Have faith. It's all for a reason…
11. Convalescence
The girl dozed lightly as they rode along, her head rested against the deputy's chest, but when they drew nearer to the outskirts of town Dimitri touched her arm to rouse her.
'We're nearly there, Roza,' he whispered in her ear, and she shifted herself into a more upright position.
The road was quiet at this time of morning, but if they were spotted it would be unwise to give the gossips anything more to talk than absolutely necessary.
They made it down the main street without incident, and Rose felt certain they were safe from prying eyes until they passed by the saloon and a voice lilted down from above.
'What have we here?' Adrian Ivara leant on the railing of the upstairs balcony smoking a cigar – effortlessly fashionable in every respect.
His eyes travelled lazily from the deputy and his charge to the riderless horse that trailed behind them.
'Perhaps you should come inside? I'm sure the sheriff would be interested to know what the two of you have been up to so early in the morning.'
Dimitri cursed under his breath before responding.
'That's actually where we were heading,' he replied smoothly, drawing the horses to a halt and helping Rose dismount.
'Miss Hathaway has had an accident and needs the attention of her mother.'
He put an arm around the young woman's back and used his other hand to support her elbow as she limped towards the hotel.
Adrian's practiced smile turned wooden when he noticed that Rose didn't flinch at the big man's touch. What was the Russian devil up to? Was he using his position to win the girl's trust so he could seduce her? The sneaky cur. If anyone was doing any seducing it was going to be Adrian himself. He watched them enter the building and took a deep, ponderous draw on his cigar. What was that old English adage? Ah yes... All's fair in love and war. It was time to make his own move or the little dark-haired vixen would be lost to him forever.
While the hotel owner brooded and schemed upstairs, Dimitri and Rose were preparing themselves for an uncomfortable conversation with Sheriff Peterson.
'This had better be good Rosemarie,' the sheriff narrowed her eyes at her daughter.
She was not happy at being woken early, and there was something irritating about the lack expression on her deputy's face – she hated not being able to read people. It made her suspicious.
'I'm sorry Alberta. It was all my fault,' the girl began.
'I have no doubt it was,' the older woman shot back. 'Now explain.'
Rose gulped, doing her best to look remorseful.
'I just wanted to get some fresh air, so I snuck out of my room at dawn and went for a ride.'
The muscle above Dimitri's eyebrow twitched, almost imperceptibly. If he didn't know what had actually happened he would have been convinced Rose was telling the truth – he'd have to keep an eye out for that in future.
Alberta made a small noise and her face turned an interesting shade of pink.
'I thought you were supposed to be keeping an eye on her, Belikov?'
'He was,' Rose explained quickly, before Dimitri had a chance to defend himself.
'Deputy Belikov saw me and gave chase. When he caught up with me I jumped off my horse, hoping to evade him on foot, but then I looked around to see if he was following me and I tripped over a rock. I sprained my ankle and landed on a cactus.'
She held up her hands as proof, then assumed an injured expression.
'The deputy has brought me to you for punishment.'
The sheriff was quiet for a moment, then hooted with laughter.
'It seems God has already punished you and saved me the trouble,' she said, indicating to Rose's bandaged mits, struggling to hold back another laugh.
The girl shot her a petulant look, though she was secretly rejoicing at the fact she'd been able to dupe the shrewd old fox.
Eventually, Alberta calmed down enough to speak.
'Well, I suppose that lets you off the hook, Deputy Belikov,' she said at last.
'I beg your pardon?' he asked carefully, unsure of her meaning.
'The delinquent will have to stay here with me while she recovers – you're free, for the time being at least.'
Rose opened her mouth to protest but Alberta held up a hand.
'You certainly can't ride in your condition,' she explained, 'and if that foot is sprained like you say it is, then you shouldn't be walking on it either. I won't have you burdening the deputy when he has his other duties to attend to.'
'Miss Hathaway is not a burden,' Dimitri spoke up, winning himself a grateful look from Rose.
'I am happy to watch over the girl. After all, I am partly to blame – if I'd caught her sooner she wouldn't be injured in the first place.'
Technically, it wasn't a lie.
Alberta scoffed.
'I knew she'd slip through your defences sooner or later, deputy, but you can't blame yourself. She's a wily one, and that's the truth. No. The girl needs to be resting – and she can do that best here at the hotel, where I can keep a close eye on her.'
'I really don't mind…,' Dimitri tried again.
'Shut it, Belikov. I'm the sheriff, remember. You do what I say, or I find myself a new deputy. Now, I think you need to give me a moment alone with my…'
She was cut off by a knock at the door.
'Enter!' she bellowed.
'Pardon me, Alberta,' Mr Ivara's voice was slippery as silk.
'I know you said you didn't want to be disturbed before breakfast, but there's a messenger here for you and he says it's urgent.'
'Send him in,' she gave him a wearied look. 'Oh, and sort out an extra bed for my room while you're at it, will you? Rose will be staying here with me for the next few days.'
Adrian flashed a broad smile.
'Anything for the little lady,' he answered, exiting the room with an air of triumph.
Luck was on his side. He would definitely place a large sum of money on the card tables tonight.
Shortly, there was a rap on the door and a boy of about thirteen entered the room. Recognition flickered across Alberta's face and she accepted the note she was given without a word, frowning at the message within.
'Rose, the deputy and I need to speak privately. Can you see yourself out?' her voice was tense.
'But…,' the girl attempted.
Alberta raised a warning finger.
'No buts. Leave us,' she commanded, and Rose stood grumpily, allowing Dimitri to escort her to the door.
As soon the door was closed, the sheriff looked to her deputy, fiddling with the note in her hands.
'I've got a job for you. An old acquaintance of mine is in trouble. There's a man bothering her daughter and she can't get the brute to leave them alone. There's no father on the scene to look out for them, so I want you to go and sort out the mess.'
'I have no problem dealing with a man who hassles unprotected women,' Dimitri answered solemnly. 'Where will I find the ladies in question?'
When Alberta answered, the big man's cheeks flushed red.
'We're not going to have a problem are we, Deputy?' Alberta eyed him coldly. 'All women deserve to be treated properly, wouldn't you agree?'
'Of course,' Dimitri found his tongue. 'I'm just not accustomed to keeping such company.'
The sheriff showed him no mercy.
'Our line of work takes us places we'd never expect, Belikov – so deal with it or find another job. Do we have an understanding?'
He nodded.
'When do you want me to leave?'
'Immediately. Not a word to Rose, though. She loves to make a show of being churlish and disobedient, but I can see she's grown fond of you in her way. There's no sense worrying her with the details. And remember to be careful. Rhonda doesn't scare easily and this man's got her spooked. Just make sure he doesn't get the better of you – I'll be wanting my deputy back when all's done and dusted.'
Dimitri nodded once more.
'I'll see you when then job is done, sheriff,' he announced, standing and putting on his hat.
The man strode towards the door then turned to add one more thing.
'Take care of Miss Hathaway, won't you?'
'Always have. Always will,' the sheriff answered gruffly, following the receding figure with a curious eye.
Rose had been waiting outside the door, trying to eavesdrop on the private conversation, and she pounced on Dimitri as soon as he exited into the hallway.
'What did she tell you? What's going on?' she hissed.
There was a deep crease between the man's eyebrows.
'I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to say,' he replied, glancing away from her uncomfortably.
The young woman looked unimpressed.
'I'm sorry, Miss Roza, but it's the sheriff's orders,' he explained, meeting her eyes once more. 'All I can say is that I'm leaving town on business for a few days. You'll be better off here in the hotel with Alberta for company while you recover anyway. You just focus on getting better, and when I get back we can talk about… what happened out on the ranch last night.'
Rose wasn't sure if he meant the strange noises they'd heard, or her accident, or how she'd woken up nestled in his arms, but she didn't want him to leave with so much unsaid. 'But…'
'Sorry, Roza,' he brushed her arm, and then he was gone.
Rose stood in the hallway feeling bereft. Dimitri had finally started to open up and let her see past his serious façade, but now he was gone as suddenly as he had arrived.
It wouldn't bother her so much if he'd just told her where he was going. Rose understood that the deputy's job was bound to take him away from Saint's Town sooner or later, but his refusal to confide in her created a rift between them far greater than physical distance. He didn't trust her. And after she'd showed so much restraint given everything that had happened out on the ranch, too. The horrible man. Rose wanted to cry. But she wanted to yell more.
'Where did you send him?' she demanded the moment she entered Alberta's room, slamming the door behind her.
'Why won't he tell me where he's going?'
'That's none of your concern,' Alberta retorted, taken aback by the severity of the outburst.
'...And what does it matter to you anyway? It's not like you could have gone along for the ride in your condition.'
'It matters because... Gah! You wouldn't understand,' the girl slumped to the ground, sticking her injured foot out in front of her and leaning her head back against the wall in frustration.
Alberta was beginning to suspect she did understand. The old sheriff might be getting on a bit but she certainly wasn't blind. She'd seen the gentle way Dimitri guided Rose into the room and made sure the girl was comfortable before taking up his own chair. How his stiff expression softened when he turned his attention to Rose, and how her eyes glanced to him when she spoke, as if seeking approval. Could the children be falling for one another?
Sheriff Peterson was a sensible woman. She wanted the best for her daughter, but realised that the best for Rose wasn't necessarily a high society gentleman with a wagon-load of cash. No. Rose needed someone strong enough to handle her wild ways, and it seemed like the Belikov man was already doing a sure enough job of that. He wasn't the perfect suitor by any means. It was clear he lacked social standing, he owned no property and had limited job prospects, but Alberta always said she could judge a man's character by the way treated his horse, and the flanks of Dimitri's stallion were sleek and glossy. If Rose joined her fate to Mr Belikov's she would be poor but well looked after. There were plenty of worse ways to live.
Alberta eyed the girl on the floor carefully.
'So, the deputy is a mighty polite man,' she began, trying to keep her tone even.
She and Rose always spoke freely with one another, but this matter required delicacy – not the sheriff strongest quality.
'He is…,' Rose was instantly on guard.
Alberta liked to talk about horses and Indians and outlaws, not the social merits of her employees.
'He has… a way about him, wouldn't you say?' the older woman probed.
Rose frowned.
'I can't say I know what you mean.'
'You must have seen it, child. He's got that steely manner that fills a good man with confidence and a scoundrel with fear... Not bad looking either,' she added, with a gleam in her eye.
'Ugh, Alberta!' the teenager looked disgusted. 'What would Hank Croft think if he heard you say something like that? And anyway, Deputy Belikov is far too young for you.'
The sheriff felt her blood pressure rising, but she was willing to give it one more chance.
'I was young once, too, Rosemarie – you can always tell me if there's something on your mind.'
Rose bristled with embarrassment.
'You know what? I don't think you were ever young. I think you came out as a nosy, troublesome old bat and just got wrinklier with age.'
Alberta sighed.
'You're a stupid, stubborn girl Rose, you know that don't you?' she said, laying back down.
The conversation was over.
At some point Adrian and the cook's boy turned up to deliver a bed for Rose, and the hotelier stayed a while to ensure the injured young woman had every comfort she desired – even assisting her to unwrap the bandages from her hands so she could bathe them in salt-water.
'Poor little sausages,' he tutted soothingly, as he unveiled the damaged fingers and palms, earning himself a small chuckle from his otherwise sombre guest.
Breakfast arrived shortly thereafter, and the sheriff scoffed her food down before becoming deeply absorbed in the pages her morning newspaper, successfully avoiding having to talk to her sulking daughter. Two hours of awkward silence passed before a gentle knock at the door made both of the convalescing women heave a sigh of relief.
'May I come in?' a high voice sounded on the other side of the door, and the next moment Natalie Dashley entered the room.
'Thank goodness,' Rose exclaimed. 'I was just wondering how Lisa is going. Please tell me you have news.'
The visitor swished over to pull up a chair beside Rose's bed.
'Positively bursting with it! But you go first. Daddy and I stopped in at the sheriff's office earlier this morning to see you but you weren't in. I thought it was strange, but it wasn't until we bumped into Mr Ivara outside the saloon that we learned you were here. I hope everything's alright?' she giggled nervously.
Rose held up her hands for Natalie to see.
'Stupid accident. Sprained my ankle too. Now I'm stuck here until I get better.'
'Oh, you poor thing!' the girl crooned. 'And here I was thinking you were off somewhere with that handsome deputy of yours,' she feigned innocence.
That was a little too close to the truth for comfort.
'Natalie!' Rose widened her eyes in warning and there was a cough from behind Alberta's newspaper.
The visitor bit her lip in apology.
'So are you ready for my news?' she hurried to change the topic. 'Wait for it... Daddy has convinced Madam Kiroy to let you see Lisa!'
The invalid squealed and flung her arms around Natalie's neck, nearly strangling her.
'I can't believe it! How? When?'
Natalie was delighted her news had hit the mark.
'You know Daddy – he always finds a way to get what he wants. He suggested we host a little morning tea to officially welcome you and Lisa back to town. We were going to hold it at the ranch, but I thought maybe we could do it at the hotel instead, seeing as you and the sheriff are both staying here? Do you like the idea?'
'I love it,' Rose squeezed the other girl's hand. 'Please tell him thank you from me. I honestly can't believe he got the old cow to break.'
'Rosemarie!' Sheriff Peterson lowered her newspaper to glare at the girl. 'Her name is Madam Kiroy,' she reprimanded.
Rose met the older woman's gaze.
'I can't believe he got the old cow, Madam Kiroy, to break,' she corrected herself, setting Natalie off into a fit of giggles.
Alberta narrowed her eyes at her daughter then raised the newspaper to hide a smirk. She didn't like the governess much either, but clearly the girls didn't need any further encouragement from her.
'So when is it going to happen?' Rose returned her full attention to Natalie. 'Tell me all.'
'I was thinking the day after tomorrow. I'm sure Mr Ivara will be glad to reserve us a private table. It will just be you, me and Lisa, plus Sheriff Peterson if she wants to come. Oh, and Daddy thought he might invite one of his colleagues along too – you know Mr O'Hara, don't you? The one that's lodging with Reverend Karp at the moment?'
The expression on Rose's face darkened.
'We've met,' she muttered. 'I know the man has been through a lot in his life, but he is seriously unpleasant.'
Natalie looked at her friend curiously.
'So you know what he did then?'
'Sorry – what?' the girl in the bed frowned. 'I know what happened to his family if that's what you mean?'
There was a gleam in Natalie's eye and her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper.
'That's only half the story. Daddy only agreed to employ Mr O'Hara as a favour to an old friend. He's trouble. Last year he hunted down one of the group who killed his parents and burned down the man's house out of revenge. He would have gone to jail for arson and attempted murder except Daddy offered to give Mr O'Hara a job and keep an eye on him – our family is on good terms with all the judges on the west coast, you know.'
Rose took a sharp intake of breath. It was obvious Christian O'Hara had his issues but this was far worse than she could have imagined. A memory came to mind of Christian fiddling with a match while she was speaking with him at the reverend's house, and the habit seemed so much more sinister now she knew what the man was truly capable of.
'It's a shame really,' Natalie added. 'He's such a good-looking specimen – in that dark and stormy way of his. If his parents hadn't gone and gotten themselves killed he would have been a real catch.'
The words hit Rose like a ton of bricks. She might not approve of Christian but she would never make light of his suffering. It was moments like this when she realised she could never really be friends with Natalie Dashley. The girl was easy enough to talk to, but at times she could be so shallow she came across as insensitive and heartless.
'I'm feeling a bit tired Natalie,' Rose lied, stifling a yawn.
'Oh – don't let me keep you up, Rosy,' the visitor stood and bustled to the door.
'I'll come back tomorrow and bring something to help you pass the time. See you then, darling!' she breezed through the door, leaving the two invalids alone together once more.
Rosy. Ugh. Rose shuddered.
Alberta rested the newspaper on her lap.
'Girls like that remind me how lucky I was to get you, kid,' she shook her head in mild disgust.
'I suppose you're not so bad either, old timer,' her foster daughter replied with a grimace.
It was a truce for now.
Rose spent the rest of the afternoon reading a book from the selection that Mr Ivara had supplied for her, and chatting occasionally to Alberta. She would have liked a change of scenery but she was genuinely tired from her late-night excursion with Deputy Belikov, and as soon as the sun went down she fell into a deep, fitful sleep.
The moment Rose closed her eyes, the Russian cowboy was there in her dreams – just the one dream, actually, which repeated over and over. It always started with Dimitri riding away from her without a word, and she would give chase until they arrived back at Cottonwood Creek Ranch. Christian O'Hara would be standing there watching as flames greedily licked at the wooden walls of the homestead with Lisa trapped inside, screaming for help. Sometimes Dimitri would leap from his horse and tackle Mr O'Hara to the ground or shoot him point blank with his pistol. Sometimes he would be trapped in the building with Lisa too, calling for Rose to save them. And sometimes he just kept to his saddle and looked at her. 'Sorry Roza,' he'd say, and turn his back on her as Lisa perished in the flames.
Rose felt exhausted when she awoke the next day and, to add insult to injury, Natalie turned up nice and early brandishing a bag containing the ingredients for a fun morning of needlework. Rose declined to participate in the activity, claiming her hands were still too sore from her cactus incident (they were actually feeling much better), and the captain of the sunshine brigade spent the next three hours regaling Rose with stories of what had happened in her absence, her tongue moving as fast as her needle. It was only when the visitor stood to make her farewells that she slapped a hand to her forehead.
'Silly me! I nearly forgot. Here. A note from Lisa!'
Rose snatched it greedily.
'Thanks Natalie!' she smiled, praying to God the girl would leave at once.
Fortunately, her wish was granted and moments later she was plonked on her bed, the letter open in her hands.
It was so good to see you on Monday night. I admit I had a little panic when I woke up and found you gone in the middle of the night, but I figured you were out investigating with D.L.B. Any luck? The lights were back last night – not sure if you saw them when you were here. Did Natalie tell you Victor has arranged a special morning tea for us at the hotel tomorrow? Madam Kiroy was going to come but she's got a bad head cold so we will actually have a chance to talk. I can't wait to see you. L.
P.S. Something amazing happened this morning but I have to tell you about it in person. It might be about somebody who might be staying next door and might be a complete dreamboat. Maybe. Hehe.
D.L.B? Rose pondered, then rolled her eyes when she remembered the ridiculous name Lisa had invented for the deputy. The reminder about tomorrow's party gave her a momentary thrill, but the postscript that followed put her in a right foul mood.
Gee. Who could that be about, I wonder? she thought sarcastically, and her irritation only continued to increase throughout the day until Alberta finally got sick of all the huffing and booted her out into the saloon.
'I told Adrian Ivara to keep an eye on you, so don't try any funny stuff, missy,' the sheriff warned.
Rose wasn't sure what funny stuff technically entailed so she figured she was pretty safe to do as she pleased. She was skulking towards the bar, sniffing out trouble, when a familiar figure at one of the tables motioned for her to join him.
'So did you miss me while you were gone, Rosie Posie?' Mason asked playfully.
'You wish,' she shot back, 'and if you call me that name again I swear you will regret it for the rest of your life,' she made a fist and shook it in his face.
The red-haired cowboy clutched a hand to his heart, as if it had been broken, and they both burst out laughing.
The friends chatted for a while, but Rose soon found that the more she talked to Mason, the more she wished it was Dimitri sitting opposite her at the table. The deputy wasn't as entertaining, perhaps, but when he did speak it was because he had something to say, and she couldn't help but hang on each deliciously accented word.
'Cat got your tongue, Hathaway?' Mason's voice brought her back to the present.
'Sorry Mace – just thinking about... something.'
The young man studied his companion carefully.
'Wait a second. I know that look! That's the same cow-eyes face you always used to pull when you were sweet on somebody. Who's the lucky man this time, Rose?'
'Nobody,' she glared at him.
'Did some boy from town tell you he missed you while you were gone?' he pushed.
Rose scoffed.
'The boys from town are yokels... minus yourself, of course, Mace,' she added quickly.
'Hmm… so it's someone from out of town then...,' he mused. 'Did you meet someone while you were away?'
That genuinely annoyed her.
'Absolutely not! I was protecting Lisa - there was no time for that kind of thing.'
At that moment, the saloon doors swung open and who should walk in but a scowling Christian O'Hara. Mason looked him up and down then slid his eyes back to Rose in question.
'You must be joking,' she nearly yacked up her lunch, but was distracted by a movement at her elbow.
'Hello, little lady. So you've made it out of bed at last. Is there anything I can get for you?' Adrian beamed, ignoring the strapping young lad beside her.
A wicked thought crossed Rose's mind. If Mason wanted to play guessing games then it couldn't hurt to throw him a red herring.
'Why yes, Mr Ivara,' she replied prettily. 'A glass of lemonade would be just fine, thank you.'
It was shameless, but she even batted her eyelids for extra effect.
'Consider it done!' her host moved with uncharacteristic speed to heed her request, and Rose turned to Mason with an innocent expression.
'Would you like a lemonade too? Mr Ivara squeezes it fresh for me if I ask for it,' her lips formed a sweet smile, and the cowboy narrowed his eyes.
'I think I'll stick with my beer, thanks all the same,' he muttered.
By the time Rose's drink arrived, Mason had finished his glass and he made a move to leave.
'Please don't go on my account,' Adrian urged him, setting the lemonade down in front of his quarry.
The cowboy took a step closer to the mussy-haired gentleman, puffing his chest out as he made a big show of adjusting his jacket. 'I wouldn't dream of it,' he replied, a challenge in his voice.
It had been eleven years since Mason Ashford had asked his best friend to marry him, and two years since he'd worked up the nerve to ask her to be his sweetheart. She'd refused both times, of course, but the man never quite gave up hope that one day Rose would see him as more than just a friend. Now that the charming Mr Ivara appeared to be sinking his hooks in, this might be the last chance Mason would ever have of convincing Rose that he was the man for her. It was time to make his move.
Meanwhile, Rose took a sip of the lemonade and sighed in pleasure, blissfully unaware of the new trouble she had caused.
Author's Note:
So was that complication what you expected? Predictions about where Dimitri has been sent?
I don't know who I feel most sorry for – Rose for having everyone after her while the one man she wants by her side is far away, Mason for believing that Rose is interested in Adrian, or Adrian for thinking his seduction plan is beginning to work. (If you're an Adrian fan, we'll find out more about his motivations in the next chapter – he's not a complete ass)
Finally, a message for readers who speak/read English as a second/third language - you are incredible and I am in awe of your linguistic superpowers :-) I really value everyone's feedback - so feel free to review/PM in your most comfortable language & I can have fun using Google Translate! (Note: If your most comfortable language is some form of ancient Elvish, Dothraki or Klingon we may have a problem, but I'll do my best!)
