Ty expected no less. After all, he’d told his commanding officer he wanted out of the Confederate Army. The General was nobody’s fool. The fact the Rebels were losing on every front and before much longer, the Union Army would begin another spring campaign didn’t make for a good enough reason. His request would viewed as desertion.
Ty gave his report, which contained just the facts. Leaving out his relationship with Sonja and their conditions, he lied. He told the general he’d come upon a few well-meaning refugees, who nursed him back to health as they made their escape. With the rational, it had taken him quite a while to gain his strength and then make his way back, Ty accounted for the time he’d been gone.
Stewart returned to his desk and listened quietly, his hands steepled on the arms of his chair.
A line of cold sweat ran down Ty’s backbone. The general keen gray eyes never left his face. Confident, Stewart caught on to the fact that he lied, he was headed to the blockade for sure. Funny how lies had a way of compounding one on top of another, he mused.
Sure enough, the general called for the guard. “Find the Lieutenant a tent, Captain. Stand guard and don’t let him out of your sight. I have some recognizance reports to go over and then we’ll see about this mess.” The cock to his brow told Ty, Stewart may have sympathized, but orders couldn’t be ignored. “I’ll consider your statement, Loflin. You’ll have my answer in the morning. Do you have anyone we should contact?”
The words brought momentary hesitation on Ty’s part. He glanced back at Stewart. Stewart’s face held a small twinge of regret. Ty’s heart sank. He would be court-martialed. “Yes, sir.” A moment passed. “Yes, sir. Please give my gold chain to the woman who saved my life. Sonja Brooks of Brooks farm near Spotsylvania.” He considered his next words carefully. “Tell her I’m sorry, I know she did her best.”
Stewart nodded and bowed his own head. “Dismissed.”
Silently, Ty followed the guard to a small tent pitched near the creek. Obviously, word had made it around he was there because all eyes followed him as he walked after the guard to the temporary housing.
Ty glanced at the moon, which made its way up over the ridge of the north Virginia countryside. No one could know of his condition and he had to keep the beast under control. If there were vampires among the soldiers, he would be under attack. Too much was at stake. There would be a time and place to execute revenge on those who’d killed his men.
“I’ll be keepin’ my eye on you, all right. You jest git on down there and git cleaned up. Here, these are all you’re gonna get, so take em and hurry up with that bath. You hear?”
Ty didn’t do more than nod as he hobbled down the hill to the creek bank, the cold water trickling over the rocks shimmering in the moonlight. With the meager clothes the guard gave him, he shed the sheet. The she wolf had disappeared and Ty had no way of knowing what happened after the stupid vines had literally tied him up right there on the infernal ground. The beast got away from him and he’d allowed the Confederates to find him, stupid, green behind the ears mistake on his part. He’d wanted to contact Stewart on his own terms. He couldn’t blame the general for seeing a traitor when he looked at Ty.
The moon shone brightly. The guard would keep a close eye on him. If he planned a move, he’d have to be quick. One bullet would do him in. Or would it? He stood back up and glanced around as if someone had tapped him on the shoulder. No one lurked in the shadows. Or did they?
Unsure if he could hold them off, he’d made his last arrangements in the event, he couldn’t withstand the assault. Stewart sent a man to deliver the medallion to Sonja. It wasn’t much, but Ty figured Sonja would understand his meaning. He smiled into the darkness. Honor being as important as it was to her, he consoled himself with the idea she’d do the right thing by his family. At least he could count on her loyalty. Her love being a different matter made him irritable and edgy. What he would give for a few more minutes with her to explain how sorry he was and how he didn’t blame her for what she had to do to save him would surely use up the last of his luck. Maggie’s sweet Irish voice came to him.
“Boyo, get your arss up! Do what you must. The end isn’t over by a long shot.” Hands on hips and a snort to her laugh, she gave him a good hard glare out of green eyes.
“Yes, ma’am.” Ty shook his head. He must be losing his mind, talking to the thin air was one thing, but seeing apparitions was bordering on crazy.
Back at the tent, he rested on the small palette provided, Ty went over the details of his meager plan. Sonja’s lovely face kept interrupting his musings. Her being the only really good and decent thing in his whole horrid existence didn’t escape him. The chance to make a life for them became paramount in his mind, even if they moved from place to place to survive. He’d make it work. Pretty sure they would court-martial him he worked it out in his head. Escaping with her, no matter what proved out in the end. He couldn’t die without her knowing the truth. He loved her, so much, he couldn’t return to his old life without her. Somehow, he vowed, they’d be together.
***
Day broke in a thin drizzle. The Confederate camp rose slowly as if the dampness seeped into their bones. Ty rolled to a squat and walked hunched over out of the small tent. The captain waited next to the opening.
“Do your business. The general wants to see you.” The captain’s tone bore weight as if the heavy burden settled between his shoulders. Standing in the presence of Stewart, Ty understood why he’d gotten the impression of impending doom.
“You’re to be court-marshaled, Lieutenant, as soon as the sun is fully up.” Stewart’s grave voice echoed in the silence of the canvas tent. His second in command stood behind him and the captain flanked Ty.
Ty’s mind went to Sonja. If he didn’t escape, how would she survive with the constant threat of Vampires without his help? He would escape, that’s all there was to the mess.
“Do you have anything to say in your defense, sir?” The general’s position of authority made him structure each word carefully.
“Yes, sir. I’m innocent of any wrong doing. I regret I wasn’t able to complete my mission, but we were ambushed with enough force to be anything but coincidence.”
Stewart’s jaw clamped in consideration. “The rules of combat are straight-forward, Lieutenant. You were to report to your commanding officer without delay. You didn’t do that. My sergeant reports you ran when confronted by Confederate soldiers. Can you explain the action?”
Ty’s brow furrowed, his face going taught. The muscle along his cheek clinched so tight, his teeth ground against each other. Fire burned in his eyes and in his gut. If he could only remember some of that night after he’d lost Sonja in the woods. Any clue as to what he’d done before he woke to the Rebel soldiers standing over him, their rifles pointed at his heart was gone with the change back to a man’s body.
Stewart continued in the official, no nonsense tone of a superior officer. “Do you know how the guns meant for the men of our Confederate regiment came into the hands of the Union troops?”
Ty’s head jerked up. His face showed pure shock. Unaware of what the general spoke of, he took a step forward before he could stop himself. The captain’s grip reminded him of the situation and he halted before wearily shaking his head. What a devastating fact. No wonder, the General issued the order for court-martial. One more nail in his coffin, he mused. How had he missed the Yankees confiscating the goods, his men and he’d been transporting that night. Ty’d assumed the rifles had burned in the heat or exploded along with the gunpowder. Glancing at Stewart’s face, he could tell the general wanted desperately to throw him a lifeline. He composed himself and calmed the need to prove himself. His time had come. Standing as tall as the chains of the shackles would allow, he stared straight ahead, like a proud Confederate soldier at attention. “No sir, I am not.”
“Tyler Jacob Loflin, by the power vested in me by the Confederate States of America and President Jefferson, I order you to be shot
before a firing squad of your peers at nine hundred hours this day, the fifteen of June, 1863.” Stewart paused and swallowed. “May God have mercy on your soul.”
Ty remained at attention. His muscles tense, his mouth in a thin line across his face.
“Do you have any last request?”
Ty remained silent.
Stewart’s mouth pursed as he studied Ty’s ramrod position. “Very well.” He rose slowly with all the decorum his military rank decreed. “Captain, secure the prisoner. Prepare him for his punishment.” With that, he lifted his right hand in salute to Ty, holding the position along with his second in command as the captain turned Ty, heading for the door.
***
Ty hadn’t come back. Sonja paced off the small parlor once more. Where could he be? She twisted her fingers until the pain reminded her she could do nothing but wait, wait and fret over where he could be. Their argument had been more anxiety on her part, more temper born out of frustration on his. She’d never imagined he would leave, staying gone this long. Where was he? Had he gone for good? His clothing remained. His gun being the only thing he’d brought with him to Hortence’s cabin. Even his cavalry had hung from the peg at the front door. So where’d he gone off to? The pain she’d caused him showed in his face. She recalled the look of hatred he’d given her when she tried to explain.
She should never have run off like she did. Apparently, he’d followed her deep into the overgrown, impenetrable forest surrounding the vast cutover of the wilderness.
A short rap at the door had her jumping. When she opened it and found the Rebel Hortence nursed back to health standing there, Sonja’s heart squeezed. A tight, cold lump started to form in her stomach.
“Ma’am, I’m lookin’ for Mrs. Sonja Brooks. Would you be Mrs. Brooks?”
“Yes. State your business.” Sonja’s trembling hands wrapped around her waist. She swore under her breath at the fear building inside her.
“I have something for you. Lieutenant Tyler Loflin asked that you take possession of this.” He extended his hand and in it laid Ty’s gold medallion.
The floor swamp before her eyes. Sonja bit back the cry, before meeting the Rebel’s eyes.
Sympathy and pain mingled in the man’s weary face. “General Stewart said I should bring it straight away, seenin’ as how the lieutenant’s due to be court-martialed in an hour.”
Her head snapped up. The cool glare she leveled on the Rebel should have made him wither in fear.
“Court-martialed?” Her mind raced. “Where? Take me there!”
***
Ty stood facing the men of the firing squad as they settled into place. How odd none of them wanted to look him in the face? Truly a bizarre turn of events he mused.
Hortence’s words came back to him. If he had the gift, that meant he couldn’t die. What word had she used? Invincible!” Well, they’d soon see, wouldn’t they?
The captain’s words brought him back. “Do you want a blindfold, son?” His gruff, gravely tone, all an attempt to remain unperturbed by the impending court-martial had Ty thinking better of the man.
Ty shook his head. He didn’t glance at the captain, whose job it had been to watch over him since his arrival. “No, just promise me, you’ll give me a minute’s head start when the shooting starts, okay?”
Sure Ty was attempting to make light of the situation, the captain snorted out a laugh, before patting him consolingly on the shoulder.
The sun peeked over the tree line. The shooters stood quietly waiting for the order to commence. Ty could see the general out of the corner of his eye as he rode up on his gray mare. Hoping they didn’t stall much longer, Ty glanced toward the creek where a line of trees flanked the water.
There along the edge of the furs stood a wolf of purest white with a silver ring of fur around her neck. Ty marveled at her beauty. She held a regal stance for a moment more before turning to disappear into the undergrowth.
Stewart’s voice could be heard giving the signal to ready. “Attention. Aim. Fire!”
Gunfire erupted. The sound shook the ground. Ty smelled the gunpowder and heard the bullets coming. With the bullets hitting him in his chest and heart, Ty raised his arms snapping the restraints and throwing them sideways. In the midst of the change, he snarled and snapped at the rifles pointed at him. The bullets zinged by in rapid succession. Bolting for the tree line and other side of the creek, he could hear the call to action. More bullets whizzing past followed his departure from the line.
He let the change come without consideration. It mattered little the soldiers would see him shift to the wolf before racing off into the woods. The instant he disappeared into the undergrowth surrounding the water’s edge, the she wolf appeared in all her glory. Sonja stood regally with the shimmer of gray fur encircling her neck. A quick swish of her white tail and she bounced out of sight. Ty didn’t hesitate. Following his mate, he vanished into the dim shadows that played along the trail.
Chapter 6
“Let’s go. Just leave and never look back.” Sonja’s face told him, his idea didn’t sit well. “Why not? We’ve got to do something.” His frustration wouldn’t be abated. Time was running out and they had to decide.
She shook her head as she faced him head on. “All right, you have to go.”
Concise and to the point. “What makes you think I’m going without you?” he countered.
“Because! This is how it’s meant to be.”
“No it isn’t.” He could hear his blood starting to churn, a sure sign the wolf wanted to take over. “Hortence said you’re my mate.” He sounded a little foolish, even to his own ears. “The Guardian said the same thing! Are you going to argue with him?” Ty figured she knew what he meant. After all, the Guardian stood seven feet tall and reminded him of the color of tar. He impressed Ty with his prows and strength. He wasn’t a werewolf, but a god of sorts, ruler of the underworld or some such nonsense. Ty didn’t want to think about the particulars, he simply wanted to get the hell out of there. Hortence small cabin was secluded and with the help of a magic spell remained fairly concealed. Ty didn’t trust the vampires, more would come. The sooner he got Sonja out of there the better off they’d be, he mused.
Sonja glanced around her. “I can’t leave.”
“Ahhh, for the love of all that’s holy! What are you talking about now?” He ran his hand through his hair and bit down on the reply he wanted to share with her. The woman wasn’t being rational. None of the situation he found them both in was rational. “Why not, pry tell?”
She didn’t answer.
“I asked you a question. Sonja, why not?” He couldn’t stop the interrogation. “Where were you last night?”
She dropped her head, while contemplating her hands clinched in her lap.
The room grew silent.
Finally, Ty rose and walked to the door. “We go over the same ground every time you disappear like this.” He waited. “Fine, if you won’t tell me, I guess we have nothing to discuss. Snatching the battered cavalry off the peg, he headed for the door. With one hard glower in her direction, he paused, shoving the hat on top of his head. “I’m leaving. I’ll be gone awhile. No need to wait supper.” With the words looming like a vast expanse between them, Ty stepped onto the porch.
“Wait!” Sonja slipped from the chair she’d been seated in and walked over to the doorway where he stood. The sunlight gleamed on the pistol strapped to his leg. She sighed heavily. “I went to see my sister.” Dark lashes fluttered down. She toyed with the button on his faded cotton shirtfront.
Exhausted, Ty released the last patient breath he owned. “Do you know how dangerous it is for you to be traipsing through the swamp alone and at night?”
She shook her delicate curls. “I wasn’t alone, silly.” She stepped away, before walking back to the table, nervously arranging the silverware laying there. “I had Hortence with me.”
Ty figured he’d been too tired to hear her right. “What did you say?” He moved to
stand behind her. Watching the gold glisten in her hair always made him want to reach out, fisting his hands in her locks. “Honey,” he turned her gently, looking into her soulful brown eyes. “Honey, she’s dead.” Shaking his head, Ty tried his best to make her understand. With all they’d been through, the fact that Hortence died probably wouldn’t process. Sonja needed to deny the fact in order to remain sane. He could understand the reaction to trauma. He’d seen men close themselves off to reality dozens of times when faced with the death of a comrade or friend in battle. After what they’d been through, the reaction certainly seemed normal to him. Gathering her close he made another attempt. “Look, I know how much you thought of the old girl…but, Nymph, she’s gone.”
“Who’s gone?” The question came from behind him. Ty forced down the need to charge the door with Sonja in tow. Blinking, his mind worked out a plausible excuse for the woman standing in the doorway. He’d been through a lot, what with learning he’d become a werewolf, then staring down a firing squad before escaping with Sonja, all perfectly good reasons for the image of Hortence to be standing in the doorway. Pointing to the door, Ty looked back at Sonja. “I have the same problem sometimes.” He gave the door a quick scan. Yeah, the damn ghost still stood there. “I see her right now, as a matter of fact. Doesn’t make her real, Nymph.”
The old woman snorted. “I beg your pardon, boy, I’m as real as a Union gold piece.” Stepping across the threshold, she shoved him aside as she went around to the other side of the table settling in one of the pressed oak chairs. Pinning him with that beady eye, she continued companionably. “Don’t believe everything you see and none of what you hear.” Wagging a finger at him, she smirked in agreement with herself. “That’s my motto.”
“But how are you here?” His mind simply couldn’t process the fact she sat at the table as if they were discussing nothing more important than the weather.
The Lady in the Mist (The Western Werewolf Legend #1) Page 13
