Rose(93)

“We’ll have to see.”

“That means no. You can’t fool me.”

“It means you caught me by surprise. I haven’t had time to think about it. One of the other boys may need it. If so, you could have his bed.”

“Little kids never get anything,” Zac complained. “I’m going to run away to New Orleans.”

“I hope you won’t,” Rose said. “Who would help me with dinner?”

“Not Tyler. He’ll light out the minute he sets eyes on you.”

“Did Tyler stay home with you?”

“Yeah, and he’s been a son-of-a-bitch the whole time.”

“I think I hear Monty’s influence here,” George said, giving Zac a stern look. “You’re not to use such language again.”

“Tyler does.”

“I’ll have a word with Tyler and Monty. No six-year-old should be cussing.”

“I’ll soon be seven,” Zac informed his brother. “Will I be old enough to cuss then?”

Rose nearly overset George’s gravity by giggling shamelessly.

“Not at seven, eight, or twelve.”

“Damn,” Zac said, then looked up at his brother, conscience-stricken. “I didn’t mean it,” he pleaded. “It just slipped out.”

“That’s what frightens me. I think it’s time I sent Monty on a long trip.”

“Send Jeff. I like Monty.”

That ingenuous remark had a sobering effect on George. He grew even more unhappy when he saw the expression on Tyler’s face when he emerged from the house just after they pulled up in the yard. Tyler had a bowl in his arm and was mixing something.

“What’s she doing back?” he demanded.

“We got married,” George said.

Tyler gaped at Rose for a full second, his hand arrested in the act of stirring. Then he cast the bowl to the ground and ran off around the corner of the house.

“Tyler was making stuffing,” Zac said, looking at the discarded bowl. “It doesn’t look like stuffing to me.”

“I seem to be forever apologizing for my brothers,” George said.

But Rose seemed to take Tyler’s disappearance in stride. “He’ll be back in time for supper.” She picked up the bowl, inspected its contents, then turned them out for the chickens.

“I’d better get started on dinner. The twins will be home before long. I’ll let you bring in the luggage. Zac, I need eggs and firewood. I’m sure you haven’t gotten either for Tyler. I require them right away.”

Both brothers snapped to, Zac with a good deal more alacrity than George. Zac only had to gather the eggs, split some wood, and pour out the milk. George had to plan what he was going to say to his brothers.

In the end, he didn’t have to say anything. Salty had already broken the news.

Monty rode his horse practically to the steps, leapt down, burst into the kitchen, and grabbed Rose in a bear hug. Without giving her time to drop the spoon she was using to stir a pot of beans, he picked her up, whirled her around, and gave her a big kiss on the lips.

“Thank God George came to his senses. Now I can eat again.”

“Don’t you ever think of anything but your stomach?” Rose asked, laughing.

“Yeah,” Monty replied, flashing the grin that Rose knew would someday destroy more than one woman’s peace of mind, “but I sort of got the feeling you were off-limits. Besides, you haven’t had to eat what Tyler’s been dishing up the last few days. I swear he’s trying to poison us for liking your cooking better than his.”

“Put my wife down,” George said, a slight edge perceptible in his voice. “You’re allowed a kiss, but that hug is more than brotherly.”

Monty still held Rose in his arms, her feet dangling off the floor, her chest smashed against his. The old wicked gleam flared in Monty’s eyes, and Rose feared for a moment he would bait his brother. She was prepared to ladle beans over him if necessary, but Monty smiled good-naturedly and set her down.

“I won’t cause trouble, even though it’s mighty tempting with George looking as serious as a Mormon.”

Hen stepped forward, shoving his brother aside. “I’m glad you’re back. I never thought George would make such a sensible marriage.” He gave Rose a restrained peck on the cheek.

“You can give her a real kiss,” Monty said, goading his twin. “George won’t mind.”

Hen stepped back from Rose, flashing his twin an angry glare as he did so.

“Thank you so much for your welcome,” Rose said. She felt her stomach flutter uncomfortably. “I appreciate it very much.”