The Unlikely Wife

by Cassandra Austin

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I believe you know Sergeant Whiting. He’s been here working with the new recruits you’ll be taking with you. He’ll see about your quarters and anything else you need.” The general’s attention had already been drawn back to the papers on his desk. “Was there anything else?”

  After the formalities of dismissal, Clark turned to leave the office. The orderly caught the door as he opened it, stepping aside and entering the inner office behind him. The door swung shut before Clark noticed three women waiting in the outer room. They all turned in his direction, but the dark-haired girl with the dimples was the only one he truly saw.

  Habit let him walk past the orderly’s desk toward the outside door. He managed a polite, “Ladies,” as he passed. His hand was on the doorknob when the general burst from his office.

  “Rebecca! This can’t be little Becky Huntington! Why, dear child, you’re all grown up!”

  Clark managed to step outside and close the door gently behind him. He lifted his bag and stepped off the boardwalk with no real sense of what he was doing. Rebecca Huntington? Colonel Huntington? His daughter, no doubt. And he wasn’t lucky enough for the general to be addressing the blond girl. He had heard the returned greeting and recognized the dark-haired girl’s voice.

  If the incident on the train became common knowledge, the good colonel would not look on it quite the way he did. And the little minx could be expected to protect herself above all else. He could find himself up to his bars in trouble.

  * * *

  In the headquarters building, Rebecca tried not to wonder about the lieutenant’s purpose. She returned General Hale’s greeting and introduced her traveling companions. “My aunt and cousin will be living with Father and me at Fort Hays,” she explained. “I heard you were here and couldn’t pass through Fort Riley without dropping in to see you.”

  “Myrtle will be overjoyed. You’ll all stay with us, of course. Let me take you to the house. Masters, see about a carriage.”

  The orderly saluted smartly and left, and the general saw to chairs for the ladies. “How long will we have the pleasure of your company?”

  Rebecca seated herself primly in the straightbacked chair before she answered. “Only until tomorrow. We’ll be taking the train to the end of the track, then a coach on to Fort Hays.”

  “Oh, but my dear, the coaches have stopped!”

  “Stopped?” croaked Belle. “How have they stopped?”

  Hale leaned against the orderly’s desk, crossing his feet at the ankles. “I don’t mean to alarm you fair ladies, but there has been an uprising, and all the civilian coaches have stopped until the hostiles have been remanded to reservations.”

  “Indians?” Alicia and Belle said together, the former with more awe and less terror than the latter.

  “I insist that you wait here,” Hale continued, folding his arms. “The end of the track is Ellsworth. We’re not even running supplies through there yet Last I heard they have but four completed buildings, three of which are saloons.”

  “But surely the army hasn’t stopped moving,” Rebecca said. Much as she liked General Hale and his wife, she didn’t want to wait here. Ending the uprising could take all summer, and she wanted to see her father and get settled again. “When is the next supply caravan?”

  “In two days. But that isn’t fit transportation for gentlewomen like yourselves.” Rebecca thought his smile was somewhat condescending. Before she could retort, he continued, “Your father didn’t plan an escort of any kind? I’d like to, but…”

  Rebecca sat forward. “Excuse me, General, but if there are Indians to be caught, I doubt if either of you can spare the men. No, the caravan will do.” Rebecca didn’t turn to see her companions’ reactions to her pronouncement. The general’s dubious smile was enough.

  “Dear girl,” he began, but the orderly chose that moment to return and announce their carriage was ready. General Hale ushered them out of the headquarters and helped them one by one into the carriage. He drove them personally to his quarters, a house near enough that Rebecca could easily have walked the distance in the time it had taken to hitch up the carriage.

  Myrtle Hale greeted them effusively and her husband left, promising to send Masters to the train station for their trunks. Myrtle sent her maid scurrying to find places for them to sleep while she led them to a tiny, overdecorated room that served as a parlor. The room was dark; its one small window was covered with heavy drapes of faded maroon. But it was cooler than it had been outside.

  “Please sit down,” Myrtle directed. “I’ll put water on for tea.”

  “Pardon me,” Belle murmured. “If you’ll direct me to the privy…”

  “Of course. Make yourselves comfortable, girls.”

  The moment the older women were gone Alicia whispered, “That was your young lieutenant in the general’s office.”

  Rebecca nodded, not wanting them to be overheard. She crossed the room to sit in an ornately carved chair.

  Alicia followed. She picked up a china figure from the table next to Rebecca, but instead of inspecting it cast a furtive glance toward the door. Rebecca could see a faint circle where the figure had been. Now that she had seen it, she could smell the dust. Aunt Belle would be shocked but Rebecca knew how difficult it was to keep the dust out when the wind blew nearly all the time.

  “But what’s he doing here?” Alicia whispered.

  Rebecca shrugged and tried to sound bored. “He’s a soldier. This is a fort. He probably belongs here.” Why, in heaven’s name, didn’t I think of that? She let her fingers trace the carvings in the arm of the chair.

  Alicia replaced the figure and was silent for a long moment. “I wish I could be like you,” she sighed, sinking into a chair opposite Rebecca.

  Rebecca raised a questioning eyebrow.

  “The way you talk to men, I mean, and flirt.” She giggled a little, and Rebecca imagined her remembering her bold perusal of the lieutenant on the train. She suppressed a groan. “If they even look at me,” Alicia went on, “I turn suddenly stupid.”

  “Some men like that,” Rebecca said.

  Alicia smiled, a gentle, knowing smile that always caught Rebecca by surprise. “But I don’t like the men that do.”

  “Do what?” Belle entered the parlor and looked around. She chose a large padded chair near the door and, as she settled into it, began fanning herself. “Is it always this hot?”

  “It’s a little unusual this early in the summer,” Rebecca offered, hoping Aunt Belle would forget the comment she had overheard. “We get some lovely weather in September.”

  “This whole trip has been more misery than anything else,” Belle muttered.

  Rebecca bit her tongue. Father had told her once his sister felt things more sharply than others. Her own assessment was less charitable. Yet she tried to be patient. After all, both Belle and Alicia were in mourning.

  Myrtle came with the tea tray, offering each a lovely china cup and saucer. “Just one cup, and I’ll let you rest. You must all be exhausted from your trip. I find train travel so tedious.”.

  Alicia and Belle groaned their agreement while Rebecca opened her mouth to disagree. Feeling outnumbered, she settled into the uncomfortable chair as best she could and listened to the others talk. When the maid announced that a room had been made ready where they could rest, the women rose. Rebecca expressed a desire to walk. The others eyed her with considerable surprise but didn’t argue.

  Alicia caught her arm and held her back as the older women left the room. “Are you going to look for your lieutenant?” she whispered.

  “He’s not my lieutenant,” Rebecca hissed.

  “What will you do if you meet him?”

  “I’ll…” Oh drat, what would she do? “Come with me,” she suggested impulsively, taking her cousin’s hand.

  Alicia shrank away from her. “I can’t now. I’m too tired. And what would Mother say?”

  Rebecca let her go. She resigned herse
lf to staying at the house. In the kitchen she washed her face, then filled a tall glass with water to take with her to the porch. There were no chairs so Rebecca sat on the top step and listened to the flag snap as she sipped her water.

  The row of three officers’ quarters faced another row across the parade ground. The barracks buildings made up the other two sides of the square. There was very little going on in this part of the fort this time of the day. She longed to visit the sutler’s store, to walk past the blacksmith’s shop, the saddler’s, the carpenter’s, to see if they had changed since her last visit. But she couldn’t risk running into the lieutenant.

  She leaned against the porch post and closed her eyes. Why should he have such an effect on her? All her other conquests had been easy to dismiss. She should dismiss him as well and take her walk. She had nearly resolved to do just that when she thought of coming face-to-face with him. Her pulse raced just imagining it. She would probably blush and stammer like Alicia.

  She would have liked to examine her surprising reaction a bit more, but she saw the general approaching. She quickly rose and went to meet him. “I didn’t expect you so soon, General.”

  “I managed to get away a little early. Are the others resting?”

  “I believe so.” Rebecca resumed her seat on the stairs and pulled the general down beside her. “Can’t we really go with the supply train?”

  “My dear, you’re all welcome here until the coaches are running again. It’ll make a much more comfortable trip.”

  Rebecca let her eyes do the pleading. “Every time we moved when I was young we would travel with the garrison. And don’t tell me Aunt Belle isn’t used to it. Mama wasn’t either until her first trip.”

  “But the uprising…”

  “Indians virtually never attack large groups of soldiers unless cornered.” A glance at Hale showed how little effect her words had. She cast her eyes downward. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen Father.” Why was it that whimpering worked better with men than logic?

  “But—” He hesitated.

  Rebecca turned away and said in a small voice, “If it’s impossible, I understand.” That would have been the coup de grace with Father.

  “Don’t cry, dear. Are you so eager to leave us?”

  Rebecca kept her dry eyes averted and shrugged her shoulders delicately.

  “Well, now, I can see how it is. But I don’t feel right ordering someone to take you. Perhaps you should talk to the officer I put in charge of the expedition. If he’s agreeable, I’ll let you go.”

  Rebecca threw her arms around his neck. “Oh thank you, General,” she said, keeping her voice soft and a trifle shaky as she slipped from his arms. “Who is he? I’ll go talk to him now.”

  “Name’s Forrester. I believe he’ll be camping near the commissary building. He’s likely very busy now. Perhaps you should wait until morning.”

  “Yes, of course,” Rebecca said. In the morning she could contrive to look less wilted.

  “I better tell Myrtle I’m home. If I know her, she’s busy with plans for an officer’s ball to honor our guests. She’ll be wanting my orderly to notify everyone.”

  Rebecca smiled and waved to him as he came to his feet and left her. She had plans of her own to make. This Forrester, whoever he was, would have trouble denying her request.

  Shortly after breakfast, before the day had a chance to become miserably hot, Rebecca made her way toward the commissary. She had put on one of her most flattering dresses, not at all suitable for travel but exactly what she needed to convince Forrester that he wanted three women with his supply caravan. Every soldier she met offered directions. She gave them each a grateful smile, though she was well aware of where she was going.

  She saw the tent from a considerable distance. As she confidently approached it she noticed the officer, bent over a field desk. Alerted perhaps by a chorus of “mornin’, ma’am,” the officer came to his feet. The clean-shaven jaw beneath the shadow of the campaign hat belonged to her lieutenant from the train.

  What incredibly rotten luck. Her footsteps faltered as she felt a strong desire to turn back. Pride kept her moving toward the lieutenant and put her brightest smile on her lips. “So you’re Lieutenant Forrester?”

  He doffed his hat, placing it under his arm, and stood almost at attention. “At your service, Miss Huntington.”

  Rebecca bit her lip as she watched him. He was cool and formal; the softly accented voice wasn’t nearly as charming now that it lacked its former warmth. A quick glance told her there was no one close enough to overhear. Still she kept her voice low. “I came to talk about leaving with the supply wagons tomorrow, but perhaps we should talk about what happened on the train.”

  “What happened on the train, ma’am? I dallied with the colonel’s daughter. I am aware that I could find myself accused of conduct unbecoming an officer. Are you here to make a deal?”

  Rebecca knew her eyes had widened and her mouth was nearly hanging open. She surely looked like an idiot, but she couldn’t help it. “Oh dear,” she murmured. After a deep shaky breath, she managed a tiny smile. “I was hoping to persuade you not to think too badly of me, but I can see I’m too late.”

  She had counted on her words softening him, but they seemed to have no effect His face was as unmoving as his taut body. She gave up all efforts at smiling and whispered, “I’m not a loose woman, Lieutenant.”

  “I know that.”

  His words offered small comfort. Her hands were shaking, a most unwanted reaction to this man, and she clutched them firmly behind her back. “I just wanted you to kiss me.”

  “And I did.” He paused for a moment, and she thought she finally saw a flicker of warmth in his gray eyes. “But it won’t happen again.”

  “Pity.” Rebecca knew it was not the ladylike thing to say, but it was the God’s truth. She felt a wave of relief when he gave her a slight nod in agreement

  “That it is,” he whispered.

  Rebecca gazed at the handsome face, wishing he would smile. His pale eyes, full lips and wonderful jaw brought back very pleasant memories. She shook herself, remembering her errand. “I came to ask if my companions and I could travel with the wagons tomorrow.”

  “Do I have a choice, ma’am?”

  “If I say yes, will you think better of me?” She smiled her brightest smile and watched for a reaction.

  “Perhaps,” he said, as cool as ever.

  “Enough that you’ll agree to let us go?” Her smile was beginning to falter. With his next words, it died completely.

  “That’s doubtful.”

  His oh-so-military bearing and polite-but-cold responses were beginning to wear on Rebecca’s patience. She felt herself close to losing her temper, a big mistake, she knew. She took another deep breath and tried not to grit her teeth. “I’m sure I can convince the general to order you to take us along.”

  “I’m aware of that, Miss Huntington.”

  They stared at each other for a long moment It took all Rebecca’s resolve to keep from turning away. She broke the standoff with a question she hoped would be appeasing. “What is your main objection to our going?”

  “The civilian coaches have stopped for a reason, ma’am. It would be far safer for you to remain here until the problem has been dealt with.”

  “But they haven’t attacked soldiers.”

  “Not yet, ma’am, but three women along might be all the added temptation they need. I understand they’ve already taken hostages.”

  Rebecca considered his words. She certainly didn’t want to put the soldiers in more danger by her presence. With a sigh, she said, “I’ll discuss it with the general,” and turned to go.

  “I’m sure you will.”

  She didn’t acknowledge his last words.

  Clark stood until the swaying bustle had disappeared then sat, staring at the papers in front of him. He had to reconcile himself to the flirt’s presence on the caravan. He hadn’t been honest with her; it wasn�
�t the Indians he was worried about. It was the trouble she would cause among the troops. She wasn’t the type of woman any man found easy to ignore.

  Chapter Two

  Rebecca felt like dancing. And of course that was exactly what she would be doing soon, though probably not with the handsome young lieutenant.

  After she had left him early that morning, she had gone to General Hale’s office. She had said the lieutenant was reluctant to take them, skirting the fact that he had flatly refused. She had suggested a word from the general about her lifelong experience with the army might allay his fears. A mention of her devotion to her father. An allusion to the need of her grieving aunt and cousin to’ be settled in a loving home.

  The general didn’t bite.

  Next she had gone home, hoping to enlist the help of Aunt Belle, but found her in the midst of planning a ball with Myrtle and incapable of worrying about anything else. In fact, she suspected that the older woman wasn’t particularly excited about venturing into what she called the wilderness.

  Shortly before Hale was expected home for lunch, Rebecca had found an onion in the kitchen, rubbed her fingertips against its sliced side, and waited for the general on the porch steps.

  Where logic had failed, tears won. The general assured her he would order the lieutenant to take them and make an ambulance available for their use. The afternoon had been devoted to altering some clothes with Alicia as her skilled, though doubtful assistant.

  Now Rebecca sat in the Hale kitchen while Alicia pulled her dark thick tresses into a fashionable coil. With the bulk of it pinned in place and decorated with a carved alabaster comb, Alicia turned to retrieve the curling iron from the stove. Rebecca had already fixed her cousin’s hair and fat blond ringlets caressed the curve of her bare shoulder and neck.