Monty had the grace to blush.
“I’m not going to try to tell you what to say out on the range, but everything changes the minute you ride into this yard. That goes for the hands as well,” George said to the men as they left the room.
Salty nodded his acceptance.
“Surely Rose has heard—” Monty started to say.
“She probably has, but there’s no reason she has to go on hearing it. Would you want people cussing around your wife, or the girl you were sweet on?”
“We’ll watch our tongues,” Hen promised. “We didn’t mean any disrespect, ma’am,” he said to Rose. “Monty just never pays any attention to what he says. Come on, let’s go to bed before you say something else stupid,” Hen hissed to his twin. They left the kitchen amid a sequence of fiercely whispered exchanges.
“Time for you to hit the sack as well,” George said to Zac. Tyler had left with Salty and the others.
“Can I have your bed?” Zac asked. “You promised, remember.”
“I promised to think about it,” George said. He had noticed Jeff’s sudden attention, and he braced himself. “You might as well go ahead and take it. I don’t think anybody else wants it.”
“Yippee!” Zac yelled. He jumped up, gave his brother a hug, and raced out of the room to tell everybody the good news.
“Where are you going to sleep?” Jeff asked. The anger in his voice was palpable.
“If you two will excuse me, I’ll go help Zac,” Rose said. “I don’t trust him not to sleep on the bare mattress rather than put on fresh sheets.”
George was relieved. He didn’t want Rose to have to live with the memory of whatever Jeff might say.
“I’m going to sleep with my wife,” George said. “You will agree that’s appropriate, even if she is a Yankee.”
George didn’t understand why his reply should cause Jeff to relax. He’d thought it would send him through the roof.
“I can’t imagine you’ll be happy in the loft.”
Now he understood.
“Rose and I will sleep in the bedroom.” He nodded over his shoulder to the door behind the coats.
Jeff looked thunderous.
“That’s Ma’s room!” he shouted, his face red with fury. “Do you mean to say you’d put that—”
George interrupted his brother. “Before you say anything, remember two things. First, Rose is my wife. You can’t say anything you please about her and expect me to forgive and forget. Second, you’d better say everything you have to say now. If you repeat any of it to Rose, I’ll knock you down.”
“I can’t believe you’re doing this!” Jeff exploded. “My own brother. Are you so desperate for a woman you had to get married? You could find one in just about any town in Texas. They usually seem ready to throw themselves at your feet.”
“I’m not desperate for a woman, Jeff. I have my appetites just like everybody else, but I’m not ruled by them.”
“You must be ruled by something other than your brain. If it’s not your stomach or your groin, what is it?”
“Something you’re too full of hate and fury to understand,” George said.
“Don’t tell me you love her,” Jeff said. “I won’t believe you could love a Yankee, not even if you swear to it.”
“Okay, I won’t.”
“God, I just realized. You’ll soon have half a dozen Yankee brats running about the place.”
“There won’t be any children,” George said.
Jeff stared at his brother. “What other reason could you have for marrying…her?”
“We all have Pa’s blood in our veins. Do you think I’d take a chance on fathering sons like him?”
“What did Rose have to say about that?”
“It’s none of your business,” George said, “but she agreed.”
For a moment Jeff looked nonplussed.
“But to put her in Ma’s room,” Jeff continued. “To let her sleep in Ma’s bed.”
“You know Ma would agree,” George said. “Besides, she lived here less than two years. It’s not like any of us were born there.”
“What will the twins say?”
“Nothing, and you know it. You’re the only one who can’t get over the fact Rose’s father fought for the union .”
“You’re damned right I can’t.”
“Well, you’re going to have to. Rose is here to stay.”
“You mean you’d choose that woman over your own flesh and blood?”
“If there’s any choosing to be done, you’ll do it, not me. I’ve already made my vows.”