Romancing the Rogue (204 page)

“Well, now. I take it your
husband
hasn’t completed his business?” The men who had addressed me in front of the tavern stood between me and the General. They grinned at me, leering, and I began to shake. What did they want?

“He’s with my sister. He’ll be back shortly.” I told him, stepping closer to Fran’s side. If they moved to attack me, I wanted to be close enough to mount.

“Now, here’s what I think. That man weren’t your husband.” One man said as he moved to my left. “I think you just said that like.”

“If he wasn’t my husband
¯
would I have this horse?” I asked, motioning to the General. The horse must have sensed the tension rippling along my spine for he pranced, pawing the ground, with his ears flat and the whites of his eyes showing.

I pulled on his leading rein and he settled slightly, though he watched the men with wariness and trepidation. The other two men closed in, trapping me against Fran’s side. They were so close I smelled the stale sweat emanating from them and I prayed with silent fervor that my sister would stay in the woods until these men finished whatever it was they were about.

“Where’s the girl?” Another of the men asked.

“With my husband.” I had no room to mount, caught between the men and my horse, still tethered to the General. I was afraid to scream, certain it would bring my sister running. We had seen no one on the road for several hours and I had no hope that anyone would hear me.

The General reared, pulling on the strap containing him, and jerking Fran in his direction. This freed up some space behind me, as the gentler of the horses moved closer to the gelding. I used the opportunity to grasp the saddle horn and pull myself into the saddle. I had become more adept at mounting in the past few days
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a skill I was grateful for now. From my new vantage point I was able to see the three mounts that had brought the men this far and I wondered if they had deliberately followed my sister and me.

I kept my eyes on the three men as they crowded closer to F
ran and the General. I couldn’t leave¯not with Amelia still happily hunting mushrooms in the woods. If they wanted to, they could pull me off of Fran with little difficulty. I had no weapon, no gun, nothing suitable for defending myself
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all at once I cursed Grayson. How could he leave me alone like this?

The ringleader of the men stepped toward me and I jerked the horse around, putting her head between us. It made the man angry and he grabbed the bridle, controlling Fran. “Let go of my horse, sir, and let me on my way.”

“Or what?” the man jeered, looking about as if to say
who is to stop me from doing whatever I want?

“Or you’ll feel a bullet in your gut.” The loud echo of a rifle being cocked accompanied the words. The three men spun around, staring at the man standing behind them. My heart ran rampant, joy and relief mixed in equal measure. “I believe my wife said let go of her horse.”

After the first initial shock of seeing the soldier standing there like a savior, my mind cleared and I looked about. Grayson wasn’t alone, three men in a wagon
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farmers by the looks of them¯hunkered down using the wagon’s wooden sides as cover. They each held a rifle or pistol aimed at the three ruffians. Who were they? Where had the soldier been? How had Grayson met these men who were willing to risk danger by
helping me?

“We was just funnin’. Didn’t mean anything by it, not toward your missus.” The smallest of the three dirt-laden men apologized, sending me a hopeful look, as if asking for support of his ridiculous claim
.
I wasn’t that naïve
¯I had an inkling of
what they had intended for me. Amelia, too, most likely.

“I don’t like the idea of your ‘funnin’.” Grayson walked toward me and freed the General’s reins. “I think my wife told you to let her be.”

“Yes, sir. A misunderstanding like.” Another of the men said, as they all moved closer to their own mounts. Grayson growled, a sound that sent tremors running through me. I could imagine what it must have done to the three brutes. They froze, eyes widening as the three farmers cocked their own weapons.

I watched as the soldier approached the men’s horses. He led them all by the reins to the rear of the farmers’ wagon and tied them to it. “Now, my wife and I are heading about our business. We have no fight with you
¯
after all, it was just ‘funnin’
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so I won’t kil
l you now. Travers and his brothers here will take your horses to the sheriff¯you can pick up your mounts there. If I see you again
¯
anywhere near my wife or her sister
¯
I’ll assume it was something a bit more than ‘funnin’ and kill you where you stand.
Hear me?” He gave them no room to answer, but relieved the leader of his gun¯the only one carried by the trio. He pocketed it and the man opened his mouth to object. He changed his mind when Grayson brought the rifle hard across his cheek. “I said, do you
hear me?”

The men nodded, backing away from Grayson. The soldier thanked the man
¯
Travers
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and told him that the debt was paid and that he appreciated the help. The farmers nodded and turned their wagon back in the direction of the past town. Grayson called to Amelia
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who had been hiding behind a huge oak watching the entire altercation. She came quickly; carrying a blanket wrapped bundle that I assumed was her mushroom findings.

Grayson lifted my sister into her saddle then mounted the General
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who whinnied almost in greeting. We kicked the horses into a fast gallop which jarred my insides out, riding past the three un-mounted men as the Travers wagon started off
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leading the three tethered horses to the sheriff’s.

I looked over my shoulder at the men, meeting the stare of the ringleader. It was filled with hatred and venom
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and focused not on Grayson but on me. I didn't understand that as I'd done nothing to court his attentions.

I turned around, wanting to demand answers from the soldier, but I refr
ained. One thing was abundantly clear¯did he think I would just forgive him for running out on me this morning?

Grayson tried to engage my sister in a conversation but she was silent. The men had scared her, and I regretted that. She blamed Grayson for the entire situation and was letting him know in her own way. Good for her
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I blamed him, too.

“Why’d you come back?” I demanded, still shaking.

“I told you I’d get you money.” He rode ahead of me and I kneed my horse to follow. “I got enough to put you on a train to Indianapolis. You can purchase a ticket there to Chicago.”

“Where’d you get the money?”

“I won it.” He looked at me and I was surprised to see anger on his face.

What sort of contest had he entered between last night and this morning? “Won it
how?”

“Cards, Olivia.” He looked at me as if I was a fool to ask and anger welled within my breast. “What the hell were you doing?” He suddenly reined his horse around and blocked my path.

I dug my heels into Fran’s sides, an instinctive reaction to the suddenness of his action. Luckily, she was such a calm horse and didn’t react other than to whicker and snort in protest. Grayson grabbed her reins and looped them to his saddle, drawing Fran
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and me
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closer to the General’s side. He grabbed my chin between two strong fingers before I had even a chance to respond. I met his gaze, startled, and my mouth went dry.

What was he doing?
Amelia had stopped Sally less than a yard behind us and I knew she watched, curious. “Do you realize how lucky you are that I caught up with you? Do you know what those jackasses intended?”

“What was I supposed to do? Wait for my uncle to come to town and find us? You had disappeared. Was I just supposed to stay there, hoping you’d come back?” I was angrier at him in that moment than I had been with anyone in my life. And I wanted him to
know
it.

“I thought you would know to stay at the inn until I returned. I didn’t think you would just up and leave!” He shouted the words and that close to my face I couldn’t help but recoil.

I hadn’t seen him this angry before, and my own ire turned to nervousness and fear. I hated the sound of a raised voice. My father had never yelled, instead showed displeasure through long silences. His brother was quite different. My uncle loved to yell and loved to hit. Was Grayson the same?

“Listen. How was I to know you would come back? You told me last night you had to return to your men.” I tried to keep my voice calm, hoping to diffuse his ire. I prayed he couldn’t see my trembling, a response I couldn’t help. I didn’t think he would strike me, he hadn’t yet. Hadn’t he protected me from my uncle back in Jessup’s barn? But I had never made him this angry before. I felt close to tears, and Amelia stared wide-eyed.

“I wouldn’t let you leave with no money. I certainly wouldn’t let you travel by horseback alone! What were you thinking?” His tone was lower, calmer, gentler. I took a deep breath, trying to gain control of my senses
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ever mindful of my sister.

“You never said to stay at the inn. You just disappeared.” I told him, looking down as Fran whickered. “What was I supposed to think?”

He ran a hand through his hair, ruffling the dark brown locks. He had thick hair, and I knew it was as soft as it looked. My hands had been buried in it during that kiss, and now my fingers curled at the remembered texture.

“I didn’t expect to find you gone.” He told me as he nudged the General to start moving again. Fran was still tethered to his saddle and it forced me to ride close to Grayson’s side; Amelia followed several lengths behind. “I thought to be back before you awakened. I got held up with Travers.”

“Who was he?” I looked at his face, noticing that his color had returned to normal. Maybe he wasn’t angry at me any longer.

“I won some money off him. He couldn’t pay. When I heard you’d been followed as you left town I made a deal with him and his brothers.”

“You heard we’d left?” We settled into a steady pace, my horse still tied to his.

“The stable master’s boy had seen you leave. He’d recognized the horses. Ole’ General here took a bite out of his hide last evening. He also realized you were being trailed. Good thing he knew to find me.” He gave me a reproachful look and I started to bristle again. I thought better of it; after all, I was glad the boy had alerted Grayson. “Seems those fools had caused trouble before. I told Travers if they caught up with you I’d consider the debt paid in full. Good thing you stopped for lunch when you did.”

He closed his eyes for a moment and I could see him swallow. I knew what he thought, what he imagined those cretins had had in mind. “Thank you.”

“Let’s just forget them. We have other things to worry about.” He looked away and when he turned back to me I could see lingering traces of anger.

“Like what?”

“You’ll catch the train in the next town. It will take you into Indianapolis. You’ll be able to get a train to Chicago from there.”

“And the horses? What of them?” I couldn’t leave Fran and Sally behind.

“I have enough for them to be carried to Chicago as well. Once there, you might have to sell them. This one will fetch a pretty penny. Enough to keep you until you can find your other sister.” He patted the General’s neck as he said this, and I could see that he didn’t like the thought of getting rid of the creature any more than I
did.

“But what about you?” I desperately wanted to know his plans. “Where will you go?”

“Kentucky.”

“But you can’t! They’ll hang you!”

“Not if I don’t get caught.” He smiled arrogantly, lips cocking. Did the man think he was invincible? Yes, he was in civilian clothing, but when he spoke the southern accent gave him away. So much could happen to him.

“Why. Why do you want to go back?” Why couldn’t he go to Chicago with us, find a job, be safe?

“I’ve my reasons.”

“What?”

“My farm. My brother. My duty.”

“Your brother?” I never considered him as having a family and it shamed me-my own selfishness.

“Fischer. Haven’t seen him since Gettysburg. Heard he was seen around Lexington way, had been taken prisoner. Also heard he’d escaped and was making his way back. Him and some others.”

“So that’s why you were in Kentucky? Looking for your brother? What of your men?”

“We’ve been discharged. Service was up. They agreed to help me find the boy. I didn’t ask, but they insisted.” He frowned a moment, before looking at the distant horizon. What had happened to his men? Those who volunteered to help him with this task? Kentucky was a Federal state, just like Indiana. It had to be dangerous. Grayson was a brave man. I looked at my sister and knew that I would travel deep into enemy territory if she were lost, as I would for Rachel. As the oldest, it was my job to protect them
¯
Grayson must have felt the same way. I understood him a bit better now.

We entered the next town shortly after our discussion and I was glad to take a moment’s break. I slid off the horse’s back and Grayson was there to catch me.

I followed Grayson as he hitched his horse to a fence off an alley, tying Fran beside the General, and Amelia did the same with Sally. I patted my horse, ever thankful that she was once again a part of a journey. I knew she was getting on in years, and that the constant riding must be tiring her out, but she was steadfast and I loved her for it.

Grayson led the way into a mercantile, a small store with only two aisles. He motioned me toward a rack of ready made women’s apparel.

“Get each of you a new traveling gown and the necessities. You’ll need them on the train. But don’t dally. I want to reach the hotel by nightfall. I don’t know how long it will take us to get to the station and we could use the rest.”

“Where is the depot?” I had never ridden a train and was apprehensive. And though I had boasted earlier that I didn’t need the soldier to get us to Chicago, I knew that wasn’t true. I wanted him to stay with us, frightened at the thought of traveling alone.

“Twenty-five miles north of here.” The store clerk told me. He eyed Grayson, suspicion on his face at the southern flavor to Grayson’s words, but he said nothing. “You all headed somewhere?”

I started to answer but Grayson silenced me with a slight wave of his hand. “My wife is taking her sister home to Detroit. They are meeting her mother and father there.”

It sat ill with me that he lied so easily but I understood his reasoning. If by some chance my uncle had managed to trace us this far, it would be good for him to think we were headed in a different direction than Chicago. I didn’t know whether I admired Grayson’s abilities at bending the truth or abhorred them. I had been raised to view lying as a sin and felt guilty whenever I falsified the truth.

Grayson directed me to the garments and indicated I should hurry. A sunny yellow muslin was perfect for Amelia and I found a more mature slate blue cotton for myself. The gowns were the first new ones we had had since the war started four years ago and I ran my hands reverently over the soft fabrics.

Grayson and the store clerk were chatting, discussing the almanac’s report for the day, as I wandered the aisles. I went into an antechamber where ladies undergarments were discreetly displayed. I quickly found some of those new bloomer-type underwear for my sister, certain they would be much more suited to traveling than her old set. I didn’t dare purchase a pair for myself, settling instead on a demure white set with a soft blue ribbon running the edges of each sleeve.

Grayson called to me and I carried my selections to the counter, with the undergarments partially hidden by the two dresses. Grayson didn’t need to see my underclothing; I felt my cheeks heat as I passed in front of him. I laid the items on the counter and Amelia placed two peppermint sticks on top of the pile. I looked at Grayson to see if the candy met with his approval. I smiled, seeing his lips wrapped around another piece of the sweet. He grinned at me, much like a small boy, and sent the dimples beside his mouth flashing.

The clerk rang up our purchases and wrapped them neatly in paper and twine. Grayson paid him, thanked him, and then handed me the two packages. He gave me a dollar and told me to find us a reputable inn, that he would procure the train tickets and meet us at the small diner we had passed on the way to the store. I watched him walk down the walkway and then set about finding someone to give me directions.

After being unable to find a room in the first two inns, my spirits flagged as Amelia and I approached the third and final motel the postmaster had suggested. The first had been overrun with Union soldiers on their way home on leave and I didn’t dare risk obtaining a room in such a crowd. It would be the height of foolishness for Grayson to sleep amidst so many rivaling men, and I wasn’t about to risk his safety
¯
and ours
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by even trying.

The second inn, smaller and less well-kept, had been run by a hateful old man who had refused to rent a room to someone of ‘my sort’. I took it to mean because I didn’t have a husband to do my talking for me. I tried to explain that my husband Grayson would be joining me, but my explanations fell upon deaf and stubborn ears. I decided it wasn’t worth the bother, that I didn’t want Grayson’s money going to such a foul man. We would find another hotel
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or sleep in the stables if we had to.

This was the final stop. The inn was small, but appeared well-kept, with spring tulips beginning to bloom along the walkway, bright yellows and reds that were cheery and friendly. I knocked on the door while Amelia tried peeking in the windows.

A woman not much older than me answered, inquiring as to our need. “I need a room if you have it.”

“For you and the girl?” The woman smiled at Amelia, who smiled prettily in return.

“My sister’s husband, too.” Amelia rushed the words in typical youthful fashion, as if trying to reassure the woman that we were respectable. After all, decent young women did not travel unescorted through these parts. That was a lesson I had learned only that morning.

“How long will you be staying?”

“Just for one night. We are taking the train to Indianapolis in the morning. We are heading to my mother’s in Detroit.” I reiterated Grayson’s earlier story on the off chance my uncle tracked us to this place. I didn’t think he would, knew that he was lazy and that my sisters and I meant little to him. He probably hadn’t followed us this far, but I couldn’t take the gamble.

“That’s a long ways to go, but the train will make it easier. Why, this time Saturday you’ll be in Michigan.” The lady asked for a retainer on the room, which ate up over half of the dollar Grayson had given me, before showing us to a large room at the end of the hall. “Now if you be needing bathwater it’ll be an extra nickel a tub.”

I thanked her, telling her we would discuss a bath later. I didn’t want to spend Grayson’s money all at once, feeling beholden to him for the train tickets as well as the dress goods.

We quickly changed into the new gowns and straightened our hair in front of the mirror. I wanted Grayson to see me looking more presentable before we went our separate ways. I hated that I had looked like someone’s poor relation
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even if that’s what I was. I wanted him to look at me and see a comely
¯
and attractive
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young woman. My hands trembled as they fastened up the curl of mud brown hair that had fallen from the bun I had so quickly arranged that morning. This was the last evening I would spend with Grayson and I wanted it to be as pleasant as possible, leaving a lasting and favorable impression. To be able to sit down at a real table for a real meal with him would be a fine thing indeed
¯
even with Amelia there, too.

After pinning my hair, I scrubbed my face clean, touching a finger to the peeling over my nose and cheekbones. Our time in the sun had pinked my skin and raised freckles over the bridge of my nose
.
With peeling cheeks, freckled nose, and mud brown hair¯I looked
no older than Amelia.

My sister whined at me, in the manner of impatient children everywhere, bidding me to hurry. I placed the brush back on the bureau and rose.

“I’m coming. What’s the hurry?” My breath caught on the last word and I prayed my sister hadn’t noticed. My stomach clenched and my palms were slick as I tried to control my nerves.

We left the hotel, bidding the proprietor and his wife good evening. Amelia skipped along the road ahead of me, her new yellow gown heightening the becoming color in her cheeks. Unlike me
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possessing the same pale complexion as our father
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Amelia shared our mother’s slightly darker skin tone and rarely burned
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or freckled. The sun had given her beautiful and soft shading that I envied. I laughed at her antics, watching as she twirled her skirt, revealing her new bloomers underneath. At her age, I hadn’t possessed even half her energy. A group of blue-clad soldiers passed by, making me more nervous. It seemed like a lifetime ago when the sight of so many Union soldiers had felt reassuring to me. But now, every one posed yet another threat to Grayson.