Whispering Pines

by Scarlett Dunn

  “Thank you,” Rose said, and smiled at the pastor.

  Morgan glared at Clay, but he was mad at himself for his own bad manners.

  “Would you like to say grace?” Granny asked Clay.

  “Certainly.”

  After Clay said amen, Granny said, “What a lovely prayer.”

  “Yes, it was,” Rose agreed.

  “Thank you, ladies. And may I say these are the best-looking flapjacks I’ve ever seen.”

  Morgan picked up his fork and started eating without remarking on the prayer or the flapjacks.

  Clay took a big bite, closed his eyes, and smiled like it was the best food he’d ever tasted. “It’s been so long since I’ve had flapjacks, but these are the best I’ve ever had.”

  Morgan thought the pastor was putting on a great performance for Rose’s attention. But when he glanced at Rose, she was beaming at his compliment. He wanted to kick himself for not telling her how good they were before Clay told her.

  “Do you like the flapjacks, Morgan?” Granny asked.

  “Yes, ma’am, I do.” Morgan continued to shovel forkfuls in his mouth. Actions spoke louder than words was his motto. He intended to show Clay that he could eat more flapjacks than Clay could, any day of the week. Rose would have no doubt who liked them better.

  Rose had taken a few bites when she noticed Morgan’s plate was empty. “Would you like some more?”

  “Yes, I would. Thank you.”

  Rose stood, and Clay held his plate to her. “Since you’re making more, could I have another plate?”

  “Of course.” Rose carried both plates to the stove and started ladling more batter into the skillets. She’d never seen anyone eat flapjacks so quickly. While she was busy cooking, she heard Granny and Clay talking, but she didn’t hear Morgan join their conversation.

  Morgan kept his eyes on Rose’s every move. She looked beautiful this morning. And he didn’t like her sitting next to Clay. But the day he couldn’t outmaneuver the pastor was the day he needed to be six feet under. He stood, grabbed his cup of coffee, and walked to the stove.

  As he poured a fresh cup, Rose glanced up at him. “Why didn’t you say something? I would have brought the pot to the table.”

  “You have your hands full. Making flapjacks is not as easy as it looks.”

  Rose had one plate stacked full, and Morgan picked it up. “I’ll help.” He walked to the table and slammed the plate in front of Clay and glared at him. “Here you go.”

  Rose carried the second plate to the table and placed it in front of Morgan. Morgan made sure he remained standing until Rose took her seat.

  “Pastor, have you met most of the folks in town?” Granny asked.

  “I think I have. I expect to have a full house this morning if everyone shows up. I know I will have a difficult time filling your husband’s shoes. Everyone in town has praised his sermons. I just hope they will give me a chance.”

  “The folks here are good people. We’ve looked forward to your arrival, and everyone is excited. Rest assured, you will be warmly received.”

  “I’m thankful you are so accepting of a new preacher.” Clay was sincere. He was excited to begin his new life in Whispering Pines with his new church family.

  Morgan was too busy stuffing more flapjacks in his mouth to make a comment.

  “Morgan, Rose said she may feel up to going to church with us,” Granny said.

  Clay smiled at Rose. “Do you enjoy attending church, Rose?”

  “Very much. I don’t think I ever missed a Sunday. I have a sense of peace talking to God in His house,” Rose replied.

  “I always thought it was easier to talk to God alone out under the blue sky, or at night on the range under the stars,” Morgan said.

  Rose studied Morgan, thinking he was a man full of surprises. What he said sounded lovely, but she’d never slept out on the range at night.

  “I thought you attended church, Morgan,” Clay said.

  “I do, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only place to converse with our Maker,” Morgan replied.

  Clay couldn’t argue with the logic of his statement. He turned his attention back on Rose. “Rose, I’d be delighted to have you in the front pew during my first sermon.”

  Morgan saw red as he chewed the last of his flapjacks. The only way Rose was going to get in that buggy next to Clay was over his dead body. “Rose, could I have some more flapjacks?” He looked at Clay, and lifted his dark brow in a challenge. He almost laughed when Clay filled his mouth with a huge bite in an effort to keep up with him.

  Rose stood and walked back to the stove. She hadn’t realized Morgan ate so much. After she poured more batter in the skillet, she picked up the coffeepot and carried it to the table. She poured Morgan another cup before she filled Clay’s. “Granny, more coffee or flapjacks?”

  “No thank you, honey.”

  “Rose, I think I can eat some more,” Clay said, handing her his plate. He glanced at Morgan and smiled wide.

  Morgan’s mouth tilted in a half grin. Mr. Wonderful didn’t know who he was challenging. Morgan could eat more than any two men on his ranch on a bad day. Clay was tall and lean, but Morgan was sure a pastor didn’t put in a day’s work before sunup.

  The men started on their third helping while the women watched in amazement. Morgan was finished in no time, and he was ready to ask for more when Clay stopped eating. “I think I’ve had enough.”

  Morgan looked at Clay’s plate. He hadn’t eaten half of the stack. Morgan reached over to grab Clay’s plate. “No problem, I’ll finish them so they don’t go to waste.”

  Granny laughed. “Rose, let’s clean the kitchen so we won’t be late.”

  Morgan swallowed his food and said, “Granny, I’ll help Rose. You two go ahead. If Rose decides she wants to go, I’ll take her.”

  “Thank you, that is nice of you, Morgan,” Granny said, smiling. Things had a way of working out just as they were supposed to. Her prayers were reaping some rewards. She’d give proper thanks to the Lord in church this morning.

  Morgan stood, hoping to hurry Clay out the door. “See you later, Clay,” he said, slapping him on the back. He was much more affable now that he was going to be alone with Rose. Granny and Clay walked out the door, and Morgan picked up the dishes from the table. “Your flapjacks were great.”

  “You seemed to like them better than the cobbler last night,” Rose replied.

  “I wouldn’t say that. They were both great.” Morgan realized he hadn’t seen Stevie this morning, so maybe he hadn’t wanted to be around the pastor either. “Where’s Stevie this morning?”

  “I don’t know. I was going to have a talk with him before I cooked breakfast, but he wasn’t in his room. I checked the stable and his horse was gone.”

  Morgan thought he should have taken the horse home with him last night. “Granny has no idea where he goes?”

  “Stevie doesn’t seem to tell her anything. I was hoping he might talk to me, but he’s not giving me much of a chance.” Rose was disappointed Stevie had left so early. He was making it clear that he didn’t want to be around her.

  “Morgan, why did you come by so early this morning? Did you want to see Stevie for some reason?”

  “No, I didn’t come here to see Stevie.” How could he tell her he thought of nothing else but her all night? That thinking about her was making him daft.

  He didn’t say why he was here, but Rose decided to wait for him to tell her. She washed the dishes and Morgan dried. When they put the final dish away, she said, “I would never imagine you helping out in the kitchen. My brothers always said that was women’s work.”

  “Your brothers aren’t too bright. It’s a nice way to pass the time with a pretty lady.” He didn’t want to talk about her brothers.

  Rose wondered if he’d helped other ladies with the dishes after they’d prepared him dinner.

  Morgan thought he might stay a little longer, so he said, “Let’s go outside.” Then he thoug
ht she may have decided she wanted to go to church. “Or did you want me to take you to town?”

  “No, I think I would rather stay home this morning.” Rose was finally alone with him, and she wanted to know what was on his mind.

  Morgan held the back door open for her. “Do you feel better, or did you do too much this morning?” He was starting to feel guilty for making her cook so many flapjacks.

  “I’m much improved.” When they stepped on the back porch, Rose said, “It’s a lovely morning.”

  “Yes, it is.” Morgan pointed to the swing. “Let’s sit.”

  Rose sat down and Morgan sat a few inches from her. Her internal dialogue continued. Did he sit on porches with other women, and kiss them the way he’d kissed her last night? Did the women kiss him the way she’d kissed him? These were questions she wanted to ask, but she didn’t. She turned slightly so she could look at him. Even with his scruffy beard and dark circles around his eyes, he was still the most handsome man she’d ever seen.

  Morgan leaned back and placed his arm along the back of the swing, and unconsciously picked up her braid and ran the silky length through his fingers. He remembered how he’d felt brushing her hair the day she was injured. He envisioned her sitting in his bedroom by the fireplace while he brushed her hair. What was he waiting for? Last night he’d realized that before his next birthday, he wanted to be married and maybe even start family. He could tell Rose liked him, and he liked her. She certainly seemed to like his kisses. They had that much in common.

  He was probably rushing his decision to get married, but after his last encounter with Stevie, he wasn’t comfortable leaving the women alone with him. If Rose married him, he would also be taking on the responsibility for Granny, and that was fine by him. He wanted them both to live on his ranch. He’d take care of the farm if they wanted to keep it for the other girls, but he wanted Granny and Rose at home with him where he could keep them safe. It was a good plan. They needed a man to look after them, and he wanted a family.

  “Rose, if not for Granny, would you stay in Whispering Pines?”

  Rose stared at him, her eyes wide with fear. “Granny’s not ill, is she?”

  Morgan held up his hand. “No . . . no. I was just curious if you would stay here if you didn’t have Granny.”

  “Yes. This is home. My sister Adelaide is coming home to stay too. And I hope one day, Emma will return permanently. We planned to live here the rest of our lives. Why do you ask?”

  Morgan dropped her braid and leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his thighs. “I just thought . . .” He straightened and faced her. “Rose, do you trust me?”

  Staring into his dark eyes, she wondered what was on his mind. He had to know she trusted him. She could go through her whole life and not meet another man with such a sterling character. “Yes.”

  He thought that was a good start. “And I have a feeling you like me.” His eyes drifted to her lips, and he thought of the kisses they’d shared. “In some ways, we seem to suit well.”

  She felt a blush rising from her neck to her cheeks. She wanted to tell him she more than liked him. She loved him. While she might not understand how it had happened so quickly, there it was. She loved everything about him. If only Frankie didn’t stand between them, she might be tempted to tell him her true feelings. “I like you very much.” She still didn’t know where he was going with this conversation.

  Morgan liked that response, but he thought about Clay. She’d said he was wonderful. “Are you interested in another man?”

  His question confused her. “What do you mean? Are you speaking of my brothers?”

  “No, I mean are you interested in any man courting you? A man like . . . well, a man like Clay. You seem to think he is wonderful.”

  She did think the pastor was a wonderful man, but she didn’t think of him as a potential suitor. “I think he is wonderful for the town, but no, I didn’t even think that he might be interested in courting me.”

  Her response didn’t answer his question. “If he wanted to court you, how would you feel about that?”

  “Did he ask you to put these questions to me?” she asked suspiciously. “Why didn’t he ask me himself?” She’d given the pastor no reason to think she wanted more than his friendship.

  “I’m asking, not him. Are you interested in him as a husband?”

  She couldn’t deny the pastor was an attractive man, and a good man, but she didn’t think of him in that way. “Heavens no.”

  He smiled at her response. So, Pastor Clay wasn’t all that wonderful. “What about me?”

  Rose felt her heart start to thump in her chest. What was he asking her? Surely he wasn’t asking her to marry him. “What are you asking?”

  Morgan didn’t look away, didn’t blink. “Would you consider me a suitable husband?”

  Rose nodded.

  “Is that a yes?”

  Before she was definite in her response, she had to ask an important question. “But what about Frankie?” she whispered, almost on the verge of tears. If he was asking her to marry him, she couldn’t ignore his hatred for her brother.

  “Rose, we may never agree about Frank. You and Granny may not want to admit it, but you are not safe here alone. Frank and his gang are dangerous men.” He held up his hand when she started to speak. “I know you don’t want to believe that about your brother. But I’m asking you to trust me on this. If you aren’t afraid of Frank, think about his gang. These are men with nothing to lose. I want you and Granny to live with me on the ranch. Stevie doesn’t want to stay on the farm, and you and Granny can’t handle it alone.”

  As far as proposals went, he thought he could have done a lot better. But if he vowed undying love, he wasn’t sure it would be honest. “I want a family, and I will be good to you and Granny. I will keep this farm going for your sisters if they want to live here. But if Stevie stays, he’ll have to work. I think that’s fair.”

  Rose was overcome with so many emotions she couldn’t think straight. The most amazing man she’d ever met was asking her to marry him. He hadn’t professed love for her, yet he was welcoming Granny into his home. That alone meant more to her than he could ever imagine. She had worried how she would keep the farm going alone, and how she would care for Granny as she aged. They were not wealthy people, and it would be up to her and her sisters to provide care for Granny.

  She wasn’t so naïve to think people always married for love. Many people in these difficult times married for convenience, as a way to survive. Granny had already told her if not for Morgan providing beef every winter, they might have starved. But her one major concern was Frankie. She feared Morgan would begin to resent her for her belief in Frankie. She was in love with Morgan, but Frankie was her blood. “But what will you do if you find Frankie?”

  To his credit, Morgan didn’t even consider telling her Frankie had threatened her life when she was unconscious. He hoped in time she might come to care for him the way she cared for the brother who wasn’t deserving of her love. “I won’t kill him if I find him; at least, not unless I have no choice. You have my word on that.”

  Rose gazed at him as she thought about his response. She didn’t question his word. But she had another question. “You asked me if I liked you. I’d like to know if you like me.”

  Morgan wasn’t about to say he cared so much that he didn’t want her in another man’s bed. “I like you very much, and I do want a family. I think we can make a good marriage based on trust and friendship. I will provide for you and our children as long as I live. You will never want for anything if I have a say in the matter.”

  They were both silent for a minute. Morgan figured she was weighing her options. He knew he was getting the best end of the deal. There would be plenty of men in line waiting to marry her in no time if she didn’t accept his offer. But he was also confident no man would care for her and Granny as well as he would.

  Rose had always planned to marry for love. If she said yes, she would be
marrying for love, but the groom didn’t feel the same way. She didn’t know if Morgan would ever love her the way she loved him, but she would make certain he never regretted his decision to take her for a wife.

  “What do you think? Do you want to marry me?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  “I don’t know if Granny will want to leave the farm,” Rose said.

  Morgan had a feeling Granny had already come to accept that she would never be able to depend on Frank or Stevie, and she might be more willing to leave the farm than Rose believed. “I’ll go home and get the buckboard to pick Granny up after the service. We’ll ask her how she feels about living at the ranch. If she is okay with everything, I want you two to move in today.”

  “When do you want to marry?” Rose asked.

  “What do you think about a few weeks from now?” Now that they had made the decision, Morgan didn’t want to wait too long.

  “We shouldn’t move in until then. It wouldn’t be proper,” Rose said.

  “Hogwash. Granny will be our chaperone. Everything will be proper. I refuse to let you two stay here alone another night.” Morgan knew he would be losing more sleep from worrying about them if they didn’t come home with him.

  Rose started to tell him they had Stevie, but Granny said he was rarely there at night. And she had a feeling Morgan was worried about their safety with Stevie. “I guess that would be fine since Granny will be there. Would you mind if we marry outdoors?” There was a special spot in the pine trees that Rose thought was particularly lovely, and the perfect place for a wedding.

  Morgan laced his fingers through hers and brought the back of her hand to his lips. “Whatever makes you happy.”

  Rose didn’t want him to leave. “Must you go home now?”

  Morgan didn’t want to leave her alone, but he’d ridden his horse to the farm. “Do you feel like sitting in front of me on my horse? You can go with me.”

  * * *

  Morgan rode slowly on the way to the ranch simply because he enjoyed having Rose ride in front of him with his arms wrapped around her. Once he reined in at the porch, he helped Rose to the ground. “Come inside. I want you to see your new home.” After he showed her around the lower level, he led the way upstairs so she could see the bedrooms. He first took her to the bedroom he thought Granny would like. The furnishings were sparse—a bed, a bureau, and a chair—but it had the makings of a very nice room. “We’ll need to get some things, but the fireplace keeps it nice and cozy in here. We can ride to Denver when you feel up to it to buy what we need.”