Heart Rose
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Rose was in her room when Tom entered. They were alone together at last and he could not contain his joy. “I’m so glad I found you here,” he said, giving her a hug and kissing her on the cheek.
“It’s nice to see someone as happy as me.” She turned toward him with a smile. The way she moved made Tom think about what they had done and how much it meant to him. He wanted to be able to share it with others, but for now, all he could do was keep quiet about their secret love affair. “Did you find what you were looking for?”
“Yes.” He pulled out a small wooden box from his pocket and handed it over.
She opened it quickly. It contained a ring that looked like two diamonds connected by gold chains. “Where did you get this? This isn’t even my size.”
He shrugged. “It’s nothing special.”
“No—it is.” Rose ran her finger over the ring, admiring its beauty. “Tom, why don’t we try again today? Let’s have another wedding ceremony.”
“You mean a real one? We’re going to tell your folk’s first thing tomorrow morning,” he said with excitement.
“That sounds good. How soon can we go back home?” Rose asked, suddenly remembering where she was supposed to be tonight. There would be no time to talk to anyone before she left for the train station.
“Not until after dinner,” he told her.
After lunch, they walked out of the house and down the porch steps. Tom had brought his rifle along and he held it casually against his shoulder as he strode behind Rose. Her parents watched them closely from inside, but neither spoke up, probably thinking that the young couple was just strolling outside for an afternoon walk. But Rose knew better.
Once they reached a large field, Tom stopped and waited for Rose to catch up. When she was beside him he gave her the ring. “I want you to wear it forever,” he whispered into her ear.
They embraced once more and shared tender kisses. Then they separated and went around the corner of the pasture away from the house and headed east to a spot that was secluded by trees.
As soon as they arrived there Tom took out his pocket watch. “How long should we wait before returning?” he asked. “The sun will be setting soon.”
“We’ll be fine until then if it’s only a few minutes. If we need longer, maybe we can come back later or tomorrow,” Rose answered, feeling a little nervous.
He kissed her passionately again and they spent the next hour kissing, holding each other, and talking about their new life. “You know, I think our baby might be a girl,” he teased.
“A boy would be nice too,” she responded playfully.
“You’re sure?” He was pleased that she didn’t seem upset at the idea of having a son.
“Yes, but I’d rather have a daughter.” She placed her hand on her belly again, but still felt nothing. The doctor had not yet examined Rose’s stomach. They planned to go to New York sometime next month. “But either way, I feel very blessed already.”
“So am I,” Tom replied, giving her another kiss and caressing her cheek.
When the sun finally set, they returned to the house and made a hasty excuse for being late. Tom had not been able to hide his excitement during their entire afternoon walk, making it hard for Rose to conceal her emotions.
He couldn’t stop thinking about their child and wondered who could have created such a miracle. His wife was carrying his baby. A part of him knew they needed to keep their affair a secret from everyone else.
After all, they had no proof of anything. Rose could have gotten pregnant with someone else. Or maybe his baby was fathered by another man. He wasn’t going to let doubts ruin everything that was happening, but he knew it was impossible to stay silent.
Back in the parlor, Rose’s father gave Tom a friendly smile. “Welcome to our family.” He put his hand on Tom’s shoulder. “I hope you’ll make yourself at home while you visit us.”
Rose’s mother stood nearby, looking at both her daughters with interest.
For a moment Tom forgot how cold Rose’s sisters often treated him because of their feud. Now that their relationship had changed, he realized that he cared for them deeply. “Thank you, Mr. Browning,” he said sincerely, shaking her father’s hand. “And thank you, Miss Smith.”
“Are you staying here in the guesthouse?” Rose’s younger sister asked.
“We plan to move into the larger house soon,” Tom told her.
Her face lit up instantly. “Then it’s settled! We’re all moving in together,” Mary said, throwing her arms around him.
Rose’s parents exchanged glances and shook hands. Their children had always been close, even when they fought. They had never known that Rose would be marrying another man. But now that the truth was revealed, they didn’t appear shocked.
Mary and Rose hugged again. Both women cried softly for a few moments. Then they parted, wiping their eyes with tissues they pulled from the folds of their sleeves.
“I’m so happy for you two,” Mary told Rose, giving her another hug. “And it’s great news for me too. We won’t have to share the room anymore. That’s what we’ve been fighting about lately.”
Rose laughed as her father joined them and they all shared some laughs. It was good to see Rose laughing again instead of always being somber like she used to be. She had been through a lot since the death of their mother a year ago and this was a turning point for her. For years she had lived alone and suffered silently. But now Tom was bringing her peace, happiness and hope.
“Tom, I’d like to introduce my husband-to-be,” Rose’s mother said to him.
“Nice to meet you, sir. And congratulations on your new job,” Tom replied, extending his hand.
“Thank you for helping our daughter,” Mr. Browning told him. “It takes courage to stand up for a woman like Rose. I admire that about you.”
After the formal introductions were made, Tom excused himself to use the restroom. The others watched him head down the hall but he heard his wife say, “Let’s go upstairs where it’s warmer.”
They headed toward the stairs leading up to the second floor, but Tom turned left and went to the end of the hallway, where there was a door marked “private.” He unlocked it and opened the door to discover an enormous room with a king-size bed in one corner along with a large desk. The windows faced eastward over the mountains. “This is wonderful,” he said.
She was wearing her nightgown, but it looked better on her than any expensive dress. “We don’t want the others to see us, do we?”
“No, they’ll just make more fun of us if they see us,” Rose admitted, blushing slightly. He had a feeling they weren’t going to sleep tonight, even though it was early evening.
He closed the door behind them, locking it. “Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked nervously. Her heart was pounding loudly.
“Like what?” he replied, unable to take his eyes off her beautiful body.
She smiled. “I don’t know…like you’ve never seen me before.”
“That can’t be true,” Tom answered, cupping her chin in his palm. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.” He lowered his mouth to hers. Their lips touched, gently at first until he felt her lips open for him. A fire seemed to shoot through his veins as their tongues entwined. Then Rose reached beneath his shirt and ran her fingers lightly across his back.
“Oh!” Tom gasped, pulling away. She had surprised him with her touch. “I’m sorry, I—”
“Don’t apologize,” Rose said softly, reaching for his hand. “Come with me, please. Let me show you what you can do.”
They undressed each other, stripping off their clothes without hesitation or embarrassment. They kissed passionately, their hands roaming over every inch of each other’s bodies.
“What are you doing to me? Your kisses are so hot!” Rose exclaimed as Tom pressed against her and rubbed her breasts. “You’re going to get me pregnant again, aren’t you?”
“As if I could resist,” Tom said between breaths. “I love kissing you.” He pulled her into another passionate kiss, tasting the saltiness of her tears, which had run down her cheeks as they embraced each other. She had been through so much recently, but now she was finding peace and contentment. This was the happiest time in her life and Tom planned to make sure she enjoyed every moment of it.
Their passion grew until it was almost out of control. He wanted her badly, but not like this. He needed to give her something special—something intimate and private. Something they hadn’t shared yet, but that he knew was possible because it happened with his previous wife.
“Wait, stop,” Rose murmured in a warning. “Please, let me show you something.”
“Just a second,” Tom said, pulling away briefly. “But don’t worry, I’ll still love you when it’s over.”
The door was locked, so he assumed the others couldn’t hear anything happening in the room. He pulled her by the hand toward the bedroom door and shut it behind them. The only sound was the creaking of the springs coming from the bed.
Rose took his hand and led him into the bathroom, which was separated by a thin panel of wood. “There’s a window in here,” she told him quietly. “And the mirror is cracked on top of the sink. That way we won’t have to look at ourselves.”
“I think we both need to see what’s in front of us,” Tom said as he unbuttoned her gown. “You’ve got such a pretty body, Rose. So soft and sweet.”
“Is that why you married me?” she asked, smiling as she watched him pull off the last button.
“Yes, because of you,” he replied, running his hand across her bare stomach. She gasped and grabbed his hand, but then released it. Then she turned around. When Tom saw what he was staring at, he froze, unable to breathe for a moment. But Rose’s laughter gave him courage. “It’s all right. I’ve done this before, remember? Now turn around and put your arms above your head.”
“Are you serious?” Rose teased.
“As a snake, ma’am,” he promised.
“Oh, yes, that reminds me, I forgot to tell you,” Rose said, reaching for his belt buckle. “Tommy likes snakes.”
Tom didn’t respond to her joke. He was trying to figure out what had happened to the girl who was afraid to bathe alone. His curiosity made him forget about everything else, including his anger. He wanted to find out how many times Rose had done this.
When she finished undressing, she reached for his clothing. As she lifted his pants up over his hips, he caught a glimpse of something he wasn’t expecting. It shocked him, taking him by surprise. “What’s wrong?” she asked in alarm as he started to laugh.
“That’s it!” he shouted, laughing harder. “How did I miss that before?”
“I didn’t mean to do it!” Rose cried.
“Stop apologizing,” he laughed even louder. “This is the most wonderful thing I’ve seen!”
Rose smiled and reached for his shirt collar and began to unfasten his buttons. She leaned over and kissed him as he removed the last piece of clothing covering his chest. He ran his hand through her hair as their kisses became more intense, then pulled away, breathing heavily.
***
Tom opened the bedroom door and stepped inside. Their guests were sitting in the living room talking, drinking tea and eating biscuits.
He quickly closed the door behind them. “We have company,” he announced. “Now get dressed and come join us.”
His wife and son were standing near the fireplace in the middle of the room. Both men looked up in shock when they saw him and Rose emerge from the bedroom. The two women exchanged a confused glance after watching Tom walk toward them wearing nothing but his boxer shorts.
Rose was wearing a long white cotton dress that came down past her knees and tied around the neck with a ribbon. There was nothing beneath the dress, except for a matching pair of panties, which Tom realized when he saw how her breasts strained against the material.
And he noticed the lace on the front of her bra. Her legs were bare. She wore no stockings or shoes; her toes were painted pink. But her smile was what drew his attention.
She moved closer, giving them a better view of her beautiful face.
“I’m sorry,” Rose apologized, stepping aside so the two men could enter first. “I know you probably thought I’d never be ready.”
Both men nodded solemnly, then went to sit on the sofa.
After taking their seats, Tom said, “You’re late.”
“I apologize,” Rose replied politely, “but I had some things to take care of.”
Tom glanced at Rose, but then looked away in disgust. “If you’re too busy to spend time with your family, maybe I should hire another woman for the job.”
Rose was surprised by his words and his obvious dislike of her. She stood up in alarm when she saw the look in his eyes. “No, it’s not like that at all,” she insisted. “I just want you to understand—”
“Don’t worry about me,” Tom snapped. “But now it looks like my work is done.”
“Work?” Rose exclaimed as he picked up a gun lying on a nearby table and placed it in the pocket of his trousers. He took several books off a shelf and handed them to Rose. “You’re going back to town, aren’t you?”
“The marshal will pay for our trip,” he replied as he rose to his feet and walked into the other room where Tommy was waiting for them.
Rose followed them and was stunned to see Tommy sitting on top of one of their dining chairs. His eyes were fixed on a toy horse that was hanging in mid-air from a string attached to its tail. “What are you doing?” Rose asked. “Get down from there.”
“He’s having fun,” she heard her husband reply as he sat next to his son. “Come on, we don’t have all night.”
With that, Rose picked up the toy horse and put it on the floor.
“Good,” Tommy said happily. “Now get out of here!”
Her heart pounding, Rose hurried to the kitchen. She poured herself a glass of iced tea from the pitcher sitting on a counter and sipped it slowly as she watched the three men play with their son.
The longer she waited, the more nervous she felt, wondering if anyone was still following them. Had the man who attacked her ever escaped? Or had someone else taken his place? It couldn’t be him, could it? If he found out where they were staying, wouldn’t he go straight to Tom and tell him about this little rendezvous?
Tom returned from the other room carrying a basket of laundry. “I’m going upstairs,” he announced. “I’ll see you later.”
It sounded to Rose like he wanted to get away from everyone. That was understandable, considering how much trouble he was in with the law for killing two men, she decided. Still, Rose wondered why he didn’t mention the dead marshal. Why hadn’t Tom told any of his friends about the crime?
“Are you leaving already?” she called to her husband. “Where are you going?”
“I’m heading home,” he yelled back. “Maybe I can find some answers there.”
A few minutes later Rose saw Tom climb onto one of the saddles that hung from the walls in their barn, which served as their garage and workshop. He mounted his horse and rode slowly toward the main road leading out of town. A couple of blocks from their house, he turned east toward the train station and then headed north toward the Mississippi.
For the next hour, Rose sat alone in their living room. When she was sure the men were gone, she went to stand near the window. Through the slats in the shutters, she spotted Tom riding along the dirt road in the direction of Kansas City.
For a moment, she hesitated before deciding to follow him. As soon as she exited their front gate, Rose made a right turn and followed the narrow street toward the marshal’s office. There wasn’t much traffic, and it only took an additional ten minutes before she came across the small station where Tom would meet the train that brought his wife and son.
Rose waited until her husband reached the train platform and climbed aboard. Then, she turned left to follow the tracks through the marshall’s territory. After passing by a handful of ranch houses and ranches, she eventually saw a small building marked ‘station’ on a sign nailed to the front of a wooden shack.
The area was quiet and desolate except for the occasional train whistle, and the soft hooting of owls calling back and forth as they hunted their prey. She was thankful for the darkness so she wouldn’t see anyone watching her.
As she neared the station, Rose saw a small figure standing at the back of the building. She stopped and hid behind a large box car as a man in a black hat stepped out from under the overhang to smoke a cigarette.
“Who’s there?” the man asked as he tossed his cigarette butt to the ground and crushed it beneath his boot heel.
Rose waited a moment before stepping forward.
“Didn’t know I was coming?” he asked with surprise. “That’s too bad. Now, I guess I’ll have to catch you another time.” With that, he disappeared inside.
“Hello?” Rose whispered as she stood in the doorway, hoping he would come out again.
No one answered her. Rose glanced around, but she was alone. It was hard to see through the dimly lit interior. No lights illuminated the station or the tracks in front of it; the only illumination came from moonlight filtering in through open windows. Rose walked farther into the station, wondering if anyone else was there, and what he might do if she were to show herself.
The sound of a train pulling into the station broke the silence. Rose heard the door at the opposite end close as the man she’d seen earlier disappeared. In seconds, she realized there was no one else in the station beside her.
She ran back to their house and grabbed a flashlight that hung in the hallway closet. Next, she rushed outside to the rear of the barn where the tracks led to the river. Her pulse was racing. Did that mean she was now alone in this entire section of the country? Was the marshal’s murderer still after her?
As she neared the tracks, something caught her attention: a pair of shoes lying by a fence post. They weren’t Tommy’s shoes, since her husband never wore boots. But she recognized them as those worn by the man who’d killed Tom. How had they ended up there? Had someone found his body and carried his bloody footwear away to dispose of them somewhere else?
When she reached the railroad crossing, she noticed several sets of footprints running from the station to a nearby tree line. One set looked like her husband’s and another pair she thought belonged to her husband’s friend, Jake.
Then, there were four more prints leading straight from the marshal’s office to the tracks. At the center of these tracks lay a shoe, probably belonging to the killer.
“You’re not going anywhere,” Rose muttered, knowing that whoever murdered Tom also intended to kill her. “And neither am I.”
After making a right turn, Rose followed the tracks past the marshal’s office and through the marshall’s territory. She stopped often to listen for the slightest hint of a footstep behind her, but all she could hear were the soft sounds of night critters. She couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was following her.
At the end of the first mile, Rose paused to study the tracks. She counted twelve sets of tracks that led to various points around town. If she were to try and follow each track in both directions, she knew she’d eventually run out of energy.
That was why she chose two sets of tracks in either direction that crossed each other just north of the county jail. Then, she continued on with her eyes on the tracks and listened for every sound.
It wasn’t long before the moon rose higher in the sky, and Rose decided to return to their home for the rest of the night. She returned to their porch, pulled her gun belt off, and laid it on a chair beside the door as she prepared a small meal of cheese, bread, and fruit. It was nearly dawn when she finished eating. She then went back to bed and hoped to get an early start in the morning.
The End