Rose(62)

“But why would he go to so much trouble for two ex-Confederate soldiers?”

There was no reason not to tell him the truth. Not now.

“I told him I was going to marry you. I didn’t think he’d send them otherwise.”

Rose nearly choked on the words. He would certainly be furious at her now. It was bad enough that she had made them beholden to Grant, but to do it with a lie!

“Now that’s what I call clever thinking,” Salty said.

Rose knew he was trying to help her, trying to dispel some of the tension, but it wouldn’t work. Jeff would never forgive her. She didn’t know about the twins, but George was the only one who mattered to her. She expected to have to leave, but it would break her heart if she had to go with him furious at her.

George still looked somewhat stunned, but he pulled himself together. The knot in her stomach loosened a little when she saw a trace of warmth flicker in his eyes. “There’s no way we can thank you for what you’ve done,” he said, his voice noncommittal, his smile only slightly mechanical. “You have our eternal gratitude.”

Just like he was making a speech, Rose thought. Maybe he would use this as an excuse to get rid of her. Well, they wouldn’t do it just yet. She’d make them think about it. They had that boar to dress and dinner to eat. The Randolphs weren’t men to do anything on an empty stomach.

“I don’t have time to get dinner ready before you start on that hog,” Rose said, “but I’ll heat up some stew to tide you over. It’ll be ready by the time you’ve washed up.” She disappeared inside the house.

“Did you know her father was a Yankee officer?” Jeff demanded of George. He had barely waited for Rose to leave before he questioned his brother.

“Yes,” George answered, his mind more on Rose than his answer.

“And you still hired her?”

“Yes.”

George realized there was a threat to Rose, and he felt a calm settle over him as his mind prepared to lay a protective cordon around her.

“Then you can be the one to get rid of her, right now,” Jeff stormed.

“We should talk about this,” Hen said.

“There’s nothing to talk about,” Jeff said.

“I think there is,” Monty added.

“Let’s wait until after dinner,” George suggested. “We’ll think better on a full stomach.”

“How can you eat when a Yankee’s cooking our dinner?”

“Jeff, you lost your arm, not your brain. If you think she’s going to poison you, don’t eat. But I don’t see how her father being Grant’s friend is going to affect her cooking.”

“I’ll still wait outside.”

“If any of you feel like Jeff, just say so.”

“I don’t care about no Yankee. Rose is nice,” Zac stated. “You’re not going to send her away, are you?”

“It looks like we’re going to have to talk about it.”

“It’s all your fault,” Zac said, turning on Jeff. “I hate you.” He pummeled his brother with his fists, then ran inside when sobs threatened to overpower him.

“I don’t care what you do about her,” Tyler stated before following his little brother inside.

“Why did you hire her?” Hen asked. “You know how Jeff feels.”

“She was the only person for the job.”

“But—”

“And I never planned for any of you to find out about her father.”

“But—”

“It doesn’t matter. She was born in Texas. She’s more Southern than we are.”

“You don’t have to yell at me,” Hen said. “I’m not trying to throw her out.”

George realized he had raised his voice, but he couldn’t help it. Just thinking about the injustice of the situation made his temperature boil.

“You’ve already judged her. Her father fought for the union   so she’s a Yankee. What about other families with divided loyalties? They haven’t been judged guilty by association.”

“What are you getting so mad about?” Monty asked. “You sure you aren’t starting to like her?”

“Monty, there’s a lot to be said for you, but there are times when you’re as insensitive as that boar. She knew who those men were when they rode up today. She also knew all of you hated Yankees, because I told her. Yet she chose to use her connection with Grant to protect this family even though she knew we might force her to go back to Austin.

“Now I consider that an act of courage, the action of a person of character and deep convictions. I admire that in anyone, and their being a Yankee doesn’t change it. You can stay out here if you like, but I think in light of what Rose has done for us, you owe her your courtesy and respect. If you can’t give it, then by all means, stay outside.”