A Texan's Luck (28 page)

The door opened, and a tall man with graying hair rushed in. She'd expected him to salute, or something, but he hurried forward and grabbed Walker's hand, then slapped him on the back. "Welcome, Larson. Great to have you here. An honor, a real honor."

Before Walker could say a word, the man added, "You're out of uniform." He said it like Walker had grown horns.

"I'll explain." Walker turned toward Lacy. "But first, Major Garner, I'd like to present my wife."

To Lacy's surprise, Major Garner bowed low and kissed her hand. "Madam, it is a pleasure to meet you. Please know that I'm at your service." The major was quite handsome in a stiff kind of way. "I've had the honor of meeting your husband a few times but was unaware he had a wife. Your beauty graces our small fort."

"Thank you," she managed to say, noticing that his fingers were long and thin, made more to play a piano, she thought, than do combat.

She expected him to turn back to Walker and act like she were invisible, but to her surprise, he asked about her health and wanted to know if she needed time to freshen up.

When she said yes, he shouted for Sergeant Hayes.

Still holding her hand, Major Garner turned to Walker and demanded why he'd never been told that Walker had such a lovely wife. "It's an oversight worthy of court-marshal."

Lacy realized the compliment came at full volume and sounded more like a challenge. She felt overwhelmed and thankful when the sergeant arrived to show her to their quarters.

Hayes escorted her down the long porch to a line of doors each about ten feet apart with a high window next to each entrance. "These are the single officers' quarters, but right now we have several empty. Our married housing is due south of the barracks, but it's full at present. If you've no objection, Mrs. Larson, I've had a room readied." He opened one of the doors. A light already glowed from a newly lit fireplace.

"I've taken the liberty of putting the captain's and your things in here. Meals are served at the mess hall at seven, noon, and six, but I'll be glad to bring you a tray. Mrs. Garner always takes her lunch alone in her quarters and, of course, the married housing have their own cooking stove."

Lacy was glad to hear other women stayed within the walls of the fort, but before she could ask about them, the sergeant continued, "There's a privy out back. It's reserved for the wives from ten to eleven
a.m
. and from seven to eight
p.m
. No man will enter between those hours."

Lacy stepped inside. "Thank you." She looked up and smiled. "I've never been to a fort before. What do I call you?"

He seemed to relax a little. "Hayes, ma'am. Sergeant Hayes. My office is the first door, and if you need me, you'll find me there most of the time."

"I'm Lacy Larson."

"Yes, ma'am. You're Captain Larson's wife. I never met him until now, but I've heard tell of him. It's a real honor to see him in the flesh. I was beginning to think he was just a legend." Hayes appeared nervous, as if he'd said too much. "I'll be right outside this door when you're ready. I'll escort you back to your husband."

"I can find my own way, thank you." Lacy smiled. The offices weren't thirty feet from her.

Hayes straightened slightly. "Begging your pardon, ma'am, but no woman, not even the major's wife, is allowed to walk alone on the grounds after dark."

"I understand," Lacy lied. "I'll let you know when I'm ready to return."

He closed the door, and Lacy looked around the neat little room. It couldn't have been more than ten feet wide and twice as long, with a door and window at each end. Everything had an order. She'd be willing to bet the other officers' quarters looked exactly the same. A desk to the left, a small table with two chairs near a fireplace, a bed and a dresser with washbowl and pitcher atop it. An eight-day clock ticked away on the mantel, sounding as if it had just been wound.

Quickly washing and changing into her only other dress, Lacy hoped no one would notice the wrinkles. She put her shawl over it and opened the door, not at all surprised to find Hayes waiting for her.

When she returned to the office, she noticed a cloth had been spread over one of the desks where a simple meal of meat and potatoes waited. The captain and Major Garner were seated, but they stood as she entered, and Walker held a chair for her. But he didn't touch her as she hoped he might.

"Your quarters are satisfactory, madam?" he asked impersonally as if he weren't sharing them with her.

"Yes, thank you," she answered, wondering what he would have done if she'd said no. Or, worse, thrown her arms around him and begged to go home. But she couldn't … wouldn't … embarrass him by showing an ounce of the fear she felt in this place he thought of as safe.

While they ate, Walker explained about the kidnapping attempt. The major asked one question after another, while Walker filled in the details of Zeb Whitaker and his attempts to kill Lacy. She didn't miss the facts he left out. Like their arranged marriage, or that he had only seen her once before twelve days ago.

"Of course you'll stay here. In fact you may be a godsend to a dilemma I'm facing." The major's statement held no doubt he welcomed them. His entire face softened as he turned to her. "My wife will be back tomorrow morning, and she'll enjoy the company of your bride." He smiled at Lacy. "You'll be safe here, madam." With those words he seemed to think he'd solved her little problem of being kidnapped and almost murdered. He moved on to what he considered more important matters.

She wondered if any of the army wives ever went nuts being called madam. The men talked about a problem in transporting some prisoners, and Lacy fought to stay awake.

Finally, Walker noticed her nodding off and stood, saying he needed to see his wife to quarters.

The major stood and bade her good night, but as Walker opened the door, he added, "We'll continue this discussion over maps and port in my office."

Walker nodded and took Lacy's arm.

As he walked her along the porch, she said, "You must be exhausted. Tell the major you'll visit with him tomorrow."

Walker opened their door and stepped back, waiting for her to enter. "You don't understand. That wasn't a request, it was an order. I have to return."

Lacy nodded, but he was right, she didn't understand. When she looked into the room, she saw a tub full of water by the fireplace.

"I took the liberty of ordering you a bath, madam."

"How long will you be?"

"You'll have plenty of time. Don't wait up for me. Go on to bed. I'll not wake you if I'm late." His words were formal, but she saw the warmth in his eyes.

She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. This strange man she knew so little about was her only friend in this place. She wanted to keep him close, and even if he couldn't stay, it felt good knowing that he wanted to.

She took her time bathing, then warmed by the fire before climbing into bed. Walker had been right. She did feel safe but not just because of the fort.

She knew he was near. It felt odd to depend on someone else, to know they were close if needed. Even when she'd been kidnapped, she'd been mad more than frightened, because she knew the captain would find her.

As she fell asleep, Lacy wished she was more than just a mission he was on in Cedar Point. Why couldn't he have told the major he'd come home to visit his wife? The answer was simple, she decided: because it wasn't true.

When Walker quietly slipped into the room an hour later, Lacy was sound asleep. He walked over to her side of the bed and stared down at her. She seemed so peaceful, so beautiful. He wanted to wake her and tell her all that the major had said, but he couldn't bring himself to disturb her. The past two days had been hell on her, and she deserved the peace of sleep. Besides, he wasn't sure he wanted to face the questions she'd ask if she knew what the major planned.

Jerking his uniform from his saddlebags, Walker hung it outside the door, knowing it would be pressed by the time he needed it in the morning. He then pulled off his shirt and washed. In truth, he'd enjoyed wearing civilian clothes and would miss them come morning.

He thought of stripping off his remaining clothes, but he wasn't sure. The last thing he wanted to do tonight was frighten Lacy. Despite how casually she'd acted when he'd seen her in her undergarments, he had no idea how she'd react seeing him.

Tugging off his boots, he stood them by the fire, then pulled back the covers and lay down on the other side of the bed. For a while he didn't move, thinking this would be the first time he ever slept with a woman.

He thought of touching her, of holding her, of making love to her. After all, she'd agreed to stay here with him as husband and wife. She could hardly complain if he bedded her. He'd done it once before.

Walker realized he didn't want to just bed her. He wanted to make love to her. He wanted her to come to him, as she had this morning, with her arms stretched toward him not out of duty but out of desire. It took no genius to realize she knew nothing of making love. The first time they'd been together must have frightened her half out of her mind. She'd never even been kissed when he took her virginity. That one fact gnawed at him more than he wanted to admit.

Walker put his arm over his eyes. If she'd give him a chance, he'd make that day up to her. He'd show her how it should be between a man and a woman. He'd take it slow and teach her step by step. He'd spend days waking the woman in her.

If she'd allow him? Not likely, he reasoned.

Reaching to put out the light, he noticed the notebook she'd brought with her. She'd ripped off another number. Now the number fourteen was scribbled across the top page. Fourteen more days until he left. Fourteen more days of tolerating him.

Frustrated, Walker picked up the tablet and threw it across the room. He didn't want to think about the countdown anymore. He didn't want to be reminded that he had only two weeks left before he'd have to keep his promise to ride out of her life forever.

When the tablet hit the wall, Lacy started from the noise and sat halfway up in bed.

"What was that?" she whispered sounding afraid.

"Nothing. Go back to sleep." Angry at himself for waking her, he turned his back to her. If she was still counting the days, she wasn't likely to welcome an advance from him.

But it wasn't Lacy's way to follow orders. "Captain?" she whispered.

"Yes," he said wondering if she planned to ask him to leave the bed. He could demand to stay. It was his right. But he knew he'd leave if she wanted him to go. He'd put his bedroll by the door and do what he'd been ordered to do: protect her.

"I'm glad you're back," she answered with a yawn. "Good night."

He rolled to face her. "Lacy, what is it you want?" He had to know where he stood. He wasn't sure he could survive their days in these quarters if he didn't know the rules. He also knew fort life well enough that if he slept anywhere but here, everyone on the place would know it by morning.

She opened sleepy eyes and looked at him, as if considering going back to sleep and not playing his game. Finally, she said, "I don't want to be afraid anymore. I'm not brave like Bailee and Sarah. I try to act like I am, but I guess you've already figured out that I'm not."

An exhausted sigh escaped her. "I'm tired of fearing shadows."

Walker opened his arm and she cuddled beneath it. "Do you feel safe now?" he whispered into her hair. Dear God, but she smelled good.

"Yes, thank you."

"I'm glad, but I meant to ask what you want from me?"

"I don't want—"

"I didn't ask what you don't want," he replied, then cringed realizing she'd probably list that she didn't want him to yell at her anymore. "Tell me what you want from me other than to feel safe."

She didn't move, and for a while he wasn't sure she planned to answer. Then she laid her hand over his heart.

He covered her fingers with his and waited. The fire crackled low now, setting the room in a golden glow. He felt her warm and soft against his side, but her fingers were cold.

Finally, she whispered. "I want you to make everything go away except the two of us. I don't want to think or worry about anything—not the army, or Whitaker, or even what's happened before between us." She brushed her fingers over his chest as if dusting off his heart. "I want to know the man with this heartbeat."

Of all the things she could have requested, he never expected that. She asked the impossible.

He tried to think of how to tell her no … that he wasn't brave enough to open his heart again. He'd never survive another blow. Before he could think of the right words, she did the strangest thing. She rose up a few inches and leaned over him until her lips touched his.

Her kiss wasn't light, or playful, but filled with purpose. She kissed him as she'd learned to, just as he liked to be kissed.

When she finished, she didn't pull away but whispered against his cheek. "Make there be no more world but this bed, Captain. A neutral ground where there is no fear and no orders to follow. Hold me while we sleep as if we were the only two people alive."

He dug his hand into her hair and held her head as he rolled, pinning her against the pillows. "I'll try, Lacy. Dear God, I'll try."