Thomas climbed off his horse and led the pale brown stallion to its stall. One of the ranch hands was waiting for him and took the reins after bidding him a good evening. After his discussion with Rosaline in the nursery, he had saddled his horse and gone for a ride.
The sun had gone down as he rode, so he made his way through the dark back to the house. The candles in the kitchen were lit and he could hear lively conversation coming from inside. The house had been quiet for the past few months. Dinners usually ended with everyone going their own way. Thomas to his study, Buena and Robbie to the nursery, and Arthur to his room.
He reached the door and paused to survey the scene. Crossing his arms he leaned against the doorjamb.
His father and Buena were sitting next to each other at the table with cups of tea in their hands. Rosaline was sitting on the floor with Robbie in front of her, playing with his wooden blocks.
As he watched, Rosaline built a tower that Robbie immediately knocked over with his chubby arms amidst squeals of delight. It warmed his heart to hear his son giggle again.
The others were laughing heartily at the scene. Rosaline’s laugh was light and melodious as she looked up and smiled at him from the floor, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Her beautiful smile tugged at his heart. Thomas told himself that it was relief he felt seeing his family laugh again after months of nothing but quiet and sadness and misery.
“Thomas, I was wondering where you were. Come in and sit, I kept your food warm,” Buena said when she noticed him standing there.
Thomas wanted to sit, but declined and excused himself to go the study. Somehow it felt disloyal to his wife if he joined in the mirth.
He trudged down the hall to the study and sat at his desk. Rosaline had been true to her word and not come back into the room. His dirty prints were still caked into the carpet.
Every part of him wanted to saddle his horse and take the path that lead to the saloon. It was his way of dealing with the feelings he so desperately tried to hide from.
It had been the first place he had thought of after his fight with Rosaline, the bottle calling his name in a way that was almost too hard to ignore. He was about to act on it when he heard his son giggling from down the hall and Rosaline’s melodious laugh mingling with his father’s.
He sat back down and retrieved a leather-bound book from the top desk drawer, picked up a pen, and began to write.
***
Rosaline was humming Amazing Grace the following morning as she laid the breakfast on the table.
Thomas watched from the doorway and noticed that, even though she must have brushed her hair up into a bun no more than an hour earlier, there were loose tendrils already hanging out. He liked the way her hair was always slightly wild with a mind of her own. He was coming to realize it was an outward reflection of the spirit within.
“Oh,” Rosaline blushed when she turned around and saw him staring at her. “I hope I didn’t wake you.”
Thomas smiled reassuringly. “I was up already, you didn’t wake me.
“The coffee is almost done.”
“Don’t rush.” He unfolded his arms and made his way over to the breakfast table, taking a chair and sitting. “I was hoping I could have a private word with you.”
Thomas saw a worried look cross her face. She wiped her hands on the cream apron she was wearing and took a seat across from him, interlacing her fingers in front of her on the table.
“I was wanted to apologize to you once again for how I treated you last night”
Rosaline smiled in relief. “I think we can just let that go, Thomas. We all act without thinking now and then.
“It still doesn’t excuse my behavior. If we are going to run his household together we need to be able to communicate, especially when it comes to Robbie, I want you to be able to trust me and come to me when you need anything.”
She unfolded her slender fingers and relaxed a little more in her chair. Her shoulders lowered a bit as she let out a breath.
Thomas averted his gaze and examined one of the cups on the table in front of him. He didn’t like the fact that he was noticing more and more how beautiful she was. It felt disloyal to Mary.
He cleared his throat and cast about for a different topic to discuss with her. “You haven’t told me much about your parents yet?”
Rosaline’s full lips parted slightly in surprise.
Is it that surprising to her that I want to get to know her more? Does she see me as being that cold?he wondered to himself.
“My parents were Elizabeth and Anthony Berry. They died when I was still very young, but the memories I have of them are happy ones,” she said, her lips curled up into a faint smile. “They showed me how to love and how to follow God with all my heart.”
