Give My Love to Rose (26 page)

Rose nodded and lifted her rifle into her
hands. It had probably simply been a critter of some kind knocking
something over on the porch and there was probably nothing to worry
about—but Rose would rather be safe than sorry.

Rose opened the door slowly and clutched the
rifle tighter when two men slipped from either side and came to
stand in front of her. Rose nearly cursed when she realized who
they were.

“
Hello ma’am,” Duke
greeted. “I see that Marston isn’t here. Can we come
in?”

Rose raised the rifle. “Marston didn’t want
you here,” she countered. “I’m sure he had a good reason.”

Faster than Rose could react, Jeremiah
reached out and snatched the rifle from her hands. “Don’t shoot
us,” he pleaded with a grin and a wink. “You really should just let
us in.”

Rose was powerless to stop them when they
shoved her back and stepped right inside. “That was simple enough,
wasn’t it?” Duke asked with a smile. The sound of him locking the
door echoed throughout the tiny cabin.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Marston was damn proud of himself as he rode
toward home with a turkey tied to the saddle and bouncing against
his leg. He had a soft, warm woman he was going home to, he had a
boy he loved like a son, the revolver had worked perfectly and
there’d be turkey for Christmas dinner. Life was damned good.

Whistling a tune and feeling more
lighthearted than he had ever felt before, Marston rode into the
clearing and pulled Buck to an immediate halt. The whistle died on
his lips. Dread lodged in his gut and rage burned in his blood.

He would recognize Duke’s appaloosa gelding
anywhere and he knew his brother’s black saddlebags when he saw
them.

Marston’s mind immediately went back to the
tired blond and what the gang had done to her. He leaped from Buck
and his long legs ate up the ground as he thundered onto the porch
and tried the door.

A roar flew from his lips when Marston
realized it was locked. He took a step back and kicked the door
with all his might, sending it flying open with a splintering of
wood.

Marston charged into the cabin with his gun
drawn and instantly settled them on Jeremiah’s chest where the man
sat at the kitchen table eating a steaming bowl of soup.

Jeremiah didn’t falter as he stuck a
spoonful in his mouth and smiled. “Good morning, little
brother.”

“
How are you?” Duke’s
voice called from the sofa.

“
What the hell are you
doing here and where’s my woman and boy?” Marston
snarled.

“
Marston?” Rose gasped as
she came out of the bedroom with a dress draped over her arm and
her sewing bag in her hand. “Marston, put that gun away! Did you
break the door?”

Marston was dumbfounded. His gun wavered a
bit but didn’t leave Jeremiah’s chest. “Where’s Langley?” he
asked.

“
I’m right here,” Langley
replied, stepping out of his room with one of his many storybooks
clutched in his hand.

Relief washed over Marston. Rose and Langley
were fine—but what were Duke and Jeremiah doing here? He glanced
back at the broken door when cool air blew against the back of his
neck and then turned his attention back to Jeremiah as he put his
gun away.

“
What the devil are you
two doing here?”

Rose stepped forward and got to her toes
while he stooped to allow her to press a tender kiss to his cheek.
“They came to help,” she replied, smiling brightly. “Did you get a
turkey?”

Marston slipped his arm around Rose’s soft
waist and pulled her against his hip. “Yes, I got a turkey. What
are they here to help with?”

Before Rose could answer a loud slurp came
from the table and Jeremiah smacked the table top. “No damn wonder
you wanted to settle down with this one! If I met a woman who could
cook up soup like this, I might even let myself catch the crazy.
We’ll have to come visit more often.”

“
You’re not supposed to
visit at all,” Marston growled. “What part of that didn’t you
understand?”

“
You oughta be damned
thankful we stopped by,” Jeremiah grumbled. “We found your woman
and boy all alone and so we let ourselves in and kept them safe
until you got back.”

Marston’s brow raised. “Safe from what? You
had better hope neither of you did anything to them.”

Rose let out an exasperated breath. “Oh for
goodness sakes, Marston!” She swatted his chest. “They’ve been the
nicest guests I could ask for. They heard in certain circles a few
things about Winston Meade and knew he was heading this way with
trouble on his mind.”

“
Little did we know the
man had already shown up and been dealt with,” Jeremiah noted.
“It’s good to know the Marston we know and love is still living
beneath that new family man exterior.”

Marston had to let this news digest a
moment. He raised his hat an inch and scratched at his temple. He
turned his attention to Duke. “You came to help me?” When Duke
simply nodded, Marston shook his head. “What happened to not
risking your hide for anyone else?”

Duke snorted. “Our hide wasn’t in danger
from some slick talking banker man,” he assured her Marston. “Your
woman and boys were though and we didn’t want to see anything bad
happen to them.”

“
Oh…” Marston rubbed at
his jaw without knowing what to say. Duke and Jeremiah riding in on
a rescue mission for a woman and child made no sense… it sure as
hell was out of character for the men who claimed to care about no
one.

“
You’ve been like kin to
me for a while, Marston, and that makes that woman and boy kin as
well. I ain’t never had real kin, but I’ve heard they look out for
one another.”

Marston glanced over at the table where
Langley and Jeremiah were sitting. Langley had his nose buried in
his book and Jeremiah was watching the interaction between Marston
and Duke closely.

“
How long are you both
staying?” Marston asked Duke.

Before Duke could reply, Rose was speaking.
“At least until after tomorrow. I invited them to stay for
Christmas.”

Marston was certain the damned woman had
lost her mind. He gently took her arm and pulled her through the
broken door and out onto the porch. “What’s the matter with you,
woman? You do realize what kinds of men those are, don’t you?”

Rose nodded as she plucked a dead leaf from
his shirt and released it into the wind. “Yes. They’re the kinds of
men who ride hard just to get here and protect your woman and boy.
They care about you.”

“
No they don’t,” Marston
snapped. Caring was weakness. Hell, Duke had helped harden that
idea in his head!

Rose rolled her eyes. “Honestly, what is it
about men and sharing feelings? Those men care about you regardless
of whatever has happened in the past. Maybe they’re changing just
the same as you have.”

“
I doubt that,” Marston
grumbled.

“
Well they do,” Rose’s jaw
jutted out stubbornly as she stared hard up at him. “And they’re
staying until after Christmas.”

Marston was a smart enough man to know when
to fold his cards. He heaved out a sigh and pulled her into his
arms, rubbing his hands on her back to help her ward off the chill.
“Fine, but they’re sleeping in the barn. Jeremiah snores louder
than a steam engine and Duke talks in his sleep.”

Rose laughed lightly against his chest.
“Whatever you say.” She pulled away and stepped back into the
cabin. “You men need to fix the door before it gets any colder,”
stated. “And then you can fill up the wood boxes while I get that
turkey plucked and ready for cooking tomorrow.”

Jeremiah and Duke both jumped to their feet.
“Yes’m,” they spoke in unison.

Marston’s shoulder slumped as his jaw hit
the floor. “Since when do you two follow orders?”

Duke chuckled. “Well the way I got it
figured is she’s your woman so if I piss her off, I’ve pissed you
off and you are one big mean man that don’t want to have pissed off
at me. Not only that, but she must be tougher than she looks if she
strong-armed you into settling down.”

“
But I didn’t…. “ Rose
began.

Marston shook his head. “It’s good that
you’ve got it figured right.” He felt Rose’s glare on him and his
lips curved with a smile. “Most of it anyhow.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Morning dawned bright and cold with a heavy
frost and a dusting of snow. Marston was exhausted. He hadn’t slept
much that night—he’d been too busy listening for any sign that Duke
and Jeremiah were up to no good. Rose kept telling him to simply
have faith in them and the ability of people to change, but Marston
was having a hard time embracing that way of thinking. Hell, he
knew the kinds of things of things that Jeremiah and Duke were
capable of because he was capable of many of the same things.

He had heard them ride off in the middle of
the night and had wondered just how disappointed Langley and Rose
would be that their Christmas guests had run away. He’d convinced
himself that it was probably for the best and then they’d come
riding back in after several hours away. Marston had no idea where
they’d gone, but he planned on finding out.

“
Merry Christmas,” Rose’s
sleepy voice greeted, her warm breath teasing his chest.

Marston breathed in her scent. “Merry
Christmas.”

She groaned as she pulled away. “I need to
get up. I have to get that turkey baking. I made fresh sweet bread
and apple pies yesterday as well as some sugar cookies and I’ve had
beans cooking over the fire all night.”

Marston breathed deep and his mouth watered.
“I know. I can smell them.” He kissed her tenderly. “You’re
planning a meal fit for a king, aren’t ya?”

“
Sure am,” she
winked.

Marston chuckled as he sat up and tossed his
legs over the edge of the bed. “The only thing I’m king of, is king
of the demons.”

Rose’s eyes went skyward. “I’m fairly
certain that’s Satan.”

Marston grinned as he scooped his pants up
off the floor. “Exactly.”

He heard Rose take a deep breath, no doubt
preparing to scold him, when he was saved by Langley’s voice
ringing out through the cabin. “MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

Marston was impressed by the volume the kid
could achieve. The cabin door opened. “MERRY CHRISTMAS DUKE AND
JEREMIAH!”

Marston shook his head. Duke and Jeremiah
never had been known to be early risers and he could already see
their annoyed faces in his mind at being awoken so close to dawn.
Knowing they’d be irritated made Marston smile on the inside.

Marston helped Rose dress quickly and the
two of them stepped out into the kitchen just as Duke and Jeremiah
stumbled into the cabin looking more dead than alive.

“
Merry Christmas!” Marston
greeted brightly, earning him a wince and a glare. “Santa’s little
helpers look tired this morning. Did they have too much fun last
night?”

Jeremiah’s elbow landed in Marston’s gut.
“Not all of us live like old married men,” Jeremiah grumbled.

Marston rubbed at sore middle and killed his
brother three times in his head. “You’re a pain in the ass.”

Langley broke between the adults. “Can we
open presents now?” he asked, bouncing up and down with
excitement.

Rose shook her head. “Chores first.”

“
Mama….” Langley began
with a whine.

Marston cut him off. “Don’t you argue with
your mama, boy. Those critters out there don’t know that it’s
Christmas. All they know is their stomachs are growling and you
ain’t feeding ‘em. I’ll take care of the horses and chickens. You
get dressed and tend to the pigs and cow.”

Langley’s shoulders slumped with defeat, he
muttered a pitiful ‘yessir’ and shuffled back to his room.

Duke chuckled. “You all run a tight ship
around here.”

Marston looked at the older man and he saw
the way he was staring at Rose in her white blouse and black skirt.
Her hair was still loose and wild curls danced around her face.
Marston felt a jolt of something unfamiliar that made his stomach
roll and his fists clench. He realized with annoyance that it was
jealousy.

Shouldering his way past Duke, Marston
headed for the door. “Let’s go,” he ordered, motioning for Duke and
Jeremiah to follow.

“
Go where?” Jeremiah asked
with a frown, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

“
Out to work.”

Jeremiah scoffed. “We’re your guests. You’d
make us work?”

Marston glared at Duke who had yet to take
his eyes off Rose as she donned her apron and began gathering up
supplies for the meal she had planned.

Marston grabbed the man by the back of the
shirt and tugged. Hard. “Outside, now,” he snarled.

“
What the hell is your
problem?!” Duke bellowed as Marston tossed him off the porch and
the man had to grab hold of the banister to keep from hitting the
dirt.

The commotion had Rose throwing open the
kitchen shutters and sticking her head out just in time to see
Marston’s fist connect with Duke’s jaw.

“
Stop it!” Rose exclaimed.
“Dear Lord, do you men hit each other every time you’re together?
It’s Christmas!”

Marston simply stood over Duke who was flat
on his back in the dirt. Jeremiah was laughing as Marston grabbed
the collar of Duke’s shirt and lifted him several inches from the
ground. “You ever look at my woman that way again, I’ll break your
damn jaw. If you even think about laying hands on her, I’ll kill
you. Do you understand?”

“
Damnation, Marston,” Duke
grumbled. “I was just looking is all. She’s a pretty
woman.”