The Officer and the Traveler (8 page)

Gray released a breath. “No, sir.” He raked a hand through his black hair. “Why did you do it?”

General Davis made himself comfortable on the wooden chair that rested in the middle of the room. “I do hope you mean that in a nice way.”

“
Why do you care what happens to me?” Gray forced himself to ask.
 

“
Because I made a promise.”
 

“
A promise,” Gray scoffed. “Are you sure you don’t mean a debt?”
 

“
Son, I owe you no debt. As I said at the time, I am terribly sorry for your loss and my role in it all, but my remorse only goes so far. I wouldn’t give you my daughter’s hand as a peace-offering.”
 

Gray wasn’t sure if he believed him or not. “So instead of a peace-offering to me, you’re giving your approval for us to marry as a means to keep a promise.” He paused. “A promise to my mother, I suppose.”

General Davis nodded once.

Gray fought to keep from pursing his lips. Though he was grateful for General Davis’ intervention—yet again—he couldn’t help but think this might go too far. It wasn’t nearly as innocent or well-meaning as allowing a boy of fifteen to live at a fort under the care of a colonel so he could learn basic skills or ‘anonymously’ paying for him to attend West Point. “Are you saying the promise you made to a dead woman trumps the happiness of your daughter?” His words more a statement than a question.

“
Trumps it?” he echoed slowly. “I don’t know if I’d say that. But I don’t think I was so out of line. Michaela did manage to make it to a score and four unwed. She’ll be happier this way.”
 

“
I have my doubts about that,” Gray muttered.
 

“
Do you intend to treat her poorly, boy?” General Davis snapped.
 

Gray scoffed. “I don’t think I’d have to for her to be miserable.”

“
What makes you say that?”
 

Gray sagged against the wall of the watchtower. “As you say, she is four past a score. If she hasn’t married by now, she might be just as happy to remain unwed.”

“
That’s preposterous. All women wish to marry.”
 

“
Then I’d imagine she’d have done so by now,” Gray pointed out.
 

“
She claims she hasn’t found the right one yet.” General Davis’ voice dripped with disbelief. “I’ve suggested that she might have better luck finding a husband if she’d actually look.” He tapped his foot on the ground. “Now she doesn’t have to.”
 

“
A fact which I’m sure she appreciates more than words can express,” Gray said dryly.
 

“
Just so.” A moment passed. “And you?”
 

“
I hadn’t planned to marry.” Gray ran his fingers over the cool tube of his spyglass. “But considering the circumstances, I’m appreciative she has consented to be my bride.” He twisted his lips and closed his eyes halfway. “I just have one concern.”
 

“
Which is?”
 

“
Is there any possibility that Michaela and I—”
 

“
No,” General Davis barked. He cleared his throat. “Is there anything you’d like to know before your wedding, son?”
 

“
Just that the bride will be there.”
 

“
She will. Is there anything else you’d like to speak about?”
 

“
Not with you.”
 

“
No, I don’t imagine a fellow like you has any questions about his wedding night.” He chuckled. “I imagine you could teach me a thing or two.”
 

Gray shrugged. “Probably.”
But I’d much rather teach Michaela.
 

***

General Samuel Davis ran his hand through his dark hair and gave it a slight jerk. He was doing the right thing. He was convinced of it. And in time, they’d both see that his interference was for the good of them both. Of course, Grayson could see the importance of it now, but he didn’t dare tell Michaela of the trouble her groom was facing or she’d put up more of a protest. That was the last thing any of them needed.

Time, however, was exactly what the two of them needed. He was sure of it.

TOOOOOT! TA TE TA TOOOOO!

Michaela would certainly have been jarred awake by the sounds of the horn being blown directly outside the window of the room she’d slept in had she not been awake already.

She pulled the covers over her face and covered her ears with her hands.

If escape had truly been an option, Michaela might have attempted it last night. But she knew better. Her father’s temper was little better than that of an irate Indian tribe. At least there was only one of him. Not that it meant much, but enough to keep her safely on the settee Aunt Lucille had offered her. She’d been tempted to ask if she could stay with Ella last night but knew Ella’s acceptance would only make for an uncomfortable situation between Michaela, Ella and Jack.

When the obnoxious song she knew so well ceased, she removed her hands and heaved a heavy sigh.

If Pa was to be believed, today was her wedding day. There was no reason not to believe him; he’d given her little choice in the matter, but maybe she could talk to Gray at lunch and see if there was anything she could do to make him see sense and call off this sham of a wedding. Truly, what did he possibly stand to gain from marrying her? The last time she’d seen him, he’d been uncharacteristically kind to her all evening, loving even, then he took her to a brothel where he went into the room of a calling prostitute and said, “go to hell,” before slamming the door behind him.

A shiver passed over her.

“
Do you need help getting dressed, Michaela?” Aunt Lucille said, coming up to where she was still lying on the older woman’s sofa.
 

Michaela’s eyes fluttered open. “If you don’t mind.”

“
I don’t mind at all, dear. Here, let me see what you brought that might be comfortable for you to wear around here until you can get more gowns.” Aunt Lucille found a simple green dress in Michaela’s trunk then helped her dress before going off to the kitchen to make them each a plate.
 

“
George went out early to talk to Jack and Gray so you’ll have to eat an extra large portion,” she said, setting the plates down at the table.
 

“
Since we scarcely stopped to eat on our journey here I fear that I might devour your entire kitchen.”
 

“
You won’t be very happy later on if you do that. I guarantee it,” Jack said behind her.
 

Michaela nearly jumped out of her seat to greet her brother-in-law and give her sister a hug. “I didn’t know you were coming back today.”

“
All the officers’ wives spend their days here at the Lewises’,” Ella said.
 

Michaela nodded. Their mother had once mentioned something about ladies at certain forts and how they had to all stay together for safety from some of the men. A chill ran down her spine. “Is it just the three of us?” she asked after Jack kissed Ella’s cheek and took his exit.

“
Five. There is Sarah Ridgely, the general’s wife, then Allison. They should both be here soon.”
 

Michaela nodded once as unease settled over her. What if the other women didn’t like her? Was it possible that in the few days that Ella had been here, that she and these other ladies had become better friends than she and Ella? She blinked to clear the thought. That was preposterous. But preposterous as it was, it didn’t stop her from wondering.

“
Stop,” Ella whispered when they resumed their spot at the table. “You’ll love Sarah and Allison. They’re both very nice and in need of friends here just like we are. We’ll all get along like sisters. Believe me.”
 

Michaela nodded. She and Ella hadn’t been so close as children. In fact, they’d been opposite in almost every way. Ella had spent every moment outside that she was allowed to until she was fifteen and Michaela, being four years older, had been kept inside to cook and clean and learn to be a lady. Some days she envied Ella and her carefree spirit that often endeared people to her.

“
When can we talk?” Michaela whispered to her sister when Aunt Lucille got up to get herself a second biscuit.
 

“
Later, I promise.”
 

Michaela nodded. It was the best she could hope for. “Good.” She let her eyes travel her sister’s form. “You’re looking rather giddy this morning. Is there any reason?”

“
I expect you’ll know soon enough,” Aunt Lucille said with a little chuckle, sitting back down.
 

Ella’s cheeks flushed and a grin took her face. Shrugging, she said, “I can’t deny it.” She waved a hand in front of her face. “As I said, we’ll need to talk later.”

Aunt Lucille shook her head. “You can’t say anything I don’t already know. They all have the same parts and I expect they all use them the same way.”

“
I take umbrage with that statement,” came a deep voice from the door. “I’m sure I use mine better than most.” He paused. “But no one other than wife will ever get to know.”
 

 “
I’m glad to hear that,” a woman with auburn hair and brown eyes said, swatting at him. “Don’t mind him. Like all men, Wes, thinks he’s superior in
every
aspect of his life.”
 

“
Well, aren’t I?” he asked, the corners of his blue eyes crinkling.
 

“
Of course you are.” His wife came up on her toes and kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you at lunch?”
 

He nodded then returned her kiss. “Ladies.” He nodded to where the three of them stood, watching their display.

“
Allison,” Ella said. “I’d like for you to meet my sister, Michaela. Michaela, this is the other officer’s wife I was telling you about, Allison.”
 

“
Hopefully not
all
about me,” Allison said with what had to be an overdone frown. “I’d hate for anyone else to know my secret shame.” She dropped her voice to a stage whisper. “I cannot sew even a knapsack.”
 

A sudden, uncontrollable giggle formed in Michaela’s throat. Ella was right; the three of them would get along wonderfully. “No need to consider that a secret shame where I am concerned. I once was trying to sew my own petticoat and when I held up the cloth band that sits around your waist to make sure it was ready for the netting, Ella asked if I was making Pa a pair of undergarments.”

The ladies in the room all burst out in a round of giggles and the tension that had settled over Michaela the instant she saw her father’s face after he’d walked up on her and Gray kissing yesterday eased a fraction.

“
I’m sure Gray will be very appreciative of that talent since the men out here lack such an item,” Aunt Lucille said dryly, sobering Michaela a touch and reminding her of her purpose. She needed to talk sense into Gray at some point today. And if that didn’t work, she’d hit him on the back of the head with a skillet. Only to help him see sense, of course. She wouldn’t cause him any permanent damage. Just a tap to help him realize the foolishness of a marriage between them.
 

“
I hope you all don’t mind, but we’ll be going to Sarah’s today,” Aunt Lucille said. She picked up her sewing basket. “General Ridgely stopped by earlier and said that Sarah was feeling ill today.”
She handed Allison a large folded piece of cloth with a single needle poking out of the top that had a spool of thread resting around it.
 

“
My latest project,” Allison murmured to Michaela. “An orange and brown tablecloth for autumn.”
 

Ella bent down and picked up her basket that had to weigh no less than twenty pounds if Michaela had to guess. Fabric and scissors, needles and thread, shears, tapes, pins and patterns all piled two feet high.

“
How long did it take you to travel here?” Michaela asked her sister.
 

Ella shrugged and followed Aunt Lucille out of her house and into the covered area that acted as a hall between the two residences. “A little over two weeks, I think.”

Michaela shut the door to the Lewises’ behind her. “I’m surprised it wasn’t longer with all that weighing down the carriage.”

“
And now more than ever I’m glad I brought it so I can begin making you a new wardrobe.”
 

Michaela wanted to groan. In need of a distraction before
that
conversation went any further, she casually asked, “Do all the men come eat lunch with their wives?”
 

“
Only the smitten ones,” came the quick reply of the lady with dark blonde hair who was lying in her bed with her covers to her chin.
 

“
I suppose we’ve been married too long for that, haven’t we, Sarah?” Aunt Lucille said, touching the other woman’s forehead. “You’re not hot. Are you hurting anywhere?”
 

“
Or itchy?” Ella piped in, walking over to the other woman.
 

Michaela furrowed her brow.

“
No. Thank heavens, I’m just tired,” Sarah said with a grimace. She fluffed a pillow and shoved it behind her. “But for good measure I did have Amos check my back in case I’d missed anything,” she added with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
 

“
Oh, good. I wouldn’t wish such a fate as that on anyone.” Ella opened the curtains a bit and took a seat on the sofa.