and simply didn't notice her leaving the store.'
Adam nodded. He scanned each face before he spoke again. 'This cannot happen again. Mary Rose can take care of herself. I realize we aren't her keepers. She also shares the blame because she went searching for trouble. She knows better. She didn't even have a gun with her,' he added with a shake of his head. 'Our sister let her anger get the better of her. However, now that she's inside the parlor and unable to protest, I'll remind you that she is indeed delicate. She may not like her physical limitations, but that isn't important to us. She could have been killed.'
'Yes, she could have,' Cole agreed. 'Bickley's short, but he's more than twice her weight and muscle.'
'His friends were big,' Douglas said.
'His friends? There were other men hurting her?'
The brothers flinched over the roar of Adam's displeasure. Cole and Travis turned to Harrison for help. Douglas stared hard at his coffee cup.
'No one else struck her,' Harrison explained. 'I was able to convince Bickley not to run away. Your brothers would have done the same thing. I just happened to be the first to get to her.'
'How did you convince Bickley?' Adam asked. He'd calmed down enough to speak in a normal tone of voice.
'With my fists,' Harrison admitted. 'I lost my temper. I'm not sorry about that. I could have killed all of them, but I didn't. The men are being taken back to Hammond. The authorities will deal with them.'
'What makes you think the sheriff will do anything?' Adam asked.
'Are you saying he won't?' Harrison asked.
'It's doubtful. We live in Blue Belle. The folks in Hammond take care of their own. God only knows, the sheriff has enough to contend with. He'll probably slap their hands and let them go.'
'Do you think they'll come back to Blue Belle?' Harrison asked.
'Eventually,' Adam said. 'Trash always drifts through our town. I don't think Bickley will come after Rose though. You'd be his target, Harrison. I believe all of us should stay on our guards.'
The brothers couldn't agree fast enough. Adam smiled. 'I'm glad we cleared the air. Harrison, about a month ago, we purchased three hundred head of cattle from a rancher who lives near the falls. Will you be staying around long enough to help us bring them to Rosehill?'
He wasn't given sufficient time to come up with an answer. Douglas gave his opinion first. 'He doesn't know how to rope a steer, Adam. Do you, Harrison?'
'No. But I…'
'Let me guess,' Cole drawled out. ' 'It can't be all that difficult,' right? Isn't that what you said about breaking in the horses?'
'I was perhaps a bit inept,' Harrison conceded. 'However, I'm certain that if you give me a rope and show me how to use it, I'll get the hang of it in no time at all.'
'He's a glutton for pain, isn't he?' Douglas remarked.
'When are you going to realize you're completely out of your element?' Cole asked.
'Just after I smash your face in, Cole.'
Everyone laughed. They didn't think he was serious. 'Yes, sir, you sure are easy to like,' Cole said.
'Why is that?' Harrison asked.
'You're the only one who stands up to him,' Douglas explained. 'That's why he likes you. You might not be too smart, but you sure have courage. Cole isn't used to anyone talking back to him.'
Harrison shrugged. 'How far away is this rancher with the cattle you purchased?'
'About two days' ride,' Cole answered. 'You can start working with a rope the day after tomorrow. You have to finish up with the mustangs first. You've still got that stubborn one to break in. Remember?'
Harrison let out a sigh. 'I remember. The speckled one. He hasn't been ready to listen to reason yet. He's getting there though. I can feel him warming to the idea. He's a lot like you, Cole. Real stubborn. I'll probably have better luck with him tomorrow.'
'You'd already be finished if you didn't waste so much time talking everything over with the horses first. They don't understand a word you say to them. You must realize that.'
'I'm getting them used to my voice,' Harrison explained. 'They're stubborn, yes, but also frightened. I'm not the only one who talks to the horses. I've heard Douglas.'
'He's right,' Douglas admitted. 'I do talk to them.'
' Douglas, will you please go and remind Mary Rose it's her turn to clear the table? Harrison, you can have the duty tomorrow night.'
'Certainly. What does the task involve?'
'Haven't you ever had to clean up the dishes before?' Cole asked.
'No, I haven't.'
'You sure were pampered, weren't you?' Travis remarked.
'I suppose I was.'
Douglas had gotten up from his chair and walked over to the door. He paused at the threshold, then turned around and hurried back to the table.
'I'm not going in there. You go get her, Travis.'
Douglas sat down just as Travis stood up. 'She's playing Beethoven,' Douglas warned.
'Which one?' Travis asked.
'The Fifth.'
He sat down again. 'Let's send Harrison.'
All the brothers laughed. Cole explained what was amusing.
'You don't want to mess with Mary Rose when she's playing Beethoven.'
'Meaning?'
'She's in a real sour mood,' Cole explained. 'Whenever we hear The Fifth, we run the other way. You're safe if it's Mozart or Chopin,' he added. 'She's really pounding it out tonight, isn't she, Adam?'
His brother smiled. 'Yes, she is,' he agreed. ' Harrison, are you ready to go into the library?'
Harrison agreed with a nod and stood up. He followed Adam out of the room.
The two men had fallen into the habit of capping each evening with a spirited debate. Harrison looked forward to the mental sparing. The first few times he allowed Adam to win, or at least he believed he'd allowed him the victories, but eventually his own competitive nature demanded he take a few wins as well.
Debating Adam was challenging. Harrison thoroughly enjoyed it, almost as much as Adam did.
He took his seat in one of the two soft leather chairs in front of the hearth and picked up the notebook from the side table. He moved the ink bottle and pen closer to his reach.
Adam poured each of them a shot glass filled to the brim with brandy. He handed Harrison his drink and then sat down across from his guest.
Harrison propped his feet up on the footstool. 'What's our topic tonight?'
'I've given the matter a good deal of thought, and decided on the final invasion of Carthage.' He seemed to savor each word he said.
'We can't talk about the end until we have examined the beginning,' Harrison replied.
Adam slapped his knee. 'Precisely so,' he said. 'The Greeks, you must realize, were a proud and highly intelligent people.'
His opening statement established his position. Harrison countered with his thesis. 'As were the Spartans. They were also invincible fighting men, with superior skills in every area, including battle plans. Their superiority cannot be disputed.'
Thus the debate began. The two men argued for well over an hour. When Adam finally suggested a halt, Harrison counted up the points each had had to concede to the other. He and Adam were disappointed to find out the evening had ended in a draw.
Adam stayed in the library to read before going up to bed. Harrison said good night and started back to the bunkhouse.
Mary Rose was waiting for him on the front porch. Her golden hair was a beacon in the moonlight.
'Why aren't you in bed? It's late.'
'I needed some air,' she answered. 'I'll walk with you.'
