“I’ll be ready.”
“Winters!” A sinister male voice sliced the night air. “I heard you were back.”
Rose shivered and turned slowly, glimpsing the shadowed figure of a man shifting slowly among the tombstones.
“Stay here,” Jack murmured, stepping protectively in front of Rose. “Jonah? Is that you?”
The man stalked angrily toward Jack, stabbing a finger into his chest. “You, son of a bitch,” he growled. “I thought we were friends.”
Jack maintained an unassuming stance, despite the other man’s aggression. “I’m confused, Jonah. We are friends. We’ve always been friends.”
Jonah sneered. “Some friend. You sawed my little brother’s leg off. Now he’s a damn cripple.”
Jack shook his head. “Jonah, I’m sorry about Kevin, but I can assure you that no amputation is performed lightly. His options were amputation or death.”
“He’d be better off dead,” Jonah spat. “He’s worthless now. All he does is hobble around on a crutch, and drink himself stupid from dawn until dusk. His girl even refused to marry him.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Jonah, but Kevin doesn’t have to live that way. If he chooses, a full and satisfying life still awaits him.”
“That’s easy for you to say, doc. You’re still standing on two feet.” Jonah pulled a pistol from behind his back. “I’m here to show you just what it’s like to be one of those men you butchered.”
Seven
Jack stepped backward, staring at the pistol trained on his chest in total disbelief.
What the hell just happened?
One moment he’d been making some measure of peace with Rose, and the next a disgruntled veteran, a man he’d once believed a close friend, wanted to kill him. Or cripple him. At this point Jack wasn’t sure what Jonah intended.
“No!” Rose cried, throwing herself between them, arms spread wide. “This is absolute madness. You can’t really mean to shoot Jack.”
Jonah’s attention shifted to Rose. “Get out of my way, Missy. I got no mind to shoot a woman.”
“Rose, get away from the gun,” Jack commanded, horrified at the site of her squared off with a pistol.
“Think about what you’re doing,” Rose implored, ignoring Jack completely. “You’ll go to prison if you shoot Jack.”
“Making him pay will be well worth it.”
“The war is over,” she continued. “More violence solves nothing. My husband has devoted his life to helping people, and I know it’s hard to except, but medicine is an imperfect science. Outcomes, especially those in wartime, are not always what we wish.”
“Shut up. You just don’t want a one-legged, crippled husband.”
“One leg or two makes no difference to me. Has it occurred to you or your brother that his girl refused to marry him because he’s a drunk?”
Jack edged carefully to the right, carefully gauging Jonah. At this point Rose had him good and distracted. “Rose, get down.”
Without hesitation she ducked and hurled herself to the left. At the same moment, before Jonah could react, Jack hunched down and dove for Jonah. One shoulder connected with his midsection, driving him backward while the opposite arm grabbed the wrist holding the pistol and shoved it upward. The men crashed to the ground, and the gun skittered across the hard-packed dirt.
Rose scrambled to retrieve the weapon while Jack strove to subdue Jonah.
The ominous click of the pistol hammer caused Jonah to freeze. “That’s enough.”
Pinning Jonah beneath him, Jack glanced up to find Rose aiming the pistol directly between Jonah’s eyes.
“You know how to use that, little lady?”
“Do you want to find out?” she returned without missing a beat.
Impressed, Jack held Jonah firm.
“You came out here for blood, Jonah, but my husband and I have no wish to see more death. Now, I’m going to give you one chance to get out of here and never bother us again. And, because I’m feeling generous, I won’t even tell the sheriff about this little incident.”
Jack rose up on his knees, gathered Jonah’s collar in his fists and gave him a hard shake. “Come near me or my family again and I’ll kill you.”
Jonah’s eyes narrowed, but the darkness made it impossible to discern his expression. “Sure you won’t leave the dirty work to your wife?”
“I’ve got no problem getting my hands dirty,” Jack growled. “Now get out of here before I overrule her kindness.”
Jonah gulped convulsively. Jack released him, and the other man scrambled to his feet. He glanced briefly between Rose and Jack before dashing out of the cemetery, tripping over a tombstone in the process.
Once he’d disappeared from view, Jack washed a palm over his face, and climbed to his feet, closing the distance between him and Rose. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” She handed him the gun with trembling hands.
“It’s a pity we didn’t have a few women like you fighting in uniform. The Yankees wouldn’t have stood a chance.”
She laughed, obviously appreciating the compliment for what it was, and at that moment, as though beckoned by her mirth, the clouds covering the moon shifted, casting a silvery curtain of moonlight over her. Jack swallowed, his pulse kicking to a run. She was lovely. Ethereal and wraithlike. It was the strangest thing, but in that instant Jack saw her in an entirely new light. This woman had stepped between him and a loaded pistol. The fact humbled him. Perhaps he had judged her too harshly for past indiscretions. Perhaps he should give their marriage a chance.
He tore his eyes from her, casting the ludicrous thought from his head the moment it surfaced. Making a go of their marriage was impossible. Rose had asked for a divorce not five minutes beforehand.
He cleared his throat, motioning toward the cemetery gate. “We probably shouldn’t tell my parents about this. It will put my mother into a palsy.”
Rose nodded. “We should try leave for Texas as soon as possible in case he tries something again.”
“I agree. When can you be ready.”
“Tomorrow if necessary,” she replied without hesitation.
“Tomorrow it is.”
* * * *
Nerves bandying about in her stomach, Rose folded the small portrait of her mother in cheese clothe and nestled it in the top of her wooden trunk. Releasing a pensive breath, she closed the lid and smoothed her hands along the varnished surface. “This is it. The start of a new adventure.” Finally, she had the opportunity to take charge of her own life again. She would be forever grateful for the help of her mother and father-in-law, but the time had come for Rose to press on with her own life.
“Are you ready?” Jack’s deep voice rumbled behind her.
She turned to him… the man who was her future, even if he wouldn’t remain in it, and flashed a wobbly smile. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
To her surprise he smiled in return and strode forward, extending a hand to help her rise. “Leaving is hard.”
“Yes,” she agreed, slipping her fingers into his calloused palm, and climbing to her feet. “But it’s the right thing to do. It’s time to move on. Your parents have been wonderful to me, but…” She shrugged. “I don’t know how to explain it.”
“I understand.” Jack still held her hand, and stroked a roughened thumb across her knuckles. Shivers ran up her arm. “As long as you’re here you feel beholden to them.”
“A bit, yes. I hope that doesn’t sound unkind.”
“Not at all.” For a few seconds they stood facing each other. Jack opened his mouth as though to say something more, but eventually he released her hand, and snapped his mouth shut. He pointed to the trunk. “Is that everything?”
“Uh, yes. Yes, it is.”
“Let’s go then.” He hefted the trunk up onto his broad shoulder and swiftly left the room. “My parents are waiting outside to say goodbye.”
Without looking back, Rose squared her shoulders and followed hi
m out.
Jonathan and Catherine waited outside to bid them farewell. Tears streamed openly down Catherine’s face. “I won’t tell you I’m not heartbroken to see you go, but I’m happy to see you two making a life together.”
Unable to tell Catherine the truth, that she and Jack intended to part ways in Texas, Rose simply grabbed the older woman up in an impulsive hug. “Thank you for everything,” Rose whispered. “I will never forget your kindness.”
Catherine embraced her tightly. “It’s not as though we won’t be out to visit.” She pulled back. “In fact, I have a mind to travel west with the two of you now.”
Jonathan stepped forward and wrapped an arm around his wife’s shoulders. “I think we’ve interfered quite enough, my dear. Let’s allow Jack and Rose a little time to themselves.”
Catherine sniffed. “I suppose you’re right.” She flipped her attention to Jack. “Be sure to wire once you arrive.”
Jack stepped forward and kissed his mother’s cheek. “I will, Mother, but don’t expect to hear for a month or more. Under the best conditions I expect this trip to take three or four weeks.”
Rose chewed nervously at her lip. Four weeks was a long time to travel in such close company. She prayed Jack would remain congenial.
Jack clapped his palms together. “Well, William, are you ready for an adventure?”
“Yes!” Will jumped with excitement. “Can I ride up front?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Jack grinned and swept the boy up, settling him on the driver’s bench. “You’ll sit right between your mama and me.”
“Did you hear that, Mama? You’ll be riding up front, too!”
Rose laughed, warmed by her son’s enthusiasm, and reassured that she was making the right choice. She gave Jonathan and Catherine one last loving hug before hurrying to the wagon.
Jack took her hand, helping her onto the high seat.
Once settled, she squeezed his hand and met his gaze. “Thank you, Jack. Thank you ever so much.”
The corners of his mouth tipped up and he simply nodded before releasing her hand. She glanced down and started arranging her skirts, but to her absolute surprise, Jack grasped the wooden seat and mounted the wagon right beside her. Her breath caught as his broad frame passed over the top of her, so close the heat of his chest radiated onto her face and neck. Her heart leapt and began to pound.
No! She screamed internally. No. No. No. She did not want to react this way to him. He didn’t want her that way, and he’d made it clear that he never would. She must protect herself from heartbreak. The truth was that she didn’t blame him in the least for any bitterness toward her. She deserved it. And in spite of it she was every bit as vulnerable to him now as the day he’d walked into the courthouse to marry her. Jack was among the best of men, even if he pretended otherwise. She forced her eyes downward until his body shifted away from her, and he was safely seated on the opposite side of Will.
“Let the adventure begin,” Jack said, mannerism cool and collected, obviously oblivious to her emotional turmoil. He released the wagon break and slapped the reins. The horses drew them slowly down the dirt drive and out of view of the Winter’s house.
Rose couldn’t resist a quick glance toward the cemetery as they drove past. Two riders sat atop the rise, watching the wagon. Alarmed she gripped the wooden rail lining her seat. “Jack, look.”
“What is he?”
“On the hill by the cemetery, is that Jonah watching us?”
Jack’s handsome brow furrowed beneath his brimmed hat. “My god,” he murmured. “I think it is.”
Rose shivered. “Do you think he’ll cause us trouble?”
“No. He’s just watching to see if I’m really leaving town.”
Rose nodded, hoping Jack was right.
“If not, I’m certain you’ll be handy enough with the shotgun by your seat to scare him off for good.” He winked at her, a little twinkle in his eye.
Rose couldn’t help but grin in return. “Hopefully I won’t need to be.”
Eight
“Are you ready to stop for the night?” Jack asked, glancing over his shoulder to Will sleeping soundly in the back of the wagon. The first week had passed rather pleasantly, if a bit slower than Jack had hoped.
Rose stifled a yawn. “We can press on a little longer if you’d like.”
“Non-sense.” Jack pulled the wagon into an open field with a grove of leafy trees draped with Spanish moss. “It’s near dark, and you look ready to collapse on the seat.”
Rose smiled gratefully, turning her thick-lashed blue eyes to him. She pulled the wide straw hat from her head and tossed it into the back of the wagon. The last rays of orange and red sunlight glinted off her golden hair, and lent her flawless cheeks a rosy hue. Heaven help him she was lovely… inside and out he was coming to find. He’d been impressed with her on the journey. Not one complaint had crossed her lips. Not even about the sweltering heat or humidity.
Averting his eyes, Jack busied himself with tying off the reins and climbing out of the wagon. “I hope my mother doesn’t send the cavalry out to look for us,” he said, striving to make small talk and distract himself from the delectable curve of her lips. “At the rate we’re moving it will probably take six full weeks to reach Texas.”
Apology reflected in Rose’s gaze as he rounded the wagon to help her down. “I’m sorry, Jack. Will and I are slowing you down.”
He slid his hands around her slender waist and lifted her from the seat, holding her a bit closer than he ought. “Not at all,” he murmured. “I overestimated how fast the team is able to travel.” His palms remained low on her waist, and her hands rested on his biceps.
He swallowed, momentarily lost in her eyes, relishing her nearness.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this close to a woman… kissed a woman… His gaze dropped to her lips, full and round and so perfectly pink.
“I hope we’re not too much bother,” she said, dropping her hands from his arms. “I realize this is a long trip and you planned to make it alone.”
Jack took the hint and backed away from her. “You’ve been no bother,” he assured her. “In truth, I’ve rather enjoyed having you and Will along.”
Her face brightened. “Thank you. I’ll go check on Will while you take care of the horses.”
Confused and unsure what to make of his mounting attraction to Rose, Jack took his time unhitching the horses and staking them beneath the trees to graze. He was coming to the realization that Johansson and his father may have been right. So much time had passed, perhaps a new beginning for he and Rose was possible, but… Is that what she wanted? Would she be interested in a future as his wife? Or was journeying to Texas as much about escaping him as leaving South Carolina?
The sun slipped below the horizon, revealing the first of the night’s stars as Jack made his way back to the wagon. Rose sat on the end with her feet dangling and her head a shoulder leaned against the edge, gazing up at the sky.
“I expected you to be bedded down and fast asleep,” Jack commented.
“Not quite yet,” she replied. “I like to look at the stars.”
Jack nodded, reclining in the grass by the back of the wagon.
“I see some clouds rolling in.” Rose pointed toward the west. “There is room in the back of the wagon if you’d prefer to sleep in here tonight.”
The line of clouds didn’t appear overly ominous, and jack knew better than to put himself in such intimate proximity to Rose. “I’ll be fine. I’ve slept in worse conditions than this field.”
“I imagine you have. Did you often sleep on the ground in the army?”
“No. I was rather fortunate in that regard. As a medical officer we usually had a tent and a cot, but it was almost always muddy, and the smell.” He shuddered at the memory. “The smell was the worst of it.”
Rose wrinkled her nose. “When we visited the hospitals searching for you the stench was unlivable.”
<
br /> “Oh, it’s livable,” Jack replied sardonically. “I lived with it for years. Lying in this sweet smelling grass night after night is heaven by comparison.” He laid back in the grass, looking up at Rose as the darkness thickened around them.
“I wish I could have done more to help during the war.” She leaned forward, tilting her face toward him though her expression was obscured by shadows. “Your mother and I sewed quilts and rolled bandages. I would have liked to serve as a nurse though. My father taught me quite a bit over the years, but…” she shrugged. “Circumstances being what they were it just wasn’t possible.”
“They never would have let you serve as a nurse,” Jack said.
“Excuse me?” she snapped, ire obviously pricked.
Jack grinned into the darkness. “You’re much too pretty.”
“Oh! I…I…” She paused, obviously shocked and uncertain what to make of his compliment. “Thank you,” she said finally, rather humbly in fact. “I—Goodnight, Jack. I’ll see you in the morning.”
With a low chuckle, Jack folded his arms behind his head and closed his eyes, a sense of peace he hadn’t experienced for a long time settling over him.
* * * *
Rose stirred at some point in the night to the sound of Jack’s deep voice rumbling outside the wagon.
“He’s bleeding… bleed to death.”
Confused, Rose rubbed the sleep from her eyes, and raised up on an elbow. Who is he talking to?
“A ligature. I must tie a ligature.”
She strained, trying to make out the harried mumbling.
Gathering her heavy skirts, she briefly ensured that Will was still sleeping on the opposite side of the wagon and crawled carefully to the opening at the back. Jack lay in the grass, head thrashing fitfully from side to side.
Her heart clenched as the realization he was dreaming, having nightmares, dawned. She leapt rather ineloquently to the ground and knelt beside him. “Jack. Jack, wake up.” She laid gentle, soothing hands on his chest and shoulder, giving him a soft shake.
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