by Danni Roan
“So do I,” Dan hissed. “It’s plain to see Rosa doesn’t want anything to do with that man, and if she doesn’t want to go, she doesn’t have to. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure she has a say in her life.”
Spencer flashed his eyes toward Daliah who simply smiled back at him her dark eyes holding secrets even he couldn’t comprehend. “Let me talk to Mr. Hernandez,” he offered. “After that you’re on your own. I hope you aren’t getting over your head.”
Dan nodded plastering the ridiculous grin on his face once more and turning toward the table. “It’s all settled,” Dan’s words didn’t put a dent in the chill that hung at the small table. “Spence agreed to be my best man, but first he has to ride out to see about some fella’s camped down the road.”
Mr. Hernandez turned giving Spencer a quick nod. “Those will be my vaqueros.” The man’s voice was soft but rang with authority. “They are of no concern to you.”
“I’d like to decide that for myself,” Spencer said his blue eyes studying the other man. “It’s my job as sheriff of Needful.”
“Very well,” Juan reached into the pocket of his dark coat and pulled out a note pad and pencil. “Give this note to Manuel. Tell them to make themselves comfortable, and I will come soon.”
Spencer waited patiently while the man wrote the note then handed it to him. “I’ll be back soon,” he said nodding at Dan who had slipped into a chair next to Rosa. “I wouldn’t want to miss anything important.”
***
Daliah’s light laughter made Spencer skid to a halt on the other side of the front door as he tried to collect his thoughts.
“This should be interesting,” his lovely wife said reaching out and taking his hand.
“I’m not sure I follow,” he said leaning into her. When Spencer had met Daliah, he knew that she was the last thing he needed in his life, but it turned out she was just the thing he couldn’t live without.
“Dan and Rosa,” Daliah grinned. “He’s been dancing around the real issue for months, and now it is staring him right in the face.”
“Honey, I’m not sure what you’re on about, but I need to ride out and make sure these men aren’t going to be a problem. If nothing else, having a group like that around after what happened with Rivera and his gang will make people nervous.”
Daliah rolled her eyes taking Spencer’s other hand and pulling him closer as she gazed into his dazzling blue eyes. “Dan and Rosa.” She shook her head. “Don’t you see?”
“See what?”
Daliah’s laugh washed over him, and he couldn’t help but grin even if he wasn’t sure what she was talking about.
“Your brother is in love with Rosa, but he hasn’t even realized it himself. He’s so worked up about what happened to Raul that he hasn’t seen what’s in his own heart.”
Spencer blinked at his beautiful wife shaking his head slowly. “He just wants to help,” he insisted. “He feels responsible for what happened to Raul.”
“And he feels guilty for how attracted he is to Rosa when she was the wife of his friend.”
“Daliah don’t you think you’re being fanciful?” Spencer asked. He knew his wife to be a sensible woman, kind, caring and talented in the healing arts, but women could get romantic notions sometimes too.
“No,” She replied tipping up and kissing his lips. “You mark my words; Dan really will do whatever it takes to give Rosa her freedom.” Daliah laughed softly again. “Even if he has to marry her.”
Spencer turned looking back at the closed door to the eatery and shook his head as Dan’s words filled his mind once more. “Is this a good thing or a bad thing?”
“Only time will tell,” Daliah grinned.
Spencer glanced around him then leaned in for another quick kiss before resting his forehead against Daliah’s. “I have a feeling this whole mess is going to give me headaches,” he admitted.
“I’ll mix the willow bark then,” Daliah laughed. “Now go see about these men and come home. I’ll make us lunch.”
Chapter 14
Dan sat across from the man who claimed to be Rosa’s father as waves of hostility radiated from the woman next to him.
She had been about to lose her battle with the man only moments ago, and he couldn’t let that happen. He knew how proud Rosa was. How she worked hard to provide for herself and her daughter Christina. He couldn’t let this man charge in and whisk her away if she didn’t want to go.
Thanking Shi, one of Olive and Orville’s daughters-in-law, for the coffee she placed before them, he studied Mr. Hernandez waiting to see what the man would do next.
“Why do you wish to marry my daughter?” the older man asked his dark eyes, so much like Rosa’s glinted with a hard light.
“Why, because I love her,” Dan replied with a grin turning to study Rosa who wouldn’t meet his eyes. “She’s the sunshine in my life,” he added as the taste of coffee turned bitter on his tongue.
The words spilling from his lips were said cheerily but each declaration hit him like a punch to the gut as he realized that they were true.
He had been fighting these feelings for a long time, not truly even understanding what they were. At first it had been a need to help. A desire to see to it that Raul’s widow was taken care of, but as his offers had been met with stubborn obstinacy he had grown to respect the infuriating woman. He hadn’t understood why she refused his offer of a little house and a place to live, but now it was clear and his heart melted with the realization that somewhere along the way he had fallen in love with Rosa Rodriguez.
“And you Rosa?” Juan’s dark eyes turned to his daughter who looked up with a start.
“I would have nothing less,” Rosa said her voice sharp. Slowly she turned to Dan a bright smile flashing across her soft features. “Mr. Gaines is a good man. He is well respected in Needful and will make a good husband.”
Dan managed to stop himself from flinching as the word husband dropped from her lips but was too startled by her hand twining with his to speak.
“I do not need you here father,” Rosa continued. “I am an independent woman who has chosen to marry well. You can go home to Mexico. You do not need to worry about your little Rosalita.”
“Go home?” Mr. Hernandez laughed. “When my daughter is getting married? No, no, no. I missed your first wedding. I will not miss this one.” The older man pushed himself to his feet. “I will pay for the best wedding this town has ever seen. You will have the wedding your mother never could.”
Smiling the man doffed his hat and stepped away from the table, pausing to turn back to the gaping couple. “You may not believe me, Rosa,” he spoke softly, “but I loved your mother. I would have married her sooner if possible. My wife, her family was wealthy, powerful; I would have lost everything if I had left her. When she died, I went to your mother begging her to be my wife, but she insisted that we wait a respectable time. I was young and foolish when I first wed. I would have given it all up for your mother and the family we could have been.”
Rosa gaped as the man turned on his heel and strode from the Hampton House without a backward glance, tears burning behind her eyes as hurt, anger, and sorrow twisted in her heart.
Dan stared at Rosa seeing the pain in her eyes as tears began to fall. Instinctively he wrapped an arm around her pulling her close but her sharp intake of breath and whispered words had him springing back like a scalded cat.
“You!” Rosa hissed. “You are not a good man.” She sprang to her feet glaring down at him then looking up as he stood.
“What? I’m trying to help.” Dan matched her hard glare with his own, but flinched as she opened her mouth. He knew what was coming. Knew her accusations would cut to the bone but before she could speak a strong hand descended on his arm.
“You love birds come with me,” Olive Hampton grasped them both by the wrist, her grip surprisingly strong for a woman her age. “We’ll have a nice private chat in the parlor.” Olive’s voice sounded loud in the
hushed dining hall but her determined tug had both parties rushing to keep up.
“Olive,” Rosa protested.
“Not a word.” Olive’s tone was clipped and even Dan hesitated to speak before she told him to. “This is for your own good,” the old woman said. “Now get in here and close the door.”
Together the trio stepped into the living quarters of the Hampton family, the door snapping behind them with a click as Olive sagged into a chair.
“Olive are you unwell?” Rosa said stooping to look at the woman. “Should I get Daliah?” Worry creased Rosa’s face and Dan’s heart squeezed at her fear.
“No, no.” Olive waved Rosa away. “Sit down. We need to talk.” She waved her hand in front of her face for a moment closing her eyes as her breathing settled. “I’m getting too old for days like this.”
“You are not so old,” Rosa snapped, but her voice betrayed her convictions.
“I’m old enough to know trouble when I see it.” Olive opened her eyes pointing to a simple settee across from her. “Sit down and tell me what that was all about. I thought you were going to kill that man.” Olive looked between Dan and Rosa. “And you, what in the world were you doing announcing to the world that you and Rosa are getting married. “The whole town will know before dinner tonight.”
“I was just trying to help,” Dan protested. He sounded sullen even to his own ears as emotions roiled through him like a stampeding herd.
“You may have helped the two of you straight to the altar.”
“It will not come to that.” Rosa flashed a hard look at Dan. “I will tell my father that we must wait. Eventually he will go home. He cannot stay away forever.”
Olive’s harsh grunt made Rosa look back at her. “Dan would you be so kind as to put the kettle on in the kitchen for me? Rosa can make us some tea and explain who that man is exactly and why he thought he could come to Needful and take one of our own.”
Rosa opened her mouth to protest then met Olive’s eyes and nodded as Dan jumped to his feet and hobbled toward the other room without a backward glance.
“Tell me everything Rosa,” Olive said weariness edging her voice. “There’s more to this story than a wayward father coming to claim his child.”
Chapter 15
Rosa walked into the kitchen and pulled down a tea pot and a tin of black tea. Dan hadn’t returned to the parlor, but instead stood staring at the cook stove as if it might hold the secrets of the universe.
“Is that man really your father?” he asked as Rosa swilled the pot and added the tea.
“Yes.” Rosa didn’t meet Dan’s eyes, but instead took three cups from a shelf and placed them on a tray then filled the pot with boiling water.
“Did you know he would come?”
“No!” Rosa turned a small creamer and sugar bowl in her hands. “I had hoped to never see him again in my life.”
Dan nodded. “I’ll do whatever I can to help,” he offered lamely as Rosa added the teapot to the tray and hefted it in her hands. “Bring cookies,” she spouted walking out of the kitchen and back into the parlor, her head held high.
Dan chuckled looking around him for something that might contain cookies and spying a cracker tin. Peeking inside he grinned at the array of crisp ginger snaps then hobbled after Rosa as fast as he could.
“Now,” Olive was saying as Dan placed the tin on a small table. “Tell me everything Rosa and don’t leave anything out.”
Rosa lifted the tea pot giving it a gentle swirl then pouring the amber brew into each cup.
“When I was a girl I loved my father,” she began. “He would come to the house brining us gifts and candy. It was like Christmas each time he came and my mother would light up with joy. She would press her best dress, fix her hair, and make sure that we all looked nice.”
“Go on,” Olive prompted taking a cookie and dunking it into her tea.
“Father would sweep in like a summer storm full of laughter and light. Often he would dance with my mother bringing her pretty dresses or other gifts. He always brought money, and when he would leave, mother would take us to the market to buy something special. When we asked why our father did not live with us all of the time, she would only say that he had other responsibilities that kept him away, and she would grow sad. I did not understand for many years what she meant but eventually as I grew older I learned.”
Dan opened his mouth to ask a question but Olive’s hard glared had him closing it on a cookie instead and he waited for Rosa to continue.
The woman beside him had such sorrow in her eyes as she spoke that he wanted to pull her tight, to hide her from all the bad things in the world and never let them hurt her again.
“When I was eleven, my mother grew ill. She needed a doctor, and I went to the nearest town to find one. Always before I had gone to town with my mother and no one spoke more than a few words to us. They were eager to take our money, but they did not ask us in for tea, or let their children play with us. I came to the town to fetch the doctor and as I walked, I noticed how the women looked at me. Several of them turned to whisper something to a friend, and soon I felt that they were all talking about me.”
Olive nodded encouraging Rosa to go on though it was obvious that the telling was painful.
“When I found the doctor, there was another woman there. I did not know her, but she looked at me as if I was less than dirt. ‘What do you want?’ she asked her cold words hitting me like a physical blow. ‘I have come for the doctor,’ I told her. ‘My mother is ill’.”
Rosa looked up, her eyes full of tears. “She told me that she was not surprised that a woman like my mother would grow ill, and that the world would be a better place without her in it. That any woman that would share her favors with a married man was evil and her children were nothing but…”
Dan reached out placing his hand over Rosa’s knowing what she would say. “That’s not right,” he whispered. “It wasn’t your fault. She shouldn’t have spoken to you like that.”
Rosa looked up, her eyes shining with tears, but she didn’t jerk her hand away. “I ran,” she said. “I ran all the way home and though I had not called the doctor, he still came. When mother was better, I asked her if what the woman said was true. She did not deny it. She didn’t even try to defend herself. She knew what she had done was wrong, but she would not give up this man.”
“When did you meet Raul?” Olive asked gently. “When did you marry him?”
A wan smile spread across Rosa’s face and she pulled her hand from Dan’s brushing the tears from her eyes. “Raul was from the town. He would come with his father and work around our house. They were very poor, but they worked hard. Already his brother, Rivera was a bad one. He took things that did not belong to him. He was always fighting and causing trouble. Once he came to mother and told her she had not paid enough for the work that his father had done, he demanded more and she gave it to him.”
Olive pulled a handkerchief from her dress sleeve and handed it to Rosa. “Go on dear.”
Rosa smiled as memories flooded her mind. “Raul was good. He would come to help, but not want any money. He fixed our chicken coop, or cleaned the well. Always he was laughing telling jokes. He had honor even then.” Rosa collapsed into tears sobbing with grief, loss, and frustration.
Olive nodded to Dan and he pulled Rosa to him wrapping her in his arms until she cried herself out.
“How old were you when you married Raul?” Olive finally asked as Rosa dried her eyes. “Why didn’t your father know?”
“I ran away,” Rosa said biting her lip to control her voice. “Raul told me he loved me, and that as soon as he had a place of his own he would marry me. I told him that I was, I was the daughter of an unwed mother, but he didn’t care. He loved me and would give me the home I deserved. I didn’t want to wait. I could feel the eyes of our town on me always and only wanted to escape. We ran away when I turned seventeen and were married at a small church. The rest you know.”
; Chapter 16
Dan clasped his hands in his lap forcing himself not to spring to his feet and pace the cozy room. He was angry at the unfairness of it all. Rosa had found love and a man who was good, honest, and true only to lose him in a horrible mistake. It wasn’t her fault that life had been so unfair. She wasn’t to blame for her parent’s choices.
“Rosa,” Ellen stepped into the room with Rosa’s daughter Christina on her hip. “I think she wants you, she was fussy when she woke from her nap,” the pretty blonde woman said putting the little girl down and aiming her toward her mother. “You all take your time,” the other woman said with a grin. “We have everything under control.”
Christina giggled, her bright smile twinkling in her eyes as she toddled across the room as Ellen turned around leaving them alone once more.
Rosa leaned forward extending her hands as her eyes brightened with joy at the sight of her daughter but her smile faltered as Christina made her way to Dan trying to climb into his lap.
Dan’s eyes widened as the little girl tried to pull herself up and instinctively his hand reached under her arms lifting her onto his knees. The little girl wriggled onto his lap snuggling close to his chest and closing her eyes.
Olive’s chuckle made both Dan and Rosa start and they turned to stare at the older woman. “Well at least she likes you,” Olive laughed. “That should go a long way to convincing Mr. Hernandez that you really are going to marry Rosa.”
“It will not come to that,” Rosa said her lips forming a thin line as she looked back at her traitorous daughter. “He will go and things will return to normal.”
Olive shook her head but didn’t say anything else. “I’m going to my room,” the old woman said. “You two had better get your stories straight if you plan on pulling this off. Your father may have made a few mistakes in his life, but he does not strike me as a fool.”
Dan ran his hand over Christina’s back, the motion soothing in the oddest way. The little girl knew him well enough as he was often in town on business or at the Hampton House to share dinner with Spencer. Looking up, he met Rosa’s dark eyes and she glared at him.
