The next morning Rose did her best to behave as normal as possible all through breakfast. But when Arthur and Peter headed up the hill to get some work done, she disappeared into the kitchen rather than stay out with Forrest by herself. He hadn't said a word to her. He too seemed to be trying to behave as normal as possible, as though the night before never happened.

The sound of the door slamming had Rose peaking her head out of the kitchen door. Floyd was frozen just inside, his eyes wide as he looked around and realized he was alone with Forrest. Forrest, for his part, calmly looked up from the books. Forrest closed the books and looked like he was about to get up. Floyd took a step as though he were going to spin around and leave and Rose rushed out the door.

"Floyd," she greeted before Forrest climbed off his stool. "What can I do for you? We just finished breakfast, but I could get you a plate if you are hungry."

Floyd took his hat off crumpling it nervously in his hands. "Oh, no thank you Miss Rose. My missus, she makes me a fine breakfast."

Rose smiled encouragingly. "What can we do for you?"

Floyd looked around at the empty tables. "Are we alone, Miss Rose?" He asked wiping at his mouth.

Rose frowned but looked to Forrest. Forrest nodded and turned his attention to Floyd.

Floyd visibly paled when Forrest looked at him. And Rose was left wondering again what exactly Forrest had done to instill so much fear.

"It's only Forrest and I here now if that's what you mean," Rose clarified as she dried her hands on her apron and stepped closer to Floyd.

Floyd nodded and stared hard at the floor as he spoke. "There was a man come in on the train yesterday. He was from Chicago. He was look'in for you Mr. Garrett." Floyds eyes flickered to Forrest and back to Rose. "And I don't think this is the type of man you wants to find you. He was also ask'in all sorts of questions around town about you and I heard a couple people tell him about Miss Rose. I heard Anna tell'in him all about how Miss Rose was liv'in up here with y'all..." He looked at Rose and taking a deep breath he strided across the room so he was just in front of Forrest. "Mr. Garrett," he addressed Forrest seriously. "This is not a man y'all want to mess around with. This is a hard man. And now he knows you and your brothers all live up here, and he knows about Miss Rose."

Forrest didn't say anything at first, he just stared at Floyd for a little while before he finally spoke. "We have everything under control Floyd," he said calmly.

Floyd pinched his lips and chewed on his mustache. "Beggin your pardon Mr. Garrett, but y'all brought her into this." Then Floyd looked over at Rose and nodded. "Well, if you'd excuse me." He clapped his rumpled hat back on his head. "Miss Rose you have yourself a good day."

Once Floyd left Forrest turned back to Rose. "I think we need to have a talk with my brothers."

Rose nodded.

"I'm going to go out for a few minutes. I need to let Eddie know. He's still up the Hollow with Dan." Forrest stopped and stared at Rose for a few moments, indecision on his face.

"I'll be fine Forrest, you need to warn them. Everyone in town knows both Eddie and Lilly work for you as well."

Forrest nodded absentmindedly but still didn't move. He looked around the store. "I'm not sure if I should leave you here..."

Rose brushed her hair back from her face. "When will Peter and Arthur be back?"

"Not until this afternoon. The run they are on took them to the next town over," he slammed his first down on the table. The table jumped and Rose bit down on her lip to keep herself from reacting. "Dammit. They are going to be out on those roads..."

Rose's eyes widened as she realized what Forrest meant. "You think he will try and hurt them while they are between towns?"

Forrest nodded grimly. "It's what I would do. Neither sheriff bothers with the roads. Especially this time of year...our best hope is that he's a city boy. He won't understand how bad our roads can be with the summer rains." He ran a hand over his face.

Rose approached him slowly, her shoulders were slightly hunched, though she was looking at his face. "Why don't we close the store for lunch, and I'll come with you to warn Eddie and Dan. Where's Lilly?"

The relief in Forrest's eyes had her feeling horrible for him thinking she would be unwilling to go with him.

"Lilly is back at her mama's. ..the boys have the truck...can you ride?"

Rose's eyes widened. "A horse?"

<><><><><>

Forrest led her up the road that led up into the hollow. She had never ventured further than the parking area, not wanting to intrude on their business. One hundred feet up the road nestled into the trees was an old, low cinderblock barn. The door facing the road was padlocked. There was a small lean to along the back that led out to a pasture. There, was a small, sturdy looking black horse who nickered at the sight of Forrest.

"Her name's Tessa."

Forrest tacked her up with practiced efficiency. Despite his stress, there was a peace about him here in the barn that Rose had never seen before. The horse was patient and stood calmly as Forrest worked quickly around her securing the saddle and slipping the bridle into her mouth and over her head. He led her out of the gate and to the road.

Forrest swung up into the saddle with an ease Rose envied. She had changed into a pair of trousers but she really did not have anything appropriate for riding. She had ridden a little when she had been young, but having grown up in the city her family had never had horses. Forrest instructed her how to put her foot in the stirrup and helped her swing up behind him. Once up she let her legs hang while he toed his foot back into the stirrup.

"Hold onto my waist," he instructed. The mare shifted a little beneath their weight.

"Is she okay to carry both of us?" Rose wondered, she wrapped her arms around his waist, holding her own hands. She had thought it would be too intimate to hold onto him with her hands, but this pushed her chest flush with his back and her heart started to pound.

Forrest chuckled once, and she felt it rumble in his chest. "We'll keep it easy, just a walk maybe some trot. She's made of pretty tough stuff." He gave her hands a squeeze and took the reins in both hands. He clucked lightly and the mare set off at a steady pace.

"She's yours isn't she?" Rose asked. She could only just peak over Forrest's shoulder, he was so much larger than she was.

"My Da got her for me when I was young."

"That was nice of him."

"Not really, I gave him money I saved up and he drank most of it away. Bought me an underfed nag who was too young to ride and had been abused."

"But you got her to trust you," Rose said softly, her voice was muffled slightly by Forrest's shirt as she laid her cheek against his shoulder.

"I did."