Boudreaux snorted. “I guess that depends on what other kind of offers I get, huh?”
Bett stood, effectively disengaging Boudreaux’s hand. She walked around, looking at the cluttered room. Lieutenant Boudreaux’s room was about as opposite of Rains’s austere former quarters as it could be. The walls were covered with photographs and bizarre drawings—many of tormented female forms—and there were knickknacks of every description on each surface.
“Don’t touch any of that,” Boudreaux ordered, watching Bett walk around. “My friends from the bayou sent some gris-gris, and it’s working.”
“Is that one of the spells that Sara was talking about?” Bett asked, looking askance at what appeared to be a decaying bone of some kind.
“Could be,” Boudreaux bantered. “And you’ll notice I’m sitting comfy in my own room instead of in the stockade.”
Bett doubted that Miriam’s incantations had anything to do with that, remembering how Rains had also been confined to quarters before her hearing. She didn’t let her disbelief show. “But surely that’s not the best you can do, Lieutenant Boudreaux.”
“Oh, I’m just getting started, doll. You can count on it.”
“Good. Because I have a suggestion for a hoax that will make you a legend on this base forever.” Bett had turned and was walking back toward Boudreaux, making sure to maintain eye contact.
“Do you, now? Well, I’m sure I’ll want to hear it. But first, why don’t you sit back here and tell me what’s going on in the world.”
Bett sat again, leaning back and crossing her legs in front of her. Miriam leered but didn’t touch. “I don’t know much about the world, but I believe your ex is going to get called in by Colonel Issacson tomorrow.” This was actually because Sara Vernon was the head of finance, not because the colonel was aware of her relationship with Miriam. But Boudreaux didn’t need to be prompted about that.
“Ah yes, my faithful Sara. But she can’t hurt me without hurting herself, meaning we’re at what they call a Mexican standoff. She hasn’t come calling though, so I imagine we’re through no matter what.”
“Well, what can you expect from a jealous woman?” Bett answered sympathetically. “You were trying to make time with someone else.”
“Oh, that little girl don’t mean nothing.” Boudreaux shook her dark head. A boastful tone entered her voice. “I’m in a kinda club, see, with some guys on the base. And we got a big bet going. We keeping a screw-score, see? I been in second place but big payoff’s after the end of the year, so I pushed it, that’s all.” Watching Bett react, she added, “Your brilliant Indian didn’t figure that out, did she?”
“No,” Bett said slowly. “I’m sure something like that would never cross her mind.”
Miriam missed her meaning. “Yeah, the other guys, they bringing me all my meals, keepin’ me happy too. Just like you gonna do, yeah?”
Bett was confused. “But that can’t be your defense. An admission like that would widen the scandal, not end it.”
Miriam leaned forward enough to brush Bett’s cheek. Bett steeled herself not to recoil. “Don’t you worry your pretty head about me, babe. There won’t be no hearing. That little bird who thinks she’s gonna peep on me is going to have a change of heart.” She laughed in such a way that Bett did cringe a bit. “Either that or a change of address to six feet under, you know?”
“But wouldn’t that bring suspicion on you?”
Miriam assumed a posture of innocence, shrugging with her arms extended. “I’m in this room here day and night, Your Honor. What could I have done?” Then she lowered her voice. “The rest of the guys, well, they only waiting for the alignment to be right and they’ll take care of things for me.”
Bett shook her head slightly, stunned that Boudreaux was telling her all of this. It wouldn’t be difficult to find the girl and make sure she was protected until the hearing. Evidently she was taking too long to reply, or perhaps her face showed her antipathy, because suddenly Miriam was standing over her, her face twisted with rage. “And you’d better hope there ain’t no hearing, because if there is, the first words out of my mouth once I’m sworn in will be ‘Gale Rains is the biggest lesbian on this base.’” When Bett still didn’t respond, Boudreaux calmed herself, walking around the back of Bett’s chair. “And that might not be good news for you either. Ain’t you two been keeping house for lo these last few months?”
Bett remained quiet as Boudreaux laughed. As her amusement died into a coarse croon, Boudreaux leaned closer. “You know, doll, I don’t think you’d really want to follow that half-breed back to the reservation, where there’s only a bunch of dusty Indians. You’d do much better with me down on the bayou, where things are more…exciting.” From behind, she fingered Bett’s hair. “See, I add you to my screw-score, I win out, since you been the bonus girl for months now. Crowley’s money still in the pot too, so we probably have enough to get us a little place in New Orleans.” She leaned closer, her voice becoming seductive. “I bet you the kind of girl who’d like the action there. And they’d like you too. Mmm-hmm. Wouldn’t take long for us to be sitting pretty.”
Bett eased Miriam’s hand away from her hair, keeping hold of it as she stood and turned to face her. “That’s a very intriguing offer, Lieutenant Boudreaux. Would you give me a day or two to consider it?”
Miriam became suspicious again and she tightened her grip on Bett’s hand. “Yeah, baby, you take all the time you need. But you be careful where you go and what you say. I may be in here, but I got eyes and ears all over this base. And I got a long song to sing if I get started. You get me?” The grip became a bruising clutch.
Bett nodded, her expression intent. “I understand, Lieutenant.” When Boudreaux released her, she started for the door.
“And tell my good friend Whit to send over her Chicago piece,” Boudreaux called after her. “I haven’t had a redhead in a good while.” Her laughter made Bett’s skin crawl.
* * *
Rain was thrilled to see Bett’s car parked outside. She rushed into the house only to hear water running in the shower. She called hello before changing into her jeans and making a fire. After what seemed like a long time Bett came into the den, her hair still damp, and sat next to Rain on the couch.
“Will you hold me for a minute?” she asked quietly.
“I will hold you forever,” Rain replied.
They lay back against the arm of the couch, Bett on Rain’s side, gripping the front of Rain’s shirt in her hand. Rain drew the blanket over them that they kept out for such a purpose. Bett wasn’t moving, but she wasn’t relaxed. Finally she asked, “How was Jo?”
Rain told her about their talk and breakfast in the mess hall.
Bett nodded. She closed her eyes tightly for a moment and felt a tear squeeze out of one eye. She thought Rain might not have noticed, until she felt a soft vibration in Rain’s chest. As far as Bett knew, Rain only hummed the song from her childhood when she was upset, either personally or for someone she was with. The strange melody gave Bett a kind of peace, helping her to distance the image of Miriam Boudreaux’s cruel face and the vicious grasp of her hand. Finally, Bett relaxed her hold on Rain’s shirt and sighed. “We may be in trouble.” She just managed to tell Rain all about it before falling sound asleep in the safety of her lover’s arms.
* * *
“So, if you could have anything that money could buy as a gift, what would it be?”
“What?”
Whit held back a sigh. That was almost always Kathleen’s first response in a conversation these days, suggesting her mind was elsewhere. But where? Or worse, with who? Whit had watched Rains carefully during her help with the dead battery and had been surprised that Gale seemed more interested in spending time with her rather than Kat. She wished she had been watching Kat’s face when Gale refused her dinner invitation. The offer itself would have been suspicious except that Kathleen Hartley would never fail to suggest food or drink on any occasion. But then ther
e was that moment where Rains touched Kathleen’s arm… She was glad she’d answered the phone when Rains had called to tell them about Bett’s talk with Miriam, though she couldn’t really believe her friend had said that about Kathleen. It was probably one of those comments that got more mixed up as various people heard it. She hadn’t felt the least bit nervous when they’d agreed that Kathleen should see Boudreaux next. Granted, Kathleen had been distracted lately, but she doubted that Miriam had anything to do with it.
She tried again. “What is the one gift you’d like most for Christmas?”
Kat bit her lip. Was she thinking? Or withholding? “Something money can buy?” she asked, making Whit wonder whether she’d heard the first question or if she was remembering what Rains had asked.
“What the hell,” Whit said, trying to sound cheerful. “Let’s pretend it could be anything. What would make you wildly happy, Kitty?”
Kathleen smiled, but it was that sad, somewhat distant expression she sometimes got when she knew something wasn’t going to work out the way she wanted. She took in a breath. “I wish the war was over. All the horrible death and destruction over the last four years and now, when it seemed like we might be finally winning, there’s another terrible battle like the Bulge…” Tears welled in her eyes, and Whit moved to comfort her.
“Shh,” Whit soothed, pulling Kat against her chest. “It’ll be all right, Little Kitty.”
“When?” Kat asked, and Whit could feel her trembling. “When will it be all right?”
As soon as you tell me what’s really going on with you, Whit thought. But a glance at the clock across the room told her this wasn’t the time to get into that conversation. “As soon as I get home tomorrow morning, I’m going to show you how right everything is.” She hated that her request for New Year’s Eve off meant she had to work an extra week of nights. It was hard on them both, and weekends were the worst. She didn’t like leaving Kat alone all night under the best of circumstances, and especially recently, as the relationship between them felt more and more shaky.
Kathleen sighed and straightened, wiping her eyes. “I’m sorry, Vic. I don’t know what’s gotten into me lately.”
Whit touched her mouth gently. “Don’t apologize, Kitty. I want to understand what you’re feeling. It’s been a while since we’ve had a good long talk. I’d like to do that again.” At Kathleen’s look of distress, she added, “Oh, not now. I’ve got to go in and you need to get some sleep. Just…soon, okay?”
Kat nodded and turned away. When she spoke, her voice had its usual calm, reserved inflection. “Of course. Let me get your lunch.”
Whit went into to the bedroom to finish getting ready. When she heard Kathleen running water in the kitchen, she rummaged in her bottom drawer until she found the letter. The tone of it was friendly, the content brief. Brief enough that she’d already memorized it. In essence, Dr. Rachel Milligan hoped she was well and invited her to come by if she ever found herself back in Florida. It was the last line, “I miss our friendship, Whit,” that gave her a funny feeling. She’d picked up the letter on base, where it had been addressed, and so far she hadn’t shown it to Kat—who would have expected her to throw it away. Whit hadn’t written back, and probably wouldn’t. Probably.
Chapter Thirteen
On Christmas morning, a blizzard hit Des Moines. Rain had warned Bett about the incoming weather the day before and had told her not to come home until it passed. “This will be a bad storm, Beloved. And though I will very much miss having you with me, I would rather you were safe there.” Her lover always had a special awareness of climate conditions, and Bett didn’t even consider questioning her prediction.
When she arrived at cryptography that night, Bett suggested to Major Ervin that a supply of cots be brought in, along with a small stockpile of C-rations. Even better received was the large quantity of soup and peanut butter sandwiches Rain had sent along. Bett had often managed to find some time each night to call, but since her setting was never particularly private, she’d suggested their own simple code: “Robert” was for Rain and “Bob” was Bett. When Bett said, “I had a very nice dream about Robert last night,” she didn’t have to worry if she was overheard. Rain didn’t like the code; she resented the lie it implied. But she came to like hearing the sweet words that Bett whispered about Robert, so she tried to see it as a translation, like putting Lakota into English.
Bett walked out of the cryptography building on the evening of December 26, having totally missed Christmas. Heading toward her car, the only thing on her mind was that the arrival of Patton’s troops at Bastogne was the best present she could have hoped for, until she looked over and saw Rain waiting for her. In spite of her exhaustion, Bett’s heart beat a little faster at the sight of her lover’s tall figure, bundled in her Army jacket, wearing a thick wool scarf and matching stocking cap with her braid trailing out from underneath it. Bett thought she knew all of Rain’s clothes, but she didn’t recognize those accessories. Or maybe she was just too tired to remember. “What are you doing here, Beloved? Why didn’t you wait inside? You must be freezing.”
Rain smiled. “I didn’t think I had the security clearance to come in your building. And I haven’t been here long. It felt good to get out and run. I only left the house when you called and said you’d be coming home in an hour.” Her eyes said And I couldn’t wait another moment to see you, looking like she was ready to devour Bett where she stood. As tired as she was, Bett felt a tremor of excitement, imagining being in bed with Rain again.
“So are you my chauffeur for the evening?” she asked, teasing.
Rain bowed. “I am. And for anytime thereafter.”
Bett hugged Rain tightly then, not caring who was watching or what they thought.
“Things are better?” Rain asked, sensing Bett’s mood.
“Things are much better,” Bett verified. “And I’m ready for a hot bath and a long winter’s nap with my Beloved.”
“And Luna?” Rain asked quietly.
“He’ll be transported to a field hospital once the area is secured,” Bett answered. “He’ll probably be in London by the end of the week and on his way home soon after that, depending on how quickly he can travel.”
Rain nodded and opened the car door. Thomas is safe. Knowing Bett had had a hand in saving him made her heart soar. “Thank you, Bett. You could not have given me a better gift.” The depth of feeling in her voice acknowledged that all their time apart had been worth it.
Bett was jittery from coffee and adrenaline and feeling fairly awake on the drive home. Rain told her of calling Nikki to cancel their visit. He’d been disappointed, especially because he’d recently gotten a showing of his work at a well-known gallery. When Bett started to speak, Rain took her hand. “Don’t apologize or feel bad about this, Beloved. You were doing exactly what needed to be done, and I told Nikki as much of that as I could.” At Bett’s look, she shook her head. “Not about Thomas, though. I’ll wait until he’s home.”
Bett kissed Rain’s knuckles. “Thank you.”
Rain smiled and turned on the radio. The local news came on, reporting four deaths in the area due to the snow.
Bett shook her head. “It’s terribly sad for those people, but being snowed in sounds good to me. I have three whole days off, and my first order of business is sleep. Then whenever I wake up, I’ll try to reach Mother again. I’m sure she’s disappointed, but I’ll tell her we’ll come sometime after the New Year. Maybe in late January or early February?” She looked hopefully at Rain, but her lover was concentrating on negotiating the jeep over the icy road. Bett went on, half to herself. “I’m sure I’ve displeased her by not being there over the holidays, but between the weather and this work schedule I’ve had…surely she’ll understand. And we’ll see Nikki then.”
Rain squeezed Bett’s hand. “I don’t want you to worry about that right now. Let’s just get you home and go from there.” Bett was happy to comply with that plan.
There
was a wreath on the door. Bett knew something was different, but it took her a moment to figure it out. When she walked into the den, there were Christmas decorations everywhere.
“Oh, Rain! Did you do all of this? It looks wonderful.” A delicious aroma of cooking almost distracted Bett from the garlands and candles and bows and balls around the room, with the fire blazing as usual.
“Well, I’ve had a little time without you.” Rain smiled. “And since you had to work on Christmas, I thought you might like a little seasonal festivity in the house.”
Bett knew Rain didn’t celebrate Christmas. “Thank you, Beloved. This is a beautiful gift and I appreciate it.” They held each other for a long moment.
“I’ve never asked you how you feel about being surprised,” Rain said, brushing a bit of snow out of Bett’s hair.
Bett cocked her head. “Well, it is Christmas, and people usually surprise each other with gifts at this time of year, so I guess I’m okay with something unexpected right now.”
“Good,” Rain said, grinning mischievously, “because I want to give you your most special gift right now. Wait there.” She stepped briskly down the hall as Bett took off her coat.
Later, Bett thought it was fortunate that Rain had given her what little warning she’d had. Even so, she was completely unprepared for the sight of Ann Randall Carlton walking up the hall from the second bedroom. Clearly, Bett’s shock was evident as both her mother and Rain burst into excited laughter.
“Mother, what…how…when…?” Bett couldn’t even frame a complete thought.
Her mother embraced her warmly, and Bett was immersed in her familiar perfume. “Bett, darling, merry belated Christmas. I’m glad you’re home at last, safe and sound.” Bett returned the hug, almost automatically. Ann Carlton added, “And I’m so proud of you, darling. Your friend Gale has told me about your very important work. I’m very pleased to hear of your contribution to the war effort over the past weeks.”
Guarding Hearts Page 19