“She was once my wife,” Delaney answered.
“I can’t imagine you ever being married, sir.”
“That was an unnecessary remark, Mr. Pepperdine.”
“Sorry, sir.”
~*~
The Parnell residence was one of Austin’s finest. It was a three-storied dwelling complete with gaudy gingerbread work and towers at each corner of the house. Their dining room was as elegant as could be found in any large eastern city. It was large and spacious enough for a small banquet, its furnishings plush with velvet and shining mahogany.
Dexter Parnell had greeted Delaney warmly enough to dispel any anticipation of bitterness between the two men. Pepperdine felt slightly shocked by the affair. In his world divorce simply was not done. To have two men who had both known the same woman, and sitting down and dining with her was more than his mind could accept. Their cordiality toward each other, and Mrs. Parnell’s affection for them both, made the young Bostonian feel as if he were at an orgy of some kind.
The meal itself was elegant as would be expected in the stratum of society. The menu consisted of baked quail stuffed with a mushroom dressing, roasted vegetables and rice. It was followed by a desert of delicate parfaits. All was served by two footmen under the supervision of a butler.
Coffee was then provided, and Parnell began the after-dinner conversation. “I knew you would still be in the army,” he said to Delaney. “You’re a natural born soldier, Ambrose, made to fit into a uniform.” He winked at Pepperdine. “I imagine you admire your commander a great deal.”
“I suppose I do,” Pepperdine said. Since Delaney had made no mention of his forced retirement, the young officer decided not to speak of the matter either. “He’s been a fine inspiration to me. And the men as well.”
“I’m sure he is,” Mrs. Parnell said. “He was always so sure of himself.”
“He’s just led us on a successful mission,” Pepperdine continued. “We pursued a band of renegade Indians into Mexico and defeated them. Their leader was killed and his followers fled back to their reservation in Kansas.”
“Oh, Ambrose!” Mrs. Parnell exclaimed. “You’re always the hero.”
“I’m a commercial man myself,” Parnell said. “A solid fixture of the merchant class. My idea of adventure is business dealing—buying and selling—trading and bartering. I like to build and hold onto things, young man. I only let ’em go or trade ’em off when I can step up or get my hands on something grander.”
“It would seem you’ve done quite well for yourself,” Pepperdine observed. “Is my assumption that you’re quite successful a valid one?”
Mrs. Parnell smiled. “Indeed it is, Lieutenant.”
“The money I earn serves as my medals,” Parnell said. “The rewards of my commercial campaigns, so to speak. They’re proof I’ve pulled something off. Ambrose and I are both successes in our worlds, I suppose. But they’re decidedly different ones, right Ambrose?”
Delaney sipped his wine. “They are for a fact, Dexter.”
Pepperdine looked over at his captain. Delaney suddenly looked very old, terribly pale and dreadfully faded. The years had caught up with him in that major’s office.
“Ambrose’s world is so cruel and heartless at times,” Mrs. Parnell said.
“The past is over,” Delaney suddenly uttered. “It’s gone and done with. We’ve all chosen the bugle calls we wanted to follow. The way it all ended is probably for the best.”
“Ended?” Parnell asked laughing. “Nothing’s ended by a long shot, let me tell you, Ambrose! I’m bounding with energy. My God, how this country is growing. This isn’t the end, it’s the beginning!”
Delaney nodded, but his innermost feelings flashed across his face for one swift instant. Mrs. Parnell noticed and poured him some more wine. “Ambrose, does your old wound still bother you from time to time?”
“Oh, sweet Matty,” Delaney said softly. “I’ve had a couple more since I saw you last.”
“A tough man for a tough job,” Parnell said.
Delaney stood up. “Speaking of tough jobs, Mr. Pepperdine and I must return to ours. We are to begin our journey back to Fort Proviso in the morning. Your hospitality is much appreciated.”
Pepperdine obediently got to his feet. “Most elegant repast,” he said. “And a delight after these many days in the field.”
“We are pleased you found it to your liking,” Parnell said cordially.
The goodbyes were hasty and they declined Parnell’s offer for a final drink in his study. Delaney and Mrs. Parnell exchanged a quick glance, then the officers departed.
As they rode through the streets, the army duo was silent. Pepperdine finally spoke as they neared the bivouac.
“A nice evening.”
“Yes,” Delaney said. “We three seemed strange people to you, didn’t we, Mr. Pepperdine?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Matty and I met Dexter Parnell while we were stationed in Missouri. Our marriage was already folding by then. It had been twelve years of hell for her. Poor Matty just wasn’t meant to be a soldier’s wife, especially on the harsh frontier. I suppose I sensed that even before we were married. But when you’re young . . .” His voice trailed off and a few minutes passed before he spoke again. “Then we met Dexter and there must have been an instantaneous attraction between the two, but at least Matty had the decency to return to our home in Ohio for propriety’s sake and get a divorce before she allowed him to follow her and begin a serious courtship.”
“I see, sir,” Pepperdine said. He looked over at Delaney and studied his face in the moonlight. “You loved her very much, didn’t you, Captain Delaney?”
“I never stopped, Mr. Pepperdine,” Delaney answered. “And I never shall.”
Chapter Sixteen
Delaney’s patrol returned to Fort Proviso exactly forty days after it had left. Of the five men killed at the renegades’ encampment in Mexico, two were married. The sad information had already been telegraphed back to the fort, and Emma Norton had broken the news to the affected families.
Now the entire garrison, soldiers and families alike, stood along the parade ground as the dusty, exhausted patrol rode slowly into the garrison. The column came to a halt in front of post headquarters. The only break in the near ceremony of the occasion was when Corporal Jones’ wife and children damned convention and rushed to the travois where he laid. He looked up at them, smiling widely at their welcome. “I’m fine, you honeys. I’m just fine.”
The post commander Major Dearborn stepped down from the porch and walked over to where Delaney sat his horse. The major said, “I guess you know you’ve been retired.”
“I was told at department headquarters in Austin.”
“There is no replacement coming,” Dearborn said. He smiled over at Pepperdine. “Looks like you’ll be commanding a company quite early in your career.”
Delaney laughed. “Hasn’t Mr. Pepperdine’s uncle gotten him transferred back east yet?”
“We’ve found out a great deal about the lieutenant since you’ve been gone,” Dearborn said. “We’ll talk about it at dinner tonight. Which, by the way, will be full dress.”
“Godamn it! It’s not Sunday,” Delaney protested.
“A special occasion though,” Dearborn said. “One of our longest patrols has returned.”
“Next time I’ll—“ Delaney stopped speaking as he realized there would be no next time.
“See you both at dinner,” Dearborn said, taking their salutes before heading back to the building.
Pepperdine and Delaney surrendered the reins of their mounts to two orderlies who suddenly appeared at their sides. They dully watched the horses being led away. Pepperdine sighed. “I feel like we’ve been away for years.”
“It’s always that way,” Delaney said.
“It’s strange though,” Pepperdine mused. “I spent less than two days here, but it’s as if it’s been my home since boyhood.”
“That shows
you’re a natural soldier,” Delaney remarked. “You adapt quickly.”
Pepperdine started to speak, hesitated, then announced, “Captain Delaney, I’ve come to a decision. Although it was quickly made in that adjutant’s office in Austin, I’ve thought it over carefully.”
“Sounds earth-shaking, Mr. Pepperdine,” Delaney said. “Just what important thing have you decided?”
“I’m going to resign my commission and leave the army, sir.”
Delaney was silent for several long moments. “I’ve had the same thought several times over the past thirty-five years.”
“I’m deadly serious, sir, and determined,” Pepperdine insisted. “I’m afraid it’s just not worth all the hardships and dangers when some insolent jackass can criticize others with insolent hindsight.”
“I think I understand,” Delaney said, stretching his aged, aching body. “In the meantime I’ll tell you what, Mr. Pepperdine. I’ll meet you over at the bath house with some cigars and whiskey. We’ll have a long, hot soak and a few drinks while enjoying some good smokes. What do you say?”
“Fine, sir.”
Pepperdine saluted and walked stiffly across the parade ground to his quarters. He pushed open the door and found the girl Minerva laying out a clean uniform for him. She smiled warmly. “I’m glad you’re back, Lieutenant.”
“I’m glad to be back, thank you,” Pepperdine said. He looked around the small room. “I see you’ve kept the place nice and clean. I owe you some money, don’t I?”
“I won’t charge you the full amount,” she said. “Since there wasn’t nobody messing things up.”
“Thank you,” Pepperdine replied, instinctively keeping his eyes on the girl. When he realized his gaze was apparent to her, he blushed as carnal thoughts flashed through his mind. But he knew the situation was impossible. He sighed loudly and gathered up his clothes as she went to the doorway.
The girl’s feminine instincts alerted her that she was physically desired by the officer. She gazed boldly into his face, her dark eyes penetrating, understanding. “You better get yourself a woman.”
“Beg pardon?” Pepperdine mumbled embarrassed.
Minerva shook her head slowly. “A young feller like you cain’t do without one.”
She flashed a knowing grin, then abruptly left.
~*~
At the bath house Pepperdine found Delaney already soaking in the steaming water of a cast iron tub, happily puffing on a fresh cigar. The captain had taken several healthy drinks out of the whiskey bottle as well. Pepperdine stripped down and gingerly slipped into the next bathtub.
“How’s the water, Mr. Pepperdine?”
“Hot, sir.”
“Have a drink, Mr. Pepperdine.”
“By your leave, sir.” Pepperdine took the bottle and treated himself to a throat-searing swallow.
“Maybe the benefits of this bath house don’t compare with Jim Rivers’ sweat lodge, but it’s still good therapy,” Delaney said. “Relax, boy, and treat yourself to the sensation of all this wet heat soaking the dirt, the pain and the fatigue right out of your mistreated body. Can’t you feel it working down deep in you?”
“Indeed I do,” Pepperdine said, slipping down until the water was at his chin. “Why didn’t our faithful Jim Rivers come all the way back to the post with us?”
“He doesn’t like garrison areas any better than towns,” Delaney said. “Right now he’s being pampered and fed by his wife. Don’t worry about old Jim.”
“Oh, I know better than to do that.”
Delaney took a slow drag off the cigar and exhaled leisurely, watching the smoke drift across the room. “Still going to resign, Mr. Pepperdine?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I can’t truly say that such an action would please me,” Delaney said. “This may come as a shock to you, but I have a deep feeling of loyalty to this regiment.”
“I sensed that out in the field, sir.”
“That’s my Achilles’ heel, I’m afraid. A simple, stupid dog-like devotion and trust. Why else would I spend so damned much of my life in an army that not only doesn’t appreciate me but refused to promote me in the process? At any rate I am going to ask a favor of you, Mr. Pepperdine, a big favor.”
“I’d be happy to oblige if I can.”
“I’m asking you to keep your commission and remain with the regiment. I’m asking you to take over L Company and keep things running along the same path they seem to be following now. You’ll have Sergeant Wheatfall to help you over any initial stumbling blocks.”
Pepperdine wasn’t sure how to answer the captain. He reached for the bottle and tipped it back. “I’m sorry, Captain Delaney, but my enthusiasm for the army was wiped away in one brief encounter with that ass in Austin. I’ll admit my attitude toward coloreds has changed. That is mainly because of my acquaintance with Sergeant Wheatfall and Corporal Jones.”
“Never mind.” Now Delaney grabbed the bottle. “I really don’t care. After thirty-five years I’m hanging it up and coasting for the rest of my life. Well, maybe I’m not wrapping it up, they’re doing it for me. But the results are the same.”
“How old are you, Captain Delaney?”
“Fifty-seven,” Delaney said, then he paused. “My God! I’m fifty-seven years old and it’s all over and done. This is what it’s all led up to, after two wars and numerous Indian campaigns; after being shot a couple of times; after knowing enough cold and hunger to last three, maybe four, civilian lifetimes. The conclusion of all that is here and now. The curtain is brought down on this drama of a fifty-seven-year-old captain in a colored regiment.”
“Now what do you do, sir?” Pepperdine asked.
Delaney smiled without humor. “Why, I’ll do what every self-respecting retired army captain does. I’ll drink myself to death.”
“Sounds terrible.”
“Maybe it is,” Delaney mused. “And again maybe it won’t be so bad after all. Nobody will expect much out of me anymore. And I’m not in debt. I’ll have no obligations and nobody will expect me to assume any. Therefore I shall go to some city and take a room in a gentlemen’s hotel. I’ll have enough money to eat one good meal a day and to buy all the whiskey I want. As for women? I’ll let whiskey numb that instinct along with all the rest.”
“Including the instinct for survival, Captain?”
“That one most of all.”
Pepperdine set the bottle down. “You must care about something. Perhaps the regiment or the company. Surely you’ll think of them from time to time. Why else would you want me to stay on and take over L Company?”
“Oh forget it!” Delaney said laughing. “It was really just a fleeting thought; a flying image of perhaps justifying my existence by having a capable and enthusiastic young man take over for me and press my work on through another generation. That’s why men have sons, to create an illusion of importance and meaning to their lives that really never existed. You do as you please, Mr. Pepperdine, and I’ll respect you none the less.”
“Yes, Sir,” Pepperdine said. “I suppose sometime today I should get over to the adjutant’s office and talk to him about submitting my resignation.”
~*~
That evening at the full dress supper Mrs. Dearborn treated her guests to a brave smile. “My! What was supposed to be a festive occasion is actually becoming a very sad affair indeed. Not only are we losing our Captain Delaney, but Lieutenant Pepperdine has requested leave prior to submitting his resignation.”
“It’s a shame all around, really,” Blakely the quartermaster said between huge bites of yam. “And after we’ve found out some rather starting truths about our young lieutenant.”
Delaney looked up, interested. He was still slightly heady from the drinking in the bath house. “Has someone rattled some skeletons in our young hero’s closet?”
“Not at all,” Lieutenant Norton protested. “A certain colonel by the name of Cartwright came through the post a month ago on his way to Arizona Territory. Y
ou know him, do you not, Lieutenant Pepperdine?”
“Yes, sir. He’s an old friend of the family. How was the colonel?”
“Very fit,” Norton answered. “He told us about you and the arrangement with your uncle.”
“His uncle the adjutant general?” Delaney said.
“The same,” Norton said. “It seems that the adjutant general was concerned about creating the appearance of nepotism and preferential treatment where Mr. Pepperdine was concerned. So he posted him to a colored regiment for five years. After that he would have quite a nice staff job lined up for him to step into. The young lieutenant was in perfect agreement with the arrangement.”
“For five years!” Delaney exclaimed. “That’s one hell of a long time to spend out here. Why, Mr. Pepperdine! My respect for you now knows no bounds.”
Pepperdine grinned at his company commander. “There’s a lesson in that, Captain. One should judge and meet the second lieutenants of this world one at a time, instead of lumping them into convenient groupings.”
Delaney laughed. “Touché!”
“But I won’t be on the frontier for that long. My ardor for the service has been dampened by idiotic nincompoops in high places who are insensitive to the difficulties faced in the field.”
“Why don’t you stick around and fight those nincompoops from the inside, Mr. Pepperdine?” Delaney asked. “You might just succeed and alleviate problems that the desk riders are pushing onto the field soldiers.”
“An impossible task,” Pepperdine said. “I prefer to become a civil engineer and spend my days enmeshed in mathematical logic, clean clothes, hot food and all the creature comforts I can afford.”
Blakely laughed, his plump face reddening. “My God, how I wish I was an engineer.”
“The only wish I have right now is to finish this meal,” Delaney said. “Then I’m going back to that bath house and soak out more of that patrol.”
“It’ll take more than hot water as far as I’m concerned,” Pepperdine said. “It will require a lot of time as well.”
Glory's Guidons (The Long-Knives US Cavalry Western Book 3) Page 13
