One Pink Rose; One White Rose; One Red Rose (37 page)

“You sound as cynical as Cole.”

“I am cynical,” she said. “I'll bet the authorities also think the compass was stolen. What did they have to say?”

“It's complicated.”

“Why?”

“The man who has the compass
is
the authority.”

Her hand flew to her throat. “What's this?” she demanded.

“A U.S. marshal has the compass. His name is Daniel Ryan.”

She was astounded. “The thief's a marshal? How shameful. Your dear mother must be devastated.”

“No, she isn't devastated at all. She's convinced herself that he never meant to keep the compass. There was a crowd trying to get on the train, and she and Ryan were separated. He just happened to be holding the compass and the gold case at the time. She believes he'll bring Cole's gift here as soon as he finishes his more pressing business. Cole thinks Mama Rose is being very naive. From the description we have of Ryan, it does seem peculiar to all of us that he could be pushed around in a crowd. He's a big man with muscle.”

“Is he as big as you are?”

Adam shrugged. “If the description's accurate, then yes, he is.”

She mulled the story over in her mind for a moment and then condemned Ryan. “He stole it all right.”

“Then you also believe Mama Rose is being naive?”

Genevieve stood up and began to pace around the room. “She has to have faith in Daniel Ryan, and you should let her.”

“Why?” he asked.

“Because otherwise she would have to accept that she had been duped, and that's very difficult for anyone to admit. She would feel foolish and stupid, and blame herself. Yes, she would. She wouldn't be able to sleep worrying about it.”

She turned at the window to look at him and knew by his expression that her outburst had been a bit extreme. She took a deep breath and tried to explain herself. “You must think it strange that I would become so passionate on your mother's behalf. It's just that she's such a good-hearted woman and it wounds me to think that anyone would take advantage of her. I wouldn't advise going after Daniel Ryan though, because it will only make matters worse.”

“Why would it make matters worse?”

“Because in the end, it would be his word against hers.”

“And you think that because he's a marshal, the law would be on his side?”

“Yes, of course,” she replied. “It's naive to think otherwise. Ryan holds a position of power and influence over others, and if Mama Rose doesn't use her wits to figure a way to outsmart him, then all will be lost.”

Adam stood up and came around the desk. “Tell me something. Did you use your wits to outsmart . . .”

He stopped in the middle of his question when Genevieve headed for the door.

“Don't run away. I'll stop prying into your personal life. I promise.”

Her hand was on the doorknob, and he could tell from her frown that she didn't believe him.

“Your affairs are none of my business,” he insisted. “I just thought I might be able to help.”

“I don't need your help.”

He leaned against the desk, folded his arms across his chest, and nodded. “Obviously not.”

She took a step toward him. “It was very kind of you to offer. Please don't think I'm not grateful.”

“I don't.”

She visibly relaxed and moved closer.

“You smell like lilacs. I like it,” he said.

She smiled. “Thank you,” she said. “And thank you also for offering to help. It was very kind of you, but since I don't happen to have a problem, I don't need your assistance.”

She wasn't a good liar. She couldn't quite look him in the eyes when she insisted she wasn't in trouble. He wouldn't challenge her though. He knew she'd head for the door again if he didn't agree with her.

“No,” he said. “You don't have a problem, and you don't need help.”

“That's right.”

“Mama Rose doesn't need help either. She made all of us promise not to go after Ryan, but now that we know where he is, Cole's having a real hard time keeping his word.”

“Where is the marshal?”

“About a hundred miles from here, in Crawford,” he answered. “He lives in Texas, but he's working out of the office there while he rounds up a gang hiding out in the hills. Word has it, he's determined to take them back to Texas to stand trial.”

“Couldn't one of you go to Crawford and have a little talk with him? I'm sure he'd give you the compass once he knows who you are.”

Adam shook his head. “We have to wait until he brings it here because we promised we would. I figure he'll get around to it one of these days. Besides, the circumstances changed, and Cole's the only one who still wants to go after him.”

“How did the circumstances change?”

“Ryan saved Travis's life.”

She was astonished. “Tell me what happened.”

He told her the story of Travis's encounter with the O'Toole brothers. “They ambushed him, shot him in the back. If Ryan hadn't gotten there when he did, Travis would never have made it.”

“I wish you had mentioned this earlier,” she said. “I have to revise my opinion now. Why, he probably didn't steal the compass at all. The man proved that he's honorable by coming to Travis's rescue. Shame on you, Adam, for making him out to be guilty.”

The sparkle in her eyes told him she was teasing. She really was a beautiful woman, and that smile of hers was doing crazy things to his heartbeat. He found himself wondering what she would feel like in his arms. If he kissed her the way he wanted to, he knew he'd shock her sensibilities, but that didn't stop him from thinking about it.

“You made him out to be guilty.”

Her remark jarred him out of his daydream. “I what?”

She repeated her statement. He shook his head. “I did no such thing. You drew your own conclusions before I could give you all the details.”

She burst out laughing. “I got all riled up for nothing. I won't worry about Mama Rose any longer. I've taken up too much of your time. You're needed outside,” she reminded him. She glanced back at the map once again. “You should take the map out of the frame. Your mother doesn't want you to give up on your dreams, and neither do I. You should see all the wonderful places you've read about before it's too late, and if you ever find your way to Paris, be sure to look me up.”

She turned to leave. He didn't know what compelled him to do it, but he grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her back.

“You're going to France?”

“Yes. My grandfather lives there, and he's all the family I have left now.”

“When will you leave?”

“In a couple of days.”

The news that she would be going so far away bothered him, and he couldn't understand why. He should be happy to be rid of her, shouldn't he? And now that he thought about it, why hadn't he been elated when she'd told him she couldn't marry him? He had intended to say those very words to her.

Adam knew he wasn't making any sense, and that made him angry. He immediately let go of her hand and watched her walk away.

Then he got up and went back to work. His involvement with Genevieve Perry was over.

I
t had only just begun.

Quite a crowd attended the party, and everyone seemed to be having a good time. Adam and Cole stood near the bandstand watching the couples dance to the gyrating, foot-stomping sounds of Billie Bob and Joe Boy's Band. Isabel and Douglas came twirling past, and right behind them were Travis and his wife, Emily. If their laughter was any indication, the four of them were thoroughly enjoying themselves. Mama Rose was delighted by all the commotion. She sat at one of the picnic tables, flanked by Dooley and Ghost, two family friends, and all three of them, Adam noticed, kept time to the music by clapping their hands and tapping their feet.

Cole nudged his brother in his side. “Isn't that Clarence riding down the hill?”

Adam squinted toward the mountain. “It looks like him.”

“We invited him, but he turned us down because he had to work the telegraph office. Someone has to be on duty all the time. Maybe he's bringing a wire to someone.”

“Maybe he got someone else to work for him,” Adam suggested.

Douglas and Isabel came dancing past again. Cole waved to them and then said, “I never thought Travis or Douglas would ever get married, and now look at them.”

“They're happy and they found good women. What about you, Cole? Do you think you'll ever get married?”

“No,” he replied, his voice emphatic. “I'm not cut out for marriage. You are though. What happened with Genevieve? Did you have your talk with her?”

“Yes.”

“I hope you let her down easy. She's a real sweetheart, and I'd hate to see her get hurt.”

Adam shook his head. “If you're worried about her feelings, don't be. You've got it all backwards. She talked to me. She doesn't want to marry me either.”

“Why the hell not?”

“Her circumstances have changed,” Adam said. “Besides, we were never really engaged. That was just Mama Rose's dream. She's hell-bent on getting all of us married.”

“You must have been happy Genevieve let you off the hook.”

Adam shrugged. He thought about lying to his brother and then changed his mind. Cole would see right through him, and if anyone would understand, he would.

“I wasn't happy or relieved. My reaction was kind of strange.”

“How's that?”

He looked at his brother when he answered. “I got mad.”

Cole shook his head. “You really got mad?”

“I just said I did. Genevieve didn't know it though.”

“That doesn't make any sense at all. You've been avoiding the woman all week long, and now you're telling me you want to marry her?”

“No, that isn't what I'm telling you.”

“Then why did you get mad?”

Adam let out a weary sigh. “I don't know.”

Cole let the matter go. “Are you going to dance with her?”

“I hadn't thought about it. I don't even know where she is.”

Cole motioned toward the porch. Mary Rose and Genevieve were carrying pies out to add to the dessert table. Both women had on white aprons over their dresses. Mary Rose was wearing her new store-bought blue skirt and blouse, and Genevieve was dressed in pale pink. Standing side by side, they were a handsome pair.

Adam couldn't take his gaze off of Genevieve. She was smiling over something Mary Rose had just said to her.

“Genevieve sure is pretty, isn't she?” Cole remarked.

“Yeah, she's pretty.”

“She's tall.”

“You think so?”

Adam turned around to watch the band. Cole didn't take the hint. “Mary Rose has to look up at her.”

“So what? Our sister has to look up at everybody.”

“You don't have to get defensive. I'm not finding fault with Genevieve. I like tall women. Have you noticed how shapely she is?”

“Of course I noticed. What's your game, Cole? Are you trying to make me angry?”

“No, I'm trying to get you to realize women like Genevieve don't come along very often. She sure is sweet.”

“Then you marry her,” he snapped.

Cole laughed. “You want her, don't you?”

“Damn it, Cole . . .”

“All right,” his brother said. “I won't hound you any longer.”

Adam started to walk away, but Cole's next remark pulled him back.

“It looks like Clarence is headed for the house.”

“Maybe he needs to talk to Harrison,” Adam suggested as he watched their brother-in-law step forward to shake Clarence's hand.

“Guess again,” Cole said when Clarence turned to Genevieve and tried to hand an envelope to her. She gave the pie she was holding to Harrison, wiped her hands on her apron, and then accepted the wire.

“It's got to be bad news,” Cole said.

“Maybe not,” Adam said, and even he realized how unconvinced he sounded.

“No one ever sends good news in a wire. It costs too much. It's bad all right. Someone must have died. You ought to go comfort her.”

“You go.”

“I wasn't engaged to her; you were.”

“For God's sake, there wasn't any engagement.”

When Clarence turned to go down the steps, Adam saw his expression clearly.

“Clarence looks scared.”

Cole nodded. “He sure is in a hurry to leave, isn't he?”

Adam turned back to Genevieve. “Why doesn't she open the envelope? What's she waiting for?”

“Maybe she wants to stare at it a little longer while she gets her courage up. No one's ever eager to get bad news.”

“We shouldn't be watching her.”

“Why not?” Cole asked.

“It's intrusive. She probably wants privacy.”