by Jolene Faye
~*~ ~*~
"Mama, Bird," the girl laughed as she wobbled to the old bird dog and hugged her tightly. Sybil smiled looking up from the heifer's utters, "Yes Rose, that's Bird." She had grown so much in the past two months, walking more often and speaking her first words as the crispness of fall wrapped around Sybil's small family. She remembered the first time Rose looked into her eyes and called her Mama. The love that filled Sybil's heart was something she had never felt before. Though the thought that it wasn't right for Rose to call her Mama tore at her, Jed made it a point to call Sybil 'Mama' when talking to Rose. In the way he had always done before, Jed assured her it was proper and reminded her that in less than two months the child's assumption could be permanently correct. While the happiness and anticipation to file for Rose's adoption filled most of Sybil's days, the longing for Robert tortured her nights. He hadn't been back to the farm even once in the past two months. Often he'd send gifts for Rose back with Jed when he would venture into town for supplies, but not once did he show up himself. Several times arguing the point of his marriage to Jed, Sybil found herself quietly yearning for him to return anyways. "Pa," the toddler's laughter and voice broke Sybil's silent thoughts as she looked up seeing Jed come into the barn. "There's my little Texas Rose," he groaned slightly as he bend and raised the child, propping her on his hip as he limped toward Sybil. "How's that cough," Sybil questioned as she stood and placed the bucket of warm milk on the crude wooden table across from the stall. The deep chested cough that had settled on Jed with the first chill of winter worried Sybil to the point of making him visit to the doctor in town. After his assurance it was only the cold most folks around town had also gotten, the doctor told Jed and Sybil he would be fine. "Oh it's nothing," he huffed as he tickled Rose and laughed as she wiggled and squirmed out of his arms. Running to Sybil she wrapped her little arms around her legs and demanded, "Mama, up!" They both smiled as Sybil lifted the girl in her arms and kissed her nose before grabbing the bucket of milk and heading toward the cabin. "I'm going into town. I have two girls to get presents for," Jed smiled as he pulled the mule and wagon from the barn. The doctor had confirmed Rose had been just a bit over two years old when Sybil found her. Without knowing exactly when she was born, Sybil and Jed decided they'd celebrate Rose's birthday on Thanksgiving like they had for Sybil's each year. "You two get on inside, looks like we might have an early snow this year," Jed waved as he pulled the wagon away from the house. "Bye Pa," the soft sweet voice of the little girl called as they waved back at him, Sybil pulled the little jacket tighter around Rose's shoulders and smiled.
Sybil pushed open the door to the small room Jed, Robert and a couple of guys from town had added on to the cabin for her and Rose during the summer. Shivering softly as the coolness pressed against her shoulder, Sybil pulled the light shawl over her shoulders and made her way to the small fireplace. Gently placing a small stack of wood in the stone fireplace, Sybil smiled hearing the soft unsure footsteps of Rose coming up behind her. "Hot," she said as the toddler wrapped her arms around Sybil's legs and watch the fire grow and engulf the small pile of wood. "Hot, Mama, Hot," Rose's soft angelic voice repeated as Sybil scooped her into her arms and walked toward the small window, "Looks like Pa was right again Rose, look at the snow." Sybil snuggled the child close and pointed out the window at the gently falling flakes. "Honeybee," Jed's voice rang out from behind the bedroom door. "Pa," Rose exclaimed and fidgeted in Sybil's arms as they crossed the small room and walked back into the cabin, closing the door behind them. The bright red hue of coldness pressed against the dark tanned tone of his old rugged face as Jed shook the light dusting of flakes from his jacket and wrapped it over the back of the rocking chair. "I was getting worried," Sybil mumbled as she put Rose down and reached for a mug to fix Jed some hot coffee. The shuffle and loud stomp of boots on the porch raised Sybil's gaze to the door as Jed laughed softly, "We have company." Sybil spilled some of the coffee on her hand wincing at the heated liquid as the playful grin playing on Jed's wrinkled face amused her. "Well it's a good thing I cooked a big pot of stew then isn't it," Sybil joked as she placed the cup of coffee on the table in front of Jed and the door swung open. The jovial smile played on her lips as she focused on the pile of brightly colored gifts before raising her gaze to the face of the man carrying them. "Robert," she muttered as her heart leapt into her throat and her eyes caressed over the soft brown curls framing the warmth of his icy blue eyes. Lowering his eyes as he stepped inside and pushed the door closed with his foot, Robert set the gifts down in the chair and reached for Rose who had made her wobbly way to him. Smiling briefly at Sybil before wrapping his arms around the little girl they all adored so much, Robert pressed a soft kiss on the toddler's forehead. "I hope it's ok," he started slowly as he gazed back toward Sybil, "I just didn't want to miss her birthday or yours." His voice lowered as his words faded off. Sybil inhaled deeply before watching the little girl tug at the man's curls. Soft laughter crinkled her lips into a smile realizing how much Rose loved Robert. "Of course," she nodded and smiled softly, "Rose loves you very much and I know she's glad you are here. So am I."
Sybil smiled and combed her fingers through the soft curls of the little girl's hair. Almost down to her shoulders she thought quietly as she watched the face of the sleeping child. Tiptoeing silently toward the dresser, Sybil folded the new clothes Rose had gotten for her birthday and thought about how much she had grown. The soft knock and creak of the bedroom door pulled her from her thoughts as she turned and watched Robert slip his head around the door. "Sybil," he whispered before she pressed her finger to her lips and shushed him quietly. Closing the door quietly behind her as she walked into the kitchen, Sybil smiled and turned toward Robert. "Thank you so much for all the clothes. She's getting so big so fast, I can barely keep up with the mending," she laughed softly. The soft light of the gas lamp and fire played in the glimmer of his blue eyes as he smiled and stepped closer. "She is getting big. You have made her so healthy and happy," his voice continued lowly as he pulled a small box from behind his back. "I got you something for your birthday too," he whispered, the smile on his face growing soft as he raised his hand and caressed slowly over her cheek. Taking a small step back, Sybil lowered her face away from the warmth of his fingers and murmured, "Robert, I -." "Sshh, just open it," he interrupted softly and lifted the lid on the small wooden box in her hands. Sybil fidgeted with the corner of the paper for a moment as she exhaled and raised her eyes back to the soft stare of his. "I'm sorry. Thank you Robert," she muttered and pulled the paper from the box. The box itself was beautiful, handcrafted she was sure as the soft lines of the etched rose on the cover showed someone had really taken their time making it. "Read it," he whispered as he slipped his fingers over hers before taking the box and putting it on the table beside them. Sybil forced a soft smile toward him again as she unfolded the letter and started to read it.
Confusion, hope, fear and sadness washed over her as she read the letter, soft tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked up into the softness of his icy blue eyes. "I don't understand Robert. Why did you give me this? Why is she divorcing you? I.. I," she trailed off as the mix of emotions choked her into sobs. The warmth of his body and arms crept into her skin as he pulled her close pressing her against his chest as she cried softly. The weight of his chin pressed against the top of her head as his hands smoothed over the curve of her shoulders. "She told her father she couldn't be married to a man who loved someone else," he whispered into the thickness of her blond hair and hugged her tighter against him. Sliding his fingers over her shoulder, he caressed the curve of her chin and lifted her face to his. His voice low as he stared deep into her tear drowned eyes and whispered, "I gave it to you because I love you. I want to be with you and after the divorce is final, I intend to court you again and not give up until you say you will marry me and that we will raise Rose together." Sybil's mind raced over everything he had told her, parting her lips to reply, her breath cau
ght in her throat once more as his mouth fell softly over hers. The gentleness of his lips, the sweet heat of his breath and the soft urging of his tongue slipped between her lips as the warm scent of his aftershave and his arms surrounded her. She had felt the power and sheer pleasure of his kisses before and like the many times after she'd first met him, she melted into his arms. The slow gentle passes of their tongues caressing one another eased the softness of her eyes closed as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders feeling him pull her tight against him.
The last month had been perfect, Sybil recalled as she sipped on her coffee and watched Jed and Rose sitting in the rocking chair in front of the fireplace playing with one of the child's dolls she had gotten for Christmas. Robert had spent every day with them after Thanksgiving and every evening they spent together talking about their future together. Passion had overtaken them several times but after confiding in him she had never actually been with a man, Robert eased her mind and softened her heart assuring her they would wait until after she became Mrs. Robert Wilks. After several conversations with Robert, he seemed to understand the reasons she wanted to go ahead with the adoption for Rose. Even taking her himself to file the papers with Judge Hawthorne, not only did he understand but told her that once they were married they would both be Rose's parents. The light knock on the door pulled her from her happy memories of the last few weeks as Sybil smiled and walked toward the door. "Robert," she whispered and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing the softness of her lips to his. Stepping back from the tight coldness of his lips, Sybil's smile faded seeing the emotionless expression on his normally gentle face. "Robert, what's wrong? Come in," she started more worried as she slid her hand into his and tried to lead him into the house. "I can't," he barely mumbled without budging under her tug on his hands. Poking her head back around the wooden door, Sybil watched Jed and Rose for a moment before feeling the pull of his grip against her hand. Closing the door behind her, Sybil stepped into the cold of the porch and looked for some sort of explanation of his emotions against the lifelessness of his face. "Robert," she started again before his head sunk low, a deep exhale of his breath stopping her, feeling he was fighting something deep inside. "Jane is sick Sybil. Very sick," he muttered lowly not raising his eyes from the careful study of his feet. "I'm sorry Robert. Is she going to be ok? I'm sure she is going to be fine," Sybil tried to assure him even against the growing knot in her stomach. "I did this to her Sybil. We did this, and I can't.." his voice trailed as he slowly raised his chin and found her eyes. "Robert, you didn't do anything. You couldn't prevent her from getting sick," Sybil spoke softly, running her fingers through the soft curls of his hair trying to sooth the obvious pain that trickled into the softness of his words. "I did this to her Sybil," his voice grew as his eyes narrowed and he pulled away from the slow caress of her fingers in his hair. "She begged me to stay and I, I'm her husband, I have to -" he snorted loudly before his voice trailed off as he walked away and climbed onto the back of his horse. Dropping his head as he turned the horse away from the house, Robert looked back over his shoulder and whispered, "I'm sorry," before kicking the horse into a high gallop. Soft drifts of snowflakes began to fall as she stared into the darkness that enveloped Robert as he rode away. Her mouth still opened slightly at the shock of what had just happened, she watched the puffs of white cloud rise from her shallow breaths.
"Sybil," the soft voice carried over the slow creak of the door, "it's cold out here Honeybee. Who was that? Are they gone already?" Feeling the weight of her coat slip over her shoulders, Sybil's eyes stung with tears as she reached back grabbing hold of Jed's hand. "Honeybee," he whispered as he pulled her shoulder turning her slowly to face him. Fear, worry and horror flashed in the softness of his old blue eyes as she collapsed against his shoulder sobbing. Pulling her inside, Jed closed the door behind them and held her tight whispering soothing calming words into her hair. After long minutes that passed as slow as hours, he held her listening to the heart breaking sobs pour from the depths of her soul. Sitting her on the edge of the old bed between the fireplace and the kitchen, Jed pulled a chair in front of her and sat down searching the red, cold, and tear stains of her face. "Talk to me Honeybee," he whispered the fear and worry heavy in his old trembling voice. Sybil tried to force the words through the sobs of heartbreak, sniffling between each sentence before finally getting it all out. Fighting back his own mix of emotions, Jed pulled Sybil back into his arms, rocking her slowly.
