by Dina Chapel
Why, yes. Yes, Miss Rose, I’d be happy to.” Beau didn’t seem like he found anything amiss with Rose’s request. “You have a pleasant day.”
Rose turned to go, anxious to leave now before Cal showed up or Beau decided to protest.
“Thanks so much for your help, Beau.” She waved to him on her way out the barn doors and back into the heat of the day. She felt more than a little devious as she unhitched the team and climbed onto the buckboard, but the thought of having to spend an entire afternoon by Cal Monroe’s side was too much for Rose to bear. She would have made a deal with the devil himself to keep her as far away from that man and his heavy hand as possible.
* * *
Cal looked around as he rode up to the barn on Gypsy. Where was the team and wagon? He knew he was late getting back and had expected the wagon and Rose to be ready and waiting. All he needed to do was pass his horse off to Beau and get washed up. Then Cal had been looking forward to spending the afternoon in Rose’s company. Even if they were on ranch business.
Cal had been so busy the past few weeks that he had barely had time to catch a passing glance at Rose, much less exchange pleasantries or spend time together. Boy, did he miss being in her company. She had a hold on him in a way that hadn’t happened to him in quite a long time.
Beau was standing at the open barn doors as he rode up. Maybe he knew where they were. He was about to open his mouth to ask, but Beau beat him to it.
“Cal.”
Cal tipped his hat at Beau in response as he dismounted.
“Miss Rose gave me a message for you.” Beau took the reins from Cal as he spoke, seeming to know that Cal wanted him to take the horse from him. That was one of the things that Cal liked about this young man. Most times he did what needed doing without having to be told or asked.
“She wanted me to tell you that she started to town without you.”
“She what?”
Beau continued unfazed. He almost seemed to think that Cal hadn’t actually heard him, rather than that he was finding Beau’s news incredulous. “She started to town without you,” he repeated. Then he seemed to be waiting for the news to sink in.
“She was meant to wait for me.” Cal, speaking mostly to himself, muttered under his breath.
“What’s that?” Beau was looking at him with a furrowed brow.
“Never mind.” Cal ran an exasperated hand across his forehead. “I’m going to need a fresh horse, Beau. And, of course, if you would see to Gypsy for me, I’d surely appreciate that too.”
A big smile broke out on Beau’s face. “Why, it’d be my pleasure, Cal, my pleasure to do both.”
* * *
Rose felt his eyes upon her without even having to turn around and see him. But turn around she did and there he was. Cal Monroe. Standing in the doorway to the mercantile—taking up the entire space to be honest—and looking for all the world just like a pot with a lid on and about to boil. That lid was going to blow off any minute now. Rose immediately turned around again and resumed her transaction with Mr. Quigley, the shopkeep.
“So I believe that should be everything on Mrs. Arnot’s list. If you could just—”
“That’s Mr. Monroe.” Mr. Quigley motioned toward the door, as if he thought perhaps Rose hadn’t realized it was, in fact, Cal Monroe standing in that doorway. “Has he come to lend you a hand?” The man glanced toward the store’s door, his face breaking into a genuine smile. “Mr. Monroe! Good day, sir!”
Rose inwardly rolled her eyes. Was there not a person in these parts that didn’t like this man? Oh wait, yes, there was Rose herself. Fine.
Rose didn’t turn around again as she heard Cal’s heavy boots make their way into the store, but she did cast a sidelong glance as he sidled up beside her at the counter. She could practically feel the anger coming off him in waves. Rose realized too late, just like the time she had rode off on his horse, that perhaps she had acted rashly and her impulsive action would only get her into trouble.
Yet Rose knew that she never behaved this way with any other person in her life. She had always been the mature one, in her family and among her friends, when she was growing up. She had been the voice of calm reason. And always wanting to avoid causing trouble and most definitely wanting to avoid punishment at all costs.
Cal Monroe seemed to bring out the bratty child in her and she couldn’t for the life of her figure why. She knew that he would spank her. She didn’t want to be spanked, yet she did want his attention. Was this the only way to get it? Was this the only way to be held by him, over his hard thigh with one brawny arm wrapped firmly around her waist while the other walloped her bottom?
She’d much rather be kissed by him again, and maybe…Goodness! What was wrong her?
“Rose.” Cal’s typically bossy voice interrupted her wayward thoughts.
Rose chanced a glance at Cal, feeling like he would be able to read every thought that crossed her mind over the past minute or so right on her face.
“Yes?” Rose’s voice came out softer and calmer than she felt and Cal seemed surprised by that also. His anger was replaced by a quizzical look. She had him confused, she knew. She was confused herself.
“I’d like a word with you.” Cal took her arm then. “Outside.” As he led Rose from the store, Cal instructed the shopkeeper’s son, Aaron, to load everything Rose had purchased onto the wagon.
They stepped out onto the boardwalk and Cal led Rose around the corner of the store into the alley between the mercantile and the bank. He held fast to her arm, not exactly hurting her, but it was a firm unyielding grip nonetheless. When they were a few feet back from the street, he turned her to face him and moved her back against the side of the building. Cal loomed over her, placing his hands against the building also, on either side of Rose so that she couldn’t move.
“Cal, what are you—?” Rose started but was very quickly cut off by Cal.
“Rose, I suggest you don’t make things worse right now by pretending you don’t know just how angry I am.”
“Cal, I needed to get this shopping done for Mrs. Arnot.” Rose was just a bit angry herself. Who did he think he was? “I couldn’t very well wait all day for you.”
“You are in a heap of trouble with me right now, little lady.”
“And I am perfectly capable of driving a wagon myself. I really wish you’d stop treating me like a helpless child.” She folded her arms across her chest. “And punishing me like one, for that matter, too!”
This man and his bossy ways had just about pushed her to her limit. “You know what, Mr Monroe? I’m not exactly thrilled with you and your behavior right now, either!”
“Watch your tone with me, young lady, or I’ll take you over my knee right here in broad daylight!” Cal seemed to be able to keep his voice controlled and level. Rose was having trouble doing the same.
“That’s your answer for everything, isn’t it?!?” Rose shrieked.
With that Cal glanced over his raised arm and Rose followed his gaze to the street to find that a few folks had gathered; they were drawing attention to themselves. Seeing as they were here on ranch business, their behavior reflected on the Arnots and Rose immediately hung her head in shame at the display of behavior she had so far exhibited. It needed to stop now.
Cal dropped his arms to his sides and stepped back, giving Rose the breathing room he hadn’t afforded her when they first walked into this alleyway. He seemed to sense what she was feeling and also seemed to feel the same way. His next words to her were spoken softly enough that no one standing nearby would hear.
“I need to see to posting a few pieces of correspondence for Jim Arnot.” Cal looked forward, toward the boardwalk as he spoke, never once making any further eye contact with Rose. “I also have some ranch business with the blacksmith. Neither of those things should take very long. If you wouldn’t mind waiting here with the wagon, I’ll be back shortly to see you safely home.”
“Yes, sir.” Rose’s reply came out as a whisp
er, and it seemed that she hadn’t really needed to reply at all.
The second Cal had finished speaking he had started walking. He wasn’t waiting for her answer. And as soon as Cal was heading toward the street, the crowd dispersed, for which Rose was grateful. She walked quickly from the alley and back to their wagon and team, watching as the last of her purchases were loaded up.
* * *
This woman would be his undoing, Cal was sure of it. If he didn’t get some control over the situation and fast he was going to do something foolhardy.
Yet Rose wasn’t just any woman. There had only really been one other woman in his life who had power over him in this way, could make him lose control like this. And that had been Penny.
Cal had loved Penny and that love had driven him to distraction. He had been possessive and controlling and dominant and bossy with Penny and he had lost her because of it. Cal knew he could never change his basic nature—he would always be possessive of his woman, and he always needed to be the dominant one. He would never stand for being bossed about by his woman. He was in charge. Rose would have to take him that way.
But since losing Penny, and having plenty of time to reflect on that relationship, he had realized that maybe he didn’t have to be so controlling. Maybe he could be a little less bossy at times, too.
It helped that Rose was quite different from Penny, as far as personality was concerned. Penny had been timid and meek. Submissive to a fault. She had never protested his bossiness and never stood up to him, not once. Yet she had been very unhappy and he had never even noticed. And one day she was gone. Left town to live with some family she had on the East Coast. Cal never saw her or heard from her again. He thought his heart would never heal and he had only himself to blame. He hoped that with time Penny would forgive him, too.
Rose was different, however. She seemed to have no qualms about standing up to him, even when she knew the consequences. She knew he would take her in hand and she sassed him back anyway. She was spunky. Strong and independent, too, coming here to a new place on her own to make her way. He admired her determination to take care of herself.
He knew she was troubled by the memory of her late husband, at least that’s what Cal assumed given the little information that Jim Arnot had shared about her, and the way she fingered that locket when she became pensive. He wanted to help her heal but she wouldn’t let him close enough to do so. And angering her by being overbearing wasn’t going to help, he knew. He wanted to keep her safe and sound. He wanted to be her man.
Cal took care of his business with the postmaster and then the blacksmith. It didn’t take very long as he had predicted and he was back at the wagon in front of the mercantile in no time at all. He found Rose there waiting patiently for him. When he approached her she didn’t look up, preferring instead to keep her head down and her eyes fixed on the wooden walkway that ran along the front of the store.
Cal had made up his mind on the walk through his errands that he would back off Rose for a bit, for the time being. Give her some time and space and see if she came around to him instead of forcing his company and affections down her throat. Even though he had already done that before the barn dance, perhaps it hadn’t been enough. Maybe she needed more time.
“Would you care to drive the wagon back by yourself with me following along behind?”
Rose’s head shot up in surprise as Cal’s suggestion. He figured as much. He supposed she assumed that he would insist on driving back. And he did want to do that very thing. But he was trying.
“Oh, and I almost forgot that you received a letter.” Cal pulled the mail from his chest pocket and rifled through until he found it. “I was in the post,” he said, by way of explanation.
Rose took it from him and smiled. “Would you mind very much driving the wagon back? I’d like to read my letter on the way.”
“Not at all, Rose. Not at all.” Cal helped her onto the buckboard and then hitched his horse up to the back. As he climbed up next to Rose, he noticed that she had already opened the letter and was engrossed in reading. He also couldn’t help but notice that she held the pages in such a way as to ensure he would not be able to glance over her shoulder and sneak a peek at what was written there.
Cal kept his eyes focused on the road in front of him as they headed out of town and toward the ranch. The trip usually took roughly one hour and it was a fine day, so Cal didn’t expect that time to be off by much. He’d have Rose and the supplies back in time for the evening meal preparations, as Mrs. Arnot had requested. And even though Rose wasn’t speaking to him, preferring instead to keep her nose in her letter, he was enjoying just being in her company.
They traveled on like that for most of the way, with Cal making a conscious effort not to look at Rose or speak to her. He wanted to give her space and time. Then he heard it.
One sniffle. Then another.
Cal glanced over at Rose only to see that she held the letter crumpled up tightly in both hands and she was staring off to her side of the wagon, trying very hard not to burst into tears. And it seemed she was about to fail. One rogue salty drop slid down her cheek.
Cal pulled the team and the wagon over to the side of the dirt road and turned toward Rose. “What’s wrong?”
Rose shook her head. “Nothing.” It came out on a sob.
“Like hell,” Cal muttered, grabbing her arms and turning her toward him. All his resolve to give her space and time and not boss her flew from his head at the sight of her tear-stained face.
“You’ll tell me right now what’s wrong, young lady,” he demanded. “What’s in that letter?” Something was wrong and she needed to tell him what it was. Now.
“Please, Cal,” Rose pleaded, glancing at the road ahead of them. “Please can we just get back?”
Cal actually paused. It nearly broke him to see her cry this way. But he couldn’t force the words from her and he could tell immediately that she wasn’t going to share the information with him. Maybe she wanted to talk to Mrs. Arnot.
Of course!, he thought. She needs another woman to talk to; that must be it. He let go her arms and picked up the reins, making for the ranch as fast as was safe.
As soon as they pulled up by the back porch, Rose hopped down, not bothering to wait for Cal’s help. Beau was there already and took the team from Cal, assuring him that he and another one of the hands would unload and see to the horses. Cal ran after Rose, into the house. He entered an empty kitchen.
“Rose!” Just as he called her name he heard her bedroom door slam closed, and as it did, Sara Arnot entered the kitchen.
“Cal, you’re back.” She looked around. “Where’s Rose? Do you need help with the unloading?”
“No, ma’am.”
Beau answered Sara Arnot’s question as he and Emmit, one of the old-timers, came in, carrying some of the purchases from the mercantile that might be needed in the kitchen. Cal was already down the hall and pounding on Rose’s bedroom door. He glanced back to see Sara Arnot, Beau and Emmit exchange confused looks and then they all looked at Cal.
“What’s going on here, Calvin?” It was Sara Arnot, who followed him to Rose’s door. “What happened between you two now, for heaven’s sake?”
“Nothing between us, Mrs. Arnot, but Rose received some kind of bad news in the post, and she won’t tell me what it is.” Cal’s hat was off and he ran a frustrated hand through his sweaty hair. “She needs to tell me, ma’am. I can’t help if she won’t talk.”
Sara Arnot patted Cal’s arm. “It may be that it isn’t the sort of thing that anyone can help with, Cal.”
That wasn’t exactly what he wanted to hear.
“But let me see if she’ll talk to me.”
Cal just nodded, too overcome by frustration to do more.
Sara knocked on Rose’s door. “Rose, honey, it’s Sara.” She waited for a reply. “May I speak with you?”
It took a minute but Rose came to the door and slowly opened it. “Mrs. Arnot, I’d real
ly just like to be alone.”
Cal stood shaking his head at that statement. He wasn’t leaving her alone in the state she was in.
“Please. I’ll be out to help with the evening meal in about ten minutes, ma’am. Please.”
Mrs. Arnot looked doubtful. “Alright, dear.” She turned to go and Rose began to close the door. “But if you change your mind and want to talk—“
Cal’s arm seemed to act of its own accord as he took the place in front of the bedroom door that Sara Arnot had vacated and pushed it open.
“How about I help you change your mind? Right now!” As he pushed into Rose’s room, he heard Sara Arnot’s voice behind him.
“Oh, dear.”
“Cal!” Rose protested, but it would get her nowhere as far as he was concerned.
Whatever it was, he wanted to help or find someone who could and he wasn’t taking no for an answer.
“Tell me, Rose. Now.”
“It’s none of your business, Cal.”
“I’m making it my business. You and everything having to do with you is my business, is that clear?” Cal hadn’t even heard Beau and Emmit come up behind him, but he heard them both snort at his statement of possession.
“Like we needed to be told that,” Emmit muttered, with Beau adding, “Wow, big surprise.”
Cal turned in time to see them both back away from the door, with Beau calling out, “Good luck, Miss Rose!” as they sauntered back to the kitchen to help with the supplies.
He looked back to Rose. “I only know one way to get you to mind me, Rose.” He raised one eyebrow in question. “Do I need to turn you over my knee and spank your bottom to get you to talk to me?”