by Danni Roan
Turning his head he glimpsed the edge of the large livery stable that Orville had built to accommodate stagecoach horses and visiting guest’s mounts. Darwin had become an upstanding hostler, and now with his new wife, things were taking on a brighter shine for the man.
Dan scowled as the jail house came into sight, sighing as he watched his brother push another drunken cowboy through the door. Needful was still new and many of the younger men, feeling restless and bored, drank too much. Many of his own cowpokes had spent a night in the cells of the sheriff’s office. There had been too much activity of late in those cells as far as Dan was concerned and his mind shifted to how to curb the problems of the growing town. He barely noticed as the general store, church, and music shop came into view until the familiar petite form of Rosa Rodriguez caught his eye.
***
Rosa jingled the small purse in her hands thinking ahead to what she wanted at the general store. She seldom bought anything not essential for herself or Christina, and since room and board were provided by the Hamptons for her services, she saved her meager wages, jealously.
Stepping from the boardwalk into the street, Rosa’s boot heel caught on the step and she staggered dropping her bag as she struggled to right herself once more. Leaning over she reached for the small velvet satchel only to have it whisked from the dust before her very eyes.
“Give that back,” she all but shouted snatching at the bag and the man’s hand that held it. “It isn’t yours.”
“I was just trying to help,” Dan’s voice rolled over her making the hair on the back of her neck prickle.
“You,” she glared. “Why do you bother me? Go away.”
“I was riding by when I saw you,” Dan offered innocently. “I didn’t mean any offense.”
Rosa snatched the bag from his hands and turned, striding across the street to escape the man, but his hands grasped her pulling her close as three cowboys galloped by.
“Let go of me!” she yelled, her heart pounding at the near miss of the reckless riders. She hadn’t been paying attention, and if Mr. Gaines hadn’t grabbed her, she and Christina could have both been run down, but she wasn’t going to thank the scoundrel.
Dan’s hands shook as he pulled Rosa and her daughter from harm’s way. Why did the woman hate him so? His heart sagged as he remembered it was his fault her husband was dead, and he tried to release her, but before he could let go tiny Christina lunged for him wrapping her arms around his neck and her little fingers in his overly long hair.
He cringed trying to extricate himself from the situation, but the little girl only giggled holding tighter and tugging at his dark locks.
“Christina,” Rosa gasped, grabbing at her daughter and pulling only to hear the Mayor of Needful hiss when her daughter wouldn’t release his hair.
“Let go,” he whispered his blue eyes boring into hers. “I’ll walk with you a spell until she decides she’s tired of me.”
Christina squealed again giving another hard tug on Dan’s dark hair and making him cringe.
Rosa’s eyes flashed. She didn’t want to be seen with the handsome rancher walking through town as if he owned her. Tongues would wag, and she had had enough of that in her lifetime already.
“You walk behind,” she snapped her eyes darting to her daughter in annoyance, wanting nothing more than to snatch her from the man’s arms, but who knew how vengeful he might be if she caused him harm. He was the Mayor of Needful after all, a powerful and wealthy man.
Dan nodded flinching as Christina tangled her fingers deeper. He needed a haircut and would stop by to see if Daliah would cut the dark waves, so this couldn’t happen again. A smile tugged at his lips as he remembered the first time he had met tiny Christina and her diminutive mother. The baby had been so small, sick, and listless, but the woman who would soon become his sister-in-law had worked tirelessly to save her life.
“Why aren’t you working today?” Dan asked as he trailed behind Rosa snapping his eyes up as they fell on the full swish of her smooth skirts. “I thought you cooked most days.”
“Today Olive wishes me to be gone.” Rosa dropped her head as doubt and worry assailed her.
“She didn’t fire you?” Dan gaped. “Rosa I’ve told you before you don’t have to work. You can have your own place. I’ll provide for you and Christina.”
Rosa whirled around glaring up at the man and meeting his blue eyes with her blazing black eyes. “I will not take your house, your gifts, and your money!” She shouted waggling a finger in his face. “I am not a mujer mantenida. You will not pay for me. You will not buy my favors. I belong to Jesus Christo not you!”
Rosa rose up on her tiptoes, grasped her daughter firmly around the middle and pulled as Christina began to cry coming away with fistfuls of dark brown hair while her mother raced down the street and away from the man.
Dan Gaines stood stark still on the street, his scalp prickling, as he stared after the woman while she fled. His neck prickled and his scalp stung, but he stood like a poleaxed steer wondering what had just happened.
“Dan,” a familiar voice made him blink, and Dan finally turned to look at his brother. “Why don’t you come on over to my place. Daliah would like to see you.”
Dan nodded still dumbfounded as Rosa’s words echoed in his head. What had she said? Why had she run from him as if he had said something offensive? He only wanted to help. He only wanted to assuage the guilt that gnawed at him each time he saw the beautiful Rosa. “Masjur mantenida,” he whispered rolling the word in his mind. He didn’t even know what it meant, but the way she had said it, with such disgust, indicated it wasn’t good.
***
Spencer Gaines flicked his eyes toward his younger brother under the brim of his hat and wondered what he should do. Dan looked like he’d been kicked in the gut by a rogue bull and was waiting for the horns to finish him off. His face was pale, his eyes glazed, and his mouth kept working over and over but no sound came out.
He hoped Daliah had the coffee pot on because if Dan ever needed a strong brew this was it. Flicking a glance back under his arm he saw Rosa dash through the door of the General Store and hoped Dan hadn’t done anything to upset the woman. Cowboys, miners, and other workers from around Needful had grown accustomed to the fine food the young woman provided at the Hampton House, and if she was upset again, he suspected the food would be next to inedible.
Spencer couldn’t help but grin though as he thought of the few men who seemed to have been enjoying the hot dishes that Rosa had produced recently, but he was not one of them and hoped that she would calm down soon if she was going to continue as chief cook at the boarding house.
“Daliah,” he called into the house. “I brought company.” Spencer’s warm chuckle filled the little house as he hurried toward the kitchen his younger brother stumbling behind him as if in a daze. “I hope you have the coffee on,” Spence whispered kissing his lovely wife on the cheek. “I think Dan needs it,” he added in a whisper.
Daliah turned worried eyes on her brother-in-law who looked like someone had punched him in the gut.
Chapter 9
Rosa hurried into the town’s store her heavy skirts swirling around her ankles in agitation.
“Hello Rosa,” Mrs. Scripts called cheerily as she popped up from behind the counter. Like Rosa, Alice Scripts was petite, well, downright short. Still she stood a good two inches taller than Rosa at her full five foot-one height. “Did you need something for the Hamptons?” Alice smiled at Rosa waving at Christina, making her smile. “I sent their order over with Trey a few minutes ago.”
“No, no.” Rosa waved the woman’s worries away. “Today I am here for me,” she hesitated looking at her little girl and plucking a few strands of brown hair from between Christina’s fingers, “and my daughter.”
Alice Scripts bright smile shone like the sun as she hurried around the counter to take Christina. “She’s such a good girl,” she gushed. “Let me take her while you look around.
Is there anything special you were hoping for?”
Rosa’s dark eyes roamed the shelves and tables of the well-stocked stores and smiled. “You have the chocolate,” she said her eyes lighting on a large tin of cocoa powder. “I will want that.”
Alice hurried toward the floor to ceiling shelf behind the counter reaching for a stick with one hand as she placed Christina on the floor. With a deft flick of her wrist she plucked the tin from the shelf above her catching it in her other hand. “What else?” she giggled, her brown eyes twinkling.
For the first time in days Rosa laughed, the soft tinkle of sound bubbling out of her and washing away much of the anger and resentment she felt for Dan Gaines. She felt strong, independent, and capable as she jingled her few coins together in the velvet bag.
“I think I will make a new dress for my daughter,” Rosa nodded toward the rack of fabrics her hands stoking a lovely pink and white calico.
“I don’t think that would suit her color,” Alice said kindly. “What about this?” The store keeper hurried around the counter leading the toddler toward her mother. “I have a lovely yellow that would look wonderful with Christina’s dark hair.”
Rosa looked at the fabric and nodded liking the deep butter gold with tiny red daisies scattered about on the soft fabric. If she made it a little too big the child could wear it for at least a year.
“Yes, I think this is good,” she agreed smiling softly at Alice. “I will take it.”
Alice Scripts lifted the bolt of fabric and spread it across the counter, grabbing her scissors and cutting it to length as Rosa walked around the store. Alice liked Rosa and appreciated that she had someone so close to her size in Needful, it made her feel less conspicuous. There was something about the young Mexican woman that spoke of old sorrow, and recent loss, and it touched the storekeeper’s heart.
She had seen how Daniel Gaines looked at the woman, how his blue eyes filled with confusion, hope, fear, and guilt each time they met. No matter what Dan and Rosa thought of the situation there was more to this story than met the eye. Alice had been a shopkeeper her whole life and was a keen study of human nature. Only time would tell how this tale would end, and Alice prayed it wouldn’t be with more heartache and pain.
“Rosa would you like to join me for a cup of coffee?” Alice asked as she bundled the fabric into brown paper.
“No,” Rosa looked up and smiled at Alice. “I will buy two of those cookies though,” she added seeing them on a small plate. “I will take Christina for a day outside.”
Alice smiled wrapping the cookies and raising her hand to tell Rosa to wait as she rushed back through a door behind her. “No charge for the cookies or this,” Alice beamed stepping out with a small basket in her hands. “I made up some wagon train lemonade earlier and there’s a jar inside. You just bring the basket back when you’re ready.”
Rosa looked between the storekeeper and the basket for several long seconds before finally nodding. She would trust that the other woman didn’t want anything from her for the treat. It was so hard to trust even after all of these years, but at some point she needed to start.
***
Rosa spread the blanket she had found in Alice’s basket on the ground by the slow-moving stream then pulled out the cookies and sweet, tangy drink made with vinegar and sugar. Beside her Christina toddled toward a daisy that swayed in the wind and Rosa smiled.
The fresh air and sunshine spilled over her, warming her to her soul, and she thought back to days when she and Raul had found a quiet moment outdoors between hard work and worried cares.
Birds sang in the branches of an old oak that hung over the water, Spanish moss trailing nearly to the ground on branches that reached toward the earth. It was peaceful, quiet, and restful, and Rosa found herself breathing deeply as tension oozed from her neck and spine.
Christina giggled her pudgy hands reaching for a butterfly that landed on her flower only to flutter away as the little girl lunged.
Rosa laughed watching her daughter turn to follow the butterfly with her dark eyes. Christina was her joy even on the worst days and reminded her so much of her laughing Raul.
The sound of a horse approaching made Rosa spin racing to scoop up her daughter as she wheeled toward the impending threat.
“It’s only me Rosa,” Dan drawled wearily. “I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
Rosa felt some of the tension leave as she lowered her squirming child to the ground. “You startled me,” she said watching the man warily. “I thought I was alone.”
“I was headed home,” Dan said his voice soft. “I saw movement and wasn’t sure…” He shrugged leaning forward to rest his elbows on his saddle horn. “I wanted to make sure that everything was all right.”
“Why?” Rosa said lifting her chin. “I am not your concern.”
“Everyone in Needful is my concern,” Dan retorted. “I’m the mayor, and though I never wanted the job, I take it seriously. You may not want me to look out for you, but that’s exactly what I’m going to do.” The man’s horse sidestepped nervously as his emotions translated through the saddle forcing him to rein the animal in.
“Up! Up!” Christina toddled toward the nervous horse and the red roan rolled his eyes as the child approached.
“Christina!” Rosa cried rushing toward her and spooking the horse more.
Dan Gaines bit back a harsh word as his mount reared, diving from the saddle to snatch the child from under the horse’s feet. “Whoa, whoa,” he soothed bringing the child to where the cow pony could see her clearly. “Easy boy,” he said letting his mount stretch its muzzle toward the little girl.
“Be careful,” Rosa chided frozen in mid-stride as her heart pounded in her ears.
“I am being careful,” Dan growled. “She wasn’t in any danger until you lunged toward me,” he said forcing his voice into a neutral tone.
Rosa crossed her arm over her middle and glared at the cowboy but didn’t speak. He had risked his own neck to see that Christina was safe, and she grudgingly admitted that her actions had been foolish.
Dan let Christina pat his pony’s nose then hefted her into the saddle, holding her steady with one hand as she squealed with delight.
“See she’s fine.” Dan turned his face toward Rosa, his smile faltering at her harsh glare. Pulling the little girl from the saddle he turned, letting his horse go and carried the child to her mother. “She’s fine Rosa.”
Rosa took Christina from him setting her on the blanket and handing her a cookie.
“I do not need you to watch over me or my child,” Rosa said. “She is all I have. Do not think I cannot take care of her.”
“You could have so much more,” Dan said stripping his hat from his head and running a hand through his hair. “I could take care of you provide for you.”
“No.” Rosa snarled. “I will not be a woman like that. You may be powerful, wealthy, and respected by the people of this town, but you have no right to ask me. I know how men like you are. You say you want nothing then you come in the night, quiet, lonely, and you ask. You take back for the food you give, the house you pay for. I will not be that kind of woman.”
“What?” Dan blinked at Rosa trying to understand what she was saying. He wanted nothing from her. His face paled as her words sank in. She though he wanted her favor for a home and his mouth fell open in shock. What had he ever done to make her think so little of him? “I never,” he stammered. “Raul was my friend,” his middle gurgled with acid as something in the back of his brain appraised Rosa’s lovely face and sultry form. “I’m not,” he paused again unable to find the words. “No.” Dan exploded storming back to his horse and throwing himself into the saddle as he raked the roan with cruel spurs as he sped away.
Rosa scowled after the retreating form as his horse charged across the prairie. He had seemed startled at her words as if he hadn’t known what she would say.
She had known men like him before, and though confused by his odd behavior,
would not soften toward him or his offer. Her own father had seemed like a good respectable man, but time had proven otherwise as she had grown to know exactly who he was.
Returning to the blanket with her daughter, Rosa put the troublesome man from her mind and reached for a cookie smiling and speaking to her baby girl in fluent Spanish as the day trudged on.
Chapter 10
Dan dragged his heaving pony to a sliding stop outside the barn, dropped from the saddled and stormed toward his home. His heart dipping from anger to shock and back again as he slammed through the front door bellowing for coffee.
Old Cookie stepped from the kitchen and scowled. His boss was usually an even-tempered sort of man, but woman troubles always did cloud a man’s brain.
“Stop your bellerin’,” the old man snapped pointing to a chair as he turned to the big stove. “Coffee’s on already.”
Dan dropped into a chair dropping his head into his hands with a groan. How had Rosa thought he had anything but honorable intentions? Didn’t she understand that he felt responsible for what happened to Raul and only wanted to help?
“Here’s your dad-blamed coffee,” the old man snapped. “Are ya done catter-wallerin’ or should I leave ya be?”
“Huh?” Dan lifted his eyes to the old man’s scrunched-up face. “Oh. Sorry Cookie,” he said his shoulders sagging as he reached for his cup. “I’m, I’m.” He looked up his blue eyes confused. “I don’t know what I am.”
The old cook grabbed a cup of coffee and pulled a chair in front of his boss. “What happened?” he asked leaning forward and staring the other man down. “Go on, tell old Cookie everything.”
Dan sipped his coffee letting the bitter brew blend with his bitter soul. “You won’t believe it.”
“You’d be surprised what I’d believe,” the old man said slurping from his own cup. “Go on, I ain’t tellin’ no one. What’s said between a man and his cook stays between ‘em.”
Dan Gaines chuckled shaking his head.