"You won't send me away?"
"No, I won't send you away," she promised. "Were you worried I wouldn't let you stay because you and I haven't always gotten along?"
"You're the only person at school who put up with me at all. I know I can be difficult. I was hateful to you because I knew you were feeling sorry for me."
"I didn't feel sorry for you. Are you about ready to get out of the coach?"
"Yes."
Eleanor reached for the door handle. Mary Rose stayed her hand. "Wait just one minute," she asked. "I'd like to talk to you about my brothers before you meet them. Adam…"
"The man with the black skin?"
"Yes," she answered.
"You aren't going to believe what that horrid driver told me. He said the dark man was your brother. Can you believe such outrageous…"
"Adam is my brother. Because he is the oldest in our family, he is also the head of the family."
Eleanor's mouth dropped open. "You can't be serious."
"I'm perfectly serious. You're going to have to apologize to him before you can come into our house."
Eleanor was flabbergasted. She leaned back against the cushions and stared at Mary Rose. "How in heaven's name…"
"How isn't important," Mary Rose insisted. "Adam is my brother, and I love him with all my heart."
"He can't be your brother."
Mary Rose was weary of trying to convince her. "He is," she insisted abruptly, for what she decided was the last time. "Adam and my other brothers raised me from the time I was an infant. We're a family, Eleanor, and family comes before everything else."
"Do people around here accept all of you?"
"Of course."
"Why?"
Mary Rose let out a sigh. "We've been here a long time. I suppose everyone's used to us. Well? Are you going to apologize?"
Eleanor nodded. "I didn't mean to offend him. I didn't say anything mean, Mary Rose. I thought the driver was lying to me. He had already tried to toss me out in the middle of a dirt road. Can you imagine?"
"The driver's name is Clive Harrington. He's a good man. You're going to have to apologize to him too. You really shouldn't have shot at him."
Eleanor shrugged. She obviously wasn't overly contrite. "I didn't mean to shoot at him, but I don't believe I want you to tell him that. He might get angry if he knew the gun just sort of went off."
"He's already angry."
"It was an accident," Eleanor insisted. "Why do I have to apologize to him for something I didn't mean to do?"
"You could have killed the man."
"I didn't."
"You also inconvenienced him," Mary Rose told her. "And you hurt his feelings. I promised him you'd say you were sorry. I also gave my word that you would purchase a new hat for him. You put a hole in the only one he owns."
"I can't buy him a hat. I don't have enough money."
"Then I'll give you enough," Mary Rose said. "Just don't let Clive know. Pretend you're going to buy the thing with your money."
"Why do you care about his feelings?"
"Clive is my friend."
"Oh, all right," Eleanor muttered. "I can tell you're going to be stubborn about this. I'll apologize and I'll buy him a new hat. Why didn't you tell me about Adam? Were you afraid I would tell the other girls?"
Mary Rose shook her head. "Why would I care if you told anyone or not?"
"Because you would have been shunned."
Mary Rose's patience was worn thin. All she wanted was a hot bath and a little comfort. She knew she wasn't going to get either of those things until she got her houseguest situated.
"We know all about prejudice, Eleanor. Being shunned by a group of ignorant girls means little to me. Frankly, my brothers and I have learned not to waste our time on people who hate. All my brothers are wonderful, proud men. I'm not ashamed of my family."
"Then why didn't you say anything?"
"Family is private," Mary Rose explained, repeating what she'd been told over and over again by her brothers. "Who we are and what we do isn't anyone else's business."
"Now that I think about it, you never told me about your other brothers either," Eleanor said. "I knew you had four, but that's all I ever knew. Are they… like Adam?"
"Yes," Mary Rose replied. "They're just as kind and good-hearted. Douglas and Cole are a little more stubborn though."
Eleanor couldn't seem to get her wits about her. She was still reeling inside from the shock Mary Rose had given her.
"We can get out now."
"In a minute," Eleanor whispered. "Things are different out here, aren't they?"
"Conditions are different here than in the city," Mary Rose replied. "But family is family, no matter where home is."
"What in heaven's name is that supposed to mean?"
"Now that I know about your father and what your family life was like, I can well understand why you wouldn't understand. Once you get used to all of us, I think you'll like living here. It's stifling inside, Eleanor. Can't we get out?"
"Adam is head of your household and for that reason, I shall respect him. I give you my promise."
Mary Rose shook her head. "No, you will respect him because you should. His position in the family isn't important. Meet him,
Eleanor. I promise you that once you get to know him, you'll respect him because of who he is, not what he is."
"Honestly, Mary Rose, you're always trying to mix me up. Adam's the only one who can make me leave, isn't he?"
Mary Rose gave up trying to reason with the woman. "Oh, for heaven's sake," she muttered. "I want a bath. Will you please stop arguing with me and get out?"
Eleanor finally noticed how horrid Mary Rose looked. "What happened to you?"
"A difference of opinion," she replied.
"Your brothers didn't…"
"Of course not. Honestly, Eleanor, we aren't barbarians. I'm getting out before I faint."
"It is hot in here, isn't it?"
Mary Rose reached for the door latch. "You will be gracious to everyone, won't you?"
She wouldn't have demanded the promise if she hadn't known just what Eleanor was capable of. "Don't you dare try any of your nonsense on my brothers. They won't put up with it."
"What nonsense?"
"You know what I'm talking about."
"Give me an example."
"The look of disdain you give everyone," Mary Rose said. "And the…"
"Oh, all right. I'll be nice. Lord, I only hope I know how."
Mary Rose wondered the very same thing. She finally opened the door and tried to get outside. The heat had made her weak, and the burst of fresh air was as refreshing as a drink of cool water after a day in the garden.
The door knocked Harrison. He'd been standing close by, waiting to see if Mary Rose needed his help. He offered her his hand and helped her step down to the ground.
He looked worried. She smiled to let him know everything was all right. She still had Eleanor's gun in her hand, but kept the weapon pointed to the ground until Harrison spotted it and took it away from her. He tossed it to Cole who immediately tucked it into his gunbelt.
Eleanor climbed out of the stagecoach a minute later and stood next to Mary Rose's side. She squinted against the sunlight and kept her gaze directed on her friend.
Because Harrison was the closest, Mary Rose introduced him to Eleanor first. Then she made her brothers come forward to meet their new houseguest.
Clive was standing by the steps. He still looked as though he wanted to string Eleanor up from the nearest tree.
Eleanor and Mary Rose walked over to face the driver. Eleanor finally whispered an apology.
Clive wasn't satisfied. "You got to say it loud and clear so everyone will hear, and you got to call me Mr. Harrington, real respectful-like."
Mary Rose had to nudge Eleanor into complying. Clive never smiled, but Mary Rose could tell he was pleased by Eleanor's apology because his scowl wasn't as dark.