She was finally able to go inside the house. Adam was in the library, sitting behind his desk. He was diligently working on one of his ledgers and didn't notice her standing in the doorway for a minute or two.
She patiently waited, and all the while she fought the tears gathering in her eyes.
She finally gave up trying to remain composed. She was fighting the inevitable, after all. For as long as she could remember, she'd been disgustingly predictable. Regardless of the severity of the insult or injury done to her, she could always control herself and maintain her dignity until she got home and spotted her oldest brother.
Then she would fall apart.
Today she proved to be as predictable as a downpour during a picnic. All it took was for Adam to notice her.
'Oh, sister, what happened to you?'
Mary Rose promptly burst into tears and threw herself into her big brother's arms.
Chapter 8
Mary Rose threw herself into Adam's arms and wept like a little girl. He put his arms around her and patted her until she calmed down. It took her several minutes to regain control. Then she sat on the edge of the desk and poured her heart out. She told him all the horrid details of everything that had happened to her in town. She lingered over the Catherine Morrison episode. Adam examined her injuries while he listened, calmed her with his gentle voice as he said, 'Is that so?' over and over again. In no time at all she was feeling fine again.
Her brother took her to the kitchen and washed her face so he could get a better look at the wounds to determine if stitches were going to be necessary. She held her breath until she heard the verdict, then smiled with relief over his decision. Stitches weren't needed after all.
She was finally ready to get on with the business of the day. She started to give Adam his handkerchief back, noticed it was soaked with tears and old blood, and tossed it into the laundry basket instead.
Her brother suggested she go upstairs and get cleaned up. He returned to the library to finish his work. 'Relax this afternoon, Mary Rose. You've had enough excitement.'
She chased after him. She couldn't pamper herself with a bath as long as Eleanor was sitting on the front porch fretting. She needed to get her settled in, and then she was going to take the supplies she'd purchased to Corrie. She had made the woman a promise to return today, and Mary Rose didn't want to break her word.
'I've indulged myself in childish self-pity long enough,' she told her brother. She stood in the doorway and watched Adam take his seat behind his desk once again. She noticed the ledgers were open, knew then she was interrupting his work, but decided he was just going to have to be patient a little longer. The books could wait. Eleanor couldn't.
'Don't forget to put some medicine on those cuts.'
'I won't forget,' she said. 'We need to talk about Eleanor now. She's waiting on the porch. I told her she couldn't come inside until you gave permission. Will you talk to her… in private? She wants to tell you what happened to her before you make up your mind to let her stay or not.'
Adam was surprised by the request. 'In all of your life, have you ever known me to send anyone away?'
'No, but Eleanor's a different situation. She's going to throw the family into chaos for a little while. Are you in the mood to put up with her?'
'What about your brothers? Shouldn't they have a say?'
'They'll do whatever you think is right,' she countered. 'Cole will be difficult, of course, but he'll figure out a way to avoid her until she settles down.'
Adam leaned back in his chair and gave his sister a speculative look. 'Exactly how long is Eleanor going to be staying with us?'
She couldn't look at him when she gave her answer. 'For a spell.'
'Is that right? And exactly how long is 'a spell,' Mary Rose?'
She shrugged. 'I wish I knew,' she whispered. 'Talk to her, please? She's scared. She needs a safe place.'
Adam let out a sigh. He stood up and came around the desk. 'All right,' he agreed. 'Go on upstairs now. I'll take care of Eleanor. Her last name is…?'
'Border,' Mary Rose answered. 'Shouldn't I stay down here while you talk to her?'
Adam shook his head. 'That isn't necessary.'
She started up the stairs to the second floor. Adam was almost to the front door when she turned and called out to him.
'I want to make certain she…'
He turned around and looked up at her. 'She what?'
'Apologizes to you. She insulted you, Adam, and I don't want her to come inside my house until she tells you she's sorry.'
'Oh, for heaven's sake, go on upstairs. You're giving me a headache. I'll deal with Eleanor.'
Adam opened the screen door. Eleanor was sitting in one of the wicker chairs talking to Harrison. Their other houseguest wasn't sitting. He was leaning against the post with his arms folded across his chest, looking both irritated and bored.
Adam waited until Eleanor had finished complaining to Harrison about the heat.
'Miss Border, will you come inside to the library with me? I'd like to talk to you.'
He raised an eyebrow over her reaction to his request. He hadn't raised his voice, but she acted as though he'd just shouted at her. She jumped to her feet so quickly, she toppled over her chair in the process.
Harrison reached down and straightened the chair back up again.
Eleanor started toward Adam, then suddenly stopped. She clasped her hands together. 'I can't come inside, Mr. Clayborne.'
'You can't? Why not?' Adam asked.
'Mary Rose told me I couldn't until I apologize to you. I'm sorry, truly sorry, if you were offended. I didn't believe that horrible driver. I thought he was lying to me so he could get rid of me. I certainly didn't wish to give you the impression that because you're… you know, well, that I couldn't… because that wasn't it at all. I didn't even believe that man had driven me to Mary Rose's house.'
She eventually had to pause for breath. Adam hadn't blinked an eye during her explanation. Harrison was impressed. He couldn't stop smiling. He wanted to ask her to explain exactly what Adam was, just to watch her squirm, but because he was a gentleman, he didn't give in to the urge.
Cole didn't have any such reservations. Being a gentleman obviously didn't rank high on his list. He had just reached the steps leading up to the porch when Eleanor started her convoluted apology.
'Adam's a 'you know'? What's that?' he asked her.
She turned to frown at the brother. 'I was apologizing because I didn't believe Adam was Mary Rose's brother. She only told me she had four older brothers and a mama who lived in the South somewhere, but she never gave me any details. I will admit, I never asked.'
She paused to look Cole up and down. 'Your sister was obviously jesting with me in the stagecoach when she
