Blazing Roses

Brother and brother grabbed their near empty mugs and walked out of the barn. They dumped the dregs on their way to the porch. * * * * When the two men entered the kitchen the smell of breakfast was intense. Rosa had her back to them working over the big cast iron skillet. Reece walked over and gently kissed her on the cheek saying, "Rosa honey, Ambrose and me could smell that bacon clean out in the yard." Rosa curtly answered, "That's good, Reece. Sit down, I'll bring coffee." She hadn't intended to be that short and rude with Reece, but that's how it came out. Reece turned and walked back in the direction of the table. Ambrose seemed momentarily lost. He couldn't help but overhear and knew that Rosa's tone of voice was really intended for, and about him, and not his big brother. He wasn't certain what to do. The two looked at each other hovering over the table and Reece motioned to Ambrose and each took a seat at opposite sides, then waited. Ambrose finally ventured a comment, "Smells mighty fine in here, Rosa." There was no response! The silence in that kitchen, save the clinking of cookstove utensils, was as loud as either man had ever heard. Finally, Rosa took a towel, wrapped her toweled hand around the coffee pot handle, picked it off the hot plate and turned toward the table. "Well, hello Ambrose," she said, in a tone that neither man was able to determine. With barely hidden emotion she continued, "I nearly shot you last evenin." There was more silemce! It was as though Rosa was searchin' for the right words. She was not! "You may recall, I rarely miss what I'm aiming at." Another too long period of silence! Rosa finally continued, now with a little venom in her voice, "It's good that my husband took the scattergun out of my hand. I had it loaded with two double-aught buckshot shells. I'm just a small woman and I have some trouble pulling those big hammers back, so I got that done right off." More painful silence! Ambrose's ears began to hurt. "That way I could step out on the porch ready to do what I intended to do." Another long uncomfortable silence! Rosa just stood there, coffee pot in hand. "You do realize, at that range, from the porch to the hitchrail them pellets wounldn’t a’ had time to separate enough to even scratch that big stallion you ride; they woulda' cut you clean in half." More loud silence! "That's all right though, the babe was sleepin', shotgun shells are an expense - I've got another plan." More silence! Reece finally penetrated the thick dark silence. Ambrose would not have dared. "Why don't ya pour us some coffee, Rosa. It's gettin' cold in that pot yer holdin'.” Rosa ignored him and looked directly at Ambrose saying flatly, "I'm right glad your safe and home with your family." With more emotion than she intended, she finished, "By home I mean Kentucky. By family I mean Reece and your Mama and Papa" With that she poured each man a mug of Arbuckles and returned to the cookstove. Reece loved his Arbuckles coffee and insisted on the brew even though it was a little costly. The two men looked at each other. Neither found a readable expression on the other's face so they turned their attention to their coffee. In time, Rosa spoke over her shoulder, "Ambrose, do you still take your eggs over-medium?" "Um, uh, yes, uh, th - thank you," he stammered. More silence! Finally, Rosa came to the table carrying the big skillet with both hands. She took each man's plate and skillfully transferred the fried potatoes and eggs. Not a yolk was broken. The breakfast that for a while each man wasn't sure would get served, was on their plates. Rosa returned to the cookstove and set the skillet down, both Reece and Ambrose thought a little louder than necessary, but it was heavy; they weren't sure. Rosa returned with bacon, hot buscuits, butter and Raspberry preserves. She returned to the cookstove for her mug of coffee and came back to the table. Many frontier women did not drink the strong and bitter brew, but Rosa Rindi did. She seated herself next to and up tight to Reece and was quiet and still. Eventually the men began to eat. Rosa decided it was time to speak her piece. She looked up at Reece, then across at Ambrose. "Ambrose, I am not happy that you are here." Ambrose interrupted, in an effort to apologize, "Rosa I can’t tell ya how sorr—“. Rosa rebuffed him sharply. "I am not going to let you have the satisfaction of an apology. That's too easy. It's pretty evident you haven't gone to the worry of thinkin' much about what you did before today. I'm going to let you work that out yerself. That can be between you and the Lord.” There was another long period of strained silence! "You took mean advantage of not just my heart, but all the hearts in your family.” More ovwewhelming silence! "Ever'body envisioned your dead body somewhere in the far west, vultures pickin' at yer flesh and nobody there to care. We didn’t know where the Army might have taken you.” More painful silence! "We all quailed at the thought of you lying dead somewhere in the wilderness - that is, until we found out you was alive and well. What a perfectly awful thing to do to the ones that love you; the ones, you're supposed to love back.” Another strained period of dark silence! Rosa's expression turned mean, a look even Reece had never seen before. "I hope that shames you." Then abruptly she changed to a more pleasant demeanor, “Now, you go ahead and enjoy your time with your brother while you finish your breakfast. When you're done, Reece will see you to the barn fer yer horse and belongins'. Then you git off ar’ farm."