The Officer and the Southerner (Historical Western Romance) (Fort Gibson Officers Series, Book 2) (13 page)

~Chapter Twenty~

“I win!” Ella burst out with a giggle.

Jack tossed his cards down on the bed. “I demand a rematch.”

Ella’s hands slowed their gathering of the cards and she peeked up at where he sat cross-legged on the other end of their bed. “I don’t know about you. You’ve lost three times now. You might cheat just to avoid being bested by your wife.”

Jack raised his hands into the air in a show of overdone innocence, a giant grin splitting his handsome face. “I swear I won’t.”

She narrowed her eyes on him. “I don’t know. I have to be careful around you. I never can tell when you’re scheming something.”

“I swear the card just fell into my sleeve,” he said evenly, sending her into another fit of giggles.

“
I’ll just bet it did. Just like it was a complete accident when you shifted to get more comfortable and the entire deck slid from the bed.”

“
I’m a big man, Ella. I can’t make small movements.”

She pressed her lips together to try to keep from laughing. Finally. It had taken an hour or so, but the tension that had settled over them from their rough start had finally faded and fun and laughter had taken its place. She liked this better. They’d argued too much since her arrival. Of course, some things would have to be discussed, but for now, this peace and joy was wonderful.

“What do you say? One more game before lunch?”

“
Oh, all right!” She handed Jack the cards and watched him carefully as he shuffled them.

“
Here, you deal.”

Ella dealt them their cards, doing her best not to laugh at the look of concentration on Jack’s face as he watched her, presumably to make sure
she
wasn’t cheating.

“
On the count of three,” he murmured, putting his hands on top of his cards and staring intently at her.

She mimicked the action and narrowed her eyes on him. “Are you going to start counting soon?”

His voice was silent, but the focused look on his face spoke volumes.

She tried to keep a straight face and her hands itched to turn the cards.

“One, two, th—”

Ella flipped her cards.

“You cheated!” Jack accused with a laugh.

Ella started. “What?”

“I didn’t even finish the word!” He grinned at her in a way that made her insides flip.

“
I find it sad you have to resort to such tricks to be able to accuse me of cheating,” she said as best she could against the giggles that were threatening to escape. “I demand you expunge it from my record immediately.”

He set down his cards and leaned forward. “I will do just that, but it will cost you a small fee.”

“A fee?” She crossed her arms and leaned closer to him.

“
Mmmhmm,” he murmured, “just a small one.”

Her breath caught. “How small?”

“A kiss.”

Her blood picked up pace at his request. “On the cheek?”

He paused but only for a second. “As long as it’s within an inch of my lips, then yes, on the cheek will suffice.”

Her lips twitched. She knew what he was about. He was going to turn his head at the last second and kiss her fully on the lips the way he’d intended to at their wedding.

Her skin heated. Did she want him to kiss her that way? A shiver ran down her spine at the realization that she did. “A-all right,” she said softly. “I’ll pay your fee.” She licked her lips and moved closer—

“
Jack!”

Jack and Ella both jumped when a voice yelled his name through the door. Then the two exchanged looks.

Slowly, Jack got off of the bed and walked to the door. “Colonel Lewis?”

Colonel Lewis gave Jack a nod then let himself into their room.

Mildly embarrassed for just being caught sitting in Jack’s bed and wearing only a chemise, she grabbed the sheet and rushed to cover herself.

“
I see you’re doing well today,” the colonel said to Ella.

She nodded. “I feel much better thank you.”

“Much better?” He looked at Jack. “How long?”

“
Since last night.”

Ella blinked. That was an odd exchange.

“I see,” Colonel Lewis went on. “And now that she’s doing better, you plan to return to work next Wednesday then?”

Jack’s answer was drowned out by the sudden sound of her blood roaring in her ears. “I’m sorry, but what did you just say?” Ella said in a voice she barely recognized as hers.

“I just wanted to ask Jack when he’d be returning to work now that you’re well.”

Every drop of blood that had just been racing through her veins crashed to her feet and bile surged in her throat at the crushing sensation in her entire abdomen.  “Is there anything you will not stoop to, Lieutenant Walker?” she demanded, hot, angry tears welling in her eyes.

“What are you talking about?” Jack demanded.

“
You used me again,” she said as evenly as she could despite the storm of emotions swirling around inside of her.

Jack frowned. “How so?”

“You’ve used my minor bout of stomach flu as a means to get yourself excused from having to work for an entire week.”

“
Minor?” Jack scoffed. “Is that what you think?”

“
Do you doubt I know my own body?”

“
Perhaps.”

She had the urge to throw a pillow at his careless expression, but refrained. He was clearly
trying
to upset her. Unfortunately, it was working. “Would you please go?”

“
No.” He crossed his arms. “Not until you tell me what you mean. How am I using you?”

She stared at him. “You know exactly what you’ve done.”

“No. I don’t.”

Ella swallowed the sob that had lodged itself in her throat. “My presence here has drastically improved your life.”

“I think that’s standard when most men marry,” he said with a grin.

She didn’t return his grin. “Yours improved more than most. Our marriage has garnered you a bigger bed in a room with more luxuries—” she cast a glance to the private tub he’d been bathing in last night— “it has also gotten you removed from the duty of watchtower and now you’re taking leave for my illness. You’re using me.”

A light blush stained his cheeks. “That wasn’t my intent.”

“
Wasn’t it?” she challenged, fighting once again to keep her voice even.

He shook his head and clenched his hands into fists. “I’ll admit that I do like the idea of a private room and not having to take a turn in the watchtower, but I didn’t marry for that sole purpose.”

“No, you didn’t. Why stop there when you could get a reprieve from work to care for your ailing wife for a week while she recovers from an upset stomach.”

His face went red. “Lift your sheet.”

“I will do no such thing!” She cut her eyes to Colonel Lewis, who looked just as uncomfortable as she felt. The difference was, he could leave the room if he wanted to, but it seemed by the stunned expression on his face—likely because of Jack’s scandalous and highly inappropriate statement—he lacked the ability.

“
I see,” he said slowly, giving his head a single nod. A muscle in his cheek ticked. “Fine. I take it you’d like for me to return to work. Or would you prefer I be sent to the stockade?”

Something about his tone unsettled her. He was angry with her! How dare he? He was the one using her, not the other way around. “If that’s where Colonel Lewis sees best to send you, then yes.” She bit her lip to stop its quivering then inclined her chin and met his intense gaze. “That’s where my father would send you for such blatant deceit.”

“Very well.” He snatched up his hat from where it sat on the bureau. “I shall bid you farewell.”

***

“You’ve done nothing wrong. I granted you those days off and I’ll explain that to her,” Colonel Lewis said in a tone that suggested he’d really rather not, as soon as Jack pulled him out of the room and slammed the door behind them.

Jack shook his head and gripped his hat so hard he’d likely put a permanent bend in the brim. Yes, he had done something wrong. Worst of all, Gray was right. He clamped his jaw shut. To everyone: Wes, Gray, the entire army, and most of all Ella, he was using her. He’d dismissed the notion when Gray had mentioned it the other night, but he couldn’t now. The truth was plain to see.

So much made sense now, such as why her face had grown hard when he was explaining that they’d have a private room. And when she’d abruptly departed dinner after the watchtower was mentioned along with his being released of his duty to stand watch. She thought he was using her and it had led her to grow cold and distant toward him.

“
Jack?”

“
I’m not using her,” he spat.

“
I didn’t say you were,” his superior said slowly. “But I can see why she thinks you are.”

Yes, and now so could he. It hadn’t been his intention though. When he’d first advertised for a wife, he didn’t truly expect to get a reply that would make him take action. He’d liked the idea of a wife and seeing Wes and Allison so content had spurred him to write the ad, but he wasn’t convinced he’d find a wife that way. Ella’s letter was the only one he’d responded to. Something about the way it was worded intrigued him and he truly became interested in her. No one else. Many of the other young ladies would have come, but she was the only one he wanted to come. He remembered the conversation Gray mentioned the other day and even remembered saying that exact statement Gray had said he’d made. But even as he said it then, he knew that he’d never bring a woman here he didn’t truly have an interest in just for the benefit of bettering his situation.

“Jack, are you even listening to me?”

Jack started. “No.”

“At least you’re honest,” Colonel Lewis muttered. He removed his hat and sighed. “Why don’t you go back in there and try to explain it to her again?”

“
Back in there?” He jerked his thumb toward the door behind him. “Into a buzzing beehive of anger? No, thank you. I’d rather take my chances of wandering onto the Cherokee land in search of Dark Moon at midnight again than try to reason with an angry woman. My chances of an unscathed survival would be much higher.”

The colonel chuckled. “Would you like my advice?”

Jack wanted to groan. Why did everyone want to give him advice? “Do I have a choice?”

“
No.”

Jack forced a smile. “Then I’d love to hear your experienced wisdom.”

Colonel Lewis clapped him on the shoulder. “She won’t hold onto her anger forever.”

“
Well,
that’s
a blessing I’ll be sure to count during my evening prayers tonight.”

“
Be sure that you do and if you’d use my name as a reference in pointing that out to you, I’d be most appreciative.”

“
Anything else?”

“
Just give her time. She’ll come around.”

Jack didn’t doubt that. She couldn’t hate him forever. But, out here, it could certainly seem like forever. He sighed. He’d just have to earn her trust. There wasn’t anything else he could do.

“What do you plan to do now?” Colonel Lewis asked.

“
Outrun you.”

“
Why?”

“
I have no desire to go to the stockade.”

Colonel Lewis pursed his lips. “Actually, it’s not me you should be outrunning. It’s General Ridgely. He wasn’t very pleased to learn about your midnight rendezvous with Dark Moon.”

Jack grimaced. “Well then, I suppose it’s best that I don’t tell you I’m on my way to rescue Gray from a possible bullet wound at the hands of one of my men.” If nothing else, at least working would take his mind off of Ella and their latest step in the wrong direction.

“
Good.” Colonel Lewis gave a slight nod. “I’ll go escort the ladies to your room so they can help care for Ella if she requires something.”

“
Thank you. You might wish to warn them that any mention of my name might get them gutted like a fish.”

~Chapter Twenty-One~

Ella hadn’t been out of her bed since she’d lain down yesterday morning with an upset stomach and she had less interest in getting up now than she did then. Even despite her full bladder urging her up, she couldn’t force herself to get out from under the covers. Jack’s latest betrayal stung the worst. Having her marry him to get a bigger room and out of certain responsibilities like the watchtower paled in comparison to creating some silly story about her “illness” to get himself excused from a week of work.

She covered her face with her hands.
Oh, Michaela, you were right. I should have listened.
But she hadn’t and now she was bound for life to a snake. Tears pricked her eyes again. She blinked to keep them at bay. There was no use in shedding one more tear over him. He wasn’t worth—

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Ella scowled. Why should he even bother to knock? He had a key and it wasn’t as if she were strong enough to keep him out.

As if to prove her point, the unmistakable sound of a key sliding into the lock filled the air, and then the lock turned.

“I thought I told you—” Her words died on her lips and her cheeks heated with color when Allison, followed by Colonel Lewis, entered the room.

“
Allison is going to sit with you this afternoon,” the colonel said.

Ella frowned. “I don’t need anyone to sit with me. I’m perfectly fine.”

“That might be,” Colonel Lewis agreed, “but I cannot, in good conscience, allow you—or any woman—to be alone anywhere on the fort. Some of the men here aren’t to be trusted, and I do not speak of either of your husbands.” He flashed a quick grin at Ella, then cleared his throat. “Lucille and Mrs. Ridgely will be here with lunch in a while.”

Ella nodded numbly. It was the only response she could think of.

Allison, who Ella had read so much about but had never actually met, saw Colonel Lewis out, then came to sit on Ella’s bed. “How do you feel?”

Why did everyone keep asking her that? She’d had a small bout of a stomach virus. She hadn’t been on her deathbed. Of course, everyone must think she
had
been on her deathbed because Jack had to tell them something awful in order to fool the colonel into approving his request for time off. “I’m doing just fine, thank you.”

“
How are things going with Jack?” Her eyes softened after a moment. “That good?”

A new round of traitorous tears formed. “I wish I hadn’t come here,” she said on a sob.

“You don’t mean that.” Allison reached inside her purse and withdrew a handkerchief. “You’re just overwrought right now. In a day or two, you’ll feel better and have a new perspective. I promise.”

“
No, I don’t think I will. Coming here was a mistake of the worst kind.”

“
No, it wasn’t,” Allison said firmly. “At least, I don’t think it was.”

“
For you or for me?” Ella asked, not trying to be unkind, though she knew it might seem that way.

“
Either.” Allison grinned.

Ella shook her head and tried to hold in her tears, but she lacked the strength. How many more times would the sweet man who’d diligently returned her letters use her? He’d withheld so much of himself in his letters and now his true nature had finally been revealed: a cold, heartless man who was using her to better his life in every way he possibly could—including using her as an excuse to get out of his everyday work in addition to the watchtower.

“Shh,” Allison crooned, wrapping Ella in a tight hug.

That made Ella want to cry even harder. The first time she’d met the one woman she’d thought could be like a sister to her, and she was a sobbing mess. Oh how she wished Michaela were here. She’d know what to do to make things right. “I—I’m s-s-sorry,” she choked.

“Don’t be sorry,” Allison soothed. “We all have our limits. When I first came here, I felt like crying, too.”

“
You did?”

“
Yes.” She blushed. “And after a few days, I finally did.”

“
Why?”

“
My coming here wasn’t intentional. I was abandoned when my stagecoach left while I was trying to buy some peppermint from that swindler who owns the sutler’s store.” She scowled. “I didn’t know anyone and I had no clothes. Wes was kind enough to offer me a temporary marriage until the man I was engaged to could come for me, but I still had no clothes and I couldn’t tolerate the food. Unfortunately, I’m a terrible seamstress and I didn’t know how to cook. Things were so much different than what I was accustomed to. Finally, I was so defeated that I started to cry and couldn’t stop.”

Ella took a shaky breath and wiped her eyes. The first night she’d been here, she’d assumed part of her tears at learning of his situation might have been because she was tired and overwrought from her travel. But now... She was well rested when more of his underhanded schemes had come to light and she was just as hurt, if not more so. On the way here, she’d felt...free and fanciful. She was on her way to meet her future husband, after all. She was on her way to finally become a bride and marry a man who wanted her. Or had he? Another wave of despair crashed over her. What had driven him to such great lengths to get her to come here? He was looking for someone—
anyone
—to come here, be his bride, and improve his life by doing so. Thinking about it that way, it sounded normal. Only, it wasn’t. Her presence hadn’t just improved his life by giving him a helpmate to weather the hardships of life with; every aspect of his life had been improved drastically merely by her presence.

Another round of tears welled up in her eyes as her mind went to war again in another attempt to decide what to believe. No longer caring how childish she appeared by letting her tears flow freely, she did just that. She sobbed on her new friend’s shoulder until, at last, the well had run dry and exhaustion had overtaken her. “Why did he do this?” Ella burst out in frustration for not the first—or second—time.

Allison didn’t reply right away. Not that she could. She was supposed to be soothing Ella, but her loyalties were to Jack. Ella understood that. At last, she said, “What has he done to you?”

Ella almost laughed at her innocence. Clearly Allison hadn’t been informed of much concerning her relationship with Jack. “He’s used me. Repeatedly.”

“Some might argue that Wes used me, too.”

Ella pulled away and stared at the addled woman. “I thought you said you were abandoned here by your stagecoach driver. I don’t mean to be insensitive, but I think you were in need of someone to rescue you. I came here of my own accord.”

“Yes and yes. However, it didn’t have to be Wes who came to my rescue. I could have chosen another—but Wes was determined not to let that happen.”

“
He manipulated you?” Ella said in disbelief. She’d never seen them together, but from Jack’s letters and from seeing each of them alone, she would never have guessed that anything but genuine love existed between those two. Not manipulation of any sort. Ever.

Allison frowned. “I wouldn’t say he manipulated me. That sounds very negative. He just explained the situation and made an offer that I couldn’t resist. Then before I could question him further or change my mind, he married me.” A wistful smile spread her lips. “As I said, coming here was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“But you didn’t have a choice,” Ella persisted.

“
Yes, I did. I could have married another man.”

“
But you still would have gotten to choose a husband. I didn’t. I came here with the promise that I’d marry Jack.” She left it at that because she had no desire to admit the shame she’d faced at home, having no genuine suitors there, either.

Allison’s brown eyes were soft and full of compassion, almost as if she knew what Ella had tried to run from. “Yes, I would have had to marry one of them...eventually. But according to the man I was promised to at the time, Wes trapped me and took advantage of the situation.” She grinned. “Not that I minded such a fate by the time Nicholas showed up. In fact, I wished Wes had taken more advantage—” She broke off with a blush. “Enough about that, we’re not here to talk about me and Wes, but you and Jack.”

Ella stared at her. She longed for the same relationship with Jack that Allison seemed to have with Wes, only it couldn’t be. So much deceit and bitterness filled their relationship. She’d thought they’d finally made some progress this morning, then in a blink of an eye, it was all shattered.

“
I’m very happy things have worked out so well between you and Wes, considering your situation, but I do not see the same fate for me.”

“
Do you care to tell me why?”

“
Because he keeps using me,” Ella said tonelessly.

Allison tucked a tendril of her auburn hair behind her ear. “Can you explain how he’s used you?”

“He married me as a means to improve his lifestyle.”

Allison laughed. “That’s all men, Ella.”

“I know, but it seems more calculated.”

“
You mean because his circumstances improved more than most?”

“
Yes.” She sighed. “In his letters, he’d led me to believe that his circumstances were already decent. Not that he’d go from sharing a cot with a man who rivaled his size to having a large room with a bed twice as big that he would share with a woman who was expected to—” her face heated— “warm it for him.”

“
This isn’t anything new,” Allison said calmly. “Nor is it going to change. You cannot continue to hold onto it and throw it in his face when you two get into a disagreement. That’s not fair to him, nor is it fair to any chance at future happiness the two of you might have.” She reached over and squeezed Ella’s hand. “I’m not trying to take his side over yours and be cruel. I’m only telling you what I see from an observer’s point of view.”

Ella took a deep breath. She knew Allison had a point. But did she really wish to tell Allison of the most recent way he’d used her? The one that would brand Jack as a liar and unwilling to work. Allison already knew about the watchtower, but would she think poorly of Jack if Ella revealed the lie he’d told his superior to get approval for more time off? It was certainly a stronger argument, but did Ella really wish everyone to know such a cowardly trait about her husband? No. She might not think very highly of him at the moment, but she didn’t wish for everyone else to shame him.

“You’re right,” Ella said quietly. “I won’t bring that up again.” Not to say she wouldn’t still be upset about his latest lie, but she’d leave his former faults in the past.

“
Good.” Allison bit her lip. “Is there anything I can get for you? A new chemise perhaps? Or fresh water?”

Instantly, Ella was reminded of what she’d been waiting all morning to do but hadn’t been afforded any privacy to do it. “I suppose asking you to step out for a moment might be answered with a no, but would you mind turning around for a minute? I need to use—” She broke off and gave a pointed look at the chamberpot.

“Do you need any help?”

Ella’s eyes flared wide. What a strange question! “No, I think I can manage to empty my bladder without assistance,” she said dryly.

“Yes, I’m sure you can. But would you like me to bring it to you?”

“
No. Allison, truly, I am not as sick as you might think. I can make it over there.”

“
Oh, I assumed Jack brought it to you.”

“
Actually, no. I’m sure he would have if I’d asked, but I didn’t wish for an audience so I’ve held it.”

“
Since last night?”

Ella nodded.

“How?”

“
Limiting my water, thoughts of deserts and squeezing my inner muscles every time the urge hit.” She shrugged. “My mother had four daughters and told me that she’d often do that throughout the day when she didn’t have to go so she wouldn’t drip when the urge hit.”

“
I’ll have to remember that,” Allison murmured.

“
Oh, are you?” Ella dropped her eyes to Allison’s stomach.

“
No. We’d like to wait to start a family until Wes gets moved to another post.”

Ella nodded. When she was young, her father had almost been transferred to a fort that he’d described as not suitable for small children. Meaning if he’d gone there, Ella, her sisters and mother would have had to stay with a relative while he was away. She’d wondered how officers and their wives who’d lived there prevented more children, but when she’d asked, her mother had quickly changed the subject. She imagined that Allison would know—

“Jack will take precautions when it’s time,” Allison said as if reading her mind. “I’ll let him explain to you what those are.” She straightened and clasped her hands in front of her. “Now, would you like me to help you get out of bed so you can attend your business?”

“
I assure you that is not necessary.” Ella gripped the sheets and pulled them back to make it easier to get out of bed. “I promise I am not so weak that I cannot—
Ouch!”
She’d moved her legs and her left knee had hit that darn spider bite she’d been trying to ignore. She must have scratched it in her sleep and irritated it or something for it to hurt so much. She turned her leg to finally look at the offending thing and gasped.