Rose (14 page)

“General Griffin won’t be coming if there’s nobody to send him a message,” Monty said.

“There’s a lot of open prairie between here and Austin,” Hen added.

“They know where we are,” Gabe said. Rose could tell that the line of seven stern faces had shaken his courage.

“I say we shoot them right here,” Monty said.

“You’d hang,” Gabe replied, a little desperately, Rose thought.

“If anybody ever found your bodies, they’d believe it was Cortina’s bandits,” Hen said.

That was no idle statement, and the men knew it.

“There are too many of us. You’d never kill us all.”

“There’s something I think you ought to see,” Hen said. He drew his gun so fast it seemed to materialize in his hand. The men just stared at him.

“See that wasp’s nest hanging from that eave?” Hen asked, pointing to a two-inch nest about fifty feet away.

The men nodded. In the next instant Hen shot. The nest vanished. And the wasps with it.

“I would advise you to go back to Austin and forget you were ever here,” Rose said.

“We can’t let them go,” Monty objected as he drew his gun. “We got to kill all of them.”

“General Griffin will be here before the week’s out,” Gabe threatened. “There won’t be a stick left standing on this place when his men get through.”

Rose knew she couldn’t hold back any longer. She had seen what the army could do. Everything the boys had worked for, everything George had sacrificed for, could be destroyed forever. She took a deep breath.

“Then General Grant will have every one of them court-martialed and hanged.”

“You’re crazy,” Gabe exclaimed.

“General Grant has sent word to General Sheridan in Louisiana that he’s to see that the army takes particularly good care of me,” Rose announced. “He also said he’ll send full presidential pardons for George and Jeff as soon as he can arrange it.”

“Your wife’s insane,” Gabe said to George. “General Grant would never help no Southerner.”

But no one was listening to Gabe. Everyone was staring at Rose.

“I have the letter from General Grant in my pocket,” Rose said to George. “It’s the one Salty brought.”

“You’re lying,” Gabe said. “You’ve got to be.”

“You call her a liar again and you won’t—”

Hen’s elbow stopped Monty in midsentence.

“My father and General Grant were in the same class at West Point. They later fought in the Mexican War together,” Rose told him. She didn’t dare look at any of the boys. “General Grant is my godfather.”

“You’re a Yankee!” Jeff said. The hate and rage that Rose had so often seen near the surface suffused his face.

“I was born right here in Texas,” Rose told him proudly. “But that’s not important,” she said, determined not to get sidetracked until she had convinced Gabe and Cato that any attack on the Randolphs would mean grave personal danger to them. “I want your names, and a full copy of your authorization,” she said to Gabe. “I intend to forward it to General Grant along with your assurance that you won’t take any action against this family until the pardons arrive.”

They handed over the papers without protest.

“Make a copy,” George said to Jeff.

“I still think we ought to shoot them,” Monty said.

“They’re going to go back to Austin to tell the land office there’s no need for further investigation,” Rose said. “They’re also going to report that they have been given incorrect information. Then they’re going to see that the correct figures are written into all the proper documents. Is there anything I’ve left out?”

“I think that about covers it,” George said, unable to take his eyes off Rose.

“Would you like to see my letter?” Rose asked as she took
an envelope from her pocket and handed it to Gabe. “I don’t want you to have any doubts about the truth of what I’ve said.”

Gabe took one look at the first line, then the signature, and turned dead white.

“Your father was that Thornton?”

“Yes,” Rose replied.

“Holy shit! Griffin will skin us alive if he finds out we bothered this woman,” Gabe hissed to Cato, who took one glance at the letter and agreed.

“I would like the letter back.”

“Sure, Mrs. Randolph. And you can be sure we’ll get the tax records straight. Might not be no more than thirty dollars tax on this place. Nobody can believe anybody would own so much land. Most people just run their cows on it for free.”

“Remember, I plan to write that letter tonight.”

“You won’t be bothered, ma’am. Ain’t nobody anxious to annoy General Grant or General Sheridan. Everybody knows his temper is something awful.”

“And the taxes?”

“You don’t have to pay them till next year.”

“That man must have a mighty comfortable job to protect,” George said when the land officers had ridden off.

“One that lets other people’s money find its way into his pockets,” Salty added.

“I still think we should have buried them both under the nearest creek bank,” Monty said.

“Rose dealt with them much more effectively,” George said.

All eyes turned toward Rose.

Why did she feel as though she should slink away in shame? She fixed her gaze on George. There was none of Jeff’s rage or hate in his face. Only stunned surprise and speechless silence.

And questions.

“I wrote him after you hired me and posted the letter that night,” she said to George, sure of what he wanted to know. “I never thought he would answer. He left Texas after the war.
Daddy thought he’d never hear from him again after he was asked to resign his commission. He probably wouldn’t have if he hadn’t needed Daddy to write a letter to get his commission restored.”

She took a deep breath and let some of the tension flow from her body. Now they knew. They could do as they would.

“I was bluffing about writing a second letter. He wouldn’t answer.”

“But the pardons?” George asked.

“I knew about the
ironclad
oath. I figured you’d need the pardons someday. I didn’t see any harm in asking.”

“But why would he go to so much trouble for two ex-Confederate soldiers?”

There was no reason not to tell him the truth. Not now.

“I told him I was going to marry you. I didn’t think he’d send them otherwise.”

Rose nearly choked on the words. He would certainly be furious at her now. It was bad enough that she had made them beholden to Grant, but to do it with a lie!

“Now that’s what I call clever thinking,” Salty said.

Rose knew he was trying to help her, trying to dispel some of the tension, but it wouldn’t work. Jeff would never forgive her. She didn’t know about the twins, but George was the only one who mattered to her. She expected to have to leave, but it would break her heart if she had to go with him furious at her.

George still looked somewhat stunned, but he pulled himself together. The knot in her stomach loosened a little when she saw a trace of warmth flicker in his eyes. “There’s no way we can thank you for what you’ve done,” he said, his voice noncommittal, his smile only slightly mechanical. “You have our eternal gratitude.”

Just like he was making a speech, Rose thought. Maybe he would use this as an excuse to get rid of her. Well, they wouldn’t do it just yet. She’d make them think about it. They had that boar to dress and dinner to eat. The Randolphs weren’t men to do anything on an empty stomach.

“I don’t have time to get dinner ready before you start on that hog,” Rose said, “but I’ll heat up some stew to tide you over. It’ll be ready by the time you’ve washed up.” She disappeared inside the house.

“Did you know her father was a Yankee officer?” Jeff demanded of George. He had barely waited for Rose to leave before he questioned his brother.

“Yes,” George answered, his mind more on Rose than his answer.

“And you still hired her?”

“Yes.”

George realized there was a threat to Rose, and he felt a calm settle over him as his mind prepared to lay a protective cordon around her.

“Then you can be the one to get rid of her, right now,” Jeff stormed.

“We should talk about this,” Hen said.

“There’s nothing to talk about,” Jeff said.

“I think there is,” Monty added.

“Let’s wait until after dinner,” George suggested. “We’ll think better on a full stomach.”

“How can you eat when a Yankee’s cooking our dinner?”

“Jeff, you lost your arm, not your brain. If you think she’s going to poison you, don’t eat. But I don’t see how her father being Grant’s friend is going to affect her cooking.”

“I’ll still wait outside.”

“If any of you feel like Jeff, just say so.”

“I don’t care about no Yankee. Rose is nice,” Zac stated. “You’re not going to send her away, are you?”

“It looks like we’re going to have to talk about it.”

“It’s all your fault,” Zac said, turning on Jeff. “I hate you.” He pummeled his brother with his fists, then ran inside when sobs threatened to overpower him.

“I don’t care what you do about her,” Tyler stated before following his little brother inside.

“Why did you hire her?” Hen asked. “You know how Jeff feels.”

“She was the only person for the job.”

“But—”

“And I never planned for any of you to find out about her father.”

“But—”

“It doesn’t matter. She was born in Texas. She’s more Southern than we are.”

“You don’t have to yell at me,” Hen said. “I’m not trying to throw her out.”

George realized he had raised his voice, but he couldn’t help it. Just thinking about the injustice of the situation made his temperature boil.

“You’ve already judged her. Her father fought for the Union so she’s a Yankee. What about other families with divided loyalties? They haven’t been judged guilty by association.”

“What are you getting so mad about?” Monty asked. “You sure you aren’t starting to like her?”

“Monty, there’s a lot to be said for you, but there are times when you’re as insensitive as that boar. She knew who those men were when they rode up today. She also knew all of you hated Yankees, because I told her. Yet she chose to use her connection with Grant to protect this family even though she knew we might force her to go back to Austin.

“Now I consider that an act of courage, the action of a person of character and deep convictions. I admire that in anyone, and their being a Yankee doesn’t change it. You can stay out here if you like, but I think in light of what Rose has done for us, you owe her your courtesy and respect. If you can’t give it, then by all means, stay outside.”

George turned on his heel and marched inside without waiting to see what his brothers would decide.

“He’s got us across a barrel there,” Monty said.

“Yeah,” Hen agreed.

“You can give in to George if you want, but I won’t,” Jeff said.

“I never expected you would,” Monty said, his habitual antagonism toward Jeff back in his voice. “You always were too stubborn to do what’s best for you, even when you weren’t too blind to see it. You coming, Salty?”

“In a minute. I’ve been so enthralled by the eloquence of the Randolph boys I haven’t remembered to wash up.”

Monty laughed heartily. “You must mean George. Hen doesn’t talk enough to be eloquent, and Jeff will tell you I don’t talk much better than an ignorant dirt farmer.”

“You don’t have to stay out here to keep me company,” Jeff said to Salty as Hen and Monty turned to go inside.

“I’m not,” Salty said. “I’m staying to make sure you go in to dinner.”

“I won’t. Not as long as she’s in there.”

“Suit yourself. Just know it’s not Rose you’re standing against now. It’s your brothers.”

“No, it’s not. It’s that damned Yankee woman.”

“Your brothers understand your feelings and respect them. They’ve all agreed to talk about it tonight. But they’ve told you they feel you’re wrong to treat Rose this way. They all agree on that point. If you stay out here, you’ll be slapping them in the face as much as Rose.”

“No, I’m not.”

“If you ignore their opinion in this matter, how do you expect them to respect yours in the other? You can’t have it all your own way.”

“What do you think about Rose?” Jeff asked.

“My opinion doesn’t matter.”

“I want it anyway.”

“Okay, I think she’s one magnificent woman. If I thought she’d have me, I’d propose right now.”

“But her father fought for the Union!” Jeff said, unable to believe that no one agreed with him.

“I wouldn’t care if her father was Grant himself. She’s a damned fine woman, and Texas ought to be proud of her.”

“You sound like George.”

“Your brother is a smart man. Now make up your mind. If you wait any longer, it won’t matter what you decide later.”

George was surprised at himself. He was so angry he was shaking. He knew his appreciation for Rose had increased with each passing day, but he had no idea his feelings for her had grown to such proportions. What he felt for her had gone past simple appreciation.

He liked her very much.

Maybe even more than that. If not, how could he account for his reaction to Jeff’s attack?

It had taken a lot of courage to ask Grant for pardons for two Confederate officers. When he thought of the agonizing hours ahead before she would know their decision—of the long hours it would take to process the boar, of having to put on a brave face all during dinner—he got angry all over again.

She didn’t deserve this. After what she’d done, she deserved their thanks, their unstinted approbation, their sincere gratitude.

He entered the bedroom. Zac and Tyler were inside.

“You’re not going to send Rose away, are you?” Zac asked. He had changed his clothes, but he was obviously waiting for George.

“We’re going to discuss it later.”

“Tyler wants her to go back.”

“I never wanted her here,” Tyler said. But after one glance at George’s expression, he decided to leave without saying any more.

“Well, I do,” Zac called after Tyler. “I like her a lot better than you. You like her, don’t you?” he asked George.

“Yes, I like her.”

“Don’t let Jeff make her go away.”

“We will all vote. You too. Now scoot. You know Rose depends on you to pour the milk.”

“She’d rather have you do it.”

“Well, I’m late. She’ll have to depend on you.”

Zac almost ran into Hen.

“Slow down, you little cyclone.”

He didn’t. “I got to help Rose,” he tossed over his shoulder.

“What’s gotten into him? I never saw him so anxious to do any work in his life.”

“He’s afraid we’re going to send Rose away.”

“I didn’t know he liked her that much.”

“We tend to forget he’s still a little boy. No matter how much he likes to think he’s grown up, he needs the kind of attention and tenderness Rose gives him.”

“I never thought about that.”

“Neither did I, I’m ashamed to say.”

“Why should you? He’s always busting his britches to show us how big he is.”

“Which probably makes what Rose gives him all that much more important.”

The door crashed open. “I know Jeff doesn’t look a thing like Pa, but he gets more like him every day,” Monty exploded.

“He’s not very easy to live with,” George agreed, “but I try to remember we’re more fortunate than he is.”

“So he keeps reminding us,” Monty grumbled.

“Hurry up,” George said. “I don’t imagine the next several hours are going to be very easy on Rose. They won’t be any easier if she has to spend the first hour wondering if we’re going to come to the table.”

“She knows I’ll be there,” Monty said. “With me, food comes before anything else. And that includes Jeff.”

Rose was glad to have Zac in the kitchen. Anything was better than her own thoughts.

“George said he was going to be late so I was to pour the milk.”

“Am I supposed to wait?”

“Naw. They’ll be here any minute. George was just getting mad at Jeff.”

Rose would never have believed how much her heart would leap at that news. She realized her fate depended on more than George’s opinion, but she also realized his was the only opinion that counted with her.

“We’re going to have a meeting, and I get to vote,” Zac announced.

“You’re not supposed to talk about that,” Tyler said. He was already seated at the table.