Sixty Acres and a Bride (25 page)

Weston recognized the embroidery on her blouse. It matched his pillowcase. Maybe he could do a side by side comparison. Shaking his head, he forced the riotous thought from him. “You said you couldn’t pretend—that you didn’t want intimacy without love. It’s time to give me a chance, Rosa.”

“There
is
no chance for us. The moment caught you off guard. Both of us, really. That’s not love. It could’ve been Molly, should’ve been Molly.”

“It’s never been Molly.”

“But it’ll be someone, someday. I pray for you, Weston. I pray that God heals you and brings you closer to Him. Part of the healing might mean falling in love and getting married.”

“I am married.”

Rosa pounded her fist on the banister. “To the wrong woman.”

Eliza’s voice wafted up from below. “Rosa, is that you?”

“Yes, be down in a minute.” She looked to Weston and lowered her voice. “I owe you. We both know how far in your debt I am. If this is a way you’ve come up with for me to make amends, then be honest. Don’t pretend otherwise.”

“I’m not Tillerton,” he ground out. She knew how to hurt a man. “When I kiss you again, it’ll be because you asked me to, just like in there.”

“Shh!”
She cast nervous eyes down the stairwell. “I didn’t ask . . . All right, fine. If you need to blame someone, then blame me. I’m sorry for tricking you into something so distasteful, but I’ll take the responsibility to see that it doesn’t occur again. If you can’t forget what happened in there, I’m leaving. I won’t have another resentful husband on my hands. You won’t rue the day I rolled into town.”

“You can’t go. It’d be a mistake to squelch what could come of this.”

“Nothing will come of this besides pain and resentment. Can you honestly tell me that you love me? That you’ll love me forever?”

He took a step back. She’d gone all in before he even had a chance to look at his cards. “I, uh . . . I do
care
for . . .”

Her eyes, snapping with fire, cooled to dull chunks of ice.

“Rosa, don’t. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Then stay away.”

“Are you and Weston fighting?” Eliza called. “I wondered what’s kept you up there so long.”

“Just a minute, sis.” Weston crossed his arms. “You can’t go back. Speaking of Tillerton—”

“I haven’t seen hide nor hair of him for a week. I don’t think he’d dare bother me now.”

“What about Eliza?” He was grasping for straws, desperation rolling through him.

Eliza appeared at the foot of the stairs. “Don’t make me climb up there. If you’re going to fight, come on down. I don’t want to miss it.”

Weston stepped around Rosa and called down. “We were just discussing your confinement. Did you plan on Rosa assisting you?”

“You’re wasting my time with a question like that. What’s this really about?”

Rosa sent him a withering look but kept her voice sweet. “I need to help Louise on the ranch. I can’t stay here.”

“You’re not going anywhere in the rain, are you? But next time you go to the farm, bring her back for supper. We’ll put her up for the night, and Jake can take her home the next morning.” Eliza clapped her hands together. “I have an even better idea. I’m still short some baby linens. Maybe we could go to Lockhart, the three of us, and finish putting the nursery together. It’s getting close, Rosa, and there’s so much to do. I can’t imagine where I’d be without your help.”

Weston rocked back on his heels. His sister did have her moments.

I
’M ABOUT OUT OF BOOTLACES,��
Eliza complained several days later as she stretched on her bed. “If my ankles get any thicker, I’ll have to wear Jake’s boots.”

“At least the weather has broken. It’s getting cooler.” Rosa folded yet another baby blanket crocheted by the loving ladies of Prairie Lea.

“But the swelling is here to stay.”

“You could go barefoot.”

Eliza paused only a moment before ripping the boots off and throwing them across her bedroom. “That’s the most practical suggestion I’ve heard this whole pregnancy. You should be a midwife.”

Rosa grinned. Thank goodness for Eliza. Rosa needed someone to distract her from the charged atmosphere with Weston.

She blanched when she heard footsteps at the door, but it was only Octavia.

“Miss Eliza, Miss Rosa, your Aunt Louise is in the parlor.”

And she wasn’t alone. Beaming at her side stood the balding Mr. Bradford, looking uncomfortable without a countertop to hide behind. “Hello, ladies, how are you?” His wheezy chuckle repeated itself like a crow caw as he shuffled around the room in his eagerness to properly greet the younger women while not leaving Louise’s side.

Louise kissed both girls and then frowned. “Weston and Jake aren’t here?”

“No, ma’am. They’re out. I’m not sure what pasture they’re in today.”

“That’s too bad. I’d hoped your husbands would be with you.” She gave Rosa a compassionate smile. Mr. Bradford patted her hand timidly, his own bottom lip drooping in sympathy. “We’ve come with some stupendous news.”

Eliza’s eyes danced, and she clapped her hands together. “Do tell.”

Louise beamed at Mr. Bradford, who cleared his throat and began, “You see, I have asked Louise, after knowing and admiring her for years, for her hand in holy matrimony, and she has consented.”

Eliza’s squeals were heartfelt. Rosa’s were not. If tears appeared, Rosa hoped they’d be mistaken for tears of happiness, for she did wish her former mother-in-law happiness, but she was certain there was none for her in their tidings.

Congratulations were still flying when Weston stepped in. Rosa’s heart hopped like a jumping bean when he looked at her, but Louise intervened, smiling at him expectantly.

“Aunt Louise, Deacon . . . ah, may I guess what this call is about?”

Louise pinched his cheek like the dark-haired five-year-old boy he used to be. “We’re glad to see you. It wouldn’t be the same without your blessing.” And then seeing a man over his shoulder, she called, “Mr. Mohle, is that you hiding back there? What are you doing?”

The man stepped into the room and spoke around his plug of tobacco. “Wes has a carpentry job for me, but congratulations just the same. I’ll be sure and tell the missus.”

“Yes, congratulations!” Weston added. “But if you’ll excuse me, please, Deacon, Aunt Louise, I need to get him started on this job. Don’t leave without telling Jake. He’s right behind me.”

Weston looked Rosa over like he was taking inventory and then led Mr. Mohle out of the room.

“So when’s the date?” Eliza was making up for Rosa’s silence.

Louise reached to take Rosa’s arm. “I don’t want to shock you, but if Rosa approves, we’ll tie the knot this Saturday.”

“Saturday?” Rosa gasped.

But Eliza giggled. “This family sure doesn’t hold to long engagements.”

“You’re going to be all right without me, Rosa. Aren’t you? Deacon will take me to San Antonio for our honeymoon, but we’ll be gone only a couple of weeks. When we return, he’s going to begin rebuilding his store. We’ll want to get everything done by Christmas.”

“I think it’s marvelous,” said Eliza. “Every day you wait is one less day together. Besides, I could drop this colt at any time, and I do want to go to the ceremony.”

“Eliza!” Louise scolded. “I’m sorry, Deacon. This girl has spent too much time with her aunt Mary.”

“Hello there, what’s this about?”

As they shared the news with Jake, Rosa considered her options.

Saturday. She bit her lip. Louise had found a new guardian and would follow him devoutly, but what would Rosa do? Could she live there alone with Jay Tillerton seething the next field over? Before she could think it through, one alternative was taken forever off the table.

Adjusting his suspenders, Jake took the floor just as Weston reentered. “Aunt Louise, Weston, there’s a subject I’ve been meaning to broach. Would there be any objection to me and Eliza purchasing Louise’s place? I know I don’t have the family name, but we’re family, sure enough. I’ve been thinking about getting our own place now that the young’un is coming.”

The walls were closing in on Rosa, but no one could see them snuffing out her hopes, one by one. Instead, hearty congratulations flew from all sides. Eliza wrapped both arms around her scruffy husband’s neck while he shook hands with Louise, sealing the deal. Before Rosa could join the obligated celebration, Louise brought it to a halt.

“Wait! What was I thinking? I can’t say yes without Rosa’s permission. The farm belongs to her, as well.”

A split second of silence ensued as all eyes fell on her. Surely she looked odd with her olive skin turned a sickly green. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat.

“Of course it’s all right.” Eliza laughed and smothered Rosa in a hug. “We’ll give Rosa her share of the money, and she and Wes can have this big house all to themselves.”

Rosa watched their faces—eyes bright, smiles wide, not a care in the world. How could she possibly object in the face of their happiness? She tried to hide her despair, but Weston didn’t look fooled. He was working his way to her when there was a mighty crash from above.

“Land sakes alive!” Louise crouched down and covered her head. “What was that?”

Weston didn’t flinch. “Mr. Mohle.”

“What’s he doing up there?” Another crash caused the picture frames on the wall to rattle.

“Updating some furniture.”

“You hired Mr. Mohle to decorate?” Eliza was incredulous.

Scraping sounds filled the room as something was dragged across the second story floor.

“No, he’s fixing my bed.” Wes scratched the back of his neck. “He’s taking off the big canopy.”

“The four-poster bed? Have you lost your mind? Why would you do that?” yelled his sister above the din.

“I decided I don’t want it hanging over me anymore.”

Louise laughed. “You surprise me, nephew. I had no idea you got uneasy about such things—but I suppose it isn’t that uncommon. Rosa is scared to death of being trapped, too.”

Rosa could feel her face go from green to red.

“I guess I’m changing, Aunt Louise, and this room is starting to feel mighty tight, too. It might be time for me to get some air.”

“Well, give me a kiss and get back to work, then. We’ll look for you on Saturday.”

“Yes, ma’am. With bells on.”

Getting onto the roof wasn’t difficult. The third-story ballroom had large windows in its gables that practically begged Rosa to climb out. Keeping her feet flat on the roof, she sat and hugged her knees to her chest. No one would think to look for her up there.

Although the Englands decided not to move until after the baby came, Eliza’s excitement, packing, and planning strained Rosa’s ability to pretend she supported the decision. Her tender emotions required some sanctuary from the ruthless joy downstairs.

From her perch she could see much of the Garner ranch. Directly beneath her, Octavia was taking cuttings from Eliza’s herb garden while Eliza sat in the shade and mopped her brow. Far in the east pasture she could make out four horsemen—Willie, Red, Bailey, and Weston, no doubt—barely visible above the cattle they were riding among.

Jake had left already. Early that morning he’d taken the wagon to Louise’s to help her clear out the house. Louise wanted some of the furniture moved to Mr. Bradford’s and some would remain for Eliza. They had offered to give Rosa first choice, but what would she do with the furniture? She’d lived there only three months. Besides, she had no house to furnish anyway. Oddly enough, Jake didn’t offer to take her with him. He was probably afraid she’d change her mind—as if she’d agreed in the first place.

But no one cared. They had their plans and were pursuing them blissfully. Rosa had to put the feelings of abandonment and hurt behind her and make arrangements of her own. Being sad wasn’t going to change anything.

So what to do?

She fingered the black trim along the hem of her skirt. If the Englands bought the land, she could pay Weston off with some left over, but not enough for a house. Heat curled off the shingles in long waves. She couldn’t sit up there much longer. She had to think.

According to Molly, Rosa could let a room at a boardinghouse in Lockhart, but the only person who might hire her would be Mr. Bradford. His store would be in Prairie Lea by Christmas. Moving in with Louise and Mr. Bradford remained her best option, but moving in with Louise didn’t hold the charm it once had.

It’d be difficult to leave the spacious house warming her backside at that moment. She’d grown fond of Palmetto. The wide halls, ornate banisters, and six-paneled doors didn’t intimidate her anymore. And while they could use more color, she’d grown to appreciate the textures of the rugs, wallpaper, and draperies. Even the stable held a place in her heart, and she hated to give up the freedom she had via Smokey.

Squint as she might, the cowboys were no longer visible, having no doubt sought shelter under the leafy trees surrounding the creek. They must be hunkering down for dinner. The noonday sun blazed above her, doing its best to leave an impression that would last through autumn.

Could she stay here? Without Jake and Eliza’s presence, it’d be thorny. Since their kiss, Weston and she hadn’t been alone together, but his bedroom renovations didn’t bode well. Would he respect her wishes and keep his distance, or would he get skittish again and leave her altogether?

She bit her lip. Tricky. When Jake went to the bank to get his loan, he would pay off Weston’s note and then return the difference to Louise and to her. She wouldn’t owe Weston anything. Yet, just because her obligation was cleared, that didn’t mean she couldn’t be profitable to him. Regardless of where she lived, she intended to earn her keep. Would he let her work for her room and board?

With Eliza gone, Octavia would need help with the housekeeping and laundry. Feeding those cowboys was a full-time job. She’d even move out to Octavia’s cabin if there was room.

She tapped her toes against the shingles. This plan could work. Weston was a fair and generous employer. She’d still live close to Mary and Eliza without crowding Louise. She wouldn’t be a burden to anyone.

Satisfied that she’d found a solution, Rosa edged down to the windowsill and climbed inside. All she had to do was convince Weston that she could earn her keep. That sounded a lot easier than turning a profit on the ranch.

Dinner was ready and waiting on her.

“This child is going roly-poly today,” Eliza exclaimed at the end of the meal as her stomach lurched again, making her napkin bounce.

“He or she is getting anxious to meet us,” Rosa said.

“I’m anxious to stop carrying him around. I’m tuckered out.”

“Take a nap if you feel like it. I thought I’d help Octavia in the kitchen this afternoon. I won’t be bored.”

“If you’re sure.” Eliza pushed herself away from the table with an effort and waddled to her room.

By midafternoon, Rosa’s plans for the evening meal were well underway. Octavia already had a chicken butchered, so she whipped up some
mole
sauce for variety. She didn’t have any masa prepared, so she settled on flour tortillas and a mandatory pot of beans.

When the tortillas were done and the beans were simmering, she took out toward the garden. First she inspected Eliza’s herb garden. She plucked a fat caterpillar off a stalk and squished it under her boot. The garden looked well kept but would need tending once Eliza was gone. Next to the herb garden sat the large vegetable patch cultivated for consumption by the human and animal occupants of Palmetto. Could she handle a plot that size?

The garden lay fallow after the summer harvest, but with early plowing she probably had time to get the seeds sown by herself.

Rosa’s mind raced as she considered the possibilities. Now that she could drive Smokey, maybe she could even plow by herself. She fairly ran to the barn to look over the plow. Was it too heavy for her?