“It’s a nice town. I like how cool it is at night. In Dallas, where I lived, it was always hot. Well, sometimes it got cooler. There were a couple of times when it snowed—not very much, though. Your sister told me about a time when the snow here covered up the windows.”
He laughed. “It’s true. We’ve had quite a few bad snows. And the wind is hard on us too. Blows nearly all the time, and when you combine that with the snow, you get terrible blizzards. Everyone goes inside and stays put until the storm passes.”
Rosie smiled. Rob was so easy to talk to, and she really liked the way he laughed. “I had tea at your house last week. I really like your sister.”
“She’s very nice. I like her too. I have another sister who’s older than me. Her name’s Carrie. She’s back east right now. My brother, Daniel, can be ornery, but he’s a decent sort.”
“Greta and the others didn’t seem to mind my being slow. They didn’t make fun of me.”
Rob frowned. “Why would they make fun of you?”
“People do that sometimes because I don’t think as fast as they do. They sometimes call me names. That’s why my brothers made me stay home and wouldn’t let me go anywhere.”
“You never got to go anywhere?”
“Well, when I was younger, I went to church with my aunt Clementine. My mama died, and Aunt Clementine took care of me. There were some mean boys at church, and theycalled me all sorts of names. My aunt told me to pay them no attention, but I wish people wouldn’t think bad of me just because I’m different.”
“I think you’re wonderful.” He smiled and gently reached out to touch her hand. “I really like you, Rosie. I hope we can be good friends.”
She couldn’t contain her smile. “I’d like being your friend. You are very nice. I really like the way you laugh.”
Rob grinned and started to speak again only to be interrupted by a tall dark-haired man who punched him in the arm.
“Hey, Robbie, are you going to introduce me to your friend?”
Rob didn’t seem at all upset that the man had hit him, so Rosie figured they must be friends. She’d seen her brothers act that way when they were with their friends.
“Rose Benton, this is my best friend, Michael Decker. We were born on the same day in April and have been friends ever since.”
“Glad to meet you, Rose Benton.”
“I’m glad to meet you too.” Rosie felt a little awkward but kept it to herself. Emma had told her many times that she didn’t have to tell everyone everything she was thinking and feeling.
“Where’s your sister?” Michael asked. “I’ve been looking for her.”
“She was supposed to help put together the widow packages after church. I’m not sure where she’s at now.”
Michael shrugged. “Guess I’ll go on searching.” And with that he took off in the same direction from which he’d come.
“He’s sweet on Greta,” Rob explained. “He finished up with college early and is working with his father at the Decker School for Boys. He loves science, especially chemistry. He’s really nice once you get to know him.”
“He seems nice. Does your sister like him?”
“Oh yes, she’s been in love with him since she was about twelve years old. I figure they’ll marry before too much longer.”
“My brother married Emma. It was a pretty wedding until that terrible woman killed him.” She bit her lower lip. That was probably one of those things she didn’t need to share with people.
“I heard about that. It must have been hard on you to lose your brother that way. Seein’ it happen and all.”
“It was. Tommy was so good to me. Colton is too, but Tommy was fun. He would play games with me and make me laugh when he’d tell me stories about places he’d gone. Colton said he needed to work more, but...” She fell silent.
“Work’s important. A fella has to make a living.”
His comment caused Rosie to shake her head. “Not Tommy. He was rich. He gave all his money to Emma, so now she’s rich.” Rosie put her hand over her mouth, then pulled it away. “Sometimes I say too much. I’m trying to learn not to be so honest.”
“Never do that, Rosie.” Rob took hold of her hands. “You’re perfect the way you are. It’s wonderful that you’re honest.”
“Emma thinks so too, but she said we have to be careful because sometimes what we say can cause trouble.”
