The next couple of days passed by without incident. Everyone went about their normal routine as if nothing had happened, even though there was a certain tension in the air. Irene and Albert kept up with their household duties, as well as spending time with their family. Albert kept Jack and his brother busy with converting the attic while Irene helped Rose and Jolene with the children. No one mentioned the men that had visited the house. No one mentioned the threat that was made if Jolene was not delivered to the abandoned house at the edge of town. They had no idea what was coming, but it was mostly thought that whatever it was, they could handle it. After all there were three strong men in the house and the women weren't exactly helpless either. After Rose and Jack had talked about Titanic all those months ago, Janie and Jolene had her teach them how to punch. Rose had insisted that her giving that crew member a bloody nose had been a fluke, made out of adrenaline and desperation to find help for Jack, but they had insisted for her to show them, so she had, the best she could.
It was after a week had gone past that the DuBois's made their presence known.
Janie was at her secret babysitting job, helping Cal with Emma and finding herself growing closer to the child's adoptive father as well, seeing a softer side to Cal that Rose would have been shocked to know had existed.
Jolene and Irene were out with baby Jason, visiting some of the ladies of Chippewa Falls and taking orders for Irene's famous Pumpkin pies for the coming Holidays.
Rose was at home with Jake, who was up in his room drawing on the walls, having just finished a lunch of grilled cheese and tomato soup, two more dishes that Rose had managed to cook without burning to a crisp.
Jack was gone with Albert and Richie to buy more carpentry supplies.
Rose was just finishing up the dishes from Jake's lunch when Janie returned. Cal had finished his work early and she was no longer needed, so she came on home.
"I'm back, Rose!" She announced her presence, walking into the kitchen. "What are you doing?"
"Washing dishes. I made Jake some grilled cheese and tomato soup and now he's upstairs drawing. He loves his room so much. He already has a mural on his wall. He's going to be just like his father, an amazing artist!"
Janie laughed, happy to see Rose smiling again. Jake had brought an air of hope and happiness that the house had been lacking since Rose's miscarriage.
"You keep this up Rose, you'll be mommy of the year," Janie chuckled.
Rose blushed and smiled. "You really think so? Even if he's not mine?"
Janie smiled, her voice warm. "Oh Rose, he is yours. You may not have given birth to Jake, but you love him more than that Cecily ever had and you take good care of him, too. You're his mommy. Don't let anyone tell you different. My brother couldn't ask for a better mother to his firstborn."
Rose just gave an tired smile and turned back to the dishes. "Yes he can. I'm not really equipped to be a housewife. I think that's more than obvious."
"But you are learning. And quickly at that," Janie reassured. "Look, you're exhausted and have been cooped up in this house all day. Why don't you let me take over while you have a little break. Go take a small walk, get some fresh air. I'll take care of Jake until you get back."
Rose frowned. Sure, she needed a break. She had been with Jake all day and even though she loved him, being a mother was more work than she had originally thought. Work that she would not trade for anything, but still work and she really could use a break, but she felt bad doing so. Jack depended on her to be a mother to Jake and Jake depended on her to be here for his needs. Wouldn't she be letting them both down if she took a hour to herself and let Janie take over? Wouldn't it be the start down a slippery slope, becoming her mother, who had used nannies and governesses to take care of her, because Ruth couldn't be bothered to take time away from her daily outings with the ladies?
Seeing the wheels turning in her sister in law's mind, Janie placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Cal had told her what life was like growing up as a wealthy child and how he was afraid of Emma becoming raised the same way only nannies and servants to help him. She could read that Rose had similar worries of becoming dependent on the same thing. She would tell her something similar to what she had told her secret employer.
"Look, you've spent all day with him. No one is going to look badly upon you for taking a little time off from being supermom. Jake knows that you adore him and so does Jack and they both would want you to take a breather before having having a complete meltdown. It's not like you're leaving him alone with a stranger anyway. I'm his aunt and I promise to take extra good care of him, Rose. Just take an hour to go up to Lake Wissota. Smell the flowers. Get some fresh air while the weather is still warm. Trust me, here in Wisconsin, it's going to get to where you won't want to go out soon enough. So enjoy this warm weather while we have it. I'll take care of Jake while you're gone."
Rose hesitated. She really was hesitant to leave Jake, but she really could use a break and it wasn't like she was leaving him with a stranger or a nanny. Jake adored his aunt Janie and always had fun with her. An hour of listening to his Aunt's stories wouldn't hurt and when she came back, Jack should be finished and they could all sit down together for family time, something that her and Jack had come up with, wanting Jake to get used to both of them as his parents. After an hour's break, Rose would be refreshed and in a good mood and ready to take up the role of mommy once again.
"Alright. I'll do it. I'll take a little walk, but I'll be back in an hour. Not that long, right?"
"Right," Janie grinned.
"Ok, just let me finish up these dishes and I'll be out on my way," Rose smiled happily. She loved Jake, but she couldn't wait to get a little time off to herself. Thank heavens for Janie. Like her brother, she was a godsend.
Little did either of them know that later, Janie would wish that she had kept her suggestions to herself.
…..
Rose had walked far enough that the Dawson farm was no longer in sight. She took a deep breath of the late afternoon air and just enjoyed the few moments of freedom that she was taking. Not that she felt trapped. She loved being a parent and taking care of Jake took away some of the sting she still felt over the loss of the baby that could have been. She still would love to have a baby with Jack though. A child born out of their love, but the doctor recommended that they wait, and really maybe it was for the best. They hadn't been married that long. Rose had just recently turned 18 and Jack will be 21 in November. Plus there was Jake to care for, so it was best to wait and let themselves gel as a family.
She sighed, looking up at the darkening sky. She must have been out here for a good hour already. She was beginning to feel a little lost, that she had gone far enough from home. It was time to turn around and go home. Perhaps Janie had put dinner on. Jack would be finishing up soon and would be able to join them and they would spend the rest of the evening together. Her Jack, and Jake. She smiled at that. They were indeed a little family. The family that she had chosen for herself, not the one that her mother would have chosen for her. She shuddered, thinking of the kind of family she could have ended up with. A echoing mansion in Philadelphia. A child that was taken care of by a nanny or governess, and a distant father who only cared about his steel business and making money. But that was not the kind of family she had. No, her and Jack were building a family made of warmth, love, and cheerfulness. There was no sprawling mansion for them, but a warm house. No distant cold dinners, but suppers full of laughter, love, and a sense of togetherness. No nannies or governesses. Jake would know the love of a mother who adored and took care of his needs. It was a family that Rose wished she had as a little girl and was determined to give to her own children.
She looked up at the sky one last time and turned around to head back the way she came when she bumped into a solid wall. She frowned as she came face to face with Luke DuBois, his green eyes looking at her menacingly.
"Why look at what we have here, Pa," He grinned. Rose nearly gagged as she smell of whiskey on his breath.
Jessie DuBois stepped up, eying Rose contemplatively. "One of the Dawson girls. And without Jolene. Are those people stupid?"
"Maybe they want to trade. I'd say it's an even one. She's a right pretty one...," the other brother licked his lips.
"Back off, Bo. She's mine, I saw her first!" Luke snarled.
"That don't mean nothing!" Bo glared at his brother. "Pa!"
While the two were arguing, Rose was looking for a way to get out of this bad situation. She had forgotten about Jolene's family being in town and their threats, really. Both her and Jack had been too busy with Jake to give them much thought, but now she wished that she hadn't forgotten and had been more careful. Taking the chance to leave, she attempted to slip past Luke when he grabbed her.
"Where do you think you're going, girl?" Luke tightened his grip.
Anger began to raise up in Rose. How dare this man, this stranger! Put his hands on her! This was unacceptable on so many levels! "Excuse me! I am going home! Now unhand me! You have no right! You don't know me!"
"Ah, this one is feisty alright," Luke laughed, pulling Rose closer to him. "You're right. I don't know you, but I can change that right now."
"Let me have a turn after you, will ya?" Bo laughed.
Rose gasped, more desperate now to get away from these disgusting men. She felt sorry for Jolene, having to have had to put up with them for all her life, until Richie had rescued her. "Get off of me!"
She brought her knee up into the laughing, Luke's groin, causing him to gasp in pain and releasing her.
"You bitch!" He snarled.
Rose didn't waste any time, she took off running, back toward the Dawson farm, wanting to get away from these disgusting men. Who knew what would happen to her if she didn't. She didn't bother looking backwards, and unfortunately, she paid no attention to any obstacles in her path. If she had, she would have noticed a loose tree branch sticking out in her path, but instead of hoping over it, it tripped her, sending her falling to the ground, barely catching herself with her hands. There was no time to get up. Bo was on her, grabbing her from behind and pulling her up onto her feet, her back against his body.
"No! Let me go!" She struggled, but it was no use. He was holding her too tight.
"Looks like I'm going to get the first run with this one," Bo laughed as he tightened his grip on the struggling red head even more.
"You'll be doing no such thing," Jessie DuBois snarled. He walked up to Rose and took hold of her chin in a tight grip, making her look at him. "Pretty enough, but useless. From the sound of her, she's one of those high society women. Don't know how to do nothing but sew. Don't know what she's doing out of her station, but she's not a good enough replacement. We need Jolene back."
"But Pa!" Bo protested, but a glare from his elder stopped all protests.
"This isn't about your libido boy! This is about getting our girl back and this one isn't our girl! But I'm pretty sure that someone will be willing to give us what we want to get her back."
"Can't we have our fun, first, pa?" Luke asked, recovered, approaching Rose with anger and lust in his eyes. He wanted to teach this little bitch a lesson so badly for hurting him.
"Come near me and I'll scream," Rose hissed, still angry.
Luke didn't believe her. She would have screamed by now. He took another step and winced as Rose screamed, loud and clear, hopefully loud enough for someone to hear.
"Fuck! Shut her up!" Bo cried.
Angry and in pain, Luke went up and punched her out with a right hook, silencing any screams. He cried out as his father hit the back of his head. "Ow! I had to shut her up before she had the law on us, pa!"
"Look! You damaged her! That's gonna leave a shiner! They're not going to be happy to receive her back damaged!"
"Well then we shouldn't give her back! Let's grab Jolene and take the girl with us to keep us busy!" Bo brainstormed.
"I promised your mama, you'd marry a decent woman. Can't have you marrying this one. Luke, write a letter to the Dawsons. Tell them if they want the redhead back, bring Jolene to us by nightfall tomorrow," Jessie commanded. "Bo, sling her over your shoulder and follow me while your brother takes care of that."
"Yes sir," Bo turned the unconscious Rose around in his arms and slung her over his shoulder. He shook his head, wishing that his pa would let them have their way with the girl. But as long as the old man lived, what he said goes.