"I'm helping him get rid of his citified ways," Cole added. "You should thank me, sister."
"About Corrie," Harrison began, ignoring all the talk about his temper.
She squeezed his arm. "I wish you would follow my advice, Harrison. It will serve you well around here."
"This ought to be good," Travis whispered loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Mind your own business, Travis," Mary Rose said.
"You can give me your advice after we talk about Corrie," Harrison insisted.
She let out a sigh. "I know what you want. You'd like me to apologize for going up those stairs, wouldn't you?"
"I would like you to use the mind God gave you. Don't take chances like that again."
She didn't argue with him. "I'll be careful."
The tension went out of his shoulders. "Thank you."
He leaned down and kissed her. It was a sweet, tender, undemanding kiss that was finished before she had time to react.
"Stop kissing our sister," Douglas ordered, though his voice lacked any real bite.
Harrison responded to the command by kissing Mary Rose again. Then he put his arm around her shoulders and hauled her up against his side. He was deliberately showing his possessiveness.
He turned his attention to Travis. "If I can't trust you to protect her…"
"If you can't trust me? If that isn't the kettle…"
"Let it rest, Travis," Adam suggested. " Harrison, sit down. Mary Rose, go back to your chair."
She walked back to her seat in a trance of disbelief. Whatever had come over Harrison? He had never shown such blatant affection in front of her brothers before.
"Who made these biscuits?" Travis asked.
"I did," Eleanor replied. "Why? Don't you like them?"
"I like them just fine. They're good."
She smiled with pleasure. "I'm pleased you like them. I'll make more tomorrow if you want me to. I could even bake a cake. I'm quite handy to have around. Aren't I, Mary Rose?"
"Yes, you are," she answered.
"You're sure being accommodating," Douglas said.
"I do try to be," Eleanor replied.
"What was the advice you were going to give Harrison?" Cole asked his sister.
"What did you ask…? Advice? Oh, yes, I remember now."
She was still rattled by Harrison 's kiss and was trying to regain her composure. "I was going to suggest Harrison follow my advice."
"Well, what the hell is it?" Cole asked.
"Watch your language, Cole," Mary Rose told him. "First with his mind, then with his heart. He should think things through before he acts."
Cole turned to Harrison. "Where have I heard that before?"
Harrison looked like he wanted to hit his head against something hard.
"Probably from your sister," he said dryly. "Mary Rose?"
"Yes?"
"You make me crazy."
Adam started laughing. "Don't get angry, sister. Harrison didn't meant to offend you. He was just having one of his spells again."
Eleanor patted Mary Rose's hand. "He's still rude, isn't he?"
Mary Rose didn't answer her. She let the brothers have their laugh, then decided to change the subject.
"Do you want to hear about the rest of my visit with Corrie?" Mary Rose asked.
"I don't think Harrison has enough stamina to hear any more."
Cole said.
"Go ahead, sister, tell the rest," Adam encouraged.
"Corrie touched me. I was telling her all the news, rocking back and forth in her chair, and then I suddenly felt her hand on my shoulder. It was as light as a butterfly's wings. She even patted me. She also pinched me, but just once."
Douglas laughed. "Why'd she do that?"
"How could Mary Rose know?" Travis asked. "The woman still isn't talking to her."
"Oh, I believe I know why she pinched me, but I don't want to bore you with the details. Eleanor, pass the biscuits, please. They look delicious."
"They taste delicious too. Travis said so," Eleanor said. She handed the plate to Mary Rose and added the suggestion that she take two.
"You won't bore us," Cole said. "Tell us why she pinched you."
"Oh, all right," she agreed. She knew her brother wouldn't stop inquiring until she explained. "I was doing a spot of complaining, and I guess she got tired of listening. I stopped complaining as soon as she pinched me."
"We should have started in pinching you years ago," Adam teased. "Had we known how effective it would be."
"You really shouldn't complain, Mary Rose," Eleanor instructed. "People don't like it."
"When did you figure that out?" she asked.
"Surely you've noticed I've stopped complaining."
"Yes, indeed I have noticed," Mary Rose assured her friend.
"I realized how tiring my behavior was when I was walking home from town. Don't you remember the blisters I got on my toes? Well, being alone and all, I had time to think about my attitude."
"I sure have enjoyed hearing you laugh, Eleanor. You're nice to be around now, and you help out so much, I'm beginning to wonder how we ever got along without you."
"Thank you, Adam."
"When were you alone?" Mary Rose asked.
She happened to look at Cole and noticed he was trying hard not to smile.
"Did I say I was alone? I wasn't," Eleanor blurted out. "Forget I mentioned it, Mary Rose."
She wasn't going to do any such thing. Something had happened on the way back from Blue Belle, and she was determined to find out what it was.
"Eleanor, will you help me clear the table and bring in the coffee?"
"Certainly," Eleanor replied. "I try to be helpful. I hope you'll remember that."
Mary Rose collected some of the dishes and went into the kitchen. Eleanor followed her a minute later with the leftovers. She put the plates down on the sideboard, then turned to collect the coffeepot.
Mary Rose wouldn't let her leave the kitchen. She hurried over to block the doorway, then whirled around, folded her arms across her middle, and said, "Start talking, Eleanor. What happened on the way home from town? Something's going on all right."
"No, honestly," Eleanor protested. "I was never alone. I'm being sincere. Please don't do anything hasty."
"Like what?"
"Don't make me leave. Please don't vote against me."
"What in heaven's name are you talking about?"
Eleanor proceeded to tell her everything.
Mary Rose became furious. It was cruel and heartless of Harrison and Cole to frighten Eleanor. She spent a good ten minutes soothing her friend. Her anger simmered all the while. Eleanor was so pleased to have her friend's sympathy and understanding, she recounted the horrible experience once again, embellishing the details as she went along. By the time she was finished, she'd gotten all worked up again.
Douglas was thankful his sister had left the dining room because he wanted to talk about Corrie without interference.
"I've had time to think about what Harrison said," he announced in a low voice so Mary Rose wouldn't hear. "Crazy Corrie could have hurt Mary Rose. You never should have let her go up on the porch, Travis."
"She wasn't in any danger. Corrie likes Mary Rose. She left the quilt in the cave for her, didn't she?"
"How do you know it was Crazy Corrie's quilt?" Douglas asked. "Oh, for God's sake, Douglas. If you want to start something with me, just do it. Don't use stupid arguments."
"She is crazy," Cole interjected. "How do you figure that?" Travis asked.
"Normal folks don't greet visitors with a shotgun sticking out of their window. I'm siding with Douglas. He's right…"
"No, I was wrong," Harrison announced.
Everyone turned to him. He let out a sigh. "I overreacted. I still wouldn't have let her go up on the porch, but I shouldn't have blown up the way I did during supper."
"Then why did you?"
Harrison shrugged. "I've been a little on edge lately." Adam leaned back in his chair. "I find it curious," he remarked to no one in particular.