For the Roses

flames.

'Are you feeling all right?'

'Yes, of course.'

'Move away from the fire. Your face looks like it's getting burned.'

The man was an idiot. And thank God for that, she thought to herself. She scooted back from the fire, hoped her blush would eventually fade, and tried to think about something inane to talk about. She wanted him to forget all about socks.

'I'm going to have to do dishes for a week.'

'Why?' he asked.

'I didn't use the word of the day.'

'What word?'

'The word printed on the chalkboard. I don't even know what it is.'

Harrison closed his eyes and pictured the kitchen. Then he smiled.

'Infelicity.'

'You're sure?'

'I'm sure.'

'How did you…'

'Adam took me into the kitchen. I noticed the word then. I still haven't seen the cook, by the way. I don't think he exists.'

'I don't know what it means.'

'It means I think you made him up.'

'The word, Harrison. What does infelicity mean?'

'Unhappiness.'

She smiled with pleasure. 'I used it.'

'But not in front of any of your brothers,' he pointed out.

'Of course we have a cook. When he's ready to meet you, he'll show himself. Until then I suggest you give him a wide path. He's somewhat prickly. It's because he's led a life of infelicity.'

Harrison laughed. 'He's infelicitous, is he?'

'Most assuredly. You will be my witness. Testify on my behalf tomorrow night during supper.'

'Your brothers will have tried to kill me by then.'

'Why?'

'We're spending the night together.'

He couldn't believe he had to remind her of their circumstances. 'If I were your brother, I'd become angry enough to kill someone.'

'My brothers trust us,' she argued. 'Adam would never have let you come with me if he believed you were a lecher.'

'Wasn't lecher the word last week?'

'Tuesday,' she said. 'You aren't at all lecherous.'

He shook his head. 'You have been properly educated.' He caught himself before he added the thought that her father was going to be very pleased with the effort her brothers had shown.

He put his shirt flat on his saddle with the hope the air would dry it during the night and sat down on his bedroll. He leaned back against the stone wall and closed his eyes. The stone wasn't comfortable against his shoulders, but he didn't mind enough to move.

'Are you hungry?'

'No, are you?'

'No.'

She turned to look at him. 'Don't worry about my brothers getting the wrong idea. Cole's the only one who will try to make an issue out of our situation, but he'll have to work at it. He'll probably hit you. That's all.'

'No, he won't hit me.'

'He won't?'

'I won't let him. Once was enough.'

'He might not see it that way.'

'It won't matter. I won't let him hit me.'

She let out a sigh. 'I'm pleased to see you haven't lost any of your confidence,' she remarked. 'Spending the last week on your backside didn't affect your spirits at all.'

'I did not spend the last week on my backside.'

'If you say so.'

'Let's talk about something else, shall we?' he asked.

'Yes,' she agreed. 'I just want you to know that Cole is actually the easiest of my brothers to roll over for me. He's really a very nice person.'

'I didn't say he wasn't nice,' he countered. 'You've got him wrapped around your little finger, don't you?'

'No. He just doesn't like to see me unhappy. If he can take my side, he will.'

He thought his interpretation was more accurate. 'Was it difficult for you growing up without a father and mother?'

'I have a mother,' she replied. 'Mama Rose.'

'Why doesn't she live with you and your brothers?'

'She can't… not yet. She'll join us as soon as possible.'

'Do all of your brothers call her Mama?'

'Yes, they do. Why do you ask?'

'I just wondered. What about your father?'

'I don't have one of those.'

'Don't you miss having one?'

'How could I miss what I've never had?'

Mary Rose decided her blouse was dry enough. She folded it and put it behind her, then went to work on her skirt.

Harrison watched her every movement. He thought she was an extremely graceful woman, wonderfully feminine and yet very practical. It was a fascinating combination.

'You're as unspoiled as your paradise.'

'I am?'

'Mama Rose is Adam's mother, isn't she?'

'And mine as well.'

'But she gave birth to Adam.'

'Yes. How did you know?'

'Simple deduction. She lives in the South. You've never seen her, have you?'

'Not deduction, you guessed,' she countered. 'You don't know where my other brothers came from. They could have lived down south too. No, I haven't ever seen Mama, but I know her very well. She writes to me at least once a week, sometimes more. She never misses, not once since I started writing to her. During the war, when I was too young to read or write, she did miss sending letters a couple of times. I don't remember the time, but my brothers were very worried. She survived, of course, just like we did. When the time is right, she'll join us.'

'But the time isn't right yet.'

'No.'

The quickness in her reply told him not to press the issue. He let it go.

Several minutes passed in companionable silence. He kept thinking about how pretty she looked wearing his shirt.

She kept thinking about how awful she'd looked wearing her brother's socks.

'What are you thinking about, Harrison?'

'How pretty you look.'

She laughed. 'You've been away from the city too long if you think I look pretty tonight. My hair's a mess and