The Rose Ring

by Lucie Ulrich

  “He didn’t hit you, did he?”

  Noah coughed, sending a light spray of coffee across the table. “Whatever gave you that idea?”

  She pointed to his cheek. “That’s a pretty nasty-looking bruise.”

  “Where?” He ran a napkin across his mouth.

  “Right there.” Sky touched her finger to a spot on his cheek. When his hand came up to cover hers, she quickly pulled away, taking part of the bruise with her. She looked at her finger. “Dirt.”

  Laughing, he used the napkin in his hand to wipe the offending spot. “I did a little exploring in a storage shed this morning. Guess it was dirtier than I realized.” A crooked smile lit his face. “Appreciate your concern, though.” After a moment the smile faded. “Does Micah use his fists often?”

  “Of course not. I didn’t mean to imply… It’s just that he’s been upset the last few days… This whole mess… You…” Great, she was making Micah out to be some sort of bully.

  Noah held up a hand. “Slow down. I’m just trying to get a feel for who my brother is these days.”

  She pushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. “I guess if you’d kept in contact, you’d know what kind of man he is.”

  “Wow, you might not use your fists, but you sure don’t pull any punches.” He leaned against the back of the booth, no animosity on his face. “Good friends are hard to come by. My brother’s a lucky man.”

  “Order up!”

  At the sound of Carl’s voice, Sky headed for the other end of the diner. She’d been rude. He’d been nice about it. Same with the other day when she’d thrown a few jabs. She peeked over her shoulder to find him still smiling at her. She turned quickly and headed for the kitchen instead of grabbing the plates sitting on the pass-through.

  “You okay?” Carl asked.

  “Yeah. Just when I think I have that man figured out, I realize I don’t. For Micah’s sake I want to dislike him, but so far he hasn’t given me any reason to. Other than being a terrible flirt, that is.”

  Carl poured pancake batter onto the grill, forming six identical circles. “I don’t think Noah did right by his family, but I don’t have all the details. Disliking the man because his brother does seems kind of unfair, don’t you think?”

  With a potholder in hand, Sky reached for the warm plates. “But you’re the one who said I should watch out for him.”

  “And I meant it. But I’m not marrying into the family. You are. It’s going to be a long two years, so if I were you I wouldn’t burn any bridges.” He flipped the pancakes. “Who knows, your presence might just be what it takes to pull that family together.”

  Sky set three plates on a tray while Carl’s words ran through her mind. She hustled to Doc’s table, set the food in front of them, then did the same for Noah. “I’ll be right back.”

  She grabbed a pot of coffee from the warmer at the back of the diner and topped off Noah’s mug. “I owe you an apology. My comment about not keeping in touch was out of line and definitely none of my business.”

  “Nah, I deserved it. I haven’t been much of a brother for a long time. I’ve got a lot to make up for.” He sliced a large bite of egg with the side of his fork and stuck it in his mouth. He nodded and swallowed. “Good.”

  Sky tilted her head and watched him sip his coffee. Just maybe there was more depth to this man than she gave him credit for. The jingle of the bell and a sudden flurry of voices let her know the morning rush was on. She laid his bill on the edge of the table. “No hurry with this. I’ll check back in a bit.”

  Thirty minutes and three cups of coffee later, Noah slid out of the booth and made his way to the cash register. “Guess I’d better shove off.” He handed Sky the check and a crisp ten dollar bill. “Oh, expect a dinner invitation sometime this week. Annie’s decree.”

  A shudder ran down her spine. Annie didn’t come to town much and she never came into the diner, but her reputation as a tough, honest person preceded her. They’d sat in the same church a few times, with only the occasional greeting passing their lips. They were virtual strangers and Sky was about to become family. “Thanks for the heads-up. Will you be there too?”

  He winked. “I wouldn’t miss it. Keep the change.”

  While ringing up the sale, Carl stepped behind the counter and peered over her shoulder. “Not much of a tipper, is he?”

  “He’s average.” She pocketed the difference.

  “You’d think someone who wears designer suits and five hundred dollar shoes would be a little more generous.”

  Sky frowned. “And just what would you know about designer suits or five hundred dollar shoes?”

  A flush came to Carl’s cheeks. “Well… nothing. Libby Mortenson and Sara Mitchell were in here gabbing yesterday, and they seemed to know what they were talking about.”

  “Libby Mortenson wouldn’t know a name brand suit from a discount store knock-off. She closed the register. “And since when do you listen to gossip?”

  The flush deepened. “Oh, never mind. I have work to do, and so do you.” He headed back to the kitchen, barking orders at Jim, who’d just started his shift and was already hard at work.

  Sky chuckled. She loved that man and vowed at that moment to see as much of him as time and distance permitted. If ever there was a reason to learn to drive, Carl was it.

  ****

  The following Friday evening, Sky walked into Micah’s kitchen for the first time. It was warm and inviting. The appliances were dated, as were the knotty pine cabinets and blue-and-white tiled countertops, but that only added to the homey feel. Now, if she could get her insides to relax, she might be able to enjoy the meal. Making a good impression was priority number one.

  Annie left the stove long enough for a quick greeting then pointed to the large oak table behind her. “Sit anywhere. I’ll have everything set out in no time. Hope you like fried chicken.”

  Sky’s stomach rumbled, but the amazing aromas had little to do with it. “I love it.” She eyed the four place settings and slid into one of the two seats against the wall. Micah took the seat next to her.

  The back door flew open. “One whiff and my mouth’s already watering.”

  Sky recognized Noah’s voice and stole a quick look Micah’s way. His face hardened, and a vein at the side of his neck twitched. She feared dinner would be ruined before it started. She leaned in close and whispered, “Don’t make this any harder on me than it already is, okay?”

  A smile lit his face. “I wouldn’t think of it, ma’am.”

  Noah sauntered into the kitchen from the mud room and wrapped his aunt in a hug. “What can I do to help?”

  Micah groaned, and Sky poked him in the ribs with her elbow.

  “Not a thing.” Annie shooed him away. “Go sit down.”

  Noah took the seat across from her. “Good to see you again, Sky.”

  Before she could answer, Annie set a huge platter of fried chicken in the middle of the table. Mashed potatoes, green beans, and biscuits followed shortly thereafter.

  Following the lead of the others, Sky bowed her head respectfully while Annie prayed.

  “Thank you for inviting me to dinner, Ms. Clark.” Sky accepted a bowl of mashed potatoes from Micah and spooned a small amount onto her plate before handing it to Noah.

  “I figured it would be best to get a few things out in the open before you move in.” She paused and looked Sky square on. “And it’s Annie.”

  Strike one.

  The churning in Sky’s stomach intensified.

  Annie waved a hand toward the platter. “Help yourself.”

  Although Sky preferred white meat, she knew she’d never manage to eat an entire breast, especially the ones in front of her. Carl had served up a lot of fried chicken over the years, but nothing compared to the size of these monsters. She used her fork to stab the smallest thigh she could find. Best not to insult her future… future what? Just what would Micah’s aunt be to her, anyway? Did a fake marriage bring with it fake family
members?

  Annie cut Sky’s thoughts short. “I want you to feel comfortable while you’re here, Sky, but I have to be honest with you. I’m not used to sharing. Cooking and caring for the house and the men in it has been my job for a lot of years. I’m not saying we can’t work out a system, but you should know that I’m pretty set in my ways, so change doesn’t come easy to me.”

  Annie’s tone, although not harsh, didn’t exactly give Sky a sense of calm. “I’m not looking to take over, Miss Annie.” She hoped her smile masked her nerves. “I’m better at serving than cooking, anyway.”

  “It’s just Annie. Don’t stand much on formality around here.”

  Strike two.

  Micah reached over and squeezed her hand, bolstering her courage. “In that case,” Sky said, “I’m more than happy to leave the cooking to you, but I insist on helping with the cleaning.”

  Annie nodded. “Fair enough.” She handed Sky a bowl of green beans. “I may not be crazy about this whole arrangement, but Micah’s made his decision and I have to respect that. For however long you’re here, I think we’ll manage to get along just fine.”

  Sky breathed a sigh of relief. If she kept her cool she might just avoid a strikeout.

  “I second the motion.” Looking his brother’s way, Noah held up his glass of iced tea. “Here’s to all of us getting along.”

  The vein in Micah’s neck twitched again, as both men locked eyes. The room became so quiet Sky was afraid to breathe. She looked to Annie, who sat stony still, other than her gaze which traveled from brother to brother. Sky would have said time stood still, but she could hear the second hand on the clock above the stove, ticking loudly.

  When Micah finally gave a slight nod, Noah lowered his glass. The tension was broken, and Sky found herself breathing again.

  “So, Sky,” Annie said, as if nothing had just happened. “Micah tells me you plan on quitting your job at the diner.”

  Sky downed a large swallow of tea. “That’s right. Without a car, or more to the point a driver’s license, I don’t have much choice.”

  “Well, I’m sure you’ll find plenty to keep you busy around here.”

  Sky couldn’t imagine what. She’d just been banned from the kitchen and knew squat about cows. But she refused to dwell on the negative. “I’m sure I will.”

  “Sorry to hear about your mother’s passing,” Annie said. “Lost my only sister a lot of years ago. Still miss her something fierce.”

  Sky nodded. Silence followed. Brother avoided brother, and Annie seemed to have run out of things to say.

  After a dessert of peach cobbler and vanilla ice cream, two thirds of which Sky left in her bowl, the evening came to a close.

  “I’m glad you came.” Annie gave her a quick hug as they all stood by the back door. “We’ll all do our best to make your time here as comfortable as possible.” She looked from Micah to Noah and back again. “Won’t we, boys?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” they said in unison.

  Sky allowed Micah to lead her outside. She took in a long, deep breath and savored the cold air that filled her lungs. Nerves aside, the evening had ended on a somewhat positive note. But would there be enough positive notes to carry her through the next two years?

  She climbed into the truck and clicked her seatbelt in place just as Micah got in on the other side. “You were right. Annie’s a great cook.”

  “You didn’t eat much.”

  “Too nervous. I’m sure I’ll do better next time.”

  Micah cranked the motor and drove off. The night sky grew even darker as they left the lights of the house behind. Sky stared at the canopy of stars overhead. She’d tried counting them as a kid but never managed to get beyond a couple hundred before her eyes went blurry. The experience had always left her feeling small and insignificant.

  “You okay?”

  She kept her eyes to the sky. “Yeah.”

  “You do know you’re a lousy liar, right?”

  She twisted to face him. “Is it going to be like that between you and Noah for the next two years?” When he didn’t answer right away, Sky settled back in her seat. The truck swayed and bounced along the dirt road that led away from the ranch.

  He turned onto the main road. “I wish I could tell you what the next two years are going to be like, but honestly, I don’t have a clue.”

  “Well, from where I stand, Noah doesn’t seem all that bad.” Even in the dark truck, Sky noticed his grip tighten on the steering wheel.

  “It’s not my job to tell you who to like or dislike.” He glanced at her. “A word of caution, though. Noah has sweet talk down to a science.”

  She sucked in a quick breath. “Are you insinuating I’m attracted to him?”

  “You wouldn’t be the first to fall under his spell.”

  “I can’t believe you’d say something so stupid.” She folded her arms across her chest and let out a loud huff. Not only had he just insulted her, he wasn’t the least bit jealous. “You can be a real jerk sometimes, you know that?”

  His laughter rocked the bench seat.

  She gave his arm a gentle slap. “Stop it! There’s nothing to laugh at.”

  “You’re right. I’m a jerk, and I apologize.”

  They pulled up to a four-way stop, and Sky caught the smile on his face when he turned her way to make sure there was no oncoming traffic. “I’m buying the jerk part, but your apology leaves a lot to be desired.”

  “You’re right, and I’m sorry. Honestly, I’m just looking out for you.”

  “Believe it or not, Micah, I’m quite capable of looking out for myself.”

  “I know you are.” He eased the truck through the intersection. “Guess my brother tends to bring out the worst in me.”

  “Then stop letting him.”

  “Easier said than done.”

  When he punched on the radio, Sky knew their conversation had come to an end. He sang or hummed along with every song that played for the next twenty minutes.

  Once at her apartment, she reached for the door handle, but Micah took hold of her arm. “Thanks for coming tonight. I know it was a little awkward, but it’ll get better with time.”

  The words were the right ones, but Sky wasn’t sure she believed them. “I’m sure it will.”

  “And I am sorry for what I said earlier.”

  His crooked smile didn’t get to her the way it normally did. She had a feeling that by the time the next two years came to an end, she’d be sick of crooked smiles.

  ****

  Noah sat at the kitchen table, savoring a second helping of peach cobbler. “Can I ask you something, Annie?”

  “Sure.” She dried her hands with a dishtowel. “Want another cup of coffee?”

  “No thanks.” He waited for her to join him at the table. “What’s your take on this whole mess? Why do you suppose Sam did what he did?”

  Annie shrugged. “I quit trying to second-guess your grandfather a long time ago. I never much liked the man, and he felt the same way about me.” She grinned for a moment, then her smile turned wistful. “He softened a bit after your folks died. Didn’t like me any better, but seeing as I kept the house running, he quit grumbling quite so much.”

  “With Grams going into such a deep depression, we’d have been lost without you. Especially Micah.”

  “Poor little thing had a pretty rough time of it.”

  Noah’s chest tightened, remembering that awful night. “A lot of things were said. I wish I would have defended him, but I couldn’t. I needed someone to blame, and my spoiled little brother fit the bill.”

  “He was seven, Noah.”

  “I know.” Noah got up and headed for the refrigerator. He pulled the door open and breathed in the cool, moist air. Guilt crept in. This was going to be much harder than he’d imagined. He knew Annie would fuss if he kept it open too long, so he grabbed the pitcher of water and brought it back to the table. Annie already had a glass waiting for him.

  He filled t
he glass, set the pitcher on the table, and downed half of the liquid. Annie’s kind eyes met his. They were identical to his mother’s — steel gray, crowned with long, thick lashes. But the softness in his mother’s eyes had always been directed toward Micah. “Maybe if Mom had loved me the way she loved Micah I might have reacted differently.”

  “It took nearly six years for her to get pregnant with Micah. Fact that he came two months early worried her for a long time.” She placed her hand on his. “But I know for a fact, your mama loved you.”

  Noah gripped the glass in his hand, guilt replaced by pain. “Not the way she loved Micah.” He stood. “I’m going to call it a night. Dinner was great.” He set his dishes in the sink. “At least I always knew where you stood. You were just as tough on Micah as you were on me. Thanks for that.” He gave her a quick kiss and headed for the cabin.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Sky paced the length of her living room. Micah would arrive any minute. If anyone had told her two weeks ago she’d be getting married today, she would have laughed in their face. She smoothed the silky mauve fabric of her dress for what seemed like the hundredth time and refused to sit for fear of wrinkling it. Other than the two denim skirts in her closet, this was the only article of clothing she owned that didn’t have legs. Buying something soft and shimmery was completely foreign to her, but the look and silkiness of it made her feel beautiful. Nobody had to know she’d purchased it from a secondhand shop.

  A heavy knock made her jump. She ran to the bathroom to take one last look at herself in the mirror. The touch of blush and colored lip gloss still looked good. And her hair looked amazing. She’d splurged with some of Carl’s money, gotten a friend to drive her into Missoula, and paid sixty-five dollars for a haircut. It almost seemed sinful to write a check for that amount of money, but the razor cut with all its layers turned her now shorter hair into a work of art. With a quick hand through her ‘do, she rushed back into the living room and opened the door.

  There stood her husband-to-be, decked out in his charcoal-gray suit. It was the same one he’d worn to his grandfather’s funeral, and probably the only one he owned. She lifted a hand. “Hi.”