E. G. Parsons - Black Rock:

by A Time For Love

When they'd regained their breath, Collin rolled to his side pulling her against his sweat-slicked body. Resting his chin on top of her head he held her close. Snuggling against his chest, Roxanne's eyes drooped and she dozed off.

  She awoke sometime later to find Collin watching her. This close she could see the tiny brown flecks in his golden eyes. Remembering the intimacy they'd shared, Roxanne looked down, blushing brightly.

  "Collin, I…"

  "Shush, no regrets, Sweetheart." He said, placing his finger against her lips.

  Roxanne didn't answer and Collin lifted her chin to look into her eyes. "Please don't tell me you're sorry, Roxy. I can stand anything, but that. I've never felt like that before, Darlin', and that's the truth."

  Looking deep into his eyes, Roxanne could see that he spoke the truth and she smiled shyly, placing her palm against his face.

  "It was wondrous, Collin. I thought I'd die of pleasure."

  Pulling her close, Collin chuckled with masculine satisfaction.

  "Does that mean I pleased you, my sweet, little temptress?"

  "Oh, yes." Peeking at him from under her lashes she asked, "And you, you were…pleased?"

  Collin laughed outright. "Darlin', If I'd been anymore pleased, I would have passed out."

  Roxanne laughed, very happy with his answer. Then she remembered she'd been gone from the ranch for quite some time and Lucy would be worried. She tried to rise from the sofa.

  "Wait, where are you off to?"

  "Collin, I have to get back. Lucy will worry and send Jim out to look for me again."

  Collin let her go and watched with hooded eyes as she dressed. He wanted her again. He didn't think he'd ever get his fill of her. He'd never felt like that about any other woman, but then he'd never met anyone like Roxanne before. It shocked him, this intense sexual desire mixed with tenderness and a desire to protect her from harm. And with that came the thought of Bradford Wellman.

  "Roxy, you aren't going to continue to see Wellman, are you?"

  Roxanne stilled, she'd completely forgotten about Brad. Of course she'd have to tell him she couldn't see him anymore. She was in love with Collin. As soon as her mind brought it forth, she rejected it. She did not love Collin. It was impossible. He's a rogue. I can't love him. Her legs went weak and she swayed.

  Collin surged off the sofa and caught her around the waist. "Sweetheart, are you all right?"

  Looking into his handsome face, Roxanne felt light headed.

  "Collin? Collin I really have to go." She whispered.

  "Are you asking my permission, Darlin', or are you not quite sure? And what about Wellman?"

  "No, I mean… I don't know about Brad."

  "Roxanne, please listen."

  "I'm sorry, Collin. I really have to get back."

  Roxanne rushed out the door and Collin watched her ride away, a frown creasing his forehead.

  * * * * *

  Soaking in the tub of hot water and rose scented oil, Roxanne's mind reeled. Dropping her head back against the rim, she allowed the events of her afternoon with Collin to drift through her mind. Sitting up straight, she shook her head.

  Oh, Mama. I'm not the lady you wanted me to be. I'm one of those women that people whisper about. What am I going to do? I have no strength when I'm with Collin. I wish so much that you were here to help me. I need you, Mama.

  She had no idea what to do and confusion clouded her mind. Collin was not the type of man to settle down with one woman. He'd never mentioned love or marriage. He'd go from woman to woman, charming his way into their beds. And even if he were to marry, would his wife ever be sure that she was the only woman in his life?

  Then there was Brad. He'd ask her to marry him. She did want to marry and have children. She could picture her children running around the porch and through the house, just as she had. But if she married Brad, they'd be living at his house. And when she tried to picture children with Brad's blonde curls, the image wouldn't come.

  She knew her thoughts were for nothing because she knew she could never marry Brad. She didn't love him…She loved Collin. It had been hard, but she could finally admit it. She also knew that Collin would not welcome such a declaration.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by Lucy's soft knock on the door.

  Sitting up in the tub, Roxanne called to her. "It's all right, Lucy. You may come in.

  Lucy entered and grabbing a large towel, she held it out to Roxanne.

  "I'm sorry, Miss, I didn't want to disturb you, but Mr. Wellman is downstairs in the parlor. He insisted on seeing you. It's not seemly, him coming at this time of the evening."

  "Did he say why he came, Lucy?"

  "No, Miss, only insisted on seeing you."

  "Okay, Lucy." Roxanne stood and allowed Lucy to wrap her in the towel. "I'll be down shortly."

  "Would like me to help you dress."

  "No, I can manage."

  "You were gone so long today, I guess you and Mr. O'Neal had a nice ride."

  Roxanne blushed. "Yes, it was nice." She turned from Lucy's curious look and continued to dry off.

  Lucy left, grinning from ear to ear. Roxanne hurriedly dressed, wondering how Brad was going to take the news that she'd not be seeing him anymore. He said he loved her. She didn't understand how he could have such deep feelings for her. They'd spent so little time together. The thought of hurting him made her cringe, but the sooner she told him, the sooner they could both get on with their lives.

  When she entered the back parlor, Brad stood and came to take her hands in his.

  "Darling, I'm sorry for such a late visit, but I couldn't wait until tomorrow to see you again. It seems a month since I've seen you instead of only a few days."

  "Brad, please have a seat, I need to talk to you."

  "Of course, my dear." Sitting on the sofa, he pulled her down beside him, refusing to relinquish her hands.

  "You have something to tell me, Darling. You've thought over my proposal and you have an answer for me?"

  "Yes, Brad I do have an answer."

  He smiled with satisfaction and tried to pull her close. Roxanne pushed him away and stood. Walking to the fireplace she turned to look at him.

  "I'm very sorry, Brad, but I can't marry you."

  Brad's face lost its smile, and he stood to walk over to her, taking her gently by the shoulders.

  "It's all right, my dear, I told you to take all the time you need. We just need to spend more time together, get better acquainted. And in time, I'm sure you'll come to care for me the same way I care for you."

  "No, Brad, you don't understand. I can't see you anymore."

  "What do you mean?"

  "I'm very sorry, but we can't see each other anymore. I know you feel you care for me, but I just don't feel the same, Brad."

  "You're breaking it off, you won't see me anymore, allow me to court you? Why?"

  Roxanne decided honesty would be the best policy. "I told you, Brad I don't feel the same way about you. I'm in love with someone else. I'm sorry. I never should have allowed you to think there could ever be any more than friendship between us. That was wrong."

  Brad's fingers tightened on her upper arms and Roxanne tied to jerk free of the pain. "Brad, please, you're hurting me. Let me go."

  "Who? Who is he?"

  "It doesn't matter, Brad."

  Brad shook her so hard she thought her neck would snap. "Tell me!"

  "Stop it, let me go! It's Collin. I'm in love with Collin."

  He immediately dropped his hands and stepped back. His heated gaze pinning her back against the fireplace mantle.

  Roxanne looked into his eyes and her breath caught, fear lodging in the back of her throat. His eyes were hot and wild with anger. She felt like a doe caught in the sight of a hunter's gun, afraid to move.

  Brad felt his anger washing over him in red-hot waves, burning his gut and demanding release. He visibly gained control and turning on his heel, left the house.

  Roxanne let her breath out i
n a rush of relief. He'd not taken that well at all. She'd expected hurt, not that hot anger. She couldn't blame him for the anger, though. He had a right to his anger. She was just glad it was over and done with.

  * * * * *

  Brad threw back his head and gulped the whiskey in one swallow before pouring another. Resuming his pacing, he knew he'd come close to losing complete control tonight, too close.

  He'd felt the red flames of his anger burning through his body, ready to rush forth and destroy everything in its path. He'd wanted to beat Roxanne before throwing her over the desk and taking her from behind, showing her that he was her master. The little whore!

  That pleasure could wait. For now, he needed to gain control, turn the burning anger to cold calculation. He needed a new plan. First thing on the list would be to dispose of the interfering Mr. O'Neal. Brad laughed, that part of the plan was going to be almost as pleasurable as mastering Roxanne.

  Eight

  Every muscle in Roxanne's body was screaming for a soak in a hot bath, as she rode into the ranch yard with Jeb. It had been a long day. Jeb had been kind enough to show her over Black Rock and she didn't think he'd left a stone unturned.

  "Thank you for the tour, Jeb." Roxanne dismounted with relief to be out of the saddle.

  "You're welcome, Ma'am. It was a pleasure. It surely was." The young cowboy's grin split his face from ear to ear.

  Making her way to the house, she left Sally for Jeb to take to the barn. "Jeb, please tell Mr. Smith that I'd like to see him here at the house after he's had his dinner." She called over her shoulder.

  "Will, do, Miss Ingram." Jeb took the horses and headed for the barn.

  Roxanne had started up the stairs when Lucy appeared in the doorway to the kitchen.

  "Miss, you're finally back and look at your pretty face. You've been sun burned. I ought to skin that Jeb alive for keeping you out in the sun and wind all day."

  "It's all right, Lucy. It was all my doing, but I am completely worn out."

  "I don't doubt it. You go up and have a good soak. I'll keep your dinner warm and then I'll put some buttermilk on your face. It'll take the burn out and help get rid of the red."

  "Thank you, Lucy. You're a sweetheart."

  Roxanne continued up the stairs. Lucy turned to go to the kitchen, clicking her tongue and shaking her head. She wondered what in the world the girl was thinking to stay out in the heat all day like that.

  Roxanne looked in the mirror while her bath water was running and gasped at the face peering back at her. Goodness, Lucy was right, I'm as red as a ripe strawberry. Many days like this and I'd be as brown and leathery as Slim.

  After undressing, she sank into the tub, sighing with relief as the warm water soothed her aching muscles.

  Later, after the two had their dinner, Lucy was applying the cooling buttermilk to Roxanne's face when there was a knock at the door.

  "That will be Jim. I'll get it, Lucy."

  After showing Jim into the back parlor and being seated, Roxanne broached her subject cautiously. She didn't want to step on any toes. Jim was an excellent foreman and she was extremely fortunate to have him looking after Black Rock.

  "Jim, you're doing a wonderful job. I don't know how you feel about having a woman as a boss and I have no intention of getting in the way of your management."

  "I don't really care if I'm working for a man or a woman, Miss Ingram. You can set your mind to rest on that point. Your father was a good man and a good boss. I'm sure you'll be no less."

  "Thank you, Jim. I do have a few suggestions. I'm not saying I'm right, but I'd appreciate you hearing me out."

  "Of course. What have you got in mind?"

  "I understand that in a couple of weeks, you'll be moving the cattle from the south end of Black Rock to the north where the lake is."

  "Yes, that's right. Then we'll be dropping feed for the rest of the summer. There isn't enough grass up by the big lake for the additional cattle."

  "Do you think it would be worthwhile to dig the pond in the south pasture deeper and then divert some water from South Fork Creek to the deeper pond? That way the pond wouldn't go dry in the summer months, the way it presently does."

  Thinking about her question, Jim scratched his head for a moment. "Well, Miss, I think it's a great idea. Digging the pond out certainly would be less labor intensive than moving the south herd and dropping the extra feed all during the summer months. How were you planning to divert the water?"

  "I thought we could buy pipe and lay it between South Fork and the pond, using a pump like the one Papa used to put the water into the house to move the water along the pipes. I'm not sure how to go about doing it exactly, but do you see what I mean?"

  Slapping his hat on his knee, Jim laughed out loud. "Well, I'll be, why didn't I come up with that myself? I helped Jacob put in a pump and pipes from the second well to the bunkhouse not long after I came here to work. It's a pretty simple thing really. The only difference with doing it in the south pasture will be more pipes and a bigger pump."

  "So, you think it can be done?"

  "Yes, Ma'am, not only can be, but will be. I'll get some of the men to work on the digging first thing tomorrow and Slim and I will go into town and see about getting the pipe and pump."

  "That's great, Jim. I appreciate you listening to me with an open mind."

  "You're the boss, Miss, and I can see you're gonna run this place top notch."

  Blushing at his compliment, Roxanne stood and shook his hand. "You already run the place top notch, Jim. I just want to do my share to make Black Rock run as smoothly as possible."

  * * * * *

  Mr. Ramsdell arrived early the following afternoon, as Roxanne was going over the accounts for the ranch. She was happy for the interruption. Keeping meticulous records, as her father had, was no easy task.

  "Mr. Ramsdell, it's good to see you. Would you care for something cool to drink?"

  "I think I would. It's getting mighty hot out there."

  Roxanne sent Lucy for some lemonade while she made Mr. Ramsdell comfortable in the office.

  "I've been going over the accounts and trying to update them as needed. It's a rather grueling job."

  "I imagine it would be. Jacob always insisted on keeping all his own accounts even though he could afford to hire a man to do the job for him. What about you, Miss Ingram, are you interested in having me hire someone to do all the bookkeeping for the ranch?"

  "It's a tempting thought, but I don't think so. It's the least I can do as owner of Black Rock. I'm not up to working the ranch along side the men as my father did. So for now, this is my biggest contribution."

  "I can understand that and I'm sure with all your years of schooling in Boston that you'll do a wonderful job."

  "Thank you, I…"

  Lucy came in with a tray loaded with a picture of lemonade and two ice filled glasses. After pouring the drinks, she left the two alone and returned to the kitchen. Mr. Ramsdell sighed as he took a long swallow of the cool liquid.

  "I see you went on and had the ice house built."

  "Oh, yes. I probably shouldn't have pulled the men away from their regular work, but they seemed more than happy to do it."

  "I imagine they were thinking of how good a cold glass of lemonade was going to be in the heat of summer, or some ice cream." He laughed.

  Roxanne laughed too. "I've already had several requests for Lucy and I to make ice cream."

  "Ah, that was a treat." He said as he set his empty glass on the table. "Now that I'm refreshed, I'd better get to the purpose of my visit."

  "I found a letter from your father that my previous clerk had filed in the wrong place and I think I'd better let you have a look at it." He passed Roxanne the letter. "As you can see, it's dated nearly twenty years ago. It says it's to be opened in the event of his death, but the clerk filed it away with some mining papers from Black Rock Mine instead of with the will."

  Roxanne quickly read through the letter. "I
don't understand what this means."

  "Well, I took it to mean that you were taken in and adopted by Jacob and Opal. I'm sorry, my dear. I hated to even show you the letter, but felt you had a right to know. I know it's a shock, but it does explain the strange listing for your birth in the Bible. Jacob must not have known your exact age or date of birth. Obviously, he felt there was some chance that you might lose the ranch if he didn't tidy everything up with that letter.

  Roxanne read the letter again. "But he doesn't say that I was adopted in the letter."

  "No, he says that everything he owns is to pass to his daughter, Roxanne Jane O'Malley who goes by the name of Roxanne Jane Ingram. What else could it mean?"

  "He also says that I should talk to Collin O'Neal for more information and that I can trust him. I just don't understand all this need for secrecy. If I was adopted, why didn't Papa and Mama just tell me?"

  "I can't answer that for you, but I'd suggest you do talk to Mr. O'Neal. Jacob must have told him things that he didn't mention in the letter. Perhaps he told him who your biological parents were."

  "Perhaps, yes I will talk to him, but I have something I need to show you, Mr. Ramsdell. I should have shown it to you the day I found it, but I just didn't understand what it meant and was hoping I could find something else in Papa's papers to explain it."

  Roxanne excused herself and went to get the things in the hiding place in her old bedroom. Returning, she passed the papers to Mr. Ramsdell and waited while he read through them.

  "These papers are dated after the will recorded in my office, so legally these would act as the last will and testament. Either way, it seems you own Black Rock and no court could ever dispute it. I'm going to take these back into town with me and have them recorded with the letter and previous will. That should tidy everything up even without a birth record, but it would ease my mind some if we could find one. When you speak with Mr. O'Neal, be sure to ask if he knows anything about that."

  "Yes, I will, thank you Mr. Ramsdell."

  "It's no problem at all, it's my job to do whatever is in your best interest. I'm just sorry I had to bring you such distressing news."