The Unlikely Wife (18 page)

“Chicago?” He was nearly holding his breath. “Do you have friends there you want to visit?”

She shook her head. “I’ll go to stay.”

Bewildered, he tried again. “I know life is hard here, but the tent’s only temporary. Things will get—”

She cut him off. “That’s not it.”

Whatever was bothering her she seemed reluctant to tell him. He didn’t even want to guess. The dark corners of the tent made him think of how dark and barren his life would be without her. With a sense of desperation he said, “I thought you liked the prairie.”

“I do, Clark.” She took a deep breath and he held his. “I know about Annie.”

He heard the nearly forgotten name with a shock.
“Annie? Rebecca, I swear I haven’t seen Annie since before I met you.”

“I know. I know,” she said quickly. She seemed on the verge of tears. “That’s why I’m going to leave.”

She hung her head, and Clark moved to take her in his arms. “I’m lost, Rebecca.”

She slipped out of reach and paced across the tent. “My aunt told me about…a man’s…well, his needs. And if I’m gone you can go back to Annie.”

Clark blinked at the narrow back, certain he didn’t understand. “You’re leaving me, so I can take a mistress?”

The curls bobbed as she nodded.

It was too ridiculous to believe. There were many arguments against it, not the least of which was his own desire to be with Rebecca, not Annie. He asked the only thing he could think of that wouldn’t leave his heart bare before her. “What is your father going to think about this?”

She spun around. “Father! I’d forgotten about him.”

The situation might be comical if his life wasn’t at stake. “I find him hard to forget.”

She took another deep breath and let it out slowly. He tried not to be distracted by the way the nightgown tightened across the soft swell of her breasts.

“All right,” she said, as if giving in to something. “I’ll stay. But please be discreet.”

Clark was ready to put an end to this foolishness, but he still didn’t know what had led up to it, what she really wanted. “Rebecca,” he began, moving toward her. “With Annie, I thought I was discreet, but you found out about her, anyway.”

She sighed, looking completely discouraged. He put his hands on her shoulders, grateful that she didn’t move away. “What Annie and I had was over before I went east. She married someone else, and I’m happy for her. Now, please tell me what this is about.”

She looked up at him, her eyes bright with tears. “You’ve been around me enough to know how selfish I am. I wanted you and it never occurred to me that you might not want me, too. All I knew was that I loved you, then I ruined your life.”

She choked on the last word, and one tear escaped to run down her cheek. Still she fought to keep from crying.

She had said she loved him. He wanted to kiss her soundly and put off the rest of the conversation until later, but he knew she needed to understand. And he couldn’t let her continue to believe he thought she was selfish.

“Rebecca,” he whispered, “you married me to save my career. I shouldn’t have let you.” Her lips trembled, and she nodded. “That’s not what I meant. I let you because I was too in love with you to resist.”

She blinked, her tears drying. “You love me?” Her cheeks turned rosy as she asked, “Then why didn’t you
do
something?” One little fist struck him in the ribs.

He tried to keep from grinning. “You quit teasing me. You never flirted. I thought you had grown tired of me.”

“I was trying to be a perfect wife.”

He couldn’t hold back the laugh. She looked a little offended. “I’m afraid my idea of a perfect wife isn’t quite the same as yours.”

“So, describe the perfect wife, and it better not be Annie.”

“No,” he said, laughing. “I got a glimpse of the perfect wife when we were playing chess.”

“When I beat you?” she asked, grinning finally.

“When your eyes sparkled just like they’re doing now. When you teased and tempted me.” He drew her closer. “When you kissed me.”

He bent and took her lips. She responded immediately, wrapping her arms around him, pressing herself against him. He drew out the kiss until he felt her tremble. He raised his head and whispered, “Do you want me?”

“Yes,” she breathed.

He bent and scooped her into his arms. “You wouldn’t be teasing me, would you?”

She giggled, clinging to his neck. “Maybe you better find out.”

“I intend to.” He carried her across the tent. She swept the curtain out of the way, and he laid her on the bed. “Did you know you curled up beside me while you slept?” he asked, crawling in beside her.

“I dreamed you pulled me into your arms while I slept.”

“Did I?” he asked, pulling her into his arms.

“And then you ran your hands up my legs,” she whispered.

“Like this?” He slipped his hand under her gown and slid it up to her hip. “Then what?”

“Then I woke up.” Her voice was breathless.

He sighed. “Too bad. I was hoping to be your dream come true.”

“You are.” She brought her hands up between them and unbuttoned his shirt. “You really love me?”

“Don’t ever doubt it.” It was dark and he wanted to see her, but he contented himself with letting his hands explore her body. He had seen her once before and remembered every detail. In a moment she was pushing his shirt off his shoulders, and he was tugging at her gown. They traded chores and tossed all their clothes aside.

She seemed as curious as he and let her fingers trail over his back, his ribs and lower. She found his swollen member, her touch easing his longing and tightening the tension at the same time.

“Do you like me to touch you?” she asked.

“Yes,” he managed. He fondled a soft breast, feeling the nipple harden, trying to control the desire that was increasing rapidly with her touch.

She groaned and he echoed the sentiment. He wanted to plunge deep inside her. But he needed to be sure she was ready. He gently pulled her hand away. “We need to slow down a little,” he said.

“Was I doing it wrong?”

The worry in her tone made him chuckle. “You were doing it too well. I want you to catch up.”

He lowered his head and brought the peaked nipple into his mouth. She threw her arms back against the mattress and moaned. He lavished equal attention on the other breast while she arched against him.

When he was sure she was ready, he trailed his fingers down her belly. He stroked her curls for a moment before he sought entrance. He found her hot and wet

She gasped at the intimate intrusion, and he took her lips in a hungry kiss. He urged her legs apart and settled over her. “Trust me?” he whispered in her ear.

She didn’t answer but her arms wrapped around his neck and she clung to him. He eased into her, struck the barrier, and fought for control.

“Clark?” she whispered.

She was frightened, he thought. He had moved too quickly. He started to withdraw but she wrapped her legs around him. It was all the encouragement he
needed. He thrust into her, heard her gasp, felt her nails press into his back.

“Did I hurt you?” he whispered.

“Hmm?” Her mouth was close to his ear. “I don’t think so. The pain’s gone now.”

She squirmed under him and he moved, slowly at first, mindful of her needs. When he felt her plunge over the edge the last thread of control snapped. She muffled her cries in his neck, and he did his best to swallow his own.

After taking a moment to catch his breath he rolled off of her, pulling her into the crook of his arm.

“What will the neighbors think?” she whispered.

“They’ll think it’s about time.”

“Oh, you,” She gave him a mock punch in the ribs. “They haven’t been listening for this. Have they?”

He laughed. “Maybe they’re thinking they should have let their wives come this summer instead of waiting for their quarters to be built.”

She sighed and snuggled closer. “Would we have done this sooner if I had flirted with you?”

“If you had so much as winked.”

“I’ll remember that in the future.” She yawned.

“Go back to sleep,” he urged softly.

“You won’t leave?”

“I’ll stay right here.”

He let her sleep until there was light enough in the room for him to admire the curve of her cheek, the
swell of her breasts, the shade of her lips and her nipples. Then he woke her. She didn’t seem to mind.

They managed to spend the entire day close to the tent, a large portion of it in the bed. Rebecca sent Hank away, telling him Clark was exhausted from the recent campaign. Clark had chuckled over that, telling her campaigning wasn’t what was keeping him in bed.

The following day, the lovers decided to venture out. Rebecca wanted to see that Alicia was all right, and Clark was worried that there would be rumors that he was ill. The last thing he wanted, he told her, was to be hauled off to the quarantine tent.

The orderly that met them at the hospital asked them to wait outside while he went to find Alicia. Rebecca found herself growing nervous as she waited. A few minutes later, when Alicia stepped outside, Rebecca wanted to run to her. Clark’s arm, wrapped possessively around her waist, was all that stopped her.

“Are you all right, Alicia?” she asked.

Alicia nodded. “It’s hard work but I’ve found people who need my help. So in a way it’s wonderful.”

“Do you need anything?”

Alicia shook her head. “Your father came to see me yesterday and asked the same thing.”

Rebecca felt a pang of guilt. Yesterday, she hadn’t
even thought of Alicia. “Should I come see you every day, in case you think of something?”

“Whenever you can. The days go fast here.”

Rebecca wanted to cry for the Alicia that seemed to be lost forever. But this new mature Alicia would find her own way.

“I need to get back to work,” Alicia said. “Thank you for coming.” She turned and disappeared inside the tent.

Rebecca looked up to find Clark watching her. She gave him a brave smile.

“She’ll be all right,” he said.

“If she doesn’t get sick.”

“You can’t protect her all her life.”

Rebecca nodded and they turned to find her father headed their way. They waited for him to join them.

“Forrester,” the colonel said, “it’s good to see you up and about again.”

“Thank you, sir.” Rebecca thought he did a wonderful job keeping a straight face. She didn’t even try.

“You looked pleased with yourself,” he said, turning to Rebecca.

“Thank you, sir,” she answered, mimicking her husband’s accent.

The nod he gave her was surprisingly approving.

“Telegram just arrived,” the colonel went on, turning back to Clark. “Congress approved the peace
commission. We’re to call all the troops in from the field.”

“So the war’s over?” Rebecca asked.

Her father nodded and, with a squeeze to Rebecca’s shoulder, moved on toward the hospital tent. Rebecca and Clark turned toward home. They could bear the colonel ordering the soldier to find his niece and send her out.

“Do you think it’s safe to call back all the troops?” Rebecca asked as they walked.

“The Tenth is stationed all along the Smoky Hill and Santa Fe trails. They’re in defensive positions, and surely they’ll remain in place until the treaty is signed. Campaigns like Custer’s have been fairly fruitless anyway.”

“So, it means you’re going to be home,” Rebecca said, letting her voice turn seductive.

“I may get sent out in charge of a wood-cutting expedition.”

“You better not be gone three weeks.”

He turned her into his arms. “Sometime, I’ll have to leave you again.”

She looked up at him, and he buried his hands in her hair, framing her face with his palms. “You can take my heart with you,” she said.

He smiled at her and kissed her lips quickly. “All the time I was gone, do you know what I carried next to my heart?”

She shook her head.

“Your hair.”

She blinked up at him.

“After you talked me into cutting it, I wrapped it in a handkerchief and put it in the inside pocket of my uniform blouse. I was already in love with you, I think. You can check when you get home if you don’t believe me.”

She couldn’t stop grinning at him. “If it’s so precious, why aren’t you carrying it now?”

“Because right now,” he said, drawing her closer, “I have you.”

Any other teasing comment slipped Rebecca’s mind as his lips descended to claim hers.

* * * * *

eISBN 978-14592-5077-2

THE UNLIKELY WIFE

Copyright © 1999 by Sandra Detrixhe

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