He shook off his disgust and focused on the task at hand. That had all happened before he arrived at the post. He just hoped and prayed nothing like that happened again, and as far as he was concerned, it wouldn’t...not on his watch.
Will studied the smoke plume for another minute and wondered if he should take his company in that direction just to make sure he knew exactly what was going on in his territory. He hesitated. The thought of bringing a hundred troops in contact with a Blackfoot hunting party made him a little bit nervous. All it would take was one hothead to start a war. No, if he felt he needed a closer look, then he’d choose a smaller group of men to make contact with the Blackfeet.
Satisfied, he turned back toward his soldiers. He rode into the makeshift camp and sought out Jeremy. He spotted him talking to a soldier at the end of the long line of men and horses.
“Have the soldiers unpack, set up camp, and then let’s do a review to see how well they did. It’s important for the men to be able to act as one when an emergency arises. I don’t want to have to train during a crisis.”
Jeremy instructed the troops and they got busy. Jeremy and Will walked among the men watching their actions, offering suggestions and advice along the way.
When they reached the tent set up as the command post, he and Jeremy went inside and instructed the privates where they wanted their tables, cots, and trunks set in the case of an actual event. The privates acted quickly and saluted their officers on the way out.
“I’m quite pleased with the men, aren’t you?” Jeremy noted and approached the pile of topographical maps on top of the desk in the middle of the tent.
“I am. I feel confident that if there’s trouble, our company will answer the call without hesitation and with efficiency that will lend to our success whatever the situation,” Will acknowledged and joined Jeremy at the table covered in maps.
Together, they pushed open a rolled-up map and lay a weight on each corner to keep it open and its contents visible.
Will pointed to a ridge about five miles from their current position. “Here’s where there could be trouble brewin’.”
Jeremy looked at the spot on the map where Will’s finger pointed. “Is that the Ledbetter place?”
“Yes. Carl Ledbetter is a piece of work and so are those wild boys of his, especially Frank and Jack. Those hellions mixed with all that moonshine they’re cookin’ along with frustrated settlers and angry Blackfeet is a recipe for disaster. It’s just gonna take one wrong word...one wrong move...and trouble could erupt.”
“Yeah, I’ve lost sleep over those exact thoughts, but it’s good to know we’ll be ready. Our soldiers put on a commendable display of teamwork today, don’t you agree?”
“I do.” Will pulled up two camp stools and he and Jeremy set them up just outside the command tent’s entrance.
The two friends sat in silence watching their men go about their duties. After ten or fifteen minutes, Jeremy spoke.
“How’s everything going with your new housekeeper, Miss Whittaker? You didn’t tell me she was beautiful.”
“I hadn’t noticed,” Will blurted out. “And everything’s going fine. For the time being.”
“What do you mean—oh, you mean because Miss Whittaker doesn’t want this job to become permanent.”
“Yes. She’s only agreed to watch the girls if I could guarantee it would be a temporary assignment. She said she had plans and she wasn’t willing to forego those plans to become a full-time cook, housekeeper, and babysitter.”
“That’s a shame. That face wouldn’t be hard to look at over the breakfast table every morning.”
“That’s not the point, Jeremy.”
“I know, but just so you know, I don’t believe for a minute you haven’t noticed her beauty. Those eyes could make a man want things.”
“Stop it. She’s my employee.” Will tried to steer his friend in another direction.
“Alright, I’ll leave it alone…for now. Do you have any prospects to replace her?”
Will shook his head. “No, I had no idea it would be easier to move a company of soldiers than it was to hire a competent housekeeper for the girls, and I fear my time is running out. I don’t suppose a bachelor like yourself would have any leads for me, would you?”
Jeremy sat in silence for a minute. “I might. One of our junior officers and his wife just had their second baby. I happened to know he hired Sergeant Boyle’s wife to help out some. That’s been about six months ago now, but it might be that she would consider an assignment such as this on a full-time basis. You could ask the sergeant I suppose.”
“Yeah, I think I’ll go find him. No time like the present.” Will left Jeremy at the front of the command tent while he walked among his men hoping to catch sight of Sergeant Boyle. He nodded and saluted his way through the men all the while thinking about his situation.
Will could admit to himself he was more than a little disappointed that Abigail had stuck to her guns about the temporary basis of her job. He liked her easy manner and he really liked the way she was with his nieces. She was patient and kind and very understanding of the trauma they had been through these last few weeks. When Lily threw a tantrum at bath time or bedtime, Abigail soothed his niece rather than disciplined her. And, when Violet cried in her sleep, Abigail seemed to know just what to do to get her back to sleep. Will had to admit he hadn’t a clue where to even begin dealing with his nieces’ grief at the loss of their parents. He was just thankful he had been able to find someone like Abigail to do the job. He just wished he could convince her to stay, but she seemed determined to go. What choice did he have but to try to find a suitable replacement? The problem was, there were very few women at the fort who didn’t have their own families to tend to.
He continued to make his way through the company of soldiers until he spied the sergeant near the wagon mules tied to a picket line at the back of the camp. “Sergeant Boyle. A word, if you please.”
The slightly overweight man turned and offered a ready smile. His Irish ancestry was plain to see in his sparkling blue eyes and ginger-colored hair.
“Captain Bennett, sir. What can I do for ya?” The man saluted and Will returned it.
“I wanted to talk to you about your wife.”
“My wife, sir?” He could see the confusion on the sergeant’s face and realized he could have started the conversation off in a better way.
“I’m sorry. Let me start over. I’d like to talk to you about the possibility that your wife might consider an offer of employment. As you’ve probably heard, my sister died recently, very unexpectedly, and I am now the caretaker of her three little girls.”
“I heard, Captain Bennett. I’m real sorry about that.” Sergeant Boyle offered his condolences.
“Thank you. I appreciate that. And as you might well imagine I need help with my new duties. I can control a regiment of soldiers without a hitch, but trying to care for three little girls…well, it is out of my expertise.” Will admitted.
Sergeant Boyle laughed. “I know how a house full of women can be, sir. Missus Boyle and I had four daughters ourselves. There were times I’d rather run headfirst into enemy fire than listen to their squawking when they got their feathers in a ruffle. Makes a man take to drinkin’ it does.”
“Well, unfortunately, I don’t have that luxury and that’s why I need to find someone to take over the daily care of my nieces.”
Sergeant Boyle nodded his understanding of the situation. “Our girls are all grown and gone from the house, so I’d dare say the missus might be interested in filling her days with the care of girls again. It might help ease her melancholy some. Since the youngest one left more than six months ago, Hazel ain’t done much but sit on the front porch and stitch baby quilts. I think she’s hoping for grandbabies someday. I guess a woman feels an empty nest more’n a man does.”
“I suppose that’s true.” Will had no idea if it was true or not since his ex-wife had no desire to have children—ever. It
was one of the things that pushed him and Charlotte apart. He had always wanted to have children one day. Unfortunately, he had mistakenly assumed every woman wanted children as well. But after they were married, Charlotte had made it crystal clear that she wanted no part of the little trouble makers.
“I’ll talk to Mrs. Boyle as soon as we get back to the fort and I’ll send her on over if she’s agreeable.” Sergeant Boyle assured him.
“That’s wonderful news, Sergeant,” Will said but he wasn’t sure he meant it. If Mrs. Boyle was agreeable, then that meant Abigail would be returning to Angel Creek. And it was that thought that unsettled him. He hated to admit it—even to himself—but he liked the way she cared for his nieces. He liked her sense of humor. He liked her cooking. He liked the way she smelled. He liked looking over the breakfast table at her pretty face—he remembered Jeremy’s words and chastised himself for he had no business thinking thoughts like that.
Will hurried back to where he had left Jeremy in front of the command tent. “Give the orders to break camp and mount up, Lieutenant.”
“What’s the hurry?” Will could tell Jeremy was surprised at his abrupt order. His friend jumped up and fell into step beside him.
“Sergeant Boyle is going to ask his wife if she’d be interested in caring for my nieces. He can’t very well do that up here on this mountain, now can he?”
“But what’s the hurry? Abigail isn’t leaving tomorrow is she?” Jeremy quizzed him.
“No, but she can leave as soon as I find a suitable replacement.” He mounted his horse leaving his puzzled friend to carry out his orders. No longer under Jeremy’s scrutiny, he sat on his horse and watched the activity around him, while his mind was on the beautiful woman he didn’t want to want.
Chapter 6
Abigail waited on Violet after school. She had been looking forward to talking to Miss Babcock in hopes of getting some insight into her and her employer’s story, but when she arrived to walk Violet home, another parent had the teacher cornered. Abigail had to be content with her own suspicions about the two of them. Though in truth, none of it was any of her business.
Carrying Baby Rose on her hip, Violet and Lily walked through the town beside Abigail as they headed home. The temperature had dropped and the wind had taken on a chill that predicted snow. She looked to make certain the two oldest girls were bundled up sufficiently. The last thing she wanted was for the girls to get sick. She pulled the blanket down over Baby Rose’s face. “Hurry, girls. And keep your faces covered. I don’t want anyone to get sick this close to Christmas.”
“Violet said we wouldn’t have Christmas this year.” Lily sniffed as her little legs hurried to keep up with Abigail. She wanted to get the girls inside as quickly as possible.
Abigail turned to look at Violet who refused to meet her gaze. “Did she now? Violet, why do you think you won’t be having Christmas this year?”
Violet didn’t answer. Instead, she kept her eyes to the ground and kept walking even after Abigail slowed her pace.
“Violet? What’s wrong?” Abigail asked and watched the girl’s shoulders drop as if the weight of the world were on her shoulders.
“We always had Christmas at our house. With Momma. And Papa.”
“And you think because your parents are with the angels now, you won’t have Christmas? You know your Uncle Will is gonna make sure you have a nice Christmas, don’t you?”
“No, I mean I guess, but how’s Santa Claus gonna know where we are? We aren’t in Missouri anymore. How will he bring us our presents all the way out here?”
Abigail heard the tremor in Violet’s voice. “Oh, is that all you’re worried about?”
Violet sent her a frown that showed her displeasure at Abigail’s dismissal of her very important problem.
Abigail laughed and pulled the oldest sister into a tight hug. “What I meant was that you have nothing to worry about. Nothing at all. Santa knows exactly where you are at all times. Just because you are living in Montana Territory now instead of with your parents in St. Louis, Missouri, doesn’t mean you won’t have Christmas. On the contrary, it’s gonna be an even better Christmas.”
“How?” Lily wanted to know.
Abigail thought about her answer for a minute before she answered. She didn’t want to make promises to the girls she, or Captain Bennett, couldn’t keep. After all, these girls had been through so much during the last few weeks, the last thing Abigail wanted to do is disappoint them again. “Well, here you’ll have the choice of any Christmas tree you want.”
“Really? Any Christmas tree we want?” Violet and Lily said in unison.
Abigail laughed at their surprise. “Well, of course. Look around you. The mountains are full of Christmas trees.”
The girls looked up into the mountains covered with green pine trees. “Gosh. I never thought about that,” Violet admitted.
“And there will probably be snow on Christmas Day. Lots and lots of snow. Maybe your uncle will even take you for a sleigh ride. Wouldn’t that be fun?” Abigail watched their little faces light up with wonder at the possibilities.
“A sleigh ride? With ribbons and bells?” Violet asked in an almost reverent whisper.
“I would dare say with ribbons and bells.” Abigail hoped she wasn’t promising something the captain would be opposed to, but how could he deny these sweet little angels the most basic trappings of a traditional Christmas.
“Now, see? Christmas here is going to be something you will remember always.” Abigail assured them.
“Forever and ever and ever?” Lily asked, her little upturned face an open book of innocent trust.
“Yes, I think forever and ever and ever. Here we are girls, home at last.”
Abigail opened the gate to the yard and followed the girls inside the house. A strange woman was sitting in the rocking chair in the living room. She pushed the girls behind her and shifted Baby Rose on her left hip leaving her right arm and hand free in case she needed to defend them all from the intruder. “What are you doing here in the captain’s house?”
The woman stood, or rather tried to stand, but instead of addressing Abigail’s demands to know who she was and what she was doing in the captain’s residence, she wobbled and steadied herself against the wall next to the chair. It was obvious the woman was drunk.
“I asked you who you were and what you are doing in the captain’s house?” She handed the baby to Violet. “Violet, take Rose and Lily to the kitchen. I’ll be along in a minute,” she said without taking her eyes off the intoxicated stranger standing in their house.
She watched the woman as she eyed the girls when they passed her on their way to the kitchen. “Ah, now ain’t they cute? They remind me of my own girls when they was that age.”
Abigail closed the front door and stepped across the room to block the door to the hallway. “Now, I’m asking you again. Who are you and what are you doing in this house? You better speak up or I’m sending word to Captain Bennett immediately and he’ll have you arrested on the spot.”
She heard the front door open and whirled around to see the surprised look on the captain’s face as he saw her confronting the stranger in the house.
“What’s going on here?” Captain Bennett sent a worried look to her and then to the strange woman beside the rocking chair.
“That’s what I was just asking this woman. We just returned from walking Violet home from school and found her here in the house. And she’s not exactly sober.”
“I can see that.” Will turned to the woman and addressed her in his brisk, military style. “Madame, I suggest you explain yourself at once.”
“Hello, Cap’n Bennett. I’m Hazel Boyle. Sergeant Boyle’s wife,” the woman stated matter-of-factly as if that was enough to explain her presence in the captain’s home.
“You? Are Sergeant Boyle’s wife?”
Abigail watched the disbelief on the captain’s face. Who was this Sergeant Boyle and why would his wife be standing in the capt
ain’s house?
“Yep, I’m Harvey’s missus.” The woman warbled her words and then hiccupped.
Abigail turned to the captain. “You know this woman?”
“Yes. I mean, no. At least, not personally. But I do know why she’s here. I just didn’t know about...the rest of it.”
“And by ‘the rest of it’ do you mean her fondness for alcohol?” Abigail whispered.
“Yes. I had no idea that was a problem, but now that I think about it, the sergeant did say his wife suffered from melancholy. I just didn’t connect those two to mean…this.”
Abigail still didn’t see the connection. “But why is she here?”
“I was trying to find someone to watch the girls...you know, for when you leave. You said you only wanted the job on a temporary basis, so I’ve been trying to find someone to take your place. Jeremy, Lieutenant Maxwell, you met him, he said he heard about a fellow officer who had used her...Mrs. Boyle here...when his wife, not Jeremy’s, the fellow officer’s wife, when he and his wife had their second child and they needed help, they used her.” He nodded toward the woman leaning against the wall for support. “No one said anything about…” The captain’s words trailed off and they both turn to stare at the woman now holding on to the rocking chair to keep from falling over.
Abigail shook her head at the captain in denial. “I had no idea it would be so hard to find someone appropriate to watch the girls. But I can assure you, I will not leave until you do. These children need proper care. They need someone to nurture them and help them get through the death of their parents. This,” she cut a sharp look to the woman who had fallen back into the rocking chair, “this is not the kind of person I had in mind. I think under the circumstances Captain, I shall exert my authority and declare that we should forget about trying to find someone to replace me...at least until after Christmas and I’ve had a chance to think more on the matter.”
Abigail (Angel Creek Christmas Brides Book 12) Page 5
