Whiskey Rose (Fallen) (19 page)

“
Alright
.
” She sighed and looked at him. He frowned she was behaving strangely.

“
But I do know that something happened
.
” The lines in his forehead deepened as his frown deepened
.“
I just do
n’
t know what
.
”

“
Why do
n’
t you just take it from the beginning
?
” he said softly. She sat down on the side of the bed and he moved to sit beside her.

“
They were all acting strange when I got back. They told me what happened and at first I thought that it was because of what happened but the
n
… someone knows something
.
”

“
Katrina
.
” She looked up and her eyes met his.

“
How did you know that
?
”

“
Lucky guess. So what do you think she knows
?
”

She sighed and then smiled
.“
I have no idea.I just know that she would
n’
t meet my eyes for a week
.
” He cocked his head to the side and she laughed
.“
Sh
e’
s like a kid in that respect. If she thinks sh
e’
s done something wrong she sulks around until she thinks yo
u’
re over it
.
”
 
He smirked at that
.“
You want to sleep here
?
” She asked. He was beginning to notice that her subject changes were very abrupt when she was nervous
.“
I just thought it might be more comfortable since i
t’
s not so short
.
” She said quickly.

“
Sounds great
.
” He put out his hand motioning for her foot and she put it in his hands. He pulled her shoe off and began rubbing her foot.

“
You must think I am terribly fickle
.
” She whispered.

“
No I do
n’
t
.
” He motioned for the other foot and she put it in his hand
.“
Did anyone ever tell you,you worry too much
?
”

“
Yes
,
” she said very softly
.“
My brother used to say that just before he was about to do something stupid
.
” She was staring at his hands on her feet.

“
I did
n’
t know you had a brother
.
”

“
Two
.
”

“
Older or younger
?
”

“
Both younger
.
” She was still staring vacantly at her feet and he did
n’
t want to break the spell.

“
Luke is younger, I wish I could say he was the one doing the stupid things bu
t
… well it was both of us. Guess we needed a sister to be the voice of reason
.
” She took a deep breath and pulled her feet from his hands.

“
Tha
t’
s me. The voice of reason. The sensible one
.
” She smiled but he could tell that something was
n’
t quite right.

He took his gun belt, shirt and boots off while she stepped behind the dressing screen
.“
Could you get the lamp
?
” She called from the other side and he blew out the lamp. He saw her shadow hurry to the bed and he almost laughed. He lay down beside her and she immediately moved into his arms.

“
Oh do
n’
t tell me you need me to keep you warm
.
”

“
No
.
” He felt her take a deep breath and realized she was smelling him.

“
Perfume still
?
”

“
No, mus
t’
ve been the shirt
.
” She sighed and he felt her tense body relax against him. After a few moments he realized she was asleep. 

In the silent darkness he was unable to escape his own thoughts. Dixie thought he was in love with Rose. She had even listed what she thought was proof. Now that she had planted the seed he couldn’t stop thinking about the possibility. Unfortunately
, the more he thought about it the more he knew that Dixie was right. He had met a lot of women in his travels but none had ever moved him the way this one did. None had ever stirred his protective instincts so much. Even the idea that she had a child didn’t deter him, he never thought he would want to be a parent but then his niece came along and he loved her more than he would have imagined possible. He would give Rose the new life she wanted, he would take her away from all of this to somewhere where she never had to be afraid again. That’s what she said she wanted. She would go, he was fairly certain she was half in love with him too. After all every time she locked that door she was actually locking herself in with him.

“
Did you have something you wished to discuss with me
?
” Rose asked from the doorway and Izzy looked up.

“
Ah come in come in
.
” She left the door cracked open and sat down in the chair
.“
I did
n’
t have something specific I jus
t
… well I am just a little worried about you.
I’
m afraid I made a mistake in letting the Ranger stay
.
”

“
He is fine, he will be gone as soon as he catches the killer
.
”

Matt was irritated when he woke and found Rose gone. He dressed quickly and went to find her. His irritation blossomed into annoyance when he discovered she was in Izz
y’
s office.

Matt moved on to the kitchen. His annoyance churned in his gut as he poured his coffee.

“
Good morning
.
” Matt looked up at the female voice and saw Faith enter.  H
e’
d had minimal contact with her. But then he had
n’
t had a lot of contact with any of them. Faith had dark hair and voluptuous curves. Her eyes were so dark it was difficult to distinguish the pupils.

“
Good morning
.
” He responded. He leaned back against the counter and took a sip of the bitter brew in his hand.

“
Looks like i
t’
s going to be a beautiful day
.
”

“
Uh-huh
.
” She approached him and his senses came alert.

“
Could I get one of those
?
” She held out a cup and he lifted the pot off the stove and filled it for her.

“
Thank you
.
”

“
Sure
.
”

“
So how long are you planning to stay
?
”

“
As long as I have to
.
” He evaded.

“
You and I should get to know each other better
.
” She looked at him from under partially lowered lashes.

“
I am a married man
.
” he protested, but she just laughed.

“
Yeah and I am a nun
.
” She leaned across him and retrieved the sugar bowl. He tried hard not to move away
.“
We could have a good time
.
”

“
Thanks for the offer I am afraid I am going to have to pass
.
” She just smiled a bit wider.

“
You know where to find me if you change your mind
.
” She winked at him before she left and he took a sip of his coffee. That seemed like a bit too much of a coincidence. He wondered if Dixie had put her up to it just to prove a point to him.

“
Good morning
.
” This time it was Rose who came breezing into the kitchen.

“
Morning
.
”

“
How did you sleep
?
” She asked as she poured a cup of coffee.

“
Great. How did you sleep
?
”

“
Good
.
” She turned and walked out of the kitchen without once meeting his eyes. He followed her out into the saloon.

“
I guess Katrina is
n’
t the only one with a knack for sulking
.
”

“
I do
n’
t know what you mean
.
”

“
Then look me in the eye and tell me you do
n’
t
.
”
 
Rose sighed and turned back he stopped and she took a step closer.

“
She is a sure thing
,
” she said softly,
“
She is beautiful and she likes you
.
”

“
Which one of us are you trying to convince
?
”

“
I am just an exercise in frustration for you
.
” His eyes narrowed slightly as he realized what she was telling him to do.

“
Do you really think so little of me
?
”

“
No
,
” she said quickly then lowered her voice to a whisper,
“
No, I jus
t
… I am sorry that I said you could
n’
t fraternize with the girls. You are free to do what you want
.
”

“
I have always been free to do what I wanted and if that had been what I wanted what you said would
n’
t have mattered
.
”

“
I jus
t
… you do
n’
t owe me your loyalty and she is so beautiful
.
”

“
Have you looked in the mirror
?
” he hissed
,“
You are every bit as beautiful as any of these women, more so when you take off that damn wig
.
” She stared at him wide eyed.

“
Yo
u’
ve never said that before
.
”

“
I tried once and you said you were
n’
t interested in empty flattery
.
”

“
I’
m not
.
”

“
Well tha
t’
s good because i
t’
s not empty flattery. I mean it
,
” he growled. She was torn between crying and kissing him. She decided on the latter and moved toward him but then she heard the door open.

“Jack, right on time.
I’ll be back,” he said to her then turned to go. He took a few steps then turned and came back. “Loyalty can’t be owed. It’s one of those things that has to be freely given like love or respect,” he said, then turned again and followed the other man out the door.  Rose stood there feeling slightly dumbfounded. It had taken every ounce of courage she had to tell him he should take Faith up on her offer. She had expected he would be happy. Instead he seemed angry. He said she was beautiful. She felt herself smile as the words ran through her memory.

“
What did you find out
?
” Matt asked Jack as they walked.