Texas Rose

by Jolene Faye

  ~*~ ~*~

  "I wish you didn't have to go," she sobbed quietly as the old man settled onto the seat of the wagon. Ugh, why did she cry at everything these days! Sybil wrestled with her emotions as she raised her arms and helped Rose from the wagon. "I will be back Honeybee. The Kiowa will be checking in on you and our little Texas Rose," he smiled as he leaned over and ruffled the dark black curls of the little girl's hair. "Jed," she started again softly. "Let Robert make his own decision. He has alot to consider," she lowered her head and rubbed her palm over the tightness of her stomach. Shaking his head, the old man's shoulders sank, "I'm not going to talk to Robert. I have other business I need to take care of." Watching as Rose ran toward the cabin, Sybil sighed, "Be careful please. I couldn't stand to lose anyone else." Before the old man could say anything, the happiness of the young girl's voice brought his eyes down in front of Sybil. "Bye Pa, here's a flower to 'member Rose," the child smiled brightly as she held up one of the dainty red roses that had been growing near the porch. They both laughed as Sybil helped Rose back into the wagon and Jed hugged her tight. "I'd never forget either one of my girls," Jed chuckled and pinched the child's cheek.

  As the coolness of the fall evening wrapped around them, Sybil called Rose inside for supper. Sitting down to the small table for their meal, Sybil turned her thoughts over and over in her head. "Rose," she called quietly as she watched her daughter slurp the soup from the spoon, "do you love Robert?" The happy rapid nodding of the little girl made Sybil smile as she watched her slide from the chair and grab the doll Robert had given her. "I loves Robert Mama, he gives me Sarah," she beamed as she settled back in her chair and held the doll up. "Yes he did," she sighed lightly. She knew her daughter loved Robert, but the energetic response didn't sooth her troubled heart the way she hoped it would have. "Rose, would you like Robert to be your Papa someday," she questioned the child again as she reached across the table and squeezed softly over Rose's hand. The usual sparkle in the bright green eyes that reminded her so much of Cole's seemed to dim as the little girl lowered her head and played with the yarn hair of the doll. "Rose, tell Mama what you feel," Sybil urged her slowly as she smoothed her fingers over her daughter's hand. Rose combed her fingers over the yarn covered head of the doll and nibbled on her lip for a long moment of silence. The softness of her eyes turning back to Sybil as she raised her head. Her lips twisted as she thought about her words before she opened her mouth slowly. "No," the soft voice echoed in Sybil's mind as she watched the slow shaking of her daughter's head, "Cole's not my Papa?" The question stabbed deep into Sybil's heart. Rose hadn't even mentioned Cole in the three and a half months he'd been gone. Tears pressed the corners of her eyes realizing her dreams had also been the thoughts of the young girl. Curling the fingers on her hand, Sybil motioned for Rose to sit with her as the tears began to fall slowly down her cheeks. Rose crawled into her lap, looked up at Sybil and kissed the wet path of the tears, "Mama, why are you sad?" Sybil hugged her daughter tightly and rocked back and forth in the chair. The soft breathing of the child, the slow creak of the chair and the low rumble of Sybil's sobs filled the lonesome cabin.