Western Flower | ✅

Chapter 13 - Horsing Around

The sun was high now, it had at least gone noon and it was a dry day with not much of a breeze, not helping when doing hard manual labour. Bill stopped to wipe the sweat from his brow, as he did he lent on the pitchfork in his hand and admired Rose from the distance. She was tending to the chickens, feeding them and checking for eggs. Bill thought how beautiful she looked, her working clothes for the ranch were very similar to his. Practical and hard-wearing, he thought about how she was possibly the only person who could look so attractive in such attire.

"Lunch is ready!" Rose called out to Bill.

He set down his pitchfork he smiled to himself, was there anything better than a wonderful meal cooked by the woman you love? "Coming flower" Bill replied, he made his way over to the house at a casual pace. Rose was in the kitchen adding the finishing touches to the meal as Bill came in. He grabbed Rose around the waist from behind and she turned her head so that their faces met and they embraced in a passionate kiss. Since they had returned they had spent almost every spare moment in each other's company.

Once they finally sat down to eat Bill noticed that Rose kept pausing in between each, like there was something on her mind. He watched her but she hadn't noticed his gaze as she was too distracted by her thoughts, after a few moments more Bill decided that he couldn't stand the awkwardness anymore and chose to break the silence.

"What's troubling you Rose?" asked Bill, his words stirred Rose from her wandering thoughts. She looked at Bill with a small smile.

"I'm just wondering if Silas will manage to find out anything more from the marshal than I did?"

"If my father can't get anything more out of marshal Lucas Andrews, then either he doesn't know anything else or he cannot say anything, at least not yet anyway." Bill stated matter of factly and Rose stared in response, a confused look painted upon her face.

"What do ya mean by that?" She asked.

"Lucas is a smart man if he does know something he is either waiting for the right, enough evidence or --" Bill started, then abruptly paused.

"Or what?" Rose asked in a demanding tone.

"Or maybe he is not saying anything to protect you. With everything going on you are in a very vulnerable position" replied Bill.

"For the love of God, I am not a child!" Exclaimed Rose agitated. "I know how horrible this world can be, I'm not stupid! After all for months, I spent every night --" With that Rose stopped herself continuing. She could see that Bill was irritated with the mention of her previous profession.

"I know, I know that! Once Silas gets back we will all sit down and see what he has to say," replied Bill curtly. With that the two finished their food in silence, there was a thick tension in the room. When they had finished Bill started to clean the dishes away before Rose interrupted him.

"I'll take care of this, you got a lot of work to be getting on with," she said coldly. For the first time since the duel, she was upset with Bill. She knew that he was right, but she wasn't ready to admit it yet. She was a headstrong woman, but let's face it, that's why Bill was so enamoured.

With that Bill made his way to leave the house, as he did he looked back longingly at Rose. He knew she was just as angry with herself as she was with him, with that he left. He knew that Rose would come and apologise to him when she was ready, he wasn't going to pursue the matter.

Bill made his way over to the barn, the sun was now at it's highest point and he thought that it would be best to work in the shade. As he entered the barn he thought about the night that he met John. He still wondered who he was. He decided to put the memory of his meeting with the stranger to the back of his mind.

As Bill tried to work he now found it almost impossible. His mind was too distracted, he kept thinking about Rose, John and the whole situation with the Healy's land. Bill's mind was literally racing. With that he moved one more hay-bale before leaving the barn, making his way over to the stables.

When he got there he found Rose, she was stroking Coal's face and feeding him a carrot. As Bill approached Rose turned and acknowledged him with a slight nod of the head. "I can see why you love Coal so much, he is so gentle and placid," Rose cooed, not looking at Bill and still focusing her attention on stroking the soft mane of the strong horse.

"He also loves apples. If you give him a couple he'll probably love you forever, that's where his loyalty really lies," Bill smiled in jest. Coal snorted at Bill, obviously not happy about the loyalty quip. Even for a horse, Coal understood what Bill had said. He could definitely sense that Rose and Bill had been arguing as he picked up on the tension.

"I'm sorry about how I reacted Bill, I am so happy to be here with you. It's just that I am so upset about the whole situation with my families land, I want answers." Rose sighed, Bill was surprised. Rose would always wait for an apology, so the fact that she caved in first meant a lot even though Bill was not angry or upset with her.

"I understand. You don't have to apologise, I want to get to the bottom of this as well and I will do everything I can to make sure that we do." Bill replied nobly. She could never do wrong in his eyes, Bill couldn't resist Rose. She truly was his weakness and his greatest love.

With that Rose turned to Bill and took steps towards him, he did the same and as the two met they did so in a passionate embrace. Coal snorted at the two of them, turned his back and laid down almost as if he was embarrassed or uncomfortable by the sight of them kissing.

When they finally stopped their embrace they both gave Coal and apologetic look whilst trying to stifle playful laughter, Coal stood up to see if they had stopped. As he did Bill gave him another apple to appease him.

"What will you do now?" Rose asked Bill.

"I need to go for a walk and think about how best to get to the bottom of this and what my next move will be."

"Ok, I will finish what you started in the barn, it's far too hot to be working in this sun." Bills heart clenched with happiness, the way Rose spoke with such assertion and familiarity about his home. They'd settled into a domestic routine and it was everything he'd always wanted.

With that Bill tipped his hat and started walking off into the distance. Rose watched him leave, as she did she sniffed, pulling at the edge of the apron tied around her waist she dabbed at the tears slowly roll down her cheeks. She hoped that finally months of frustration and heartache would soon end.

Authors Note
Tensions are running high, what will happen next? I hope you liked the chapter. If you did please don't forget to vote.