"Oh, don't talk like that!" Lana fussed as she wiped her own tears away. "Of course we'd take you in. I've always wanted a sister. And now, I've got one!"
The two young women hugged each other.
"Where's Ma?" Lana asked. "I thought she'd be in here with you."
"She was, but I think she went to make sure the cook was doing everything just right."
"That sounds like Ma," Lana laughed.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Liam sent this over for you."
"Sent what?" Lana followed the direction Christina pointed. On the wall hung something covered in a blanket.
"What on earth?" Lana asked as she walked across the room and took down the blanket. There, to her amazement, hung the most beautiful dress she'd ever seen. "This is for me?"
"There's a note pinned to it," Christina informed her.
Lana found the note close to the hem. Taking it off, she read:
My dearest Lana, I know the bride is supposed to be the most beautiful woman at her wedding. But, as true as that may be, I know you'll be the most beautiful to me. With my compliments, Liam O'Connell
"Try it on," Christina urged. "He had the wives make it so you could wear it to the wedding."
"I don't know," Lana shook her head, but the light in her eyes belied her curiosity.
"Oh, come on!" Christina walked over and took it down. "Here."
"All right, all right." Lana quickly took off her own dress. "I won't be able to wear my camisole with this," she said, noting the dress's design.
"So? It's for a wedding and a dance. It's supposed to be a fancy dress. Haven't you and I dreamed and dreamed about getting to go to a dance and about what we'd wear?"
"Yes," Lana admitted. She hesitated only a moment before she slipped it over her head. Once it was on and the sash tied, Lana turned to face her reflection.
The creamy, light blue silk dress fit her perfectly. The off-the-shoulders bodice trimmed with plum satin ribbon accentuated her graceful throat and shoulders. A plum sash encircled her waist and tied in the back to form a graceful bow. The skirt fell in layers of light blue over a dark purple petticoat that peeked out flirtatiously as she swirled. "Oh! Oh my goodness," she cried. "I look like a fairy princess."
"You do. You really do!" Christina agreed. "You be careful dancing tonight. Those soldier boys are gonna hurt themselves trying to be the first one to get to you." They both broke out in giggles at that.
A light knock sounded at the door. When Lana cracked it open to peek out, Joshua stood there, his face still pink from the scrubbing he had given it. He wore his best clothes.
"Is the bride ready?" he asked.
"Just about. Did you bring her flowers?"
"Right here." He handed them to Lana.
"We'll be right out." Lana closed the door and turned to face Christina. "No bride can be without a bouquet," she explained as she held out the yellow and purple iris bouquet tied in yellow satin ribbon.
"They are beautiful! Wherever did you get them?"
"One of the officer's wives let me chop down her flowerbed this morning," Lana laughed.
"Tell me which one and I'll thank her later."
Lana walked to the door and, stepping back, opened it so that Joshua saw Christina first.
"Oh, my," he said without smiling. "You're much too beautiful for Nathan," he teased her. Then he grew serious. "Your folks would be so proud of you right now. And I am very proud to have you as a daughter." He kissed her cheek and then offered her his arm.
Looking behind to Lana in her new gown, Joshua stopped. At the questioning expression on his face, Lana volunteered, "Liam had it made for me."
"You look beautiful, daughter." He stared at her for a moment as his mind flashed back twenty years earlier to her mother, who had looked just that beautiful, just that sweet. A pang filled his heart. Time went by too fast. His baby girl had grown up too fast. Forcing himself out of his reverie, he escorted the two young women to the chapel.
The chapel overflowed with people. Several enlisted men stood outside the entrance, wanting to at least hear the wedding. Seeing the bride approach, they respectfully made a path until she, Joshua and Lana passed. Lana hurried inside and sat by her already sniffling mother. The chapel had no organ or piano, so there was no music. On cue from the chaplain, the congregation stood up, and the bride and Joshua walked down the aisle.
Nathan stood at the front, next to the chaplain. When the groom saw Christina in her sumptuous satin dress, with her hair so beautiful and her eyes shining, he caught his breath. This was it. This was really it. He was getting married to the most wonderful creature he'd ever seen! Smiling softly, he wondered if she was as nervous as he was.
The simple ceremony held timeless vows. May had loaned Nathan her ring for the wedding. When he could, he would get Christina her own ring, but there were few places on the frontier to buy one.
In a few short minutes, the groom kissed the bride and the world was introduced to Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Cooper. People they had never met pounded Nathan on the back and kissed Christina. From there, all went outside to the feast and the dance!
At first, the fiddle, banjo and guitar sounded like screeching cats, but after a few bars, the musicians agreed on a rhythm and key, and a song broke out. In no time, what few women there were were quickly grabbed up and whirled around the dance floor.
Liam had been unable to take his eyes off Lana from the moment she stepped into the chapel. Now, as she stood there in the light of the setting sun, he was completely lost in her. He had hoped she would like the dress. What he hadn't counted on was how beautiful she looked wearing it, and how deeply the sight of her affected him.
Cutting through the throng of admirers surrounding Lana, Liam reached his hand out. "You promised me a dance," he smiled.
"Why, so I did," she said coyly. "Excuse me, gentlemen." Lana had never been the belle of the ball before, and enjoyed herself immensely.
Liam whisked her away in his arms, twirling her around, making her skirt swish. "You are so beautiful."
"Thank you," she said, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
"No. I mean it." Liam drank her in. "I've never seen any woman this beautiful."
"Oh, now. It's just the dress. Anyone would look beautiful in this dress. Thank you, by the way. You really shouldn't have."
"Lana. It isn't just the dress. And don't thank me. Thank you for wearing it." The young officer paused for a moment before he admitted in a quiet voice, "I don't know if I can stand it."
"Stand what?" she asked, confused.
"Stand how you look right now."
Lana didn't say anything to that. She didn't know what to say.
They had gone twice around the dance floor when an outranking officer cut in. "May I?" he asked politely.
"Of course," Liam mumbled, trying to be gracious. But looking around at all the men staring predatorily at Lana, he knew he needed to get her away from the dance if he hoped to spend some time alone with her.
Chapter 28 - I Need Your Answer
Liam stepped back and watched Lana dance away. He then walked over to Joshua and shook his hand. "You must be proud."
"I am. This is a happy day." Joshua watched the dancers for a moment. "You and Lana look good dancing together. She told me you gave her that dress."
"Yes, I did. I figured she didn't have anything new to wear, and this was as good a reason as any."
"You have feelings for her, don't you, son?"
Liam looked at Joshua, studying him for a moment. "Yes, sir. I do. She knows it, too."
Joshua nodded as he continued watching the dancers. "You know she told Centas Yi goodbye."
"Yes. She told me yesterday."
"Good." Joshua watched the dancers for another moment before he added, "In case you haven't figured it out, now's your chance." He winked at Liam and then looked around. "Where's my wife? I feel like dancing!" With that, he walked away, leaving Liam grinning at the go-ahead he'd just received.
Liam watched the dancers, or rather, watched Lana as she danced. He knew that he loved her, that he had been in love with her for some time. But he wouldn't be stationed at Ft. Worth for much longer. He needed to decide what his next step should be: let Lana go without saying anything to her, knowing he would be leaving in a few months - or risk speaking his heart on the hopes of taking her with him as his wife? If he let her go, if he walked away, where would he be? Alone - still - and lonely.
Two hours passed before Liam could finally lead Lana away from the dance and, by then, it had gotten dark. Her admirers were legion as well as persistent. Fights almost broke out between men waiting for the next dance with her. Lana stepped out of one pair of arms and directly into another, all of them turning into a blur of Army blue.
"Excuse me," Liam deliberately cut in. "But someone needs her."
"Yes, sir," a sergeant said. He stepped back and bowed at the waist toward Lana. "Thank you for the dance, ma'am."
"You're very welcome," Lana smiled and then looked up at Liam as he led her away. "Who needs me?" she asked, worried.
Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, "I do."
He led her past the Mess Hall, past the barracks, and behind the stables. It was quiet there, safe from the sentry's watchful eyes.
When they stopped, she turned to face him. "Thank you for rescuing me back there," she smiled. "I always wondered what a dance would be like. I dreamed about what I would wear, who I would dance with, what we'd talk about. But never, in my wildest imagination, did I ever dream up something like tonight!"
"You were slightly outnumbered, weren't you?" he grinned.
"Just a little," she giggled. "I think my feet are going to fall off." She looked around her and then up at him. "What are we doing back here?"
"I wanted to talk to you alone, and this was the best I could come up with on short notice."
"I see."
He stood there quietly for a moment, not sure where to start. The rising moon sat low in the horizon, its soft light dancing across her shoulders. Caressing them, searching her face, Liam began talking in a low voice.
"If we lived in a city, I would do things so differently. But we don't. We live in this great expanse called Texas. Since we see each other so rarely, I have to make the most of every opportunity." He paused for a moment and then said, "I want to hold you, Lana. And kiss you. I want you around me, close by. Not days away. You've captured my heart."
"Liam, I..."
He didn't wait for her to finish. Leaning down, he kissed her, hard at first, as if he was afraid of changing his mind and not kissing her at all. Lana tensed under his hands, but as his kiss grew softer and his lips more expressive, he felt her relax. Pulling back to look at her, he saw her confusion.
"I - I don't know what I'm doing," she murmured as she shook her head.
"You're letting me love you. Finally, you're letting me love you." He drew her against his body and kissed her again, long and slow. After a moment, he felt her hands glide up his chest and around his neck; the sensation left him breathless. He felt her make up her mind as she molded her body to his and returned his kiss with a passion he had been afraid to hope for.
Nuzzling her hair, he whispered in her ear, "Do you mean this? Because, if you don't…" he pulled back to look seriously into her eyes, "…don't kiss me like that again. I can't take it."
"And if I do?"
"I'd be a fool not to ask why, knowing how you feel about someone else."
"I told that 'someone else' goodbye, Liam. And I meant it. I have to start over. And I'd be a fool to pass you by."
"So, does this mean you know what you're doing now?"
"Yes." She reached up and kissed his right cheek, then his left, and then, looking deeply into his eyes, kissed his lips. "I'm starting over - with you, if you want me."
"If I want you?" Liam raised his head, looking skyward, and then back at her. "I want you so badly, I don't know what to do." Pausing for a moment, he continued. "I've kept this to myself for a long time, but I'll tell you now. I love you, Lana. There. I said it and now you know. I'm in love with you and want you to marry me."
"This is all moving too fast." Lana stepped back, trying to take it all in.
"Yes. It is moving fast. But Lana, when will I see you again? I don't know. It could be next week, or next month, or never, if the Army reassigns me soon. I have to tell you now." Then, in a quieter tone, he added, "I need your answer now."
"Oh, Liam, give me a minute to catch my breath. I don't know what to say."
"Certainly. I didn't mean right this minute. Just before you leave to go home."
"All right. I'll have an answer before then."
"Good. Then let me continue making my case for why you should accept." Pulling her to him, he kissed her, and then kissed her again, and then kept kissing her until Jake came around the corner of the building, looking for her.
"Ma's wondering where you are," Jake explained. At the sound of his voice, Lana turned to look at him, but she stayed in Liam's arms instead of guiltily jumping back. For some reason, that simple gesture convinced Liam that she really did mean that kiss - and all the ones that followed. She really was starting over.
"All right," Lana said. "I'll be right there."
"I'll walk with you," Liam offered.
"No. That's all right. I need to talk to my mother alone. I'm sure you understand why." She smiled coyly at his handsome face and winked.
"Yes, I understand completely." He smiled down at her. "Then, Miss Cooper, I'll say goodnight here." After kissing her one more time, he watched her walk away with Jake. A jumble of emotions filled the young lieutenant: excitement, happiness, fear that she would say no, and then fear that she would say yes. Was he ready for a wife? Whatever her answer, his life would never be the same after tonight.
* * *
"There you are!" May exclaimed when Lana joined her at the dance. "I wondered where you'd gotten to."
"I was with Liam." Lana picked up a crumb of cake and ate it. "Ma, I need to talk to you about something serious."
"Let me guess," May smiled. "The lieutenant has asked you to marry him."
"How did you know?" Lana was astonished.
"I didn't. It was just a hunch. But I saw how he's watched you ever since we got here, with his heart on his sleeve. And getting you this dress. That is one love-sick man."
"Then, what am I going to do?" Lana looked at her mother, her worry and indecision clear in her eyes.
May led her daughter away to a quieter place. "Lana, child, you know you've worried the fool out of both your pa and me over Centas Yi."
"I know, Ma."
"And when you told him goodbye, I know it broke your heart. It's still broken. You still love him."
"But..."
"I'm right, aren't I?"
"Yes, Ma. You're right. I do love him. I probably always will, at least a little. But I have to start over. Liam has been so good to me, to all of us. I thought this is what you and Pa wanted."
"That really doesn't matter," May said. "Is it what you want? Really deep-in-your-heart want? Because, unless it is, you'll be doing that boy more harm by marrying him than if you turn him down now. Don't take vows you can't keep, Lana. Don't do it."
"What's going on over here?" Joshua asked, walking up to the two of them. "I'm at a dance and my two favorite women aren't there."
"Liam's asked Lana to marry him," May explained, "and we're just discussing her options."
"He has!" Joshua broke into a wide grin. "That's wonderful. Of course, you said yes."
"No, Pa. I don't know what to tell him. That's what Ma and I were talking about."
"You'd be foolish not to say yes," he said, frowning. "An officer in the Army? Why, that's steady work and solid housing. He's a fine young man."
"I know all of that." Lana looked at her mother for help.
May, in turn, looked at her husband. "Honey, what if she doesn't love him? This is all very sudden for her."
"Sudden? No. It's not like they just met. She's known Liam long enough to know what he's like. And, not love him? Love grows. If she respects him and likes him, that will turn to love."
"So you think I should say yes," Lana said quietly.
"I sure do. I know he loves you. And I know he'll take good care of you."
Lana sighed. "I need to sleep on this. If you'll excuse me, I'll say goodnight now."
"Goodnight, honey." Joshua watched Lana walk toward the tent she now shared with her mother.
When she was out of earshot, May turned to Joshua. "I hope you don't live to regret that advice, Joshua Cooper."
"Oh, dear. 'Joshua Cooper,' huh? I must be in trouble." Grinning, he pulled May to him by her waist and kissed her hard. "It's going to be fine. It really is."
"How can you be so certain? If they marry and the Army reassigns him, we may never see her again."
"I know," Joshua grimaced. "But I'd rather have her safe with Liam than living as…"
He didn't finish his sentence, but they both knew what he meant. Kiowa.
Chapter 29 - Are You Sure About This?
The next morning, the Coopers were having breakfast around their campfire when Liam walked into their camp.
"Good morning," he greeted them.
"Morning. Sit and have some coffee," Joshua invited.
"No, I can't stay. I'm bringing an official invitation for you and your family to have dinner with the colonel in the Officer's Mess tonight."
Joshua looked at May, who nodded. "That's very kind," Joshua said. "We'd be honored."
"Good. I'll tell him."
Before he left, Joshua stopped him. "Say, do you know where I could get a dairy cow? I've got a little cash money set aside for one."
"Hmmm. Talk to the Supply Sergeant. He might know."
"All right. I will. Thanks."
Liam turned again to leave, but, as he did, he winked at Lana. "Morning, beautiful."
T'on Ma Page 15
