Whiskey Rose (Fallen) (10 page)

So what did this mean for him? Was it related at all to Benji’s death? Had Benji seen something? Recognized someone? Benji had been a Ranger a few years longer than he had he might have known something. Matt reached into his pocket and withdrew the small notepad he kept all his notes in. He’d made notes on all of the people who had entered into the investigation. He had one page alone just on the girls. He looked at his list of potential suspects. Rose was there, though he was tempted to cross her off. If you couldn’t stand the sight of blood then you couldn’t cut someone’s throat, but it was also possible she had faked her blood aversion. If she had, she was very convincing but the potential was there. He was also worried his judgment was being swayed by his personal feelings so he left her there on principle. Izzy was on there as well. The coincidental paint purchase actually moved him up on the list a bit. He couldn’t prove that Izzy had anything to do with the graffiti but it was a mark against him anyway.

The regulars from the salon were all there too. The Cannon boys, Walt Porter, Mr. Duncan -the pinstripe suit guy, Jonathan whose last name he had
n’
t caught even Mr. McGregor from the store. He looked at the page, there was still room at the bottom but he turned the page anyway.  Orin Kline got his own page.

Rose opened her eyes and immediately regretted it. The light burned and her head pounded. She had drunk too much whiskey trying to kill her cough. She knew her limit was one, any more than that and there were bad effects and she had far exceeded that. She coughed as the world cruelly reminded her that it had only been a temporary fix anyway. The cough caused blinding pain to pound through her head and she whimpered and pulled the blanket over her head. As she lay there trying to remember how much she had drank she realized that she couldn’t even remember how she had gotten in bed. She was still dressed in her clothes from the night before so she could be thankful for that. It had been a prime opportunity for Matt to take advantage. She could remember that he had been there. Brief flashes of him. She lifted the blanket and peeked out.  The sofa was empty, the bedding was all folded and put away as if he had never been there. She pulled the blanket back down and closed her eyes. She wasn’t moving until the pain went away. The Saloon was just going to have to look after itself. 

Matt cracked the door open and peered at the oddly shaped lump on the bed. The lump moved and a corner of the blanket moved and he saw her eyes. He smiled and stepped in.

“
Good morning
.
”

“
Shhh
.
” She put her finger to her lips before she dropped the blanket again. He softly closed the door and approached the side of the bed. He squatted down and lifted the corner of the blanket.

“
Good morning
,
” he whispered and her face split into a wide grin
.“
I brought you some coffee
.
” He was still whispering as he held up the cup. She sighed and pushed herself into a sitting position and took the offered cup.

“
Thank you
,
” she whispered and he grinned. He sat down beside her on the bed.

“
How are you feeling
?
”

“
Bad
,
” she said simply,
“
Did I make a complete fool of myself
?
”

“
No, you did
n’
t behave badly. In fact you were very friendly
.
” Her eyes popped open above the cup and she stared at him.

“
I did
n’t
… I mean we did
n’
t
?
” His eye brow quirked up.

“
Sweetheart if we had, yo
u’
d remember
.
” She giggled at his indignance and he smirked. It was a nice sound
.“
I think the children are squabbling
.
” She frowned thinking she must have heard him wrong. He lifted one finger and pointed at the ceiling and she understood.

“
Oh the girls. What are they squabbling over
?
”

“
Um to move or not to move. I think
.
”

“
Oh. Every couple of weeks they get it in their heads to all swap rooms. Let me gues
s
… Katrina does
n’
t want to move
.
”

“
It would seem that she does
n’
t. They have been arguing about it all morning
.
”

“
She never moves but someone always wants her to
.
”

“
Why does
n’
t she move
?
” Rose shrugged but she looked away from him and he could tell she knew why. He just continued to watch her for a minute and she finally relented.

“
It was their room
,
” she said softly and took a sip of the coffee without meeting his eyes.

“
She still loveshim
?
”

“
Yeah, for all the good it does her
.
” He was surprised by her bitter tone.

“
Is
n’
t it better to have loved and lost
?
”

She finally looked at him
.“
Do you really believe that
?
”
 
He started to say he did but her smoky eyes made him hesitate and really think about it.

“
I might if I had ever been in love
,
” he said seriously.

“
You might not if yo
u’
d had your heart broken
.
”

He pursed his lips in thought
.“
You know
I’
ve gotten back on every horse
I’
ve been thrown from. Maybe she just needs to get back in the saddle
.
” 

Rose smirked and then she laughed
.“
Well sh
e’
s not getting back in the saddle. She is not interested in riding again. She only sings
.
” Rose sighed
.“
I worry about her sometimes
.
”

“
She worries about you too
.
” She looked at him and frowned
.“
Do
n’
t look at me like that. I know things. You would be amazed by the things I know
.
” She looked at him for a long moment then burst out laughing
.“
Boy you really know how to wound a gu
y’
s pride
.
”

“
I’
m sorry
,
” she said,containing her laughter. She leaned over and bumped him with her shoulder. Then patted his knee with her hand
.“
I did not mean to wound your pride
.
”

“
Alright, yo
u’
re forgive
n
… this time. Just do
n’
t let it happen again
.
” She smiled but tried hard not to laugh.

“
I
… achoo
!
” Before she even lifted her head he was holding out a handkerchief
.“
Do you keep all dozen in your pocket
?
”

“
Not all of them
.
”

“
Oh I hate being sick
,
” she sniffed.

“
No one likes being sick
.
”

“
I am so glad its Sunday
.
” She handed him back the cup and crawled back up and stretched out on the bed behind him
.“
I am not getting up today.
I’
m going to sleep till tomorrow
.
”
 
He turned and looked at her.

“
You do
n’
t work on Sunday
?
”

“
We are closed on Sunday
,
” she said snuggling back under the blanket.

“
You ca
n’
t leave me alone with them
!
” He insisted. She looked up at him.

“
Why not? Afraid you wo
n’
t be able to control yourself
?
”

“
Ha!
I’
m not worried about controlling mysel
f
… they ar
e
… squabbling. If yo
u’
re not going to go out there and tell them wha
t’
s what then I am not going back out there either
.
” She shrugged and closed her eyes again.

“
I do
n’
t care if you stay just be quiet
.
” She looked at the door. He could see indecision on her face
.“
Would you u
m
… lock the door please
?
”

“
You think a lock is better protection than me
?
”

“
I ca
n’
t sleep if I know i
t’
s not locked
.
” He stood up and locked the door. He came back and stretched out beside her propping his head up with his elbow
.“
Get your boots off my bed
,
” she said without opening her eyes. He bent his knees so his boots were hanging off the side.

“
Happy
.
”

“
Yes
.
”

“
Yo
u’
re not really going back to sleep are you
?
”

“
Yes I am
.
”

“
I might do things to you while yo
u’
re asleep
.
”

“
Not if I put you on theother side of that locked door
,
” she mumbled not opening her eyes.

“
You would
n’
t do that
.
” He leaned over so his mouth was very close to her ear
.“
You want me here
.
” His hot breath made goose bumps rise up on her arms.

“
You ca
n’
t afford me
.
” She wished she had the willpower to back that up.

“
You keep saying that but you have
n’
t named a price. I do
n’
t think you have one. In fact, I bet I could make you meet mine
.
” He ran his tongue lightly along the edge of her ear lobe and heard her gasp.

“
Not a chance
,
” she squeaked and then cleared her throat. He kissed her neck lingering with each movement.

“
You want to bet? I bet I can get you to agree to whatever price I set
.
”

“
Please
,
” She scoffed,
“
Why would I do that? I have what you want. Not the other way around
.
”

“
Oh you want it. You just do
n’
t know it yet
.
”

“
Yo
u’
re awfully arrogant
.
”

“
Tha
t’
s because I know I am right
.
” He pulled her ear lobe fully into his mouth and felt her fist her hand in the sheet
.“
Wha
t’
s the matter afraid of a little challenge
?
” He taunted.