Dorothy Garlock - [Wabash River] (45 page)

Hammond was infuriated by the openmouthed admiration displayed by Captain Sinclair. It was something he hadn’t counted on. In fact, he hadn’t counted on
her
being here.

“This woman is Quill’s wife, Captain.”

“I was the widow of Lieutenant Perry’s brother when I wed Mr. Quill,” Liberty explained, her eyes still holding those of the captain. “The Perrys are
all
such fine people. Your Lieutenant Perry comes from some of the best stock in New York State, Major. I bet you know that, so I’ll stop bragging. Now, about Willa. Oh, how are you feeling, dear?” Liberty let her eyes pass over Farr as she went to Willa and put her arms around her. “Act sick,” she whispered. Then aloud, “Have you vomited anymore? Is there still blood in it?”

“I . . . I’m not feeling good.” Willa sagged against her.

“There, there. Can’t she sit down, Major?”

“Of course, she can. Get a chair,” he said to the guard.

“Be sick,” Liberty breathed in her ear. “Be real sick.”

When Willa was seated, she leaned over and rested her face in her hands. Liberty stood beside her and patted her shoulder. During the commotion of getting the chair, she had dared a look at Farr. She saw that he was watching her. He stood straight, towering over the other men in the room, his face unreadable. But she knew him so well, and the twitch at the corner of his mouth told her he was flaming with angry impatience.

“I’m sorry for interrupting, Major.” Liberty’s voice was low and filled with regret.

“It’s all right, ma’am. I understand your concern.”

Hammond threw Liberty a look of pure hatred. He noticed Captain Sinclair hadn’t corrected her when she called him major. The fool liked the sound of it! The twit was playing on his vanity and he was falling for it. He even refused to be seated while she was standing. Hammond felt the disadvantage of having to look up at every man in the room.

“I have arranged for the prisoners—”

“Prisoners? Oh, dear,” Liberty wailed.

“Just a moment, ma’am,” Captain Sinclair said gently. “Let the lieutenant finish.”

“We’ll hold Quill in the guardhouse. The woman can be locked in the laundry room, if that’s all right with you, sir. I’ll have one of the women keep an eye on her.” Hammond clicked his heels together and stood at attention. “Is that all, sir?”

“Major?” Liberty said in a timid voice. “What are the charges against Mr. Quill and Willa?”

“The charges against your husband are serious, ma’am. Treason. And now murder, or so the lieutenant tells me.”

“Who is accusing my husband? Besides Lieutenant Perry?”

“There is a reliable witness. The case will be heard the day after tomorrow. Your husband will have a chance to defend himself.”

“Who will hear the case?” Liberty allowed her voice to get fainter.

“I will, ma’am. I’ll appoint two of the junior officers to sit with me on the court. I’m the senior officer here at the fort. The commander is away.”

“I’m sure you’ll be fair, Major. Will one of the junior officers be Lieutenant Perry?”

“No. He will serve as the prosecutor.”

“Who will defend my husband?”

“He can defend himself, or I can appoint someone to defend him.”

“I’ll defend myself.” Farr spoke for the first time.

Captain Sinclair shrugged.

“Please, sir.” Liberty’s voice trembled and her eyes were large with bewilderment. “Do you mind telling me why you are holding Willa?”

“According to the charges Lieutenant Perry has filed, she has a definite connection to the treason charge. It’s essential we have her as a witness,” he said gently.

“Oh, dear. If she can help clear my husband’s name I want to nurse her back to health so she can testify. She’s been so ill lately. I fear for her after that long cold ride, and if she’s in the hot, moist air of the laundry room she might—her lungs are poorly. Please, sir. Let me take her back to a clean, airy room in town. I promise I’ll have her here and or her feet when you’re ready for her.”

“The girl stays here!” Hammond roared. He stuck out his arm and pointed his finger in Liberty’s face.

She feigned shock, gasped, and leaned back away from him. It took all her willpower to keep from slapping his face.

Hammond realized his mistake the instant he saw the crimson tide of anger rise up to flood Captain Sinclair’s face.

“I’m sorry, sir. The woman is important to the case. I think we should keep her here.”

“I make the decisions here, Lieutenant!” Captain Sinclair snapped.

“Well, for goodness sake, Hammond. You forgot yourself again.” Liberty clicked her tongue against her teeth. “That’s why he’s a major and you’re just a lieutenant.”

“You can take the woman with you, Mrs. Quill,” Captain Sinclair said, and stroked his long mustache with a thumb and forefinger. “I’ll send my aide along to see that you get settled.”

“Thank you. See there, Hammond? You should remember your rank and ask the major before flying off the handle and making plans on your own. Even
I
know majors are far higher up than lieutenants.”

Hammond was livid with fury. His mouth worked and the chin that was sunk into his neck quivered. He would have liked nothing more than to cut the bitch’s throat. With jerky strides he went to the door and held it open for Captain Sinclair. He hurried after him.

“Sir, may I have a word with you in private?”

“Yes, what is it?”

They walked to the far corner of the room. Hammond turned his back to the aide and spoke in low tones.

“Sir, I have a witness that will testify the woman is a spy for the British.”

“Well, for God’s sake, man, why didn’t you say so?”

“I just found out.”

“Does she know she’s suspected?”

“No, sir. I thought to spring it suddenly, during the trial.”

“Hmmm . . .” Sinclair stroked his mustache once again. He envisioned himself a hero for having convicted not one, but two spies. After it was over, perhaps the blond beauty would need comforting . . . “I’m sure that Mrs. Quill knows nothing about any of this. It’s more important than ever that the woman get on her feet so she can stand trial. We can’t drag a sick woman to trial, even if she is a spy. Too many would feel sorry for her.”

“But she’s not sick, sir. She’s playacting.”

“Did you tend her on the trip from Quill’s Station?”

“No, sir. The sergeant did.”

Captain Sinclair bellowed to the aide. “Get Sergeant Callaway.”

Liberty lingered behind when Colby came to help Willa. She leaned heavily on him, much to Liberty’s relief. At the door, she called to the captain.

“Major Sinclair, may I speak to Mr. Quill? I’ll be just a moment.” She laughed lightly. “I can’t get him out through the cracks in the wall, but I warn you, I may try.”

“I’m taking the prisoner to—” Hammond was shut off by a glare from the captain.

“You may have five minutes, ma’am.”

“Thank you.” Liberty closed the door as soon as the words left her mouth, turned and threw her arms around Farr. “Are you all right, darling?” She stood on tiptoe and kissed his mouth, his chin.

“That was some show you put on, Mrs. Quill.” He bent to kiss her nose. His hands were bound behind his back so she did the hugging. “Where did you learn all those woman’s wiles?”

“Colby told me before we came in that I could get more with sweet smiles than I could by losing my temper. I hate all that deceit, but I’ll do anything if it will help you. It worked on the aide so I thought I’d try it on Captain Sinclair. Did you see how he preened? I wanted to laugh in his face.” She rubbed her fingers over the stubble on his cheeks. “Let’s not waste time on that pompous ass. Governor Harrison is in Fort Wayne, and Major Taylor went to Fort Harrison. We’ve got to delay things until they get back. Hammond seems to think Willa is important to his case. If she’s too sick to leave her bed, they’ll have to delay the trial, won’t they?”

“I’ve been trying to figure out what I’ve done that could in any way be called treason. Not to mention what connection Willa would have to it. Delay things as long as you can, sweetheart. Have Colby snoop around and see what he can find out about when Harrison will be back. Whatever Perry has cooked up could be cleared up if Harrison were here.”

“We’re staying at Moll Glover’s. The sergeant came to see us last night. He’ll help us if he can. I love you. Oh, I love you. I don’t like it here, darling. I want us to go back home.” Her blue eyes, filled with tears, shone like stars.

“We will. I worried about you making that long ride. The troops were full of praise for you, but they didn’t dare let Perry hear any of it. Stay close to Colby, hear?”

“I will. I love you so much. I guess I was just too happy for it to last.”

“Hush that talk, Mrs. Quill. Give me a big smile. I was half mad when I saw all those pretty smiles you were giving the captain. Mad . . . and proud,” he teased. “You’re mine, my sweet Liberty Bell. All mine.”

“I’m yours forever and always. The captain is an egotistical horse’s ass!”

Farr laughed. “That’s more like my girl!”

The door swung open. The captain’s aide and two guards came in and hustled Farr out. Liberty went to the outer room as the sergeant came in from the outside. Willa was leaning heavily on Colby’s arm.

“Sergeant Callaway, were you aware that this woman was sick?”

“She didn’t complain, sir.”

“That isn’t what I asked you.”

“Well, sir, I knew she wasn’t in too good a shape. I had to lift her from the horse ’n hold her up.”

“Thank you, that is all.”

After the door closed behind the sergeant, Liberty clicked her tongue again at Hammond.

“Shame on you, Hammond Perry, for doubting me. If your mother were alive, God bless her soul, she’d give you a good hiding for making Willa take that long ride, sick as she is. If this poor girl passes on it will be all your fault. Come feel her head. She’s burning up with a fever. Come on, but be careful of the spots.”

Hammond almost choked on the anger he dared not show.

“Private Simpson will go with you, Mrs. Quill, and see that you and the woman are settled in.” Captain Sinclair bowed over the hand she extended.

“Thank you, Major. It’s so refreshing to meet a gentleman here in the wilderness.” Liberty smiled into his eyes before gently pulling her hand away and going to the door the aide was opening for her. “Major,” she said, smiling up at the aide. “Can’t you find it in your heart to make this nice young man a sergeant?”

*  *  *

Moll Glover’s house was one of the few in town that had a porch that wrapped around three sides. It was squat and square and sat amazingly close to the street with just a path between it and the traffic that passed. A sign, faded and crudely lettered, was suspended from the porch roof. It read:
ROOMS AND EATS
.

Moll Glover was a buxom woman with flaming red hair. Her huge pendulous breasts hung down over the band of the long, white apron tied about her waist. She greeted them with a friendly smile.

“Do you have room for these folks, Moll?” Private Simpson asked. He regarded the woman with a definite air of superiority.

“I reckon. Who’s payin’?”

“We’ve money to pay,” Colby said quickly.

“I thought you might be guests of that
grand
Captain Sinclair the
private
serves. Thanks for bringing them, Simpson. Good-bye.” Mrs. Glover firmly pushed him out the door and slammed it shut.

Liberty, Willa and Colby stood in the entry that ran the full length of the house. When the door closed behind the aide, Mrs. Glover turned and dusted her hands as if they were dirty.

“I’m careful of Private Simpson,” she said, shaking her head. “He tells Captain Sinclair every word that’s said in this house. Need a place to bed for a while, do you?”

“Sergeant Callaway told me to bring the ladies here.” Colby still had his arm about Willa. “This one isn’t feeling well.”

Moll bent her head and peered into Willa’s face. “What’s ailing you, dearie?”

“She’s tired and needs to lie down,” Liberty said.

Moll looked at her. She had taken the shawl off her head and was holding it. Moll reached for the wet shawl and hung it on a hook in the wall beside the door.

“My, ain’t you a pretty one. I bet Sinclair ’bout wet his drawers when he saw you. Regular ladies’ man, he is.”

Liberty smiled. She decided that she liked Moll Glover and that the outspoken redhead didn’t have much use for the officers at the fort. She wondered what Moll thought of Hammond Perry. She found out when Moll spoke again.

“At least he’s a man, even if most of his brains are atween his legs. It’s more than I can say for Hammond Perry. If he don’t squat to pee I’ll miss my guess.”

“Ma’am, do you have two rooms?” Colby asked quickly, not knowing how Liberty and Willa would take the brash woman’s vulgarities.

“I got one the ladies can have. I’ll make you down a pallet in my traveler’s room.”

“You can put his pallet in our room, Mrs. Glover.” Liberty glanced at Colby and then smiled at the woman. “He’s my brother. We’re all family. It’ll give you another space to rent out.”

“It’s fine with me, honey, and I ain’t caring if he’s your brother or not.” Moll laughed. Her face was fat and wrinkle free, her eyes bright and twinkling, her teeth small, even and white. Liberty laughed with her, not caring a bit that Moll knew she had lied.

“Now I know why the sergeant sent us here.” Laughter was still in Liberty’s voice when she spoke.

Moll lifted her eyebrows. “The sergeant will be around tonight, I suspect. Let’s get this young lady to bed, then your ‘brother’ can take the horses to the livery.” She laughed again as she led the way down the passageway.

The room was small, the walls mud plastered and sized with lime until they were dingy gray. There was one window, high up and covered with deerskin like many of the others in town. It let in a weak light. The bed was a frame nailed to the wall. A cracked pitcher and basin sat on a shelf.

“Not fancy,” Moll said, “but it’s clean. I can bring in a hod of coals. It’ll take off the chill.”

“It’s fine.” Liberty went to Willa after Colby eased her down on the bed. “I’ll take care of her, Colby.”