Hearts Under Siege (Civil War Collection) (22 page)

He joined her on the horse and put his arms around her. She didn’t shy away but settled comfortably next to him. He rubbed her arm.

“Alexandra,” he whispered, “I’ve missed you terribly.”

“And I you,” she answered automatically.

“I thought about you day and night, longed to hold you in my arms.”

She didn’t answer.

“I’ve been tortured by the minute, wanting to finish what we started.”

“I think we finished it well enough.”

He looked askance at her over her shoulder.

“But, ma chérie, there is so much more I want to show you.”

She shook her head. “I have to get down.”

“Why?”

“I have to relieve myself, all right?” she snapped.

“You just went before we left the camp.”

“Well, I have to go again, if it isn’t too much of an inconvenience for you.”

“Of course it isn’t,” he said, though he made no move to stop the horse.

“I have to go now,” Alexandra said, between clenched teeth.

Thomas stopped the horse and helped her down. She ran behind a clump of trees.

When she returned a couple minutes later, she avoided his gaze.

“Better?” he asked.

“Yes, thank you.”

He pulled her in front of him.

“Alexandra, are you all right?”

“Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I feel like you’re avoiding me.”

“How can I avoid you when we’re this close together?”

“I don’t mean physically. I mean emotionally.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“You won’t talk to me. You won’t even look at me. I get the sense that you don’t want to be around me.”

“I can go ride with Johnny then.”

“I think not.”

“What do you want from me?”

“I want you to tell me what is going on with you.”

She hesitated. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“I’m a very understanding person. Besides that, I care for you. I would like to help you with whatever it is that is bothering you.”

“I believe that you mean well, but I don’t think you would understand. I don’t yet understand it myself. I need some time to figure it out, and then I’ll tell you.” Why wouldn’t he just leave her be?

“I’d like to be given the chance to help you figure it out.”

“Maybe later.”

“How did you find me?”

She glanced back him, not sure what to make of this change of subject. “Jake sent a note by Johnny describing the location, and Johnny helped me find you.”

He nodded. “Did it take very long to find the cave? I lost track of time.”

“It took about three days after I found the note.”

“No wonder I was so weak.”

“Yes,” she said. “If it had been much longer, you would have died.”

“I thought I had. I thought you were another vision when I first saw you.”

“Another?”

“Yes, you visited me several times. I hoped that didn’t mean you had died and were an angel watching over me.”

“I’m very much alive, though perhaps not always pleasant.”

“What do you mean? Wasn’t my mother kind to you?”

“It’s hard not being able to do something. I felt I needed to search for Grand-père and…and you. All I could do was sit and wait.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through that. I had to leave you. I had to return to the war.”

“When will you go back?”

“I’m not sure I’m going back.”

“How can you not? Isn’t that desertion?”

“Not exactly. My enlistment is up.”

She considered his words. “What will you do?”

“I have several things in mind,” he answered vaguely.

“Like what?” She shook her head.

“Well, for one thing, I thought I might do some things around Chene Ruelle to get it back into shape.”

Alexandra turned her head and stared into his eyes for several seconds.

“Why would you do that?” she finally asked, her voice raw.

“Well, there hasn’t been anyone around lately to keep it up.”

“No, I mean, why would you do that?”

“Alexandra, I care deeply about you. In fact, I’ve never cared this much for anyone.” He placed his fingertips against the side of her face.

She turned away and gazed at nothing in particular.

“Why can’t you believe me?” he asked.

“I did. At least until I talked to Gabrielle’s brother.”

“When did you talk to him?”

“At the soirée.”

“I see.”

She brought her gaze to his. “I don’t understand why he would tell me you’re engaged when you claim to hardly even know her.” Her hands clutched his sleeve.

“He’s no more trustworthy than Gabrielle. What else did he tell you?”

She looked down at her hands tangled in his shirt. “I don’t know. We just talked. He was kind to me.”

“How kind?”

“He took me home after I fainted.”

“Alexandra,” he said and placed a hand over hers, “there seems to be a great deal you aren’t telling me. I assume my mother was your chaperone to the soirée. Where was she?”

“I don’t know,” she said with a shake of her head. “She was nowhere to be found. I assumed she had left without me, but when I got back home, she wasn’t there.” She stared into the forest.

“So, now my mother is missing. Can’t anyone we know avoid getting lost? Now explain to me why you fainted. I’ve never known you to be one to do that, even with everything we’ve gone through.”

He had every right to know. But she couldn’t tell him yet. How would he respond if he knew? Would he marry her?

Did she want to marry him?

“Alexandra?” Thomas jerked her attention back to him. “Why did you faint?”

“It was too warm in the room, and my corset was laced too tight.”

Even as the words came out of her mouth, she wondered whatever possessed her to say that.

Thomas chuckled. “Well, that’ll teach you to wear a corset.”

“Indeed, I’ll wager someday women won’t bother with such nonsense.”

With Thomas sufficiently thrown off guard, Alexandra could wallow in her thoughts.

Where had Katherine gone off to? Alexandra vaguely remembered seeing her talking to a short, gray-headed man with a mustache. Katherine wrung her hands as if agitated.

Eli distracted Alexandra at that point, drawing her attention away. Perhaps Katherine waited at home even now, wondering where Alexandra went.

She leaned her head against Thomas’s, and his arms tightened around her. Her eyes grew heavy with sleep.

She would tell him soon—at the right time.

Chapter Twenty-Five

It may have been from the movement of the horse or the lack of food since the last time Alexandra emptied her stomach. Whatever the reason, Thomas’s pants and the right side of the horse now needed cleaning up.

“We’ll stop for the night,” Thomas said, as he wiped her face with a damp cloth.

They sat on the ground. “You’re ill.”

“No,” Alexandra blurted. “I’ll be fine.”

“Stopping for the night won’t solve it,” Johnny said. “This could go on for months.”

“What do you mean?” Thomas asked.

Alexandra gave Johnny a scalding look.

“Well, he’s not stupid,” Johnny said.

“Apparently he is,” Thomas said wryly. “Since I seem to be the only one who doesn’t know what’s going on here.”

“It’s nothing,” Alexandra said, through her teeth. “Can we go now? I don’t think we want to be out here any longer than we have to.”

Eyeing her with suspicion, Thomas agreed and helped her back on the horse. “Are you certain you feel all right?”

“I’m fine.” She hesitated. “I’m sorry about your pants.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about,” Thomas said. “I’m just concerned about you.”

“I’ll let you know if there’s a change.”

He nodded. As they set off, Thomas pulled Alexandra against him and allowed his mind to explore the niggling thoughts that tickled the back of his mind. Alexandra acted strange toward him—a situation easy enough to explain. She hadn’t heard from him in a while and during that time another woman claimed to be his fiancée.

She didn’t feel well. She had hardly slept or eaten in the days she had searched for and then tended him.

Johnny’s comments were superimposed upon all this. What did the boy mean by her being sick for some time, and his mother not letting his father near her?

The answer hit him like a steamboat engine. For a moment he forgot to breathe. Then he laughed out loud, a deep booming laugh. Alexandra twisted around in her seat and stared at him. Johnny turned as well.

“Would you like to share what you find to be so funny?” Alexandra asked.

Thomas tried to stop laughing, but he only laughed harder. Finally, he wiped his eyes and sobered somewhat. “I might tell you later,” he answered.

Alexandra turned around and ignored him. Thomas whistled.

She nestled her head against his shoulder.

Sometime later, when the sun dropped below the trees, and darkness began to settle, Johnny circled around to join them.

It’s best we should make camp,” Thomas suggested.

“Yes,” Johnny agreed.

Thomas nudged Alexandra awake so they could dismount.

“Hungry,” she murmured as Thomas hopped down then set her on her feet.

He rummaged through their saddlebags for food. Only stale cheese and hardtack remained.

“Someone’s coming,” Johnny cried out, and ran to stand beside them.

Thomas pulled Alexandra protectively against him, gazing at the approaching horses. As the troop of mounted soldiers rounded the bend in the road, Thomas’s stomach clenched with a mixture of relief and trepidation at the sight of the gray jackets.

The soldiers stopped in front of them. “Captain Munroe?” the officer in front asked.

Thomas’s heart sank. Would they take him away?

“Aye,” Thomas said.

The officer turned and spoke in an indiscernible tone to the younger man immediately behind him. The younger man turned and gestured toward the back of the convoy. Seconds later, an officer galloped from behind to stop in front of them.

Alexandra gasped and broke free of Thomas to reach the officer. By the time she had covered the few feet, he slipped off his horse and opened his arms to receive her. She hugged him and sobbed.

Thomas stood back with tears burning his own eyes and watched the reunion between Ernest Dumon and his granddaughter.

Tents sprang up, and campfires appeared so people could cook meals and heat coffee. Someone offered his blanket so that Johnny could get some sleep after a visit to the medic. A soldier handed Thomas and Alexandra plates heaped with fresh venison, boiled corn, and biscuits. Another offered cups of coffee. They accepted, each with a nod and a thank you.

Ernest joined them as they sat side by side, eating their fill.

“Where did you get all this?” Alexandra asked, looking at her grandfather.

“We bought most of it from a lady living on a farm some ways back,” he said with a nod toward the east. “Her store of food had somehow been spared, and she needed money more than all this food destined to spoil anyway.”

“Most would have just commandeered it,” Thomas said, between mouthfuls.

He shook his head. “Well, we aren’t like most. And fortunately we have the resources to take the moral high ground.”

Thomas shrugged. Right now he didn’t feel like questioning the turn of events. “Take a walk with me,” Ernest said to Alexandra when she had finished eating. She glanced at Thomas. He was intent on his food and unconcerned with them. “All right,” she said, and Grand-père helped her to her feet. They strolled past some tents.

****

“I’m sorry, Kitten,” he began, when they were out of earshot. “What are you sorry for?” she asked, linking her arm with his.

“I tried to protect you from all that was going on and as a result, you had to go through more than I could have imagined.”

“You had no way of knowing. You meant well.”

“Nevertheless, I wanted to apologize.”

“I forgive you, Grand-père, even though there is nothing to forgive. It’s been a difficult summer, but…” She paused, and turning away from him, lowered her eyes. “It hasn’t been all bad.”

“I see,” Grand-père said, and then added, “You’re referring to your young man.”

“My young man?” she echoed, and darted him a look.

“Of course. You seem to care very much for each other.”

Alexandra studied him for a moment, trying to make sense of what he implied. Did it show on her face that she cared for Thomas? And could Thomas really care enough for her for it to be obvious to others? The thought made her smile inwardly.

“I thought as much,” Grand-père said, managing to hide his feelings on the matter. “Is he being honorable to you?”

“Of course,” she blurted.

He eyed her speculatively but let it pass for the moment.

“Grand-père?” Alexandra began, taking a deep breath.

“What is it?”

“It’s about Jeffy.”

“You haven’t received word, have you, that he—” he began, but his words dropped off.

“No, he’s safe. At least as far as I know.”

She stopped and took both his fragile hands in hers.

“Whatever it is you’ve got to say, say it, Alexandra,” he said, and she winced. He rarely called her by her given name.

“He’s fighting with them,” she blurted, then lowered her head.

“Them? Them who?”

“Them,” she repeated, raising her eyes back to his and wincing. “The Yankees.”

Grand-père remained silent, nodding. A ponderous look reflected in his eyes.

“Why would he do that?” Grand-père asked in a distant voice.

“Oh Grand-père, I don’t know,” Alexandra said. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

He pulled her close and patted her back. “Now, now, it isn’t all that bad.”

Her words rushed out on a breath. “I just wanted so bad for him to be safe,” she said as the tears welled in her eyes and spilled over, “and then I saw the picture, and I didn’t think I could stand it, and now I just want him to be safe and to be able to see him again. What are we going to do?” She gasped.

“Well,” Grand-père began, “I think we’ll just be here for him when he gets back.”

Alexandra wiped the tears away with her fingertips.

“Is she all right?” Thomas asked, coming up behind them.

“Are you?” Grand-père asked Alexandra, but she didn’t answer.

“Alexandra, look at me,” Thomas demanded.

She stopped crying and lifted her head to look at him.

Thomas wiped her cheeks with his fingertips. “Here you are crying all over your grandfather’s shirt. What is so terrible?”

“Jeffy,” she said.

“That’s all going to take care of itself. When he needs us, we’ll be here for him.”

She nodded. “You’re right.”

“Grand-père, Grand-père, I’m so happy you’re here. I love you so terribly much.”

He smiled and stroked her head. “When do you expect to get married?” Grand-père asked.

“How did you know?” Thomas responded.

Sitting by the fire now, Alexandra moved to curl up on a blanket to sleep. In her drowsy state, she made out their soft voices. Her eyes closed, and she smiled inside.

“I’m not so old that I can’t remember what it’s like to be in love.”

“I didn’t mean to suggest that you’re old. It’s just I haven’t even asked Alexandra yet.”

Grand-père chuckled. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I didn’t say anything to her. You handle it your own way on your own time. But don’t take too long, mind you. Women don’t like to wait around too long.”

“Do you think she’ll have me?”

“Ah, now that is something only she can answer.”

“I know, but what do you think?”

“I couldn’t say for certain. She’s always known what she wants, and she usually gets it.”

“Yes,” Thomas said. “She does have an independent spirit.”

“Do you plan to tame that spirit?”

“Hardly. Though I know most men would. Her intelligence and independence are things I value about her.”

“Hmm,” Grand-père answered. “What is your mother like?”

Alexandra heard the striking of a match then smelled cigar smoke.

“Alexandra reminds me of her in many ways.”

“Oh? And how would you describe your relationship?”

“My mother is a wonderful and admirable woman. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for her, or her for me. Right now I’m worried about her because she seems to have disappeared.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Do you have any idea where she might have gone?”

“No. I need to get home as quickly as possible to find out where she is.”

“Your home is in New Orleans.”

“I’ve lived there all my life. I have a law practice there.”

“Then you’ll be returning.”

Thomas paused before speaking.

“It’s hard for me to say at this point,” he finally said. “The war has changed many a plan, and I’m no different.”

“You’ll do what you think best,” Grand-père replied.