The Lady in the Mist (The Western Werewolf Legend #1)

by Catherine Wolffe

  ***

  "Act natural. You're too jumpy." Ty kept a hand on the back of the rickety buckboard. "Remember, I'm your cousin from upstate coming to pay a visit. Okay?"

  Sonja's jaw clinched before released. "This is a stupid idea, Lieutenant."

  He winced. "Don't call me that for God's sake." Glancing around, he whispered, "Do you want to bring down the whole Union Army on our heads? I, for one, like my neck right where it is."

  Sonja gave an exasperated huff. "Seems to me, you like sticking your neck out to see who will try and chop the dang thing off. You like that a whole lot more than you value your neck as part of your body."

  He laughed before giving her back a solid rub with his hand. She had hit the nail on the head it seemed. Coming to Spotsylvania disguised as her cousin may prove to be the most stupid thing he had done in a long time. But he had to find out what had happened to his men. Those loyal fellows deserved at least that much of his efforts. With a sidelong glance from under the brim of the borrowed hat pulled snug over his forehead, Ty could see the sidewalks littered with Union soldiers. "Keep it slow, don't make a sudden move," he told her. "I want to find the sheriff's office and see what they have posted on the warrant board."

  "Shouldn't we stop in front of the mercantile or the hardware store first?" she asked. "We look that much more suspicious heading straight for the sheriff's office."

  He took his eyes off the sidewalk before giving her a wicked grin. "Why, Mrs. Brooks, you astound me. One would think you capable of something covert with talk like that."

  She clenched her teeth, before whispering, "Stop calling me that. Folks will think that strange, you calling me by my married name if you're my cousin." Giving the mule his head, she sniffed before shaking her head at him. "Haven't you ever gone undercover for the cause?"

  Ty could not help the look of scrutiny he sent her. "No, all my dealings with the enemy have been face to face or hand to hand. But, I'll keep it in mind."

  Sonja twisted her mouth into a purse as she guided the mule to the sidewalk in front of the mercantile. "I simply meant you need to watch what you call me. People will be listening, especially to a newcomer. I've never had any relations visit me besides my sister, Brianda. The town's still small enough to enjoy local gossip. You fit the bill." She sent him a sidelong perusal. "Robert never looked like you do in those clothes," she murmured.

  He could hear her. He could hear everything these days. His sense of smell had heightened as well. Probably the fresh air, he mused. Having breathed air filled with gunpowder and smoke for three years probably harmed a man's senses. . Listening to rifles discharge directly next to your ears reduced your hearing as well. Now with clear air, he could hear and smell better.

  "Help me down, cousin." Sonja fell into her role quickly.

  Ty obeyed. With his hand in the small of her back, they ventured into the Cromwell Mercantile & Sundry Store. The shift to a semi light interior played havoc with his eyes, but they adjusted quickly. Ty smelled the aroma of fresh ground coffee immediately. He glanced to his right glimpsing a fellow dressed in a Yankee uniform admiring a set of dueling pistols in a large, wooden case.

  "How much for the pair of these?" the fellow asked. Ty recognized the voice immediately, which seemed odd because to his knowledge he had never met the man. "Let's see what's in the gun case, cousin." His reference caught her off guard a moment. Ty had to steer her toward the long, wooden display case.

  "Two bits for the pair, Major Perkins," the whip-thin storekeeper said as he peered at the Union soldier over his spectacles. "Would you be wantin' them?"

  "Perhaps," Perkins said as he cut his gaze in their direction. His eyes never left Ty's. Ty could see the faintest hint of consideration in the soldier's face. "Put them on my tab," Perkins told the storekeeper.

  "So many to choose from," Sonja quipped as she studied the guns under the glass-topped cabinet.

  Doing a fine job, Ty mused, as he gave her a lighthearted smile along with a pat on the back before peering into the case.

  "Hum, lots of nice ones," he said loud enough for others to hear. "Which one do you suppose I should get, cousin?" Ty smelled a strange scent emanating from Major Perkins direction. Without glancing over, he could see the man watching them intently.

  "I don't know, Jacob. Which one do you like?" Sonja had to tug on his coat sleeve to bring him back. Major Perkins' perusal of her wore at his patience. He didn't like the gleam in the man's eye.

  Taking her by the elbow, "Let's look at these before we make a decision, shall we?" Guiding her further away, he switched sides to block Perkins view. The man had a lustful gaze, which went well beyond a normal appreciation for Sonja. Ty wouldn't allow him to enjoy the view any more than he could prevent.

  "What's wrong?" Sonja whispered. Her eyes bore into his with a cool intensity.

  "Don't look now, but I think you have an admirer," he told her. "The man doesn't have respectable intentions. Stay close to me."

  "I can take care of myself," she snapped for his ears only. "You don't have to worry about me, Lieu?cousin."

  "Maybe not, but indulge me, won't you, my dear?" Ty's grip made her wince. Giving him a truly sinister look, she smiled politely.

  They examined the guns for a few more minutes, before moving on to the staples. Sonja purchased a half a pound of flour and a pound of sugar. With her purchases tucked neatly in the crook of his arm, Ty escorted her toward the door.

  Perkins stepped up effectively blocking their way. Tipping his cavalry hat, he smiled thinly. "Excuse me."

  Ty itched behind the faux beard but dared not make a move. Instead, he cut his gaze hard at the man. If he was not mistaken, Perkins smelled. He had encountered the stench before, recently.

  "Yes, Major?" Sonja's cool question cut the tension building between the two men. Making a point of stepping in front of Ty's ramrod form, she sweetened her voice a tad. "What can we do for you?"

  Perkins moved his gaze away from Ty's steely stare to bow at the waist for her. "My apologies, ma'am, but if since you live near the swamp off Tanner Hill Road, I needed to ask you something."

  Sonja's breathing shortened while her spine tightened in Ty's hand. "Yes, what's that?"

  "Have you seen any unusual activity that might indicate someone was hiding out in the vicinity?"

  Her brow furrowed in honest concern. "No, why?"

  "We have reason to believe Rebels may have escaped into the swamp after a skirmish along the road." He eyed Ty silently. "If you come across anything, do report to the authorities, won't you?" His smile remained greasy as he glanced from her to Ty. "I'd hate to have to bring you in for questioning."

  Ty's stare proved as bland as unleavened bread. Making a point of sliding his hand in his front pocket, he cocked a hip sideways, he offered Perkins the slimmest of sneers like something stank. Something about the man smelled literally as well as figuratively.

  "Yes, of course, we will."

  Ty steered her around Perkins before heading out the front door of the store without so much as a tip of his hat in dismissal. With a glance at them from under his hat, Ty growled low in his throat. "This was probably a bad idea. At least we know to be on the lookout for Yankee patrols now." He glanced in her direction as they crossed the street. "There's something off about him," he said as he helped her back into the buckboard. "Did you pick up on the smell?"

  Sonja peered at him as she remembered. Wrinkling her nose, she nodded slowly. "Now that you mention it, I did smell something foul a couple of times, both at the gun cabinet and then in the doorway. I thought the smell came from something on someone's feet." She glanced on either side of the street before turning back. "You think it was him?"

  Ty nodded as he released the brake. "That night you found me, I remember the same smell. The whole swamp reeked of decay not to mention death, much more than one would associate with a new battle site." He clu
cked his tongue at the mule before guiding her back into the dirt street.

  Sonja cut her eyes at him before clasping her hands tightly in her lap. "I have to apologize. I wasn't thinking clearly the night I found you." Her gaze skittered to his face. "Getting you some help remained foremost. I suppose he could've been in the area." She studied Ty for a moment before continuing. "You haven't told me much about the attack. Do you think it was Perkins' unit?"

  "Quite possible. We better get back. I have some tracking to do."