17. When a Friend is not a Friend

Rose had just been showing the punching bag who was boss when her knees collapsed out from underneath her. The cold stab of fear she felt as she hurtled to the ground soon bloomed to a warm ache as she was surrounded by familiar arms – strong and steady. Deputy Belikov was right there above her, his hair curtaining down to make their private world among the pinyon pines shrink rapidly inwards until all that existed was a man and a woman and the mere inches of air that separated them.

He reached out to touch her hair.

'This is amazing. I love it,' he whispered, trailing the back of his finger down her cheek and along her jaw.

Breathless, she followed the slow sweep of his gaze and realised that the top button of her blouse had come undone, the material pulled down to expose the curve between her neck and shoulder. Dimitri lowered his head, his breath tickling her skin as he inhaled deeply.

'Apples. You smell like apples,' he murmured.

'Try some, please,' she commanded softly, unperturbed by his closeness.

The man growled in the back of his throat, and in one smooth swipe he licked her from collarbone to chin, stopping just before he reached her lips. 'Delicious.'

She liked the way his tongue left a cold trail that made her skin tingle.

'Still hungry, cowboy? My lips taste like cherries.'

'Roza,' it was more of a groan than a spoken word.

Streams of pure light coursed through her limbs as his mouth sunk greedily onto hers and she gave herself over to the new sensations, burying her hands in his hair and curling closer against the protective wall of his chest. She nibbled at his bottom lip and discovered that he tasted of cinnamon and orange.

'Miss Roza,' he breathed roughly against her cheek, making her insides dance.

'Miss Roza,' he said again, a little louder.

There was a rapping sound somewhere nearby.

'Roza! We're going to be late for church. Hurry up and get ready. You've got ten minutes.'

The floorboards creaked and heavy footfalls descended the stairs, leaving Rose's bedroom in silence once more.

She froze rigid under the blankets, heart hammering. He was just outside while she was dreaming that?! Rose wasn't easily fazed but right now she felt naked and exposed. Natalie's needlework cat wasn't helping matters. It stared at her from the dressing table like it knew everything she'd been thinking, and she ducked her head under the coverlet to hide from its accusing, red-ringed eyes.

So this is what happens when you eat too much pie! Rose thought fretfully, unable to separate herself from the vivid images. She could still feel the ghost of Dimitri's lips upon her face and the firm grasp of his hand on her hip. As if pulled by a greater force, the girl's fingers crept up to brush her bare skin in all the places he'd touched her, and her eyes fell closed as a shiver vibrated through her body. She knew it was sinful, but she couldn't stop herself from playing the scene over in her mind one more time, embellishing it with a few extra details her sleeping self had missed.

'Do you need me to come in there and drag you out of bed?' a voice cut through her fantasy.

He was back at the top of the stairs. Less than ten paces away from her. If he opened the door… A fresh wave of guilt squeezed at Rose's soul. She had to stop this madness. It was Sunday morning for crying out loud. She could practically smell the hell-fires burning in wait of her arrival.

'No! Don't come in! I'm awake!' she cried out urgently, her head emerging from under the covers.

Pulling the blanket away from the mattress, she wrapped it tightly around herself and shuffled across the room in her protective cocoon – laying the picture of Oscar face-down on the dressing table as a precaution before hastening to get dressed.

Thirteen and a half minutes later, Rose entered the sheriff's office feeling significantly more composed, but she stopped dead when she saw the deputy looking out the front window; his right arm bent at head-height to lean against the frame. His silhouette in that leather duster screamed masculinity, and Rose had to squash down the pangs of longing that raced, unbidden, inside of her at the sight of his hair, which hung loose and inviting around his shoulders.

It was like God had sent Deputy Belikov to Saints Town as her personal punishment. He was right there in front of her – ruggedly handsome and appealing in every way – yet she was absolutely powerless to act upon the feelings he stirred within her. At some point along the way they'd become more than just guardian and charge, more than friends even, but for all their stolen moments together, Dimitri's first responsibility was to his job as deputy sheriff. Now, more than ever, she couldn't afford to distract him when he was meant to be solving the murder of Sonya Karp and protecting the town from a violent outlaw on the run.

Rose hated to admit it, but she needed to play it cool for her own reasons too. Besides the obvious issue of damaging her reputation by being too free with a member of the opposite sex, she was growing increasingly suspicious that the strange lights and noises at Lisa's ranch were connected in some way to Sonya's death. Nothing in the world – not even a gorgeous Russian cowboy who made her want to strip naked and dance in the moonlight – could drag her away from her promise to keep her best friend safe. Her own private desires would have to wait.

Dimitri turned, sensing her presence, and the speech he'd been preparing about the merits of punctuality was immediately forgotten. He'd seen many versions of Rose – confident, cheeky, empathetic, argumentative, and downright angry - but he'd never seen her in this particular mood, and the strained expression on her face worried him.

He crossed the room in three strides. 'Are you alright, Roza? Were you having a nightmare?' the deputy's hand moved unconsciously to brush her arm, his eyes deep and searching. 'I came in earlier to run over our information on the Karp case and thought I heard you moaning in your sleep.'

Heat flooded her cheeks, but Rose armoured herself with some trademark Hathaway sass, resisting the temptation to step closer and rest her head on his chest.

'Didn't you say we were going to be late for church, cowboy?' she reminded him snippily, stepping back from him and heading for the door. 'Why are we even talking right now? Let's go!' And she rushed from the room, leaving him confused and scrambling to catch up with her.

The weekly Sunday church service was a time for parishioners to take a step back from their daily lives, to think and reflect, and today Rose's mind was going a mile a minute. According to Dimitri, Miss Karp was likely killed by somebody she'd met at church or through her father, and looking around at the congregation now, all Rose could see were suspects.

A few rows ahead of her, she spotted a cowboy she didn't recognise. Could he be Sonya's killer? There was no reason to assume he wasn't. The girl glared at the back of the stranger's head, gripping her hymnbook so tightly that Dimitri had to prise it from her grasp to save its delicate pages from the undeserved punishment.

Later, during the gospel reading, Rose's gaze slid across to where Jesse Zekeman sat with his father in their family pew at the front of the chapel, the polished brass plaque at the end of the row celebrating their many financial contributions to the church. Could he have done it? Yes. There was no doubt in Rose's mind. Jesse had always been conceited and over-confident as a teenager (a fact which didn't seem to deter the young ladies), but as soon as he'd been made ranch manager of his father's prosperous and extensive lands, he'd transformed into a full-grown bully – hated by his employees and neighbours alike. He was the kind of man who took what he wanted - even if what he wanted was a woman. Especially if it was a woman.

Rose shuddered at a memory she'd tried to banish from her mind for the past two years, and her sudden shift in posture caught Dimitri's notice. He followed her gaze then looked down at her, eyebrows raised to ask if she was alright. She pulled a tight-lipped smile and shook her head to allay his concerns. Deputy Belikov might have made it clear he was willing to overlook the sordid circumstances of her birth, but there were some things that even he couldn't forgive. No matter how much Rose trusted the deputy, the awful truth about Jesse Zekeman was one story she could never share with him.

After the prayers, when Reverend Karp signalled for the members of the congregation to stand and greet one another, a dark figure across the aisle drew Rose's attention. Christian O'Hara – who she assumed was only attending church out of obligation to his host and his employer – actually got up from his pew in the back corner, and it was clear he intent on seeking out a particular young, blonde woman who was seated towards the front of the church with the Dashleys and Madam Kiroy.

Lisa.

Over my dead body, Rose thought, jumping up to intercept him before he could reach his target. Last week the creep was just a creep, but now it was possible he could be a murderer too. Whatever Lis thought might be blossoming between her and Mr O'Hara, there was no way he was going to get anywhere near her again.

'Peace be with you,' her expression was cold as she stuck out her hand in greeting, insisting his attention didn't stray towards her best friend.

Christian scowled, shaking the dark flop of fringe from his stark, blue eyes. 'What do you want with me, Miss Hathaway? I didn't figure you for a thees-and-thous type of girl.'

The young woman narrowed her eyes and stepped closer to hiss a reply. 'I didn't figure you for a saint either, and it seems I might have been right about that.'

'Fantastic,' his voice was so heavily laced in sarcasm his words were practically drowning in it. 'So you found out about what happened to my parents. Yes, they were helping the heathens. That doesn't make me one though. Now let me pass and keep your nose out of my business.'

Rose stood her ground, compelled by a fierce protective instinct she could no longer repress. 'You have no business with Lisa Draymore, Mr O'Hara – none – so why don't you just sit down and relax.'

'Why don't you just sit down and relax,' he returned scornfully. 'Run back to your precious deputy and tell him what a big, bad man I am – I don't care. Just leave me the hell alone.'

An old lady in the pew ahead of them gasped at the foul language, reminding them to keep their voices down.

'I'll leave you alone if you leave her alone,' Rose whispered, glancing meaningfully toward her best friend. 'Lisa's already gone through enough suffering to last a lifetime. The last thing she needs right now is a problem like you to drag her down. And you know that's what will happen, don't you?' It was more of a statement than a question.

Something flashed behind Christian's expression and she knew she'd hit her mark.

Strike while the iron is hot, Alberta liked to say, and for once Rose took her mother's advice. 'I don't care what happened to your parents – they have nothing to do with this. You're the problem. You're trouble, Mr O'Hara,' she prodded a finger into his chest to emphasise her point, 'and we both know that is never going to change.'

The man twisted his head away, too incensed to even look at the self-righteous busybody who was literally and figuratively standing in his way, but when he turned to face her again, his ice-blue eyes were flat and lifeless.

'Fine. I'll leave her alone,' his voice was constricted by anger and self-pity. 'Even if she is the one person who's actually treated me like a human being since the day I lost practically everything I ever loved in the world. Heaven forbid that a freak like me might have one chance at happiness in this God-forsaken life. Or that maybe I could be the one to bring her happiness too. But you know her best, Miss Hathaway,' he added bitterly. 'Enjoy your friendship with Miss Draymore, though you clearly don't deserve her.' He pushed past the indignant girl, not sticking around to wait for her reply, and exited through the back doors of the church.

Good riddance! Rose thought as she watched him go, but her smile was hollow. She'd achieved what she set out to do, but somehow the victory didn't seem as sweet as she might have expected.

When the service was finally over, Rose sat quietly in her seat and frowned down at the embroidered kneeler by her feet. She couldn't bring herself to go outside where everybody was chatting about the weather and the latest town gossip, when all she could think about was that Sonya Karp was dead and one of those seemingly-innocent faces in the crowd might be the killer.

'Hi Rose,' a high voice giggled, and she looked up to see Natalie Dashley standing at the end of the pew. 'Did you like my present?'

Rose thought of the hideous embroidered cat and, ignoring Dimitri's cough beside her, somehow mustered a thin smile. 'It was… breathtaking. Thank you.'

Natalie hopped from foot to foot like she was bursting with secrets. 'I'm sorry I can't stay and talk. Daddy's waiting for me, but you should stay in here for a while. Madam Kiroy is busy talking to Camilla Contez's mother – did you hear Camilla is being sent away to a finishing school in Sacramento? Anyway, I guess you've got at least ten minutes before old cranky-face comes back inside to look for Lisa. You two should catch up. I know she misses you like crazy.'

This time Rose's smile was genuine, and her gaze flicked across to see Lisa waiting for her in the quiet recess by the organ. 'Thanks Nat. I'll go and see her right away,' she stood hastily, then looked back at Deputy Belikov, 'if that's okay with you?'

He smiled softly and nodded. 'Take all the time you need, Miss Roza. I'll be waiting outside when you're ready.'

She thanked him profusely – to the deputy's private amusement – and hurried over to join her friend.

'How have you been?' Lisa asked as they wrapped their arms around one another.

'Fine. Good. How about you? I can't believe it's been four days since I saw you. What's been happening?' Rose quizzed, suddenly realising how busy she'd been and how much she missed their conversations.

'Quite a lot, actually,' the blonde girl's face was coy. 'But first, you owe me an update. Deputy Lover Boy? Any action?'

Rose rolled her eyes. 'Not exactly. But things are moving in the right direction, I think.'

Lisa actually clapped her hands in excitement. 'I knew it. I wonder how Russian men propose? Ooh… you two will make gorgeous babies when you're married!'

'Ssh!' Rose hissed, worried somebody might be able to hear them through the open window. 'He hasn't made any declarations yet, so I think talk of marriage and children is a little bit hopeful at this stage. Anyway, enough of me. When I saw you at the hotel on Thursday you were going to tell me about…,' she trailed off then, remembering that Lisa's secret news involved Christian O'Hara.

The girl reached out a slender hand and confidentially looped Rose's fingers through her own, her whole contenance shining. 'He's amazing! You'd never believe it to look at him, but Mr O'Hara is the sweetest guy I've ever met. I saw you two talking during the service today. What did you think of him?'

How was Rose going to explain she'd just told her best friend's suitor to go packing because he might be connected with the death of Sonya Karp? It was probably best not to worry her with the truth.

'He was very… articulate,' she replied, hoping the guilt and worry didn't show in her expression.

'Yes he is, isn't he,' Lisa gushed. 'And he's so gentle, even after what he went through with his parents dying and the arson court case—'

'He told you about that?' Rose cut her off, surprised the creep had the courage to share that part of his past with a girl he was trying to impress.

'Of course he told me,' she answered simply. 'Right after he saved my life.'

'What?!' The sound echoed off the wooden walls of the chapel and bounced around the empty space for Rose to hear her question iterated over and again. Did she just step down a rabbit hole, because something was not right about this situation.

Lisa giggled. 'Don't look so surprised. It happened on Wednesday morning – the day before our homecoming celebration at the saloon. I was feeling caged up from being stuck in the house with Madam Kiroy and Natalie, so I took a walk along the creek. It was getting pretty warm by the time I was ready to head back, so I stripped off my clothes and jumped in for a swim.'

'You didn't!' Rose's face was a mask of horror. 'Naked?'

'No, silly,' she pushed her friend's shoulder with a grin. 'I was wearing a couple of petticoats, but that was what caused the problem. One of my skirts got snagged on a branch underwater and I couldn't free myself. I ducked under the surface a few times to try to unhook the material but all I succeeded in doing was swallowing about a gallon of water and nearly choking to death. Then I heard somebody dive in beside me and suddenly I was shivering on the bank with Christian rubbing the life back into my arms.'

Christian, hey? So they were on first name terms already.

'He said he saw me from the house and came running. He thought I was…,' she lowered her voice to a whisper. 'He thought I was trying to kill myself. Apparently when he lost his parents in that fire he was so devastated he considered taking his own life. He wanted to assure me that even though everything might seem hopeless right now, there are still things to look forward to. Things to enjoy,' she sighed, her eyes glazing over.

Rose studied her friend suspiciously. 'He kissed you, didn't he?' she exclaimed, when the realisation dawned on her.

Lisa looked dutifully guilty but at the same time very, very pleased with herself. 'Yes. And it was magical. Maybe you should try drowning yourself in the creek and see if that gets Deputy Beikov's attention?' she suggested cheekily. 'I bet he looks nearly as good as Christian does in a wet shirt.'

'Who are you and what have you done with my friend?' Rose asked, stunned at Lisa's loose behaviour (while trying not to think about Dimitri with wet, see-through material clinging to his muscles).

It seemed that Madam Kiroy was worrying about the wrong girl losing her good reputation.

'Oh, just relax,' Lisa laughed, the choice of words an uncomfortable reminder of Rose's conversation with Mr O'Hara earlier that morning. 'It's not like we were fornicating.'

Rose clapped a hand to her mouth, eyes wide as saucers. 'You just said fornicating. In a church,' she whispered, her initial shock morphing into a look of impish delight.

Lisa held back a giggle. 'So did you! At least now we're both going to hell, so I can spend eternity with my best friend by my side!'

They clutched at one another, tears of laughter streaming down their faces as they took hedonistic pleasure in the joke, and every time they calmed down a little, one of them would whisper 'fornicating' and the muffled laughter would start up once again.

Can I have a word, deputy?' a red-haired cowboy approached Dimitri the moment he emerged from the wooden chapel and into the sunshine.

'Of course, Mr Ashford. What is it?'

They moved to find a quiet spot away from the milling crowd.

Mason fiddled with his hat, his expression unusually serious. 'Have you noticed anything different about Rose?'

Dimitri frowned. 'How do you mean?' Alarm bells sounded in his head. Was there something troubling his Roza that he'd failed to notice?

'She seems… more serious than she was before she left,' the young cowboy attempted to explain. 'I mean, I've only seen her a few times since she got back, but I've known Rose for a very long time and if you ask me, I think she's about to do something stupid.'

Dimitri's frown deepened. 'Like what?' He knew Rose was capable of some pretty outrageous things and he didn't want her getting into trouble now she was finally making such good progress with her behaviour.

'I think she means to marry Adrian Ivara.'

The silence that echoed between them was deafening. Dimitri was under the impression that Rose was interested in him, not Mr Ivara, but he could hardly tell Mason that.

The deputy cleared his throat. 'What makes you say that?' he asked carefully.

Mason had one of those baby faces that made people think he was just a happy-go-lucky kid without a care in the world, but it was all lines and angles now as he scowled off into the distance.

'I went into the saloon last night for a drink and that letch had a picture of Rose hanging on the wall behind the bar. Every man who came in the door asked who the broad was and Adrian told all of them that she was his little lady.'

Dimitri's vision clouded. What was that man doing with a picture of Rose? And how did he have the audacity to suggest that she was his?

'As far as I am aware there is no attachment between the pair,' he answered tightly, his mouth suddenly dry.

'Good,' Mason's expression was dark. 'Mr Ivara might be as charming as they come, but I'll be damned if I let him sink his claws into my Rose.'

The deputy flashed a look in the younger man's direction, but the cowboy didn't seem to notice.

'He's not healthy for her,' he ploughed on, oblivious to Deputy Belikov's calculating gaze. 'She needs somebody sensible to balance out her wildness, not a man who has even less self-control than she does. Adrian Ivara acts like he's in love with Rose, but how could he possibly know that – he only met her a few weeks ago. I've known her nearly her whole life and I've loved her that whole time. Listen, deputy,' he lowered his voice earnestly. 'I can see Rose respects you, and Alberta trusts you too seeing as she's made you Rose's guardian, so I guess you're the one I need to talk to about this. I… I'm going to ask her to marry me.'

Dimitri cringed. He did not wish to be privy to this information. It felt like he was prying in Rose's private affairs.

'I swear I'll treat her right,' the young cowboy continued. 'I've got a good amount saved to take care of her. I know her better than anybody and I'm strong enough to handle her moods. I'm up for a promotion to property manager soon, too, so I'll have a pay rise and permanent accommodation on the ranch where I work, which means Rose will live right next-door to Lisa,' he prattled on, nervous to be unburdening his soul to the most intimidating person he'd ever met in his life. 'So what do you think?' Mason asked when he was done, waiting expectantly for the deputy to give his verdict.

There was a brief silence as Dimitri realised he'd been asked to offer his opinion. 'I'm sure Miss Hathaway would be lucky to have you, Mr Ashford, but what I think has no bearing on the case. Who she chooses to marry is entirely up to her.'

'Of course,' Mason defended himself. 'I never meant that I'd force her into something against her will... I was only wondering if you think I'm in with a chance?'

Dimitri's heart skipped a beat as he looked up and caught sight of Rose descending the short staircase that led down from the church's main doors, her dark curls spilling out from beneath her bonnet to prettily frame her face. How could he give encouragement to another man when he was in love with her himself? When he had a good feeling that she was falling in love with him too (regardless of what Adrian Ivara might believe to be true).

'You've got as good a chance as any of us, Mr Ashford,' he answered sternly, raising a hand to draw Rose's attention, his lips turning up at the corners when she hurried towards him. 'As good a chance as any of us.'

.

Author's Note:

The title is a nod to Voldobaby's 'Temper me in fire' (when is a question not a question) which I have just read & loved.

Rose is at a crossroads in many of her relationships at this point - Dimitri is more than a friend but less than a lover, she's just sold out Lisa by chasing Christian off, and Mason is edging towards his goal of putting a ring on it. Pretty damn confusing for Rose!

Kiss - Lots of you have been pining for a Romitri kiss but I am stubbornly refusing to alter my plan (trust me – it will be SO worth it when it finally happens - expect fireworks!). In the meantime, I created this little dream-pash for your enjoyment. Hope it wasn't too much of a letdown when you realised it wasn't real (there is an evil woman out there who put me in a headlock and mussed up my hair to convince me do it this way, so you can blame/thank her! :) – If you've been reading my A/N's you'll guess who that is! Lea0014!)

[Tacky - I hope this explains Rose's mindset a bit more. She's still ballsy, just trying to restabilise after a serious love punch to the guts! :)]

I know I'm holding out on the Jesse story arc. There is a purpose!

Poor Christian. I think Rose is already regretting her actions a tiny bit.

The 'down a rabbit hole' reference was a bit cheeky. Alice in Wonderland was actually published in 1865 – five years after this book is set so Rose couldn't possibly have read it – but I figured it was close enough for jazz :) Look at me, turning into a logic rebel!

Poor Mason. He has no idea just how hopeless his case is. Speaking of Mason, SHOULD I KILL HIM OFF? My brain says kill him, my heart says let him live. But is there room in the world for Mason when the canon states he was always meant to die?! Leave me a review and convince me which way you think I should go!