Winter's Rose Chapter Two
It was still dark when Heath opened his eyes. He had been sleeping in Rose's brother's bed, and while it was smaller than he was used to he had a good nights sleep. He frowned slightly and climbed out of bed. Climbing out of bed, he slipped his trousers on and then lit the lamp in his room. His eyes widened in surprise as he realized there was snow blocking every inch of the window. He threw his shirt on, grabbed the lantern and hurried into the living room. He opened the shutters that covered the living room windows and found the same thing, except the snow did not reach the top of the window. For all intents and purposes, he and Rose were snowed in.
Heath quickly checked in on Miss Diamond and found her awake. "Looks like we're snowed in."
"There's plenty of food in the kitchen cellar." Rose smiled as she propped herself up against her pillow. The young woman would have gotten up, but she still felt rather weak. She'd tried that yesterday and paid for it by falling to the floor. Heath had found her, and then put his foot down insisting that she stay in bed for another couple of days. Knowing Heath would also be worried about his horse, Rose pointed towards the bedroom door. "If you go back to the bedroom you're using, my brother had a pair of snowshoes. You can go upstairs and climb through the window from the storage room. After that you can make your way to the barn; I doubt the snow is blocking the loft door. You can check on your horse. I'd appreciate it if you would also check on my and my…" her voice choked up a bit and then continued, "My late brother's horse also." She would have preferred to do it, but saw no other choice but to ask Mr. Barkley to do it.
"No problem," Heath said as gave her a small crooked grin and left the room. Once outside Rose's bedroom, he retrieved the snowshoes, crossed the living room and climbed up the stairs that led to the two rooms that sat on the second level of the home. When he found the first door led to another bedroom, he went to the second door. It did indeed lead to the storage room he'd been instructed to take. Putting the snowshoes and his coat on, Heath made his way out of the window and over to the barn. The loft doors were indeed assessable. He hurried inside, removed the snowshoes and climbed down he ladder.
"Here boy," Heath found some oats and fed them to Charger. "Here boy, eat this." He smiled as his horse ate the food offered without further urging. He then fed the other two horses. He checked the barn was secure and plenty of hay bedding to keep the animals warm before heading back up to the ladder and the connecting roofs. Heath retied the snow shoes and maneuvered his way back into the Diamond home and then into the kitchen. With Miss Diamond still bed ridden, he had to get something for them both to eat. For the young woman, Heath figured he'd best stick to soup. Once he had the soup mixed and cooked he took it into Rose.
"Here." He handed her the bowl of soup, along with a spoon. "You need to eat."
Rose, who had smelled the food cooking, was amazed a man would not only step into a kitchen, but actually come out of it with something edible, smiled and thanked him. As she ate she asked about his family and the fact that they were, most likely, very worried about him. "I might be eternally in your debt, Mr. Barkley, only the idea of your family being put through all the worry they must be going through right now; it has to weigh heavily on your mind." She said the words as she looked down at her hands.
Thinking she was feeling guilty, Heath said, "Don't go blaming yourself. There's nothin' you can do about it." Heath said then stood up and walked over to the window still blocked by snow. He was going to have to dig his way out. After that? He turned and looked at Rose. With no one but her in the home, Heath believed he needed to take her back to the ranch and then have Jarrod notify some of her living relatives.
"It's not good for you to be out here by yourself." Heath turned around and looked at Rose. "As soon as your able to travel, we can travel to the ranch where my family lives. Jarrod can wire your relatives. My brother…"
Rose pushed her self up further on the bed and interrupted him, "I'll go with you to your ranch, but only long enough to get on my feet and a place of my own. I have no wish to live with the only relatives I know about!" she snapped.
Heath was shocked by her quick and very firm objection. "That bad?" Heath frowned as he asked the question.
Rose turned her eyes away and, after she'd regained her composure, then looked back. She set the empty bowl of soup on the nightstand and laid back down on her side and answered, "Depends on who you talk to, guess they're okay but they live back east in cities. They never did like the idea that my parents brought my brother and I out here. They'll want me to go back there and live with them. I'm old enough to be on my own. I'll let them know where I'm at once we get back to your ranch, but that's it." Before Heath could utter another sound, Rose was muttering something inaudible and falling asleep. He shook his head. If the young woman could fall asleep that fast, she was definitely still recovering. Heath took the empty bowl and spoon and quietly slipped out the door.
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