Montana Rose Read online

  “Hush. Pay attention to what you’re doing. Hold that cloth tight.” Then she asked, “Tory’s really enjoying today, isn’t he?”

  “Thanks to you, he enjoyed yesterday and today.” Jesse shook his head, chuckling. “Had you going with that stomachache though, didn’t he?”

  “That was mean.” But her happy laugh made a mockery of her words.

  When the milk was put away, they joined Tory in the living room and found him sitting cross-legged in front of the tree, a present in his hands.

  “About time. Here, this is for you, Jesse.” Tory’s face was a mixture of apprehension and excitement as he handed his brother a long, narrow package.

  “Thank you, Tory. It’s a shame I didn’t think to get anything for you.”

  “You didn’t? Uh, that’s okay.” He shrugged, trying to hide his disappointment.

  “Jesse Rivers, you stop that right now,” Rose scolded with mock severity.

  “Well, I might have forgotten. I’ve been awfully busy buying cows and chickens.”

  “Aww, I knew you didn’t forget.” But the relief in his voice said differently.

  Jesse winked at his brother and swallowed hard. Today couldn’t get any better. Maybe with more days like today, the past would be forgotten and they’d both heal.

  Jesse tore the brown paper from the box, set it aside, and gently removed the lid. He looked at the object nestled there, blinked, and, biting his lips, looked away.

  “I didn’t put it on our account, Jesse,” Tory said worriedly, watching Jesse’s reaction. “I’m going to do some chores at the mercantile until it’s paid for. They, uh, they said there was plenty for me to do. I won’t forget I have chores here, too. I won’t.”

  Jesse hooked an arm around Tory’s neck and pulled him into his chest. “Tory, I wasn’t worried. I was overwhelmed. I’ve never had a Christmas gift before, but I can’t imagine anything better than this knife.”

  Tory stepped back and looked into his brother’s eyes. “You really like it?”

  “I really like it,” Jesse said hoarsely. He cleared his throat, “I really like it.” He lifted the knife from the box. It wouldn’t have been handled any more carefully had it been solid gold.

  “Mr. Benson said it was real good for doing heavy work.”

  “That it is.” Jesse carefully ran his thumb along the four-inch fixed blade. “Sharp little dickens.” He chuckled, giving it a jiggle. “Doesn’t weigh much.”

  “Is that good?” Tory asked, his brow wrinkling.

  “Sure is. That’s a sturdy leather handle.” Jesse turned the knife over in his hand, his smile widening. “Tory, this is about seven inches of fine craftsmanship. It’s a knife to be proud of. First thing tomorrow, we’ll make a leather sheath for it.” He gave Tory another crushing hug.

  “Aw.” Embarrassed, Tory pulled away. “It wasn’t nothing.”

  “Tell you what, kid, if that’s nothing, you can give me nothing every Christmas. Now, how about you open your present from me?”

  “Gosh, this Christmas thing is great.” Tory tore into Jesse’s package, ripping off the paper covering a hinged, wooden box. He turned the small clasp and opened the lid. “Paints,” he whispered. “Brushes,” he said in another whisper. “There must be fifty colors. I’ve never seen this many paints.”

  “Oh, Tory,” Rose said, smiling. “You have every color needed to bring your plants and flowers alive.” Then she handed him her gift. “This will be a good companion for your paints.”

  With more restraint, Tory removed the wrapping and held a thick book in his hands. “Miss Rose, this is your botany book.”

  “Was my botany book, Tory. Now it’s yours. You’re the botanist, and by rights should have a resource manual.”

  Tory gave a big sigh. “Thanks, Jesse, Rose. I’ll never forget today.” He started to re-wrap the paints when a small slip of paper fell out. It was an advertisement from a mail order catalog. Slowly, Tory read the words, then looked up at Jesse.

  “It’s an advertisement for a Botany Field Kit. ‘Everything a botanist needs for collecting and documenting specimens,’ he read aloud.

  “Mr. Benson ordered it for me. Sorry you have to wait,” Jesse said softly.

  “Sorry,” Tory exploded. “Well, I’m not sorry. This is a kit a real botanist uses.”

  “Well, Tory,” Jesse mumbled, “to me you are a real botanist. I couldn’t be prouder.”

  Awkward with emotion, both brothers grabbed the other’s hand and squeezed.

  “Okay, you two, I refuse to cry anymore on Christmas Day,” Rose interrupted. “Jesse, here’s my gift.”

  “Darn it, Rose. I don’t have anything under the tree for you.”

  “Well, why should you? The best gift ever is out in the barn clucking and munching hay.”

  Jesse pulled a book from behind his back. “Here.”

  “I thought you said you didn’t have anything under the tree for me?” Rose chided.

  “It’s not under the tree, now anyway.” Jesse’s face broke into a grin. “Hope you like it. I didn’t wrap—”

  “You didn’t have to. Oh.” Her eyes widened. “It’s a book on raising sheep.” She shook her head. “I’ve vowed never again to put all my eggs in one basket. I planned to raise sheep as well as beef. Thank you so much, Jesse.” She shifted toward him as though to thank him with a hug, then pulled back.

  A look of disappointment crossed Jesse’s face. He lowered his head, concentrating on the gift in his hands. “Is it good to eat?” He tried to joke.

  “Absolutely not.”

  Jesse laid aside the paper and took out a hand-knitted scarf. “It’s beautiful.” He ran his large, work-roughened hands down the soft wool.

  “It’s brown with flecks of green. Like your eyes.” Mortified at what had slipped out, Rose started gathering up the discarded paper. “I’ll just take this into the kitchen. We’ll have to be leaving before long for Wisteria and Ben’s.” She hurried out of the room, not seeing Jesse’s gaze follow her.

  Chapter 33

  The months passed, leaving Christmas a fond memory. Rose and Jesse skirted around each other, both denying feelings too frightening to acknowledge.

  Spring was magical in its fresh awakening. Tender shoots of grass shot up, and heifers dropped healthy calves. It was as if the ranch was basking in the peace that had settled over it. Jesse worked from early morning light to dusk, coming in tired, but happier than he ever imagined. Tory worked beside him and Rose often joined them doing her share and more. And if she and Jesse’s eyes often met and rested on each other, it was only mutual pleasure in what they were doing. Of course it was.

  The only black cloud on the horizon was when Rose remembered her vow to leave come spring. More and more, she saw traits in Jesse to admire. He would be so easy to lean on. His strength, tempered with gentle kindness, set him apart from other men she’d known. His firm guidance was turning Tory into a confident young man. And, with each passing day, the time came closer. It was painful to care so much and know that it wasn’t returned.

  Jesse was aware a struggle was going on inside of Rose. Too often he caught a faraway look in her eyes. But he was fighting a battle of his own. He refused to name what he felt each time he glanced up and saw this beautiful woman with hair that gleamed like gold and eyes that shot back dark blue shards of life. He relived her chuckle of joy as she watched her calf kick up its heels and run a tight circle under its mother’s watchful eye. The combination of spring air and warm sunshine brought out an exuberant feistiness. Against his will, he lay in bed at night seeing her, smelling the scent of lilacs she carried with her, and hearing her soft laughter when he teased her about naming her milk cow Holly.

  “Holly, what kind of name is that? I suppose if I’d given her to you for Easter, you�
��d name her Bunny.”

  The thrill he experienced seeing her at day’s end had become painful. Rose’s ready smile made problems melt away and tired muscles relax. His mornings started with him eagerly dressing and going into the kitchen, finding her looking like an angel, as she gave him a sweet “hello” and handed him a mug of coffee. Rose was becoming his life’s breath and he fought hard against it.

  Each time he saw her avidly reading the book on raising sheep or filling paper with innumerable columns of figures, a cold dread clutched him. Rose would be leaving. And she’d take the sunshine with her. Her drive to have a ranch of her own hadn’t lessened.

  Tory knew it, too. “Jesse,” he said one afternoon when they were repairing fencing, “what are we going to do when Rose leaves us?”

  The question caught him by surprise. He gave his full attention to nailing the wire to the post he’d just set in the rock hard ground while he searched for an answer. It was a question he’d asked himself many times. He removed his gloves and wiped his arm across his brow.

  “I don’t know.” He’d debated on answering as if her leaving or staying made no difference. But, honesty won out. He expected honesty from Tory and owed him the same.

  “Do you care?” Tory’s eyes bored into Jesse, daring him to respond falsely.

  Jesse cleared his throat and picked back up the hammer and a handful of nails. With unnecessary force, he banged the nail into the post, making that his answer.

  “Jesse, do you?” Tory asked with the persistence of youth.

  “’Course I do,” Jesse snapped in a low, gravelly voice.

  “Then why don’t you do something about it?” he asked, an accusing hint of anger in his words.

  “Damn it, Tory, just what would you suggest I do, lock her in the root cellar?” He grabbed another strand of loose wire and with frustrated strength, pulled it tight. His muscled forearm bunched as he drove the nails.

  “Hey, you’ll knock the post over hitting it like that.” Tory glared at him. “And, no, I don’t expect you to lock her in the root cellar,” he said sarcastically.

  “Yeah,” Jesse growled, “then what do you expect?”

  “I expect you oughta marry her, that’s what.”

  Jesse whirled around, his fist white as it gripped the hammer. “What did you just say?”

  “You heard me, Jesse. I said you should marry her. That way she’d have a ranch. We could divide it three ways.” Tory followed the words with a smile, as if pleased with his rationalization. “She likes it fine here.”

  “Oh yeah, Mr. Know Everything, what makes you so sure of that?” Jesse held his breath, needing to hear something reassuring.

  “I heard her tell Miss Wisteria she loved this place and how she hated to leave.”

  “Tory, if she was so all-fired sad and hating to leave, she wouldn’t. Ranch or no ranch.”

  “Well, I still think you should marry her.”

  “There’s more to marriage than that.” Jesse shook his head and drove another nail deep into the post. “Lots more,” he added with vehemence.

  “What?”

  “Love. There has to be love. I’ve seen marriages without it, and it’s not a pretty thing. You have too,” he said as an afterthought.

  Tory hung his head. “Yeah, my mom and our dad. They didn’t love each other.”

  “Maybe at one time they did, Tory. But our dad ruined whatever feelings your mother had for him. It doesn’t take much temper and fists to kill love. You and I both know that.”

  Neither one spoke, and the spring day took on a heavy stillness.

  Jesse faced Tory. “I couldn’t do that to her,” he said softly, “no matter what I feel. How do I know I wouldn’t handle things the same way? How do I know I wouldn’t let anger fill me with a red haze until I’d strike out at the one person I love?” That he’d used the present tense was lost on him.

  “Do you love her, Jesse?”

  “Huh?”

  “Rose, do you love her?”

  “I don’t dare love her.”

  “Then we’ll lose her.” Tory’s voice was flat, filled with helplessness.

  Jesse nodded. “I expect so.”

  Chapter 34

  Rose was in the barn, helping Jesse and Tory clean stalls when a wagon rumbled into the yard. Ben sawed back on the reins and the frisky mare came to a stop proudly tossing her head.

  Ben grinned and called out, “Hey, you three. Got anything cold for a tired doctor? I’ve been up all night setting a broken arm and leg over at the Watson’s place. Never heard such carrying-on. Mrs. Watson begged me to stay the night and gave me cup after cup of the vilest coffee I’ve ever tasted.” He walked toward them while speaking. “I’m dry to the bone. Fed her plant most of my coffee when her back was turned.” He chuckled.

  “Watsons? Mr. Watson?” Jesse asked.

  “Nope, that boy of theirs. The oldest one. Fell out of a tree. I shouldn’t say it, but if he’d landed on his head, he’d probably have been okay.”

  Tory let out a whoop. “All right. Yippee!”

  “Tory,” Jesse and Rose admonished, not daring to look at the each other.

  “Well, it couldn’t have happened to a . . .”

  “Tory,” Jesse said quietly. “That’s enough. We don’t rejoice over someone else’s misfortune.” Then he turned away, unable to hide his grin. “Even if the little brat deserved it.”

  “Yeah.” Tory slapped his brother on the back, then caught Rose’s eye. “I mean, yeah, that’s too bad all right. Yep, too bad.”

  “Shame on you two.” Rose coughed, her hand covering the smile on her lips. “I’m sure he’s in pain. Tory, maybe you’d like to take your friend over some of those gingersnaps I baked yesterday. Yes, that would be a nice thing to do. I’ll get them ready and Jesse can drive you over.” She folded her arms across her chest, daring either one to say anything.

  “Aw, Rose,” Tory started only to be stopped by Jesse’s elbow in his ribs.

  “Yes, Tory?”

  “Uh, nothing. I’d be”—he choked on the word—“happy to take the cookies. Glad you thought of it.”

  “Of course you are,” she said sweetly. “Ben, please come into the house and I’ll give you a glass of lemonade and a plate of those cookies. Or, maybe you’d like a slice of cherry pie with a dollop of sweet cream on top?”

  Leading the way into the house, she missed the knowing look and wink between the three smiling people following her.

  “Actually,” Ben said between bites of cookie and swigs of lemonade, “I was planning on driving out to see you today, Rose.”

  “You were? Is everything okay at home? Wisteria, Robin?”

  “They’re fine,” he hastened to reassure her.

  “Need help with something, Ben?” Jesse asked, reaching for another cookie.

  “As a matter of fact, I do.” He looked fully at Rose. “I need your assistance, Rose.”

  “Mine?”

  He nodded. “I have a patient, a very difficult patient,” he added, “who is refusing to let me examine her.”

  Rose furrowed her brow. “Why?”

  Ben smiled. “Because I’m a man. Her husband went against her will to ask me to see her. I tried, but could only get as close as a blanket pulled up to her chin. She admitted to nausea, extreme tiredness, and unable to keep anything down. This was all told with tears rolling down her face. Her husband is beside himself and both are convinced she has a life-threatening illness.”

  “Does she?” Rose asked.

  “I don’t honestly know. It was all I could do to get her to tell me that much. As for touching her, absolutely not.”

  “And you think I could help?” Rose gave him a puzzled look. “I’m no nurse, Ben.”

 
“I know. But I can’t ask Aries. Jarrett would have a fit if I suggested her riding into town. The baby’s due any day.” He chuckled. “My brother’s like an old hen, clucking around her, afraid to let her out of his sight. And Ted’s busy keeping Angelique out from under foot. It’s a wild household right now. The only sane one is Tim. He’s trying to take on most of the chores so Jarrett can hover.”

  Rose’s eyes were filled with laughter as she said, “I don’t need you to tell me why you can’t ask Wisteria. For a doctor’s wife, she’s awfully squeamish. I’m afraid you’d have two patients if she accompanied you.”

  “I would. That’s a fact.” An indulgent smile crossed his face and his eyes filled with love. “Wisteria makes no excuses for her weak stomach. I’d send Robin if she was a few years older.”

  “She could do it, I have no doubt. By the time she’s five, she’ll be doing surgery.” Rose’s words brought a chuckle from everyone.

  “Would you be willing?” Ben asked. “I’ll pay you.”

  “That’s not necessary, Ben. Of course, I’ll do it.”

  “That’s a relief. And I will pay you,” he said forcefully. “Because with Aries unable to do her part for the next few months, I may be asking for your assistance quite often.”

  He glanced over to Jesse, surprised at the frown on the man’s face. “Something wrong, Jesse? Would you rather Rose didn’t help? I’d make sure it didn’t interfere with her duties here.”

  Jesse forced enthusiasm into his answer. “No, of course I don’t care. Knowing Rose, I’m sure nothing will go amiss here.” He rose to his feet. “Come on, Tory, let’s get those cookies delivered. We’ll leave you two to work out the details. Ben, good to see you again. Christmas dinner is long time past. We need to get together again soon.” He shook Ben’s proffered hand, and with Tory following him, left the room. He hadn’t yet closed the door when the doctor’s next words hit him like a hammer.