For the Roses (Claybornes' Brides (Rose Hill) 1)

“Bickley? Might I have a word with you?”

Mary Rose stood on the corner of the walkway and waited for the leader to acknowledge her. She hoped he would come over to her alone and that his friends would wait by the doors of the saloon.

He turned at the sound of her voice. He gave her a grin, squinted his eyes against the sunlight, and sauntered over to her. She was sorry to see his friends follow him.

“What might I do for you, Miss Mary?”

Bickley was sour from the stench of liquor and old sweat. She wasn’t surprised he knew her name. There were so few women living in Blue Belle that all the men who lived in the town and in the surrounding area knew who the women were. She was even known as far away as Hammond.

“Are you and your companions going up to Boar Ridge?”

“That’s where we’re headed, all right. We’re going to burn out that crazy woman before she kills someone. We respect the law, and since Blue Belle don’t have a sheriff, I figure it’s our duty to take care of things around here.”

“I can’t imagine why you would think anyone around here is your responsibility,” she said. “You live in Hammond, not Blue Belle. We take care of our own here.”

She wanted to tell him to go back where he belonged and start minding his own business, but she didn’t offer the suggestion for fear she’d antagonize him into doing something rash.

“There’s a sheriff in Hammond,” he said. “He don’t want my help. Folks around here will be more . . . appreciative.”

One of his cohorts chuckled. Mary Rose diligently tried to control her temper. She took a deep breath and then tried to reason with the vile creature.

“Just yesterday I went up to the ridge and had a nice long visit with the dear woman. Corrie isn’t crazy. She’s shy. She doesn’t like outsiders trying to pry into her life. No one does. Corrie only likes people who live around Blue Belle.”

“You’re trying to keep us from doing our duty, aren’t you?”

“Corrie is my friend. I want you to leave her alone.” Her tone had taken on a hard edge.

“I don’t have to listen to you. I got my mind set. Don’t I, boys?”

Mary Rose couldn’t keep her temper contained another second. “If you bother that sweet woman, I shall personally go to Judge Burns and sign a petition. I’ll charge every single one of you with attempted murder, and my friends in Blue Belle will appreciate watching you hang.”

Bickley didn’t cotton to being threatened. Especially by a woman. Liquor made him forget all about the Clayborne brothers. It was time someone took the uppity bitch in hand. He was just the man to see the duty done. He would shake some sense into her and have her quaking with fear in no time at all.

“Who do you think you are to talk to me like that?” he asked in a shout that caused spittle to drip down his chin.

“I’m a woman who knows an ignorant fool when she sees one,” she replied.

Bickley wasn’t overly intelligent, but he was certainly quick. Before she realized his intent, he grabbed hold of her upper arm, squeezed hard, and tried to pull her toward him. She kicked him soundly in his leg, right below his kneecap. Pain shot up into his thigh. He used the back of his hand and struck her across the face, and when she didn’t cry out, he used his fist to hit her again.

“Are you plumb loco, Bickley?” one of his friends asked in a nervous whisper. “Let go of her before her brothers start shooting.”

“I ain’t letting go of her until she begs me real nice. I’m hurting her all right. I know I am. I’m gonna keep squeezing her arm until I snap her bone clear in half if she don’t start telling me how sorry she is for sassing me. If her brothers try to stop me, I’ll shoot every one of them. Just see if I don’t.”

Mary Rose had been temporarily stunned by the attack, but she quickly recovered. She could taste blood in her mouth and knew the corner of her lip had been torn. Her chin felt wet too, and she thought blood was pouring down from the injury. She didn’t waste time worrying about it. Her mind had cleared sufficiently for her to remember what her purpose was. She was going to keep Bickley from going up on the ridge, no matter what the cost. She kicked the horrible man once again, much, much harder this time, and when he doubled over, she used her fist to knock him clear off his feet. Adam had always told her she had a mean left hook. She meant to prove she was worthy of the compliment.

She expected Bickley to let go of her, but he held tight until he had almost hit the ground. Then he sent her flying into one of the hitching posts. She struck the side of her head and collapsed to the ground.

She was knocked unconscious. She awakened a minute or two later, with pain exploding inside her head. She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on making the throbbing inside her skull stop. There was a horrid roaring sound ringing in her ears.

She couldn’t make it go away. The sound intensified, even after she’d opened her eyes and her vision began to clear. She thought she was feeling better because she wasn’t seeing sparkling lights everywhere. Men were suddenly tripping over her to get to their horses. One man kicked her in the stomach. She cried out and doubled over and tried to roll onto her side. Another man used her hip as a stepping stool in his haste to get up on his horse. He tore her skirt with his spurs.

She was still in too much of a daze to protect herself. It was a miracle she wasn’t trampled to death by the horses or the cowards trying to run away. She couldn’t seem to make her eyes stay open. She felt someone lift her, and then her mind went black again. She floated between darkness and light for several minutes, and when she next awakened, everyone was running away. She sat up just in time to see Bickley kick his horse into a full gallop. She tried to stand up, thinking she had to go after him before he hurt Corrie, and she almost made it to her knees, but what happened next so surprised her, she fell back on her bottom again.

Sweet and gentle Harrison had been transformed into a barbarian. He appeared like an avenging angel out of thin air and literally leapt up into the air to attack Bickley. The bellow of rage she was hearing came from Harrison.

He was in a fury. He plucked Bickley from his saddle and threw him halfway down the road. Then he went after him. Everyone was shouting at the same time. Mary Rose wished to God the racket would stop. The noise made her head hurt all the more. Harrison wasn’t making any noise now. He was fully occupied killing Bickley with his bare hands. From the look of deadly calm on his face, she didn’t have any doubt about his intentions. If someone didn’t stop him, he would kill the man who had attacked her.

She was stunned speechless. Harrison’s expression sent chills down her spine. He looked so ... methodical. He certainly didn’t fight like a gentleman. For that matter, neither did Bickley. He tried to pull his gun out and shoot his tormentor, but Harrison kicked the weapon out of his hand. Bickley reached for his knife then. Harrison seemed pleased by his tactic. He actually smiled. He waited until Bickley lunged toward him, then moved as quick as lightning and snatched the knife out of his hand.

A rifle shot sounded in the distance. Mary Rose spotted Douglas walking toward her. He had the shotgun propped against one hip and his six-shooter cocked and ready in his other hand. The men who’d tried to get away weren’t riding their horses now. They walked back to the saloon in front of her brother. Douglas must have caught them in front of the stables, Mary Rose concluded.

Cole stood behind Harrison. He had his arms folded across his chest and smiled with satisfaction as he watched Bickley try every dirty trick possible.

Travis was suddenly kneeling by Mary Rose’s side. He gently lifted her into his arms and stood up.

“Dear God, sister. Are you all right?”

He sounded frightened. She didn’t nod for fear the movement would make her head hurt more. “I’m fine, really. You’ve got blood on your shirt. Are you all right?”

“It’s your blood, not mine. It’s all over the side of your face. He really belted you, didn’t he?”

“Travis, wha

t took you so long to get here? I’ve been waiting and waiting.”

“Mary Rose, it all just happened. You must have gotten knocked senseless. Are you sure you’re all right?”

“Why is Harrison pounding Bickley? He isn’t supposed to know how to fight. Go and stop him before he gets hurt. Bickley’s mean enough to kill him, Travis.”

“Now, why would I want to do that? We all saw what the bastard did to you. Harrison’s fast, isn’t he? He was on top of Bickley before Cole or I could even get to the corner.”

“Please put me down. I can stand on my own.”

“You’ll only go after Harrison if I let go of you. He won’t kill Bickley,” he promised. “Cole probably will though. Just wait until he gets a gander at your face. You’re a real mess, little sister. You’ve got blood spewing out of your forehead and more pouring out of the side of your mouth.”

Henry and Ghost hovered like old-maid aunts behind the pair. Travis turned to the men. “Watch my sister while I go help Harrison, will you?”

“Give her to us,” Henry said. “We’ll protect her. Won’t we Dooley?”

“Of course we will,” his friend promised. He was still panting for breath. He had only just reached the general store to get the brothers when Bickley came outside and started hurting his Miss Mary. “Everything happened mighty fast.”

“That’s the truth,” Henry agreed. “Lickety-split was how quick it happened.”

Henry lifted Mary Rose into his arms and held her tight against his chest. In his attempt to comfort and shield her, he was inadvertently making it impossible for her to breathe.

“She don’t weigh more than a feather,” he remarked.

“Please put me down. Let me lean against you and Dooley.”

“All right,” he agreed. “But if you get dizzy, I’m picking you up again.”

“Make her promise to stay here,” Dooley suggested.

Henry thought that was a grand idea and made his hostage give him her word.

Ghost had come outside the saloon and was standing near the doorway. Henry turned to him. “Go and fetch a chair for Miss Mary, will you, Ghost? We’ll sit her down against the wall. Then get us a bowl of water and some clean towels. They’re behind the bar. We got to clean up Miss Mary before Cole sees her.”

“I’m thinking you should be more concerned about that Harrison fella. He’s a bigger worry than Cole.”

“He’s already seen her,” Henry said. “Why do you think he’s so mad?”

“Looks like he’s about finished with Bickley. Think he killed him?”

“No. Bickley’s still wiggling in the dirt.”

“Could be the death wiggle,” Dooley suggested. He rubbed his jaw and squinted at the man writhing on the ground.

“Knowing Harrison and how he feels about the law, I don’t think Bickley’s a goner.”

Dooley didn’t agree. “Make you a nickel wager.”

“You got it.”

“If Bickley’s dead, I win.”

Henry nodded. Mary Rose sincerely hoped both men would stop talking. She kept her attention focused on Bickley’s cohorts. Douglas was forcing the five men to walk toward Harrison. They were still armed, and she was worried one or two of them might decide to try to shoot Harrison or Cole.

“I saw one of them fellas kick our Miss Mary right in her gut,” Henry whispered. “Another one stepped on her, hard. Yes, sir, he did. Ain’t it a pity for men to treat a lady like that?”

Dooley agreed it was a pity. He thought about it a few seconds more and then felt compelled to tell her brothers and her avenger what the men had done. He hurried over to the edge of the walkway.

“Harrison? Cole? One of them fellas kicked your Miss Mary right in her gut. The ugly one stepped on her. Hard too. Almost killed her, he did. Someone else tore her pretty dress. Yes, sir, that’s what they did all right.”

Mary Rose wanted to strangle Dooley. He was deliberately inciting Harrison and her brothers. Before she could hush Dooley, it was too late. Harrison had heard every word. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to. His expression said it all.

“Why’d you go and tell Harrison? Cole’s better with a gun,” Henry remarked almost absentmindedly. He half dragged Mary Rose closer to the road so he’d have a better spot from which to watch the fight brewing.

“I told Harrison and Cole,” Dooley said. “But I’m thinking Harrison’s much meaner. You see how he took after Bickley. Besides, Cole heard what I had to say. Those men do anything else to you, Miss Mary?”

She gave Dooley a scathing look. If Bickley’s friends had done anything else to her, she wasn’t about to tell the town crier. She pulled away from Henry and made it past Dooley before they realized she’d gotten away.

“Catch her,” Henry called out. “If there’s shooting, she’ll get herself done in trying to interfere. She’s still in a daze, Dooley. You can see she is.”

Dooley caught her around her middle and pulled her back to stand next to Henry again.

“What was I supposed to fetch?” Ghost asked the question from the doorway. Henry patiently reminded him what his errand was while Mary Rose once again edged her way to the corner.

She never took her attention away from Harrison. He stood ten or fifteen feet in front of Cole and Travis. Her brothers protected his back and had their attention on the men coming toward them.

The ugliest one of the bunch reached for his gun. Cole shot the weapon out of his hand before it had completely cleared his waistband.

The other men immediately raised their hands. They apparently didn’t want to get into a gunfight.

Harrison turned to Cole. “Stay out of this,” he ordered. “They’re all mine.”

Cole grinned. Travis shook his head. “You’ll get killed and Mary Rose will get real pissed,” he whispered so only Harrison and Cole could hear him.

Harrison had already turned back to Bickley’s friends. “Take your guns off,” he ordered.

He waited until they had complied with his order, then removed his own belt and gun and tossed both to Travis. Cole kept his six-shooter trained on the group. He had five bullets left, and that was all he needed to kill every one of them if they tried anything underhanded. He wouldn’t put anything past the vile creatures. One could very well have another gun tucked away. He hoped to God someone did. He really wanted to shoot at least one of them.

He was denied the opportunity. Harrison beckoned to the men to come to him.

“Is he going to take all of them on at once?” Travis asked his brother.

Harrison answered. “Damned right.”

Cole smiled again. Both he and Travis stepped back to give Harrison more room.

“This ought to be good,” Cole drawled out.

Mary Rose suddenly wished she had her gun with her. If it had been handy, she was certain she would have shot everyone in the street, including her brothers and Harrison. Cole actually looked as if he was enjoying himself. She’d shoot him first.

She refused to watch any longer. Harrison disappeared into the middle of the group of men. Then bodies started flying.

She had seen enough to give her nightmares for a week. She turned around and walked inside the saloon. She sat down in one of the chairs near the window but refused to even glance outside. Ghost was standing in front of the bar, having a drink. When he spotted her, he put the bottle down, scratched his head, and tried to look bewildered instead of guilty.

“What was I supposed to fetch, Miss Mary?”

“Never mind, Ghost. Enjoy your beverage.”

“It’s a mite better than my brew.”

“Don’t you want to watch the brawl like everyone else in town?”

“I’m getting ready to watch,” Ghost said.

Mary Rose closed her eyes. She ached everywhere. She felt like crying. Lord, she’d actually looked forward to today’s outing. Oh, well, at least things couldn’t get any worse. She found some comfort in that belief.

She was wrong t

hough. She wasn’t through being tormented.

“You can come on outside now, Miss Mary. You really ought not to be in the saloon. What would Adam think?”

Dooley asked the question from the doorway. “Ghost, ain’t you fetched . . .”

“What was I supposed to get?”

“Water, bowl, towels,” Mary Rose wearily supplied.

Ghost smiled. “Now I remember.” He poured himself another drink while he nodded. “Yes, sir, I do remember.”

“Here comes Harrison and your brothers,” Dooley said.

If there had been a back door, she would have used it. She didn’t want any of them to see her like this. At least that was the excuse she gave herself. She didn’t want to think about the real reason. Harrison had completely changed his behavior. She didn’t know how she felt about that. He’d looked so ruthless. Honest to God, she hadn’t thought he had it in him.

“I don’t want Harrison to see me, Dooley. Make him wait outside.”

Dooley hurried over to her. “He already seen you good, Miss Mary. Who do you think it was who moved you? He made sure you was breathing and all, and then he went after Bickley.”

Cole and Travis both came inside just as Dooley finished his explanation. Harrison followed.

“I don’t remember,” she admitted. She kept her gaze on her lap, still not certain how she was going to react when she looked at Harrison again.

“You were knocked out, Mary Rose. Of course you don’t remember. You should have killed him, Harrison, or at least let me at him,” Cole muttered.

“Harrison broke Bickley’s hand,” Mary Rose said.

“No, he didn’t. He just twisted it peculiar,” Henry told her. “Douglas is dragging them all into the warehouse while Morrison gets some rope.”

“How come?” Dooley asked. “Are we going to have us some hangings?”

“No,” Henry returned. “Some of the folks are going to drag them back to Hammond. The sheriff there will probably lock them up.”

“Isn’t there a doctor around here we can take Mary Rose to?” Harrison asked.

Cole shook his head. “Closest one lives in Hammond.”