"What's curious?" Cole asked.
"You boys can be quiet when you want to, yet Harrison knew you were in the bunkhouse searching through his things. He let you think he was sleeping."
"So?" Cole prodded.
"I'm finding it curious Corrie could get inside the cave, cover Mary Rose, and then leave, while Harrison was sound asleep. Yes, sir," he added with a smile. "I'm curious all right." Cole turned to Harrison. "You saw her, didn't you?"
"Yes, I saw her."
"Why didn't you tell us?" Travis asked.
"I didn't say anything because I didn't want Mary Rose to know. She was sleeping. Corrie wasn't crazy that night. There was a look of tenderness in her eyes when she stood over Mary Rose and looked at her. I don't know if her moods change with the winds, however, or if she could in fact turn dangerous. Since I only saw her for a couple of minutes, I wouldn't be willing to put Mary Rose's life in her hands just yet. I still believe your sister needs to remain cautious."
"What did she look like?" Douglas asked.
"Like someone took a hatchet to her."
Travis shuddered. "The poor thing," he whispered.
"How come she doesn't talk?" Cole asked.
"I'm not certain she can."
"You mean her throat…" Travis couldn't continue. He was rattled by the picture of the woman he was getting in his mind.
Cole was the only brother who seemed to take it all in stride. "Why didn't you tell Mary Rose you saw Corrie?"
"I felt it would be intrusive. Corrie belongs to her. She should be the first to see her."
"Do you think Corrie will ever let her?"
"I doubt it, but she might," Harrison conceded.
"Mary Rose will probably faint, or scream," Travis said. "Hell, I would."
Harrison shook his head. "No, your sister will take it all in stride."
Adam nodded. "You know her well, Harrison."
"There's a storm brewing," Douglas remarked.
"Did you hear thunder?" Cole asked.
"Hell. MacHugh hates thunder."
The brothers laughed. "He hates everything," Travis said.
"He sure likes Adam," Douglas remarked. "What'd you do to make him follow you around like a puppy after you rode him today?"
"I took Harrison 's advice and praised him. He likes hearing how fine he is. We're kindred spirits, Douglas."
"Will you take care of him for me when I leave?" Harrison asked Adam.
"You aren't taking him with you?" Douglas asked.
"The journey across the ocean would be too much for him."
"Let me guess," Cole interjected. "MacHugh hates water, doesn't he?"
Harrison 's expression turned serious. "Promise me something, Adam. No matter what, don't sell him. If I can't get back here, you keep him."
Adam agreed. "Do you think you will come back?"
Before Harrison could answer, Travis asked him another question. "Are you still going to leave in another week?"
"No," Harrison answered. "I've decided to leave the day after tomorrow."
"Why'd you change your mind?" Cole asked.
"Mary Rose."
He didn't think he needed to say more, but Douglas wouldn't let it go. He demanded details.
"Are you trying to rush us into telling her sooner? It's our call, Harrison, not yours. Why can't you wait longer?"
"I think he should leave soon," Travis interjected. "I'm getting tired of chasing after Mary Rose. She'll be safer once he's gone."
"Let him tell us why he moved the date up," Douglas pestered.
Harrison decided to be blunt. "It's simple, gentlemen. I've reached the end of my endurance. I can't be in the same room with her and not…"
"You don't have to go into details," Cole hastily said. "We get the picture."
"And it's a disgusting one," Travis muttered, for it involved his sister.
"There it is again," Douglas said.
"What?" Travis asked.
"Thunder," Douglas answered. "It's coming from the kitchen."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Cole asked.
Douglas didn't have to explain. Harrison was ordered to the kitchen. Mary Rose shouted his name. Eleanor bellowed Cole's name.
The two men who had been summoned looked at each other.
"I guess maybe they talked things over," Cole said.
"Maybe?" Harrison replied dryly.
Cole was reluctant to move. Harrison put his napkin down with a resigned look and stood up.
"Are you going to go in there?" Travis asked.
"Of course," Harrison answered.
"What in blazes for?"
"To catch hell," Harrison said. "Get up, Cole. You're going with me." Cole tossed his napkin at Travis and followed Harrison into the kitchen. Mary Rose started in first.
"How could you be so cruel? It was callous and mean of you to scare Eleanor the way you did. I cannot believe you dumped her out on the road in the middle of nowhere. What could you have been thinking?"
Harrison wasn't given time to defend himself. Eleanor rushed over to stand next to Mary Rose. She imitated her military stance by folding her arms across her middle.
"I got blisters on my toes. They bled for God's sake. Was Cole in on this? He was, wasn't he?"
She turned to glare at Mary Rose's brother. "I shall never, ever forgive you."
"You two left her alone. Anything could have happened to her. There are wild animals living up there on the mountain. Did you forget about them? Eleanor could have… did you have your gun?" she asked her friend.
Eleanor shook her head. "No, I did not. If I'd had my gun, Mary Rose, I would have shot Harrison."
"How would you have felt if something terrible had happened to me?" Eleanor asked Cole.
He walked over to the kitchen table and leaned against it. "Nothing happened to you," he said in a perfectly calm, reasonable tone of voice.
"There never was going to be a vote," Eleanor cried out. "I've been nice for no good reason at all. I even made biscuits, damn it."
Cole shrugged. "They were good biscuits," he said. "It didn't kill you to be nice, Eleanor, so quit acting like it did."
"There was always someone watching over her," Harrison interjected. He too sounded reasonable.
"Who was looking out for her?" Mary Rose asked.
"Dooley took a turn, then Ghost spelled him, and then Henry finished up," Cole explained.
"Ghost? Dear Lord, not Ghost. Had he been drinking?"
"Yes, he had," Eleanor answered. "The man was clearly sotted."
"He was what?" Cole asked.
"Drunk," she said. "He couldn't have come to my rescue if I'd gotten into trouble."
"You can't know that," Cole argued.
"He thought I was an angel, for God's sake."
"He was drunk." Cole burst into laughter. Harrison had more discipline. He only cracked a smile.
Eleanor desperately wanted Cole to admit he'd have mourned her if she'd been killed. She knew she was being melodramatic; she didn't care. He had kissed her, after all. He had to feel something for her, didn't he? She thought it would be lovely if he'd admit it.
"What would you have done if I'd been killed?"
"That didn't happen. You're sure a sight when your cheeks get all flushed."
"Answer my question," Eleanor insisted.
"Fine, I'll answer. I guess I'd bury you."
"You'd bury me."
She didn't look too happy with him. He decided that wasn't the answer she'd been looking for. "I'd pick a real nice spot."
Harrison put his arms around Mary Rose. "I'd do the same for you," he promised her.
She could see the laughter in his eyes. "How thoughtful of you," she whispered.
Eleanor moved closer to Cole. "And then what would you do?"
"Do you have to raise your voice like that? You're making my head pound."
She apologized before she realized what she was doing. "I'm sorry. Please tell me what you would do after you buried me in a nice spot."