by Jodi Thomas
The cold, the fog, the hard ground, none of it mattered as he wrapped his arms around her. For the first few kisses he taught, then they learned together what the other liked. He'd lie perfectly still and let her kiss him, then she'd try to do the same. They kissed until they were both out of breath, then laughed and kissed again like teenagers.
Finally, she stretched beside him, thinking of what pleasure kissing could bring, when she looked up to see him watching her. Without a word, he spread his fingers beneath her coat and moved his hands along her body. His eyes never left hers as his hands crossed over the cotton of her dress, molding his fingers to her curves.
She knew she could have stopped him with a word, or even if she'd looked away, but she didn't. When he lowered his mouth to hers once more, she tasted passion in his kiss.
He gave her the kind of kisses she wanted as his hands stroked her gently, greedy for the feel of her.
Trooper stomped in the clearing several feet away, and Walker reluctantly pulled away and looked up. For a moment, he listened, then lowered his face beside hers and groaned in pure agony. "Lacy, we can't do this now. The fire's almost out. It will be dark soon. We'll freeze to death." Even as he said the words, his hands stroked her body as if not getting the message from his brain that it was time to stop.
Lacy wanted to say she didn't care. She'd never felt anything like this in her life. Her body boiled from the inside out. Her stomach hurt with a hunger she didn't understand. Her breasts ached, wanting to be touched. She wanted something she'd never had, never even known existed. Until now. She wanted the passionate man who'd lost himself in kissing her only a moment before.
But that man was disappearing, pulling himself under control, pulling them both into reality, and he hadn't even moved an inch away from her yet.
He kissed her forehead, then rolled to his feet. "We'd better go. I'll saddle the horse."
Lacy felt like she'd been tossed in cold water. She sat up and tried to straighten her hair, but she couldn't make herself stand. A moment ago she'd been floating on a cloud, and now all the problems came crashing down on her.
He stood above her and offered her his hand. When he pulled her to her feet, he held her tightly for a moment. She wasn't sure if he wanted to apologize for letting them go so far, or if he, like her, longed to return to what they'd been doing.
"Are you all right?" he whispered, and she thought she heard the need for her in his question. "I didn't go too fast?"
"Yes. I'm all right." She thought of screaming that he was going too slow as far as she was concerned, but she wasn't sure exactly what he was talking about.
"No regrets?"
She started to say that they hadn't done anything to regret, but she simply said, "No, Captain."
He laughed. "Lacy, when are you going to start calling me Walker?"
"When I know you better," she answered, thinking if they lay back down, that might have a chance of happening.
"All right, we'll work on your knowing me better later. Right now, I've a duty to get you to safety before we both freeze." He didn't say another word as she folded the quilt and he saddled the horse, but he held her tight against him as they rode toward the fort. Once in a while he'd move his chin against her hair, and she knew he remembered, just as she did.
She didn't want to talk. She needed time to think about what had happened. Lacy relived everything, tried to remember the way she'd felt, the way he'd tasted. The fact that the captain could react with such tenderness surprised her.
When they were within sight of the fort, he leaned close to her ear and whispered, "When we get to the fort, I think we should check in as man and wife."
She nodded. That made sense. They were married. If they tried to be anything else, it would look strange, a woman traveling with a man not her husband. Lacy doubted the fort would even allow her to stay.
"Which means," he added, "that we'll get married quarters if they're available. We'll probably be sharing one room and have meals with the officers."
Lacy didn't see any problem. They'd been sharing three tiny rooms for almost two weeks.
He shifted as if he had more to say. She waited, knowing he'd eventually get whatever it was off his mind. "When we get to the fort, I'd like our stay there to be together. If you've no objection. I promise, Lacy, I'll take it slow and easy."
She knew what he asked. They would be sharing a room, maybe even a bed. At least that's what she thought he meant. She wasn't going to embarrass herself by asking and find out he'd only been explaining the workings of the fort to her. So she said the only thing she could think of. She said, "I've no objection."
They crossed into Fort Elliot without another word.
CHAPTER 21
Lacy held tightly to Walker's lapel as he rode past the guards at the gate. The fort reminded her of an old medieval castle looming out of the darkness, lording over the flat land around. Trooper danced through the entrance, as though sensing that their journey might be over.
Walker maneuvered the horse up to a long building with one end marked as headquarters. "We're home," he whispered. »
He dismounted slowly while the guards watched him. "I've traveled across half the forts along the frontier, but I've never visited this one."
Lacy wasn't sure he talked to calm Trooper, or her. The guards seemed poised and ready for trouble. They watched, sizing up both the rider and his mount. This was a place only a man like Walker would call home. To her it seemed colorless and stiff.
Walker looped the reins over the hitching post. "Fort Elliot holds the distinction of being the most northern post in
Texas." He patted the horse, his voice level and low. "I always wanted to see this place."
A sergeant, a few years younger than Walker, stepped out of the first door and walked along the wide porch. He smiled a welcome but didn't salute.
"How can I help you, mister?" the sergeant asked. "All civilians have to be off the grounds before the gates are closed at sundown, so I'll have to ask you to state your business and leave."
Walker lowered Lacy from the saddle before he faced the sergeant. "I'm Captain Walker Larson presently stationed at Fort Davis but on assignment at Cedar Point. I'd like to speak with the commanding officer."
"Did you say Captain Larson?" The younger man tilted his head as if having trouble hearing.
"I did." Walker shot the words. "And I'm waiting, Sergeant."
The man straightened. "Of course, sir. I'll tell the major you're here."
Walker stepped onto the porch. "Have someone see to my horse. Sergeant?"
"Yes, sir, and it's Hayes, sir."
The sergeant opened the door to the main office and moved aside while Walker led Lacy inside. He held a chair by the fire for her without taking his eyes off of Walker and then hurried to follow orders.
Once they were alone in the office, Lacy asked, "Do you ever say please?"
"No," Walker answered. "And you, madam, were a perfect army officer's wife."
"How's that?"
"Silent." He grinned, proud of his joke.
She started to argue, but she treaded on strange territory here. A fort was a place she knew nothing about, though she'd seen soldiers from time to time come to Cedar Point to meet a shipment sent by train. Once in a while they caused enough trouble in the saloon to have the sheriff mention something about having them sleep it off in jail for the night, but for the most part she remained ignorant of the army. Maybe she'd be wise to listen until she understood. For all she knew, the general, or whoever ran this place, might kick them out if she did something wrong.
The door opened, and a tall man with graying hair rushed in. She'd expected him to salute, or something, but he hurried forward and grabbed Walker's hand, then slapped him on the back. "Welcome, Larson. Great to have you here. An honor, a real honor."
Before Walker could say a word, the man added, "You're out of uniform." He said it like Walker had grown horns.
"I'll explain." Walker
turned toward Lacy. "But first, Major Garner, I'd like to present my wife."
To Lacy's surprise, Major Garner bowed low and kissed her hand. "Madam, it is a pleasure to meet you. Please know that I'm at your service." The major was quite handsome in a stiff kind of way. "I've had the honor of meeting your husband a few times but was unaware he had a wife. Your beauty graces our small fort."
"Thank you," she managed to say, noticing that his fingers were long and thin, made more to play a piano, she thought, than do combat.
She expected him to turn back to Walker and act like she were invisible, but to her surprise, he asked about her health and wanted to know if she needed time to freshen up.
When she said yes, he shouted for Sergeant Hayes.
Still holding her hand, Major Garner turned to Walker and demanded why he'd never been told that Walker had such a lovely wife. "It's an oversight worthy of court- marshal."
Lacy realized the compliment came at full volume and sounded more like a challenge. She felt overwhelmed and thankful when the sergeant arrived to show her to their quarters.
Hayes escorted her down the long porch to a line of doors each about ten feet apart with a high window next to each entrance. "These are the single officers' quarters, but right now we have several empty. Our married housing is due south of the barracks, but it's full at present. If you've no objection, Mrs. Larson, I've had a room readied." He opened one of the doors. A light already glowed from a newly lit fireplace.
"I've taken the liberty of putting the captain's and your things in here. Meals are served at the mess hall at seven, noon, and six, but I'll be glad to bring you a tray. Mrs. Garner always takes her lunch alone in her quarters and, of course, the married housing have their own cooking stove."
Lacy was glad to hear other women stayed within the walls of the fort, but before she could ask about them, the sergeant continued, "There's a privy out back. It's reserved for the wives from ten to eleven a.m. and from seven to eight p.m. No man will enter between those hours."
Lacy stepped inside. "Thank you." She looked up and smiled. "I've never been to a fort before. What do I call you?"
He seemed to relax a little. "Hayes, ma'am. Sergeant Hayes. My office is the first door, and if you need me, you'll find me there most of the time."
"I'm Lacy Larson."
"Yes, ma'am. You're Captain Larson's wife. I never met him until now, but I've heard tell of him. It's a real honor to see him in the flesh. I was beginning to think he was just a legend." Hayes appeared nervous, as if he'd said too much. "I'll be right outside this door when you're ready. I'll escort you back to your husband."
"I can find my own way, thank you." Lacy smiled. The offices weren't thirty feet from her.
Hayes straightened slightly. "Begging your pardon, ma'am, but no woman, not even the major's wife, is allowed to walk alone on the grounds after dark."
"I understand," Lacy lied. "I'll let you know when I'm ready to return."
He closed the door, and Lacy looked around the neat little room. It couldn't have been more than ten feet wide and twice as long, with a door and window at each end. Everything had an order. She'd be willing to bet the other officers' quarters looked exactly the same. A desk to the left, a small table with two chairs near a fireplace, a bed and a dresser with washbowl and pitcher atop it. An eight- day clock ticked away on the mantel, sounding as if it had just been wound.
Quickly washing and changing into her only other dress, Lacy hoped no one would notice the wrinkles. She put her shawl over it and opened the door, not at all surprised to find Hayes waiting for her.
When she returned to the office, she noticed a cloth had been spread over one of the desks where a simple meal of meat and potatoes waited. The captain and Major Garner were seated, but they stood as she entered, and Walker held a chair for her. But he didn't touch her as she hoped he might.
"Your quarters are satisfactory, madam?" he asked impersonally as if he weren't sharing them with her.
"Yes, thank you," she answered, wondering what he would have done if she'd said no. Or, worse, thrown her arms around him and begged to go home. But she couldn't... wouldn't... embarrass him by showing an ounce of the fear she felt in this place he thought of as safe.
While they ate, Walker explained about the kidnapping attempt. The major asked one question after another, while Walker filled in the details of Zeb Whitaker and his attempts to kill Lacy. She didn't miss the facts he left out. Like their arranged marriage, or that he had only seen her once before twelve days ago.
"Of course you'll stay here. In fact you may be a godsend to a dilemma I'm facing." The major's statement held no doubt he welcomed them. His entire face softened as he turned to her. "My wife will be back tomorrow morning, and she'll enjoy the company of your bride." He smiled at Lacy. "You'll be safe here, madam." With those words he seemed to think he'd solved her little problem of being kidnapped and almost murdered. He moved on to what he considered more important matters.
She wondered if any of the army wives ever went nuts being called madam. The men talked about a problem in transporting some prisoners, and Lacy fought to stay awake.
Finally, Walker noticed her nodding off and stood, saying he needed to see his wife to quarters.
The major stood and bade her good night, but as Walker opened the door, he added, "We'll continue this discussion over maps and port in my office."
Walker nodded and took Lacy's arm.
As he walked her along the porch, she said, "You must be exhausted. Tell the major you'll visit with him tomorrow."
Walker opened their door and stepped back, waiting for her to enter. "You don't understand. That wasn't a request, it was an order. I have to return."
Lacy nodded, but he was right, she didn't understand. When she looked into the room, she saw a tub full of water by the fireplace.
"I took the liberty of ordering you a bath, madam."
"How long will you be?"
"You'll have plenty of time. Don't wait up for me. Go on to bed. I'll not wake you if I'm late." His words were formal, but she saw the warmth in his eyes.
She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. This strange man she knew so little about was her only friend in this place. She wanted to keep him close, and even if he couldn't stay, it felt good knowing that he wanted to.
She took her time bathing, then warmed by the fire before climbing into bed. Walker had been right. She did feel safe but not just because of the fort.
She knew he was near. It felt odd to depend on someone else, to know they were close if needed. Even when she'd been kidnapped, she'd been mad more than frightened, because she knew the captain would find her.
As she fell asleep, Lacy wished she was more than just a mission he was on in Cedar Point. Why couldn't he have told the major he'd come home to visit his wife? The answer was simple, she decided: because it wasn't true.
When Walker quietly slipped into the room an hour later, Lacy was sound asleep. He walked over to her side of the bed and stared down at her. She seemed so peaceful, so beautiful. He wanted to wake her and tell her all that the major had said, but he couldn't bring himself to disturb her. The past two days had been hell on her, and she deserved the peace of sleep. Besides, he wasn't sure he wanted to face the questions she'd ask if she knew what the major planned.
Jerking his uniform from his saddlebags, Walker hung it outside the door, knowing it would be pressed by the time he needed it in the morning. He then pulled off his shirt and washed. In truth, he'd enjoyed wearing civilian clothes and would miss them come morning.
He thought of stripping off his remaining clothes, but he wasn't sure. The last thing he wanted to do tonight was frighten Lacy. Despite how casually she'd acted when he'd seen her in her undergarments, he had no idea how she'd react seeing him.
Tugging off his boots, he stood them by the fire, then pulled back the covers and lay down on the other side of the bed. For a while he didn't move, thinking this would be the first time he
ever slept with a woman.
He thought of touching her, of holding her, of making love to her. After all, she'd agreed to stay here with him as husband and wife. She could hardly complain if he bedded her. He'd done it once before.
Walker realized he didn't want to just bed her. He wanted to make love to her. He wanted her to come to him, as she had this morning, with her arms stretched toward him not out of duty but out of desire. It took no genius to realize she knew nothing of making love. The first time they'd been together must have frightened her half out of her mind. She'd never even been kissed when he took her virginity. That one fact gnawed at him more than he wanted to admit.
Walker put his arm over his eyes. If she'd give him a chance, he'd make that day up to her. He'd show her how it should be between a man and a woman. He'd take it slow and teach her step by step. He'd spend days waking the woman in her.
If she'd allow him? Not likely, he reasoned.
Reaching to put out the light, he noticed the notebook she'd brought with her. She'd ripped off another number. Now the number fourteen was scribbled across the top page. Fourteen more days until he left. Fourteen more days of tolerating him.
Frustrated, Walker picked up the tablet and threw it across the room. He didn't want to think about the countdown anymore. He didn't want to be reminded that he had only two weeks left before he'd have to keep his promise to ride out of her life forever.
When the tablet hit the wall, Lacy started from,the noise and sat halfway up in bed.
"What was that?" she whispered sounding afraid.
"Nothing. Go back to sleep." Angry at himself for waking her, he turned his back to her. If she was still counting the days, she wasn't likely to welcome an advance from him.
But it wasn't Lacy's way to follow orders. "Captain?" she whispered.
"Yes," he said wondering if she planned to ask him to leave the bed. He could demand to stay. It was his right. But he knew he'd leave if she wanted him to go. He'd put his bedroll by the door and do what he'd been ordered to do: protect her.
