The Officer and the Traveler (22 page)

“
Absolutely.”
 

Michaela laughed at Gray’s unapologetic words and his heart skipped a beat. She might have had misguided affections for him when they’d first met, but as he’d predicted, she’d make him a good wife.

He allowed Jack to help him, though he hated every blasted second. However, it was better than either of the alternatives, he supposed.

When he was a bit more comfortable, he allowed Jack and Michaela to help him sit. “Thank you.”

“
Wes just went to get some water, is there anything else you need?” Michaela asked.
 

“
No.”
 

“
You’re not hungry?”
 

His jaw hurt just thinking about chewing. “No. Just tired.”

She ran her fingers over her forehead taking the hair that had fallen into her eyes with them and smoothing it back behind her ear. “Do you want me to get you some cool cloths to put where you hurt most?”

Gray shook his head. “I’ll be all right.” The unconvinced look on her face made him want to smile.

Wes came back just then, carrying two pails of water. “Looks like you’re ready to go back to work tomorrow.”

Gray closed his eyes for a moment and leaned his head back. That was the last thing he wanted to think about. “I was given a three-day stay and I plan to use every one of them.”

“
Remember, Gray, separation makes the heart grow fonder,” Jack whispered.
 

Wes grinned and slapped Jack on the shoulder. “We should probably go and give them some quiet time—they’ve only been married two days, remember.” His expression turned more serious, something that was unusual for Wes. “If he needs anything, just come ask.”

Michaela agreed then saw his friends out the door. “The three of you share many restrictive reminiscences.”

“
Restrictive reminiscences?” he repeated slowly.
 

She smiled at the way he was careful to say the difficult phrase and picked up one of the water pails Wes had placed on the table. “Reminiscences that are restricted to only the three of you knowing the details to. Restrictive reminiscences.”

“
Does that bother you?”
 

“
No. I wouldn’t say it bothers me.” She bit her lip and looked at the full water pail, then at the pitcher, a slight frown creasing her brow. After a second, she shrugged, grabbed a cup and dipped it
straight into the brimming water pail, filling the cup. She set the cup down on the table and poured in a dose of laudanum, then handed him the cup and sat down in the rickety wooden chair closest to the bed.
 

He took a slow drink. The cool water felt good in his dry mouth even if the taste of laudanum was bitter on his tongue. “It just makes you feel like you don’t know where you fit in?”

Her surprised look told him he’d guessed correctly. For a reason he couldn’t place, the knowledge that’d he’d guessed right didn’t make him as pleased with himself as he would have been otherwise; overshadowed rather by a strange feeling at realizing his wife didn’t feel like she fit in here.

“
I’ve known Wes and Jack a long time. They know things about me, I wouldn’t want anyone else to know and I imagine given enough time, the same will develop between the two of us.” He offered her the best reassuring smile he could with his busted lips. “Besides, some of the things the three of us find comical really aren’t.”
 

“
Oh, I’m sure they’re not,” she agreed with a half-smile. “And some of them, I don’t even want to know the story behind.”
 

“
But it’s still not easy to hear others tease about something when you don’t understand what they’re saying or why?” he ventured.
 

Michaela waved her hand through the air. “I’m sure the banter between you and Jack tonight about work and absence making something fonder has something to do with something either you or Wes said to him at one time—just like you wanting to seek revenge for his giving you castor oil in your coffee. My sisters and I have our secrets, too, so I can understand.”

“
Then is there something else bothering you?”
 

“
Are you sure you don’t want something to eat?”
 

“
Michaela?”
 

“
I don’t feel left out, it’s just that—” she shrugged— “it reminded me that sometimes I don’t really know everything I’ve been allowed to believe that I know...” She continued on with something about partial truths, but try as he might, Gray couldn’t fight the envelope of sleep that surrounded him that threatened to, and eventually did, engulf him.
 

Just as Jack had told Michaela he would, Gray was awake and becoming quite an annoyance in only two days’ time.

“
Gray, you’re not going to work. You still need to be resting,” Michaela said for no less than the tenth time this morning.
 

Gray reached his hand out. “Give me my clothes, Michaela.”

“
No.”
 

Frowning, he put his left hand on the back of a chair for support and reached toward her.

She scampered to the other side of the room.

He gritted his teeth. “I don’t wish to play games.”

“
No? Then you’re not well enough to go back to work.” She sent him her best smile.
 

He didn’t look convinced. Tall and muscled, naked and bruised, but not convinced. “I don’t care what you want me to do, I
need
to go back to work.”
 

“
Need?”
 

“
Yes.” His turquoise eyes bore into hers. “I need to go talk to the men and see what’s going on.”
 

“
You mean investigate?” She wasn’t a fool.
 

“
Someone has to,” he said flippantly. “I was convinced that now that I was owed a fair trial, I’d be safe since I know for certain there isn’t any direct evidence pointing at me. But now that it’s been assumed that I was forcing myself on Mrs. Ridgely, I need to find something, just about anything, that will expose the real culprit in Soft Dove’s rape.”
 

Michaela blew out a breath. “I think you’re too worried. General Ridgely was surprised to see you in there with his wife. He’s likely learned the truth and is embarrassed. Nothing about the circumstances rings true for you having attempted to rape her.”

He raised his eyebrows. “And how did you draw that conclusion?”

“
She already had her clothes off,” Michaela said dismissively. “If you were going to force her, she wouldn’t have waited until she was naked to start screaming.”
 

A mix of emotions played over his face: acknowledgement, confusion, and then alarm. “You’re correct. It doesn’t look like I went there with the intent to force her, but instead to visit my...my...
lover.
” He pursed his lips. “Considering the circumstances, I don’t know which is worse. Her scream would
indicate that things had turned sour between us and my loaded gun only confirmed that.” He shook his head. “This doesn’t do me any favors. I need to get back to work.”
 

Michaela wanted to reach across the bed and shake him senseless! How could he not see that this was just a misunderstanding? Not to say she was overflowing with excitement that her husband had been beaten so badly as a result of this misunderstanding, but that’s all it was. Surely by now the general and Mrs. Ridgely had worked out the details and Gray had nothing to worry about.

“
My clothes, Michaela.”
 

She sighed and tossed his last clean shirt and trousers down on the bed. The others had been too dirty and tattered for immediate repair. “Fine, but if you perish because you overworked yourself before you were well, do not expect me to weep at your burial.”

“
I don’t,” he said, snatching up his trousers. He leaned against the chair for support as he dragged them on. “I fully expect you to fling yourself on the pine box, sobbing.”
 

***

Gray held his breath and clenched his jaw as he escorted Michaela to the Lewises’ for the day. He’d never tell her this, but she was right. He was in no condition to go back to work. Just walking made him want to fall to the ground. It was a good thing he’d let Michaela talk him into wrapping a tight bandage around his midsection or he’d have for sure expired from pain by now.

“
Would you like to come for lunch and allow all the ladies to fuss over you?” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, her entire face turned red. She hadn’t meant to say that aloud.
 

He gave her a grin. “I think I just might have to do that.”

Blushing, she hurried inside.

He watched her go. Nine years ago he’d have laughed in the face of anyone who’d said that one day he’d marry her. And only laughed harder if he’d gone on to suggest that Gray would have liked it. He shook his head. He shouldn’t like it. Well, all right, maybe he should just a little. They would be stuck with each other for the rest of their lives, so it would only be prudent to like the other just a little.

He shook off the thought. She’d been attentive to him while he was recovering. That was all. It wasn’t like she’d had much choice, either. Someone had to do it and as his wife, she couldn’t have refused.

Gray took his time walking back to his office. Partially because of the crippling pain coursing through his body and partially because of the dread that had settled over him and made his legs feel heavier than iron.

Last night he’d asked Wes and Jack if there had been any word yet on his trial. Both had said they hadn’t heard anything, but Jack mentioned that General Ridgely had come by both days Gray had been absent looking for him.

Gray had no real desire to see the man, but it was unavoidable, and there was only one thing Gray disliked more than men who let their high position taint their judgment: it was confrontations with such men.

A year ago, General Ridgely had been the calm voice of reason and logic in helping Wes and Allison. It was hard to reconcile him with the tyrant who’d been quick to accuse Gray of wrongdoing.

He opened the door to the large room the commissioned officers all shared for their office and lumbered over to his seat. Thankful he was alone at the moment, he slowly eased himself into his chair.

“
I’m glad to see you here,” General Ridgely said, startling Gray. He hadn’t noticed the general sitting in the back corner, reading a book.
 

Gray stared at him. He had a hard time believing General Ridgely was glad to see him. “Can I help you with something?”

 
General Ridgely sighed “I came by this morning to inform you that effective today, you’ll be under my command.”
 

“
I see,” Gray said slowly. “Is there a reason why?” He pressed his lips together. Did it really matter?
 

“
I think it’s best under the circumstances.” He dropped his book to the floor with a hard thud. “The closeness between your father-in-law and Colonel Lewis might taint the outcome of your trial so I think it’s best that Colonel Lewis is no longer your commanding officer.”
 

Gray swallowed the lump in his throat. “Yes, sir.”

“
Very good.” General Ridgely came over to Gray’s desk. “Now that we have that settled, here are your first orders.” He withdrew a folded paper from his breast pocket and handed it to Gray.
 

Gray watched the man’s slow retreating back as he left. Gray already had a good idea of what the script on the paper would say and didn’t wish to give General Ridgely any entertainment at his expense.

When the general had finally left the room, Gray unfolded the paper and scowled.

Take your unit of men and begin work on the southern wing of the new barracks.

He’d been right. He ran his hand through his hair. How was he going to tell his men that gone were the days of target practice and perfecting their drill steps, now they’d be hauling lumber and mixing pitch until they either died of fever (or exhaustion) or ran away?

***

Michaela tried not to let her disappointment show at Gray’s decision not to join them for lunch. She’d been shocked to the toes she’d actually invited him, then shocked all the way back to her scalp that he seemed to accept.

But he hadn’t come.

“
Is something wrong?” Ella asked.
 

“
No.” Michaela wiped her wet hands off on a white hand towel. “Why do you ask?”
 

“
Well...” Ella started slowly, giving Michaela an imploring stare. “This morning you were smiling and could hardly sit still. You didn’t even finish a single seam you’d started,” she reminded her sister. “Then all during lunch you stared at the door. I know you didn’t get a plate out for him, but were you expecting Gray?”
 

“
Expecting?” Michaela asked with a forced giggle. “No. But I thought he might wish to come and have lunch in a chair more comfortable than one of those benches in the dining hall.”
 

“
Did you invite him?”
 

“
Not exactly.”
 

Ella lifted her brows. “Then what exactly did you do?”

“
I suggested it.”
 

Ella sighed. “I think you’ll have to do more than that.” She grabbed Michaela’s hand and led her to sit down in a vacant dining chair. “Do you remember when Pa said that men who joined the military weren’t always the most intelligent creatures?”