Son of the Hawk (16 page)

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Annie was sitting on a long cottonwood log by the water’s edge, a place she came to when she needed a few moments alone. It was approaching evening and she would have to go back to the cabin soon to help
Rose Thomas with supper. There was a chill in the air, but the old log still felt warm from the sun it had absorbed during the afternoon. It made a pleasant seat for her, hard by the water’s edge, and away from Grace Turner’s sorrowful countenance for a while. Most of that first day back at Fort Laramie had been spent consoling Grace. Grace and Ned had been childhood sweethearts, and had been married for four years when he and Tom first started talking about the expedition to the Black Hills. The news of Ned’s death was devastating to Grace, making Annie feel even more guilt for her own lack of grief.

Annie didn’t mean to avoid Grace. It was just that she needed some time for herself to think private thoughts. So after they had finished the wash, and Grace felt the need for a short nap, Annie slipped quietly out the door and headed for the creek.

After checking both sides to make sure there was nothing crawling under it, she parked herself on the warm old log and let her mind flow with the rapid current that tickled the sandy stream bottom.

Gazing around her, up and down the streambank, she realized how much she enjoyed the privacy of this little spot. She could hear the sounds from the Thomases’ cabin, but she could not see the house through the cottonwoods and willows that bordered the stream. This was her spot, well upstream from the cabin. She learned soon after coming to stay with Rose and Lamar to avoid the trees directly behind the cabin. For this was Lamar’s favorite spot to relieve himself, disdaining the privy he had built for his wife.

Grace was taking Ned’s death extremely hard, still weepy and feeling faint after three days of mourning. Annie had known about Tom’s death several days before Grace learned of Ned’s. It was natural that she
should be thinking about getting on with her life while Grace was still deep in sorrow.

Grace was going to have to pull herself together pretty soon, though. There were decisions to be made. Annie feared that the Thomases might be wondering when their guests were going to depart. A few times Grace had mentioned a desire to return to her father’s place in Ohio. Annie knew Grace assumed that she would accompany her, but Annie was not sure she wanted to go back east. There was a little money left, an emergency fund that Tom had left with her when he rode off in search of gold. She was glad now that he had insisted upon it. More and more lately, she had entertained the notion of using the money to continue the journey to Oregon as originally planned. Seated upon her cottonwood log, she thought about Oregon and what wonderful country it must be. A woman alone couldn’t think of taking the trip, but she might be able to pay her way on one of the wagon trains that would come through in the spring. Grace might be upset if she decided to go on to Oregon; Annie would have to give it serious thought.

“Annie . . .” Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her name. It was a man’s voice. Annie could not identify it at first—it was not Lamar’s nasal twang. When she heard it again, this time several yards closer, she recognized the voice as that of Luke Austen. At the same time, she felt a definite quickening of her pulse, a sensation that almost made her blush in embarrassment. She had not seen Lieutenant Austen but once since their return to Fort Laramie, and that was only a brief exchange of greetings. Though he had been removed from her sight for a while, she had to admit to herself that he was seldom gone from her thoughts for large portions of the day.

“I’m here,” she called out, getting to her feet and
quickly shaking the wrinkles from her skirt, after a cursory effort to smooth her hair back from her face. A moment later, the tall slender figure of Luke Austen emerged from the trees.

“Evening, Annie . . . Mrs. Farrior . . .” he stumbled. “Mrs. Thomas said I’d find you down here.”

“Annie,” she corrected. “Yes, I guess my special spot wasn’t so secret after all.” She smiled warmly and extended her hand. “What brings you over here from the fort?”

He took her hand eagerly, making an effort to be gentle. “I just wanted to check on you—to see if you were getting along all right.” Still holding her hand, he fumbled in his brain for a legitimate reason to explain his visit, unable to tell her that he had come because he had been unsuccessful in ridding her from his thoughts. “I mean, that was quite an ordeal you went through. I just wanted to make sure you were all right—if there was anything I could do . . .”

“How very thoughtful,” she said. “I’m fine . . . I mean, under the circumstances, of course.”

“Of course,” he echoed, just then realizing that he was still holding her hand. Embarrassed, he released it. “Mrs. Turner—is she all right?” He thought it polite to ask, even though he had to admit that he had given Grace Turner’s loss very little thought.

She invited him to sit on the cottonwood log beside her. Then he fashioned his most attentive expression while Annie told him of Grace’s difficulty in adjusting to the loss of her husband. Hearing her words, but not really listening, he instead filled his mind with the image before him. Though wearing a simple cotton dress, with a knitted wrap to ward off the evening chill, in Luke’s mind she might have as well have been wearing a ballroom gown. He was smitten by the angelic image facing him. He fully realized it, at the same
time feeling a portion of shame, knowing the woman should be in mourning for her late husband.
What kind of crass dog are you, Luke Austen?
he asked himself, fully realizing that deep down he didn’t really care.

“I guess you’ll be thinking about heading back east,” he said, trying hard to hide his concern.

In spite of his efforts to conceal his feelings for her, she was certain that she detected an interest deeper than a polite concern for her well-being—and the thought caused a flutter of excitement in her heart. She didn’t express it, but her decision was made at that moment to remain at Fort Laramie, at least until spring. She said, “I haven’t made up my mind yet. I think Grace will definitely go back. And of course, she would expect me to go with her.”

“Oh . . . I expected as much,” he replied.

She was pleased to see the disappointment in his face, and she quickly added, “As I said, though, I really haven’t made up my mind. I guess there’s really nothing to keep me out here.”

“Why, sure there is,” he blurted, almost forgetting discretion. “I mean, there are lots of reasons to stay out here.” He tried to think of some but could not at the moment.

Forgetting her own discretion, she said, “I guess I only need one good one.”

Glancing up quickly, he found her eyes gazing deeply into his, and he suddenly lost all composure. “I don’t want you to go back.” As soon as he said it, he knew he had taken liberties that were outside the boundaries of common etiquette. At once, he started to apologize, but she quickly pressed a finger to his lips to silence him.

“It’s all right,” she whispered softly, “I don’t want to go back, either.” She continued to gaze warmly into
his eyes, transmitting a message that could not be conveyed with words.

Luke Austen was treading on unfamiliar ground when it came to the uncertain terrain of emotion and affairs of the heart. But as an officer of mounted dragoons, he had never been lacking in courage under any circumstance, and he was never reluctant to charge into the breech when it was necessary to save the day. Now he was sure Annie had provided the opening with her eyes. So throwing all caution to the wind, he charged in to exploit it.

Taking her hand again, he said his piece. “Annie, I don’t want you to leave . . . ever. I know I’m being a little bold—and I don’t mean to show any disrespect to your late husband—but I just wish you’d stay out here a while—long enough to get to know me a little better.” The incredulous look on her face caused him to pause, but he was determined to finish what he had started. “I apologize if I’m being insensitive. I don’t mean to be, but there isn’t time for propriety. If you even feel half of what I feel for you, then it’s a solid basis for giving it a chance.”

He paused, waiting for her response, but she was not sure how to answer him. “Luke, I don’t know if I understand what you are saying. Are you proposing to me?”

Totally confused by his own emotions, Luke stopped to consider, then said, “Well, yes, I guess I am.” This seemed to stun her, and when she did not respond right away, he began to retreat. “I’m sorry if I stepped out of line. If I’ve insulted you, I’ll go now, and you won’t ever be bothered by me again.” He fumbled for words to repair the damage he felt he might have done. “I don’t know what got into my head. I shouldn’t have opened my mouth. It’s just that I’ll be going out on patrol in a couple of days, and I
was afraid you might be gone when I got back. Please, won’t you consider staying a while?”

Annie, certain now of what she had found too incredible to believe upon first hearing his declaration, was quick to reassure him. Placing her other hand upon his, she said, “I’m glad you spoke your feelings, Luke. I understand your concern and I appreciate it.” She smiled. “I do care for you, Luke—and I’ll stay. Let’s take a little time to know each other, before we talk of more serious things.”

The cloud of doubt was lifted immediately from the love-struck lieutenant’s face, replaced by a glow of unbounded joy. Releasing her hands, he took her by the shoulders. “Annie,” was all he could think to say, as he gazed hopefully into her eyes. Seeing his longing, she smiled and turned her face up to him, waiting to receive his kiss. When their lips first met, it was a tender union, her mouth warm and soft, sending his senses reeling. And then the fire of passion consumed them both, a fire that had grown in the dark and uncertain nights in the Black Hills when she had pressed close to him, seeking protection from the Lakota war party that pursued them. He kissed her hard then, hard and long, while once again she pressed close to his body, this time openly and unafraid.

Luke’s rapture was abruptly interrupted when Grace Turner made her way down to the creek, calling Annie’s name. The lovers quickly parted, leaving a respectable distance between them as they sat waiting for Grace to appear. Annie had thought it best not to make public their affection for each other for a while yet, so Luke did his best to effect an impersonal countenance for Grace’s sake.

“It was so thoughtful of you to come by, Lieutenant,” Annie said loud enough for Grace to hear. “We’re doing fine under the circumstances.”

Taking his cue from Annie, Luke responded, “It was my pleasure, ma’am.” Then he added, “If it’s all right with you and Mrs. Turner, I might call on you again. Captain Leach thought it a good idea if I kept a close eye on you, especially you, Mrs. Farrior, after the ordeal you suffered.” He figured it highly unlikely that Grace might have an occasion to confirm his statement with Leach, so he manufactured an excuse to call again.

The faintest hint of a smile tugged at the corners of Annie’s mouth as she replied that she and Grace would be happy to have him call. He rose to his feet. “Well, I guess I’d better get back to the fort.” He nodded politely to Grace as he walked by. “Mrs. Turner.”

“Lieutenant,” Grace replied, stopping to watch his departure, a puzzled look upon her face. When he had disappeared beyond the trees, she turned her gaze toward Annie, her natural female suspicions aroused. “Well, you two had quite a little visit. What was that all about, anyway? Check on us? Is that one of the duties of an army officer on the frontier? To check on poor widows?”

Annie hoped she wasn’t blushing. “I don’t suppose so, but it was awfully nice of him—and his captain—to be concerned for our feelings.”

Grace smiled—the first time in three days, Annie noted—a hint of mischief showing in her face. “Seems like he spent a great deal more time being concerned for you than he did for me.”

Annie definitely felt herself blushing then. “Well, he does know me a little better than he does you. Anyway, you were taking a nap when he called.”

“He is kind of handsome,” Grace replied, an eyebrow raised accusingly.

“Why, Grace Turner!” Annie gasped, pretending to be shocked, even though she feared that Grace had
seen right through the charade performed by Luke and herself.

Grace just laughed and said, “Come on, it’s time to put supper on the table.”

It was good to see Grace laugh again. Maybe she could begin to put the sorrow of Ned’s death behind her. Like Annie, she was still a young woman with a lot of life yet to live.

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As chilly as the night air had become, Luke could still feel the clammy dampness under his arms from the nervous sweat that had been spreading just minutes before. His emotions were in such disarray that he wasn’t sure if he should be elated or depressed. He tried to replay the scene in his mind, leaving out no detail, no matter how small. Looking back, he could not help but feel a little foolish for stumbling bluntly into a proposal of marriage.
She must have thought I was insane.
He squeezed his eyes tightly shut in a grimace for an instant.
She didn’t answer yes or no, just ‘Let’s get to know each other before talking of more serious things.’ But she did say she cared for me.
And he had kissed her. That had to mean something to her. “Jesus,” he swore aloud, “I couldn’t have been more the buffoon.”

He would have to construct some pretense to call on her again right away. Maybe he could salvage some of his dignity before he took to the field. There was so little time. Captain Leach was still furious over the loss of Luke’s patrol and the frustrations it had caused. According to the treaty signed with the various tribes at Laramie, the army wasn’t supposed to send patrols into what had been decided upon as Indian lands. While his superiors thought it best to keep the massacre quiet, Leach felt that such action by Iron Pony’s band of Sioux could not go unpunished.
Consequently, Leach had decided to lead a detachment of sixty of his mounted troopers on a patrol to find Iron Pony’s band. He had ordered Luke to ride with them.