by Hebby Roman
***
Mallory put her hand in Will’s, and they edged away from the crowd, stepping into the shadow of the mess hall. As soon as the play was done, she’d scanned the crowd for the stranger, but he’d melted away. She’d peeked out between each act, and she’d only seen him the one time. It was as if she’d seen a phantom.
Or was he only in her imagination?
Will pulled her away from the crowd. They backed up a few more steps and crossed behind the mess hall.
“I need to tell you something, Will.”
“Yes.”
“I think I saw that man—the stranger you mentioned. But only briefly, he was standing off to one side of the mess hall. I didn’t recognize him, but he wore a red-checkered bandana and had two Colt pistols.”
He stopped and turned to her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I thought about it, but I saw him right before Peggy’s big scene. I didn’t want to ruin it for her, especially if you went after him and missed…”
He squeezed her hand. “I understand. But you saw him?”
“Yes. I was checking the audience between each act to see how the play was being received. I only noticed him the one time. He wasn’t seated, just leaning against the wall. And after the play, I looked for him, but I didn’t see him.” She let go of his hand. “I’m sorry.”
He put one finger under her chin and raised her head. “Don’t be. You did what you had to do. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss Peggy’s scene or cause a distraction. I know how much tonight meant to my daughter.” He nodded, as if to confirm. “We’ll find him.” Then he stroked her face, his fingers feathering along her jawline.
His tender touch brought on a rash of gooseflesh and left her trembling inside.
“Besides, I don’t know if he’s done anything, except purposely avoid me.” He shook his head. “Maybe he doesn’t like soldiers.”
“Perhaps.”
He grabbed her hand again and said, “We need to hurry up. We can’t be gone long.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“Back to Limpia Creek Canyon.”
“Why? At this time of night, won’t there be rattlesnakes and—”
“You worry too much.” He chuckled. “All the snakes will have curled up under rocks. We’ll keep to the path. You wanted to see the waterfall, but we didn’t have time this afternoon.”
“But it’s dark out.”
“Don’t worry, the water reflects in the moonlight.”
A cannon boomed behind them, shattering the air and leaving wisps of gunpowder floating on the breeze.
They hurried along, leaving the fort and heading into the foothills behind the row of buildings. As they reached the mouth of the canyon, the cannon grew silent. A few moments later, what she knew was going to be a twenty-one-gun salute reverberated through the night. Under her breath, she counted each rifle shot.
He tugged on her hand, pulling her along the rocky pathway. They crossed the canyon floor, a multi-colored carpet during the day. But tonight, the wildflowers were just another part of the dark, swaying grasses surrounding them.
The canyon got narrower and rockier. They hadn’t had the time to go there this afternoon. She’d barely had time to get away from last minute preparations for the play to pick wildflowers for Peggy’s bouquet. As it was, it had been a close thing.
“We’re lucky, full moon tonight.” He pointed up.
The sky overhead was a cloudless canopy with a huge, white moon shining on them. Fanning out from the moon’s incandescent glow was a million, billion stars shimmering in the vast void.
He couldn’t have planned his timing better—she knew he wanted to creep off and steal a few kisses. As he’d liked to do, these past few weeks, after he’d proposed to her.
She enjoyed his kisses, more than she’d ever dreamed possible. But the closer they became, the more her heart wrenched, thinking how she needed to tell him about her secret shame. For a few moments more, though, she wanted to enjoy their stolen time together.
“I hope no one was too disappointed, since the fireworks didn’t get here in time,” she said.
He squeezed her hand again. “Thanks to you and the children, everyone loved tonight. Your play was the best entertainment anyone has seen in Fort Davis... ever. If you hadn’t thought of having your students stage a play, tonight might have been a disaster.”
Stopping, he made a flourish with his hand and bowed. “I was entranced, as was the audience. Your students acquitted themselves very well, indeed.”
“Have you ever seen a play before?”
“Of course, once in Cincinnati when I was a boy, and another time in St. Louis, when Martha and I were traveling to my first frontier posting.”
“Then you have a fair comparison.”
“Never better. I didn’t think too much of those two plays, bunch of over-the-hill geezers, spouting windy speeches. But you chose an action-packed play and the children were troopers.”
She laughed, releasing her pent-up anxiety. “Oh, I’m glad. I knew it would be fun, but then the fireworks didn’t come…”
“We’ll have them another time.”
Perhaps, but would she be here to see them?
“Well, at least we saved dessert for after the play,” she said. “Sally’s idea, and it helped. And then you gave them a cannon fusillade, along with a twenty-one-gun salute and the band. It’s a fitting finale.”
“The cannons were my daughter’s idea. Remember?” He chuckled. “Seems like the women of this fort know how to keep us entertained.”
She laughed again. “I guess you’re right.” She took his hand. “Though, I’m glad Peggy will be sleeping over with Tammy. I don’t know if I could have gotten her to go to bed…”
She hesitated, considering how she sounded, as if she was already Peggy’s mother. “Uh, or you, Will. I don’t think it would have been easy to get her in bed, she was so excited and keyed up. Not that I can blame her. She was over the moon when you gave her the bouquet and honored her in front of the fort.” She gazed at him. “And giving Jeb the penknife, to honor his performance, too, was a stroke of genius.”
“I shouldn’t be seen as showing favoritism, you know.”
“How true. And I’ve never seen Peggy so animated and excited.” She shook her head. “Like as not, if I remember my younger days, she will spend most of the night, under the covers, whispering with Tammy.”
“And she’s welcome to staying up all night. If not, we wouldn’t be able to see the waterfall.”
“Yes, that’s true.” She chewed on her lip.
He glanced down at her, and she could feel the warmth of his body, radiating from him. It was a clear, cool night and getting cooler by the minute. She pulled up her shawl, draping it over shoulders.
“Cold?” he asked, his voice rough. He pulled her closer and put his arm around her. She froze in his embrace but didn’t flinch, like before.
With the way he’d looked at her and from the tone of his voice, she knew he desired her. But if he thought to sneak off and anticipate their wedding night, he’d be unpleasantly surprised.
She’d never allow herself to be compromised that way again, not even with… Will. And she had to tell him everything. Tonight, before the kissing and hugging. Before anything.
From far off, she thought she heard the fort’s band swing into “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The song signaled the official end of the July Fourth celebration.
She knew he was counting on most of the soldiers to stay up, drinking. For her sake, she hoped Sally didn’t miss her. If she did, she’d say she was in the back of the mess hall, gathering together the props from the play.
She didn’t like lying, but they shouldn’t be going off like this, either. She should have said “no.” Was she still that weak-willed girl of eighteen? Hadn’t she learned her lesson?
Then she felt a vibration in the air, even before she heard the sound
of rushing water. They rounded a barrier of tumbled boulders, and the waterfall came into view.
Gallons and gallons of sparkling water, cascading down the mountainside, leaping and feinting, from rock to rock, ledge to ledge. Spilling in a shimmering curtain-like shower and spewing a soft, misty spray into the air.
Magic, pure magic.
She gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” he asked.
She nodded. She’d never seen anything like it. The water-misted air was chillier. Despite the chill, she pulled free from his grasp, clutching her shawl tighter around her shoulders. She was drawn to the sparkling stream of water like a baby to a bright new toy.
For some reason, she wanted to touch the water, let its miraculous coolness slip through her fingertips. Before she could reach into the waterfall, her foot slid from beneath her, and she stumbled on the stony ground.
“Hey.” He grabbed her and pulled her into his arms. “Don’t get too close. You can’t see it at night, but all the stones are slippery. Moss, lichens, water, and…” He hesitated, gazing down at her.
He lowered his head and nuzzled her neck. “You always smell so sweet, like all the flowers in this valley.”
She melted against him, like a pat of butter on a steaming bowl of Lowcountry grits. Leaning into his arms, she shuddered, as his lips trailed over her neck, the tender lobe of her ear, and along her jaw.
Then his mouth covered hers, gently at first, as he always kissed her, with infinite tenderness and finesse. This time, though, something was different. She could feel it, as sure as she felt his arms around her. Maybe it was the night, the privacy, the shimmering waterfall, or all of those things.
He deepened his kiss, opening his mouth and sliding his tongue over her lips, testing the seam of her mouth with the tip of his tongue. He slanted his head first one way and then the other, ravishing her mouth and making her forget her earlier resolutions.
Her body ached as if she’d ridden horseback for miles. Her nipples hardened, brushing against the rough wool of his uniform. She opened her mouth, and he thrust his tongue inside.
As if the shimmering waterfall had lodged inside of her, she lit up, burning within. She relaxed into his embrace, opening herself to him. Lifting her arms, her shawl fell to the ground. She didn’t care. He warmed her like nothing else could.
She cradled the back of his head, pulling him closer. Needing him, craving the feel of his muscular body and warm lips.
Kissing Will, she’d found, was a new experience. With Beau, she’d exchanged a few chaste pecks. With Hiram, when they’d been courting, he’d kissed her long and deep and with a great deal of passion. But her body hadn’t responded to his embraces.
She’d allowed Hiram to kiss her, knowing she must submit. The other girls at Miss Prentiss’ school had gossiped, saying a woman was expected to allow her intended kisses, but nothing more. She didn’t have to enjoy a man’s kisses or passion—just submit.
And looking back on her time with Hiram, that’s what she’d done… submitted… until that terrible night when he’d violated her. But his kisses and caresses hadn’t touched her and set her afire, not like the way Will’s touch did.
With Will his passion struck a spark of desire within her, driving her crazy with wanting him. Was this how it should be—how it felt to be in love with a man?
A loud boom sounded overhead, ricocheting in her head. With his mouth on hers, it was as if the sound was far away. Another boom and then several sharp staccato sounds split the stillness of the night.
Will broke off their kiss and stood stock-still, his head cocked. Then another boom sounded, and he gazed to the east.
She followed his gaze, and from far away, she saw what was making the strange sounds. Fireworks! The Fourth of July fireworks! Blossoms of bright lights splashed across the night, raining down in a thousand spiraling streamers, glowing against the black velvet sky.
Had Will planned a surprise and then…? No, that couldn’t be right. The fireworks weren’t going off over the fort, somewhere further away.
“Will, where did those come from?” she asked. “Looks too far away to be the fort, and I thought you said—”
“Hell, and damnation! Those sons of bit…” He stopped himself, clamping his mouth shut and scowling. Even in the half-light of the moon, she could see the dark stain creeping over his face.
“I’m sorry, Mallory. I don’t usually hold with cussing.”
“You’re forgiven.” She tried to smile. “But why are you so angry?”
“The fireworks are coming from the Lazy M,” he said through gritted teeth.
“You mean Mr. Murphy stole the fort’s fireworks?”
He frowned and shook his head. She could sense the tenseness in his body, the raw rage reverberating from him.
“Worse than that. A freight wagon was due in yesterday. It didn’t come, and then I knew we wouldn’t have fireworks for the Fourth. But empty or filled with something else, that wagon should have stopped at the fort.”
He fisted his hands. “No wagon, but more important, no sign of the driver or his guard. And I bet we won’t see them, either. Not alive, anyway.”
She gasped. “Oh, my heavens, no! But why would Mr. Murphy do such a thing?”
“Pure mean cussedness.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “And maybe to test the Apache, keep them occupied, or as a diversion.”
“You mean, Mr. Murphy had the Apache slaughter the freight master and his guard to prove…”
“That’s what I’m worried about.” He leaned down and retrieved her shawl, draping it across her shoulders. Then he took her hand. “We’ve got to get back to the fort.”
Chapter Eight
Will steered Mallory along the rocky path, hurrying as fast as he dared. And silently cursing himself, three ways to Sunday, for pulling in most of his troops to enjoy the holiday. He should have known. Should have guessed what would happen. Ben was nothing, if not cunning.
The freight wagon had been late but only a day late. Unlike the stage line, which ran on a strict schedule, the mule skinners were an independent bunch. They brought freight to and from the fort on a pre-arranged schedule but, depending upon a variety of factors, they could be a day or two late or arrive a day early.
He’d known Murphy was up to something with the Apache—he hadn’t counted on him having the hostiles attack the freight wagon. And like as not, the driver and guard were dead. But what Murphy really wanted were the smaller ranches, ringing his Lazy M spread.
The Apache attacks had dwindled in the past few weeks. He’d thought it would be safe to pull in most of his men and let them celebrate. It didn’t absolve him, but he would bet the freight wagon attack had been a diversion. Thinking about it, a sick feeling twisted his guts.
It was a diversion that had cost two innocent men their lives. Their blood was on his hands.
A figure loomed in the darkness, coming toward them. He unbuttoned his vest and reached inside his coat, pulling out his Colt. With his other hand, he clutched Mallory’s elbow and tucked her behind him.
“Stop! Who goes there?” He barked.
The shadowy form raised his hands over his head. “Corporal Walsh, sir. You’re needed back at the fort. There’s been another attack.”
“Who told you where to find me?”
“Uh.” The corporal advanced slowly, coming into view. “Uh, that is, sir, it was Captain Myerson.”
So much for thinking they’d slipped away without anyone seeing them. Fort life was like living in a fishbowl, everyone knew everyone else’s business. Now he’d compromised her. More reason to proceed with getting married.
Despite agreeing to honor her wishes and be patient, he didn’t see how they could wait. And if he was any judge of character, he thought she’d started to trust him. At the same time, he knew how frontier life frightened her. He needed to put a stop to the raiding, the Apache, and B
en Murphy.
They needed to marry as soon as possible. Otherwise, Mallory would be shunned at the fort and in town. And despite the success of her play, few, if any, of the parents would consider keeping her as their child’s teacher. Not now.
He turned around and pulled her beside him. No use in hiding any more.
Corporal Walsh approached and stopped. He threw back his shoulders and stood at attention.
He inclined his head toward Mallory and said, “Corporal, you know Miss Reynolds.”
The corporal stood straighter, if that was possible, and nodded. But he didn’t meet his eyes. Found out, judged, and deemed guilty.
“Yes, sir, good evening to you, Miss Reynolds. I enjoyed the show you put on with the school children. It was one of the best Fourth of July celebrations I can remember. Even without the fireworks.” He glanced over his shoulder.
“Why, thank you, Corporal Walsh.” She smiled. “That’s very kind of you.”
“You saw the fireworks, too, Walsh?”
“Yes, sir. Didn’t know what to think about it. Never have known ranchers to spend their hard-earned money on such things.”
“I doubt they spent a cent, and I have a pretty good idea what’s waiting for me at the fort. But you can tell me while we walk back.”
“Company H, who was patrolling the perimeter, found the freight wagon.”
“And?”
“The mules and contents were gone. The driver and guard are dead, riddled with Apache arrows.”
Mallory gasped and shuddered. With their arms linked together, he could feel her trembling.
He sucked in his breath. “Think the Apache were setting off those fireworks?” He inclined his head toward the east. Now, the night sky was undisturbed, spangled with stars and brightened by the full moon.
“I hadn’t thought of that, sir, but it does seem strange.”
“Yes, more than strange.” He shook his head. “Corporal Walsh, you’ve done your duty, fetching me. You can go back to the fort and alert Captain…” He hesitated. He’d prefer Rodgers riding with him, but Sally and Mallory would both feel safer with Rodgers at the fort.
