With every word that came out of that drunkard’s mouth, Brian was getting all the more sober. Rage, mixed with alcohol, and a generous dose of chivalry, made him unable to control himself. Before he knew it, his fist was on its way to the man’s face. He managed to hit him in the chin, making the man feel dizzy.
He quickly released Jane. She ran behind Brian, trying to put some distance between them. On the other hand, even though Brian was a trained soldier, the brawny guy seemed a tougher nut to break. He was rubbed his chin and took a step back, reeling. But, soon he was ready to return Brian the favor.
“I’m gonna kill you. You won’t get away with this!” the big man growled, and got ready to dash towards. Right at that time, Brian’s companions got out of the saloon, searching for him. Most of them were drunk enough to just stagger around outside the building. However, some of them needed the help of their friends to walk.
Even so, help had arrived for Brian, and the man was greatly outnumbered. He wisely decided to stop, turn away and leave. “You’re lucky, soldier. But next time I see you, you won’t have your friends to protect you. As for you girl, you’re not even worth it.”
Brian and Jane went back into the saloon. The rest of Brian’s company decided to return to the fort. It was long past the time they were supposed to be asleep; they had to wake up soon and get ready to start their day. However, Brian decided to spend a little time with Jane, just to make sure everything was okay with her.
Jane seemed pretty rattled. Her hands were slightly shaking, and her back was constantly hunched—a sign she was still afraid. Brian had to hold off the urge to embrace her in his arms, and so he only indulged in caressing her back with his hand.
Most of her lady friends were either sleeping, or in their rooms ‘working’, thus it was perfectly clear that she normally had to cope with incidents like tonight’s one all by herself.
Brian wanted to say something to her, to start her talking and draw her mind away the things that happened. “This is a tough job you’re doing.” She just nodded, not even finding the courage to raise her head to look him in the eyes. “You’re probably tired, so I’d better leave you alone.”
Brian stood on his feet, ready to leave her side, when her hand snapped and grabbed his.
“Jane?”
She shook her head and whispered: “Don’t go. Not yet. Stay for a little while.”
To hear those words from her mouth was a dream that Brian never thought would come true. “Okay, I’ll stay for a little while. But, you’ll have to promise me one thing.”
Jane finally raised her head, with a questioning expression on her face. Brian said, “You have to promise you that you’ll never let anyone treat you like that again. Either call for help, or scream as loud as you can. Promise me that you’ll try to stay safe.”
The woman grinned, regaining a spark of life with that warm smile. She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but then she closed it again. For some reason, she just seemed content with Brian being there with her.
If it was his choice, he would stay on her side forever. But, he knew that their time together was running out, and that soon he would have to leave and return to the fort.
“Tell me about you,” she suddenly said.
“Okay. What do you want to know?”
“What’s your name? And...why did you decide to enlist?”
Brian was ready to mention to her that they had danced earlier tonight, and that he had shared his name with her again, but instead he decided to just play along. “That’s easy. I’m Private Brian Campbell, and I think that the answer to your question is duty. I just wanted to serve my country and fight for a just cause. Isn’t the only reason that someone agrees to risk his life a greater cause?”
A sad smile appeared on her face. “Unfortunately, no. You’re still so kind, even after taking part in this bloody war. There are also other things hiding in a soldier’s heart before taking the final decision. Even so, you’re still so kind. I don’t know how you manage it. Has anyone said that to you before?”
Brian couldn’t help but laugh with her comment. “Surprisingly enough, yes. Someone else also told me the same thing tonight. But I’m not sure I agree with you. What more would a man want than to fulfill his duty with honor?”
He kept searching for her eyes, but Jane was desperately trying to avoid his glance.
“I don’t know. Some of them just want to get away from their spouses, and run off to fight the ‘bad southerners’. But you never ask what happens to those you leave behind.” The gleaming of her eyes turned into a hot flame. Did she lose someone in the war? What’s going on with her?
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” said Brian. “We don’t usually ask, but that’s not because we don’t care, but because we don’t want to make it even more difficult. It’s our duty to protect our country and our families. That’s how I see it, and that’s how everyone sees it eventually.”
Jane looked him deep in the eyes. She didn’t know what to say, but she also didn’t want to agree with Brian’s opinion. So, she just remained silent.
After a long minute of neither of them talking, Brian decided to change the subject. “What about you?”
“What about me?”
“How did you end up being a dancer in a saloon in the middle of nowhere? Are you from around here?”
“No, I’m not. Same as every other girl in here, I have my story. I was married once, you know. I was traveling with my husband, heading to his hometown somewhere far away from here, when we arrived at this town. At that time, he was the one supporting me, giving me everything I needed so that I didn’t have to work to live. However, the day we arrived he heard that the army was recruiting men to head to the front lines in the south.
“Even though he was never a man of violence, right then I saw a fire burning in his eyes. No matter what I told him, he couldn’t hold back. So, one day, without even saying goodbye to me, he just abandoned me at this saloon, all alone, and left to chase glory, honor, or anything else. That’s the short version of my story.”
She shared her story with some degree of bile in her voice. That’s why her eyes are so sad. She’s still new to all this, and abandoned to a place she doesn’t know a thing about. Brian, again had to hold back an urge to hug her. However, this time it was Jane that made the first step. Her index finger started slowly exploring his hand. She started with his palm, running through every perplexed line on it, and then continued to his wrist.
Brian couldn’t help but savor that sensation, this time feeling drunk from a different kind of essence.
“I don’t know. It sounds to me that your husband was looking for a way out.”
Jane smiled at him and nodded. “You’re probably right. Since then, I’ve spent so much time thinking of what did I do wrong, and still I can’t get it right. Maybe he was like you, following his sense of duty, or maybe he just wanted a reason to leave away from me. Either way, I’m still here and he isn’t.”
At that time, Jane lay on her bed. She started yawning and curling into a small ball. All the while, she didn’t let him go. Her hand was now between her breasts, making Brian feel really uncomfortable. But, after a couple of minutes passed, the young lady was sleeping soundly. Gently, Brian released his hand from her soft grip, and stood on his feet.
He took a step towards the door, but before opening it, he thought of sharing one more thing with his sleeping beauty. He drew closer to her forehead, and gave her a kiss. When his lips touched her skin, Jane smiled even while asleep and turned to the other side. Until I see you again.
On his way back to the fort, Brian was ready to start singing to the top of his lungs. He wanted to share his feelings with the rest of the world. The night sky was full of stars, and the dawn was standing just around the corner. But it didn’t matter to him. I would prefer spending a million nights sleepless with her, than one night sleeping in that fort. So, when the heavy doors appeared in front of him, the only thing he could
do was grin and wait for the next day to come.
Before getting in, he turned back and located the dark saloon in the distance. I’m coming back Jane. Wait for me...and remember my name.
*****
A Simple Question of Duty
Brian wasn’t able to have even a minute of sleep that night. After returning to the fort, he headed straight for his room, and lay down on his bed. From that time to when the other privates waking up, he thought about Jane. How her soft hand was caressing his own, or how her eyes looked deep into his. Those sentiments, those deep and powerful emotions, gave him energy and succor through the day.
He knew that he would not be able to ask Corporal Jones for another night out, but that didn’t matter to him at all. Some time apart will be a small price to pay if it means we’ll be together forever when I finally meet her again. The other privates that had visited the saloon with him last night dragged their feet around the fort, trying to complete their chores. They were looking at Brian like he was an alien, and probably wondered how he kept going on.
Corporal Jones, and Sergeant Daniels, appeared out of nowhere behind him. They were standing side by side, all serious and tense. Something is wrong.
Brian quickly straightened up his back and saluted the two officers. The officers, for a change, saluted him back. “At ease, soldier. We have to talk.” Sergeant Daniels was the one that started talking first. “You see, Jones is always talking about your feats on the battlefield, son. He also told me that you’re his most loyal man in the company, and also one with very high morals. So...for some time now, we’ve been talking about giving you a promotion.”
Brian was still standing uptight, unable to show any real signs of excitement, or disappointment. Honestly, he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to feel. He said, “Thank you, sir. It’s an honor, sir.”
“However, if you decide to take it, you’ll have to leave by tomorrow morning for the front. There, a company is expecting you. I know that we’re asking you a lot, since you just got here, but we are at a time of war son, and there is no time for us to lose. While we’re talking, families and innocent people are being uprooted from their homes and being driven away from their lands. We need good men like you, Private Campbell, to help our soldiers achieve greatness. What do you think, then? Will you accept the promotion?”
The music from inside the building was the same as the night before. A joyous song accompanied by a cacophony of loud voices laughing out loud. Brian wasn’t sure if the whole environment suited him, not in his current state of mind that is. Even so, it was high time he passed through the swinging doors and into the heavy atmosphere of the stuffed saloon.
After getting inside, he saw many familiar faces. Having spent the last couple nights in there, it only seemed natural to recognize more than a couple men. Even so, he headed straight for an empty stool on the far side of the bar, away from the lights and the music. He just wanted to have his drink undisturbed. The female bartender approached him, wiping a glass clean in her hands.
“What would you like me to get you, soldier?” she tried being seductive, but she was well past the age for doing that.
“Whiskey. And stay close. I’ll need more, soon.”
The woman poured some of the dark liquid for Brian, and then lingered. For some reason, she had taken an interest to this young man. “So, what’s troubling you dear? Love, war…?”
“Both.”
“Both? So, that’s a new one. I always say that love is a war that happens inside people minds, but I didn’t expect someone to get it literally.”
Brian was starting to get mad, but he knew that his irritation didn’t come from that woman’s words. “Yeah, you’re probably right. But, it’s not that.”
“What it is then? Did you lose someone important on the battlefield?”
“No, no. Thank God, no. I just have fallen for the right girl, in the wrong time. You see, I have a big decision to make and I don’t know what to do yet. On the one hand, I want to stay and spend my life with that girl, but on the other hand, duty calls me and there is no way I can’t answer a call as great as this. So tell me, what would you do in my position?”
The woman had grabbed another glass now, and was wiping that clean too. “You see, handsome, there is a pretty great difference between women, and men. War is a man’s invention, and women are not allowed to take part. And for a good reason. Women fall in love more easily, and we also follow our instincts more than most men. In your place, I would stay here and live my life peacefully, starting a big family with my lover. But, that’s just me. A man would choose honor, and duty, not because you don’t actually love women, but because you’re a man. And that’s reason enough.”
As soon as she completed her sentence, the bartender drew away and took the order from another customer. I don’t know. Maybe she’s right, maybe she’s not. However, what would happen if I actually chose to stay behind? Would war stop and wait for me? Or, would less people die? I don’t know. He took another generous sip of whiskey, and started searching for her—seeing Jane will probably help me make a decision. Or, the other way around. I don’t know.
When he found her she was on top that small stage, entertaining the men of the room with her seductive dance. Their stage number was almost over—Brian knew that since he had already seen this act twice—but that made his matters even more pressing. What if she doesn’t remember my name? What if she forgot about last night at all? What should I do then? He sighed before hearing a colder, rationalized version of his voice inside his mind. Then, you leave and let this dream behind. Because, that’s what it was in the end—a beautiful dream.
The crowd cheered after the dancers bowed on top of the stage. It was the final act of the day. Now, the dancers would make their rounds around the tables and try to get clients for the night. Jane, however, looked pretty anxious. She had spotted Brian from on top the stage, and quickly rushed to his side. The sight of her long, brown hair waving behind her made him forget everything about his worries. From now on he only had to worry spending time with her.
“There you are then. My own, Private hero,” she giggled on the little pun she accidentally made. “Well, how about a dance to thank you properly?”
Brian wasn’t in the mood for a dance, but he also wasn’t able to let her down. He nodded, and the small girl suddenly pulled him close to the wooden stage. A bunch of men were being pulled on the stage by the other dancers. Soon, it was crowded enough up there that nothing could stay secret between the tenants.
“So, where have you been, soldier? I’ve been looking for you for ages.”
Brian smiled at her. “I just got inside. Why you were looking for me? Did something bad happen to you?”
“No, not at all. I just wanted to see you. I never had the chance to thank you properly back there. I was exhausted last night and just fell asleep. By the time I woke up, you were gone.”
“Well, I can’t abandon my duties back in the fort. I had to go back.”
“Yeah, of course. I just wanted to see you sooner, that’s all. Also, I hope I didn’t cause you any trouble.”
“No, not at all.”
After Brian said that, Jane seemed to feel bad that she kept him by her side for so long last night. But Brian hadn’t finished talking yet. “But, don’t worry. My friends were in worse position than me. I had something to think about during the whole day, someone that kept me going on, and they didn’t.”
“Who was that?”
“You. The fact I’d probably see you tonight. That’s all I wanted. It made the day so light.”
They were looking each other in the eyes, their faces ever getting closer. Soon, Brian could feel her breathing in his thick mustache, and their noses were touching each other.
“Will it be rude if I kiss you right now?”
“You will be rude if you don’t kiss me right now,” Jane said and suddenly pulled him closer to her, their lips pressing. Their kiss felt so natural, like the next step o
f a dance. When their lips parted, Brian was left breathless. He was hungry for more, but Jane stopped him.
“Let’s get outside. I don’t want the rest dancers seeing me kissing with you. It’s kind of...unprofessional.”
They walked for hours, talking about many things. Jane shared more details of her life—her early years with her ex-husband, and how she dreamed of being a singer. She was always a good dancer, and her voice was good enough for people to ask her sing for them, but after marrying, her husband wanted to start a family.
But, on their way to her husband’s hometown, her husband saw the fort of this town, and got swept up in dreams of greatness. That’s why one morning, Jane woke up to an empty bed. Her husband had left her behind, trapped in strange town, far from her home.
Brian, on the other hand, was a simple man, one that felt the need to protect his country. He was still unmarried, and his parents were long dead. He had spent his whole life to a small village in the north, and after a particularly harsh winter, his parents didn’t survive. So, he was pretty used to staying alone with his thoughts, even before war started. But, after seeing all the problems a war can cause to humanity, he started being even more shut in himself.
Well, until he met her the other day. Since then, he seemed never to get enough of her talking.
“That’s so sweet, and you’re a sweet man. But, we can’t be together. I’m a dancer and you’re a soldier. What will people say?”
“I don’t care about people. I only care about you. Until yesterday you didn’t even remember my name, not even after sharing it with you only hours before that incident, but today it seems like it’s the sweetest thing that comes out of your mouth.”
Her eyes gleamed in his sayings, feeling really emotional towards him. However, Brian was not over yet.
“I haven’t shared everything with you yet. My commanding officers asked me to return to the front, this time as a corporal. They want me to guide a company of privates there, train them and prepare them for battle. I’m thinking of accepting. It’s a great honor for me, and I can’t turn it down. But, if you asked me, if you want me to stay here, then I would be willing to sacrifice my will and my wishes and follow you.”
Clean Inspirational Romance: Escape to Paradise (Inspirational Happy Sweet First Love Second Chance Romance) (Contemporary New Adult Love Inspired Holiday Short Stories) Page 19
