Rosa's Land: Western Justice - book 1 Read Free

slowly.”
    “Thank you, doctor. Charles will show you out.” After the doctor left, Caleb turned to his two older sons and said, “Didn’t I tell you? He’s just a baby! He’s got to have somebody to take care of him.”
    “We can’t be with him all the time,” Leo said. “You better pay Ryan more money and have him never get far away from him.”
    “It’s a shame a man twenty years old can’t take care of himself any better … especially
my
son.”

     
    Pat Ryan was eating a piece of pie that he had begged from Kate Evans, the cook. She was the wife of Charles, the butler, and was the best cook Ryan had ever known.
    Doris Stevens, a very attractive maid, was sitting on a chair beside May Satterfield, the other maid. Both were listening to his story.
    He had told them about the fight three days ago with the man who was beating Faye Riordan and ended by saying, “It’s a good thing I was there. I think that bruiser might have killed Mr. Faye.”
    “Did you hurt him?” Doris asked.
    “I put his lights out. When I left, he wasn’t talking much. He had lost some teeth, and I cracked him right in the throat and kicked him in the side.”
    “Oh, Mr. Faye’s such a fine-looking young man,” Doris said. “Really handsome.”
    “You been flirting with him, Doris?”
    “You bet. I plan to get him to marry me. Then I’ll be your boss, both of you.”
    “He don’t pay any attention to women,” May said.
    “He’s a man, ain’t he? I’ll catch him off guard. Maybe I’ll be lucky enough to get caught. He’ll have to marry me then, and I’ll be a Riordan. I’ll be your boss.”
    “Nah, that won’t happen. Mr. Faye, he wouldn’t take advantage of a maid,” Pat said, shaking his head.
    “No, but I might take advantage of him.” She laughed and winked merrily. “In fact, I’ll bet he could use some refreshment right about now.”
    Pat shook his head at May as he returned to his pie.

     
    Faye was sitting at the piano running his fingers over the keys. He turned, holding his side and wincing at the pain from his cracked ribs, when someone entered the room.
    It was Doris bringing him a glass of iced tea.
    Faye simply said, “Thank you, Doris. You take care of me too well.”
    “Well, you need someone to take care of you.” She reached out and put her hand on his face. “The swelling has all gone down, and you’ve almost lost that awful-looking black eye you had.” She left her hand on his face and said, “I’m so sorry. I wish I could take some of the hurt.”
    She then leaned against him, pressing her figure against his shoulders. “You need a friend. A lady friend.”
    At that instant his mother walked in. She took one look and said, “Doris, I think you’re wanted in the kitchen.”
    Eileen waited until Doris left and then came over and looked down at Faye. “How do you feel, son?”
    “Oh, I’ll live.”
    She sighed. “You do realize Doris was flirting with you just now.”
    “Oh no. She just brought me some tea.”
    Eileen shook her head sadly. “You don’t know women.”
    “I guess not, but she’s a nice girl.”
    “No, she’s a flirt. You be careful.”
    “Well, if you say so, Mother.”
    “How’s the painting going?”
    “I haven’t felt much like painting. One good thing—I didn’t hurt my hands.”
    “You’re going to be a great artist, son.”
    Faye put his hands out and ran them across the keyboard softly and gently. “I’m letting Dad down, Mother. He and my brothers think I’m a failure … and I guess I am. Any one of them could have taken care of himself. I’m just a failure.”
    “You’re
not
a failure! Your father and your brothers have strong muscles, but they don’t have any sensitivity or gentleness.”
    “Well, I wish I could be an artist
and
a tough man.”
    “Forget being tough. There’s a new teacher in town named John Arlington. He’s been studying in Europe.”
    “I’ve heard of him.”
    “Well, I’ve asked him to come and look