The next morning Rose woke late and was embarrassed to go downstairs and face the boys. She was appalled by her behavior the night before. She had been so weak. She did not want to think of herself as a damsel in need of saving, but that seemed to be all she was lately.

She stayed in her room as long as possible and finally went down to the kitchen, praying the boys had already left for the day. She froze on the stairs when she saw Arthur and Forrest sitting around the table and Peter serving pancakes.

Self consciously she moved to her seat and poured herself coffee without meeting anyone's eyes. Peter set a plate of way too many pancakes in front of her. She set about the business of eating them, just waiting for them to leave.

"Arthur," Forrest said, he slid the notebook over to him. "What is this?"

Arthur glanced at the books and chuckled to himself. "Oh yeah, an opportunity presented itself when I was in Chattanooga couple weeks back; an extremely lucrative opportunity."

Rose hid her sigh of relief in her coffee, she could have kissed Forrest for drawing attention from her. She glanced up as that thought flitted through her brain and she looked back down and blushed fiercely as she remembered begging him to stay with her last night.

"And the consequences of this lucrative opportunity?" Peter paused, still holding the frying pan in hand.

Arthur snorted shoveling a huge fork full of pancakes in his mouth. "None."

Peter shook his head in disbelief. "You're an idiot." And he marched back into the kitchen.

Forrest pulled the notebook back in front of him and snapped it closed.

Arthur looked confused. "Forrest-" he said, trying to get Forrest to see his perspective.

Forrest shoved his chair back. He leaned forward into Arthur's space. "If you want to behave like an idiot, that's your business. This isn't a game and when you do something like this, it effects all of us." He drew a circle in the air with his finger to encompass the whole room. "And every single action has consequences. If you don't start to get control of yourself and think things through you are going to get one of us killed."

Forrest stalked out of the room. Arthur let out a dramatic sigh and turned to Rose. He gave her an impish smile. "Do you want to go to town?" He asked. "I need to get out of here for a while."

Rose nodded feeling like a sudden weight had been lifted from her shoulders. "That is exactly what I need." She said with a light laugh. "Let me go grab my hand bag."

She and Arthur rode to town in silence, and at first she thought it was because he was embarrassed by what had happened at the breakfast table. But after a while she wasn't so certain that was it anymore. "Arthur," she said, staring hard out the side window. "Are you mad at me?"

Arthur glanced at her, shock registering on his face for a moment before he covered it with one of his easy grins. "I'm not mad at you Rose."

"I know I've been causing you guys trouble-" she started to say but Arthur immediately interrupted.

"No Rose, no. I'm not mad at you at all. I'm mad at myself, because they are right. And I'm mad at Forrest because...he's Forrest and he just brings that out in people." He tried to smile at her but it was a brittle thing. His eyes were tight and tense.

"About the books thing?" She asked in a small voice. She tried not to notice anything about their other business, instead keeping her focus on the store.

"That's part of it, and other...brother stuff."

"I don't want to cause trouble with you all," she said staring at her hands.

After a few moments Arthur tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "Rose can I ask you something? And you don't have to answer if you don't want to."

Rose closed her eyes, preparing herself. She should have expected this, especially after last night. How long did she think she could stay in their home before one of them asked her about her past? She wanted so badly to forget it, but no matter what she did it seemed like it haunted her.

She nodded and swallowed dryly. She knew she would have to tell them, she for some reason always assumed it would be Peter asking her.

"Are you in love with Forrest?"

"What?" she gasped.

Arthur pulled the truck over to the side of the road so he could face her. "I've seen the way you guys look at one another..."

"I..." she started to say, completely at a loss for words. She shook her head, as though that would help her organize her thoughts. This was the exact opposite direction she had expected the conversation to go.

"Cuz he loves you." Arthur said matter a fact. "We all do." This he said shyly, looking away, then down at his hands.

She looked at him in wonder. Uncertain how to respond and what all he meant by what he said.

"I mean it, Rose," he snorted. "Me too...I would leave this place, marry you and go where ever it is that train was headed to be with you." He spoke honestly and the most seriously Rose had ever heard him. He leaned in and took her hand and squeezed it. He continued before she had to come up with what to say next. "But I have seen the way you look at Forrest." He faced forward once more. "I have never seen Forrest in love before..." he ran a hand through his hair as though the conversation was stressing him out.

She couldn't imagine what Forrest would say if he knew they were talking about him.

There was a long minute of uncomfortable silence before Arthur rushed on as though he were going to lose his nerve. "So, do you?"

Rose licked her lips as she opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She looked down at her hands as the information blew her away.

Arthur snorted. "You don't have to answer...did you not know?"

Rose looked at him, her eyes wide with tears. She was so happy here, she didn't want anything to change, and she had a feeling that no matter what she did from this moment on things would change on her.

Arthur gave her a sad smile. "Sorry," he said. "I honestly thought you knew." He put the truck in gear and continued their drive into town.

Once they crossed the town line Arthur began joking and chatting as he always did as though their chat had never happened. Rose responded to him and laughed with him, but she couldn't get their conversation out of her mind. How had she not seen it? Did she know they all loved her? That's why she felt so safe; she had finally found someplace to belong, but she would have to make a choice. Even the act of not making a choice would end her tiny window of peace. She wouldn't let anything effect the brothers, she would leave first. And that's what she would have to do, leave.

As she waited in the truck outside the feed mill she was surprised to find she was angry with Arthur. She was angry with him for ruining this for her. He had shattered her illusion of peace once again. She shook her head and buried her head in her hands, scrubbing at her eyes. This wasn't his fault, he was just the only one willing to talk about it. Peter was too much of a gentleman, and Forrest...Forrest would never discuss his feelings. Assuming he even had feelings for her which she doubted.

Arthur came back and threw a sack of feed in the back of the truck before coming back around and climbing in. "I gotta stop at the hardware store. You got anything you need?"

Rose shook her head. "I'm just along for the ride," she forced a smile.

He nodded and puttered a few blocks down the street. "Why don't we grab some lunch at the café after. You com'in in?" he asked.

Rose shook her head, "I'll meet you at the café. It'd be nice to walk a bit."

"Okay," Arthur said. "Be safe."

Rose arched her brow and looked up and down the quiet main street. "Ask the locals, I'm with the most dangerous person in this town right now."

Arthur chuckled. "Exactly," he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "I'd never hear the end of it if something happened to you on my watch."

She snorted and hopped down. "I assure you I can take care of myself."

Arthur watched her walk away from him, shaking his head.

Strolling down the wood planked side walk Rose almost collided with Mrs. Hudson as she and Anna Ceary came out of Mr. Benton's store.

Anna squeaked. "Rose! So great to see you!"

Mrs. Hudson gave her a polite smile. "Miss Rose dear," she greeted.

"Mrs. Hudson, Anna," she said politely. She could feel the judgment rolling off Mrs. Hudson.

"We weren't sure you were still in town, but Floyd came by for Sunday brunch and said you didn't take the train when it came to town, and that you went up to the store with Forrest that night and when we didn't hear from you for two weeks we weren't sure if that was the case or if they had kidnapped you." Anna spoke quickly and with strung together sentences so fast that Rose struggled to follow what she was saying.

Right at the end of her tirade Arthur swaggered around the corner. He dropped his arm around Rose's shoulders and gave her an affectionate squeeze.

She tensed, but fought not to show it.

"No kidnapping," he said with a charming smile directed at Anna. He turned to give Mrs. Hudson one, but her severe frown made him tense and straighten.

Anna turned to Rose as though she were looking for confirmation. "No kidnapping." She promised.

Anna squeaked. "Where are you headed now?" she was not shy about letting her eyes range over Arthur. Rose glanced back at him, noticing maybe for the first time what Anna was noticing. Arthur was not as imposing as his brothers, he was only a few inches taller than her but all lean muscle. His hair had gotten too long again and kept falling into his eyes as he flashed his easy smile at Anna. His shirt was fitted, the sleeves rolled up showing off the corded muscles of his forearms. His eyes were the same bottle green as Forrest's but a few shades lighter. He had the same chiseled cheeks bones but he had a slightly softer jaw than Forrest or Peter. It made him appear softer, maybe even a little pretty.

"To the café for lunch, would you ladies allow me to buy you lunch?"

Mrs. Hudson sniffed in disapproval but Anna seized on the opportunity. "It would be great to have the chance to get caught up with Rose, it's been so long since we've chatted," she said eagerly with a sweet smile.

"Well then," Arthur snapped into action and offered an arm to both women. Anna took it immediately and Mrs. Hudson did so out of a desire to not appear impolite. Though her disapproval hung thick in the air.

Rose shook her head. Anna spoke as though she and Rose had been best friends while she stayed at the boarding house. Instead of the handful of words they had exchanged at meals. Anna had been sent here by her parents both to work at the local school but also to find herself a husband. She was fairly certain one of the Garrett boys was not what her parents had in mind.

The Avery Café was exactly like she expected. Pristine. Matching tables were covered with red and white checked table cloths and were arranged in perfect rows across the room. There was an open counter lined with fresh baked goods. Mrs. Avery hustled out of the kitchen. "Hi y'all, wel-" her voice trailed off as she spotted Arthur. But good southern manners won out and she forced a smile onto her face. "Welcome," she coughed out. "Mrs. Hudson, good to see you."

The four of them took a seat at one of the tables and Rose fought not to be overwhelmed by the awkwardness. Arthur however was Arthur and never out of his element. In no time he had both Anna and Mrs. Hudson laughing despite themselves.

When Mrs. Avery approached their table Arthur gave her his most charming smile.

She gave him a guarded look, as though she were convinced he was about to leap up and attack her or rob her blind. "What can I get y'all?"

The bell above the door jingled and a group of ladies Rose recognized from the church took a table by the window chattering among themselves. They waved to Mrs. Avery and began whispering together when they spotted Rose and Arthur.

"I'll be right with you," Mrs. Avery called to them with a much friendlier smile than she had bestowed upon them.

"Now Mrs. Avery," Arthur said "I will gladly enjoy whatever your special of the day is, no need for a menu." He flashed his best smile as he handed her back the menu.

"I'll take the catfish with grits," Miss Rose said. She also gave Mrs. Avery her most practiced and sweet smile.

It wasn't until her husband, the Sheriff Avery came in however that Mrs. Avery seemed to relax. For his part, Arthur was on his absolute best behavior and was his most charming self.

By the end of lunch he had won over Mrs. Hudson and even Mrs. Avery was smiling and laughing with him as he ordered a second piece of pecan pie. Sheriff Avery kept a close eye on him but by the end of their meal even he was smiling along with a few of Arthur's tamer stories.

After lunch she and Arthur were walking back towards Arthur's truck arm in arm. "Well that was surprising," Rose teased.

"What?"

"You," she said, leaning into his arm. "Charming the ladies of this town."

Arthur snorted. "You don't think I can charm ladies?"

"Oh, I know you can Mr. Garrett. I was just surprised by you charming those ladies."

Arthur laughed. "It was all for you darlin. I saw your face and I know how much it means to you to fit in and well it doesn't help you do that if everyone in town is terrified every time they see one of us."

"Can you imagine Mrs. Avery's face if it would have been Forrest walk'in into her café?"

Arthur threw back his head and laughed and Rose found herself laughing too. She hugged his arm as she found she was having a good time. Once they got back to the truck Rose hopped in and turned to Arthur who was still grinning.

"Thank you Arthur," she said seriously. "I really needed this."

Arthur nodded, "me too."