We all expect Mary Rose to get married one day. Now that she's away at school, we can all relax our guards a little. The men around here are constantly fighting for her attention. None of them mind that smart mouth of hers either. We miss her though, more than we thought we would. You don't have to worry about her at all. I taught her how to take care of herself if any of the men in St. Louis try to bother her. She packed her six-shooter and two boxes of bullets. That should be enough.
I hope you aren't angry with me because I had to be so blunt with you. We all love you and wish you could come here and live with us.
Cole
Chapter 23
God definitely had a sense of humor. Elliott came to his conclusion after observing the behavior of the brothers for an hour or so. Mary Rose's guardian angels were rough and rowdy, argumentative and wary at the same time, and loud. Lord, they were loud. They had the peculiar habit of all talking at the same time, and yet they were all able to hear what everyone else was saying. Elliott felt as if he were sitting in the center of a rally.
He was having the time of his life.
After he'd spoken to the men, they'd come forward to shake his hand. They were hesitant to accept him as part of their family, of course, but Elliott wasn't discouraged. In time they would realize that, like him, they had little choice in the matter. God had pulled them all together, and together they would stay.
He met Adam first. "You're the one who likes to argue, aren't you?" he remarked as he shook his hand.
Adam immediately turned to Harrison. "Did you tell him that?"
"I said you liked to debate," he explained.
Elliott nodded. "Same thing," he announced. "I like to argue too, son. You'll find I always win."
A gleam came into Adam's eyes. "Is that so?"
"You were wrong about the Greeks' motives, you know. I'll have to set you straight."
"I welcome the challenge," Adam responded.
Elliott met Travis next. "You're going to be an attorney," he announced.
"I am?"
"Yes, you are. Harrison says you've a natural ability to sort through quagmire."
Travis grinned. "You just used yesterday's word of the day, sir. I've always wanted to shoot lawyers, not become one."
Douglas shook his hand next. "What did Harrison tell you about me?" he asked.
"That you work magic with your horses. You could make a fortune in England working with thoroughbreds. Animals trust you and that tells me you have compassion. I wondered where my daughter came by hers. Now I know."
Cole waited for his turn. He had already made up his mind he wasn't going to roll over as easily as his brothers had. Elliott had hurt Mary Rose. He should have to pay before they started being hospitable to him.
"Where's the mean one?" Elliott asked.
"Right here, sir," Cole answered before he could stop himself. Then he smiled. " Harrison told you I was mean?"
"It was given with a great deal of admiration," he assured the brother. "I've heard a great amount about you. Some of the remarks were made by a young lady named Eleanor. She seemed to believe you would try to shoot me and told me to be careful around you. As to Eleanor," he continued. "I was wondering…"
Cole raised an eyebrow. "What's that, sir?"
"Would all of you mind taking her back?"
The brothers shouted the word no at the same time. Elliott laughed. So did Cole, "Sir, you're stuck with her," he said then.
"She's happy there," Mary Rose insisted. "Father, you must be hungry. We've already had our supper, but we'll sit with you while you have yours. Take a chair now. You must be weary from your journey."
She didn't wait to hear his agreement but hurried on into the kitchen. She couldn't quit smiling. She was going to have to get down on her knees and give God a proper thank you for helping her father.
Harrison caught her around the waist and pulled her up against him in the hallway. He leaned down and kissed her ear.
"It's good to see you happy again," he whispered. "Turn around and make me happy. I need to kiss you."
She put her heart into the task. She wrapped her arms around her husband's neck and drew him down for a long, passionate kiss.
One wasn't enough, and it wasn't long before they both realized that if they didn't stop now, they wouldn't stop at all.
She was breathless and flustered when she pulled away from him. She was just the way he liked her to be.
"You made him understand, didn't you? Thank you, Harrison."
"No, you made him understand when you left. You gave it all up, and once he realized what you considered valuable, he began to understand. I'm happy he's here too, sweetheart. I've been looking for an edge."
"For Adam?"
Harrison nodded. "Elliott won't let me miss anything. He's the edge I need."
"Let him have his supper before you tell him about Adam. I don't think he'll feel like eating… after."
Harrison knew the brothers wouldn't mention it to Elliott. He went back to the table and sat down next to Cole. Adam was seated adjacent to Mary Rose's father. They were talking about the sleeping arrangements.
Cole grinned at him. Harrison should have known something was up. He had a feeling he wasn't going to like it either, because Cole only smiled when he had sorry news to give.
"It's already been decided, Harrison. He's taking Mary Rose's bedroom. You two can sleep in the bunkhouse. You'll have more privacy out there."
"When you were out of the room," Travis told him. "We voted."
Harrison wasn't about to sleep in a bunk bed with his wife. He started to argue, but was waylaid when Mary Rose came back into the dining room. She didn't look happy.
"Cole, Samuel's waving his butcher knife at me again. He won't let me feed Father. Do something, for heaven's sake."
"I'll do something," Harrison roared. He started to stand up. Cole shoved him back down.
"Now, Harrison, he'll only cut you if you go in there. He's not quite ready to like you yet. I'll go."
Elliott looked stunned. "Someone's in the kitchen with a knife… threatening my daughter?"
"Yes, sir," Cole answered on his way to the door. He paused to draw his gun, cock it, and then shoved the door open.
"Samuel, you're sure a trial to my patience," he bellowed.
"Good Lord." Elliott couldn't think of anything more to say.
Harrison relaxed. He turned to Elliott and smiled. The man looked completely befuddled. "They pay him a wage too. Makes you want to pound your head against something hard, doesn't it, sir?"
Elliott nodded. Harrison burst into laughter. Honest to God, there was never a dull minute at the ranch. Adam shook his head and looked sheepish. He guessed maybe to outsiders it did seem crazy to put up with Samuel.
"Samuel's our cook," he explained.
Mary Rose stood tapping her foot against the floor while she waited. Cole finally called to her. She let out a little sigh and went back into the kitchen.
Her father was given a proper supper a few minutes later. The men drank coffee while they waited for him to finish. Mary Rose took his empty plate back into the kitchen.
"I'll be a while. I have to make up with Samuel. He's going to make me beg. I just know it."
"You going to tell him?" Cole asked Harrison with a nod towards Elliott.
"Yes. Sir, we're all a bit irritable these days. You see, next Friday…"
Adam interrupted him. "I'm going to be tried for murder." Elliott blinked, but it was the only outward reaction he showed to the news. "Did you do it?"