Texas Rose

by Jolene Faye

  ~*~ ~*~

  February passed slowly as Sybil tried to come to terms with losing Robert once again. Jed's anger at his son breaking her heart again was the common mood that surrounded the small family the last month. The fact that he decided it was time to take another of his famous panning trips wasn't much of a surprise to Sybil when he had left the day before. As much as her heart hurt, she knew the old man hurt as well after seeing once again his dreams of his son marrying the young girl he loved so dearly wasn't going to happen. As she sat on the porch rocking in Jed's old rocking chair, Sybil remembered the first night she and Jed argued over Robert. "You'll see Honeybee, he'll come around, then you two will be married and Rose will have a mother and a father," the old man's hopeful tone striking at her heart. Dealing badly with her own emotions, Sybil had lashed out at the loving old man reminding him that Robert had passed her over twice. "I don't care to be anyone's second choice," she retorted before seeing the pain of the truth overcome the old man.

  The soft clamor of horses' hooves pulled her from her thoughts as she glanced beside her to Rose pointing at pictures in the book and telling Bird what they were. Sybil smiled, though she had a heavy heart filled with longing and loss of Robert yet again, she loved the child and happiness filled her. "Good evening Miss Delacroix," Daniel waved as he slowed the horses stopping the deliver wagon in front of the small cabin. Setting the dress she'd been mending in the rocking chair, Sybil stood and smiled at the young man. "Hello Daniel, it's good to see you. How are Dancing Moon and young Elizabeth?" The young man had finally convinced Running Buck and White Eagle to let him marry Dancing Moon just the year before. It had only been a few months after she'd found Rose that Dancing Moon given birth to her and Daniel's first child. Naming the beautiful little girl Elizabeth, after Sybil and her mother, the young couple lived in town, but Daniel still made the deliveries for his father's grocery store. "Oh they are just fine Miss Delacroix, Elizabeth is getting so big and Dancing Moon is already talking about when we have another," the young man laughed as he stepped from the buckboard and began to unload the wagon. As the two finished unloading the goods from the delivery, Sybil smiled handing Daniel a cup of coffee as he tickled Rose. "Miss Delacroix, Dancing Moon wanted me to ask if we could have Rose stay with us, to celebrate Elizabeth's first birthday. My older brother Charlie and his wife and children will be staying as well, so Rose will have plenty of children to play with," Daniel spoke softly as he pulled a piece of taffy from his shirt pocket and handed it to Rose. Dancing Moon always wanted to bring Rose home with them when they would come to visit Sybil and Jed. Now that Rose was walking, talking and more in more control of her small body, Sybil thought she couldn't be much of a handful for the young mother. "I don't see why not," she smiled slowly watching the delight play on the face of the young man, "besides, it's time for her to have other children to play with and I could use a little break." As she watched the young man and child drive away, Sybil sighed lowly. She already missed Rose and realized for the first time in years, she was absolutely alone.

  Sybil pushed her spoon against the soft mush of canned pears she'd decided would be a suitable supper for her alone. As the wind whirled and howled around the small cabin, she turned over in her mind her decision to let Rose stay a full two weeks with Daniel and Dancing Moon. She knew her daughter was safe with the couple and their family, but the last two days she had found herself wandering around the small farm lost without the child, Jed or the Kiowa around. Shivering slightly as the chill settled on her shoulders, Sybil pulled the shawl around her tighter and pushed another log onto the fire before settling back in the old rocking chair. "I thought a break would be good," she chuckled to herself trying to fend off the feeling of loneliness that crept into her like the cold. The churning of the dark clouds earlier that evening had warned of the coming storm, but it wasn't until the thunder and lightning turned to sleet that she realized just how long a night it was going to be. She had never slept well during storms. Even the first assault of thunder this evening had her rushing into her bedroom to check on Rose before she remembered that she was by herself in the cabin. Carefully sewing two more rows of quilted squares to the child's blanket, Sybil smiled knowing that soon her adoption of her daughter would be final. She couldn't imagine a life without her daughter now. The images of the child's dark raven locks curling around her shoulders framing the sparkling innocence in her bright green eyes warmed Sybil as she passed her fingers over the embroidered rose in the middle of the quilt. Tying the final knot in the stitching, Sybil walked into the bedroom and placed the quilt back into the crib passing her palm over the soft mattress as the love for her child filled her.

  A loud rumbling crash of thunder startled Sybil as she walked back into the cabin, pulling the bedroom door closed behind her. Fixing her eyes on the old dog that had been sleeping on the rug in front of the fireplace, Sybil shivered hearing the low growl extending beyond the thunder. "What is it Bird," she whispered almost breathless as the dog stood defensively in front of the cabin door with its fur standing on end. The eerily loud retort of a horse sounded just beyond the front door as Sybil ran toward the fireplace and rifle positioned just above the mantel. Frantically pushing the shells into the chambers of the gun, Sybil's eyes flashed between the door and the growing rumble of the dog's warning growl. A sudden loud thump against the door shook Sybil, biting against the scream threating to escape her lips as she steeled herself and raised the gun at the wooden door. Heat flushed her skin in the long minutes she stood barely breathing watching the door and waiting. Electricity burst through the air as lightning struck outside the cabin. After tense minutes, the old dog lowered her head and sniffed toward the bottom of the door. Sybil couldn't recall when Bird had stopped growling, but the heavy thudding of her own heart couldn't drown the unsettling sound of the dog's soft whimper. They had never had trouble before luckily, but with her being alone for the first time in years on the farm, Sybil's mind tumbled over all the possibilities of danger and shuttered softly thankful Rose wasn't home with her. As her imagination turned over hundreds of images of evil behind the cabin door, Sybil inhaled deeply as the dog continued its whine and began to scratch at the bottom of the door. As if a lightning bolt of thought struck her, Sybil jumped toward the door her mind automatically flashing to the thought of Jed lying hurt on the porch. Sybil stepped to the door, keeping the rifle cocked and ready just in case, she pressed her ear against the wood and listened intently. Slowly turning the knob, she eased the door open and pointed the barrel of the rifle into the darkness. As lightning flashed again lighting up the night sky, Sybil breathed softer finding the porch empty as her eyes narrowed focusing on the silhouette of a horse pacing around the door of the barn. "What on earth," she whispered starting to step further into the doorway as a low moan drifted up to her ears on the chill of the night air.

  Sybil's heart leapt into her throat as she lowered her eyes to the large mass of darkness sprawled over the floor of the porch. Swinging the aim of the rifle's barrel to the barely moving pile of sleet covered clothing, she stepped back. "Who are you? What do you want," she screeched as the dog stepped closer to the blackened mass. Only the whimper of the dog and the deep groan of the slumped mass answered her as lightning flashed again and lit the night air showing the slight features of a man's bloodied face. "Dear God," she muttered as she pushed the end of the rifle barrel against the shoulder of the man finding him now unresponsive and unmoving. Looking around quickly assuring herself there was no one else in the darkness, Sybil stood the rifle against a chair inside the door way and leaned down over the man. His breathing was slow and ragged. The insistent chattering of his teeth gripped her heart as the coldness of the storm settled on her. "Watch him Bird," she half whispered as she wrapped her hands into the mass of cold, sleet soaked clothing and struggled to pull the man into the cabin. He was a large man, a heavy mass as she pushed and pulled to get him into the warmth of the cabin. Breathing heavy against the assertion o
f moving him out of the cold, Sybil closed the cabin door and leaned back against it for a moment her eyes tracing over the injured man before setting on the bright red streak of blood smeared across the floor. Stooping once more over the man, Sybil pushed at his shoulders rolling him onto his back. Pressing her palm over her mouth, she held back the shock of seeing the large bleeding gash on his forehead. "Mister, Mister," she spoke loudly as she pressed her palm into his massive chest and shook him, "Mister please, you have to wake up."

  As she trailed her gaze slowly over the huddled trembling mass of the man lying on the floor a fear and sense of urgency overcame her as her mind turned back to the day she'd found Rose in a similar state. They had almost lost her so many times that first week from the cold and fever. Sybil leaned over the man pulling her handkerchief from the chair side table and pressed it tightly over the gaping would on the man's forehead. The coldness of his skin mixed with the heat of fever seeped through the thin material into the palm of her hand. "Mister please," she pleaded feeling the heat of tears sting against her eyes. Pushing aside the fear of being alone with a rather large strange man, Sybil quickly began picking at the buttons of the soaked coat. Her fingers shaking with nervous urgency, she began tugging and pulling the thick wet material away from the man's body. Struggling with his limp weight, Sybil pulled him across the floor by the shoulders of the loose jacket under him and lifted him to sitting against the side of the spare bed. She muttered at the unwilling shakiness of her fingers as she removed the soaked coat and shirt. Pressing her ear against the wet coldness of his undershirt, Sybil held her breath listening for the slightest sound of a heartbeat. The beat was slow, almost inaudible as his breath rattled in his chest. "Mister," she yelled again as she buried her shoulder under his arm and tried to lift him into the bed. A low rattled grunt rushed a soft warmth of breath over her face as she inhaled deeply and tried again to lift the heavy man. "I can't lift you," she struggled pulling her feet under her trying to leverage against the floor, "you have to help me, I can't lift you." Against the groaning moans, Sybil felt his arm tighten around her shoulders. Pushing his feet against the floor with a low grunt, Sybil drove all her weight into the underneath of his arm and fell along his side as they landed across the bed. After what seemed like an hour long struggle, Sybil had removed his boots and trousers. Arguing in her mind the necessity to remove all the wet clothing, Sybil left his under clothes and pulled the blankets up around him. Retrieving the blankets from her own bed and the poultice the old medicine man had left for her, Sybil stoked the fire in the fireplace adding two more logs. Dipping the bloodstained handkerchief in a bowl of warm water, she cleaned the area around his wound and lightly pressed the poultice across the cut. She sighed, relieved at the actual smaller size of the wound once it was cleaned, but the heat of his fever still worried her. Exhausted from the struggle, Sybil exhaled deeply as she pulled her coat tightly around her and headed for the door. Passing a quick look back over her shoulder, she opened the door and stepped into the frozen night air. The man, whoever he was, was sleeping soundly now, but she knew if the horse she'd seen by the barn were out in the cold sleet and snow it would not survive the night. Thoughts and images of the evening swirled in her mind as she plotted through the snow and whistled for the horse. The shuffling sound of hooves behind her as she pulled the barn door open, Sybil stepped inside the shelter of the barn and watched as the tall, stocky stallion pranced inside away from the cold. Holding the gas lantern up high, she looked around deciding if it would be safe enough to just leave the stallion loose in the barn for the night. Satisfied with her assessment of the barn and exhausted from the evening's events, Sybil quickly pulled the barn door closed and made her way back to the cabin.

  Blowing softly over the rim of her cup, Sybil sipped at her hot coffee and watched the more normalized rise and fall of the blankets covering the stranger. His hair was long, ending near his shoulders and jet black, almost the color of Rose's she thought as she traced her gaze slowly over the sick man. Thick dark brows capped the wrinkles around his eyes but highlighted the strong chiseled features of his face. The growth of hair along his cheeks and jaw looked to be a few weeks old, but surprisingly even in her own thoughts it seemed to fit him perfectly. Placing her cup on the chair side table, Sybil yawned. Feeling the stress weigh heavy on her eyes, she pushed her foot quickly against the floor, rocking as she closed her eyes and focused on the rattled breathing of the man. Her uneasy rest left her twisting and turning in the rocking chair as her mind relived the events that unfolded. The soft crackle of the fire and the mournful wail of the wind outside the cabin wrapped around Sybil as she slept and dreamed of her daughter and Robert, before the sudden, violent thrashes and screams of the stranger sat her upright in her chair. Startled for a moment at the sound of a man's yells, Sybil strained her sleep filled eyes at the unsettled movements in the spare bed. Recalling the night's events, she crossed the room talking softly, trying to sooth and ease the man that must have been as confused and disoriented as herself. Lowering beside him on the edge of the bed, Sybil pressed her palm against the heat of his sweat covered forehead before running her fingers slowly through his hair. "Sshh, you're alright," she whispered, thankful her presence seemed to calm the violence of his flailing. A million questions ran through her head to ask the man but before she could began to find out who he was, she realized he was still asleep and fighting some wicked sort of dream. "Mister, are you awake," she exhaled softly as she passed her fingers through his hair once more. The shifting of his body and the pain filled groan became her only answer as she reached for the cool cloth and began washing it softly over his forehead. As he settled once more into sleep, Sybil gently wiped the poultice from the gash and smiled seeing that it had already begun to heal. She remembered years ago her mother saying a wound to the head always bled more and seemed worse than any more serious wound elsewhere. "Cecilia, I'm so sorry. Please stay with me," the low mournful plea shook Sybil from the memories of her mother. Looking back at the man's face, Sybil stared into the half lidded hazy gaze of his eyes. "Mister, are you awake? Who's Cecilia," she rattled off quickly as she looked for any sign of recognition in the deep green pools of his eyes. Swallowing hard against the lump in her throat, Sybil stared as he raised his hand slowly and traced the tip of his finger over the long rugged shadow of her scar. "What happened to your face my love," he whispered as his hand dropped to her waist and pulled her toward him. Fear and confusion choked her as she felt the gentle pull of his arm around her, pressing her palm to his chest Sybil opened her mouth to reply as his eyes closed and he whispered lightly once again. "Please Cecilia, stay with me."

  As she lay in his arms for the second night, Sybil pulled the quilt off of her. The heat of his fever was stifling but it seemed the only peaceful rest he'd gotten was when she'd lay beside him. The soft pressure of his arm around her waist and the hardness of his body pressing against hers were unsettling to Sybil. The first night of his violent dreams had scared her too much to argue with her mind about being in the strange man's arms. With her thoughts of missing Robert and the worry for the sick stranger, Sybil forced herself to think of the arms around her as Robert's to ease the confusion in her mind. He'd done it to her again, carried her away in a whirlwind of passion and promise before choosing Jane, his wife, over her once more. She had loved Robert the first time she'd laid eyes on him and against her mind's arguments, felt she always would. Robert had been the first man, other than his father, who hadn't seen her as a monstrosity with the long jagged scar marking her face. Robert had been the first man she'd kissed and brought the warmth of arousal into the empty darkness of her soul. She had been well old enough to have known the love of a man but the twists and turns of her past had always made her push those natural feelings away. Sybil longed to feel Robert's bare body against hers, have him show her the way a man and woman could connect beyond words. As the thoughts of her lost love and the exhaustion of the last couple days overtook her, the war
m strength of his arms pulled her closer. Sybil nestled her head against the soft but strong chest of the handsome stranger and slipped off to sleep.

  For three days and two unrest full nights, Sybil bathed the stranger with cool rags trying to break the heat of fever. While she knew riding for the doctor was what she should have done, the fitful and violent dreams that accompanied the fever left her with a fear he may hurt himself if she wasn't there. From the few brief moments of his consciousness, Sybil had learned a few things from him as she fed him beef broth and soups. As unreliable as fevered conversations could be, she believed the tidbits of information were true. The soft rumble of hooves pulled her from her thoughts as Sybil stood from the porch rocking chair and stretched her arms into the coolness of the afternoon wind. Smiling as the delivery wagon approached, she made her way down the steps and greeted Daniel. After helping him unload the goods and learning about all the fun Rose was having, Sybil led the young man inside and told him about the stranger. "He said his name is Cole Marshal, he's from Santa Fe but recently was in Oklahoma. He hasn't answered many of my questions since he hasn't been awake much, but he constantly calls for a woman named Cecilia," she confided in her young friend as he checked over the man and his belongings. "Daniel, I need you to fetch the Doc. The fever doesn't want to break and I don't know what else to do. Maybe talk to Sherriff Woods too? I don't know about having him here when Rose comes home," she finished still unsure of the presence of the stranger in her home. As they walked back outside and Daniel hugged her tightly, he assured her he'd take care of things. "Charlie and I will come back with the Sherriff and help him move the man into town. Don't worry about Rose, Sybil, Dancing Moon would keep her however long you wanted her to," he finished as he climbed back into the wagon. Looking skyward as he settled behind the reigns, Daniel sighed, "Looks like more snow tonight. I'll come back this evening and stay with you until tomorrow when the doctor and sheriff head this way." Sybil pulled the shawl tight around her shoulders thinking for a moment how much better she'd feel with someone else around before shaking her head softly, "That won't be necessary Daniel. Thank you, but I'm sure he'll sleep on through the night like he has been." Waving to her young friend as he pulled the wagon away, Sybil turned toward the barn calling the horses and cows in before the snow got heavier.

  Sybil smiled softly over the steaming pot of stew as the stuttered ruckus of snoring filled the small cabin. He hadn't felt as warm as he had been the previous two days and silently she prayed for a restful and uneventful night. As she ladled the thick hot stew into a bowl and poured a glass of tea, Sybil thought about the growing feelings she realized she had for this stranger. Of course she had taken him in from the cold and had been tending to him constantly, but more so than all that, when she looked at him he reminded her of Rose. They had the same soft black curls and deep green eyes and the irony of how they came into her life was too much to not think about. Though she scolded herself constantly, she couldn't deny how good it felt laying against him when she'd settle onto the side of the bed and sooth away the nightmares. The few times he'd wrapped his arm around her, Sybil thought of the moments she'd spent in the warmth of Robert's arms, though it wasn't exactly the same. The soft shuffling of the blankets lifted her eyes to the strangers as she lowered herself onto the side of the bed. "Cole," she spoke softly watching his eyes narrow then open fully adjusting to the dim light of the cabin. "Can you sit up? I made a stew. If you think you can chew on it a bit, I think it will help you feel better," she smiled as he pushed his palms into the mattress and sat up against the wall. "It sure smells good," his deep hoarse voice whispered as she placed the bowl on the bedside table and leaned toward him adjusting the pillow behind his head. As she lowered and sat back on the bed, she saw the softness of his smile as he looked back at her. Pressing her palm to his forehead before checking the heal of the wound, Sybil inhaled sharply feeling the heat of his breath feather over her cheek. "Ouch!" Jumping and pressing her hand against his chest, Sybil's eyes opened wide with the thought of hurting him, "I'm so sorry, I just needed-" The soft rumble of his laugh stopped her mid-sentence as she wrinkled her forehead in confusion. Crossing his arm over his chest he patted her knee before pulling his hand from underneath it and smiled, "Not my head, my hand." Laughing softly as she watched a sort of playful gleam dance in the sparkles of his deep green eyes, Sybil blushed realizing she had knelt on his hand before sitting back on the bed. "I'm so sorry," she smiled as she reached for the bowl and began to blow softly over the steaming spoon of stew. The tingle of playfulness trickled over her as the tension from the past few days seemed to melt away. Shaking her head as she gently pressed the spoon against his lips, Sybil laughed again. "Cole, what happened to you," she questioned as she fed him the stew and began to relax in his company. As he chewed slowly and traced her face with a thoughtful look on his face, Sybil swallowed hard wondering if she should have said anything. "I think my horse slipped or stepped in a hole. I'm not really sure. I just remember being cold, wet hearing the thunder crackle around me then hitting the ground. I woke up rested on a big rock. I'm guessing that's where this came from," he winced lightly as he touched the large rounded knot on his forehead. Sybil bit down on her lip almost as if the pain touched her own forehead, as she leaned forward and smoothed her fingers over the swollen blackened knot. The sudden catch of his breath filled her ears as the soft warmth of his breath tingled against her neck. Until the growing warmth of urging knotted in the pit of her stomach, she hadn't realized how close she'd been to him or how affected by him she had been. "It looks really bad," she admitted, fighting against the tingle trailing down her spine as her eyes traced over his face to the softness of his gaze. Clearing her throat and leaning away from the closeness of his face, Sybil scooped more stew into the spoon and continued as he took another bite. "The Doctor should be here in the morning. He can look at it and hopefully get the fever to break," she almost whispered as she stared unwillingly at the soft curve of his lips as he chewed the food. "Sybil, what happened to you," the warmth of his fingers pressed slowly tracing the ragged scar along her cheek as he spoke softly. Her eyes closed for a long breath as the heat of his fingertips spread over the softness of her cheek. Swallowing hard against the quickened thumping of her pulse, Sybil opened her eyes and turned away from his hand before setting the empty bowl on the table. "I think you should get some rest Cole," she forced a soft smile as she turned back to him, pulling the blankets over him as he settled back into the bed.

  Sybil tossed uncomfortably in her bed as she wrestled with the blanket pulling it up over her shoulders. As worn out as the last couple of days had left her, the thoughts and memories playing over and over again in her mind left her fighting for sleep. How could she have such an attraction to this man! She didn't know him, she hardly knew anything about him, but in the past three days she felt herself being drawn to him more and more. Maybe it was just the situation, maybe it was the resemblance to her daughter, she argued in her head over the confusion of her emotions and thoughts. She had never known a man in a husbandly sort of way, yet she'd spent the last two nights in the arms of a stranger. That was it! The long forgotten desires had been awakened again by Robert and the situation she found herself in with this stranger was just confusing her emotions. As her thoughts turned to Robert and the second time he'd chosen Jane over her, soft quiet tears swelled in Sybil's tired eyes and she cried as she drifted off to sleep. Her dreams revolved around the stranger, Robert and her daughter before turning back into vivid frightening images of her past. Sybil fought restlessly as John Henry's hand wrapped around her ankle and she fell in slow motion into the large glass French doors that had always brought a smile to her mother's face. Sybil startled, sitting upright in bed as the loud ear shattering rumble of glass breaking rang in her ears. The muffled screams and yells of a man's voice beyond her bedroom door had her heart racing. Running into the cabin, Sybil spotted the glimmer of the shattered glass reflecting the soft glow of the fire
place as she rounded it carefully and climbed onto the side of the bed. Cole was thrashing around, fighting with the blankets as she pressed her body on top of his penning his arms under her weight. "No please," he screamed almost tossing her off the bed," please wait, I have a ch-!" "Cole, Cole wake up," she yelled hearing the torment in his voice and watching the anguish of his dreams tear at the features of his face. A pool of tears under his eyes shimmered in the flickering light of the flames as his movements slowed and his eyes began to open slowly. "Cole, it's ok. I'm right here," she whispered as she raised her hand and stroked his hair softly. Feeling the labored breath of his sobs, tears fell down her cheeks at the obvious pain and sorrow in his eyes. The pain and torment showed deep in his eyes as he stared at her with tears trailing from the corner of his eyes. The confusion of the moment mixed with the anguish she felt as she watched some horror tear at Cole's heart. The memories of her past and the tormented screams of the stranger squeezed against her heart. Pressing her lips to his fevered forehead, Sybil's mind raced as she shushed him and whispered soothing words against the softness of his cheek. His arms pulled slowly from under the blankets and wrapped around her, holding her tight against his chest as his eyes closed and he pleaded softly, "Sybil, please don't leave me." The glimmer of a tear rolled down his face as Sybil felt her very breath choke her. "Cole," she whispered, watching his eyes open to her again slowly. Her heart ached for him. She yearned to ease the pain she'd seen flash in his eyes the past days, yet no words seemed to come to her mind. As he rolled them onto their sides, her tears began to fall faster as he turned burying his head under her chin. The pain she'd seen in his eyes with the body rattling sobs that rocked against her as his ragged breaths feathered across her neck left Sybil in tears of her own. Running her fingers through his hair and holding him tight, she sobbed softly and whispered, "I won't Cole."

  "Miss Delacroix," the murmur of a voice and a soft tapping filled her mind as she squeezed her eyes tighter. Snuggling her head into the soft curve of his shoulder, she exhaled slowly feeling the smile grow across her lips. The heated weight of his arm squeezed around her shoulder as she moaned softly. As the knocking sounded again much louder this time, Sybil jumped, pressing her hand into the thickness of his chest. Her eyes grew wide as she glanced down realizing she was still lying by his side with his arm wrapped around her shoulders. Slowly and quietly she slipped out of the bed, smoothing her hair with her fingers as she found her robe on the floor and pulled it around her quickly. He groaned softly but with a quick glance over her shoulder finding him still asleep, she stepped quietly toward the door. Opening the door to the concerned looks on the men's faces, Sybil smiled and yawned stretching her arms. "I'm sorry, I must have over slept. Come on in Doctor. Sherriff Woods, good to see you. Good morning Daniel," she greeted the men and stepped behind the door as they entered one by one. "Forgive me," she started again as she walked toward the kitchen, "the last few days have been tiring. Would you gentlemen like some coffee?" As the doctor sat on the edge of the bed, Cole woke up and slowly began to sit up as he eyed the different men in the room. Sherriff Woods walked around the foot of the bed and stared down at the shattered glass before passing a cautious look over the sick man. "I'd love some," his deep voice replied as he pushed the toe of his boot around the glass, "Everything alright here Miss Delacroix?" As Daniel passed behind her pressing a kiss against her cheek before pulling the coffee mugs from the cupboard, Sybil looked at Cole then to the pile of shattered glass. "Oh that," she laughed and reached for the broom before making her way to the sheriff. "Bird brushed against me this morning as I was bringing Mr. Marshal his breakfast and this glass just tipped over the side of the tray," she lied and tossed a quick glance at the dog that'd raised her head at the mention of her name. Sweeping up the mess of glass, Sybil smiled softly at Cole as the doctor examined the lump on his head. "If you'd like Miss Delacroix, Daniel and I can load Mr. Marshal into Doc's wagon and carry him into town," the sheriff spoke up again as he leaned through the bedroom door and seemed less curious after spotting her unmade bed. Into town, the sheriff's words echoed in her ears as she felt her chest tighten. Before Sybil could answer, the doctor stood, closed his bag and spoke in a soft voice. "I don't think that is a good idea Sheriff. His fever has broken, but with the size of this knot, there is a possibility of concussion. If he is not a bother to you Miss Delacroix," the old doctor continued as he turned toward her, "it would be best if he didn't travel until the knot goes down." Shaking the rag full of shattered glass into a can, Sybil turned glancing quickly at Cole then wiped her hands on the front of her robe. The warmth of his arms around her that morning still tingled over her skin. The thought of him not being there sent her mind into a panic as she flashed her eyes around the different men in the room. Something about this man sparked a curiosity in her she hadn't felt before and now the thoughts of losing him were more than she could stand. "He's not a," she started before Daniel handed her a cup of coffee and interrupted. "Sybil can I speak to you a moment," he insisted as he nodded to the sheriff and guided her through the door of her bedroom.

  "Sheriff Woods and I checked into the things you told me you knew about him Sybil," Daniel started lowly as he grabbed the edge of the blanket and helped her straighten her bed. The solemn, worried look in his face gripped Sybil's heart as she waited for him to continue. "If he is who he says he is, he was recently in Oklahoma because he was in prison." Daniel walked slowly around the bed and leaned against Rose's crib as he watched Sybil press and straighten the same section of blanket she'd just smoothed. "Sybil, he was in prison for murder. One he didn't commit, but still he was in prison for murder. The sheriff in Gonzales said they had arrested him for the murder of a Mexican dance hall girl, but at the trial they learned he had told the truth and hadn't been the one that killed her. He may not have done it Sybil, but I still don't like the idea of you being here alone with him," Daniel finished with a heavy sigh. Her mind whirled over the new information her friend had told her as she sunk to the side of the bed. She couldn't imagine Cole murdering anyone. She had seen the gentleness deep in his eyes even through the cold, the fever and the torment of his nightmares. Nightmares that now she was sure where the haunting memories of the time he was locked up with the world's most evil men. "Daniel," she started slowly as she questioned her feelings about a man she barely knew and just learned of him being in prison. Returning her gaze to the concern of her friend's eyes, Sybil smiled softly, "I will be fine. You heard the doctor; he shouldn't travel until the swelling has gone down. I do want to ask if you and Dancing Moon would mind keeping Rose with you an extra couple of days. That will give Col.. uh.. Mr. Marshal time to heal and be on his way before she comes home." As she stood and walked to her young friend, Sybil hugged him tight. "Of course," he exhaled loudly. Daniel knew full well of her stubbornness and wasn't about to test her even with his deep concern.

  The gentle bay of the milk cow awoke Sybil from her rambling thoughts. After the Doctor, Sheriff and Daniel had left this morning, she found she had much trouble keeping her thoughts straight. He was in prison, Daniel's hushed voice came flooding back to her over and over again. She couldn't deny even to herself that the bit of information worried her to no end. Cole was a large man, nearly twice her size. If he had it in mind to do anything to her, she'd have no chance at defending herself against a man of his stature. She had gotten lucky in getting away from John Henry who had been near the same size of Cole, but did she really have that much luck around her? Her mind's comparison of Cole to John Henry suddenly angered her. Cole was no John Henry she argued with herself as she stood from the milking stool and carried the full bucket to the rough table. The first night he'd pulled her body against his, fear crept into her very soul feeling the hard, strong mass of his body under her arms. Even though she had been alone with a strange man and knew she could never withstand an attack on his part, Sybil realized she'd felt safe around him. Almost protected, she thought as her mind twirled back to the
strength of his arms wrapping around her as she lay chasing away his nightmares.

  The soft smile still played on her lips as the soft thunder of hooves turned her from the stall she'd been cleaning. "Robert," the confusion twisted her face as the smile dropped and she watched him slide from his saddle. Quietly but quickly he crossed the short expanse of the open barn and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her tight into his embrace. Sybil's mind whirled with questions as her body defied her and melted into his arms. "Wha.. what are you doing here," she muttered after moments of his heated embrace threating to shake every ounce of her reserve from her. Pressing her hands against his chest, she pushed backwards out of his embrace and steeled her face at his silence. "Robert," she said again, her voice more forceful now as she'd scolded herself of wanting to stay in his arms. "Sybil, I'm sorry. I just found out from the sheriff what's been going on. I won't have you here alone with some strange man," he started as he returned to his horse and began untying the saddle bag. Shock, then agitation set in as his words and tone settled on her. "You won't have me here alone," she questioned as she crossed her arms in front of her chest and straightened her back against the possession in his tone. "I am not your wife! You don't have any right to say what I can and will do Robert Joseph Wilks," she shot out in anger as the idea of him thinking she'd be under his control twisted her brow and tightened the thin curve of her lips. The growl of anger in her voice halted his action of untying his bag of clothing from the saddle. Looking over his shoulder at the wild eyed, determined stance, Robert laughed lightly. The rumble of his laughter angered her even more as she stomped long strides toward him, "Get out of here Robert! You are not welcome here. Leave! Go home to your wife!" As she approached his smile seemed to widen, was he laughing at her when she could only see the red of anger? Quickly catching her wrist as she pulled her hand back to slap him, Robert jerked her arm pulling Sybil against his body once more as her screaming words fell into his shoulder. Before she could wedge her hands between them and push him away, she parted her lips again to scream her anger when his mouth fell over hers.

  She fought it, didn't she? She asked herself as his tongue explored the depths of her mouth. She'd struggled against his gripping hands and pressed her lips tight against the soft invasion of his tongue, yet here she was tangled in the warmth of his arms returning the passion of his kiss. As the heat of his mouth pulled slowly from hers, Sybil blinked staring into the loving eyes she'd dreamed for so long to wake up next to. Her thoughts were in shambles as his arms unwrapped from around her waist and caressed slowly up her arms before settling onto her shoulders. Slow labored breaths feathered over her still parted lips as she tried to wrap her mind around the events of the last few minutes. She wanted to yell, she wanted to hit him, she wanted to cry and yes, she thought quietly to herself, she wanted to be kissed like that again. As the softness of his fingers caressed over her cheek, Sybil sighed and tried to form some kind of intelligent words. "You may not be my wife yet," Robert started softly as he pressed his lips against the corner of her still gaping mouth, "but I love you and I will not leave you here alone with a strange man." Her mind whirled and her heart pounded in her chest. Still lost in the confusing haze of what had happened, Sybil hugged her arms around her waist and stepped away from Robert. Something had been awakened deep inside of her. Her heart pounded against her chest as her legs trembled but as her thoughts became a whirlwind in her head, her mind turned to Cole. Pressing her forehead against the rough wooden door of Jed's room, Sybil exhaled slowly. "You can't stay here Robert," she started almost in a whisper. "I can't," her breath hitched as she bit back against the heavy sob threatening to choke the life from her. "I can't keep being your second choice," she finished more solid as she stood and turned back to face him.