Sunflower (23 page)

“Hey, Caleb! Say hello to me, too!”

Reluctantly, Caleb ended the kiss, forced to acknowledge the small boy tugging at his pantleg. He continued to hold Analisa in his arms while he glanced down at Kase who stood staring up at him solemnly.

“Hello, Kase.” Caleb nudged Analisa, directing her attention to her son. “How can I resist that look?”

She peered down at Kase over the circle of Caleb’s strong arms and sighed, “You can’t, and neither can I.”

Analisa stepped back, allowing Caleb the freedom to scoop Kase up in one arm. The boy looped an arm around Caleb’s neck and one around his mother’s.

“Now we are all together again,” Kase proclaimed.
“Komop, wij gaan nu—
Come on. Let’s go now!”

The only sound in the soddie was the slow, rhythmic squeal of the ancient oak rocker. The soft hush of evening had descended with the darkness, and weak, flickering light from the oil lamps filled the room. Caleb occupied the rocking chair, Kase asleep in his arms. The man kissed the top of the boy’s head and stood up slowly. Caleb carried him across the room and, after tucking the child into the cot beside the stove, returned to join Analisa.

He watched her for a moment as she sat lost in her work, repairing a tear in Kase’s play clothes. She was sitting on the near side of her bed, leaning against the oak headboard, her head and hands straining toward the lamp on the trunk beside the bed. The yellow calico skirt was spread wide across the coverlet, the colorful print muted by the bright tulip quilt. Her hair was still hanging free, at his request, and he marveled at the life it possessed as it rippled around her shoulders. Silently, Caleb reached out and lifted a strand of her hair between his thumb and forefinger, savoring the silken texture of the golden locks.

Analisa set her sewing aside and raised her arms to him in greeting and invitation. He lowered himself onto the edge of the bed beside her and leaned over her.

“Kase is asleep,” he announced unnecessarily.

“Now will you tell me why you have become Don Ricardo Corona de la Vega?” The question had played on her mind all evening. Caleb had refused to explain earlier, afraid that Kase would overhear.

“I hoped perhaps you wished something more of me, beautiful
señora.”
His eyes flashed in the lamplight.

“I can’t understand you when you talk that way.” Her tone held a note of mild complaint. Her nerves taut from waiting for his explanation, she pushed him away.

Ever persistent, Caleb leaned forward again, slipping his hands behind her as he sought the ties of her lace collar.

“You failed to mention how you knew I was arriving today.” He toyed with the buttons at the back of her gown, ignoring her impatience.

“What do you mean?”

“You are all dressed up.” His eyes slowly appraised her. “Perfume and lace. I hope it was in honor of my homecoming?” His right hand pushed up her skirt and began to trail along her thigh. As he touched the silken drawers, Caleb’s lips formed a sly half-smile. “My, my. Silk undies, too.”

“I didn’t know you were returning today.”

“So who were you expecting?” He pulled back to look into her eyes.

“I was expecting spring, but since it is so slow in coming, I decided to treat myself to the pleasure of a bath, clean clothes, and the feel of silk. I am spoiled by you already. I think I will only wear silk underclothes from now on.”

“I would prefer you wear nothing.” His hand slid easily beneath the loose-fitting drawers.

Caleb awoke well before dawn and drew Analisa into his arms. She barely stirred, burrowing into him as she sought his warmth. He teased her awake by nibbling on her ear and letting his hands rove over her velvet skin.

“Anja?”

“Mmmm?”

“Wake up. We need to talk before Kase is up.”

She stretched and rolled over, fitting herself against the protective shell of his body, her back pressed against him. Caleb felt his passion mount at the touch of her rounded backside pressed so intimately against him.

“Anja.”

His whisper insistent against her ear, Analisa could no longer hide in the world of dreams. She opened her eyes in the weak light before dawn and whispered back, “I’m awake.”

“I need to tell you about Fort Sully and Don Ricardo.”

When she failed to respond, he, too, remained silent, thinking her asleep again.

“What about them?”

“No one there knows who I really am. Even Major Williamson believes I am Don Ricardo Corona de la Vega. Until I know for certain where his sympathies lie, I must keep him in the dark about my true identity and activities.” He shifted his position slightly, drawing her nearer.

The sensations he aroused in her excited Analisa as she fought to concentrate on his words.

“My identity papers state that I am a Spanish professor traveling the United States to study the West. As an inept, foppish sort, I won’t be suspected of spying for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Only President Grant and General Parker know my true identity and assignment.”

“You are in danger.”

It was not a question. Analisa realized for the first time the extent of Caleb’s involvement.

Caleb remained silent as he gathered his thoughts in order to deal with her honestly. He knew she would be forced to spend many days and nights alone at the fort, and he sought to keep her from worrying about him.

“Not necessarily. I will pose as Don Ricardo when I am living at the fort.” He paused before adding, “The Sioux will know me only as a half-breed, Raven’s Shadow, who scorns the whites and has given up his half-white heritage.”

Analisa lay tense beside him, her arousal ebbing as she tried to sort through the new information. It was slowly becoming apparent that his true identity was a dangerous secret that must be guarded at all costs. What of Kase? How could they trust the four-year-old not to innocently betray him? Analisa envisioned endless days of tension and worry, on guard against her son’s every word and deed.

“How will we keep Kase from calling you Caleb? And how will you explain the fact that I am not Spanish? Kase is enough like you to be your son, but he speaks no Spanish. What if he should speak Dutch in front of someone? What will we do if...”

He ran his hand over her arm and sought to quiet her. He lowered his voice to a hushed whisper, speaking in the slow, confident tone she was so familiar with.

“If it’s all right with you, I’d like him to call me Papa. If he starts now, it’ll become natural to him by the time we reach the fort.” He took the time to tease the back of her neck with his lips.

“I have a story all worked out, and I think it’s quite plausible. I told Williamson that I met you in Europe. We were married there, and Kase was born in Holland before we came to the States. I have been teaching in the East for three years, so naturally, you both speak English quite well. I haven’t had time to teach either of you much Spanish.”

She marveled at the intricacy of his explanation and became caught up in the cover story. “So you went ahead to Fort Sully to make arrangements for us to move there, and now you are supposedly in the East, collecting your wife and son?”

“Exactly. What do you think?”

“What does this Major Williamson think?”

“He believes me. He has no reason not to; my introductory papers are very official and in order. He is to make sure I have all the assistance I require, and the freedom to come and go from the fort to study the surroundings. Naturally, he thinks I’m a bit crazy to ride out into hostile territory alone. After meeting Don Ricardo, how can you blame him?”

“Yes. The professor I saw ride up to my door this morning was lucky to know which end of the horse to lead.” She felt him laughing silently, “What will you really do among the Indians?”

“They are renegades—runaways from the reservation. I’ll infiltrate their camp and work to persuade them to return to the reservation before they are hunted down and killed.” He avoided explaining the rest of his mission, hoping to ensure her safety by keeping her unaware of the details.

“Part of the time you’ll be living with ... them?”

“Yes, and while I am you will have to cover for me at the fort. I wanted to spare you that, but there is no other way this will work.”

Analisa was so silent for a time that Caleb finally nudged her gently.

“Anja?”

“I was just thinking.”

“And ...”

“You have entrusted me with much responsibility, Caleb.”

“I trust you with my life.”

Analisa closed her eyes and prayed silently, hoping she would prove worthy of that trust.

“Mama? Can I get in bed with you, too?” Her eyes flew open immediately and saw the round-eyed face of her child standing beside the bed staring at the two of them. She wondered how Kase had crossed the room so silently. He was becoming as graceful and stealthy as Caleb. Wanting to hide and draw the covers over her head in embarrassment, she was unable to answer Kase and so kicked Caleb in the shin.

He took over immediately. “Run along and dress, Kase. We’ll be up in a minute.”

Not the least bit offended by the abrupt dismissal, for he was always willing to please Caleb, the youngster moved off to his side of the room.

“How long has he been standing there?” Analisa whispered from behind the hands she pressed against her burning face.

“I’m not sure. I was concentrating on your neck.” He placed a gentle kiss on the soft skin at the edge of her hairline.

After Christmas they’d played a waiting game with Kase, making certain he was asleep before they went to bed and that they were up and dressed before the boy awoke. Analisa had hoped he would not find out they shared a bed, but Caleb was certain that sooner or later he would know. Now that the truth was out, the boy seemed not to care in the least.

“Kase?” Caleb called out, noting that youngster was nearly dressed. The call drew Kase to the bedside once more.

“Go outside and lead Scorpio into the yard for me. He needs to stretch his legs. Can you do it?”

Happy to be given such ä great responsibility, Kase shrugged into his coat and was out the door in seconds. At the sound of the wooden portal closing securely behind him, Analisa bounded from the bed and grabbed her clothes.

“Need these?”

Caleb had retrieved her new satin underclothes from between the sheets and tossed them to her. Within moments they were both dressed and nervously awaiting Kase’s return.

“I’ll go out and get him.” Caleb strode to the door and grabbed his own coat. Analisa, too embarrassed to face either of them, kept her back to him while she added cow chips to the fire with improvised wooden tongs.

Kase ran up to greet Caleb as the man rounded the corner of the house. The wind drove the mill above him, setting a frantic pace as the blades spun around and around. The sky remained lackluster gray, although dark clouds streaked it with charcoal. Rain was imminent.

“I let him out, Caleb,” Kase announced proudly, pointing to Scorpio as the big horse moved about the yard.

“You’re not afraid of him at all, are you?” Caleb asked the boy, the pride apparent in his voice.

“Nee.
I like horses.”

“It’s about time you had one of your own.”

Kase stopped kicking the toe of his worn leather boot against a dirt clod and looked up at Caleb in disbelief. “My own horse?” His child’s voice rose an octave in excitement.

Caleb merely nodded. He’d see that the boy had a mount and riding lessons, too, as soon as they reached Fort Sully.

“Let’s go in. Breakfast should be about ready.” Caleb shoved his hands deep in his pockets and headed toward the front of the house.

“Caleb?”

“Yep.” The man knew from the tone of the boy’s voice what was coming next. He held his breath.

“How come you were in bed with my mama?”

Caleb hunkered down on his haunches and met Kase’s honest, questioning eyes.

“Do you remember when the minister came here last summer and your mama and I got married?”

Kase nodded.

“Well, that’s what married people do: They sleep in the same bed together and keep each other company.”

“Do Jon and Sophie?”

“Yep.”

“Why?”

“That’s just the way it is, son. Married folks sleep in the same bed.”

Kase was silent again, thoughtfully sorting this new information.

“Any more questions?” Caleb asked, silently imploring all of the gods that there were not.

“What kind of a horse will I have?”

Caleb released a pent-up sigh of relief. He stood and took the boy’s hand as they moved toward the door. “Just the right kind, Kase. I’ll pick out a special one just for you.”

Analisa stared at the reflection in the long oval mirror in Sophie’s guest room. Surely this could not possibly be her, even though the image matched her every move. The round, luminous eyes fringed with golden lashes and the sun-kissed hair swept into a high-perched chignon were definitely hers, and yet the elegantly attired figure in soft rose-colored wool looked far too sophisticated to be Analisa Van Meeteren.

She appraised herself with a critical eye and then remembered: She did not look like herself because she was no longer Analisa Van Meeteren. Mrs. Caleb Storm would definitely be a woman of quality, one who cut a fine figure indeed, for didn’t Caleb know the President of the United States personally? The thought did little to bolster her courage, but unwilling to be intimidated by her new status, Analisa straightened her shoulders, worked her kid gloves onto her hands, brushed a piece of lint from her jacket, and turned to inspect the bustle under her wool skirt. Gleaming leather boots hugged her feet and ankles, their buttons and loops fastened securely. At Sophie’s insistence she’d chosen a light gray pair, highly impractical and yet a fitting complement to the expensive dress Caleb had given her. She had purchased the bustle and a whalebone corset at Knapp’s Dry Goods in Pella. The two items were necessary to achieve the required fashionable figure beneath the stylish dress.

The hat was sheer folly, but Sophie had insisted she buy it and had finally won out by using devious tactics. She’d told Caleb about the hat and about Analisa’s stubborn refusal to spend any more of his money on herself. Sophie had described the jaunty gray hat in such detail that a blind man could have found it at the millinery store. Caleb had purchased it almost immediately and had threatened to leave Analisa at the depot if she appeared without it.