surprising someone could be . . .”

  She didn’t let h

im finish his argument. “I’m already intrigued. I like you just the way you are.”

  “You like me the way you think I am.”

  “You’re driving me crazy, Harrison.”

  He laughed. “You make me crazy too, Mary Rose.”

  She turned away from him. “I won’t get into a discussion of the flaws in your personality now. There isn’t enough time. It’s getting late, and if we don’t hurry, I won’t have any time at all to visit with my friend. Please quit dawdling.”

  Harrison wasn’t about to let her have the last word. “I have never dawdled in my life.”

  Her unladylike snort was her rebuttal.

  He wasn’t irritated. In fact, he couldn’t stop smiling. He hadn’t felt this good in a long, long time. Peace and contentment seemed to radiate from the mountain. And when he looked into Mary Rose’s eyes and saw the joy there, he felt as though he could do anything he ever wanted to do, no matter how impossible the obstacle. He felt . . . complete when he was with her, and all because of the trust in her gaze, and the acceptance.

  Acceptance. Hadn’t he spent his life trying to gain that? Wasn’t that the true reason he had become so obsessed with his hunt to find Lord Elliott’s daughter, so that he would accept him as an equal? Or was it all a payback for his kindness?

  Harrison didn’t have any answers. He knew he was grateful to Elliott for taking care of his father; yes, of course he was. He was the one man who didn’t turn his back on his friend when everyone else in London did. He gave them money and took over the payment of the taxes, and when constant nursing became mandatory, he saw that they had the best staff available. Thanks to his generosity, neither his father nor he ever went without. Elliott had even financed Harrison’s education.

  He owed a tremendous debt to Elliott, and because of honor, he would spend his life repaying. Harrison didn’t shirk his responsibilities. And he certainly could never ask for anything more . . . even happiness.

  Mary Rose. Lord, how she’d made him think about things that could never be. He was in love with her, and he had absolutely no one to blame but himself. He knew better than to get involved, and yet he’d done exactly that.

  Elliott had made plans for his daughter within a month after her birth. Harrison hadn’t been part of her future then, and he knew that when they returned to England, nothing would change.