1 Rose by Leigh Greenwood

Author:Leigh Greenwood
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781428509177
Publisher: Dorchester
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Located on the north bank of the Colorado River, Austin had been chosen as the capital of Texas in 1839. Edwin Waller laid out the town in a square with all the streets running at right angles. The streets running east and west were named after Texas trees such as Live Oak, Cypress, Pecan, Mulberry, Mesquite, and Bois d’Arc. Those running north and south were named after rivers. Congress Avenue, the street running through the middle of town, was the only exception. A Capital Square had been laid out, but the public buildings went up along the southern part of Congress Avenue. The armory, barracks, warehouses, barns, and corrals were across Waller Creek near the southeast corner of town.

The heat of summer had turned the streets into dust bowls. It had also driven the inhabitants indoors.

George pulled the wagon to a halt in front of Bullock’s Hotel. Situated on the corner of Pecan and Congress Avenue, it was the biggest and finest hotel in town.

“What are you going to do?” George asked Rose. He couldn’t just let her down and forget about her. He had to know she would be safe.

“I thought I’d see if Dottie would give me my old job back. Maybe things will be different now.”

“Where are you going to stay?”

“There’s my old room.”

That’s what he’d thought. She didn’t have a job or a place to stay.

“You’ll stay at the hotel until you have a job and somewhere to live.”

“That might take days.”

“I’ll be in town for a while hiring hands.” It wouldn’t take more than half a morning, but he’d stay a week if necessary.

Rose hesitated.

“I’ll pay for the room. It’s our fault you had to come back so soon.”

“I can’t let you do that.”

“Let him,” Salty advised. “I always say there’s no point in using your own money when you can spend someone else’s.”

“I’d rather pay my own way,” Rose said.

“I’d rather have a farm of my own than work for George,” Salty responded, “but there’s nothing I can do about that either.”

George took some gold coins from his pocket and handed them to Rose. “Three months. That’s the minimum we agreed on.”

Rose looked at the gold coins winking in her hand. Then she looked at George.

“Is this all your gold?”

“No. I’ve got plenty more.”

He could tell she didn’t believe him.

“As soon as I get a job, I’m going to pay you for the hotel.”

“I won’t let you do that.”

“Then I won’t stay in the hotel.”

She had made up her mind, and George could tell she wouldn’t change it.

“I wish my mother had had some of your stubbornness. She’d have been a much happier woman.”

“I doubt your father would have been pleased.”

“Pa could go to hell. I’m sure he’s there already.”

George reined in his anger. This wasn’t about his father. It was about him and Jeff and circumstances; it was about Rose’s leaving.

“Will you be sure to tell me if you need anything?”

“Yes.”

“Promise?”

She nodded.

He took her hand. He shook it. Only iron restraint kept him from taking her in his arms and kissing her right there.

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