Ana Leigh

by The Mackenzies

  For the next thirty minutes she luxuriated in the hot tub, soaking the soreness out of her aching body. Then she washed her hair to rid it of the trail dust, and while it dried, she cleaned off her boots.

  After donning the clean clothing she gave her hair a good brushing, then gathered it into the snood pinned to the back of her head. After she’d applied face powder, the black eye and bruises on her cheek were barely discernible.

  She felt like a new woman.

  In the hallway she met Dr. Serene, who told her that he’d examined Zach. His temperature still wasn’t normal, but the wounds appeared to be healing, and at the rate he was improving, the doctor felt Zach would probably be out of bed in another week.

  Her day turned even brighter.

  Robert had just finished cleaning up Zach when Rose entered. “Mornin’, miss,” the orderly said, and winked at her on his way out.

  Zach was propped up with pillows. As soon as he saw her, he broke into a broad smile. He still didn’t have his color back, but just seeing him sitting up smiling sent a warm glow of happiness through her.

  She grasped his hand. “You look wonderful.”

  “And you are the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen. I want to get out of this damn bed and take you in my arms.”

  “Rather than risk a relapse, MacKenzie, I’ll see what I can do.” She bent down and kissed him.

  “You just shot my temperature up a couple degrees,” he said when she pulled away.

  “I hope you’re hungry.”

  He grinned. “Glad to see we still think alike.”

  “I’m talking about food, MacKenzie.”

  “I guess we aren’t thinking alike.”

  She gave him an indulgent look. “Dr. Serene said you’re ready to eat something. Anything in particular you’d like?”

  Just then, Mrs. King tapped on the door and entered carrying a tray. Rose hurried over and took it from her. “Mrs. King, you don’t have to wait on us. I’m used to carrying trays of food.”

  “It was no trouble, my dear. Enjoy your breakfast.”

  “Hmmm, this looks good,” Rose said, sitting down on the bed. She put the tray on her lap. “Oatmeal and corn muffins.” She slathered butter and jam on one and took a bite. “Mmmm, they’re still warm.” She licked a spot of jam off the corner of her mouth.

  “Why are you doing this to me?” he asked plaintively.

  “Doing what?” She had no idea what he was talking about.

  “That damn thing you’re doing with your tongue.”

  “I’m sorry; you’re probably very hungry.” She handed him the rest of the muffin.

  “I wasn’t referring to any damn muffin, and you know it.” He took a bite.

  She grinned. “Open up.” She spooned oatmeal into his mouth, and they continued sharing until it was gone. Then she took a bite of a canned peach. “Oh, this is delicious. I bet Mrs. King canned them herself.” She fed him a piece.

  “It is good. My mom does a lot of canning. Can you cook, Rosie?”

  “Probably not as well as your mother. What about you?”

  “I can warm a can of beans and fry a hunk of salt pork when I have to.”

  She laughed. “I’m pretty good at cracking nuts.”

  “You sure are.” He reached for her hand and squeezed it. “I’ve never trailed with anyone better.” He sobered. “I’m grateful to you, Rosie. I’d never have made it without you.”

  “I’m the one who’s grateful, Zach. You saved my life in Brimstone. Now, let’s not talk about this anymore.”

  Gratitude was not an issue. Whatever she’d done was instinctive, out of love for him. She hoped that had been his motive, too.

  “There’s tea and coffee. Which do you want?”

  “Coffee,” he said, his gaze never leaving her face.

  Later that day, she was reading Kipling’s The Light That Failed to Zach when Dr. Serene came in accompanied by an older couple.

  The woman rushed across the room, and Zach raised his hand to grasp hers. “Hi, Mom.”

  So this was his mother. Tall and graceful, Garnet MacKenzie appeared to be in her late fifties. Moisture glistened in her green eyes as she gazed at her son.

  She sat down on the edge of the bed and leaned over and kissed his forehead. “How are you, Zach?” she asked. Her soft tone bore the traces of a Southern accent.

  “I’m fine, Mom. The doctor said I’d probably be up and around in another week.”

  The man now stepped forward. Rose could see where Zach got his height and broad shoulders. Flint MacKenzie’s profile showed an inherent strength, and although his dark hair was streaked with gray, he had the sinewy body of a man half his age.

  “Son,” he said. The single word expressed more than a dozen others could have done.

  “Hi, Dad.” As the two men shook hands, Flint covered their grasp with his other hand.

  “You gave us a scare, boy. I told your mother a couple of slugs wouldn’t keep you down.”

  Zach grinned at him. “Like father, like son. Right, Dad?”

  “Which will be the death of me yet,” Garnet said. “When can we take him home, Doctor?”

  “I’d say by tomorrow, if you keep him off his feet,” Dr. Serene said. “But I’ll be able to tell better in the morning. I have patients waiting, so we’ll talk later.”

  “Mom and Dad, this is Rose Dubois,” Zach said, as soon as the doctor departed.

  For the first time since entering the room, the couple turned their full attention on Rose. His mother’s gaze was curious but warm; Flint Mackenzie’s was enigmatic, with no hint of what lay behind his sapphire gaze.

  Garnet came over and hugged her. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you, Rose. Thia and Beth told us all about you. We can never thank you enough for what you did for our son.”

  Rose was at a loss. She knew she should say something gracious, but, unintentionally, the couple intimidated her. Or was it the change in Zach? That could be the reason, because she was used to seeing Zach, the reckless outlaw. Zach, the adored son, was unfamiliar to her. She felt like an outsider—like she didn’t belong.

  Rose managed a polite greeting, then backed out of the room. “I’m sure you’d like some privacy, so I’ll leave you alone.”

  “No, stay, Rose,” Zach said.

  “I, ah . . . have some things to do.”

  Once out of the room, Rose leaned against the door and took a deep breath. She felt so alone. She was the stranger among these people. Even the town’s sheriff was close to them.

  They were all kind, good, and caring people, but that didn’t make her belong.

  Not even to Zach—the adored son.

  Desolate, she stepped outside. Josh and Cole were in conversation with a woman. At the sight of Rose, Josh nudged the lady and she turned her head to look.

  Joy surged through Rose when she saw Emily MacKenzie rush toward her with outstretched arms. Squealing with joy, they hugged each other, stepped back, and looked at one another, then they hugged again.

  “Let me look at you,” Emily declared. She took a long look at Rose’s face. “Oh, Rose! Josh wasn’t exaggerating: you and Zach must have gone through hell. I couldn’t believe it when Josh told me you were with Zach. You never mentioned you even knew him. Your last letter said that a rancher named Stephen Rayburn had asked you to marry him.”

  “It’s a long story, Em.”

  “I don’t care how long it is; I want to hear every word. I want to know just how you got that black eye and all those bruises and scrapes, and how Zach ended up with two bullet holes in him.” Emily linked arms. “Come on, we’ll go have a cup of tea, and you can tell me all about it.”

  Rose smiled happily. Just being with her dearest friend again somehow made all those events seem like an eternity ago. She wasn’t alone anymore.

  Arm and arm, they walked to the hotel and sat down in a corner of the dining room.

  As soon as the waiter brought them a pot of tea, Emily poured them each a c
up and settled back. “Now remember, Rose, don’t leave out a thing. I want to hear every detail.”

  “Well, the worst of it began the night Stephen gave a party to celebrate our engagement.”

  “You always vowed you’d marry a rich man.”

  “I know. But by that time, I was in love with Zach, even if I didn’t want to admit it to myself.”

  Emily grew somber as Rose related the events after she’d told Stephen she couldn’t marry him. By the time she finished, Emily’s eyes were misted with tears.

  “You’re so brave, Rose. Zach would have died if it hadn’t been for you.”

  “I had a lot of help. I prayed on that hillside, Em. I’ve never done that before. And I believe my prayer was answered.”

  At that moment Garnet MacKenzie came into the dining room and sat down with them.

  “How is Zach feeling?” Emily asked, filling Garnet’s tea cup.

  “He’s sleeping right now. Josh and Cole are in the bar, so Flint joined them.” She took a sip of the tea, then sighed deeply. “I feel so much better now that I’ve seen Zach. The doctor thinks we might be able to take him home tomorrow.”

  “That’s wonderful news, Aunt Garnet,” Emily said.

  Garnet reached over and squeezed Rose’s hand. “We’re indebted to you, Rose, and we’re expecting you to come back with us.”

  Rose hesitated. “I don’t know, Mrs. MacKenzie. My clothes and everything I own are in Brimstone. I was planning on returning there.”

  “Perhaps I misunderstood Zach? He said that the two of you were planning on getting married.”

  Rose swallowed hard. “We, ah, actually never had time to discuss marriage, Mrs. MacKenzie. There’s a lot of loose ends to tie up before I can even consider that. I may still be wanted for murder.”

  “Oh, Rose, that can all be cleared up easily. I know you’ll love the Triple M,” Emily said, her face shining with exuberance. “I couldn’t believe it; it’s almost a town in itself. We all have our own houses, grouped around a central location. And Rose, they actually have a sort of store for everyone’s convenience, where they stock food, canned goods, condiments, and general household items. If you need a bottle of Heinz ketchup or a peck of potatoes, you just go there and get it. Kitty, who is Josh’s sister, is in charge of the inventory. And not all the merchandise is necessarily practical; there’s hand cream and other personal items a woman needs. It’s so convenient, and it’s maintained with Triple M profits.”

  “You mean you don’t have to pay for anything you take?” Rose asked.

  “That’s right,” Garnet said. “The store was Cleve’s idea. When he and his brothers came back after the Civil War, the Triple M was just a couple thousand acres. When they all married and started families, they kept expanding the ranch as land became available. Now their children have started families, so there are a lot of mouths to feed.”

  “How big is the ranch?” Rose asked, flabbergasted.

  “It’s between three and four hundred thousand acres.”

  Rose’s eyes popped open. “What!”

  “One of the largest in Texas,” Garnet said.

  “The Triple M’s got everything except its own post office,” Emily added. “Just think, honey, we’ll be neighbors! Maybe not as close as roommates—since we’ve both found new ones,” she added with a grin—“but our houses will be within sight of each other. We’re all together, but each household still has its own privacy.”

  “It sounds too good to be true,” Rose said. “It’s a wonder the boys would ever want to leave.”

  “All our sons had to test their wings,” Garnet said, “just as their fathers did. But once they’re ready to settle down, they come back.”

  “If they’re still alive, you mean,” Rose said, recalling the events of the past week: murders, Zach’s near death, her own injuries, the desperate flight to stay alive, and the heartache of betrayal—Zach’s failure to be honest with her.

  She stood up, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. “You’ll have to excuse me. I have to get back.”

  “Rose, wait,” Emily called out to her.

  “I’ll talk to you later, Em,” she said, and literally ran out of the dining room.

  She didn’t stop to check Zach, but went straight to the bedroom. His deceit was too big an issue to discuss until he was well. But how could she keep up a pretense that it didn’t matter until then? It would be wiser just to tell him she was going back to Brimstone to get her clothes. He’d have no reason to doubt her.

  When Rose joined Zach’s family for dinner, she received another shock. The body of Will Grainger was arriving on the morning train, and the MacKenzies were taking him to the Triple M for burial. Everyone would be leaving on that train—Zach included.

  With time running out, she went into his room and told him her intentions.

  She might just as well have struck him. “Rosie, don’t do this to me, please. I need you,” he pleaded.

  “Zach, you don’t need me. You have a devoted family who will wait on you hand and foot.”

  He grabbed her hand. “You don’t really think that’s why I need you, do you? Waking up and seeing you beside me heals my body and soul. That’s why I need you, Rosie. That’s why I’ll always need you. As soon as I’m back on my feet, we’ll get married and go back to Brimstone to get your things. Or you know Kate’ll pack up your clothes and ship them to you. Okay, Rosie?” he asked, looking at her hopefully.

  He was doing it to her again. Mesmerizing her with those sapphire eyes, that irresistible little-boy look. Making her forget everything except how much she loved him.

  The next morning, when the train pulled out of Comanche Wells, Rose sat beside Zach’s berth. He held on to her hand as if he’d never let go, and she wondered just when she’d lost control of her own life.

  Chapter 30

  The trip had tired Zach, and he was put to bed as soon as they arrived. While he slept, Rose had a chance to look around at the compound. Emily had not exaggerated; the Triple M resembled a little village.

  And it was the ideal place for a man and woman to raise their children.

  She paused by a fenced-in graveyard, and was surprised to see that, despite the hired help, Josh MacKenzie was digging the grave for Will Grainger.

  “You’re working hard, Josh. Can’t you get someone to help you?”

  He wiped his brow. “It’s the least I can do for Will. Besides, everyone works hard on the ranch. In the years I was gone, I’d almost forgotten just how hard it is, but it’s a good life. I was ready to come back.”

  “What about Emily?”

  “Em loves it. She soaks up work like a sponge does water. You wouldn’t believe it, but she and my mom canned pickles last week. Emily Lawrence MacKenzie, canning pickles.” He chuckled. “What a woman.”

  Rose smiled at the vision of the wealthy Eastern heiress canning pickles, and she thought of their shared giggles when they were Harvey Girls. Good Lord, it had only been a year ago. It seemed like centuries.

  “This certainly is a big ranch,” Rose said. “I imagine it does keep everyone busy. It’s a cattle ranch, right?”

  He nodded. “We run about forty thousand head and sell ten to fifteen thousand head a year, depending on the demand.”

  “No wonder it takes so many people for the operation.”

  “We grow all our own vegetables, too. With few exceptions, everything eaten on the Triple M has been raised on it.”

  “You sound pretty proud of this place,” she said, smiling softly.

  “The ranch wasn’t always so successful, especially after my grandfather died at the Alamo. Then it was just a little piece of land, but my dad and uncles turned it into what it’s become today.” Josh hesitated, then said, “And the women they loved toughed it out with them. I’ve got a lot of good memories, Rose, and you’ll grow to love the Triple M the same as Em has. She calls it Utopia, Texas.”

  “That’s a far cry from her opinion of Long Island, where she was rai
sed.”

  “We both know what she thought of that place. Would you believe her father has even come down here and visited? He’s talking about building a house in Dallas.”

  “It’s strange what courses people’s lives take. Zach and I once had a discussion on that very subject.” Suddenly, without any intention to do so, she blurted out, “He came so close to dying, Josh.”

  “But it’s over, Rose. Put it behind you and look toward the future.”

  “I’m trying to, but I’m not sure I belong here. I don’t think I can live up to the other MacKenzie women.”

  “I think you can, Rose, and obviously Zach believes it, too. You’ve been through a rough time, but you can relax now. Zach will soon be up and around, and if it’s any comfort, you’re not alone anymore, honey: there isn’t a person on this ranch who’s not gonna look out for your welfare. Trust us—and stop doubting yourself.” He put aside the shovel and climbed out of the hole. “I reckon I better get back to the house. You okay, Rose?”

  “I’m fine,” she said.

  “You sure you don’t want me to send Em down?”

  “No, I’m on my way back, too.”

  For a long moment she sat there, staring at the stone crosses that marked the graves.

  “Are you thinking how one of those markers could so easily have had Zach’s name on it? I know I have.”

  Rose jerked up her head to see Garnet MacKenzie standing nearby. “Oh, forgive me, Mrs. MacKenzie, I didn’t realize you were there.” She turned back and stared at the crosses in the gravesite. “It’s very sad. There are quite a few of them, aren’t there?” She started to read the names aloud. “Kathleen MacKenzie. Sarah MacKenzie.”

  “Flint’s mother, and Luke’s first wife. They were brutally killed during the Civil War while the boys were away in the army.”

  “Maude Malone. Was she a MacKenzie?”

  “You might say that.” Garnet smiled in memory. “Maude more or less adopted the MacKenzies. She’d been a close friend of Kathleen and Andy, and watched the three boys grow up. Our husbands loved her; our children adored her. She was the grandmother they never had.”