Free Mail Order Rose (Mail Order Brides #1) by Cara Cabot Page B

Rose, it will be just as we'd always planned...”
    He grabbed hold of both of Rose's arms, pulling her towards him.
    “Let me go, Grant, I'm not going with you!” she cried . As she struggled to break free of his grasp she was startled by a voice booming behind her.
    “ Let her go!”
    She turned to look behind her in time to see David stepping out from behind a tree. She gasped at the sight of him, wondering how long he'd been there and how he knew where to find her. Grant was apparently shocked to see him as well, he let go of Rose and looked at this stranger before him.
    “Who are you?” he asked, looking from the man to Rose.
    “ I'm David Thompson. Rose's husband. Rose has made it clear to you that she is not leaving with you. That means you need to be a gentleman, take your hands off of her and be on your way. And it means that you stay away and never bother her again.”
    “ Or what? You can't tell me what to do, you have no idea of the history we have together!” Grant wasn't going to make this easy.
    Rose had run to stand at David's side as he took a step closer to Grant. His voice was strong and firm, where Grant's was frantic with a touch of fear.
    “You have no idea what we have together. A strong love that is based on respect, trust, and based on a foundation of faith. You don't want to find out the 'or what', believe me. I would do anything to protect my wife, I would die for her to protect her from anyone who would cause her harm.”
    Grant took a step back, not sure how to react. He looked from David to Rose and then back to David.
    “Fine, I'll go. I don't want to cause her harm. I've never meant to cause her harm, I just...I just wish I could turn back time, I'd do everything different, and she'd still be mine.”
    Rose almost felt pity for him, standing there looking so lost and afraid. “Goodbye, Grant,” she said gently.
    “Good-bye Rose.” He took one more long look at her before turning around and walking back into the bridge, back to his buggy.
    David turned to Rose and pulled her close to him, hugging her tightly. She felt frozen and couldn't speak until she heard Grant's buggy pull away.
    “How long had you been there? How did you know?” she asked David.
    “ I spoke to Ellie when she came to visit. She told me she'd had a letter for you, but you never mentioned it to me, so I had my suspicions. And then when you told me of your plans this morning, I just knew there was something you were hiding from me. I was curious, I was worried...so I followed you. I was careful that you didn't notice me, and when I saw that you didn't go to town, like you told me you were going, my heart sank, Rose. I didn't know what to think. I was able to hide in the trees but close enough that I could see and hear everything.”
    “ You didn't make yourself known right away. Why?”
    “ I wanted to know for sure what your plans were. If you were going to leave with him, well, I wouldn't have stopped you. The last thing I'd want is to keep you where you didn't want to be. If I made you stay, but your heart was somewhere else....well, that's not the kind of marriage I want. I had to know for sure that you were mine.”
    He smiled and kissed her forehead. “And when I heard that your choice was me, and that you let him know that you'd forgiven him and were moving on, well, that just made my heart sing, my beautiful Rose.”
    She smiled back at him, her eyes filling with tears. “I am your Rose, and I'll always be your Rose. And I meant what I said to Grant about needing closure. But I'm not done, yet, there are a few things left that I still have to do, first.”
    David looked at her curiously, “What other things?”
    “Let's go home and I'll explain everything.” She leaned up and kissed his lips softly, putting her arms around his neck. She knew that she'd made the right choice.
    They walked hand in hand back to their home where Rose told David it was time that she write to her family to let them