Julie Garwood - For the Roses

" Douglas hung a curtain up to separate me from the living area. We were still living in a cabin then. Anyway, I was sure I heard monsters under my bed. All my brothers but Cole tried to convince me I was imagining things.

"Cole took a different approach. He got down on his knees, looked under the bed, and then let out a whistle. 'Well, I'll be. There's a monster under here all right. Mary Rose, close your eyes real tight while I haul him out. He's too ugly for you to see.'"

Harrison and Elliott were both smiling. "Cole had already taken his gun out. He shouted to Douglas to open the door. He went running outside so I couldn't see him. Then I heard a shot."

"He killed him for you."

"Of course," she answered. "He promised me he'd let it stay there all night so other monsters would know what the Claybornes think about them, and in the morning, we'd bury it. I was very young, and of course I believed him. I made him shoot a monster about once a week. I figured I was safe then. Cole would put an empty box out on the stoop. He told me not to look inside or it would scare the curls out of my hair."

She laughed thinking about it. "I was very vain about my hair. I didn't dare take the chance. We walked across the meadow and up the first hill and gave the monster a burial. We didn't pray over him because I didn't want the thing to get into heaven."

Harrison pictured the little girl holding on to a gunfighter's hand. "You were surrounded by love," he whispered.

"Yes, she was," Elliott agreed. "Tonight you must tell me another story. I found out quite a lot about you from the letters. Your mother didn't hold a grudge. I wonder where you came by that trait?"

"I think from Cole," she answered.

"And Douglas and Travis," Harrison supplied.

"I wasn't a perfect child, Father. I complained, and I always told Mama Rose if my brothers did anything I didn't like."

"Will I have to shoot monsters for our children?"

"Of course. It's a father's duty. If we have a boy, I'll name him Harrison Stanford MacDonald."

"The Fourth," he added.

"The Fourth," she agreed.

"And if it's a girl?"

"I think I'll name her after the two women who loved me so much. Agatha Rose. It's pretty, isn't it?"

Elliott was too emotional to speak. He nodded to let her know how fine he thought the name was. And fitting.

All three of them thought about the traditions that would endure and continue.

They reached the ranch a few minutes later. His brothers wouldn't let him take Mary Rose into the bunkhouse. They wanted him to answer some questions for them first.

They weren't going to give in. Harrison sat down on the porch, pulled his wife onto his lap, and waited for the questions to begin.

Travis was first. "How did you get Alfred Mitchell to lie on the stand?"

"I'm going to give you one week to figure it out on your own. Then I'll tell you."

Douglas asked a question next. "I understand why you had me bring all the rental horses home. You wanted Lionel and Reginald to be stuck in town."

"Yes."

"You knew they'd hate it. How did you know that?" Cole asked.

"Adam told me about their way of life down south before the war came. The brothers were used to luxury. I wanted them to be miserable and start complaining."

"What else did you do?" Douglas asked.

"I talked to Billie and Henry and Dooley. Adam, you've got some loyal friends here."

Adam smiled. "Yes, I know."

"Billie fed them every meal. He made sure it was awful. Henry substituted Ghost's homemade brew for Billie to use whenever he served them, and Dooley kept track of what they were saying about folks. Then he'd tell me."

"And you'd go tell the folks what they said and get them to sign a paper?"

"No, Dooley would have already gotten them riled up. I would merely give them my sympathy and hint at possibly being willing to bring suit against them."

"Slander?" Cole asked.

"Something like that," Harrison answered.

Elliott stood up. "I'm going to get out of these city clothes. I don't believe I'll be able to figure out what you did, Harrison. You're going to have to explain about Alfred Mitchell's testimony in a week, I suppose. I know you well, son, and you wouldn't do anything underhanded."

"One week, sir. Please wait that long. Adam, how does it feel to be free? You've had the worry hanging over your head for a hell of a long time."

"It feels good," he whispered. "I don't believe I've taken it all in yet. I believe I'll go on inside and take that poem off the wall now. Tell me something, Harrison. Why were the words so special to you? You memorized them, remember?"

"I remember. I read the passage to my father almost every night. He liked it. It gave him comfort."

Adam nodded. Harrison suddenly felt drained. Mary Rose looked exhausted. He told everyone good-bye and took his wife back to their "home." He needed her to give him strength again, in body and in spirit, so that he could go out and slay the monsters again.

He stood inside the door of the bunkhouse and watched her take off her clothes. She was just about to remove her chemise when he asked her to sit down on the side of the bed.

He knelt down in front of her and took her hands in his.

"Your Mama Rose is fine. Alfred Mitchell didn't lie on the stand."

"I know. You never would have asked him to lie. Is she really all right?"

"Yes, she is. I lied to your brothers because I didn't want them to hear the truth without at least questioning it while they were sitting so close to the men who'd hurt their mother. I knew what would happen."

"What will happen to Livonia when her sons return home?"

"Sweetheart, Livonia 's dying. One of Mitchell's brothers is going to wire us when that happens. Alfred hired a man to guard her day and night. He'll watch after your mother too, but I don't think Lionel and Reginald will be in any hurry to get back. They have to be worried about facing charges."

"Why didn't you explain to my brothers on the porch?"

"What do you think Cole would have done if he'd known the truth?"

"He would go after them."

Harrison nodded. "I'm giving Livonia 's sons a week to disappear. Otherwise I might have to defend Cole on two murder charges."

She pulled her hand away from his and gently stroked the side of his face.

"Cole would do something foolish. At least I think he would. You were balancing my brothers' reaction against Adam's defense. You did the right thing."

"Thank you for trusting me."

"You needn't thank me. I believe in you. Don't you understand yet? You're part of my family now. We'll argue and bicker and kiss and apologize; we'll lecture one another and offer comfort at the same time; we'll do all the other wonderful things families do. Love is all the strength we'll ever need.

"It's what family is all about."

Dear Children,

Livonia is at peace now. She was given a proper burial last week. I stayed outside the church during the service, and then followed her to the cemetery. I stayed awhile with her after every one else had left, and I said my farewells to her. I shall miss her.

I've found a companion to travel with me, and at long last I'm coming home. There's a town in Kansas, filled with black people who left the South and settled there. I'll rest there a few days and see old friends before I continue the journey.

God keep you until I get there.

Your Mama,

Rose

Adam, dearest, I'm bringing your bride with me.