A Journey of the Heart Collection (38 page)

The next day was colder and more like they had expected late autumn to be. The wind blew ferociously, and the sky was overcast. Emmie offered to take the laundry to Suds Row. Amelia was feeling poorly and let herself be talked into some hot tea with Sarah while Emmie ran across the parade ground to the laundresses' cabins and tents. As she passed the sutler's store on the way back, she saw a group of men all clustered around, looking in the windows. Curious, she sidled up behind Rooster and tried to see around his scrawny neck.

“Howdy, Miss Emmie.” He flushed and backed away from the window a bit.

“What's going on, Rooster?”

“Nothin' much. The men's jest curious about the new gal that come in with the supply train a couple of days ago. She's the daughter of Major DuBois and sure is a looker. Not that it matters to me, of course. She's in there with her pappy and Lieutenant Liddle.”

Something squeezed tightly in Emmie's chest. Was Isaac interested in Miss DuBois? She stood on tiptoe and looked in the window. The young woman inside was a real beauty with deep-red curls tied back at her long, slim neck. Her dark-blue gown enhanced her voluptuous figure, and the lace at the neck framed an exquisitely delicate face. She clung to Isaac's arm and gazed up at him adoringly with big blue eyes.

Isaac was smiling down at her indulgently. He turned slightly and saw Emmie looking in the window. His eyes widened as they met hers, and he raised a hand involuntarily.

Jessica turned to see what he was looking at. She clutched his arm tighter and said something that caused the other men to laugh.

Emmie fled back to the safety of the Campbell quarters. She fought the tears prickling at the back of her throat. Jessica really was a beauty. And an aristocratic
one. With her father's help, a young officer could go far
.
Why was she so upset, anyway? Emmie had made it perfectly clear to Isaac that she wasn't interested.

For the next few days, Emmie threw herself into helping Sarah. She didn't want to have any time to think. They spent their afternoons with the other women of the fort, stitching tiny garments for the coming babies and learning about child care from the experienced mothers. They worked on Amelia's layette since her baby was due first. They wanted to make sure everything was ready.

Amelia stitched at the final quilt in her baby's layette. “I wonder where Isaac has been. We haven't seen him in several days.”

“I noticed that a couple of days ago and asked Rand about it,” Sarah said. “He said he'd invited him over for dinner several times, but Isaac always had an excuse. He's been acting strange, Rand said. Not his usual cheerful self. And Rand said he thought Jessica had set her cap for him now.”

Emmie's heart clenched. Wasn't it what she
wanted? At least she wouldn't have to tell Isaac the truth about her so-called marriage.

“Not Isaac!” Amelia's voice was alarmed. “We must do something, Sarah.”

“I don't think she'll get 'round him.” Sarah bit off the thread and smoothed the block she was sewing, then sighed. “I know we should stop by and call on her. It's been hard to get enough courage.”

Emmie kept her gaze on her needlework, but her heart thumped uncomfortably. She wasn't at all sure she wanted to meet this woman.

Amelia stared across the room at Emmie. “Maybe you should invite him over, Emmie. I thought he seemed to be sweet on you. If you were nice to him, maybe we could get him out of Jessica's clutches.”

“I've told you before I don't intend to get involved with any man,” Emmie said. “It wouldn't be right with my situation.”

“But Isaac is different,” Sarah said. “He's like Rand and Jake. He has character and principles.”

“Then I hope he'll see through Jessica on his own.” Emmie's tone did not invite further discussion.

Amelia gave a sidelong glance at Sarah. “We'll just have to trust in his good sense.”

The thick paper rustled in Isaac's pocket, and he stood a little straighter as he strode into the sutler's store. The scent of cinnamon blended with that of tallow and kerosene swirled in the air as he shut the heavy door behind him to block out the cold wind. The rows of supplies were barely wide enough to allow his broad shoulders through, but he pressed toward the front of the store. He'd seen Emmie come in a few minutes ago.

She turned away from the candy counter near the front of the store and longingly glanced back toward the licorice.

He motioned to the clerk behind the counter. “A licorice for the lady, please.”

The blue cape she wore deepened the color of her violet eyes as she whirled to face him. “I don't need it, Lieutenant Liddle. It's much too dear.”

“I'm celebrating today.” He handed her the small bag of licorice and smiled. “I'm a landowner.”

Her small gloved hand circled the bag, and she peeked inside as if she couldn't wait to taste the candy. “A landowner?”

He pulled the deed from his pocket. “I just bought five hundred acres near Sheridan.”

The color washed from her cheeks. “You're leaving the fort?”

The desolation in her face encouraged him. She didn't want him to leave. “Not yet. I've got two years to serve yet, but I want to be ready. By then the area should be safe enough. I'd like to show it to you sometime.”

Her long lashes swept down and obscured the expression in her eyes. “What does it look like?”

“It's only five miles away, so it looks a lot like here.”

“That seems a little dangerous in more ways than one. The Indian trouble is far from over.”

“This territory is perfect for cattle and horses, and I didn't want to miss a good opportunity. Would you come see it with me?”

She bit her lip. “I don't know what the future will bring.”

“I'd like a woman's opinion. Promise you'll at least come look at it with me.”

She moved the bag of candy to her other hand. “I don't like to make promises I might not be able to keep.”

“This one will be easy. We'll take a picnic and some other soldiers as soon as it seems safe. Please?”

“Very well. But only if Rand says it's safe.”

She took a step toward the door, and he knew it was too soon to tell her he dreamed of building her a home on those rolling hills. He'd told Rand he could be patient, but it was getting harder than he realized.

FOUR

H
urry up, Sarah. We're going to be late,” Emmie called at the bedroom door. “Assembly sounded five minutes ago, and the post band is warming up.”

“I'm coming!” Sarah rushed out in a flurry of rustling skirts and the wafting aroma of lilac. Emmie and Joel followed her out the door and across the parade ground toward the milling crowd in front of headquarters. They hurried up the platform that Colonel Carrington had ordered erected for the ladies and found a seat beside Amelia.

“I thought you were going to miss the opening assembly,” Amelia whispered.

Lieutenant Adair, adjutant of the Eighteenth, had the adjutant's call sounded. The companies formed lines in front of their quarters, then moved to their battle positions. Colonel Carrington stepped to the fore and addressed the men. He began a stirring address to dedicate the fort to the brave men who had lost their lives in the course of the fifteen weeks it took to erect the encampment.

Emmie found her eyes straying to Isaac's erect figure just to her left near the newly finished flagpole. He kept his eyes steadfastly on his commanding officer, and she felt a thrill of enjoyment that she could look at him without anyone noticing. He looked very fine with his new blue uniform pressed and the sun glinting off his brass epaulets and polished boots. She glanced to her right and saw Jessica DuBois glaring at her. Emmie's cheeks warmed, and she looked away quickly and fastened her gaze on Colonel Carrington.

The little colonel finished his speech by handing the halyards to William Daley, who had done most of the work on the flagpole. The men stood at parade
rest with their right hands raised as the orders were barked out. “Attention! Present arms.”

The rifles slapped in the hands of the soldiers, and the drum corps played a long roll, followed by the swell of the full band playing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Tears slid down Emmie's cheeks as the guns opened fire, and William Daley pulled the halyards and raised the twenty-by-thirty-six-foot flag slowly to the top of the mast. The chilly breeze stretched it out to its full glory.

She waved her handkerchief in honor of the flag with the rest of the ladies and wept unashamedly. For the first time in her life, she felt part of something worthwhile, something good. She glanced involuntarily over at Isaac and found his steady gaze on her. He smiled and tipped his plumed hat. She smiled tremulously back at him. Glancing over at Jessica, she found her engaged in a conversation with Colonel Carrington. Thank goodness she hadn't seen the exchange.

As the men marched off to their quarters to the tune of “Hail, Columbia,” Isaac pushed his way through the melee and caught Emmie's hand. “Will you save me a dance later? I have to take care of a few duties before I can join the party at headquarters.”

Heat flooded her cheeks and pleasure curled around her. “I don't think I'll be dancing. Besides, Jessica might be angry.”

He frowned. “What's she got to do with us? Her father is my superior. I've just been helping her get settled in. Believe me, I know the kind of woman she is. Once she heard my family owns a large ranch in Texas, her interest kicked up. She doesn't really care anything about me.”

Emmie caught back the smile that wanted to spring to her lips. “She doesn't know about the estrangement?”

He shook his head. “It's none of her business. But it's clear you don't think much of me.” He strode off in the direction of the barracks.

Emmie bit her lip. Maybe she shouldn't go to the party at all. She just didn't know how to handle Isaac. Or her own turmoil. For just a moment she longed to be free of the mistrust she felt about men. But it was the only defense she had. And she needed a defense when it came to Isaac. There was something about him that so attracted her and made her feel undone.

Amelia grabbed her hand. “Wasn't it wonderful? I was so overcome.” She tugged her toward the line of ladies and officers heading toward the door to
headquarters. “I don't want to miss a moment of the fun. Sarah went to find Rand and Jake. I told her we'd meet them there.”

“I'm not sure I should go. I'm still in mourning—” She broke off at Amelia's incredulous look.

“Don't be ridiculous, Emmie. Whatever do you have to mourn about? That rascal wasn't even your true husband.”

“I don't think we've met yet,” a soft, feminine voice behind them spoke. “Won't you introduce us, Amelia?”

Emmie turned to stare into Jessica's blue eyes, and her mouth went dry. Did she hear what Amelia had said? But the beautiful face before her gave no clue.