Whiskey Rose (Fallen) (18 page)

“
Oh honey you are messing with the only one that matters
.
”

“
I’
m no
t
…” He hesitated not sure how to phrase it, it did
n’
t seem right to use that term for Rose.

“
Not what? Not in love with her
?
”

“
No
,
” he said a little too quickly but Dixie just laughed.

“
Oh honey, lie to your preacher but you ca
n’
t lie to me. Not when it comes to carnal matters
.
”

“
What makes you think that I a
m…?
”

“
Ah well the way you look at her for one, the way you try to take care of her for another and of course the way you treat the rest of us
.
”

“
Wha
t’
s wrong with the way I treat you
?
” he asked surprised.

 
“
Nothing except that there is
n’
t a woman here who has
n’
t tested the waters with you and you are completely oblivious
.
”

“
I am not oblivious
,
” he laughed,
“
I noticed but I am supposed to be married
.
”

“
Supposed to be
.
” Dixie laughed.
 “
If you were
n’
t in love with her yo
u’
d still have the urge to take one of us up on the offer. You might not act on it but yo
u’
d have the urge
.
”

“
What makes you think I do
n’
t have the urge
?
”

“
Because there is a big difference in the way you looked at me when you got here and the way you look at me now
.
”

“
You know all of your evidence seems to be on looks and conjecture, do
n’
t you have anything solid
?
” He was grasping at straws now and he knew it.

“
My survival depends on my ability to read people, honey. I know yo
u’
re in love with her and I know you have
n’
t bedded her yet
.
” Mat
t’
s eyebrows rose slightly.

“
And you know this from looking at me or her
?
”

“
Both
.
”

“
What do you see when you look at her
?
”

“
Oh honey it is not my place to divulge her secrets
.
” Dixie laughed.

“
Oh only mine
.
”

“
I am telling them to you. I
t’
s not like I am telling them to anyone else
.
” She laughed. He smiled. He had to admit the more he talked to her the more he liked her style.

“
Why did you want this room so much
?
” Dixie pointed over her shoulder at the window.

“
This is the only room with a window
.
” He stood up and walked to the window and looked out.

“
You can see the alley from here. I should talk to Katrina she might have seen something
.
”

“
You should definitely talk to her, just tread lightly
.
”

Rose was impatiently waiting for the last few stragglers to leave. She was tired and she just wanted to get finished up so she could go to bed.

“
Hi honey
.
”

“
Hi Dixie, what are you doing up, i
t’
s your night off
.
”

“
I have a message from your dearly beloved
.
”

Rose frowned slightly
.“
What is it
?
”

“
He is in the bedroom, he did
n’
t want anyoneto know he was back but he did
n’
t want you to be alarmed
.
”

“
Thanks for the message
.
” Dixie walked away and Rose looked across the empty saloon.  Izzy had just started putting up the chairs.

“
Izzy, I am dead tired. Do you mind cleaning up tonight
?
”

“
Of course not, you go get some rest
.
”

“
Thanks
.
” She smiled and hung her apron before she walked out.

Matt made notes on everything he had learned from Dixie in his notebook he still did
n’
t have any clear suspects but at least he felt like he was making strides. The door opened slowly and he saw Rose poke her head in.

“
Are you decent
?
” she asked and he laughed. She came all the way in and shut the door locking it as she did
.“
I thought you said you might not be back tonight
,
” She crossed and sat down beside him on the sofa
.“
Did you learn anything that helps the investigation
?
”

“
I learned some interesting things but not from the trapper I did
n’
t go see him
.
”

“
Why not
?
” He stood up and stepped away from her. He was
n’
t quite sure how to broach the subject with her or how she was going to react.

“
I got the feeling it was a wild goose chase. That someone just did
n’
t want me here
.
”

“
Who
?
” she stood up and stepped toward him.

“
Izzy. I think he was trying to get me out of here tonight I am just not sure why
.
”

“
Izzy? Why would he want to get rid of you
?
”

“
Not sure, just a gut feeling
.
”

“
I am sure yo
u’
re just imagining things
.
” Rose laughed before he could respond someone knocked on the door. Rose jumped and Matt stepped between her and the door automatically. Rose did
n’
t respond and the person knocked again.

“
Rose. Are you in there
?
” The door knob turned but the dead bolt held the door closed.

“
Izzy, what do you need
?
”

“
Can we talk for a minute
?
”
 
Rose looked up at Matt but he did
n’
t give any indication as to what she should do.

“
I am really tired. Le
t’
s talk in the morning
.
” There was a moment of silence and then he pressed,

“
Can I come in? It will only take a minute
.
” She swallowed hard.

“
Sorry Izzy,
I’
ve already changed my clothes. Really
I’
ll come see you in the morning. I promise
.
” She heard him exhale loudly.

“
Alright. In the morning
.
” Rose sagged against Matt relieved that Izzy had finally walked away. More relieved that she was
n’
t alone. He put his arms around her and squeezed her tightly. She pulled back and punched him in the shoulder.

“
What was that for
?
”

“
Because yo
u’
re making me paranoid. Really Izzy? I owe him my life.I have known him for years
.
”

“
Why do you owe him your life
?
”
 
Her eyes narrowed at him and she crossed her arms.

“
He saved my life
.
”

“
That does not me you owe it to him
.
”

“
Alright, what would you prefer that I say
?
”

“
That he saved your life
.
”

“
Alright, he saved my life
.
”

“
How did he save your life
?
” Rose sighed and smiled at him. She stepped forward and tipped her forehead to rest against his chest. He quickly pulled the pins out and lifted the wig off her head. She did
n’
t move so he pulled the net off too then stuck his fingers in and shook it all out. It only took a moment to shake the curls free but he was reluctant to pull his hands out. Instead he began to lightly rub her scalp with his fingertips.

“
Do you think he wanted you out of here so he could talk to me alone
?
” She mumbled not lifting her head.

“
Maybe
.
”

“
We were just alone in the Saloon together. Why did
n’
t he talk to me there
?
”

“
I do
n’
t know
.
” But he did know, they were out in the open in the Saloon with potential witnesses. He had no idea if Izzy meant her harm but he was
n’
t going to let his guard down either. She looked up at him and smiled, he was still lightly massaging her scalp.

“
That feels good
.
” He smiled and bent to kiss her, he hesitated a fraction before he touched her lips remembering that he was supposed to be letting her set the pace. But then she closed the gap pressing her lips to his. She closed her eyes and reveled in the feel as he wrapped his arms around her.

“
You smell like perfume
.
”

“
I had a long interesting conversation with Dixie
.
” He kissed down her neck and she tilted her head to the side to allow him access.

“
Interesting how
?
”

“
She does
n’
t believe I am you husband, she does
n’
t believe Izzy is your father. Basically she is observant enough to be dangerous, but she would
n’
t tell me much. Kind of like someone else I know
.
” She would have laughed if she had
n’
t been so distracted by his mouth on her neck.

“
Oh this is not a good idea
.
” She pulled back. He released her and held up his hands in surrender. His breathing was accelerated as was hers. She quickly scooped the wig up off the table where he had dropped it. She walked to the vanity and put the wig on the stand. She took a deep breath trying to calm her nerves
.“
The only things I do
n’
t tell you are the things that are
n’
t important for you to know
.
”

“
I know
.
”

“
I am not withholding things that would help your case
.
”

“
I know
.
”

“
The truth is I was
n’
t even here that night
.
”