Whiskey Rose (Fallen)

by Melissa Jones

  They didn’t stop talking throughout the meal or the slow stroll back to the saloon. He held the door for her as she entered the bedroom, he was about to follow when he saw a figure at the end of the darkened hall. The size told him who it was. He pretended not to notice and followed Rose into the bedroom. He closed the door behind him and locked it. He leaned back against the door and watched her take off the wig. He smiled as she shook out the curls.

  “What?” she asked.

  “I was just wondering what it would take for you to burn those wigs,” he said and she laughed.

  “More than you got,” she said still laughing.“Would you prefer red? I was a redhead before I was a blond.”

  “I prefer the real thing.”

  “Well this is the real thing.”

  “I know it’s great so why bother with the wig at all.”

  “I like the wig. It makes me feel safe.”

  “Safe from what?” She looked up sharply and he realized she hadn’t meant to say that. She turned away and pulled the cover back on the bed. He had seen it before, she would clam up now. She wouldn’t answer the question.

  “All those kinks look dangerous, but I don’t think they actually are. In fact I don’t think they could even put an eye out.” He teased as he walked to the sofa and saw her smirk. He pulled his shirt over his head and the smirk disappeared and her gaze sharpened. She was attracted to him. It was strangely satisfying to know that.

  “Why Mrs. Anderson, you’re checking me out.” She smiled and turned away.“Do you want to touch it now that you can see how big it is?” Rose looked back over her shoulder slightly alarmed at the invitation but then she saw that he was flexing his bicep at her. She summoned all of her bravado and approached him. She put her hand on the muscle. It was hard now that it was flexed.

  “Oh my, that is impressive.” She simpered slightly and he burst out laughing. She laughed turning back to finish turning down the bed even as her fingers itched to touch more of him.

  “You could really give a guy a complex you know that? Makes me think every woman who has ever flirted with me has had some kind of agenda.”

  “She probably has. Every man has some agenda when he flirts with a woman doesn’t he?”

  “No.”

  “No?”

  “No.” He insisted.

  “Give me one example.”

  “You are jaded aren’t you? What agenda is a man supposed to be pushing with every woman he meets?”

  “That’s easy. Men aren’t nearly as complicated as women. He just wants to find a way into her bed.”

  “Oh that is harsh! Every time?”

  “Every time.”

  “What about courting?”

  “That is supposed to lead to marriage.”

  “Exactly. Not just into a woman’s bed.”

  “But what is the point of marriage. It is only to say that she can’t deny you access to her bed.” He was so dumfounded he just stared at her for a moment with his mouth open.

  “I’d like to think there is more to it than that.”

  “Sure it ends up being more complicated but that is the main point. That’s what I like about this business there is no mistaking the attentions of everyone involved. The men are seeking pleasure and the women are willing to provide it for a price.” He crossed his arms and lifted his chin stubbornly.

  “There is a certain amount of pleasure for the women too.” She laughed, she tried to smother it but it came through anyway.

  “Oh Matt. Didn’t you learn anything from my earlier demonstration? Just because she says it doesn’t make it true.”

  “Alright then how am I supposed to tell what is true?”

  “Easy, nothing is true.”

  “Nothing?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Well that is disheartening,” he muttered and she laughed. He watched her for a moment as she brushed out her hair. Her back was to him. He refused to believe that she had been faking her responses to him. He stepped forward and kissed the side of her neck where she had left it exposed. She gasped and jumped but she didn’t move away she didn’t even straighten her head, continuing to leave the area exposed. He opened his mouth allowing his tongue to touch her skin as he kissed down toward her shoulder. He glanced up and saw her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were closed and her mouth was slightly open. He worked his way back up to her ear.

  “No pleasure at all?” he whispered in her ear. She turned to face him her eyes were lidded with desire. He saw her gaze sweep over his bare torso.

  “Perhapsit is just not enough pleasure,” she said softly. He saw her eyes drop again and remembered all too well how many times she had unbuttoned his shirt.

  “You don’t have to waitfor an invitation,” he whispered.

  “Someone once told me you don’t play with fire unless you want to get burned.”

  “I won’t burn you. You can stop where you want to.”

  “That’s easy to say.”

  “You have my word,” he said seriously she looked up and met his eyes. It wasn’t a matter of trust, it was a matter of embarrassment, he could see it in her eyes. He leaned over and blew out the lamp plunging the room into semi-darkness. He stood up and waited half holding his breath until he felt her fingers on him. Her fingertips grazed along his collar bone then achingly slowly down the center of his chest. She watched her fingers as they slid all the way down. Then she looked up into his eyes again. She reached up and touched his smooth cheek.

  “You shaved,” she whispered.

  “This morning,” he answered, for some reason she had almost expected him not to. Like he wasn’t really there, an apparition that she had conjured. She swallowed and prayed for courage then she climbed onto the bed. She laid down on the far edge leaving space for him. She didn’t have to explain he lay down but he didn’t touch her. He didn’t grab her and pull her close he didn’t even try to kiss her he simply laid on his side facing her and waited. He was going to let her set the pace. She smiled and he smiled back at her. Again proving he wasn’t an apparition. She ran her fingertip over his lower lip he didn’t move. She leaned forward and ran her tongue over the place she had just touched in the same way he had once done to her. She felt him part his lips to allow her entry but he didn’t move to pull her in. She obliged anyway dipping her tongue in far enough to taste his. As she kissed him she flattened her hand and slid her palm down over his chest. She delighted in the textures she found there. The soft smoothness of his skin gave way to the coarse crispness of the triangle of dark hair. As the kiss deepened and became more passionate she moved forward allowing her body to come in contact with his. That’s when she felt the long hard ridge in the front of his trousers. She gasped and pulled back severing the connection between them. He put his hands up hoping to appear as non-threatening as possible.

  “I can’t help that, sweetheart, it’s inevitable.” His voice was husky. She looked at him and let out a giggle and felt better. She eased forward again but this time she just laid her head on his shoulder. He gently put his arm around her and began rubbing her back. He didn’t feel her move again until there was light creeping in the window.

  Chapter 10

  Rose was conflicted about what she should be feeling today. She had so many conflicting emotions, part of her thought she should be embarrassed about the way she had behaved and yet with the exception of her slight over reaction she wouldn’t have taken any of it back even if she could’ve. She had slept all night in his arms, she felt safer than she had in years with him between her and that door.

  Matt watched from the doorway as she sat at a corner table going over the books from the days she’d been gone. He saw her drink from her flask.

  “What is in that flask anyway?” She looked up as he dropped into the chair across from her.

  “It’s a secret.” She smiled.

  “Well I know you can’t hold that much whiskey so is it something lighter? Wine?” Her smile widened slightly and she hande
d him the flask. He tipped it up and took a swig but it only intensified his confusion.“What is it?”

  “Sarsaparilla.” She smiled,“Guilty pleasure I guess, love the stuff.”

  “Why do you drink it from a flask?”

  “Keeps up the appearance.” She shrugged. He laughed at that.

  “Why are you avoiding me today?” The question caught her off guard and she faltered a bit.

  “I don’t know. Seems like I should.” He smiled but he shook his head.

  “No you shouldn’t.” She smiled again and leaned back slightly.

  “I don’t know where the line is,” she said softly, “I don’t want to cross it.”

  “There isn’t a line.”

  “There is always a line. A point of no return.”

  “There isn’t a line,” he repeated,“I told you I won’t let you get burned.” She stared at him wide eyed for a moment. She believed him, she couldn’t immediately identify why but for some reason she felt like she could do or say anything and he would continue to be as steady as a heartbeat.

  “Matt, can I have a word?” They both looked up at the sound of Izzy’s voice. Matt looked back into her eyes once more before he got up and walked toward Izzy.

  “What can I do for you?” Izzy led him back toward his office.

  “I thought you should know, I heard something odd while you were gone.”

  “Oh yeah, what’s that?”

  “Someone talking about a Ranger getting killed here.”

  “Why is that odd, there was a Ranger killed here?”

  “Yeah but I had no idea he was a Ranger until you showed up. How would anyone else know?”

  “Who was talking about it?”

  “A trapper, he is not a regular. I can’t for the life of me remember his name and I’ve been trying. But he has a cabin northwestof here right on the longhorn trail.”

  “Thanks.” Matt turned to go.

  “One more thing…”

  “Yeah?”

  “Try to remember this is a case for you and you’ll be moving on but this is her life and when you pack it in she’s still going to be here.”

  “Understood.” Matt said before he walked out.

  He was still thinking about the exchange as he rode, Izzy had stopped just short of warning him away from his daughter but he might as well have. He doubted Izzy knew that he knew the truth about his lack of relation to Rose. Intuition told him that Izzy was sending him on a wild goose chase, that he just wanted to get him out of the way for a while. But then there was the possibility that he wasn’t, that he really had heard what he claimed. So Matt had to make a decision, stick close to Rose and make sure she was safe or run down a potential lead to Benji’s killer. The answer was so easy it rocked him. Now he was headed back to the saloon and Jack was looking into the phantom trapper.

  He slipped in the back door and went up the back stairs. He crept quietly down the hall knowing that at least some of these rooms were inhabited. He heard muffled voices and laughter from the rooms and Saloon noise drifting up from downstairs. He made his way to the end of hall, very near the perch that Rose had pointed out to him. He stayed back far enough to be in the shadow as he looked over the room. Izzy was dealing cards. Rose was behind the bar. Everything looked as it should and he had to wonder if he had been a little paranoid in coming back and sneaking back in. He heard someone coming down the hall and tensed just in case but then he smelled her perfume.

  “Dixie,” he said without turning.

  “Hi cowboy, whatcha looking at?”

  “Can see the whole room from up here.”

  “Yeah, it’s a pretty good vantage point. Pam used to stand up here and sing sometimes.”

  “Really?”

  “She was good, maybe better than Katrina, but don’t tell her I said so.” Dixie had a faraway look in her eye and he could see she was remembering. “Ah the good ol’ days.” She sighed and smiled.“So what are you looking for? I have a great eye for detail.”

  “I am not looking for anything, just looking.”

  “She is beautiful. She goes to a lot of lengths to hide it but it still comes through.” Matt knew she was talking about Rose.

  “Yeah.”

  “So what are you going to do about it?”

  “About what?”

  “About the fact that you are in love with her.” Matt nearly choked but he recovered quickly.

  “I am her husband.”

  “Yeah and I am her mother.” Dixie laughed.

  “You look good for your age.” He smirked and she laughed again.

  “So why are you here really?” He arched a brow at her and half smiled.

  “What makes you think I am here for a particular reason?”

  “Well you were here casing the place a week before you actually showed up.” He was surprised, he didn’t think anyone had noticed him.“Don’t look so surprised hun, I never forget a handsome face.”

  “I am investigating.”

  “Oh what are you? A Marshall? A Ranger? A Pinkerton?” She wrinkled her nose at the last and he laughed.

  “Ranger.”

  “So are you investigating him?” Dixie pointed at Izzy.

  “Rose’s father?”

  “Again if he is her father then I am her mother.” Matt smirked at that but didn’t repeat his earlier comment.

  “Dixie, I think you and I should talk.”

  “Well step into my office.” He followed her back down the hall to the very last room before the back stairs.

  “So is this your new room that you battled for?”

  “It sure is. What do you think?” He looked around. Everything was in disarray there were piles of clothes and half-filled crates.

  “I think you have some unpacking to do.”

  “Yes,” she sighed,“It seems that I forgot to consider what a pain the neck moving is.” Matt laughed and moved a crate out of the chair so that he could sit. Dixie hopped up on the corner of the bed and it bounced.

  “So, what are you investigating?” He could see the interest glittering in her eyes.“Or should I say who are you investigating?”

  “The murder that happened in the alley about a month ago.”

  “Oh… that was a sad day,” she said softly.

  “You seem a little disappointed.”

  “Well it’s not quite as intriguing as investigating someone here is it? So why didn’t you just tell us who you were and why you are here?” She looked at him and gasped,“You think one of us is the killer?” Suddenly the interest was back in her eyes.

  “Not likely. The worry was more that you might inadvertently tip off the real killer. Izzy said you girls couldn’t keep a secret.”

  “Ha, isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black.” Dixie said indignant.“He spills more than a sieve!”

  “So did he tell you he wasn’t Rose’s father?”

  “Oh no honey, that one was easy. No father looks at his daughter the way he looks at her. Not unless there is something wrong with him.”

  “Really?” Matt tried to think back to the last time he had seen them in the same room together and realized that they were almost never in the same room unless it was the saloon.

  “He just gets chatty when he’s amorous.”

  “You’ve had him in here?”

  “Oh honey, who hasn’t had him in. He enjoys the perks of running a cat house.” Dixie laughed.“Yeah he has paid at least one visit to everyone. Except for Katrina, and Rose of course.”

  “Right because he can’t afford her.” Matt smirked and Dixie laughed.

  “I love that she says that, and she has no idea that it just makes her that much more appealing to them.”

  “So why did you assume I was investigating him?”

  “Oh I don’t know he’s… He has mentioned some past misdeeds. I don’tthink there is anything current. But he… I dunno I just don’t get good vibes from him.” Matt had to admit that he found that to be very interesting. He didn’t
doubt the power of women’s intuition.

  “That is interesting. He certainly doesn’t like having me here.”

  “Of course not,” she laughed,“You’re another rooster in the hen house.”

  “Yeah but I am not… messing with the hens.” He smirked.

  “Oh honey you are messing with the only one that matters.”

  “I’m not…” He hesitated not sure how to phrase it, it didn’t seem right to use that term for Rose.

  “Not what? Not in love with her?”

  “No,” he said a little too quickly but Dixie just laughed.

  “Oh honey, lie to your preacher but you can’t lie to me. Not when it comes to carnal matters.”

  “What makes you think that I am…?”

  “Ah well the way you look at her for one, the way you try to take care of her for another and of course the way you treat the rest of us.”

  “What’s wrong with the way I treat you?” he asked surprised.

  “Nothing except that there isn’t a woman here who hasn’t tested the waters with you and you are completely oblivious.”

  “I am not oblivious,” he laughed, “I noticed but I am supposed to be married.”

  “Supposed to be.” Dixie laughed. “If you weren’t in love with her you’d still have the urge to take one of us up on the offer. You might not act on it but you’d have the urge.”

  “What makes you think I don’t have the urge?”

  “Because there is a big difference in the way you looked at me when you got here and the way you look at me now.”

  “You know all of your evidence seems to be on looks and conjecture, don’t you have anything solid?” He was grasping at straws now and he knew it.

  “My survival depends on my ability to read people, honey. I know you’re in love with her and I know you haven’t bedded her yet.” Matt’s eyebrows rose slightly.