by Danni Roan
Rosa
A Needful Bride
By
Danni Roan
Rosa Rodriguez is independent for the first time in her life. She has a job she enjoys, and a way to provide for herself and her daughter. Surrounded by friends, she battles the sorrow, anger, and shame of the past, uncertain of what her future could bring.
Will her misconceptions, doubts, and lack of trust steal her chance at love?
Dan Gaines has been focused on building his ranch, providing for his men, and caring for the town of Needful. As the reluctant mayor of the tiny cow town, he is determined to meet the needs of all who live there, but one particularly stubborn woman won’t let him help. As his frustration turns to infatuation, his feelings of personal guilt over his friend’s death keeps him from seeing what is right before his eyes. Will circumstances, misunderstandings, and danger separate him from the one who owns his heart?
Copyright © 2020 by Danni Roan All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review. FIRST EDITION https://authordanniroan.com
Contents
Chapter 1 6
Chapter 2 13
Chapter 3 21
Chapter 4 27
Chapter 5 35
Chapter 6 45
Chapter 7 51
Chapter 8 56
Chapter 9 64
Chapter 10 73
Chapter 11 80
Chapter 12 92
Chapter 13 104
Chapter 14 114
Chapter 15 120
Chapter 16 126
Chapter 17 132
Chapter 18 144
Chapter 19 156
Chapter 20 163
Chapter 21 167
Chapter 22 173
Chapter 23 179
Chapter 24 194
Chapter 25 205
Epilogue 213
Chapter 1
“I don’t know what to do,” Dan Gaines spun as he made another pass across the floor of his brother’s small office, raking his hands through his dark brown hair. “I’ve tried everything I know, but the guilt is eating me up inside.”
“Dan, if she doesn’t want to see you there isn’t much you can do.” Spencer looked at his younger brother; his blue eyes tracking him as he took three paces across the floor then turned again retracing his steps.
“I need to apologize,” Dan grumbled, flopping into the single chair in front of Spencer’s over crowded desk. “I didn’t mean it.”
Spencer Gaines shuffled a few pieces of paper on his desk, flicking through the newest wanted posters that had arrived on the last stage. He’d seen more trouble in the past two weeks from outlaws than he ever expected in the burgeoning cattle town of Needful, Texas. “You could write her a note,” Spencer grinned, his blue eyes twinkling with barely suppressed humor.
“And say what?” Dan lifted his head from his hands, meeting his brother’s gaze with identical blue eyes. “She’ll probably just throw it into the fire unread.”
“Little brother, I’m afraid you’re going to just have to let this go. Stay out of her way, and it will blow over soon, I’m sure.”
Dan sprang to his feet again, cutting his brother a hard glare. “What if she needs something? What if Christina gets sick again? What if some other outlaws decide to kidnap her?”
“Then we’ll deal with it?” Spencer said a hard edge in his voice. Two weeks ago he wouldn’t have expected to be so calm about the situation, but he, his brother and several other of the town’s men had rescued Rosa Rodriguez and Ruth Rivers from a band of outlaws, bringing them both home safely and sending the outlaws to jail at the same time. “Besides, she has the Hamptons.”
“But she doesn’t have to work. I told her I’d get her a place, give her and Christina a home. Pay for everything. It’s my fault she lost Raul. If I hadn’t kept sending him to Mexico to buy cattle or bring back horses, this never would have happened. They could have the little spread they wanted and be raising their daughter together.”
Spencer pushed himself out of his chair and stepped around the desk. “Dan, I know you’re speaking from the heart,” he mused lightly as he clapped a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “I know you feel responsible for what happened to Raul and how he died, but it isn’t your fault.”
Dan twisted out of his brother’s grasp as guilt gnawed at his middle. “You can say that, but I know better. Rosa shouldn’t have to work day in and day out at the Hampton House to support herself and Christina. If only she would listen to reason.”
Spencer handed his brother his hat from the rack by the door. “Come on over for lunch with me and Daliah,” he offered opening the door. “You’re gonna make yourself sick worryin’ on this. You need to let it go.”
Dan huffed out a sigh, slapping his hat on his head as they stepped out of the tiny sheriff’s office and jail. “No, I’m headed home,” he growled. “I’m better off when I’m working, anyway. I’ll see you Sunday.”
Spencer shrugged, pulling the door closed behind him. “Suit yourself,” he mumbled, knowing that nothing he said would change his brother’s mind. Raul Rodriguez had been killed by bounty hunters well over a year ago. The big man, a hard worker and dedicated family man, had been mistaken for his outlaw brother and shot down in cold blood. For whatever reason, Dan had decided it was his fault that Raul was dead and that as mayor Dan needed to see to the man’s family. Since Rosa had been kidnapped, his worry, frustration, and determination had flared to a fevered pitch.
“Go home, Dan,” Spencer said. “Leave Rosa alone. If she needs something we’re all here for her.”
Dan dragged his pony’s reins from the hitching post on the main drag through town and stepped down into the dusty street. A cool breeze whipped in from the prairie, swirling little puffs of dust around his boots as he tossed himself up into the saddle and turned north toward home. “Give Daliah and Chad my love,” he said sagging in the saddle as his horse stepped into a trot.
“Was that Dan?” A woman’s voice drifted down the boardwalk, and Spencer turned, a bright smile gracing his handsome face.
“That was Dan,” Spencer offered. “I invited him to join us for lunch, but he wouldn’t stay.”
Daliah wrapped her fingers into her husband’s hand and smiled. “You need to give him time,” she said her dark eyes scanning his face as she brushed a stray dark-gold curl from her face. “He has a lot on his mind right now.”
Spencer nodded, following his wife around the corner of the jail house toward their small home. “I don’t like him being so obsessed with Rosa and her plight,” the lawman shook his head, but looked up when Daliah squeezed his hand. “It’s not like him.”
“Dan feels responsible,” Daliah spoke, her voice soft. Everything about her was soft, warm and loving, and it made Spencer’s once cold heart glow with warmth. “He’s the Mayor of Needful, and Raul worked for him as much as he did anyone else. He feels like he needs to fix things.”
“Honey, I don’t think this can be fixed. Rosa is still angry with Raul for getting himself killed. If he hadn’t taken that loan from his outlaw brother, he never would have been in that border town where he was killed.”
“Maybe now that you’ve put that same outlaw brother in jail, she’ll be able to forgive her late husband,” Daliah’s soft smile ushered them through the door of the light blue house. “It takes time to get over a shock like that, and the grief that goes with it.”
Spencer released her hand to dip his fingers into the basin of clean water by the door, washing some of the w
orry from his face with a splash. Daliah had known enough grief in her own life, but she still found love and understanding for others. Drying his face, he followed her into the house and breathed in the smell of fresh bread and boiled eggs.
“No one has it easy all the time,” Daliah said smoothing her apron. “Every person has to work through their grief and anger in their own way, and nothing Dan does can fix that for Rosa. He needs to give her space.”
Spencer leaned over, placing his hands on Daliah’s hips and stealing a kiss. “How d'you ever get to be so wise?” he asked, a teasing light flickering in his eyes.
“I watch,” she grinned, kissing him back.
“You’re too good for me, you know that right?”
Daliah’s soft laugh filled the small house as she snagged his hand once more and pulled him toward the table. “Let’s eat,” she chortled. “I have to go see Peri after lunch. She said Prim isn’t feeling well.”
“Nothing serious I hope.” Spencer looked up from where he had slipped into a chair.
“Nothing seven or eight months won’t cure,” Daliah laughed.
Chapter 2
Olive Hampton shook her head as the stream of sharp Spanish words floated from the kitchen.
Ever since her chief cook and friend Rosa Rodriguez had been kidnapped by her erstwhile brother-in-law, the woman had been a simmering pot about to boil over. No one dared invade the kitchen other than to slip the prepared meals out the door quietly, and no matter how often Olive had tried, Rosa refused to talk about the events.
More rapid fire Spanish peppered the air and Olive cringed. She didn’t understand the language well, but had the impression that the tiny Mexican woman was calling down fire and brimstone on someone’s head.
“It’s terrible quiet in the place,” Orville said stepping up to his wife and slicking his white hair back with one hand. “The men of the town are half afraid to eat here what with all that,” he nodded toward the kitchen door before his dark eyes turned back to his wife. “We didn’t start this boarding house and eatery to be run out of business. I hope she gets this out of her system soon.”
Olive placed her hand on Orville’s arm, squeezing gently. “You’d think that now that Spencer sent Rivera and his gang off to prison, she’d simmer down,” the older woman said, “but something seems to keep her on a low boil all the time. I offered to take Christina for a spell, but she won’t let her baby girl out of her site for five minutes.”
“Did Ruth say anything? She was there with Rosa through the whole mess and seems to be alright.”
Orville shook his head, cringing as something clattered loudly in the kitchen. “I’ll talk to Darwin out at the livery,” he cringed again at the sound of a pan scraping across the hot cook stove. “Darwin seems to have come to accept that his wife can look after herself since this misadventure at least, and they’re happy.” The old man grinned, his eyes sparkling with delight at the young couple who had gone through so much to find true love.
“In other words you’re escaping to the barn,” Olive placed her hands on her hips and shot her husband an accusatory glance.
“You bet!” Orville chuckled, leaning in and kissing her cheek. “Let me know when it’s safe to come home,” he added with a laugh. “And don’t forget about the buttermilk,” he paused, turning to meet Olive’s soft gaze. “Rosa’s cookin’ is as hot as her temper recently, and we’ll need it to wash down every bite.”
Olive’s soft laughter trailed the old man out of the Hampton House dining room, and he couldn’t help but sigh in relief when the warm air brushed away his nerves.
***
“Mayor Dan,” Orville called waving as a lean cowboy slipped off his horse, tying it to the hitching post with a quick flick of the reins. “Haven’t seen you about much this week.”
“I’ve been busy,” Dan growled, his blue eyes flashing at Orville and the old man scowled. He’d kept to the ranch for more than a week after his conversation with his brother, but couldn’t take it anymore.
“You looking for a meal?”
Dan nodded, some of his irritation ebbing.
“Well be prepared, Rosa’s cooking everything extra hot. If you can stomach it, there’s plenty to be had.”
Dan quirked a dark brow, looking at Orville questioningly. “She’s alright isn’t she?”
“Seems fine other than her temper stewing like a pot of spicy soup. Ever since you and the other men rescued her and Ruth, she’s been in a foul mood. Stormin’ round the kitchen talkin’ too herself and banging the pots and pans like drums. I’d think she would be relieved to be back safe and sound with little Christina.”
Dan nodded slowly, his eyes turning toward the Hampton House front door, and a slow burn crept up his cheeks. “I’m sure she’ll settle down in time.” His blue eyes flicked between Orville and the door. “It was a very stressful time, and everyone is still processing what happened.”
“Is there something we should know about?” Orville eyed the younger man suspiciously. “I mean Ruth told us what happened and all, but she seems fine while Rosa’s angry as a wet hen in the ice house.”
Dan pulled his hat from his head and ran a hand through his thick locks before crushing the brim of the already battered hat in his hand. “Not that I know of,” he mumbled turning and stepping up on the boardwalk.
Orville squinted at the Mayor of Needful, Texas sure he was missing something. The man’s spine was ramrod straight, his hands clenched around his hat, and an expression of hard determination covered his handsome face. There was more to the tale of Rosa and Ruth’s abduction than Mayor Dan was telling, and sooner or later, Orville would figure it out. In the mean time, he hoped his stomach could deal with the flaming meals his full-time cook and usually sweet friend was dishing out.
“Lord, somethin’s going on that I haven’t twigged to yet,” the old man said looking up at a cloudless late summer sky. “You’ll help us out with it when you’re ready though, so I’ll just get on about my business until you do.”
Spinning on his heel, Orville strode toward the large livery stable where the sound of cheery whistling was drifting into the air. At least one person in Needful was happy.
***
Dan stepped into the boarding house and stopped, looking around at the few patrons seated at tables scattered through the long room. Usually at this time of day the restaurant was packed with farmers, miners, and cowboys looking for a hot meal and a break from the labors of the day.
Several of his own hands nodded in his direction then turned their eyes back to stare at the bowls of stew before them.
“What’s wrong?” Dan finally asked, stepping up to a few punchers he had sent to town for supplies.
“You’d need a cast iron belly to eat this chow,” the man grumbled. “Rosa seems to have opened every chili powder she owns into the pot today.”
Dan bent low, leaning over the bowl and taking a sniff, pulling back sharply as his eyes burned.
“I’m bringin’ more bread,” Olive Hampton bustled into the room, a heavy tray in her hands. “It helps with the spices and Shi is bringing buttermilk.” She smiled around her, but her eyes were troubled.
“Why are you baking in the living quarters?” Dan asked, his eyes flicking toward the kitchen door where he could just hear Rosa’s voice.
“We’re lettin’ Rosa have her space.” Olive cut her eyes to the cattle rancher and mayor of her new home. “She’s still a little upset after her unfortunate adventure.”
Dan nodded and Olive scowled. Was that a flash of guilt across the man’s face?
“You have a seat, and I’ll get you a meal,” Olive offered, gesturing around the mostly empty room.
“Do you think I could speak with Rosa?” Dan looked up, his blue eyes worried. “I’d like to discuss what happened.”
Olive watched the man’s Adam’s apple bob and gasped. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said. “Rosa’s riled up about something, and until her temper eb
bs, it’s best to give her some room.”
“I’m sorry Olive but I need to speak with her.” Dan squared his shoulders and looked toward the kitchen as he stepped around the older woman.
Chapter 3
Dan Gaines filled his lungs with air and stepped forward, his face set as if walking to the gallows. He hadn’t meant to upset Rosa when he and the town posse had swept into the outlaw Rivera’s camp to rescue the women that had been abducted.
“Rosa,” he whispered as he reached the doorway, his eye taking in the slim woman slamming pans around on the hot stove. She was stunning. Her black hair tied into a tight braid that fell below her knees, her slim form wrapped in a deep red dress with wide ruffled skirts.
In one corner of the kitchen a little girl sat behind an odd fence playing with a doll, but she pushed herself to her feet, a bright toothy smile spreading across her face as she saw him. Dan’s heart warmed gazing at tiny Christina who latched her pudgy hands on the top rail of the fence and bounced with a giggle.
“You!” Rosa twirled toward Dan, brandishing a ladle like a weapon. “Why are you here,” her dark eyes squinted and she glared at him in anger.
“I wanted to speak to you,” Dan replied, stepping into the room. “To apologize.”
“No, you go!” Rosa spat. “I do not want to see you. I do not want to know that you exist. Go now.”
“Rosa,” Dan splayed his hands before him, imploring her to listen. “We need to talk about what happened. Let me explain.”
Rosa took a step closer, placing one hand on her hip and waving the ladle in Dan’s face. “I do not want to know. You have no right to bother me. I am a good woman. Honest. Faithful. True. You go. I do not want to see your face.”
