by Rita Herron
Rose massaged the scar at her temple. “That means I have a sister or a brother?”
Trina reached out her hand. “A sister, Rose. The baby girl that was born that night was me.”
* * *
MADDOX WATCHED ROSE and Trina through the window of the hospital room door, relieved, because in spite of everything she’d undergone, Rose wasn’t alone.
His job was done.
So why was he so reluctant to leave?
Because Rose’s home had been destroyed, and she had no place to go.
That’s not true, he reminded himself. Now she had a sister, one she needed to get to know better. Rose would probably want to stay with her.
His phone buzzed, and he checked the number. Home.
His chest clenched as fear gripped him. Was his father okay?
He inhaled a deep breath and pressed Connect. “Mama Mary?”
“Yeah, Maddox. It’s me. You won’t believe it, but Brett just showed up at the ranch.”
“He’s there now?”
“Yep. In the kitchen having some of my biscuits and gravy. Eatin’ like he hasn’t eaten in days.”
Maddox gritted his teeth. Brett was probably already charming Mama Mary. She had a soft spot for his little-boy act and fell for his compliments as if she was a schoolgirl.
“Has he seen Dad yet?”
“No, he’s stalling, of course. I thought you might want to be here when he does.”
Dammit, his father wanted to see the brothers all together again. But could they tolerate being in the same room without tearing each other apart?
Chapter Twenty-Four
Rose stared at Trina in shock. “My sister?”
“Yes,” Trina said with a hopeful smile. “I couldn’t believe it at first, either. But I actually took a strand of hair from your hairbrush and sent it away to have the DNA checked, and it was a match for mine.”
“Oh, my goodness,” Rose said. “All this time I had no idea.”
“I wasn’t sure how much you knew,” Trina said. “It took me a while to put all the pieces together, too. To find out who’d adopted you. Then Thad told me you’d been kidnapped and that you might not remember what happened, so I decided to get to know you before I told you my story.”
“You didn’t think it was strange that Thad started a romance with me, that he proposed?”
Regret tugged at Trina’s face. “I thought he fell in love with you. I really did.” Her eyes begged for forgiveness. “I mean, how could he not? You’re beautiful and strong and smart. You started your own business. I...I wanted to be like you. And...” Her voice cracked. “I was so glad to find you, to know that I wasn’t alone anymore, and I wanted you to be happy. I thought he loved you.”
Now Rose understood what Trina meant about Thad using her.
“I’m sorry for the way things happened,” Trina said. “But I want us to be friends.”
Tears burned the backs of Rose’s eyelids. She’d always felt as if she didn’t belong with the Worthingtons, hadn’t understood them. Then she’d lost them and felt all alone.
Now she had a sister. A real family.
She reached out and took Trina’s hand in hers. “I’m glad you found me, Trina. I want us to be friends, too.”
She hugged Trina, and they both wiped at tears as Rose began to tell her the few things she remembered about their mother and father, and what she’d learned from Carl about the night they were murdered.
* * *
MADDOX STEELED HIMSELF against seeing his brothers again. It had been ages since they’d been home. Longer since they’d gotten along.
They’d all grown up. Matured.
Had time changed things?
It didn’t matter. His brothers had their own lives. They’d probably stay long enough to see their father, then they’d leave again, and he’d stay here and run Horseshoe Creek.
Alone.
Only the idea of completely being alone again gave him an unsettling feeling, and an image of Rose appeared in his mind. Beautiful, sweet, loving, strong Rose.
The first woman who had ever touched his heart.
His gaze caught sight of the black pickup with the license plate that read Texas, and he knew it belonged to Brett. A black Range Rover was parked beside it, tag from Montana.
Had to be Ray.
Maddox ran his hand over his face as he parked and walked up to the porch, his rough stubble a reminder that he hadn’t been home the night before. He needed a shower and a shave and some strong coffee.
But when he opened the door, tension vibrated in the air. His brothers were home. His father was dying.
And he...wanted Rose.
Mama Mary met him with a cup of coffee and gave him a hug. “You okay, Mr. Maddox? I know you were gone all night.”
“I’m fine. I just need to clean up.”
“How’s Miss Rose?”
“We found the man who tried to kill her. She’ll be okay now,” Maddox said, thinking of the way he’d left her with Trina. Those two would need time to get to know each other, to bond and share their grief.
For all he knew, they might even decide to move away from Pistol Whip. He couldn’t blame them if they wanted to leave the bad memories behind.
Voices echoed from the kitchen, and he stepped inside. Brett and Ray were sitting at the table devouring Mama Mary’s huckleberry pie.
The years had added character and lines to both their faces. He’d seen photos of Brett from the rodeo circuit. He’d put on muscle, his nose had been broken at least twice, and he wore his hair shaggy and a little too long, but women were always swarming all over him. That boyish, mischievous glint still flickered in his eyes, though, as if he was about to crack a joke or flirt with some woman in a bar.
Ray hadn’t changed much, either. Bronzed skin, wide shoulders, hard jaw. A few lines around his dark eyes, eyes that looked black with anger and distrust, just as they always had.
“Now, boys,” Mama Mary said. “Your daddy had a rough night. He’s anxious to see you, so I guess you’d best get to it.”
An awkwardness stretched between the brothers, but Maddox didn’t bother to try to smooth it over. His brothers were here for one reason, and none of them liked it.
“I’ll go first,” Brett said, although his tone suggested he’d rather be chased by a bull.
Maddox nodded, and Brett headed to the hall and up the stairs. Ray and he followed and waited outside the bedroom door, the seconds ticking by with unspoken tension.
“Mama Mary said you were working an investigation,” Ray finally said.
Maddox shrugged. “Yeah. It’s over now, though.” And so was his time with Rose.
Although that thought nearly smothered him with longing.
“I’m a PI now,” Ray revealed, surprising Maddox by offering the information.
Maddox simply grunted. “Thanks for coming back.”
Another canyon of silence fell between them, then the door opened and Brett stepped out. His head was down, his expression grim. He bypassed them, then jogged down the steps and slammed the front door.
Ray gave Maddox a sharp look as if to say, “See, this was a mistake.” Resigned, though, he ducked inside the bedroom and shut the door.
Maddox paced the hallway, anxiety knotting his shoulders as he waited. What was his father saying to Ray? What was Ray saying to him?
Time dragged by, slow and torturous, then suddenly the door opened and Ray yelled for him.
“Get in here, Maddox.”
Maddox raced inside and saw his father gasping for air. “Call the doctor!”
He ran to his father’s bed and tried to adjust the oxygen mask while Ray snatched his phone and hurried into the hall to make the call.
His father motioned for him to lean close. Maddox’s heart hammered as he did.
“Take care of them, but take care of yourself, too,” his father rasped.
“Dad—”
His father lifted a frail hand and gestured toward
the dresser. “Your mother’s engagement ring is in that box in the drawer. She wanted you to have it, to give it to the woman you love.”
Maddox’s eyes stung with emotions, but he sank into the chair beside his father, and gripped his hand.
“Promise me, Maddox,” his father murmured. “That you’ll find a wife and be happy.”
Maddox swallowed hard. “I promise, Dad.”
A second later, his father closed his eyes and whispered good-bye.
Epilogue
Three days later
Rose had stayed with Trina while her sister recovered and shared the few photographs Maddox had found for her of their parents.
She still could hardly believe it—she had a sister.
But it was time she looked for another place to live. Her rental house was in ruins, and Trina’s apartment was too small for both of them.
She had to put the past behind her. Forget the violence that had changed the course of her life.
She stepped into the coffee shop and ordered a sandwich and tea. Several women at the table by the counter were talking.
“So sad that Joe McCullen passed,” one of the women said. “His funeral is at two this afternoon.”
“He was a good man,” a gray-haired woman in a pink dress said. “I bet the church will be packed.”
“I feel for his son Maddox,” another lady said. “He reminds me of Joe.”
“Those other two McCullen boys are back. Guess they’ll be at the service.”
Rose paid for her food and hurried out to her car. She remembered the grief in Maddox’s voice when he’d mentioned that his father was ill. He’d also admitted he and his brothers didn’t get along.
How was he handling the situation?
Her heart ached for him. She’d missed him the last few days, had wanted to see him. Not because she was afraid for her life anymore.
Because she was in love with the man.
But she’d made mistakes before, and she’d been terrified of admitting her feelings for him.
She returned to her store to eat, then spent the next hour organizing a display of antique dishes she’d found at a local estate sale, but her mind kept straying to Maddox and the grief he must be feeling.
She had to be there for him.
The parking lot of the church was packed when she arrived. She slipped inside and spotted Mama Mary on a pew behind Maddox and two dark-haired men who resembled Maddox. They must be Brett and Ray.
Maddox sat ramrod-straight, his head high, but that muscle was ticking in his jaw. He was in pain but he was desperately trying to be strong.
Compassion for him filled her. She understood the anguish of losing family.
She tiptoed to the pew and sat down beside Mama Mary, who was knotting a handkerchief in her hands. The sweet woman looked up at Rose, took her hand and squeezed it, then murmured, “Thanks for coming.”
The service began, and a tall slender woman sang “Amazing Grace,” then the preacher read a scripture and gave a eulogy that had several women in the audience sniffling. Mama Mary broke down, and Rose curved her arm around her and soothed her.
The rest of the service passed in a blur. The pallbearers carried the casket outside, and the family and friends followed to the graveyard. Gray clouds hovered in the sky, threatening rain, and the wind stirred dead leaves on the ground.
As they lowered the casket, Maddox pinched the bridge of his nose and looked away. Rose couldn’t help herself.
She tiptoed up behind him and laid her hand on his shoulder. How many times had he comforted her during the last few days?
He glanced up and saw her, and the pain in his eyes tore at her. She squeezed his arm, and he took her hand and gripped it, his shoulders shaking with silent sorrow as Mama Mary dropped rose petals on the grave.
As the service ended, neighbors and friends surrounded the boys to offer condolences.
“I’m so sorry, Maddox.” She kissed him on the cheek, then whispered goodbye and left him with his brothers.
* * *
MADDOX FORCED HIMSELF to go through the motions of shaking hands with neighbors and people in the community who’d known his father. It felt good to hear stories from his father’s friends, people who’d liked and admired him.
Mama Mary lined all the food people brought on the kitchen counter and neighbors dropped by to share stories about Joe and feed their grief with casseroles. Brett and Ray shook hands and accepted regrets, although the tension between them was palpable. But they’d come to a silent agreement that they wouldn’t air differences or discuss the future today.
Finally everyone left, Mama Mary packed the food in the fridge and they were alone.
Maddox poured himself a whiskey and offered his brothers one. When they all had drinks, he cleared his throat. “I don’t know what you two have planned, but Dad’s lawyer wants us to meet for the reading of the will.”
“Why?” Ray asked. “We all know Dad wanted you to run the ranch.”
Maddox sipped his drink, measuring his words. “Dad wanted the three of us to mend fences. If you want part of the ranch, it’s yours, too.”
Ray shook his drink in his hand, the ice clinking. “I’ll stay for the reading.”
Brett downed his whiskey. “Me, too.” He set his glass down. “But right now, I think I’ll saddle up and take a ride.”
Brett always had worked out his problems on a horse.
“I’ll be back later.” Ray didn’t explain where he was going, but he preferred a bar stool at the local honky-tonk when he was upset, so Maddox assumed that was where he was headed.
Maddox stepped outside and looked across the ranch, struck by the silence.
Soon his brothers would leave for good. His father was gone.
And he’d be alone.
Hell, he’d always liked being alone. He had his job. The land, the horses and cattle, the hard work. Horseshoe Creek was home and it had always been enough.
It wasn’t enough now.
He wanted more.
His father’s words about opening himself up and finding someone special echoed in his head.
He had found someone special. Rose.
And he’d fallen in love with her when he was investigating the reason behind her attempted murder.
So what was he going to do about it?
He headed back inside and studied the pictures on the mantel. His mother and father’s wedding photo made his chest pound. The frame was broken, and they’d had their share of problems, but on the day they’d married, you could see the love shining in their eyes.
If he confessed his love for Rose, would she reject him? Or could she possibly feel the same way?
She’d made love to him as if she’d wanted him, as if she cared for him. But...she’d been vulnerable and scared then.
He sucked in a sharp breath as an idea struck him. There was something he wanted to give her. Well, two things...
He climbed the steps to his father’s room and opened the jewelry box holding his mother’s engagement ring. It was a beautiful solitaire diamond in an antique setting.
Remembering his father’s words, he stuck it in his pocket.
Too restless to wait, he drove by his office and picked up the little jewelry box with the ballerina that the crime team had taken from her parents’ house.
But a case of nerves clenched his stomach as he parked at Trina’s apartment, where Rose had been staying. He’d never fallen in love, never done anything this impulsive.
But the thought of being with Rose made him crazy inside.
His heart hammering, he walked up the sidewalk. For a moment, fear clogged his throat and he started to turn around and head home.
But he summoned his courage and rang the bell.
Seconds later, the door opened, and Trina answered. A look of surprise, then concern, darkened her face. “Sheriff, is something wrong? Did Redding get out of jail?”
“No, no, he’s still locked up and will be for a long time. I’
m here to see Rose.”
Trina arched a dark brow. She looked so different from Rose, with her spiked black hair and funky clothes, that it was hard to believe they were sisters.
“I’m afraid she’s not here.”
Disappointment flooded Maddox. “Do you know where she went?”
Trina shook her head. “She didn’t say. She just said not to wait up on her. That she was looking for a new place to live.”
“She’s moving?”
Trina nodded. “This place is too small for both of us. I suggested we take the business and relocate to another town. You know, get away from this place where all the bad happened.”
He didn’t blame them. Rose had been through hell.
But his heart lodged in his throat. If Rose planned to move away, then she must not love him.
And he loved her too much not to let her go.
* * *
ROSE HOPED SHE wasn’t going to make a fool out of herself.
She was grateful to have found Trina and to have a sister. They’d missed so much of each either’s lives that neither of them wanted to miss another moment.
But she missed Maddox, and had never felt more complete than when she was with him.
What she’d thought she’d had with Thad was infatuation based on lies. Maddox was real.
Strong. Caring. Protective. Loving. Devoted to his family. The kind of man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.
And when Trina suggested relocating, Rose had known she couldn’t go. She’d moved all her life. She wanted a home now. A real one, with Maddox.
She parked her car, tucked the gift she’d brought him under her arm and climbed out. But as she walked up to the porch, she noticed his police car was missing.
Disappointment flared inside her, but she decided to leave the gift for him to find when he returned. If he came to thank her personally, it would be a sign that he missed her as well.
Just as she reached the porch, car lights flickered up the drive and Maddox pulled to a stop. She froze on the steps, the gift box in her hand.
Maddox climbed from the car, a look of surprise on his face. “You’re here?”
She offered him a tentative smile although her knees were knocking together. “I have something for you.”