Lacy asked, “And Mary Jane?”
Dallas put up his hands, “Not my business Lacy. His Dad has all kinds of help, he might not need her now.”
Lacy blinked, “He practically asked us to find him a wife, and now that she’s got involved with his kids, he just tosses her like dirt on his shoes?” Lacy huffed, “He better find him his own wet nurse then. I’m certainly not riding out there every day. I guess maybe he could get Jenny?”
Dallas said, “Not going to work. She can’t be on the ranch.”
Lacy asked, “Your rules or his?”
Dallas said, “Well, both. If would be a disaster if Sparrow Hawk or the boys thought she was alive. They think they killed her and we’re leaving it at that. Her Dad was pissed she didn’t come try to get him out of his hole too. More or less disowned her again and told Gage, if she showed up, he could join her.”
Lacy said, “He should join her. I thought he and Bryan were going to set up a trading post on the coast? What happened to that?”
Dallas started to pump water for the sink, “Gold. Got to get the gold to make the other worth while and frankly, there are reports of Union skirmishes down on the coast. Both Indianola and Brownsville. The Union is tightening the screws on the blockade runners. You might want to stock up on anything that won’t spoil Lacy.”
Lacy said, “Alright. I’ll start looking next time you take me to San Antonio. I guess I could dry out some fruit and put up extra corn meal, flour, and salt. Maybe smoke some fish and make jerky.”
Dallas said, “There you go. Everything will be fine.”
Lacy asked, “What about Bryan and Jenny?”
Dallas said, “They’re in the guard house. Lieutenant MacLeod didn’t trust them so until the treasure is shipped, they’re locked up. Jenny is going to help count and Bryan will sort out the gems.”
Lacy looked at Dallas, “Gems? They found precious gems? What you think Bryan’s stuffing his picture frame?”
Dallas said, “It did occur to me he might try, but no. I took it. I need to cash out some stones for him. Convert them to gold dust and pay off his land grant. He bought land, just so happens it included the ravine and the most important parts. We found gems, jewelry, plates, forks, spoons, knives, and coins, but mostly gems and jewelry. They were lighter so we took those first. Easier to convert or trade for supplies than Spanish coins that might raise an eyebrow or two. Sure don’t need to be at war with Spain too.” Dallas looked at Lacy, “You know all of this is top secret. You can’t talk to your friends about any of this. We need to put some curtains on the guard house windows and maybe sheets covering the bars of that cell they’re in. Loose lips, sink ships.”
Lacy asked, “How many people know about this?”
Dallas said, “Well Bryan of course, Lieutenant MacLeod, Captain Bowman, Private Wells, Private Collins, Lieutenant Garrett, Captain Tyler, Sergeant Major Vincent, Private Garner, Corporal Gibbons, Sergeant Long, Gage, his Father and his workers, and some camels.” Dallas grinned, “I figure I’m safe when it comes to the camels, but Jenny doesn’t have any idea when she’s saying something that is best kept to herself. I really wish Bryan hadn’t encouraged her to talk now. It would have made things so much simpler if she had never found her voice.”
Lacy asked, “Why you afraid she’ll repeat what she heard?”
Dallas answered, “Yes. Some of that wasn’t about her too. It was about all of us. MacLeod was telling her ever dirty little trick we ever did or said to discredit us in her eyes.”
Lacy could think of a few of those. It had taken all the love she had for Dallas to forgive him and move on not that long ago. They were PIU through and through and if you loved one, it was best not to look too closely at how they got to where they were or even who they were. It certainly made the part about ‘for worse’ in their wedding vowels come to mind.” Dallas’s eyes were studying her face. He could tell, that hit a nerve, but odds were Jenny would say something and it was better he prepare her for the worst before it blew up in his face. She was promised a clean file, but somehow MacLeod had either got people who knew to talk, or there was multiple versions of their files still floating around.
Dallas looked at Lacy and considered the times he had lied to manipulate her, but MacLeod seemed to enjoy watching his victim hurt, “She’s wasn’t in any mental condition to hear that. MacLeod knows how to find a person’s weakest spot and dig at it. Effective, but cruel. He can be very honest. Alarmingly honest about his opinions without regard for the permanent damage he’s done.”
Lacy said, “Maybe I shouldn’t have talked to him. Dallas, he told me he was her step-brother and Gage, well he didn’t remember everything before Cotton Plant and he thought I could help him get his memories back.”
Dallas swallowed, “Well, I guess that explains why he knew so much about us. But if he’s a brother, I don’t think Mr. Travis knew about him. Not one picture of another child in his house. Never heard about a brother Lacy so be careful around him. Don’t give him any more ammunition he can use against us.”
Lacy replied, “I won’t, that snake in the grass won’t get another word from me. You’re not mad?”
Dallas finished their dishes and turned and took Lacy by the waist and pushed her toward their bedroom as he kissed her neck and shoulders, “Not tonight. I’m too happy to be alive, even MacLeod can’t spoil that tonight.”
Lacy grinned, “Where do you think we’re going?”
Dallas said, “Can’t a man kiss his wife. You know I love you don’t you Lacy?”
Lacy looked up into his eyes. She could get lost in his eyes. Bat them once at her, and she was his. Dallas nibbled at her neck and pushed her a little further toward their bedroom. He was unbuttoning her blouse and took his hand and touched her breast and laid her down on the bed. Dallas took his shirt off quickly and took his mouth and suckled her breast tasting the sweet milk that squirted into his mouth. Dallas groaned, “My God how I missed you Lacy. Forgive me. Tell me you forgive me.”
Lacy swallowed, “Dallas, I have to tell you something.”
Dallas kissed the other breast and gripped it in his hands, “I swear, they’re bigger. How could that be? I thought Bryan said you’re not.”
Lacy gasped as Dallas worked his way down her stomach and kissed the sides of her ribs and then stopped over her belly button as he felt something kick back. Dallas rose quickly, “You alright? Your stomach is twitching.” Dallas looked worried as he stared her in the eyes, “Oh, no. You got that look.”
Lacy said tentatively, “I’m with child Dallas.”
Dallas asked, “How?”
Lacy said, “Well, it usually starts just like this, then something else happens. Sometimes you just sleep through it. I thought you knew how babies got made. Didn’t you tell me you weren’t peeing on me once?”
Dallas cracked at smile, “I think I did. It’s ours?”
Lacy smiled, “Yes you fool. It’s kicking. Not his. I was already with child.”
Dallas said, “You lied to Bryan?”
Lacy said, “Oh course. He needed to get back to Jenny. No way he come in with busted ribs and she’s alright. He wouldn’t have left if you hadn’t made him keep his promise.”
Dallas grinned, “So, you just keep on nursing?”
Lacy nodded, “I could, but she’s ready for cereal and something more. Cole is the hog even mixing the milk, that boy has his Daddy’s appetite. Dallas gently pulled her skirt down, and quickly undid his pants, then looked up, “Your alright? Would you rather I didn’t?”
Lacy thought about it, “No, we’re not letting him come between us. Time to get back into the saddle cowboy.”
Dallas smiled, “Just let me know if you want me to stop.” Dallas gently kissed her being careful to keep his weight off her belly. Lacy reached up toward him as he found her mouth and pulled him down until she felt him join inside her. He waited, then slowly moved with her until he felt her squeeze surrounding him in her contractions. Dallas let h
is own desires give in to her urging as he felt his own release and collapsed where he lay in her arms. After just holding her and not expecting anything more, Dallas whispered, “So where did you say JC and Brianna are?”
Lacy said, “Mrs. Vincent’s of course. JC and Jake are best buddies.”
Dallas said, “You stay here, I’ll go get them. Maybe I’ll go by the guard house and make sure Bryan and Jenny are alright first. Since Gage isn’t coming back, maybe we should let Bryan and Jenny use the house. More room for counting.
Lacy grinned, “Everyone is going to know. Might as well just get it out in the open. Maybe all the women would like to help count and we get the stuff shipped and gone before those Union troops get word it’s here?”
Lacy rose up and pulled Dallas back into her arms, “You know I love you don’t you Dallas? I don’t have to see the Bar-S or anywhere else you might have lived. Jenny’s Father and Mother sort of make me glad we don’t have that type of in-laws to deal with all the time. I have everything I need right here.”
Dallas asked a little tentatively himself, “Even if Bryan’s not here someday?”
Lacy said, “Yes, we’re not helpless. You’re a good Daddy and there are times like now when it’s nice not to worrying about who might walk in on us. He has a life now and more than enough to keep him busy trying to keep her out of trouble.”
Dallas agreed, “That he does. She is a full time job. Makes me so grateful it’s not me. Although, maybe you could talk to her about how she did that with her fingers?”
Lacy hit Dallas’ chest, “You said you didn’t!”
Dallas smiled, “I didn’t. She did. Really Lacy, I didn’t touch her, but that was the strangest feeling somewhere between a tickle and taking me by the balls and having her way with me. Almost like she was punishing me by showing me what I couldn’t have.”
Lacy said, “And you still can’t have it. Remember that Dallas. She has a man, she can’t have mine.”
Dallas asked, “So I’m yours now?”
Lacy said, “Of course you’re mine. I don’t care what name you have or rank, you’re still mine.”
Dallas replied, “That’s good. Because if that Lieutenant is a Colonel, you might be back in my pup tent again.” Dallas got up and put his pants back on. Back soon.”
Dallas walked into the guard house and immediately MacLeod addressed him, “About time you let me out Major.”
Dallas looked at the Lieutenant’s shoulders, “Missing your stripes?”
MacLeod replied, “Captain Bowman thought he would play the big man and demote me. I guess no one told him who I was.”
Dallas looked straight at MacLeod, “And who would that be? Priest, or maybe Union sympathizer. It’s occurred to me you might have had a lot of incentive to make sure that gold didn’t see the light of day, but that’s a conversation for another time. I think you’re right where you need to be tonight MacLeod.”
Bryan was stirring, “Dallas?”
Dallas said, “Unlock their cell Private Wells. Captain Travers and his wife have a better place to spend the night. Lock it up tight after we leave. If MacLeod tries to intimidate you, just know he’s not who he says, and you’re in a lot of trouble if you listen to him. He stays locked up.”
Dallas opened the door to the cottage. It was furnished with everything thing they needed and a few things they didn’t like two cribs. One with the name Gage and the other with Jenny’s name on the headboard. Jenny put the little wooden horse in Gage’s crib.
Dallas looked at Jenny, “We’ll get you some more clothes in the morning and Lacy will be by to help even up Gage’s hair cut. You know hers was short once.” He wasn’t saying it was that short, but he hoped that made her feel better. She had gone from long braids to less than an inch in some places.
Dallas address Bryan, “You say you have counts for what you gathered already?”
Bryan said, “Yes, Corporal Gibbons has the verifying count and each bundle has a count inclosed inside.”
Dallas said, “Seems to me we turn those over to the quarter master and get them shipped immediately. I could use your help going through the two camels we loaded before the explosion and sort out the gems into high quality, and other. Then I’ll get others do the manual counting.”
Jenny asked, “You not think I count good?”
Dallas replied, “No Jenny, I’m sure you count just fine, but more people counting will get this sent to where they can use it faster. I think MacLeod or who ever he is might have been trying to slow down the counting to keep the gems and gold here.” Dallas address Bryan and gave him the news, “We have reports of Union troops in Indianola trying to take the port. I suspect they got some local help Bryan. Not all Texans wanted to leave the Union.”
Bryan asked, “And Delight? You still want us to make the trip?”
Dallas said, “We need to get you on your way.” Dallas handed Bryan a sealed note with the PIU seal on front, “Orders.” Dallas returned to the conversation about Delight, “I’m going to try to talk to them about the lumber again. It’s really hurting us. They are tearing up what track we have faster than we can repair it. There are good pines up there that could be made into cross ties.”
Bryan read the note. His eyebrow rose in surprise as he reminded Dallas, “You know there could be more like what we picked up on the other side of the ravine, just waiting to be picked up. There could also be more sink holes and quicksand since the explosion. We had to tether Corporal Gibbons to Daisy and pull him out so tell him to watch his step.”
Dallas nodded, “Gage plans on searching there. I’ll pass that on.” Dallas addressed Jenny, “I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but Gage hasn’t really got a choice Jenny. That ranch means a lot to him and he has a son he can pass it on to some day.”
Jenny looked at the cribs, “You take these back when you see him.” Jenny sniffed then tried to get the next words out, “Good he is there for Father.” Between all the things that had happened today, the wokwave dream, the misunderstanding about putting Daisy in her cell and finally coming to grips that Daisy wasn’t that mean bull camel that bit and kicked every time she tried to take care of him and the realization that the dream they’d talked about only last night was just that, a dream of something that might have been, she felt drained. The pain was coming back and her emotions were everywhere. If she’d been on that trip West, MacLeod would be standing there with wokwave in one hand and pointing to the dessert telling her she could eat her fill if she brought back the rest.
Dallas addressed Bryan, “Better let you two get some rest. We’ll bring you the gems to sort out. Lacy will organize the women to sort through the rest and we’ll get this done. I want people to know there’s nothing left here before our union sympathizers decide to liberate us of our ill gotten gains.”
Bryan asked, “So Lacy is alright?”
Dallas smiled, “Yes, more than alright. We’re having a baby. It kicked me.”
Bryan frowned, “She lied to me?”
Dallas chuckled, “Yes, seems I have taught her how to lie. I’m going to miss that face where I could read her every thought. My girl turned into a woman.”
Bryan looked at his own, “To bed. You heard the Major. We have gems to sort through in the morning.”
Bryan pushed gently toward the bedroom, “Not on the floor either. You sleep with me now. Plenty of room for the both of us.”
Dallas closed the door behind him and headed for Captain Tyler’s home to retrieve JC and Brianna. Dallas smiled, “Maybe it would be a boy this time and Cole would have a playmate.”
Petals
Jenny looked at the bed. It had a new quilt, sheets, and pretty embroidered pillow cases. There were little pictures with cross stitching with a saying. The little table by the bed had a vase with fresh wild flowers. There were lots of personal items that didn’t look like they belonged to Gage.
Bryan smiled, “Well, look at that. Wildflowers. They really fixed this old cottage u
p. Let’s just get you in bed.”
Jenny smiled, “You remember.” She took one of the flowers and pulled a petal off, “He love me.” Another hit the floor, “He love me not.”
Bryan’s brow went up and quickly tried to count the petals left in her hand then relaxed. When the last petal fell Jenny looked up and saw their reflection in the mirror on the wall. Her hair was ragged, there were cuts starting to heal on her face, a patch where her scalp was raw where no hair grew. Her lips were cracked from the dry air and not enough water. She was dirty, covered in dust, sweat, and blood. Her eyes teared as she poured water in the basin and cleaned her hands of the filth that covered her and undressed and sponged off the dirt she could reach. Bryan took the sponge and gently did her back, legs, and the areas covered by the sling where her wounded arm hung. He wrapped his arms around her, “Did you count that last one? I’m pretty sure it was he loves me.”
Jenny looked up, “You make sure enough petals?”
Bryan kissed her head, “No, but I would have crushed it in my bare hands if it dared to say otherwise.” Jenny giggled.
Jenny looked at Bryan, “You next? I get your back?” Bryan dumped the muddy water and filled the basin again as he stripped and washed what he could reach. Jenny finished his back and legs, and feet. If either of them had been in better shape things might not have ended there, but they weren’t. Bryan rifled through the clothes he found bundled in the corner. He pulled out two oversize cotton shirts that smelled freshly laundered. Either they were Gage’s or Davidson’s. He certainly wasn’t telling her she was sleeping in a dead man’s clothes even if he didn’t need them tonight. Bryan smiled, “Here, wear this tonight. This looks like it was Gage’s. I don’t think he’ll mind.”
There was a knock at the door. Bryan smiled, “Dallas must have forgotten something.” He quickly slipped on his pants. When he opened the door, there was Gage. He looked quickly to see if Jenny was there and whispered to Bryan, “I came for the cribs.”
Camp Camel: The Heart of Texas Page 44
