Ruth sat in the parlor of her Philadelphia home. She still hadn’t grown use to the silence of the house. She had always known she would end up living alone, but she had expected her daughter to be living close by, and not eternally resting at the bottom of the North Atlantic. Almost two years after they sinking of the Titanic, she still hadn’t gotten over them not finding her body. She knew she had died with that dreadful boy, Jack Dawson.

Cal never let the members of Philadelphia society know what had actually happened on the Titanic, so there had been no scandal surrounding Rose’s death. He had also been kind enough to pay off the family’s debts and provide her with a monthly allowance. Of course all of it was done in absolute secrecy.

Ruth looked from the window when she heard the front door open. Two children came walking in with their mother behind them. They entered the parlor as their mother gave her hat to the butler. Both children were close to the age of fifteen. The young girl sat on the sofa next to Ruth. She was the image of a well-bred girl, but so was Rose at that age.

“How was the picture show?” Ruth asked the young girl.

“It was really good, and so romantic.” The young man came and sat across the room.

“It was okay, but the star was beautiful!” He turned his head and looked at the portrait on the wall. It was of a lovely young woman with fiery red hair. Her skin looked soft and her lips were full. The more the young man looked at the painting, the more he began to recognize her. “Mrs. DeWitt Bukater?”

“Yes, Brian?”

“Who is that girl in the portrait?” He pointed to the picture. By this time his mother had walked into the parlor. She was only a few years younger than Ruth, so they were close friends.

“Brian, don’t be so forward,” she scolded her son.

“It’s all right, Emma.” Ruth looked at the picture, and she could feel the hot tears begin to fill her eyes. She blinked them away before she answered. It wasn’t proper for a woman to show her emotions. “That was my daughter, Rose, she died two years ago.”

“How did she die?” They young girl asked.

“She died on the Titanic.” The girl nodded. She had only been thirteen, but she remembered the sinking of the great ship rather clearly. She actually had a few friends back in New York that had been on that doomed ship, but they had gotten out safely since they were first class.

“Are you certain?” Brian asked.

“Brian!” His mother and sister both exclaimed.

“Yes. They never found her body.” Ruth bitterly answered. She didn’t want to be rude, but this boy was being rude himself.

Brian was shaking his head. “That’s because she didn’t die. She’s a movie actress. Her screen name is Rose Dawson.” Ruth didn’t know what to believe. She had hoped against all hopes that Cal had been wrong, and that Rose had survived. Brian looked at his sister. “Tell her, Sis.”

Sally looked from her brother to the portrait. “It does look an awful lot like her, Mrs. DeWitt Bukater.” Ruth just stared at the portrait as the tears she had been fighting back since that dreadful day almost two years ago came flooding into her eyes.

Emma stood and looked at her friend. She could tell her children had caused Ruth a great deal of pain. “Brian, Sally, you’ve caused Ruth enough pain. Apologize and then we’re leaving.” Both children said their apologies just before their mother rushed them out of the house. After they were gone, Ruth let the tears fall as she looked at the portrait of Rose.

*****

“Are ya going ta be able ta come home dis weekend,” Jack asked into the phone.

“Not this weekend. I’ll be home in the middle of the week. We have three more days left on the movie.” There was a slight pause. “I miss you, Jack.”

Rose heard a slight laugh. “I miss ya too, Sweetheart.”

“I have to go. The director needs me. I love you.”

“I love ya too.” Jack set the ear piece back on the phone as she heard it click. He turned to see Race and Malinda looking at him. “She ain’t comin’ home till da middle a the week.” They both nodded. Jack let his broad shoulders drop a little as he left the ranch house mumbling something about brushing down his horse.

“He’s absolutely miserable without her,” Malinda said as she cleared the table.

“I’d be miserable too is you’re gone for a month at a time.” Race kissed his wife on the neck before he left the ranch house.

Rose walked back onto the set. “And how is your fiancé?”

“He misses me.” Rose said as she took her place.

“I don’t blame him.”

“You’re just saying that, Kenny.” Rose smiled at the compliment.

*****

Caledon Hockley paced behind his desk in his office. “Ruth, why would you want to cause yourself anymore pain? That’s exactly what you would be doing if you hired a private investigator to look for Rose. She died on the Titanic. You know that.” Cal hated lying to Ruth, but he had to. His own best interests were at stake if he told anybody Rose had survived. She had made that pointedly clear to him.

“How do you know, Mr. Hockley? They never found her body.” Ruth sighed at the argument they had been having for close to an hour. “Brian said the actress’ name was Rose Dawson. If she married that dreaded Dawson boy, then it could very well be her.”

Cal sighed out of frustration. He ran his hand through his thick black hair. “Ruth, I just think this is a mistake. You are setting yourself up for more heartbreak.” Cal shook his head. “But, I see that this is one of the times you are going to be as stubborn as your daughter. I just hope you realize that you will be hurt in the end.”

Ruth stood up. “That may be, Mr. Hockley, but at least I will have some sense of closer if it’s not her.” Ruth turned to leave as Cal’s father and a young man who only looked a few years older than Cal entered.

“Mrs. DeWitt Bukater.” Nathan Hockley nodded at Ruth. She returned the gesture.

“Mr. Hockley.” Ruth left the office to start finding a private investigator.

The door closed and Nathan looked at his son. “What’d she want? It’s not allowance day.”

Cal eyed the man that was with his father funny before he rolled eyes. “She seems to believe that Rose is alive and a silent movie actress in California. She thinks her name is Rose Dawson now.”

The man with Nathan Hockley looked up. “I know Rose Dawson. She’s engaged ta me friend Jack.” Cal once again looked at him with disgust in his eyes.

“Who is this?”

“Cal, this is your cousin, Michael Conlon, from Brooklyn. Do you remember him?”

Cal looked Spot up and down. “Yes, but I’d rather not. Michael, have you gone on any more strikes?”

Spot eyed Cal with his temper showing. “Now, but da newsies went on strike again in 1912.”

Cal looked indifferent. “So, what brings you up from the slums of New York, cousin?”

Spot clinched his jaw in an attempt to held his temper in check. “I cam ta see me old friend Denton, an’ ta see if he heard ‘bout Jack’s engagement.”

“Denton? Bryan Denton? The owner of the Philadelphia Harold?” Spot nodded as Cal looked shocked. “How do you know such a prominent man in society?”

“We’s go way back ta when he was workin’ for ‘The Sun’.” Spot continued to shock and anger Cal for the next hour.

*****

“Do you have any place you would like me start looking?” The private investigator asked Ruth.

“You could begin by checking to see if a Rose Dawson is on the Titanic survival list and if there was a Jack Dawson there too.”

“I’ll start there and then travel to California to see if this Rose Dawson is your daughter.”

“Thank you, sir. I will pay all of your travel expenses.” Ruth dug through her purse. “This is the last photograph I have of her. She has red hair and blue eyes. Please let me know when you find anything.”

“Yes, Mrs. DeWitt Bukater.” Ruth smiled before she left. All of her hopes were riding on what this one man could find. She only hoped that he was as good as his ad said he was.

*****

“Ma’am, this telegram was just delivered.”

“Thank you, Carol.” Ruth took the telegram from her maid. She began to read it. “There was a Rose Dawson, but no Jack with her on the Titanic. I’m leaving today for California.” Ruth laid the telegram down and smiled. So, Jack Dawson hadn’t survived. Maybe she would now have a chance to get Rose back.

*****

“Now, Rose, you need to slap him after he kisses you.” Rose nodded as Kenny gave her the instructions for the last scene they had left to shoot. Rose turned back to her co-star just before the cameras started rolling again. Rose turned back around again when she felt someone staring at her. She made eye contact with a man she had never seen on the set before. She got a chill that she hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Rose? Are you okay?” She turned back to her co-star.

“I’m fine. Really. Let’s get this shot done, so I can go home to Jack.” She smiled only for a second before she took on the seriousness of the scene.

Several minutes later the director yelled, “Cut! Print!” Kenny clapped his hands. “That’s a wrap. You all did great. Now go home and be with your families.” Rose hugged everybody before she headed to the phone on the back wall of the studio.

“Yes, could you connect me to the Single K ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico?” She asked the operator. “Yes, I’m very aware that it’s long distance” She was silent for several minutes as she waited for the connection. She looked up and saw the same man looking at her. They were the only two people left in the studio. She looked away when she heard a voice on the other end.

“Malinda? Hello. How is everything there?” There was a slight pause. “Good. Is Jack near by?” There was another pause. “Okay. Tell him I’m on my way home and will see him in a few days. Oh, and tell him I love him.” There was another pause. “Miss you too. Good bye.” She hung up the phone and began to gather her things.

“Are you Rose Dawson?” Rose looked up from her task.

“Yes. And you are?”

“Jake Malone. I’m a big fan of yours.”

Rose smiled. “Thank you, Jake.” She continued to gather her things. “Where are you from?”

“Philadelphia. Have you ever been there?”

Rose stiffened, but only for a second. “Yes, but it’s been so long ago it feels like that was entire life time ago.” Jake nodded. “Did you come all this way to meet me?” She hoped not, because that would be insane.

“Oh, no, I’m also here on business. May I ask you a personal question?”

“It depends on how personal.”

“Who is Jack? I accidently over heard your phone conversation.”

“Jack is my fiancé.”

“He doesn’t live in Los Angeles?”

“Now you are asking too many questions, Mr. Malone, but no he doesn’t. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a train to catch.” Rose grabbed her bags and began to leave the studio. She hated when her old self came out, but she had to be careful about who she talked to. Especially if they were from Philadelphia. Anyone could know Cal and the last thing she needed in her life was him finding her.

“Rose, wait.” Rose stopped, but didn’t turn around. “At least let me escort you to the train station. I’m heading there myself.” Rose looked at Jake Malone with a doubting look.

“I have been able to take care of myself for years. I don’t need your escort. Have a nice trip, Mr. Malone.” Rose kept walking as she spoke.

Jake Malone slowly followed her, but he kept his distance. Ruth had been right. She had a lot of spirit. She was captivating and strong willed. He could see why she hadn’t belonged in her mother’s world where women weren’t meant to be strong willed and have opinions. He wasn’t suppose to be thinking like that. This was his job. He had to stick to the case. She had said that Jack was her fiancé, but the Jack Ruth had wanted him to look for hadn’t survived the Titanic’s sinking. Who was she now engaged to?

Rose approached the ticked booth. “One first class ticket to Santa Fe.”

The attendant smiled at her. “Will that be one way, miss?”

“Yes.” Rose sounded distant as she heard an old familiar voice in her mind. ‘Where to, miss?’ ‘To the stars.’ Rose got a bittersweet smile on her face.

“Miss?” Rose snapped from her memories when the attendant asked for her. “That will be fifteen dollars.” Rose handed him the money and had her bag checked. She may have given up the gilded life, but she refused to travel second class on a train. She did that once, from New York to Santa Fe, a year ago, and she swore that she would never do that again. Rose took her ticket and boarded the first class car.

Jack Malone waited five minutes before he bought his second class ticket to Santa Fe. He would stay a few days to find out as much about Rose’s life in Santa Fe as he could. He was certain that her lifestyle would be nothing Ruth DeWitt Bukater would approve of.

*****

Cal walked into the parlor of his Philadelphia mansion. Ruth was directly behind him. Cal walked over to the liquor cabinet and poured a glass of brandy. “So I assume you have realized that Rose did die on the Titanic.”

“Actually, Mr. Hockley, there was a Rose Dawson that survived Titanic’s sinking. I’ve hired a private investigator to see if it’s my Rose.” Cal sighed from frustration. “If she is alive, then I can bring her home, and then you two can finally. . . .”

He interrupted her. “No, Ruth. She made it clear on the Titanic that she would never marry me. Besides, it doesn’t matter. She died two years ago.” Ruth just shook her head.

“I know deep down that my daughter is alive. She was a fighter. She had to have made it.”

*****

Rose stepped off the train and into the now familiar Santa Fe train station. She looked around and smiled. She was home, and this time it was for several months. She found her bags and walked over to a bench that lined the wall. She jumped when she heard someone call her name. She turned to see Jake Malone approaching her, and she groaned.

“Rose!”

“Hello, Mr. Malone. I didn’t know you were coming to Santa Fe.”

“I have business here for a few days.” He looked around the station. “No one is here to meet you?”

Rose shrugged. “There usually isn’t. Jack and Tony don’t like to be here when the train arrives. It’s too crowded and reminds them of New York City.”

“They’re from New York?” Rose nodded, but didn’t get a chance to answer because a young man approached them. He was in his early teens and appeared to be full of life.

“Miss Dawson?” Rose looked at the boy and smiled.

“Hello, Randy.” He was the youngest of the ranch hands.

“Mr. Kelly and Mr. Higgins sent me to get you. They’re at the General Store buying some supplies. Mrs. Higgins is sick.”

“What’s wrong? Is Malinda all right?”

Randy nodded. “She jus’ has the flu.”

Rose nodded. “Well, lets go. I can just see Jack trying to run the house and the ranch at the same time.” She stood and Randy grabbed her bags. They left the train depot without her saying a word to Jake Malone.

Jake watched as Rose helped Randy put her bags in the back of a wagon. He picked up his small bag and walked out to the street. He watched the wagon stop in front of a building, which he guessed was the General Store. A moment later a man came out of the store, lifted Rose off the wagon and caught her in a kiss as he lowered her.

*****

Jack looked out the window to the General Store as Randy and Rose pulled up. He handed the items in his hand to Race and walked outside. Rose began smiling the instant she saw his tall and broad figure approaching the door. Jack put his hands on her thin waist and lifted her off the wagon. As he lowered her down she wrapped her arms around his neck. They met in a long and passionate kiss. After a few minutes, they broke apart.

“Gawd, I’ve missed ya.”

“I’ve missed you too.” She looked around the booming town of Santa Fe. She noticed Jake Malone watching them from the train depot. She looked back at Jack. “I’m glad to be home with you.” She pulled him in for another kiss. Even though she was immensely enjoying the kiss, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Malone was watching her.

*****

Ruth entered the tiny office to find Jake Malone sitting behind his desk looking at a stack of pictures. Ruth nervously sat down in the old leather chair across from the desk. “What did you find out about Rose?”

Malone laid down the pictures. “I followed her for a week and she never did anything that definitely showed she was your daughter. Look at the pictures I took of her and the photo you gave me.” He handed her the pictures he had taken and her picture. Ruth looked over them very carefully. It was definitely her Rose. She stopped on one picture in particular. Rose was holding a little girl. Ruth noticed the girl had Rose’s curly hair. She also noticed Rose was not wearing a ring.

“Whose baby is this?”

Malone shook his head. “I’m not sure. I only saw the baby just this once.”

“She isn’t wearing a ring. Is she married?”

“No. She’s engaged to a rancher named Jack.” Ruth nodded and laid two-hundred dollars on his desk.

“Thank you, Mr. Malone.” He nodded just before she left his office.

Ruth now knew her daughter was alive, and she was going to leave on the next rain to Santa Fe. She went home to pack and phone Cal with her news.

*****

“Have you ever had a feeling someone is up to more than what they admit to?” Rose asked as she laid her head on Jack’s chest.

“Every time I look at Race.” He laughed a little. “Why?” He was twirling a strand of her hair around his finger. He loved how the sun glistened off of it. She had packed a lunch and had rode out to find him. When she had found him, she had caught him in one of his rare moments of not working. He had been swimming in one of the ponds on the ranch.

“Oh, no real reason. I just met a man on the way up here two weeks ago. He was in California on business, and then he was here on business. He just kept asking me personal questions. I just found it odd.”

Jack squeezed her close. “He’s probably jus’ a fan. Ya shouldn’t worry so much.” He kissed the top of her head. “Now, I gotta get back ta woik, an’ you need ta get back to the house.” Rose groaned as Jack stood her up. Jack smiled just before he kissed her. He helped her strap her lunch on the back of the horse. He looked at Rose as she mounted the horse and sat astride.

“You, Rose Dawson, are da only woman I’ve ever seen ride like a man.” Rose slowly got a bittersweet smile on her face.

“If I’m going to marry a cowboy, I have to ride like one.” Jack laughed as she bent down to give him one last kiss. When she pulled away a moment later the bittersweet memory she had just had was gone. “I’ll see you at dinner?” Jack shook his head.

“I think we’re gonna stay out ‘ere tanight. We gotta get the north ridge ready for flood season.” Rose nodded and started her horse back toward the house. Jack waited a moment before he mounted his horse as he watched Rose ride off.

*****

Ruth looked around the small train depot. She had finally made it to Santa Fe. Now she just needed to find this ranch Rose lived on. She walked up to the ticket booth. “Excuse me, sir.” The man looked up from his newspaper. “I was wondering if you could tell me where Rose Dawson lives?”

The man eyed Ruth. She was dressed too fancy to be visiting a ranch. “She lives on the Single K ranch about an hour outta town.”

Ruth looked around. “Is there anyway I can get a car out to the ranch?”

The man tried not to laugh. “Ma’am, there ain’t a car in Santa Fe. Ya can hire a wagon ta take ya there.”

“Splendid. How much will that be?”

“Ten dollars.” Ruth nearly choked.

“Ten dollars? That’s robbery!”

The man shrugged. “Or you could walk.” Ruth handed him the money and a moment later a young man came you and took her bags.

“Follow me, lady.” Ruth did as she was told. She wasn’t sure if the boy was joking when she saw him place her bags in the back of an old rackety wagon.

“Are you sure that’s safe?”

The boy gave a small shrug and scratched his head. “Well, it ain’t broke yet.” Ruth slowly climbed in and waited for the boy to join her. It was only a moment after he hooked up the mules to the front of the wagon that they were on their way. After a very bumpy hour and a half ride out into the middle of no where, they finally arrived at the Single K ranch. The boy helped Ruth with her bags, and set them down on the wrap around porch. “Good luck, lady.” She’d need it. No one at the Single K took kindly to snobs, and that was exactly what Ruth was---a snob.

Ruth smoothed her skirt and knocked on the door. It was opened by a short blond woman. “May I help you?”

“I’m looking for my daughter, Rose DeWi. . .uh, Dawson.”

Malinda looked Ruth up and down. Rose had never said anything about family. “She’s not back yet, but she should be back soon. I can’t imagine Jack stopping work for too long. Come in, and you can wait here.”

Ruth stepped inside the ranch house. She noticed it wasn’t lavishly decorated, but she hadn’t expected it to be. Malinda stepped onto the porch and brought in the bags, since it was obvious Ruth wasn’t going to.

“Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?” Malinda asked as she set the bags down.

“Tea would be good.” Ruth said rather haughtily. Malinda started for the kitchen, but she stopped when she noticed Ruth wasn’t following her.

“Everythin’ is in the kitchen.” Ruth slowly followed her.

As soon was they entered the kitchen, Ruth noticed it was more rustic than the living room had been. Malinda set about fixing the glass of tea. “Where are you from, Mrs. Dawson?”

“DeWitt Bukater. My last name is DeWitt Bukater.”

Malinda was taken about by the short tone Ruth had used. “So, you remarried?”

“No. And you are?”

“Malinda Higgins.” Malinda opened her mouth to say something when she heard the screen door to the kitchen shut.

“Jack was in a rare mood today. I found him swimming in the pond on the north ridge.” Rose set the basket on the counter.

“Hello, Rose.” Rose stiffened as she heard Ruth’s voice. She slowly turned around.

“Hello, Mother.”

Ruth looked Rose up and down. She frowned at her daughter’s appearance. She was wearing brown pants that fit her rather well, a baggy white shirt, a red bandanna around her neck, and her hair was pulled back in a sloppy, loose braid. “You look absolutely dreadful.”

“It’s good to see you too, Mother.” Rose crossed her arms. “How did you find me?”

“I hired a private investigator.” Rose slumped against the counter.

“That explains everything.” She threw her hands up. Malinda was feeling more than uncomfortable, but she was also trying to figure out the situation. “Did Cal tell you I survived?”

“No. He still claims you died.”

“Good. Because I did. I’m not the same person I was two years ago.” There was an awkward silence. The screen door opened. Rose jumped when she felt someone touch her hair. She whirled around to see Race pulling something out of her hair.

“I now see why Jacky came back ta woik so happy.” He was twirling a twig between his fingers like he would one of his cigars.

“Tony!” Rose and Malinda both exclaimed. He looked at them in confusion.

“Rose!” Ruth exclaimed in shock. At that moment Race noticed someone else was in the kitchen.

“Who’s she?” He pointed to Ruth.

Rose sighed. She was trying to figure out why her mother had come and turned her world upside down. “Tony, this is my mother, Ruth DeWitt Bukater.” Rose looked at her mother. “Mother, this is Antonio ‘Racetrack’ Higgins.”

Ruth looked the short Italian standing in front of her up and down. “Charmed I’m sure.” Rose wasn’t surprised to see her mother hadn’t changed.

“Nice ta meet ya.” Race said with some annoyance to his voice. He then turned to Rose. “Ya nevah said nothin’ ‘bout your Ma comin’ out.”

“That’s because I didn’t know.” Rose undid her braid to make sure nothing else was in her hair.

“I thought you were on the north ridge.” Race looked at his wife.

“I am.”

“So, what are ya doin’ here?”

“My horse t’rew a shoe. Dere’s too many catus out dere for da horse ta not be shoed.” Malinda nodded.

“Race?” He looked at Rose. “How long are you going to be on the north ridge?”

“Um. . .we should be back tamorrah night. Why?”

Rose shook her head. “No reason. Could you tell Jack my mother is here?” Race nodded. “He doesn’t need to come back. I just want him to know.” Race nodded again.

“Da stable boy should be done wid me horse.” He kissed his wife on the forehead. “Sees ya tamorrah, Sweetheart. Give my baby girl a kiss for me.” Malinda smiled as Race left the ranch house.

Rose looked from Malinda to her mother. She knew her mother was here to try to take her back, and she could feel the gate of the cage she had escaped two years ago closing on her. Rose looked back to Malinda. “Do you have everything under control?” Malinda nodded. “I’m going to talk to Mother and show her to her room.” She looked at Ruth. “Come along, Mother.” Ruth followed her out of the kitchen.

Rose stopped by Ruth’s bags. “Grab that bag and follow me.”

Ruth looked appalled. “Don’t you have servants to do that?”

“Mother, everybody who works on the ranch is out preparing for the flood season. Mindy and I take care of the house. If you want your things, then you have to carry one of the bags to your room.” Ruth slowly picked up her bag and followed Rose.

*****

“What took ya so long, Race?” Jack asked as Race rode up.

“I had ta see why ya came back ta woik in such a good mood. I found da answer in Rose’s hair.” Jack laughed at Race’s teasing. “Rose wanted me ta tell ya ‘er Ma is ‘ere.”

Jack looked up from his shoveling. “What?”

“Her Ma is ‘ere. She thought ya should know.”

“Did she say if she wants me ta come back?”

Race shook his head. “Naw. She didn’t say.”

Jack nodded. “I’ll head back tanight an’ ride back out in da mornin’. I can jus’ imagine Rose is about hysterical, but she ain’t showin’ it.” Race nodded. They returned to work without mentioning it again.

*****

“This will be your room.” Rose showed Ruth the room she had stayed in when she first came to Santa Fe. “I’ll let you get settled. When you are, I’ll be in my room at the end of the hall.” Ruth nodded as Rose left the room.

Rose entered her and Jack’s room. She took off her pants and changed into a plain brown skirt. She left Jack’s shirt on and his bandana tied around her neck. She untied her boots and slipped them off. She padded over to the bay window and curled up with a pillow in the window seat. For the first time since she met Jack Kelly, she turned to Jack Dawson for strength.

“Jack, Mother’s here. I know she wants to take me back East with her. She’ll want me to marry Cal.” A faint smile played on her lips. “She knows I’m engaged to Jack, but she thinks Jack is you. She doesn’t know you died. This is not going to be a fun task I have to do tonight. If you were here, it would be so much easier.” Rose looked out the window to the slowly dimming sky as dusk approached.

“You will do fine, Rose. You are strong. Remember that. Your strength is one reason why I love you,” she heard Jack’s voice in her head say. She smiled warmly. She often heard Jack’s voice, but usually it was a comment he would have made. Right now she was seeing his sea blue eyes, turbulent, but sparkling with determination. Her smile deepened as she saw those same hypnotizing eyes shine with passion for her as he drew her. They also shown with passion for his art.

Rose was brought from her memories when she heard the door open. She turned to see Ruth hesitantly standing in the doorway. Rose crawled out of the window seat.

“Is your room all right?” Rose asked as Ruth shut the door.

“It’s a little cramped, but it will do.” Rose nodded as she thought nothing would please her mother.

“Why are you here, Mother?”

“I heard you were alive and going by that boy’s name.”

Rose took a deep breath. “That boy’s name is Jack Dawson. I took his name to move on with my life.”

Ruth looked at her daughter. “Why? What was wrong with our life, Rose?”

“Everything. I hated being forced to marry someone I didn’t love. I hated your future resting on my shoulders. I hated not being able to think for myself and speak my mind.”

“You could speak your mind.”

Rose sighed. “No, I couldn’t. Every time I did, you scolded me.” Rose sat back down in the window seat. “If I stayed in your world, I would have died. Maybe not right away because I’m strong, but sooner or later that fire that Jack loved about me would have died. I couldn’t allow myself to die. Do you understand?”

Ruth took in her daughter’s speech for several minutes before she said anything. “Loved? Why did you say Jack loved your fire?”

Rose knew this moment would be coming. “Mother, Jack died on the Titanic. He froze in the icy waters. He gave up his life so I could live.”

“So your going back was in vain?” Ruth asked.

The anger Rose had been keeping in check no longer was. “No, it wasn’t. I got to be with him when he died. I got to tell him I love him. What would have been in vain would have been my getting on the boat with you. If I had done that, Jack would have died alone, chained to a pipe in the office of the Man at Arms. So, no, Mother nothing was in vain.”

Ruth didn’t know how to respond to Rose’s tirade. She had just found out that her daughter had struck out on her own. Who had she turned to for help? If Jack Dawson was dead, who was she engaged to?

Ruth voiced her last thought first. “If Dawson is dead, who are you engaged to?”

Rose walked passed her mother and over to the bed. There was a picture hanging on the wall. She took it down and walked back to Ruth. She handed the picture to her.

Ruth looked down at the picture. She had been expecting a single photo of Jack, instead she was looking at an aged copy of the New York Sun. She gave Rose an odd look.

“That’s Jack.” Rose pointed to the picture on the front page. Ruth looked over the picture and the headline---Children’s Crusade: Newsies Stop the World. Ruth then looked at the date, July 23, 1899. She then focused back on the picture. There were close to twenty boys in the picture. She focused on the youngest one. He looked to be around the age of ten.

“Well, he was adorable at ten.”

“Ten? Mother, who do you think Jack is?” Ruth pointed to Les. “That’s Les.” Rose pointed to Jack. “This is Jack.” Ruth looked at the boy who was in the middle of the photo. He had a proud and cocky smile on his face. He appeared to be in his late teens.

“Rose, he’s nearly twice your age!”

“He’s thirty-two. Cal is thirty. What does age matter? He loved me. That’s all that matters.”

“Loves you? You’ve only known him for two years.”

“And I loved Jack Dawson after only one day. I know what love is, and I love Jack.”

“But Rose, he can’t provide for you. He’s just a ranch hand.”

“Ranch hand? Mother, he owns the entire ranch. He has more money than he appears to, but none of that matters.”

“Use your head, Rose. What kind of husband would he make if he lets you wear pants. It is so improper.” Ruth sounded appalled.

“Oh, stop it, Mother. You’ll give yourself a nose bleed. He will make a great husband.” Rose stopped explaining herself. “I don’t have to explain myself yo you, Mother. I gave up having to do that when I didn’t get on the life boat.” Rose took the framed article from her mother and placed it on the wall.

Ruth and Rose turned to the door when they heard a soft knock. “Come in, Mindy.”

Malinda slowly opened the door. “Sorry. I thought y’all might want some dinner.”

“We’ll be down in a minute.” Malinda nodded and shut the door. “I’m going down to dinner. You are welcome to join me. You can find out how I have been living the last two years.” Ruth nodded. Rose gave a faint smile as she left the room. Her smile didn’t last long.

“Aren’t you going to put on shoes?”

“No.” Rose never wore shoes in the evening, but she didn’t want to explain that to her mother.

*****

“Are ya sure ya can handle ev’rything?”

Race took his cigar out of his mouth. “I got it, Cowboy. Now leave before it gets too dark ta ride home.” Jack nodded as he mounted his horse.

“I’ll be back in da mornin’.” He kicked his horse into a gallop.

*****

“How did you meet Jack?” Ruth asked as she picked at her dinner.

“He was visiting some friends in New York. He stayed in the same lodging house I did. His friend owns it.” Ruth nodded. She didn’t want to know what type of lodging house she had stayed in.

“Have you heard from any of the boys?” Malinda asked.

“Yes. I got a letter from Robert right before I left Hollywood. Their taking after our boys. They’re on strike.” Mindy smiled.

“Boys? Strike?” Ruth asked.

“The newsies I stayed with in New York. They’re on strike because of unfair treatment.”

“Rose! You stayed in a boys lodging house? Do you have any idea how improper that is? What would people think?”

Rose stood up from the table. “No one cared.” She looked at Malinda. The anger she had not shown her mother was pointedly clear to Malinda. “I’m going to bed. G’night.”

“G’night.” Rose had already left the room. Ruth just blankly stared after her daughter.

*****

Rose entered her room. She slammed the door and began to pace the floor. She looked out the window and slowly began to calm down.

Rose changed into her nightdress. She walked back over to the window and sat in the window seat. She stared out at the sky as she watched the stars come out one by one. She thought of Jack Dawson, and how he loved to watch the sky, especially at night. That’s what he had been doing when they had met, when he had stopped her from jumping. He had been right. She wouldn’t have jumped. She focused on the stars. The same stars she had focused on as she had laid on the piece of wall paneling Jack had found floating in the water. She had been so terrified then, but she had found solace in the stars and in a song. A song she hadn’t sung since that night. She began to quietly hum it.

*****

Malinda jumped when she heard the screen door open behind her. She had been trying to figure out what to do about Rose, and the unexpected noise had scared her. She turned to see a filthy Jack standing in the door.

“Jack? What are you doing back?”

“I came back ta see if Rose was all right. Race told me her Ma’s ‘ere. Where is she?”

“Did Tony also tell ya to stay out on the north ridge?”

Jack shrugged. “Yeah, but I ain’t always da best listener. I know Rose, an’ she can’t be handlin’ it too well. Da last time she saw ‘er Ma was on da Titanic.” Malinda nodded. She had known Rose had been on the Titanic. She just didn’t know what had happened to her on it, but she knew it was bad. “Where is she, Mindy?”

“Well, Ruth is in the parlor, and Rose went to bed.” Jack nodded. He wasted no time heading up stairs. He only paused for a moment at the parlor doors. He looked in and made eye contact with Ruth.

*****

Ruth was sitting in one of the rather plush chairs when heard the kitchen door shut. She heard mumbled voices; she could tell one was a man, but she couldn’t understand anything that he was saying. A moment later she heard the heavy clicking of heels on the hard wood floors. The clicking stopped and Ruth slowly looked up from the book she was pretending to read. She met the gaze of a ruggedly handsome man with cold hazel eyes. He looked at her for a moment before he headed up the stairs.

Was that Jack? Was that the man her daughter was engaged to? He was disgusting, covered in dirt and dust. Had that been the scent of horse she had smelled?

*****

Jack broke the gaze he held with Ruth. He could tell that she was Rose’s mother. They had the same hair and blue eyes. But Ruth’s eyes had no fire behind them. No life. They had been dull. Jack was glad Rose’s eyes weren’t like that.

He slowly opened the door to his and Rose’s room. He was expecting to see her in their bed trying to sleep. Instead he found her curled up in the window seat. He shut the door, but she didn’t turn around to look at him. He stood by the bed for several long minutes. He started to walk toward her, but stopped when he heard her singing something. He had to strain to understand her.

“Come, Josephine, in my flying machine. And it’s up she goes, up she goes. In the sky she goes.”

Jack knitted his brows together as he slowly walked toward her. He gently touched her shoulder. “Rose, sweetheart?” She turned around, fear in her eyes. “Are ya all right?”

She didn’t answer him right away. “When I left my mother getting in that lifeboat, I thought I’d closed that chapter of my life. When I got back today she reopened it. I’m not sure I can take her being here.”

Jack sat beside her in the window seat. He pulled her close and tried to soothe her. She laid her head on his broad chest as he smoothed her hair back. She could heat his heart beating, strong and steady. She needed him to be strong and steady right now. She wasn’t sure she could be strong. She felt as if she had been through so much. She was tired of fighting to be herself. She was tired of fighting for her survival.

She looked up at Jack. “What are you doing here? I told Tony you didn’t have to come back.”

Jack smiled as he shrugged. “I’ve nevah listened too well. ‘Sides I knew ya couldn’t be doin’ ta well.”

Rose leaned forward and kissed him. “I love you.”

“I love ya too.” He stood and took her hand. “Let’s go to bed. Ya’ll be able ta handle ‘er better in the mornin’.” Rose stood and slowly walked over to the bed. She crawled in and waited for Jack to join her. Jack undressed and slowly began to laugh. Rose gave him an odd look. “Sorry, doll, but I’m filthy. I’m gonna take a quick shower. I’ll be back in a moment.” Rose smiled at him as he entered the bathroom. As soon as he shut the door, her smile faded. She laid her head down on her pillow and closed her eyes. It didn’t take long for sleep to over come her.

*****

Jack stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist. He started to dry off when he heard Rose say something. He quickly put his long underwear bottoms on and opened the door to the bathroom. He found her sound asleep. Was she talking in her sleep again? She hadn’t done that since she first came out to Santa Fe. Usually if she did talk in her sleep, it was about the Titanic, him or someone else named Jack. She never explained her dreams, but Jack figured her experiences on and before the Titanic were more traumatic than she would ever tell him.

Jack watched her as he crawled into bed. She was sleeping quietly for the moment, but Jack had a feeling that it was going to be a long night. Why did her mother have to find her? Jack closed his eyes and sleep slowly overcame him too.

*****

Rose stared in a daze as she watched the chaos around her. People were screaming, crying and saying their final goodbyes to loved ones. She looked at the back of he mother. They were waiting for a lifeboat. Everything seemed to be over for her and Jack. He was somewhere in the bowls of the ship, and she was about to get on a boat and leave him behind.

Rose snapped from her thoughts when she heard her mother ask an absurd question. “Will the boats be seated according to class?” Ruth then turned to Cal. “I do hope they’re not too crowded.”

All control Rose had had was gone with that comment. How could she even have thought of leaving the ship with these narrow minded people? Rose grabbed her mother by the arms, forcing Ruth to look at her. “Oh, Mother, shut up!” Ruth was totally shocked. “Don’t you understand? The water is freezing, and there’s not enough boats. Not enough by half. Half the people on this ship are going to die.” Ruth looked shocked, almost appalled. Rose figured it was because she had snapped and not because Ruth had just realized how serious the situation was. Ruth slowly climbed into the lifeboat. Rose snapped from her mother to Cal.

“Not the better half.” Rose now looked extremely shocked. “I should have kept that drawing. It’ll be worth a lot more by morning.”

Rose was studying his face. Several thoughts ran through her mind. How had she ever found him attractive? Why had she agreed to marry him? But the thought that kept popping into her head was Jack hadn’t taken the necklace. Rose narrowed her glare as she looked up at Cal.

“You unimaginable bastard!” Her tone was cold and unforgiving. Rose turned from Cal and looked at her mother. “Goodbye, Mother” She turned from them and her gilded cage. She felt as if she couldn’t run fast enough to find Jack.

Suddenly Rose was running down a quickly flooding corridor. The lights begin to flash and go out. Panic began rising in her chest. Would she find Jack in time? Her heart was in her throat and she couldn’t breathe. She could feel the tears burning her eyes.

Rose sat straight up. Her heart was pounding as she looked around the dark room. She looked down at Jack when she heard his light snoring. It had all been a dream. A horrible dream. She turned back the covers and noiselessly climbed out of bed. She padded out of the room and down the hall. She left the house and sat on the steps to the porch.

She had thought she had put the bad memories of her journey on Titanic behind her, but she had been wrong. Up until tonight, all of her dreams had been bittersweet ones of her and Jack and their wonderful time together. Although it had only been a few days, it had been magical. He had shown her what it meant to live. He had shown her that she couldn’t live in upper class. Now that her mother was back in her life, she could feel herself shriveling up and wasting away. Rose stood up from the steps and looked out at the stars that covered the sky.

“I won’t let that happen. I won’t. I’m not going to let her put me back in my cage.” She smiled. “Jack, you are about to see me fight like I never have fought before. You wanted me to go on, and I have, but with her here I can’t. I’m not going to give up. I promised you, and I plan on keeping that promise.” She looked up at the stars and noticed that the sky was beginning to get lighter. She stood up and went back inside. It would be morning soon and Jack needed to get back to the north ridge.

Rose entered the kitchen, and stopped in the doorway to find Ruth sitting at the table. “You’re up early, Mother.” Rose’s tone was cool.

“I couldn’t sleep. You are too.”

“I couldn’t sleep either. And I need to start breakfast. Jack has to be back on the north ridge this morning. I’m sure Tony is going insane.” Rose gave a quick smile as she set about getting the things out for breakfast.

Ruth watched in amazement as her daughter seemed to know her way around the kitchen. She made the batter for the biscuits and began making them into small balls. She then cracked the eggs and mixed them together with some cheese. “When did you learn to cook?”

“When I was in New York. It’s odd not having to cook for twenty boys though. I sometimes make too much.” Rose smiled as she placed the biscuits in the oven. “Coffee?” Ruth nodded and Rose set to fixing the coffee.

Ruth started to say something when she heard a man’s voice come from the door. “How’d ya sleep, doll?” Rose turned to see Jack, half dressed, standing in the doorway.

“I’ve slept better. Good morning.” Jack smiled as he walked over to her and kissed her gently on the lips. Ruth cleared her throat. “Oh. Jack, this is my mother Ruth DeWitt Bukater. Mother, this is my fiancé Jack Kelly.”

“Charmed. I’m sure.” Ruth said as she shook Jack’s hand.

“Nice ta meet ya, Ruth.” Jack said, but it was obvious it wasn’t. Jack turned from Ruth to see what Rose was cooking. “Eggs. My favorite.” Rose laughed.

“You are so full of it. It’s all we have right now. I have to go into town today and get more supplies. Mindy was saying she needs some things anyway.” Jack nodded as he sat down at the table. He finished buttoning his shirt and began to put on his boots. A moment later Rose set three plates of eggs and biscuits on the table. “Breakfast is served.”

Jack started eating rather quickly while Ruth and Rose ate a little slower. He stopped eating when Ruth asked him a question. “Tell me, Mr. Kelly, how did you manage to buy this place?”

“I saved for several years, an’ when the old owner died, he gave me the option to buy it at a pretty low rate. Dat’s when I sent word back ta Race that I would need some help with da horses. He’s great wid ‘em. The ranch has been booming evah since.” Rose narrowed her eyes as she stared at her mother. It was the same questions as she had asked Jack on Titanic. This was ridiculous. Ruth hadn’t changed.

“How did you get the money to come out here, and why?” Jack shot Rose a quick look that only she knew what he meant. If Ruth was a man, Jack would have soaked him by now.

“Well, I saved some money, but it wasn’t enough, so when my first fiancé called off the wedding, I pawned her ring and used the money to come out here. I’ve been here ever since.” Jack took another bite of eggs.

“And how long has that been?”

“Almost twelve years, Mother.” Rose snapped in. “Why all the questions?” She hadn’t said anything when she had done this before, but then the time hadn’t been right. Then she couldn’t let the others know her feelings, but now she could, and she wasn’t afraid of telling her mother what she could do with her questions.

“I just want to know how he plans on taking care of you.” Jack started to open her mouth, but shut it when Rose shook her head. He knew she could handle this, but his gut was screaming for him to stand up for his future wife.

“He plans to love me forever; to marry me, and to let me be what I want to be. That’s how he plans to take care of me. You don’t have to worry, Mother, I’m well taken care of. I want for nothing, well except for more money from the studio, but that’s neither here nor there. I am happy. Why can’t you be happy for me?”

“I am, dear.” Ruth choked out, but Rose saw straight through it.

“I doubt that. You were only happy for me when I was marrying Cal and his millions. You weren’t happy for me when I decided I couldn’t live with that barbarian of a man. You weren’t happy when I had found what I wanted. You only thought of yourself.” Rose realized she was starting to go too far and stopped. If she didn’t, she would be talking about Jack Dawson soon, and she didn’t want to do that. Rose took a deep breath. “Mother, I’m happy. I love Jack. He loves me. We’re happy. Let it rest. All right?” Ruth nodded, but both of them knew it was far from being over.

Jack took his plate to the sink. “I, uh, gotta go. Race will be wonderin’ if I didn’t buy a ticket bound for New York if I don’t show back up.” He kissed Rose goodbye before he walked out the door. “I’m startin’ ta wish I had bought two,” he mumbled to himself. He knew Ruth’s being there was tarring Rose apart, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He shook his head as he walked to the barn to get his horse.

*****

Ruth watched Jack leave. She had to admit to herself that he was handsome, ruggedly so. His think brown hair was longer and fell over his forehead in a boyish manner. His face, and she hated to admit that she’d noticed, but his chest, were deeply tanned from working in the sun. His eyes weren’t the cold orbs they had been last night. They were warm and happy. He was a handsome man. But despite all of that, he talked and acted like he belonged to the lower class.

Ruth was thinking all of this and she decided now that they were alone would be a good time to ask Rose about Jack’s past a little. “Rose, tell me a little about Jack’s past. I’m only interested. Nothing more.”

Rose sighed. She didn’t believe her, but she decided to humor her mother. “Well, Jack was born and raised in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. His mother died when he was young because his father beat her. After his father was arrested, Jack became a newsie to support himself.” Rose got a wicked grin on her face. “You’ll love this part, Mother. He’s been arrested twice. Once for stealing. The second time was for being an escaped convict, resisting arrest and inciting a riot.” Ruth looked appalled, but didn’t say anything.

“Who’s Race?”

“You met him last night, Mother. He’s Tony. His nickname is Racetrack, and Jack calls him Race for short. They were newsies together. As were all of his other friends---Spot, Crutchy, Blink, Mush. I could go on and on, but I don’t have the time.” She had shocked Ruth again. “But despite all of this, which I’m sure you are appalled by, Jack is a kind, caring, loving man who would do anything for his loved ones. I wish you would see that. I really do. Despite his rough exterior, he’s the kindest man I’ve ever met. Give him a chance, Mother.” Rose shook her head. She couldn’t believe she was wanting her mother to like Jack. It hadn’t mattered what anybody else thought of Jack two days ago, but now it somehow did.

“We’ll see, Rose. We’ll see.” Ruth sipped at her cup of coffee.

*****

Rose walked down the stairs with Lindsey in her arms. She reached the bottom of the stairs as Ruth was leaving the parlor. “Mother, this is Lindsey. This is Mindy and Tony’s daughter.” She tickled Lindsey on the stomach. The little girl was nearing two. “Lindsey, this is my mother, Mrs. Bukater.”

Lindsey smiled broadly at Ruth. “Hi, Mrs. Bukater.” Ruth couldn’t help smiling at the little girl. She was beautiful. She had dark curly hair like her father and a face that was undoubtedly her mothers. She was precious.

“Hello, Lindsey.” Ruth then looked at Rose. “When I saw the pictures that were taken of you, I thought she was yours. You don’t have any children, do you, Rose?”

Rose had had a feeling that that question was coming. “No. Jack and I want them, but not until after we’re married.” She had a sly grin cross her face as she headed out the front door. “Of course you never know.”

Rose reached the porch and set Lindsey down, so she could run in the yard in front of the house. Ruth was right on Rose’s heels. “Rose? Rose!” Rose turned to look at her mother. “What do you mean you never know? You mean you might be? Did he force himself on you?” Rose just smiled at her mother. “Answer me, Rose?”

“There is always that chance I might be. There is that chance every month, but it hasn’t happened yet. No, he did not force himself on me. I went to him. I guess you could say that I seduced him. How about them apples, Mother?”

Ruth gasped as she sank into one of the chairs on the porch. “You are out to give me a stroke aren’t you?” Rose only shrugged. She was just trying to show her mother what she had been like all those years. She was being mean and indifferent at the same time. “Tell me, Rose, how do you spend your days? I’m sure there isn’t much for a woman to do around a ranch since it’s mostly men’s work.”

“Actually, there is a lot to do. Today is laundry day, so Mindy is spending the morning washing clothes. After I give Lindsey her daily play time, I’m going to the barn to shovel hay and clean out the stalls. It’s my least favorite job around here. Then I’m going into town to get more food and other supplies. I probably won’t be back till around dinner time. It’ll be a long day because after dinner, we have to secure the barn and the horses. Jack and Race will do a check of the surrounding acres for anything that might need immediate attention, and then we’ll all go to bed to start at dawn the next day. I’m almost always on the go. I have to admit I consider my movies a vacation compared to a normal day here.” Ruth nodded, but Rose could tell she wasn’t interested. “How are your days? Still working charities? I’m sure Cal keeps you busy.”

Ruth smiled at the mention of Cal. “I’m not doing quite as much as I use to. I do help Cal with planing social functions, but that’s about it. I spend a lot of time at home. I never realized how large the house was till I was the only one in it.”

Rose looked at her mother with no sympathy in her face. “That’s funny, Mother, I always found it small and confining.” She turned to Lindsey. “Come on, Linds. Let’s get you inside before you burn.” Lindsey stopped chasing the dragonfly she had been chasing and ran up the steps to the porch. Rose entered the house with Ruth still sitting on the porch.

Ruth was pondering what Rose had just said. The house was by no means small. Had she meant her life? She had never been able to fully understand her daughter.

*****

Rose scooped up the next pitch full of hay and threw it in the corner of the current stall she was cleaning. She had hoped that doing the hard labor would help her work through some of her frustration, but it only gave her time for her mind to wonder. She couldn’t help thinking how miserable her life would be at this moment if she hadn’t jumped back on that boat. Jack would have died alone. She would be married to Cal, and probably have a couple of children by now. The thought of Cal with children made her shiver. He was so cold and cruel; she knew he wouldn’t be a good father. But as she thought of children, she thought of both of her Jacks. They’d both make wonderful fathers. She couldn’t wait to have children with Jack. She didn’t even care if the baby came before the marriage. To her they were already married. The only thing they were missing was the certificate.

She finished the last stall and sighed. It had taken her a good portion of the morning to finish the barn. They hadn’t been cleaned out in over a week. She looked out of the barn and saw Timmy brushing the last horse. She put the pitch fork back in it’s storage closet and walked outside. It was a perfect midsummer day. She felt the breeze catch her in the face and smiled. She couldn’t enjoy the day for very long because she had to get cleaned up before she went into town for the supplies. She hated the fact that she would have to ask her mother to come along.

*****

Ruth smelled the most foul stench come through the door to the parlor. She expected to see one of those dreadful men that Rose now had in her life, but instead she saw Rose standing in front of her. She was once again wearing pants and a white shirt. Her hair was pulled back with a bandanna. She had dirt smudge all over her and hay in her hair.

“You’re filthy!” Ruth exclaimed.

Rose shrugged. “Well, that’s what happens when you clean out dirty horse stalls. Horses aren’t neat animals, Mother.” Rose looked down at herself and noticed that she was dirtier than normal. “Well, I will admit that this is worse than normal.” She smiled an honest smile at her mother for the first time since she’d been there. “I have to go into town after lunch. Would you care to join me?” Ruth nodded. “Good. I’ll go get cleaned up.”

An hour later Rose walked down the stairs looking as if she’d never been in the barn. Her hair was still damp, but it would dry fast enough. Ruth was sitting at the table finishing her lunch when Rose entered the kitchen. “You’re looking better.” Ruth said dryly.

“I feel better.” Rose picked up an apple from the table and took a bite out of it. “Whenever you’re ready, Mother.” Rose then looked at Mindy. “Do ya have the list?”

Mindy nodded. “We need fabrics for some new clothes, grain. Race needs some new boots--- size nine. Jack said he needs a new bridle for his horse. Um...and whatever else you can think of. I have it all written down.” Rose took this list and looked it over. This was going to be a long trip into town.

“Great. I’ll check on the mail too.” Ruth stood up and nodded. “We’re off then. Timmy should have the wagon ready.” She exited the house with Ruth behind her.

*****

Cal sat at the dinner table with his father, Bryan Denton and his cousin Michael Conlon. “So, tell me Bryan, how do you like owning The Philadelphia Sun Times?”

Denton looked over at Spot as if Cal had asked the dumbest question ever. “I like it, but to be honest with you, I miss reporting. I miss meeting all different kinds of people.” Cal nodded. He didn’t understand, but he nodded.

“And, Cousin, what. . . .” Dinner was interrupted when Cal’s new valet brought in a telegram.

“This came for you, sir.” Cal nodded and took the telegram. As he read it, Nathan Hockley was waiting none too patiently.

“Well, son?”

“It’s from Ruth. She’s in Santa Fe, and she says she needs me. She doesn’t go into too much detail, but I think it has to do with Rose.” Cal continued his meal.

“Rose? I thought she was dead.”

“She ain’t dead. She’s engaged ta my friend Jack.”

Denton’s head snapped up from his plate. “Jack? Cowboy? Engaged? Ha! I didn’t expect that.” Spot nodded. He barely paid attention to the rest of the conversation as he started to worry about Rose. Could she handle seeing Cal again? He had to warn her.

*****

Ruth and Rose were back in town again, but this time it was just to get the mail. Ruth stayed in the wagon while Rose went inside to get the mail. Ruth watched as Rose walked out a few minutes later reading a letter.

Rose stared at Spot’s handwriting in disbelief. “Rose, this is just a quick note to tell you that Cal is on his way to Santa Fe at your mother’s request. I hope this reaches you in time---Spot Conlon.”

Rose looked up at her mother. “Mother, you didn’t.” Rose’s voice was calm, but her eyes were icy. She got her answer a moment later.

“Hello, Rose.” Rose turned around to see Cal standing only feet away from her. She looked at Cal in shock for several minuutes. She then turned to her mother.

“Get down. Get out of the cart, Mother. I’m sure you two have a lot to discuss, and I have things to do back at the ranch.” Ruth slowly climbed down as Rose climbed into the wagon. Ruth’s feet barely hit the sidewalk before Rose sent the cart into forward motion. Cal and Ruth watched her leave town.

“Ruth, why am I out here?” Ruth looked up at Cal.

“Because we have to talk some sense into her.” Cal let out an exasperated sigh. When was this woman ever going to learn? There was no question that Rose got her stubbornness from her mother.

*****

“Malinda, where’s Jack?” Malinda was rather shocked at Rose’s panicked state.

“The stable I think.” Rose tore out of the back of the house and headed for the stables.

“Jack! Jack!” Rose yelled for him as she neared the stable. Jack came out with a worried look on his face.

“Rose, what’s wrong?” She was shaking her head.

“Cal’s here. My mother sent for him.” Jack looked around.

“I don’t see ‘im.”

“I left him and Mother in town.” Jack raised an eye brow. “I panicked.” He couldn’t help smiling. “I know why he’s come here. They want to make me go back with them. My mother still wants me to marry him.” Rose shook her head. “I can’t. I can’t take this.”

Jack pulled her close. He was quickly realizing the seriousness of the situation. He hadn’t seen Rose this panicked in a long time---if ever. “We’ll think of somethin’.” He lifted her face and gave her a quick kiss. “I’ll send Timmy ta go get ‘em. We can’t deal wid ‘em if they’re in town.” Rose slowly nodded. She didn’t want to agree with him, but he was right. She wished he wasn’t because personally she’d like to take them both out into the desert and leave them for the vultures, but she knew she couldn’t do that.

“All right, Jack, I’m telling you this won’t be easy.”

A cocky grin crossed Jack’s face. “I’ve faced harder challenges, an’ I’m always up for a good one.” He kissed her on the forehead before he went off to find Timmy.

*****

Rose was sitting in the parlor when Cal and Ruth came storming in.

“Rose, what you did was unacceptable, rude and it will never happen again. Is that understood?” Ruth thundered.

Rose let out a sigh and looked to the hall to see Race coming in from the fields. “Racetrack?” Race stopped and looked in the parlor.

“Yeah, Rose?”

She looked him up and down and smiled. “Rough day?”

“Dat damn horse t’rew me in da mud. If Mindy is lookin’ for me, tell ‘er I’m takin’ a bath.” Rose nodded. “Cowboy should be in in a minute. He’s takin’ care of me horse.” Rose nodded again as Race disappeared up the stairs.

“Who was that filth?” Rose shook her head. Cal hadn’t changed, but she hadn’t expected him to; although, under the circumstances, he was right. Race was a filth. She wasn’t sure if there had been a clean spot on him.

“That was Tony ‘Racetrack’ Higgins. He helps Jack run the ranch.”

Cal raised an eye brow. “Jack runs this ranch?”

“I own it.” Cal turned to see a tall man that looked a few years older than him. “Hey, doll,” Jack said as he walked over to Rose and kissed her on the forehead. “How ya doin’?” He asked softly.

“All right.” Rose shifted her gaze from Jack to Cal. “Cal, this is my fiancé, Jack Kelly. Jack this is Caledon Hockley.” They shook hands. Jack’s gaze was cool while Cal’s was one of confusion. This wasn’t the Jack he had been expecting. This wasn’ the handsome, blond artist that had stolen Rose from him.

“It’s nice to meet you, Kelly.” Then Cal noticed the mud splattered on Jack’s face and shirt. “Did the horse throw you too?”

“No. It jus’ took some work ta get ‘im under control. A snake spooked him,” Jack the turned to Rose. “How’s Race?”

“I think his pride is hurt more than anything.” Jack nodded as he leaned against the wall next to Rose. Rose’s warm gaze turned from Jack and instantly turned cold as she looked at Cal and her mother. “Now, what is he doing here?”

“To help me talk some sense into you,” Ruth said.

Rose nearly choked. “To talk some sense into me? And what am I doing that is so senseless?”

Cal said nothing as he sat on the sofa, his large frame taking up most of it.

“This. Everything that you’ve done with your life since the Titanic.” Ruth said, and Rose almost visibly cringed. The Titanic had been brought up, and she knew it was only a matter of moments before Ruth would bring up Jack Dawson. She couldn’t allow her to say anymore. She didn’t want Jack to know about Jack Dawson and what had happened between them. Because she felt that if he found out, she would be letting go of his memory and she couldn’t do that.

“No, Mother, everything I’ve done with my life since South Hampton makes perfect sense. I found out who I really am, and that if I didn’t get to be me, I would have died in time and just have been a hollow shell. I couldn’t allow that.” Rose stood and moved to stand next to Jack. “Jack and I make perfect sense. We make each other happy; we love each other. That makes perfect sense.” Rose looked up at Jack and smiled.

“What about your acting career? What respectable woman is an actress?”

Rose groaned, but before she could say a word, Jack said something. “Rose is a respectable woman, an’ so are a lot of other actresses. There was one woman dat was da greatest star of da Vaudeville stage, an’ she was da kindest, respectable woman I knew growin’ up on da Lower East Side. She helped take care of me an’ about twenty other orphans. It was jus’ who she was.” Jack looked Ruth up and down. “I don’t get ya, Ruth. I don’t. Your daughter is alive an’ well. Ya should be happy, but instead ya stick around an’ make ‘er life a livin’ hell. An’ then ya bring him out ‘ere. What are ya doin’? Do ya think she’ll still marry ‘im? Well dat ain’t gonna happen.” He took Rose’s hand. “An’ I’m tired of listenin’ ta ya tell Rose dat what makes ‘er happy is wrong. G’night.” He left the parlor with Rose in tow. Rose just stared at her fiancé’s back. She had never seen him like that before.

Ruth and Cal stared at the door for a moment. “I can’t believe he said that to me, Cal.” Cal said nothing as he walked over to the liquor cabinet to pour him some brandy, but all he found was a bottle of cheap whiskey. He poured a glass and swallowed it down with minimal wincing. He said nothing, but only stared at Ruth blankly. After several long beats, Ruth, too, left the parlor. Cal poured another glass and stared at the amber liquid as he thought of the last two years.

In the last two years, he had lost his bride-to-be because she had fallen for a waif artist that could barely support himself, not to mention someone else. The biggest shock of that was that after Rose had left, he realized that he truly loved her more than he had ever known. He had also lost thousands of dollars when the Heart of the Ocean went down with the ship, not to mention the other valuables he lost. And to top things off he had to take care of a woman he despised as mush as she despised him because it was the right thing to do. He downed his latest cup of whiskey and sighed heavily as the warm liquid flowed through him. Yes, tonight was another night for him to get drunk.

*****

Cal looked up as Rose entered the kitchen. She was dressed in brown pants that hung off her hips and barely showed the tips of her boots. She had on a white shirt and her hair was sloppily braided down her back. She didn't say a word to him as she went about her task of fixing breakfast. Cal watched her for several minutes before he said anything.

"What are you trying to prove, Rose?"

She didn't turn from her task of mixing dough for the biscuits. "I'm not trying to prove anything, Cal. I'm trying to make breakfast."

"I mean why are you acting like you're happy in with the life you live? Is it to prove something to Dawson? Is that it? Tell me, Rose, did he leave you as soon as the Carpathia arrived in New York because he finally woke up from his dream that a rich brat like you could love a waif artist like him, or did you realize that everything you found so appealing on the Titanic was only appealing because you were unhappy. And once you spent a few weeks---months---with him you realized that the life of a wanderer wasn't what you thought it was. Or, you were madly in love with Dawson, but the moment you saw your rugged rancher you abandoned the poor artist for something more financially stable? Well, what is it, Rose?"

Rose had stiffened the moment he had mentioned Jack Dawson. She didn't answer him for a few minutes as she fought back the tears that formed on her face. "Don't mock me, Caledon! I died when the Titanic sank because Jack died." She whirled around and glared at him. “He died holding my hand while he froze in the icy water. He gave up his life because he wanted me to live! Don't ever assume you know what's happened in my life. Because you don't. It took all my strength to not die there with him, but I had made a promise to go on, and I have. You don't think it kills me to know that right now I would be Mrs. Rose Dawson? I kills me everyday, when I'm reminded of him by something someone says or does. My only salvation was when I met Jack. He helped me get through those first few days, and the thought of what he did got me through the first six months after Titanic. That's why I fell in love with him because he helped me and showed me that there was love out there, and that I could love again. I didn't have to fall in love with him, but I couldn't help it as I looked into his unbelievably kind hazel eyes. He helped me know that I could go on, and never give up my love for Jack Dawson. I will never give that up, so don't mock my pain again. Got it?" She turned back to the counter and began rolling out the biscuits. Cal didn't know what to say. He had never seen her react the way she just had.

Jack leaned against the wall as he listened to Cal and Rose's conversation. Everything was made clear to who the Jack Rose was always dreaming about. She had loved someone else, and apparently that love had be very deep. The only reason she was alive now was because of a promise she had made. At least he knew her love for him was genuine, but he had known that all along because he knew Rose was not someone to go into something half heartedly. He wanted to know more than anything what had happened between her, Cal and this Jack boy, but he knew that if Rose wanted him to know, she would tell him. He waited till it was silent for a few moments before he entered the kitchen.

He walked over to Rose and kissed her on the cheek. "Mornin', Doll." He then turned to Cal. "Cal."

"Jack." Neither said anything more, but Cal was watching how Jack and Rose acted toward one another. He was trying to see what Rose really saw in this man. It had to be more than the kindest in his eyes.

"I gotta go up to the east border taday. Some of the heads are missing from the heard, an' I wanna make sure they haven't wandered too far off." Rose nodded. He then turned to Cal. "Rose says you're a business man, right?" Cal nodded. "Well, dis ranch is a pretty hectic business. Ya wanna tour ta see how it runs?" Cal didn't know how to respond. He wasn't sure what that tone in his voice was, but he could definitely detect an edge that wasn't to be questioned. Little did Cal know that that was the leader tone that he only used when there was no arguing, and what he said went. No questions asked.

"Why not. It should be amusing." Rose turned and looked at Cal. 'Why don't you join us for dinner tomorrow night. Regale our group with your little tale of heroics.' 'Count me in.' 'This should be amusing.' It was the same condescending tone he had used with Jack Dawson after he'd saved her life. He would never change.

Rose spared a glance at Jack, and saw something that she'd never seen before. Was that hate? No it couldn't be. Rose opened her mouth to say something, but stopped when Race walked into the kitchen with Malinda and Lindsey.

"Whoa, Cowboy, what's goin' on? I ain't seen that look from you in what. . .fifteen years. What? Did somebody go raise da price on somethin' again?" Race laughed, and Jack couldn't help smiling.

"No. I was jus' thinkin' dat I need ta show Cal da ranch. What'd ya think, Race?"

Race smiled as he realized what the spark in Jack's eyes were for. "I think you're right. I mean, he doesn't know all da work dat goes into a ranch." He then looked at Cal. "Hey, I'm Tony 'Racetrack' Higgins. Nice ta meet ya."

Cal shook Race's hand. "Likewise." Cal then looked at Malinda. "And who is this lovely woman?" Cal was laying the charm on thick, but everybody in the room saw right through it. "I'm Malinda Higgins. Tony's wife. An' this little girl is Lindsey, our daughter."

Cal nodded. "Keep an eye on her. Don't let her grow up to be too wild." Everyone looked at him funny, but Race stopped Malinda and Rose from saying what was on their minds.

Ruth came in during the awkward silence and stopped when every eye turned to her. "What?"

"Mother." Rose turned back to preparing breakfast, and Malinda chipped in. Both women were whispering as they fixed the large breakfast that looked as if it could feed ten grown men. Jack grabbed a biscuit and a cup of coffee. Race laughed as he fixed a large plat of eggs.

"Ya never did give up the bread an' coffee bit for breakfast, did ya?"

"What can I say? I loved da stale roles the nun's handed out ev'ry morning." Race laughed because he knew that was a lie, but he didn't say anything.

After eating a quick breakfast, Jack advised Cal to change into something rather casual because they were going to be doing a lot of riding that day, and the suit he was wearing was hardly the best thing for a day in the saddle. As soon as Cal was changed into something he said was more casual, they left for the day. And yet again, Rose, Malinda and Ruth were stuck in the house together. Rose and Malinda set about their daily chores and ignored Ruth.

*****

Jack pulled his horse to a stop and waited for Cal and Race to catch up to him. Jack turned to Race and smiled only a smile that he would recognize, it was the determined smile of the street rat from New York. The one he always got when it came to avoiding Snyder, or when it came to going up against people that were more powerful than him, and Race knew what it meant.

"Race, why don't ya ride over dat ridge an' see if ya can find any of the missin' heads. I think we're missin' five from the heard on the east border."

"'Kay, Cowboy." Race wasted no time in charging ahead and riding over the ridge.

Jack waited till Race was out of sight before he turned to Cal. "Now, Cal. Dere's a few things I wanna know, an' your da one ta tell me." Cal looked at Jack with a little hint or wariness in his eyes. "Why did Rose leave ya on the Titanic?"

Cal looked Jack up and down. "Because she was supposedly in love with a boy from steerage." Jack nodded. He couldn’t' help wondering if Rose had ever loved Cal, and if she had, what had possessed her to do so? "What else?"

"Well, ya see, I love Rose. She's da first woman I've loved since I was twetny, an' my then fiancé broke up wid me 'cause I was a dreamer. I still am, I guess. So, ya see I don't plan on given Rose up too easily. So, what I wanna know is what are ya doin' 'ere?"

"I'm here because Ruth asked me to be. She said it had to do with Rose. I figured she realized that Rose was dead. I knew she wasn't, but I was hoping that Ruth would think she was. That's the only reason I came here."

Jack regarded him for a few minutes before he spoke. "I don't believe ya. Now I'm a trustin' man, but I don't trust ya. Ya see, I'm da kinda man dat'll do anythin' ta protect my friends an' loved ones. I'll even betray 'em if I have ta. Now, your comin' here has automatically caused my defenses ta go up. Now ya mess wid Race or Malinda, an' I'll soak ya, but ya mess wid Rose, an' I'll kill ya. Ya see, she ain't jus' my fiancé. She's me lover an' best friend. Now dat's sacred ground." Jack looked around and saw that no one was around. He smiled ruefully before he looked back at Cal. "An' dis is ta prove I ain't jokin'." Jack pulled back and punched Cal square in the jaw, causing him to fall off his horse and onto the ground. "Now jus' remember dat that was jus' a warnin'. Ya mess wid anyone 'ere, an' it'll be much worse. I promise." Jack kicked his horse into a full gallop back toward the ranch house. He called over his shoulder. "Race'll bring ya back, Hockley."

Cal sat in the dust and dirt rubbing his jaw as he watched Jack ride off.

*****

Rose was scrubbing the floor in parlor humming to herself, but she slowly started to sing aloud. "Come Josephine in my flying machine. And it's up she goes. Up she goes. In the sky she goes." She paused when she heard a voice join in.

"Come now a little bit higher." She turned to see Malinda standing in the door way. "I haven't heard that song in a long time." Rose smiled, but it was bittersweet.

"It's one of my favorites." Malinda nodded. "Mindy, I'm worried about why Jack was insisting Cal go on a tour with him. I've never seen him be that way." Rose thought for a moment. "Well, maybe once, but his tone wasn't that cold."

Malinda nodded again. "I think Jack just wants to protect what is rightfully his. He doesn't like people messing with the people in his life. I think he's just going to warn Cal of that."

Rose nodded. "I just wish that Cal and Mother would go away. I can see why my mother is here, but I can't see why Cal is. I'm not going back to Philadelphia with them. My life is here. Why can't they understand that?" In that moment Rose looked and sounded like the confused nineteen-year-old girl she was, and not like the experienced woman everyone mistook her for.

"Because we're different from them. They can't understand what is different from them. We lead a casual, happy life, while they lead lives that are fake and uncaring. They can't understand how you can be so happy doing hard labor around here and work in movies and be completely content with your life at the same time." Rose was sitting in the floor in the middle of the parlor. Her hair had fallen out of the braid in places, and she had smudges of dirt on her face. She looked like a rag-a-muffin orphan, but she was still as beautiful as she was the day she showed up at the ranch with Race. Malinda waited for her to say something.

"Can I tell you something?" Malinda nodded. "I've never understood why people---women---enjoyed not working. I mean, I hated being confined to a house doing charity work or needle point. I've never seen why we can't run a business like men do. The only reason I would ever want to stay home is if I was pregnant." She looked doubtful for several moments. "Mindy, I---I think---I might be---" Rose swallowed hard, "---pregnant."

"What? Rose are you sure?" Malinda moved to kneel next to her.

"I'm not for certain, but it's a good chance. I've been feeling weak the last couple of mornings, and I've missed my monthly time twice now." She swallowed again. This was the first time she had voiced this concern, and she was scared to say anything to Jack because she didn't know how he felt about children. Sure he loved Lindsey to death, but that wasn't his child. He could give her back when he got bored. How would he feel about one of his own---one he couldn't give back?

"When?"

"The weekend Jack came out the California to see me while I was filming. I missed my cycle that month and then my last one. I'm pretty sure I'm pregnant." Rose looked none to sure of what she was saying.

"Have you told Jack?" Rose shook her head. "Why not?"

"I'm not sure what he'll think. I don't know if he wants kids. I do, but I don't know if he does. We've never talked about it. I want to tell him, but I don't want to while Mother and Cal are here. This is something to share with him when we don't have my mother and ex-fiancé here." Rose looked at Malinda, who was smiling broadly. "What?"

"I'm gonna be an aunt!" Rose laughed as Malinda hugged her. "Oh, don't worry, Rosie, Jack may not know it, but he wants children. He'll make an excellent father, and your child will have such a loving family." Rose looked at her friend and smiled.

"I think you're right." Rose hugged her. "I'm just not going to tell him till I know the time is right."

"Who are ya tellin' what to?" Rose looked up and saw Jack standing in the doorway.

Rose looked around and didn't see Cal. "Where's Cal?"

"Oh, I left him with Race. I had ta come in cause I forgot somethin'." An obvious lie, and they all knew it, but Rose didn't say anything.

"Now what kinda news do ya have?"

Rose looked at Malinda. "I need ta check on the laundry." Malinda stood up and left the parlor. Rose stood and moved to take Jack's hand.

"I need to tell you something, Jack. I want you to be honest on what you think." Jack nodded, but it was clear that Rose was scaring him. She led him to the couch and they both sat down. "Jack, ya know I love you more than anything in the whole world. You know you make me the happiest I've ever been, but there is one thing that would make me even happier."

"What?"

"To have a baby." Jack stared at her blankly for a moment.

"I thought we'd wait till we were married, but if ya wanna start tryin' now. . . ."

Rose shook her head. "It's a little too late for that. I'm two months pregnant, Jack." Jack only stared at her. He didn't know what to say. He knew one day they would have children, but he didn't think that it would be right away. He wanted to have a big family with Rose, but was he ready? Could he be a good father since he didn't really know how to be one?

"Jack? What do you think?"

"Are. . .are ya sure?" Rose nodded. "Ya mean I'm gonna be a faddah?" Rose nodded again. "I'm gonna be responsible for another human life." He stood up and walked away. He slowly began to pace the room. Rose was watching him and slowly became worried. He wasn't taking the news too well, and it was scaring her. She hadn't realized it, but her eyes started to fill with tears. After pacing for several minutes, Jack walked over to Rose and planted the sweetest, deepest kiss on her lips that she had ever experienced. "I'm gonna be a father!" He laughed and picked her up and spun her around. He kissed her again. "God, I love ya!" Rose laughed as her tears of worry turned to tears of joy.

*****

Jack rolled over and looked at Rose. She was so peaceful as she slept. Her red hair falling in curls over her pillow. He ran his hand gently over her stomach and smiled. He couldn’t believe that his---their---child was in there. He knew it would be beautiful. If it looked anything like Rose, he knew it would be perfect. Now, all he had to do was get Cal and Ruth out of his house, and he would eternally happy.

Rose felt Jack’s rough, large hand slide across her stomach and she rolled over. She smiled up at him. “Good morning, darling. How’d you sleep?”

“Da best I have in a long time.” He kissed her on the neck. “Ya know this baby is gonna be perfect, don’t ya?”

“Yes, because it’ll be the best in both of us.” Jack nodded, although at that moment he didn’t see any redeeming qualities in himself, but he wasn’t fully awake. “It’ll have your kind spirit, and your strength. It’ll have my eyes, your sense of humor, my fiery wit. This baby is going to be perfect because we are going to spoil it rotten.” Jack nodded and kissed her. Rose slowly stood out of bed. “As much as I’d love to continue this romantic moment, we both have chores to see to. Plus I have to run to town today.” Jack groaned and punched his pillow lightly.

“Race can handle it.”

Rose shook her head. “As much as I love Tony, and I do, he can’t do laundry to save his life. I don’t want him washing my clothes, do you?” Jack laughed as he crawled out of bed.

“Not really. I’ll see you down stairs for breakfast,” Jack said as he put his shirt on. Rose nodded as she left the room.

*****

Rose sat down for the first time all day, and this was only for a short break because in a few minutes she would have to head toward town. While she was resting she thought back on how hectic and awful her morning had been so far. It was as if her body was waiting for her to tell Jack about the pregnancy before she started to have the daily sickness that came with it. And she hoped and prayed that today was the worst it would get because if it got any worse, she wasn’t sure if she could make it. The other reason it had been so hectic was because she had been trying her hardest to avoid Cal and Ruth. So far her plan had work.

She closed her eyes and placed a hand on her still flat stomach. She was in absolute amazement at how there was a life growing inside of her, and it was part her and part Jack Kelly. It amazed her, plain and simple. She was truly happy, and she owed it all to one man---Jack Dawson. At the mere thought of him, she could see his eyes smiling at her. She couldn’t help thinking, ‘Oh, Jack, I’m happy, and it’s all because of you. If you hadn’t have pulled me back, or made me see how marrying Cal was not good for me. I knew it wasn’t, but you made me see that there was a chance for life, a real life. I couldn’t help falling in love with you. Thank you. I know you made me promise to go on, and I have. I also know that it is you that is making sure I have everything I need. You made sure I met Jack Kelly, and fell in love with him. Jack, I’m pregnant. Thank you for seeing me, the real me. Thank you.’

Rose felt as if she could have kept going, but her private moment was interrupted when a deep voice came from the door to the kitchen. “Rose, we need to talk.”

Rose sighed heavily as she got a chill down her back. Cal’s voice always had a mincing and condescending tone to it. She slowly opened her eyes and focused on Cal. He was leaning against the door to the kitchen with his ever present holier-than-thou look on his face. “What now?”

“The necklace. The Heart of the Ocean. You do remember it don’t you? Where is it?”

Rose slowly stood and moved to put the glass of water she had been drinking in the sink. “Yes, Cal, I do remember it. How could I forget it? It weighed a ton, and felt like a dog collar that choked me when I wore it. As for knowing where it is, don’t you? You had it last.” Rose was playing coy and being cold at the same time. Something that was difficult with Cal because he had always had the ability to see right through her.

“Rose, think about it. If I knew where it was, would I be asking you?”

Rose shrugged indifferently. “I guess not. Since you don’t know, and I can’t see how you don’t, I’ll tell you. It’s at the bottom of the North Atlantic with all of those precious paintings, my clothes, and Jack. That’s where it’s at.”

“That’s impossible. You had it last!”

“I did not! And it isn’t impossible, or did you miss the whole ship sinking part of that voyage?! You had it last. It was given back to you after Lovejoy planted it on Jack, framing him for stealing it. I watched the man-at-arms give it back to you. That was the last I saw it.” Rose hoped to God that he believed her for once.

“You lie! I gave it to you when I gave you my top coat! Now, where is it?!”

“I don’t know! I went through a lot on the ship. Or did you forget trying to shoot me?! I don’t have it! If you gave it to me, which I didn’t know, it could have fallen out when Jack and I got swept away by a wall of water. Or it could have fallen out when the ship sucked us under as it finally sank. I don’t know, Cal! And I see now, all you cared about was that damn necklace! You never cared for me!”

“I. . .I . . .where is it?! Oh, forget it! I’ll go find it myself.” Cal turned from where he had been standing, but Rose was faster and she moved to stand in front of him.

“You will not! This is my house, and you will not go through my things.”

“Get out of the way, Rose!”

“No!”

The next few moments happened so fast it could have been a blur to anyone that might have been watching, but to Cal and Rose it happened in slow motion. Cal pushed Rose out of his way as he started to leave the kitchen. He hadn’t realized the force he’d used to push her, but it was strong enough to make her lose her balance. Falling wouldn’t have been a problem, but she stumbled over the chair she had been sitting in only minutes ago. As she tried to regain her balance, she fell and hit her head on the corner of the counter. As she tumbled to the ground, she let out a blood curdling scream of pain. Then, for Rose, everything went black. For Cal, everything still moved in slow motion as he turned to see Rose lying in a broken pile on the floor. He knelt down before her, and automatically noticed she was paler than normal and her hair was clinging to her forehead and cheek. He touched it, and as he removed his hand, he saw it was covered in blood. Reality quickly set in. He felt for a pulse, and it took him a few seconds to find one. It was faint, but there was one.

Cal could feel panic starting to rise in him. What if what he had just done killed her? Jack wouldn’t hesitate in accusing him of murder. He had to think fast because he knew that someone had to have heard her scream. He looked around as he thought up a lie to cover himself. He was passing by the kitchen when he heard the scream, and by the time he had gotten to her, Rose was already the way she was now. Yes! That was what he would tell. Now he just hoped he could pull it off.

*****

Jack had just placed his horse in the coral for the day when he heard a scream that could have even made people in New York stop to wonder what was going on. After hearing it, not even a second passed before he realized that it was Rose that had screamed. His blood ran cold as he thought of what could be wrong with her. He broke off in a run that no one could have matched in that moment.

*****

Race and Malinda were watching Lindsey play in the front yard when they heard voices coming from inside. They were muffled, but it was easy to tell they were raised. They had decided to see who it was when they heard a scream that made each of their hearts skip a beat.

“Rose!” They said as Race grabbed Lindsey and both took off into the house.

*****

Ruth was redoing her hair was third time that day because the heat was making it wilt. She heard Cal leave his room and knew he wasn’t happy because he slammed his door. It was only a few moments later that she could hear the same muffled and raised voices that Race and Malinda were hearing. Then she heard the same scream, and in her gut she knew it was Rose. Her heart sank as she dropped her brush and ran down the stairs.

*****

Everybody reached the kitchen at just about the same time. Race, Malinda and Ruth stopped in mid step when they saw Rose lying on the floor and Cal kneeling beside her. Jack opened the kitchen door and stopped dead in his tracks. He only thought that his blood had ran cold when he heard Rose scream, but it nearly froze when he saw Rose lying on the floor. What made it even worse was that Cal was leaning over her.

“What happened?”

“I---I don’t know. I heard her scream as I was passing in the hall, and I saw her fall to the floor. She was like this when I reached her.” ‘Good, Cal. Stay calm,’ he thought to himself.

Jack was finally able to move and pushed Cal out of the way. He knelt beside Rose and noticed the blood coming from the temple area. He looked up at Cal and his usually happy hazel eyes were cold as steel. “I warned you, Hockley, that if ya ever hurt ‘er I’d kill ya.” He looked back at Rose as he felt for a pulse. He then looked back up at Race. “Race, I need ya ta go to town an’ get Doc Carson. Go!” Race nodded and handed Lindsey to Malinda without saying a word. Malinda barely had a hold on her daughter before Race was out the door. Jack gingerly gathered Rose into his arms and carried her up the stairs. He laid her on their bed. He never said a word as everyone gathered around while they waited for the doctor. The only sound was Jack quietly talking to Rose.

Almost two hours later, the doctor arrived. “What happened?”

“We’re not sure. We,” he shot a look toward Cal, “all found ‘er like dis on the kitchen floor.” The doctor nodded. “Will she be all right, Doc?”

“I’m going to see, Mr. Kelly.” Jack nodded. “Now, if you could all leave the room?”

Race had to practically pull Jack out of the room. He led his friend down into the parlor, where everybody took a seat. Jack on the other hand was pacing the breadth of the parlor. Finally after several minutes, he stopped and looked across the room at Cal.

“I’m on’y gonna ask ya this once, Cal. What did ya do?”

“I told you. I found her like that.”

“I don’t believe ya. I told ya that to begin wid. I don’t trust ya.”

Jack was staring at Cal, and everyone was watching Jack. The hate in his eyes was so clear that it was making everyone uncomfortable. Race didn’t know how to react to Jack because over all of the years he had known his dear friend, he had never seen him like this. Race was trying to figure out a way to keep Jack from killing Cal, not that he wouldn’t mind, but the last thing they needed was Jack to be hauled off to jail for murder. Jack on the other hand was trying his hardest not to kill Cal at that moment, but the more he stared at him, the harder it was not to kill him right then and there. He had just decided to soak him when Race stepped in.

“Jack?” Jack didn’t say a word, or shift his gaze. “Jack?” Jack finally turned to look at Race. “Hi!” Jack nodded. “Jack, I know what ya wanna do, an’ believe me, I wanna do it too, but it won’t help. Let’s jus’ find out what really happened first, okay?” Jack reluctantly nodded, and he moved back to lean against the wall. Race turned to Cal, and the expression on his face was only a little less hostile than Jack’s. “I’ve known Jack for twenty years now, an’ he’s always been a good judge a character, so if he don’t like ya then there must be a good reason. I’m gonna go wid his instincts on this one, plus I get da feelin’ you ain’t tellin’ da whole truth.”

Race moved around the room to stand next to Jack. “Ya know, Cowboy, I’ve been doin’ some thinkin’, an’ Cal’s story ain’t makin’ sense.”

“It took ya till now ta get that, Race?”

“No, but I wanted to give ‘im the benefit of doubt before I said anythin’, and he blew it.” He looked over at Cal, and his gaze became really serious, and almost accusing, before he looked back at Jack. “Jack, where were you when you heard Rose?”

“Da coral. I was puttin’ Papes in the coral for da day.” Race nodded. Jack only looked at little puzzled by Race’s question.

“Me an’ Mindy were out front.” He then turned to Ruth, who was looking paler than normal and a little green around the edges. “Ruth, are ya all right?”

“I’m just worried that’s all, Mr. Higgins.” Race nodded.

“Ruth, where were ya when ya heard Rose?”

“My room.” Race nodded again. He could agree with that because she came running down the stairs when Race and Malinda came running through the front door.

Race then turned his cool gaze to Cal. “Now, Cal, where were ya?”

“I already told you. I was walking by when I heard her.”

Race nodded, but had the same disbelieving look on his face that Jack did. “Okay. Dere is one more thing I ain’t mentioned. I ain’t a detective, but it doesn’t take one ta figure this out. Before everyone heard Rose scream, Mindy an’ I heard arguing comin’ from inside. Now, Jack, if you were puttin’ Papes up, den it wasn’t you dat she was arguin’ wid.” Jack nodded. “Ruth, you were in your room, so it wasn’t you, so dat only leaves Cal. We were da on’y ones by da house, an’ if all of us were no where near da kitchen, den dat leave Cal. Do ya wanna rethink your story, Cal?”

Cal fidgeted in his seat. “I, uh, I didn’t mean to.”

Jack came off the wall. “Didn’t mean ta what? What, Hockley?”

“I didn’t mean to hurt her. We were fighting about something from when we were engaged. I got angry and pushed her out of the way. I didn’t know I had pushed her that hard. I didn’t mean to.”

Jack came off the wall, and attacked Cal. He punched him so hard in the face that it caused the chair he was sitting in to topple over backwards. Jack didn’t waste anytime jumping over the toppled chair and grabbed Cal’s shirt. He yanked to his feet none to gently, and pushed him against the wall behind him. Jack so close to Cal that their noses were touching. “Give me one good reason in Hell why I shouldn’t kill you right now!”

“It was an accident!”

“Yeah, well dat accident might have killed her. She’s pregnant! What if dis causes ‘er ta lose the baby?!” Jack pulled back enough to raise his knee into Cal’s gut. As Cal doubled over from the blow Jack planted a firm punch to Cal’s nose, causing it to break. Ruth and Malinda both jumped from the bone cracking. Jack watched as Cal leaned back against the wall, blood streaming down his face. Jack watched him silently for a moment. And just as quickly as he’d attacked Cal, he pushed him away. “I won’t stoop to your level. Now get out.”

“Please, let me stay till we hear what the doctor says?” Cal asked winded.

Jack didn’t say a word, but walked out of the room. He would let Cal stay till the doctor was finished, but after that, he was on the next train bound for Philadelphia. Cal stared at Jack as his tall figure paced the hall between the parlor and the kitchen. He wiped his nose of the blood that had finally stopped flowing from it. It was definitely broken, but he understood why Jack had done it. That’s what he had wanted to do to Jack Dawson on the Titanic, but he couldn’t. True Cal had loved Rose, but by the time that they were on the Titanic, and Rose had left him, it was more of a point of possession. She was his, and that was that. But now he saw that she would never have been his. She needed a man who could care for her in a way that he never could, and that was with every ounce of him---emotional, physical, everything.

An hour later Doc Carson walked down the stairs and into the parlor. Jack followed him in, and waited for the bad news. “Mr. Kelly, your fiancé suffered a strong blow to the head. She has a major concussion, but she’ll be fine in a few days.”

Jack nodded, and the question he wanted to ask was the one he was dreading the answer to more than anything. “And the baby?”

“Well, she’s not out of the woods, and such a fall could endanger the baby. I’ll come back tomorrow morning to check on her. If there is any change over night don’t hesitate to come and get me. As for the baby, only time will tell, but Rose is a strong woman, Mr. Kelly, I have no doubt that she will pull through this.” Jack nodded and led the doctor out.

When he came back into the parlor he started straight for Cal, but stopped when he felt a small hand on his arm. He turned expecting to see Malinda standing next to him, but instead it was Ruth. That was the closest she had been to him since she had shown up. She stood on her tip toes and kissed Jack on the cheek. Everyone was baffled by what they saw. Ruth lowered herself back down and turned to face Cal. She walked up to him and stared straight into his dark eyes.

“I’ve had enough, Mr. Hockley. I’m through. I watched you hurt my daughter more than once during your courtship, but I refused to acknowledge it because I wanted her to marry you for your money. In the end I lost her. I won’t lose her again. I don’t need your money, Mr. Hockley. You no longer have to worry about providing for me. I find a way to support myself. If I have to become a seamstress, then so be it, but I refuse to be supported by a man that cares more for his money and precious jewels than people. I now see what Rose saw, and I’m only sorry I didn’t see it sooner. Now get out of my life, and hers.” She pointed for the door, and didn’t take her eyes off Cal till she saw him close the front door to the house. As soon as the door clicked she let the tears she had been holding back flow freely. As she cried she felt two strong arms pull her close. She opened her eyes to see Jack holding her.

“Thank ya, Ruth,” Jack whispered. Ruth nodded.

“Any time, Mr. Kelly.”

“Jack.”

“Any time, Jack.” She wiped her eyes and smiled up at her future son-in-law. She could see why Rose loved him so.

*****

Jack stayed beside Rose the rest of the day and through the night. He didn’t even sleep. He followed the instructions the doctor had written down and left beside the bed. When morning finally came he knew he had to work, but he didn’t want to leave Rose. He looked up at the door when he heard it slowly open. Ruth stuck her head in the door.

“Come in, Ruth.” She slowly walked in and stood behind Jack. “There’s been no change. She’s still asleep, and every now and then mumbles something about a necklace, but I have no idea what she’s talking about.” He then looked up at Ruth and noticed she looked as tired and worried as he did. “Did ya sleep at all?”

Ruth just shook her head. “I’ve been up all night thinking.” She placed a hand on Jack’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Jack. I really am. This is all my fault. If I hadn’t found her, then Cal wouldn’t have come out here, and none of this would have happened.”

“It’s not your fault. And even though she won’t say it, I’m sure Rose is happy you’re here.”

Ruth looked at Jack, and knew he was lying. “Now, Mr. Kelly, we both know my daughter can’t lie. She’s not happy I’m here, and after she comes to, I’m leaving.”

“You’re right, she isn’t happy, but once she comes to, and you talk to her, maybe dat’ll change. Don’t leave. I’m askin’ ya to stay. If Rose don’t like it, she can be mad at me.” Ruth nodded. Jack turned back to Rose and then back to Ruth. “I’ve gotta work today. Can ya watch ‘er till I get back?”

“Of course.” Jack smiled and left the room. Ruth took his seat by the bed and watched her sleeping child. As she watched Rose sleep, she felt guilt wash over her stronger than it had ever in the past. She knew Rose was lying there in the bed she shared with the man she loved because of her. It might not be directly her fault, but in the distance Rose’s current situation was her fault. Ruth brushed a strand of hair from Rose’s face as she remembered the moments that led up to this moment, and how she should have listened to her daughter’s pleas.

“Rose, if you would just give him a chance, I’m sure you would find that Mr. Hockley is a very kind man. He’s just a stern business man.” Ruth pleaded with her fifteen year old daughter.

“And I’m telling you, Mother, that I don’t want to even give him a chance. I don’t like him. I never have. I’ve seen how cruel he can be.”

Ruth’s mind quickly skipped ahead to the day after her husband’s funeral. “Rose? Mr. Hockley came to your father before his unfortunate death and asked for your hand in marriage. Are you ever going to answer him?”

“I’m only sixteen. I’m not ready.”

“Rose, I think it would be best if you went ahead and accepted the proposal. You could be married shortly after you turn seventeen.”

“That’s under a year away. Mother. . . .”

“Then it’s decided.”

Ruth’s mind skipped ahead again to the Titanic. “You are not to see that boy again. Do you understand me, Rose? I forbid it!”

“Oh, stop it, Mother. You’ll give yourself a nosebleed.”

“This is not a game! Our situation is precarious. You know the money’s gone!”

“Of course I know it’s gone. You remind me everyday!” Even then she had refused to see how she was hurting her child. It was plain to everyone, even her that she was head over heels in love with Jack Dawson.

Ruth’s mind then skipped ahead again, but they were still on the Titanic. She watched as her daughter’s heart seemed to be torn as Jack was being arrested for steeling the necklace. Part of her wanted to stop it from happening, but a bigger part of her didn’t; and that was the part that won. Because of her, Rose’s life had never been easy, and that’s why she was lying in her bed unconscious. Ruth closed her eyes and tried to find the right words to say to Rose when she woke up.

Rose opened her eyes and stared at her mother for a moment before the piercing pain in her head became too much and she had to close them again. As another wave of pain hit, Rose groaned. Ruth opened her eyes and saw Rose squinting her eyes shut. “Rose, darling?”

“Yes, Mother?” Rose asked through clinched teeth.

“Are you all right?”

“Not really. Can I have some aspirin?” Ruth got the medicine for her daughter and watched with great concern. Rose slowly opened her eyes a few minutes later. “Where’s Jack?”

“He had work to do. He asked me to sit with you.”

“Really? I’m surprised. Why aren’t you with Cal?”

Ruth understood her daughter’s bitterness, but she didn’t say anything. “Because he’s on a train back East. Jack kicked him out.” Rose looked shocked, but it quickly passed.

“What’s wrong with me?”

“The doctor says you have a concussion, but you should be fine.”

“And the baby?”

Ruth smiled. The idea of her being a grandmother thrilled her beyond words. “Should be fine. We’re to watch you for a few days, but it should be fine. You’re strong, Rose. There is no reason why it wouldn’t be fine.” Rose nodded.

“So you know?”

Ruth nodded. “Jack told everyone when he attacked Cal.” Ruth looked nervous for a moment. “Rose, I’m sorry. Everything that has happened in the last few years of your life are all my fault. You wouldn’t be here right now if I hadn’t forced you to marry Cal. You might have even been able to marry Jack Dawson. Can you ever forgive me?”

Rose stared at her mother in complete shock, and this time it didn’t pass. This apology came from no where, or as Jack would have put it---from left field. “I wouldn’t have married Jack because he still would have died when the Titanic sank, but I can forgive you if you realize that I am living my life the way I want to live it. Can you understand that?”

Ruth didn’t say anything for a few moments, and to Rose it seemed as if she was not going to be able to accept that, but Ruth was just letting it sink in that her daughter was forgiving her. “Yes, I can, and I mean that. I saw how much Jack loves you last night. I saw that he would do anything to protect you. I know now that he will take good care of you. He is a good man, and you have my blessings. Plus, I know he’ll be a good father to my grandchild.” Ruth looked at her hands for a moment before she looked back up at Rose. “I love you Rose Marie Dawson. I always have.” Dawson. She had actually said Dawson. Rose was beyond shock and pure happiness to hear her mother say that.

“I love you too, Mother.” Rose smiled at her mother as she started to drift off to sleep. She felt as if they had finally reached a truce and a place that they could move on from.

*****

Jack sat down at the table in the kitchen and closed his eyes. He was exhausted after staying up all night watching over Rose and all day in the saddle. All he wanted was a hot shower and to crawl into bed with Rose. He just needed to hold her close to know she was all right.

But unfortunately, he wasn’t going to get to do that as soon as he liked because Ruth entered the kitchen. “Jack?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you for ev’rything you’ve done for Rose.” Jack nodded, but inside he was groaning because he knew their conversation wouldn’t end with her simple ‘thank you’. He opened his eyes when he heard the chair across from him scrape the floor.

“It’s the least I could do. I love ‘er. Thank for sidin’ wid me on Cal.” Ruth nodded.

“Jack, now that my daughter is pregnant, I was wondering when you would be marrying her. I don’t want my grandchild to be a bastard.”

Jack shot Ruth a glare. “Ruth, I have all intentions of. . . .” Jack stopped when she said something he hadn’t expected.

“Rose was almost an illegitimate child.” She looked at Jack with tears in her eyes. Jack looked her straight in the eyes, and she could clearly see his puzzlement. “I was young---Rose’s age. I’d fallen for the biggest rouge in the area. I thought he loved me. Soon I was pregnant and alone. He’d left me as soon as he knew. I had to marry man I didn’t know or love. That’s why I’ve been so hard on Rose. She’s just like I was, hard headed, strong willed, passionate. I just don’t want her to end up in the same trap I did.”

Jack was shocked by everything he had just heard. He had a hard time picturing Ruth any where near the way Rose was. “You don’t have ta. I love ‘er. She’s gonna be takin’ good care of. You have nothing to worry about, Ruth.” Jack watched her as he tried to digest what he’d been told. He realized that Ruth had never told Rose. “Rose doesn’t know?” Ruth shook her head. “Why?”

“Just as there are things that Rose will never tell me, there are things I’ll never tell her.” Ruth stood up and squeezed Jack’s hand. “Some things are best unknown.” Ruth left the kitchen. Jack closed his eyes for a moment before he left the kitchen behind her.

Jack quietly opened the bed room door to find Rose sitting in bed reading her next script. Jack sat on the edge of the bed and gently touched her face. “How ya feelin’, doll face?”

Rose shrugged. “I’ve got a headache, but I’m all right. How are you?”

“Tired.” Rose pulled back the covers for Jack to crawl in. He took his boots and shirt off before he crawled in. Rose laid her head on his chest. “I had a nice talk wid Ruth.”

“About what?”

“Your father.” Jack didn’t say anything more.

“So she told you I wasn’t wanted by my father?”

“You know?” Jack asked shocked.

Rose nodded. “I’ve known for years. My father told me on his death bed.”

Jack kissed her on the forehead. “Tonight is full of surprises.”

“I’ve got one more for you.” Jack arched his eyes brows. “Let’s get married.”

“We will.”

“Soon---tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Rose nodded. “Why?”

“I don’t want my---our---child to be a bastard.” Jack looked at her and he knew she was serious.

“Ya really mean it don’t ya?” Rose nodded. “Then we’ll get married tamorrah.” He pulled her close and kissed her gently, but passionately. Rose sighed as she closed her eyes. She fell asleep her last night as Rose Dawson.

*****

Rose zipped the back of the dress she thought she’d never wear again. It was the only dress that she had that was close to a wedding dress. She looked at herself in the full length mirror. A tirade of mixed emotions flooded her all at once.

She was wearing the dress she had worn that fateful night; the night Jack Dawson had said she looked nice for the first time; the same night that she had said she loved him; the same night he had made her promise to go on, and then died making sure she survived. But just as quickly as those bittersweet memories flooded her, happier one began to take their place. True, she had been wearing this dress when she had experienced complete and total tragedy, but this was also the dress she had met Jack Kelly in, and this was now the dress she would marry him in.

She blinked away the tears that had been filling her eyes as Ruth opened the door to the dressing room of the old church. Ruth had heard some of the women say that it was the oldest in Santa Fe, being built around 1670.

Ruth stopped short when she saw Rose standing across the room. She couldn't move. She had never realized how beautiful her daughter was. She had always known that her daughter was beautiful, but today she seemed different. She had a glow about her that she had only had one other time, and then Ruth hadn't been pleased with the situation; but, now she couldn't be happier.

"Mother!" Ruth snapped from her thoughts. "Close the door! TI's bad luck for Jack to see me before the ceremony." There was a nervous edge to Rose's voice.

Ruth smiled and shut the door. "Sorry, dear. I was just admiring how beautiful you are."

Rose smiled at her mother, but she couldn't help the tears filling her eyes. That was the first time Ruth had called her beautiful and meant it. "Thank you." She once again blinked the tears away.

Ruth took her daughter's hands. "Your father would be so proud of you right now."

Rose smiled as tears began to fill her eyes again. She knew there would be no fighting them this time. “Yes, he would, but what about you? Are you proud of me too?”

Ruth smiled and gently touch Rose’s cheeks. She didn’t know if she could trust her voice. She swallowed hard and finally spoke. “Rose, darling, I am proud of you, so much more than you’ll ever know. You have done things I never had the nerve to do. You’ve fought against all odds to get the life you want. I respect and love you more for that than any one. You are a wonderful woman. Oh, baby, I am the proudest mother the world has ever known. My only regret is that I didn’t see you, the real you, sooner.” She kissed Rose on the cheek as the tears Rose had been fighting finally fell. Ruth’s also fell as her daughter’s did.

She pulled back and wiped her eyes. She couldn’t help smiling through her tears. “Look what I’ve done! What will people think if your eyes are red and your cheeks are flushed?”

Rose smiled. There were some ways her mother would never change. “That I’m a happy emotional, blushing bride. Besides, the only thing that matters is what Jack thinks.” Rose smoothed her dress. “I better get out there before he thinks I jilted him.” Rose winked at her mother as she left the dressing room.

“Go get the life I never had,” Ruth whispered to herself.

*****

“Rose! Sweetheart!” Jack called from the gate to the ranch. He sounded desperate. Rose left the ranch house as fast as she could, which was none too fast seeing as she was seven months pregnant.

Rose finally reached the gate. “What’s wrong? You sounded like something is terribly wrong.” Jack leaned in and kissed her quickly.

“Nothin’s wrong. I promised you a weddin’ gift, and it’s finally here.” He pointed to the sign about the gate, and for the first time Rose noticed that it was covered with a white sheet. Jack handed her a rope. “I know it took forever, but I had ta get Skittery ta make it, so it had to come from Jersey.”

Rose tugged on the sheet and it billowed to the ground. Rose watched as a rout iron and wood sign hung above the gate. The middles of the sign had two circles that overlapped with a letter ‘K’ in each one. The sign also read ‘The Double K’.

Rose looked in shock from the sign to Jack. “Ya are now half owner of the ranch. I know it’s not much, but. . . .”

Rose shook her head. “Oh, Jack, it’s perfect!” She kissed him quickly then turned back to the sign. “This makes me an official cowgirl, doesn’t it?”

Jack nodded. “Yep, an’ you’re my cowgirl.” He put his arm around her and squeezed her close.

*****

Ruth sat in her small apartment in St. Louis. Despite Rose and Jack’s objections, Ruth had left Santa Fe. She had said it was that life that far out West wasn’t for her, but the truth was she hadn’t wanted to be dependent on them. She had been dependent too long, and she wanted to prove she was as strong as her daughter, even though she knew she never would be. Rose had endured too much great tragedy for being so young.

It had been two years sing she decided to be on her own, and since then she now owned her own clothing store. She found it hard to believe that four years ago she had been repulsed by the mere idea of being a seamstress, but now she wouldn’t think of doing anything else, and she owed it all to Rose---and she suppose she owed it to Jack Dawson too.

She had seen Rose and her granddaughter since she left Santa Fe. They had come for a visit when Rose had filmed a movie in St. Lois last year. She had choose to live in St. Louis because it was a major city, but also it was far enough away for her to be independent, but close enough to only be a few days train trip to Santa Fe.

Now she sat in her apartment late one night going through her mail when she came across a thick package from Rose. Inside were close to fifty pictures and a short letter. The letter simply said, “Mother, see what you’re missing. We all need and want you here. Come back to Santa Fe. Love, Rose, Jack and Ruthie.”

Ruth looked at all the pictures for hours. They were of Jack, Rose, Ruthie, Tony, Malinda and Lindsey. She had seen the last two years of the people she loved and realized she didn’t want to miss another moment.

She grabbed her stationary and wrote a quick note. “Rose, the pictures worked. I’m coming home. Love, Mother.”