Give My Love to Rose

by Nicole Sturgill

  And where was Duke? Surely he’d intended to join them in the Dakota’s hadn’t he? What was keeping him?

  Rose took a deep breath to push down the pain she’d gotten so good at hiding and continued to hang up the laundry.

  “Langley!” Kaitlyn called from the porch, her voice raised with annoyance.

  “What?” Langley snapped. “Can’t you see I’m busy here?”

  Kaitlyn put her hands on her narrow hips. “You forgot to make your bed this morning. Do I look like your maid?”

  “Do I look like your maid?” Langley imitated in a shrill voice which made Kaitlyn glare and Rose smile. Those two were always at each other’s throats about something but they also always had each other’s backs.

  “Langley…” Kaitlyn warned.

  Langley dismissed her with a wave of his hand. “What you look like is a nagging little girl who’s interruptin’ my shooting practice. Ain’t that what she looks like to you, Uncle Jeremiah?”

  Jeremiah scratched at his belly and shrugged. “Yeah, kind of.”

  Kaitlyn gasped and Rose knew it was time to step in. “Langley, you know you’re supposed to make your bed every morning before you come out of your room. It’s not your sister’s responsibility.”

  Langley grumbled under his breath and Rose’s eyes narrowed. “Excuse me, young man?”

  He handed the rifle to Jeremiah and swallowed hard. “I said yes ma’am,” he assured her before darting up to the porch. He stuck his tongue out at Kaitlyn as he passed her and in a moment so comically out of character for Kaitlyn, she mimicked his motion, and went in after him.

  Rose sighed and went back to the clothes. She heard Jeremiah walk up behind her and after he simply stood there for several long moments, Rose stood straight, turned and looked at him. “What is it, Jeremiah?”

  He rocked back on his heels and rubbed at his thin neck with his hand. “I guess I didn’t handle that very good. I’m not very good with those kids. I’d say if Marston were here he’d have handled it a lot different.”

  Something inside Rose snapped. Words, thoughts and feelings that she’d been keeping bottled up all came bubbling out in a heated rush. “Yes, Jeremiah, he would have handled things a lot differently! For starters, Langley would be doing his chores before target practice. He’d be learning his numbers and studying history instead of simply learning to cuss, shoot guns and taught how to tell the perfect lie. Kaitlyn would be doing more studying and playing and less working because Marston would ensure that he took on some of the load around here himself. Langley wouldn’t be mouthing off and disrespecting me because Marston wouldn’t have allowed it. There would be no fear when I laid my head down at night because I would feel safe with him beside me. I wouldn’t be crying day and night when the smallest thing makes me think of him. And most importantly….” Rose’s voice broke as tears streamed down her cheeks. “…he would have noticed that I’m not okay long before now and he would have taken me into his arms and promised me that he was going to make everything okay again.”

  Jeremiah stood there in stunned silence and Rose felt quite foolish. She flushed bright red, tucked a stray strand of curls behind her ear and bit down hard on her lip.

  In an attempt to pretend that the last thirty seconds had never happened, Rose stooped down to grab a pair of Jeremiah’s trousers but he grabbed her arm a little too roughly and pulled her back up.

  Rose was about to complain about the pressure he was using as his fingers dug into her skin, but her words died on her tongue when she saw the pained expression on his face.

  “Do you think this has been easy on me?” he whispered hoarsely, his golden eyes rimmed with red. “Marston was my baby brother and when push came to shove I wasn’t around to keep him safe. So I did the next best thing I could think of to do and vowed to take care of his family. Hell, do you think I don’t realize that I’m not half the man my brother was? He had something inside of him that I just don’t. I ain’t cut out for being a pa or taking care of kids. And I noticed that you weren’t okay before now but what the hell was I supposed to do about it when I wasn’t okay either?”

  Rose looked up into his golden eyes so much like his brother’s and, for a moment, she let herself believe it was Marston’s eyes she was looking into. She reached up and laid a gentle hand on his gaunt cheek and smoothed her thumb along his jaw. Jeremiah stiffened under the contact and his eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.

  “I loved your brother so much,” Rose gasped before throwing herself against Jeremiah’s chest and wrapping her arms tight around him. She wanted to feel the warmth of human contact. She needed to know that she wasn’t alone in the world.

  Jeremiah simply stood there a moment and then he wrapped his long arms around her and rested his cheek on her hair. “It’s okay, Rose,” he promised. “I’m gonna make sure everything is okay again.”

  Rose knew he was only saying what he thought she wanted to hear, but she was thankful for the words anyway as they clung to one another with desperation. Each of them felt the pain of the loss of Marston clear into their souls and they found a kinship in that pain.

  The wind whipping across the plains blew Rose’s skirt around Jeremiah’s legs and caused long tendrils of her red hair to swirl around him and still they simply held one another, neither having the strength to pull away just yet.

  ***

  “I can hear critters. I bet that’s the homestead!” Marston exclaimed, knowing he sounded like a child in his excitement but unable to care.

  Hell, but he suddenly felt like a brand new man! His family was so close. In mere minutes, he’d be able to hug Langley tight, see Kaitlyn’s pretty face and finally hold his Rose.

  A picture of her smiling face, her loving blue eyes, and her full cheeks red from lovemaking came to his mind and he urged his horse faster. “Take it easy on that poor thing,” Duke scolded with a chuckle. “You’re already so damn big you’re breaking her down.”

  Marston ignored him and topped the hill. The view he was met with was breathtaking. Rolling hills, a two-story white home with black shutters and a wraparound porch. Two large barns, spacious corrals and outbuildings nicer than the cabin he’d once called home with Rose and the kids. Wheat and barley fields spread out to the west and…

  Marston’s blood suddenly boiled hotter than it had ever been before. He gripped the reins so tightly that his knuckles popped. Blood rushed into his head causing his ears to burn.

  Duke rode up beside him and followed his gaze. “Why that sly old dog.”

  Marston could do little more than grunt. Sly dog his ass. Jeremiah was fixing to die. That no good, backstabbing, son of a bitch was about to die. No more empty threats this time. Stealing horses was one thing. Leaving him to die in the desert was one thing. But Jeremiah had his arms wrapped tight around Rose and that was something entirely different.

  Her head was resting on his chest and his face was in her hair. They held each other like lovers and it caused every ounce of Marston’s good sense to take off in a hurry.

  “Oh dear…” Duke mumbled at the mask of fury on Marston’s face. “I’m sure there’s a good explanation.”

  “Yeah and the good solution is going to be my revolver a good two foot up his ass and me pulling the trigger,” Marston hissed. “That woman stealing jackass.”

  “Is it really woman stealing if they both think you’re dead?” Duke wondered.

  Marston’s eyes narrowed as he slid his revolver from his holster. “You choosing sides?”

  Duke held up his hands and shook his head, clearly amused with the whole situation. “Nope. I ain’t got a dog in this fight.”

  Duke’s amusement merely served to fuel Marston’s anger and his let out an angry yell before kicking his mare hard and sending it into a hard gallop toward the lovebirds.

  ***

  Rose and Jeremiah heard the hoof beats thundering toward them and Jeremiah instantly grabbed Rose’s arm and thrust her behind him to shield her body as he pull
ed his gun.

  A gun shot rang out, echoing painfully close and Jeremiah cried out in pain. “You stupid, good for nothing, worthless son of a bitch!” Jeremiah bellowed, though Rose couldn’t see who he was cursing at from her place behind him. “If you and I didn’t have the same damned mother I’d blow your brains all over this yard!”

  “Yeah, well, you might as well get to it then, brother, cuz it’s either going to be my brains or your brains.”

  Rose’s knees grew weak and her legs nearly disappeared beneath her as she clung to the back of Jeremiah’s shirt.

  That voice. She knew that voice.

  “M..marston?” she gasped.

  Jeremiah jerked away from her and stepped to the side. “Damn straight, it’s Marston. And Duke’s with him. Apparently they found some way to keep him from swinging and then took their slow, sweet time in getting here!”

  Despite the pain and the temper in his voice, Rose could hear an undercurrent of relief and happiness in Jeremiah’s voice. Rose focused all her attention on the tall silhouette lit from behind by the sun. His face was lost in shadows, but Rose would know that hard body anywhere. His gun was still drawn but his free arm went up to pull off his hat and Rose nearly collapsed at the sight of him after so long believing she’d never see him again

  He was thinner than she remembered and his hair was longer, but there was no mistaking the man she loved. Marston had come home.

  “You’re wrong, Jeremiah,” Marston snapped, his eyes quickly leaving Rose.

  She felt cold and her heart fell into her feet. Why was he so angry? Why wasn’t he was overwhelmed with happiness at the sight of her as she was seeing him again? In her dreams, it had been so different…

  “How’s that?” Jeremiah asked, picking at the bloody tear in his shirt sleeve.

  “I went swinging,” Marston assured him. “But Duke cut me down before I strangled to death. It’s a long story but in the eyes of the law Marston Jacobs is a dead man.”

  “Well good to know!” Jeremiah grumbled. “So why the devil did you shoot me?”

  “You worthless coward, I shot you because you were putting your hands all over my damned woman! Apparently you were satisfied with just stealing horses from me anymore.”

  Rose realized Jeremiah was simply sputtering and seemed unable to come up with a response, Duke was watching on with amusement and Langley and Kaitlyn were standing on the porch watching the scene with varying degrees of disbelief while Jeremiah and Marston continued to hold one another at gunpoint.

  Rose threw her hands in the air. “I can’t believe this!” she exclaimed, her own temper flaring. This was not the reunion she had dreamed of! Even in her worst nightmares it couldn’t have gone this badly! Marston was finally home! He had lived through something that should have killed him and instead of being happy to see her he was accusing her of being with his brother? Had the man gone completely daft?

  “I know what I saw,” Marston growled without looking her way.

  “You need to have your eyes examined, little brother, if you think I have any interest in your woman!” Jeremiah assured him.

  Rose snorted with indignation and Marston’s eyes narrowed. “Why the hell wouldn’t you? Are you insulting her now?” Marston demanded, cocking his gun.

  “No, you overgrown jackass,” Jeremiah grumbled without batting an eye. “I ain’t got no interest in her because she’s head deep in the crazy with you!”

  Marston shook his head. “No she’s not. I saw her clinging to you.”

  Rose’s jaw dropped. Anger and disappointment warred and clashed within her heart and caused hot tears to rush to her eyes. It was all too much. Marston was alive, he was home and he was an ass!

  Rose let out an animalistic shriek of rage before storming forward and shoving the men apart. “God, men are ignorant!”

  Duke chuckled. “We never said we was smart.”

  Rose glared at him. “Not helping,” she hissed before storming onto the porch, past the children and into the house.

  ***

  “Care to put those away now?” Duke asked, tipping his head toward the guns the brothers still had drawn.

  Marston stared at the empty doorway for several long moments before sliding his gun back in its holster. Jeremiah did the same and then returned his attention to his nicked arm. “I think you overreacted,” he stated.

  Marston’s jaw tensed. “I owed you one,” he reminded him. “Besides, what the hell was I supposed to think?”

  Duke rocked back on his heels. “That Jeremiah the beast had done swooped in and stole your woman.”

  “Duke, my bullets will make you bleed too,” Marston warned. Duke took a step back and pulled a cigar from his pocket, his shoulders bouncing with silent laughter.

  Jeremiah shook his head. “Marston, I ain’t done nothing with Rose. I just brought the family up here and I’ve been keeping them safe.”

  Marston took a deep breath. “You were holding her, Jeremiah.”

  Jeremiah shrugged. “She had a breakdown! She starting going on a rant, started crying and then threw her arms around me. I didn’t know what to do but I figured she needed a hug so I held her.”

  “So it was her fault?” Marston grumbled, feeling more than a little foolish.

  “Yeah, it was her fault!” Jeremiah replied far too quickly, eager to have a scapegoat.

  “There’s the way to be a man about it, Jeremiah,” Duke commented.

  Marston glared at the man. He was getting far too much enjoyment out of all this.

  “I better go talk to her,” Marston said, rubbing his sweaty neck.

  Duke nodded whole heartedly. “That would probably be the best thing to do.”

  “You know what?” Marston grumbled. “I liked you better when you were a cold-hearted son of a bitch.”

  Without another word, Marston strode toward the porch and saw the two sets of eyes watching him warily. “Pa…?” Langley whispered.

  Marston felt his temper fade completely as he looked down at the boy’s confused but hopeful face. “Hey kid. You been taking care of things around here?”

  Langley shrugged. “I’ve tried… I thought you were dead.”

  “I almost was,” Marston admitted. “But your Uncle Duke saved me. I was real sick and it took a while before I could get up and travel to come back to you all.”

  “Are you going to leave again?” Kaitlyn whispered.

  Marston shook his head as he squatted down to their level. He looked up at both their faces and felt his heart swell with emotion. “I ain’t leaving you all again,” he promised. “At least not until God Himself comes down and takes me.”

  Langley smiled. “You promise, pa?”

  Marston held up his hand. “Outlaws honor.”

  Langley let out a whoop of joy and threw his arms around Marston’s neck. Marston scooped the boy up and spun him around before sitting him back on his feet.

  Marston patted Kaitlyn’s hair tenderly as he smiled down at her. He longed to hug the girl tight, but he knew that she didn’t like to be touched. “Now listen, I want to hear all about your adventure you had coming here all the way from Louisiana and I’m sure that Langley’s just bursting to flap that jaw, but first I need to go talk to your mama.”

  “Wait pa!” Langley called. “Did you shoot Uncle Jeremiah?” the boy asked pointing at the man standing with a bloody shirt sleeve.

  Marston grinned. “Yes I did.”

  Langley laughed, slapping his thigh. “That’s great! Mama’s threatened to do it about a hundred times since you’ve been gone.”

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Marston stepped into the house and let out a whistle as his eyes tried to take in all the finery at once. Damn, but he’d never even stepped foot in a place this nice and now it was gonna be his home—that was if Rose decided to let him stay after the ass he’d made out of himself.

  He had to make her see that he was sorry but first he had to find the woman in this mansion of a house. He r
ubbed the back of his neck deciding that he’d simply have to go door to door until he found her. The sound of crashing glass above his head had him jumping.

  “Rose!” he shouted. When another crash followed the first, Marston found himself running as fast as his legs could carry him up the stairs and down a carpeted hall toward the source of the sound.

  He tried the door knob to the room but it was locked. “Rose, are you okay?” he demanded, fully prepared to break that door down and save the woman.

  “I’m fine, Marston. Don’t pretend that you give a damn,” snapped her voice from inside.

  Marston heard something else shatter. “That’s a hell of a thing for you to say to me,” he stated bluntly. “Now let me in so we can talk.”

  “No.”

  Marston jaw tensed and he prayed for patience to deal with her temper. He had forgotten just how stubborn the woman could be when she was angry. Another crash came from behind the door and Marston frowned. Was she throwing things?

  “Rose, please let me in. I’m sorry for the way I acted outside.. Let me talk to your face, please?”

  “Oh now you want to talk?” she demanded. “Are you sure you don’t want to accuse me of moving on with your brother again? Or maybe you’d just like to shoot me the same way you do everyone else who makes you angry!”

  “I would never hurt you and you know that,” Marston said, forcing his voice to remain calm even while he held his hands out and shook them as if choking someone.

  “Just go spend time with your children, Marston, and I’ll be down in a while.”

  Marston could tell by her sigh that her temper was fading. “I don’t want to spend time with the children just now, Rose. I want to spend time with you. Now open this door or I swear on my own grave, I’ll kick it down.”

  “Your own grave?” Rose asked skeptically.

  “It exists,” he assured her. “I’ve seen it.” He laid his forehead against the thick wood separating him from his woman. “Now please let me in. This looks like a real costly door and I’d hate to destroy it.”

  Marston heard her soft footsteps come to the door and suddenly the barrier between them was pulled away. Marston took in the sight of her the way a man in the desert would take in the sight of an oasis.