Colt (19 page)
Authors: Georgina Gentry
“Humph!” Olivia stuck her nose in the air and went sailing out the door, slamming it behind her.
Well, now what? He didn't like being caught between two women. Once he got out of confinement, he was going to volunteer for every patrol and stay as far away as he could from this fort. He went over and took a look at Olivia's tray. It was some kind of stew, but it didn't look appetizing, and a bowl of pudding that was runny. Thank God he had already eaten.
Now he rolled a cigarette and thought about the captain. He ground his teeth with rage. What was he to do about that bastard? Hannah was right. Colt could get in big trouble attacking a superior officer, but if he didn't stop the man, he'd try it again and Hannah was too proud to let Colt know. In fact, he would never have learned about what had happened this morning if he hadn't noticed the bruise on her face.
No matter what she said and no matter that Captain Van Smyth was a superior officer, Colt was going to see that he never tried to touch Hannah again, even if Colt had to kill him.
Chapter 13
Three days later, Colt was finally back on duty. The first thing he did was report to the major.
As he entered, Colt saluted, then winced. His injured arm still pained him.
The major leaned back in his chair. “At ease, Lieutenant.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Sit down and have a drink.”
Colt stood there, fidgeting. “If you don't mind, sir, I have workâ”
“By Saint Mary's blood, sit down. That's an order,” the major snapped.
“Yes, sir.” Reluctantly, Colt sat down.
“I don't generally delve into my men's private lives.” The major poured them each a drink and stared into Colt's eyes. “But when the man is my daughter's intended, I think maybe I do need to give him a little advice.”
Colt started to say something, thought better of it, and accepted the drink. “Sir?”
“I know you've got until the middle of June to decide whether to reenlist, Prescott, but you strike me as a man who'd make a great career soldier.”
“That was what I'd always planned on, sir.”
“You've got the talent and the drive to end up as a general if we go to war with the South, and that's a strong possibility.” He gulped his drink.
“Yes, sir.” Colt sipped his drink.
“Or if you decide against this hard life, my wife's family is rich and has important connections. You could live a life of luxury and ease back East, and all you would have to do is keep my darling daughter happy.”
Colt started to ask why the major hadn't chosen that same road, decided it was impertinent. “Yes, sir.”
“I just want to warn you to stop causing fights and problems. You need a clean record, no matter which you choose.”
“Yes, sir.”
“That's all.” The major sighed and poured himself another drink and reached for his pipe. “Dismissed.”
Colt stood up, snapped the major a salute, and left his office. He could either tell everyone on the post he was no longer engaged to Olivia and embarrass her, which wasn't good for his career, or insist Olivia do so and she didn't seem so inclined. Hell, what a mess.
But first on his mind was dealing with Captain Van Smyth. He sought him out, saluted. “Captain Van Smyth?”
“Yes?”
“Will you take off your jacket and give me satisfaction?”
The captain looked annoyed. “Over what?”
Colt was barely able to contain his rage. “Sir, you know over what. Hannah Brownley.”
The captain smirked. “Pishposh. For an officer engaged to the most beautiful girl on the post, it seems odd, Lieutenant, that you want to protect the honor of some slutty trollopâ”
“Sir, I'm warnin' you not to use those words.”
“Are you threatening me, Lieutenant?”
“No, I'm promisin' you, sir.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Colt could see enlisted men turning to catch the exchange as they passed.
“Very well,” the captain snapped. “I will give you satisfaction out behind the barn about sundown tonight.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Dismissed,” the captain said curtly and, as Colt turned to go, the superior officer added, “Oh, by the way, Lieutenant, maybe no one told you I was the middleweight boxing champion at West Point a few years ago.”
Colt turned. “I was not aware of that, sir.”
“Then would you like to apologize and withdraw your challenge?”
“No, sir, I wouldn't.”
The captain smiled. “It's your funeral, Lieutenant. I'm looking forward to beating you bloody, unofficially, of course.”
“And, sir, I'm lookin' forward to wipin' up the dirt with you because of those scratches on your face and the bruise on hers, unofficially, of course.”
The handsome captain scowled and fingered his wispy mustache as if to make sure it was still there. “Dismissed. I'll see you behind the barn tonight, and if you want my opinion, you're a damned fool. I hope the fair Olivia realizes that.”
“I wish she did, sir.” Colt snapped him a salute and strode away. He went down to the stable to inspect horses and soon, Sergeant Mulvaney came in.
“Oh, hello, Sergeant.”
The older man snapped a salute. “Permission to speak, sir?”
“Oh, don't stand on ceremony, Bill. We've known each other too long for that.”
“Well, then I'll speak to you like a son.” The old man put his hand on Colt's broad shoulder. “'Tis all over the camp in minutes that you and Captain Van Smyth are squaring off tonight behind the barn.”
“Nothing travels faster than gossip around an army camp, does it?” Colt grinned.
“So it's true, lad?”
“You know it is.”
The grizzled sergeant groaned aloud. “Holy Saint Patrick. Don't ye know the captain was a boxing champion?”
“So he told me.”
“Then are you out of your mind? Has this Texas heat drove you loco?”
“Maybe so,” Colt mused.
“He outreaches you,” Mulvaney pointed out.
“Then he'll probably wipe up the dirt with me.” Colt walked outside with the sergeant right behind him.
“And wait 'til it gets back to the major.”
“I expect he'll hear about it in less than twenty-four hours.” Colt rolled a cigarette. “Fort gossip travels faster than the telegraph.”
“Do ye not fear Miss Olivia will hear about it?”
That made Colt sigh. “I'm sure she will.”
“Then, for God's sake, manâ”
“Sergeant, I know you mean well, but I had to challenge him.”
“Why? It's not as if the gal was a lady who hadn't been pawed at beforeâ”
“Mulvaney, shut your mouth before I forget we're friends, okay?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Now I reckon you have chores to do?”
“Yes, sir. By the by, there's post gossip about a raid against the Comanches soon. Of course that could be just gossip.”
“Hmm. In that case, I'd double-check all the equipment anyway, just in case.”
“Yes, sir.” He snapped a salute.
“You're dismissed, Sergeant. I expect most of the men will be out behind the barn tonight?”
The old Irishman grinned. “I might as well tell you the majority are bettin' on the captain, but I put down a fiver on you, sir.”
“I hope you don't lose your money,” Colt growled. “But I'll do my damnedest to bust the captain's head open.”
“Yes, sir. That would make most of the enlisted men very happy.” The sergeant saluted again and left.
Colt sighed and looked up at the sun. It was late afternoon. He walked out on the parade ground and saw Hannah and her little boy leaving the sutler's and heading for her cabin. He waited a minute and looked around. The fort was quiet in the warm sun, the lull just before supper. He walked around to Hannah's back door and knocked softly.
“Who is it?”
“It's me, Colt.”
Now her voice was guarded. “What do you want?”
“I just wanted you to know I'm callin' Captain Van Smyth out for what he did to you.”
She came to the back door. “I've already heard. It was all over the fort in a few minutes. Come in before someone sees you on my back porch and the gossip starts again.”
He came in, glanced around. “Where's Travis?”
“Playing in his room with the toy horse you carved him.”
He looked down at her, wanting to stroke that yellow hair. “Doesn't he ever play with the other children?”
For a moment, he thought she might cry, but she didn't. Instead she shook her head. “You should know the other women don't want their kids playing with a half-breed.”
“Damn it, why are people so cruel?” He put his hands on her shoulders. “You need to leave this place.”
“I know, and I plan to.” She looked up at him. “Just as soon as I can. Mr. Hutton offered me a part-time job working at the store, and I'm doing a lot of ironing. I figure in a few weeks, I might have enough money to leave.”
The thought of her leaving, never seeing her again, made him wince. “Where would you go?”
She turned away from him. “It doesn't matter, just as long as it's away from here. Maybe someplace where no one knows my past and I can make a fresh start.”
He had no right to offer her anything; his life was muddled enough already. “I just came to tell you about the fight in case you hadn't heard. After I beat him up, other men will think twice about botherin' you again.”
“Oh, Colt, you don't need the trouble that'll bring you.”
“Listen, I'd do this for any woman. No Texan would let a man take liberties with a helpless girl and not call him out over it.”
She looked up at him. “You're a fool.”
“Maybe, but that's just the way I am.”
She hesitated, and then her small arms slipped around his neck and she turned her face up to him.
He looked down at the bruises there and touched her cheek with one finger. “I ought to kill him for that, much less beat him up.”
“Oh, Colt,” she whispered and then she kissed him. He pulled her to him so tightly she could scarcely breathe, and the kiss deepened, her tongue going into his mouth as both their breaths quickened.
He held her close. “If only things were different,” he whispered against her hair.
“Can't I talk you out of this silly fight?” She kissed his face. “It's noble of you, but it's not as if I've got any honor left to protect.”
“Don't say that!” he snapped and almost shook her. “As far as I'm concerned, you are the most innocent lady I know, and I'd kill any man who tried to take advantage of you.” He pulled away from her, and neither said anything for a long moment.
“I'll see you later.” He turned and left before he did what he wanted to do, which was sweep her up in his arms, carry her to her bed, and make passionate love to her.
Colt strode across the parade grounds toward the barn. The sun was low on the western horizon as he walked. Hannah was right of course and he knew it. He had a great career ahead of him and could marry the beautiful virgin from Philadelphia. Olivia would love him and give him children. And maybe in bed at night, he could make love to her and pretend she was Hannah, the poor Texas girl he had rescued from the Indians and who hadn't a thing to offer himânot great beauty or wealth or even her virginity. Somehow, that didn't matter. And yet, he knew she was right. He was a damned fool.
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Hannah tried to keep her mind busy by scrubbing her kitchen floor, yet her mind was on the coming fight. Everyone said the captain was a skilled boxer and would flatten the Texan. All because of her. What could she do about it? Nothing. Men and their damned pride. She'd rather have let the snooty captain rape her than get Colt hurt.
There was a knock at her door and she got to her feet, smiling. Maybe it was Colt coming to tell her the fight had been called off. She hurried to open it.
Instead it was Olivia.
“Yes?”
“You might invite me in,” the beauty snapped.
Hannah hesitated. It was probably about the fight, and she didn't want to cause Colt any more trouble. “I'm sorry. Come in, Miss Murphy.”
The girl entered, looking down her nose at the small cabin. “I'm having a going-away tea for the captain's aunt. Remember her? You met her at the dance.”
“Oh, yes.” Hannah swallowed in surprise. “IâI'm not sure I have anything to wearâ”
“Oh, I'm not here to issue an invitation.” Olivia laughed cruelly. “If that's what you thought.”
“Of course I knew that,” Hannah lied, but felt her face flush with humiliation.
“Doc tells me you are an excellent cook and my Maria is none too good.”
“I'm not sure that's true.” Hannah spoke up loyally for the squat Indian woman.
“Anyway, the tea is tomorrow afternoon as she's catching a stage out tomorrow night. I thought perhaps you could bake some fancy little cookies and tea cakes?”
Hannah blinked. “Oh, yes, of course.” Her mind was busy, thinking about adding to her small stash of money. “And of course you intend to pay me?”
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