“Violet, help Lily with her oatmeal, please. Put some milk and a dab of butter into it and I’ll find molasses to sweeten it.” He watched his employee instruct his oldest niece while she cradled Baby Rose in her arms and offered her a bottle of warm milk. “Then perhaps we can convince your uncle to come join us instead of standing there gawking at us.” The woman never once looked up and it took him a minute to comprehend what she said.
“Um, yes, I guess I could join you.” He made his way across the kitchen to the stove and the coffee pot. Certain the aroma had been sent from heaven, he poured himself a cup and leaned against the cupboard taking in the scene before him.
“Come sit down, Captain. Violet and Lily are learning how to prepare their oatmeal bowls to their liking, isn’t that right, girls?” She smiled at his nieces and returned her attention to Baby Rose, cradled in her arms. The baby seemed content to look up at the woman holding her while sucking on her bottle and pulling on the woman’s long curls.
He remembered the few days he’d tried to care for the girls alone, and how he struggled for this calm, serene scene. How had Miss Whittaker accomplished it so quickly when he hadn’t been able to do it at all? She really was doing a splendid job.
Will took the vacant seat across the table. Lily sat next to him and he watched her struggle to put dried fruit into her bowl. “Here, let me do that for you,” he offered and scooped up a handful of dried apricots and dropped them into her bowl.
Satisfied he had been able to do something that hadn’t ended in a catastrophic event, he leaned back in his chair and sipped his coffee. But when he looked up thinking he would garner some kind of compliment from Miss Whittaker...even a small one, he was sadly disappointed.
Instead, she shook her head as if he were a silly schoolboy who had just tipped over the ink well on her dress.
He sat up and looked around the table. “Am I missing something?” It was hard to miss the humor in the woman’s eyes.
“No, I suppose not,” she replied. But he could tell she was amused by something he had done. What was it?
“I can tell by your expression that you think whatever it was I just did was very humorous. Do you mind telling me exactly what that might be?” he demanded, careful to keep the irritation from his voice.
“Not humorous really. It’s just that I was trying to teach Lily how to prepare her own bowl of oatmeal, with Violet’s help, of course.”
He saw the woman glance toward his older niece and gift her with a sweet smile of encouragement. Why couldn’t she do that for him? He shook his head. Now he sounded like a very spoiled little boy. “And what did I do to garner that look from you, Miss Whittaker?”
She turned to really look at him and he could tell she was surprised by his irritation. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, Captain Bennett. I can assure you it was nothing important.”
He studied his half-empty cooling cup of black coffee. “Then, would you be so kind as to tell me what I did that you found so amusing so early this morning?”
“I apologize. I had no idea you were so sensitive, Captain. From now on, I’ll be more careful when and where I find amusement. It really was nothing.”
She stood and set Baby Rose on one hip while she gathered dishes off the table with her other hand. Then she turned her attention to his other nieces. “Lily, you and Violet, finish your breakfast. When you’re done, what are you to do with your dishes?”
“We are to clear the table and place the dirty dishes in the sink before we leave for school,” recited six-year-old Violet.
Abigail gave her a beautiful smile of encouragement. “That’s exactly right. Look at you two. You are so smart. Now, I’m going to change Rose’s diaper and change her out of her nightclothes, then I’ll be back to help you get ready for school. Perhaps you girls can teach your Uncle Will a thing or two about kitchen duties.”
He watched the woman turn away and start down the hall with Rose. “Um, wait a minute. Stop right there,” Will called out.
She turned and looked at him, the same spark of humor that had irritated him was still in place. “I’m still waiting for you to tell me what it was I did a few moments ago that you found so amusing.”
Abigail hesitated, cut a look to the girls still sitting at the table eating their breakfast, and then back to him. “If you must know, Captain, I was planning to use those dried apricots to make fried pies later today. The fruit is too big and tough to eat in oatmeal unless you cook them first to soften them.” She cut another look to Lily who was busy spooning oatmeal into her mouth struggling to chew the tough fruit. “But, as you can see, Lily doesn’t mind your input at all.”
Her gaze returned to meet his and he saw a spark of understanding in those dark depths. “That’s all it was. No harm done. Now, if you have no objections, I need to change Rose’s diaper.”
He watched her lift Baby Rose’s nightgown up and sniff. “Or is that something you would like to take on this morning?”
He watched her pretty dark eyes sparkle while her eyebrows rose in question. Baby Rose reached out a tiny fat fist and pulled on her long dark curls. He wondered if they felt as soft as they looked.
Where that thought had crept in from, he had no idea, but it was entirely inappropriate.
“No, I...I think you have everything in hand. I should get to the barracks. You know...check on my men—soldiers.” He stumbled over his words like a brainless fool. He needed another cup of coffee, and then he needed to get to work. He was much more comfortable around his men. When he had finally managed to divorce his wife, he thought he would be free to live a calm, drama-free existence void of unpredictable females. But as he stared at the spot where Miss Whittaker had just disappeared down the hall, he shook his head at the realization and mumbled under his breath. “There’s no such thing as a calm, drama-free existence when females are involved. No such thing at all.”
Chapter 4
Abigail finished changing and dressing little Rose. Then she gathered the three girls and walked them across town to the schoolhouse located near the church.
Lily was too young to attend school, but she loved to walk her big sister to school. And Abigail insisted on accompanying the first grader to class on her first day of class in a new school.
The town had grown in size since the fur trading company that originally owned the fort had sold it to the army. It wasn’t as big as Angel Creek, and certainly nowhere near as big as Charleston, but it did have a nice variety of merchants. They offered handwoven baskets made by the local Blackfeet which were certainly not available in Charleston. They also had a well-stocked mercantile where you could find anything from fabric and ribbons to dried goods and fresh buffalo meat to everything a person could need to set up housekeeping.
She had only been here a week, but she was surprised to find that she liked it. The sight of the soldiers traipsing in and out of the fort had bothered her at first, perhaps because they reminded her of the war, but now, she felt a measure of security having so many soldiers around.
Abigail held Lily’s hand and carried Baby Rose on her hip while Violet walked alongside. “Good morning, ma’am,” a passing soldier said to her, touching the brim of his military hat in greeting. “Good morning, sir,” she replied. She offered the man a friendly smile, but made sure there was no invitation in it. The last thing she wanted to do was to have to fend off a company of soldiers while she was working for the captain. Another soldier she passed nodded and smiled. She returned his greeting and he turned and fell into step with her.
“Aren’t you the housekeeper for Captain Bennett?” the soldier asked. “You’re Miss Whittaker.”
“Um, yes I am,” Abigail didn’t know what else to say so she gripped Rose and Lily tighter and called out to Violet. “Come along, Violet. You don’t want to be late for school.”
The soldier smiled at her and kept step with her and the girls. “I’m Lieutenant Maxwell. It’s nice to make your acquaintance, Miss Whittaker.”
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br /> When she didn’t say anything he kept right on talking. “So, how do you like Fort Benton so far, although I know you’ve only been in town for a week.”
Abigail was surprised anyone took notice of her arrival at all. Should she be flattered or worried? “I like it I suppose, but my job here is only temporary.”
“Yeah, I heard that too. Just until Captain Bennett finds someone to take care of his girls.” The officer’s gaze touched each of the girls. Abigail pulled Baby Rose a little closer and pulled Lily closer to her side. Violet was close behind.
“His nieces,” she corrected although she wasn’t certain why she felt the need to do so.
“Yes, his nieces. You’ve got a southern accent. Where do you hail from?” the man prodded.
Hesitant to divulge her origins since most of the soldiers in the army now used to be Union soldiers during the war, she hedged. “I’m not from around these parts, I can safely say.”
“Yeah, I heard the accent. I’m from Kentucky myself.”
She turned to look at him. “Kentucky? You don’t say.”
“Yep. Southern Kentucky.” He grinned.
“That’s good to know. I’m from a little south of Kentucky myself.” It was all the information she intended to give him.
Soon, the five of them reached the front steps of the schoolhouse just as a group of other children arrived. The newcomers eyed Lily and Violet, but didn’t speak. Instead, they rushed inside amidst playful laughter and squeals.
She turned to the lieutenant. “We’ve arrived at the school. It was nice meeting you, Lieutenant Maxwell. Thank you for escorting us safely to our destination.”
“My pleasure, ma’am.”
“Jeremy, what are you doing here?” Abigail whirled around at the sound of Captain Bennett’s voice.
The man turned and offered the captain a friendly grin. “Hello, Will. I just happened to pass Miss Whittaker and decided to make her acquaintance since you’re so reticent with the introductions.”
“I would have got around to it eventually. She’s my employee, Jeremy, not a houseguest.” The lieutenant just kept grinning like he knew something she didn’t.
“Miss Whittaker.” He touched the brim of his hat, then he turned to the captain. “I’ll see you later.” The lieutenant was still grinning when he walked away. What an odd reaction, she thought.
Then her employer turned to her. “If you felt that you and the girls needed an escort to school this morning, you should have told me.”
Abigail didn’t like his high-handed attitude. “I didn’t need an escort, Captain. The young man simply introduced himself and took it upon himself to walk alongside me and the girls. I hardly think he did anything to warrant such a stern reaction from you.”
“I’ll decide what warrants what kind of reaction from me, Miss Whittaker. And now that our paths have crossed, shall we go inside and introduce ourselves to Violet’s new teacher?”
She wanted to punch the overbearing man in the nose. How dare he assume he could tell her what to do or who to talk to?
When he stuck out his elbow to her and his hand to Lily, she had to accept graciously or look like a shrew. And although she didn’t really mind being labeled a shrew, she owed the children an example of what a grown-up lady should act like.
Together, she and Will walked inside the schoolhouse with Baby Rose on her hip, Lily on his opposite arm, and Violet following quietly behind them.
When they entered the room, the teacher was writing on the blackboard and had her back to them. “Good morning, students. We are expecting a new student this morning. Her name is Violet Wilson. I want everyone to go out of their way to make her feel welcome.”
Will cleared his throat to let the teacher know that the student in question had arrived. She turned and Abigail was fascinated by the expression on her face when she saw Will. She was even more curious by the look of shock Will had on his face. Obviously, there was some sort of history between these two.
“Willie...I mean, Captain Bennett, I didn’t expect to see you here this morning.” The woman cast a curious look toward Abigail and then to each of Will’s nieces.
Will separated himself from her and stammered his response. “Lanora. Um, I didn’t expect to see you here...in the school...at all. I guess I didn’t know you were a…”
“Teacher? It’s okay to say the word, Captain Bennett. I think we both know you are never too old to learn a new trick or two, or should I say lesson.”
Abigail cast another look at Will and was surprised to see his rugged face colored in the rosy hue of embarrassment. She wondered what the teacher meant by that because the look on the captain’s face clearly indicated there was meaning behind the remark.
“Yes, well.” Will turned and pulled Violet front and center. “This is my niece. Her name is...um...her name is…” Abigail frowned. “Violet. Her name is Violet.” Was the man so affected by the woman he had forgotten his own niece’s name? This was very interesting and Abigail was certainly curious. The petite, red-headed teacher shifted her gaze from Will to her. “And who do we have here?”
Will stepped back and touched his hand to the small of her back. “This is Abigail. She’s the woman who is living with me...I mean Miss Whittaker is staying with me...us...me and my nieces.”
“I see, and here I thought you said you were a confirmed bachelor again.” The teacher turned to her. “Abigail, may I welcome you to Fort Benton.”
“Thank you, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Abigail offered the platitude, unsure of what she should say in the midst of the strained tension between the teacher and the captain.
“It’s certainly nice to meet you too, Miss Whittaker, and it’s a pleasure to welcome a new woman to the fort. Sometimes, it can get a bit complicated when one is surrounded by soldiers and...well, let’s just say everyone knows everyone’s business around here.”
Abigail thought the woman’s comment a bit odd, so she smiled and nodded as if she understood the woman’s meaning.
The teacher sent the captain another look full of meaning, but Abigail didn’t know what that meaning was. She decided she was probably better off not knowing. Besides, she was only here until Captain Bennett found someone to care for his nieces permanently, and getting involved in the captain’s personal matters was not among her job duties.
“The students call me Miss Babcock, but I have a feeling you and I are going to be great friends. Please, call me Lanora.”
Abigail cut another look to the captain. He looked uneasy. “And you may call me Abigail.”
Will stepped up with Violet in front of him and pushed her to an empty desk on the aisle. “Well, I think it’s time we...Abigail and I that is…I think it’s time we left so you can get your classes started, Lanora...I mean Miss Babcock.”
“Of course, Captain Bennett. I look forward to seeing you again this afternoon.”
“This afternoon?”
Abigail thought the man standing beside her was going to turn and run from the building.
“Yes, when you pick up your niece, Violet.”
“Um, Abigail…Miss Whittaker is in charge of that duty. I’ll be on patrol this afternoon.”
Abigail saw the disappointment in the teacher’s eyes. “Well, another time then.”
“Yeah. Sure. Another time.” Abigail watched the captain turn and exit the schoolhouse as if a pack of wolves were on his heels. She held Lily’s hand and, with Baby Rose on her hip, she followed the good captain through the schoolhouse doors.
Outside in the crisp, cold air of a late November day, she and Lily and Baby Rose walked down the street towards home. Her curiosity touched once again on the captain’s reaction when he first saw Violet’s teacher. What was going on between those two, she wondered. A tiny prick of jealousy surfaced, but she was quick to stomp it down.
“Will Bennett and his…associates are none of my business,” she declared boldly ignoring the curious stares her comment garnered along the way. She wanted
to make certain she didn’t forget that fact in the coming weeks while living under the same roof as the handsome captain.
“What does that mean?” Lily asked.
Abigail looked down at the curious three-year-old and thought about her answer. “It means that nothing can get in the way of my job looking out for you and your sisters.”
Lily looked up at her deep in thought. “Does that mean Uncle Will too?”
“That means especially Uncle Will.”
Chapter 5
Will and Jeremy led a company of soldiers on a day’s ride outside the fort. The saddle felt good underneath him and he was happy just to ride through the cold mountain air and beautiful sunshine.
“Company, halt!” Will raised his hand to stop the two columns of soldiers following behind him and his lieutenant. “Jeremy, this spot looks as good as any, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, it’ll do. There’s a gentle rise up there and we can see for at least two miles from that spot. I think it’ll work just fine.”
“Good. Give the orders to dismount. I’ll take a short ride over that rise to make sure there are no surprises waiting on the other side. I’ll be back in five minutes.” Will kicked his horse into an easy lope.
He heard his second in command give the order. “Diiiiismount.” The ringing of spurs and creaking of leather of a hundred men and horses followed him until he was out of earshot.
Will guided his horse onto the rise about a half mile away and looked off into the distance. He saw a lone smoke plume and knew it was probably a party of Blackfeet hunting for elk. The Indians had been restless since the unfortunate assault of their chief, Mountain Chief, last year when he had come to the fort to request the agent to remove illegal whiskey traders from his land. But that wasn’t the worst of it. Will thought back to the needless killing of the chief’s brother and a teenage Indian boy. Their senseless deaths were supposedly in retaliation for the death of a white cattle rancher last fall who lived in the valley on the other side of the mountain. At least, that’s what the official report had said. As far as Will was concerned, it was out and out murder. There had been no trial. It was just a mob full of hate determined to mete out their own brand of justice.
Abigail (Angel Creek Christmas Brides Book 12) Page 4
