An Uncommon Protector

by Shelley Shepard Gray

  “I beg to disagree.” Lifting one slender foot in his hand, he noticed there was a sizable blister on her heel and another on the pad of her foot. “Laurel Tracey, what kind of boots were you wearing? Could they have fit you any worse?”

  “They were old ones of Bess’s.”

  “Why were you wearing them? Surely you have boots of your own.”

  “I do, but they’re worn out.” Blushing a bit, she said, “Hers were so pretty.”

  “You wanted to wear pretty boots?” He was beginning to wonder if he’d ever understand the complexities of the female mind.

  “Yes.”

  “Laurel, you’re smarter than that.”

  “In my defense, I hadn’t imagined that I’d be walking several miles in them.”

  He chuckled. “You have a point there.” Knowing she was still embarrassed, he said, “I’m a little surprised she left anything here of worth.”

  “Based on the condition of my feet, maybe she knew something about those boots I did not,” she quipped.

  “Indeed.” After resting her foot more comfortably in his lap, he brought the other one up and inspected it.

  “Thomas—”

  “I’m not doing anything untoward. Merely looking at your toes.” Carefully, he placed her feet back on the chair.

  She sighed. “I hope Bess and Jerome are doing all right.”

  “If they didn’t get shot at today, I’d say they’re doing a far sight better than we are.”

  “This is true.”

  “Don’t worry about them. They weren’t helping you, only wearing you out.”

  “Jerome was the culprit, I think. Maybe I should have tried to speak to Bess alone.”

  Thomas didn’t think Bess would have listened to anything Laurel would have said. “I can’t help you there. I don’t have much experience talking to women.”

  Luckily, instead of feeling awkward, Laurel seemed to find his statement amusing. “You didn’t learn how to manage women when you were riding in the cavalry?”

  “I did not. Our conversations revolved around guns and horses, I’m afraid.”

  “That’s too bad. I could use some good advice.”

  “I have none to offer. Even though I learned a lot from the officers on Johnson’s Island, we never covered that topic,” he said lightly. He leaned back slightly, stretching his legs.

  She opened an eye again. “I can’t help but notice that you don’t talk about your time in the prisoner of war camp as being especially horrible.”

  “It was bad at times. Sometimes worse than that.” Remembering the cold and the boredom and the ever-present hunger, as well as the feeling of hopelessness, he said, “Don’t get me wrong. The men who guarded us reveled in their power. They didn’t make it easy on us, especially as the atrocities came out about Andersonville and such.”

  “But you choose not to think about it that way?”

  “It ain’t that.” He swallowed. “It’s more a case of me choosing to remember the friendships I made there. The men I was with were some of the best men I’d ever met.” Meeting her gaze, he said, “Actually, I can’t imagine that I’ll ever meet another group of men I admire more. I felt privileged to be thought of as their friend.”

  “Based on what I know of you, I’m sure they felt the same way.”

  Thinking of the day they’d brought up his bravery, he murmured, “Sometimes I think they did.”

  “I’m sure it was more than sometimes, Thomas. I’ve never met a braver man.”

  Her sweet honesty was so kind. Far kinder than he deserved, given the fact that her life hadn’t been any easier since he’d entered it, and in some ways it was much harder. “You see, the thing of it is, I wasn’t supposed to be there in the first place. I was enlisted, and most times enlisted soldiers didn’t mix with the officers.”

  “Not even in a prison?”

  “No.” When she shifted and moved her feet back to the floor, he shifted as well and stared across the room, once again reliving those moments as though they had just happened. “But I had done a lot of missions for Captain Monroe. Capturing him was quite a coup for the Yankees because he even had a good reputation among them. He demanded that everyone in his unit who’d been captured go with him to the POW camp.”

  “I’m surprised they listened to him.”

  “If you met the captain, you wouldn’t be surprised. He’s a formidable man.” He sighed. “In any case, I’m glad they did listen to him and transfer me. You see, before we were imprisoned, I hadn’t really known him. I merely did what I was told.”

  “You followed orders.”

  “I did.” Smiling at himself, he added, “It might be hard to believe, but I was an excellent soldier. I followed my directives without question. It was only when I had spare time that my temper and my mouth got the best of me.”

  She smiled then. “Forgive me, Sergeant, but I do find that hard to believe. I would have liked to have seen you be biddable.”

  “You would have been impressed.” He grinned back at her, thankful that he’d found a way to make her smile after such a horrific day.

  “Speaking of being impressed, I think we should eat the meal I made,” she said, getting to her feet and walking awkwardly to the stove. “I scrambled some eggs and baked them with some bread and cream and ham. I think it should be ready by now.”

  When she picked up a towel to get her pan out of the oven, he took it from her and did the honors himself. “You sit down. I’ll do the serving today.”

  “Thomas, that isn’t necessary.”

  “Your feet are hurt and I don’t mind. Let me do this.”

  “All right. Thank you.”

  After filling two plates, he brought them to where she was sitting and returned to her side. Then, as they were now in a habit of doing, they prayed together.

  Thomas led the prayer. “Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for this meal. Thank you for providing for us with water to drink and enough food to allay our hunger. Thank you for the hands that made the meal and even for the chickens that provided it. Thank you for looking out for us today and for helping us arrive back here safely. Now please watch over us tonight so that we might both rest. Amen.”

  Her lips twitched. “I know you like to eat eggs, but you’re giving thanks for the chickens? I’m impressed.”

  “You should be, given how much I don’t care for poultry.”

  She giggled before taking her first bite. Thomas followed suit, enjoying the warm goodness of the simple fare after missing their noon meal, enjoying even more the company and the fact that somehow they’d been able to arrive home with nothing more than a couple of sore feet and some rattled nerves.

  When he cleaned his plate, he decided he was going to have to tell Laurel about his decision right away. Tomorrow he was going to send the wire. Time was of the essence.

  “Laurel, I’m glad we talked about the men of my unit tonight, because I think I need to contact Captain Monroe.”

  “You want to fill him in on what we’ve been going through?”

  “No. I need his help,” he said, correcting her. “We both need his and my other friends’ help.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “They’ll be strangers here. They won’t know me or the land. Do you think they’ll truly be of use?”

  “They are smart men, and we vowed to be there for each other, always. I think we both know I can’t protect you and your cattle while tracking the men who fired at us. It’s an impossibility, even for a good soldier like me.”

  “If you think we need more hands, then you don’t need to send a wire to Captain Monroe. All you have to do is contact Sheriff Jackson. He’s a good man.”

  He might be a good man, but as far as Thomas was concerned, the sheriff hadn’t been doing anything at all to help Laurel. “I think we need more help than what Jackson is able to provide. After all, he has a town to run. And it’s possible the theft of Marshall’s property was the work of squatters. He’ll have to stay on that.”
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  But instead of looking reassured, worry and disappointment clouded her eyes. “I’d rather you didn’t ask your friends for help.”

  He was surprised, and not a little bit dismayed. “Why not? I promise they are better men than me. You wouldn’t have to fear them or worry that they would behave inappropriately or that you would be in danger. They would even sleep in the barn if you wanted them to.”

  “While I appreciate that, and believe you, that isn’t what gives me pause.”

  “Then what is it, Laurel? I don’t understand.”

  Regret filled her pretty eyes. “Everything happening to me isn’t your concern, Thomas,” she said quietly. “And the men who shot at us are dangerous. Violent. I don’t want you bringing your friends into a harmful situation. I don’t want them to get hurt.”

  This girl was too much. She didn’t seem to understand how much she meant to him.

  Taking a deep breath, he said slowly, “Laurel, first of all, they didn’t just shoot at you, they shot at me too. That has made it my problem as much as yours. No man is going to attempt to kill me without me taking it personally.” Only all his years of practice enabled him to keep a handle on his temper. “I didn’t survive a war only to die by a coward’s bullet in the middle of your field.”

  She bit her lip. “Maybe it would be best if you just left.”

  “If I left what?”

  “My employ.”

  “And return to Sweetwater’s jail cell? Thank you, but no.”

  “I’m not speaking of going back to jail,” she said, hesitant.

  “What are you speaking of, then? Sheriff Jackson didn’t leave me any other options that I recall.”

  “Actually,” she said, “I wasn’t thinking of following the sheriff’s directives.” Before Thomas could protest, she said, “You could leave in the middle of the night. I wouldn’t tell anyone you were gone.”

  She was offering him the opportunity to slip off in the middle of the night. But not only was the thought of leaving her in the lurch repugnant, he also had nowhere else to go. “Miss Tracey,” he said, “I would never do that to you.”

  “I promise I won’t tell—”

  “I am not that man. I am not the kind of man who abandons women when they are in need. And frankly, I’m a little offended you think I would.”

  Now she was the one who looked hurt. “I am not questioning your honor, Sergeant.”

  “I hope not. Because you need to understand something. You are stuck with me.” When her eyes widened like saucers, he continued, “Let me be clear. When you offered me water, I became intrigued by you. When you freed me from that cage in the square, I became enraptured.” He lowered his voice. “And when you took the time to see to my wounds, to attempt to heal me when I had done nothing to deserve it?” He inhaled. How did he bare his heart without becoming vulnerable?

  “Yes?”

  He met her gaze again. And realized that maybe being vulnerable wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

  “Well, I began to care for you,” he said at last.

  Her eyes widened and she swallowed. “You care for me?”

  He held up a hand to stop her from protesting. “I don’t say any of this to scare you.”

  She swallowed. “I’m not scared.”

  “I don’t even expect you to return my feelings. I don’t expect you to ever feel obligated to me either. Even if you were to fall in love with someone else, I wouldn’t begrudge that of you. Because I want the best for you.”

  Surprise filled her gaze before she tucked her chin and fiddled with a fold in her dress. “You want the best for me because you are under my employ for the next year.”

  “No, because, well . . . actually . . . I more than care for you, Laurel. The truth is that I have fallen in love with you.”

  “You’ve fallen in love. With me.” She sounded rather stunned.

  And who could blame her?

  Yet again, he was saying too much. Far too much. But since it was too late to take it back, he added in a lighter tone, “Now perhaps you will understand why I want you to be as happy and cared for as is possible for this year.”

  When she raised her head again, he saw that her eyes were clouded with worry. He wondered if it was a reaction to his profession of love or if it was because he set the deadline for one year. “I want you to be happy, too, Thomas.”

  “If you do, then you’re going to have to accompany me tomorrow in the buggy so I can send off that wire.”

  “I could stay here alone.”

  “That isn’t possible. Until I know for certain that you’re safe, I never intend to let you be alone again.”

  “You mean for this year,” she said, correcting him this time.

  Blast it all. She sounded hurt and sad like he’d just kicked her in the shin. Why had he said so much?

  More important, why, if he’d been so intent on telling her his feelings, did he not go ahead and be completely honest?

  “I mean I’ll be here with you for as long as you need me. Even if it is longer than a year.”

  Something new lit her eyes. Getting to her feet, she said, “In that case, I suggest we wash these dishes and get some rest. We have another full day tomorrow.”

  As he followed her, Thomas couldn’t resist smiling. He felt like he’d just achieved a small victory.

  No conquest had ever felt so sweet.

  23

  SITTING BY THOMAS’S SIDE, DRESSED IN HER SUNDAY FINEST, Laurel felt almost pretty. Maybe it was the way Thomas had stared at her when she walked out to join him in the barn. He’d been hitching up the buggy to Velvet but had stilled when he saw her approach. She’d felt his gaze pass over her. It lingered, as if he was almost reluctant to look away.

  As she came closer, he straightened and his eyes filled with appreciation.

  “Miss Laurel, you look very fine today.”

  Instead of reacting in a cool and composed way, she’d nervously fussed with her skirts and blushed. “Thank you.”

  “I’m almost ready,” he said. “Velvet seemed to enjoy the ride out to Landon Marshall’s property this morning, but she needed a bit of coaxing to get hitched to the buggy.”

  “She’s not a great fan of leading my buggy, I’m afraid.”

  “I don’t blame her. However, we all have to do things we’d rather not do.”

  She wasn’t sure if he was making conversation or making a veiled comment about seeing Landon. When she’d asked if Landon had been upset that she’d changed her mind about having supper with him, Thomas had only said the conversation had gone well enough.

  Because she’d been relieved the visit was no longer looming, she didn’t ask him to explain. Now the silence seemed to suit them both. She simply stood to one side and watched him situate Velvet. When he was ready, she took Thomas’s hand when he held it out to help her into the conveyance.

  When they approached the town’s square, she felt everyone’s eyes on them. She didn’t fault their curiosity. But instead of demurely averting her eyes, she took care to sit proud and tall by Thomas’s side. No matter what everyone else thought, she knew he was a man of honor. He was honest and true. He was also brave. He’d not only saved her life yesterday; he’d saved her soul. She’d needed someone to believe in her, to believe in her future.

  Thomas certainly did.

  The goal they’d chosen was honorable too. It was time to fight whoever was intent on hurting her animals and threatening them.

  After Thomas parked the buggy near the mercantile, he walked around, tied Velvet’s tethers, then at last helped her down.

  “Let’s go to the bank first, Miss Tracey,” he said, his formal manners out for show. “I can send a wire from there.”

  “Then we can get some supplies.”

  “Whatever you want,” he said as he held out an arm.

  She placed her hand on his arm and walked into the bank.

  It might have been her imagination, but it felt like the room went silent as they walk
ed to the line to wait their turn for the teller. Nervously, Laurel looked around.

  A few women nodded her way, but most seemed intent on pretending they didn’t know her. No doubt they assumed her relationship with Thomas was far more intimate than it was.

  She tried not to let their cool reception bother her. After all, it wasn’t as if anyone had come to offer her help over the last year. Though she might have had a better reputation, she had still been essentially alone.

  When Mr. Cassidy called them over, he smiled at Laurel. “What can I do for you today, miss?”

  “Our errand is actually for Sergeant Baker here.”

  Mr. Cassidy’s smile faltered. “Oh? What may I do for you, sir?”

  “I need to send a wire.”

  Mr. Cassidy pulled out a small sheet of paper. “I’ll be glad to handle it, sir.”

  “It needs to be sent immediately.” Thomas stared at the teller with some suspicion in his eyes. “You will do that?”

  “Of course.”

  “Very well, then. Please send the following missive to Captain Devin Monroe of the Tremont Hotel, Galveston, Texas.”

  Mr. Cassidy scribbled his notes and then looked up expectantly. “Message?”

  “Attempt on my life. STOP. Help needed. STOP. Red Roan Ranch. Sweetwater.”

  Mr. Cassidy’s pen slowed. He began to write each word with extreme care. After he finished writing the last of it, he stared up at Thomas with a new respect in his eyes. “Is that all, sir?”

  Thomas nodded. “After it’s transmitted, I’ll pay.”

  “I’ll get to it momentarily.”

  “Please, Mr. Cassidy,” Laurel said. “If you could do as we ask, it would be most appreciated.”

  Looking far more intent, he turned, walked a few steps to a long table with a wireless machine, put on some headphones, and began tapping out the message.

  Laurel noticed that Thomas visibly relaxed once the teller began to send the wire.

  “Things will be better for you now,” he said, looking far more at ease.

  She wanted to believe him, but how could one friend’s arrival make such a difference? “How long do you think it will take for him to get here?”