“How did you meet?”
He sighed. “Five years ago I was at Fort Huachuca. Annie’s family had a ranch nearby. She was born and raised in the Arizona Territory and still didn’t understand what it takes to keep the peace. She wanted more of my time than I could give her.”
“I see.”
Kane wondered if she really did. But it was useless to worry about it now. They were married. Although he suspected Cady had almost put a stop to it.
“Why didn’t you stop the wedding today? You lifted your hand to get the chaplain’s attention. Why didn’t you say something?”
“Jack wouldn’t let me.”
“So you’ll obey your brother, but your husband first has to convince you he’s right?”
She looked up quickly. “I’m sorry, Kane. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. It’s just that I wanted you to know how I felt. I’ve told you before that I can’t do something I don’t understand and believe in with all my heart.”
At least she believed that marrying him was the right thing to do, or she would have spoken up at the ceremony in spite of her brother’s disapproval. She did what she felt was right, no matter what. It was one of the things he admired most about her.
He was the first to admit that he didn’t understand much about women, and this one baffled him completely. But one thing he’d learned about her: Always expect the unexpected. He wished things could be different between them, because she was a hell of a woman.
She was looking at him now with expectation sparkling in her eyes. How was he going to order her not to share his bed and persuade her it was for the best? How was he going to persuade himself? Especially when she stood there bathed in candlelight and looking so damn beautiful?
He just couldn’t take the chance of loving her. His concern wasn’t today, or tomorrow, or even the day after that. But sooner or later the time would come when she would leave, and that didn’t bear thinking about. The only way to protect them both was to keep his distance until he could figure out a solution to this mess.
And if he was going to try to think, there was no way he could stay with her tonight.
“Do you want to open this?” she asked, indicating the bottle on the table.
“Would you like some?”
“Yes, I believe I would.”
He opened the bottle with a loud pop. Some of the liquid bubbled over the top and splattered on the canvas floor at Cady’s feet.
“Sorry.” He picked up one of the glasses that had been left for them.
“That’s all right.” She took the glass he offered, raised it to her lips, and then stopped as he put the bottle down. “Aren’t you having any?”
He shook his head. “I have to be on duty soon.”
“Tonight?” she asked, incredulous. “It’s our wedding night. Surely no one expects you to—”
“No one expects me to do anything.”
“They can’t get along without you for one night?”
“There are hostile Apaches out there just waiting for us to let our guard down. The watch has been doubled since Cuchillo escaped from the reservation. Every man on this post has been doing extra duty, including me. Tonight is no exception.”
Cady opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again. He was sure she was remembering what he’d told her about Annie not understanding his commitment to the army. The difference was, this time he was hiding behind his duty to protect Cady.
“I understand, Kane. You have a job to do.”
“It’s important for me to set an example. It’s also important to keep things around here as normal as possible. So if you want to take your afternoon ride it’s all right as long as you stay within sight of the fort.” He stopped and thought for a moment. “It would be best if one of the troopers accompanied you.”
She set her full glass down beside his empty one. “All right.”
“I have to go now.”
“Should I wait up for you?”
The image of her, sweet and soft in bed waiting for him was damned appealing, but it wasn’t something he would let himself get used to.
“No. And we might as well get something straight here and now.”
“What’s that?”
“You said the cost of what we did in the mountains was too high, and we agreed we wouldn’t make the same mistake again.”
“Yes, I did, but—”
“Under the circumstances we’ll never have a conventional marriage; it’s clear that’s not what you want. I see no reason to complicate the situation. For appearances, I will move in here with you, but I won’t touch you again. You have my word as an officer.”
“Is this—” Her voice caught, and she cleared her throat before speaking again. “Is this what you want?”
“Yes. Isn’t it what you want?”
She hesitated, then said, “Yes.”
“So we’re agreed.” It was one of the few times they had agreed about anything, and it felt like hell. “I’d better go.”
She nodded, then walked over to him and put her hand on his arm. “Be careful, Kane.”
Where her fingers touched, his skin burned, and he pulled away abruptly. He saw the light go out of her eyes and despised himself.
How much longer could he go on protecting her? The sooner he got her out of this marriage and the Territory, the better for both of them.
Cady walked into the mess hall the following morning with her lessons, papers, and books. She was late. It had been almost dawn before she had fallen asleep. She couldn’t get Kane’s words or the look on his face out of her mind. He had hurt her before, but that slight two years ago was nothing compared to his rejection last night.
She had tossed and turned and refused to cry. He wouldn’t break her.
She looked around and was surprised at the small number of children there. She was thirty minutes late, and only Martha Halleck, Bart Grimes, Polly Chase, R. J. Wexler, and John Eagle were sitting in their seats.
Cady walked to the head of the table and set her things down. “Where is everyone else this morning?”
Bart Grimes tossed his head to get his straight brown hair out of his hazel eyes. When he could see her, she noticed a twinkle. “Guess they figured there wouldn’t be no school today, what with you gettin’ married ‘n’ all, ma’am.”
“Any school, Bart. And why wouldn’t there be?”
“Well, now.” The boy shifted uncomfortably. “I ain’t sure I should repeat it, Miss Tanner.”
“It’s Mrs. Carrington now,” Martha Halleck chimed in. Black ringlets danced around her shoulders as she shifted excitedly on the hard bench. “Isn’t that right, ma’am?”
“Yes, Martha, I am Mrs. Carrington now.” How strange that sounded: Mrs. Kane Carrington. She had his name, but as far as he was concerned that’s all she would ever have of him. “But I’m still waiting to hear why Bart thinks there wouldn’t be any school today.”
Bart’s face flushed bright red as he shifted on the bench. Good Lord, what had the boy heard?
Cady put her hands on the table and stared at the blushing thirteen-year-old. “Out with it, Bart. I want you to repeat what you heard.”
He looked down at his hands. “Ma and Pa was talkin’ about what a nice weddin’ you had. Ma was goin’ on and on ‘bout how romantic it all was, him lovin’ you so much he lit out after ya and saved your life. Then Pa said ‘Hell, won’t be romantic when she can’t even walk into school this mornin’.”
Cady felt her own cheeks flood with heat. It had never occurred to her that the whole fort would be interested in what she and Kane should have been doing on their wedding night. That was humiliating enough. That it hadn’t happened was downright mortifying. That their marriage was a fake made her heartsick.
She cleared her throat. “As you can see I have no difficulty walking and I think I can manage to conduct lessons this morning. Those who didn’t show up today will have a lot of work to make up. Is that clear?”
A chorus of murmu
red assents filled the room.
“Good. Take out your slates and we will start with multiplication tables. If I’m not mistaken, we were on the sixes last time?”
The children nodded, and a clatter of activity followed as they did what she asked.
R. J. had been uncharacteristically quiet. He stood up, walked over to her, and held out a book. She took it from him and saw that it was The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, the volume she had given him the day she arrived.
“Is there something wrong, R. J.?”
“No, ma’am, I’m just returning this.”
“I meant for you to keep it. Did you finish reading it?”
“Yes’m. It was good.”
She lifted one brow skeptically. “You don’t have to say that if you don’t really think so. You’re allowed to have your own opinion.”
“No’m. I mean yes’m, I really liked it. I had some trouble in the beginning. You might not’ve noticed, readin’ is a mite hard for me.”
She had noticed. “But you persevered?”
He looked at her blankly.
Cady suppressed a grin. “You kept on going until you finished?”
“It got easier.”
She smiled warmly. “See what happens when you don’t give up? Perseverance pays off.”
“I guess so.” He held out the book. “I thought you might’ve changed your mind about givin’ this to me after what I done.”
“What I did. And no, I still want you to have it. Although you might like to donate it to the literary society or loan it to someone else.”
“Can I let John Eagle borrow it?”
“Of course. Now take your seat and start on your numbers.”
“You’re not gonna let me out of it on account of I persevered on the book?”
“Arithmetic is important too. There’s more to life than words, R. J.”
She wandered around as the children scratched on their slates with chalk. Outside, she could hear sounds from the parade ground. From time to time, a blue uniform would pass on the boardwalk, and her heart would start to pound when she thought it might be Kane. But every time she was disappointed.
She loved him. Could she live with herself if she didn’t do everything in her power to make their marriage work? She had just told R. J. to never stop trying. Could she do any less?
Cady recalled telling Kane that Tanners never gave up. She was a Carrington now, but she couldn’t turn her back on who and what she was and what she wanted more than anything. She had told him she wanted to teach and that was true. But she had come to the Territory for the man who had haunted her dreams and her heart since the first time she had seen him. If Cady could prove to him that she could be a good soldier’s wife and follow orders, maybe he would learn to love her just a little.
Bart Grimes sighed loudly. “Miss Ta—I mean Mrs. Carrington, I just can’t do this stuff.” He put his slate down with a sharp sound on the wooden table.
She stood behind him. “This is just like addition, Bart. If you can’t remember, just add six. Look, six times six is thirty-six. Add six to that and you get forty-two. So, six times seven is what?”
“Forty-two?” he asked.
“Right. It’s slower, but until you have them memorized, it’s an easy way to remember. Don’t give up. There’s always something you can do to get where you want to go.”
She nodded emphatically. Bart would never know the words were more for herself than him. She made up her mind that she would immediately start her campaign to win Kane’s heart.
Kane stood up and walked from his desk to the window. He stared at the soldiers moving around inside the fort. At the perimeter, he saw the guard had been doubled as he’d ordered. So far everything had been quiet. He hoped it stayed that way.
Just beyond the buildings that comprised the fort, Cady and a soldier were riding side by side. She had come to Kane’s office after school and asked if he would accompany her on her afternoon ride. Although it was one of the hardest things he’d ever done, he’d begged off, claiming he had too much work to do. Her look of disappointment had both surprised and flattered him. He’d quickly suppressed the feeling. When the couple appeared a few minutes later, he saw it was Mac Thorne who rode beside her.
Now he took a deep breath, counted to ten, and by the time he was finished, they had ridden out of sight. Kane stayed where he was. The surge of emotions inside him told him if he moved, he would go out there and do something he’d regret. Minutes later they showed up again. Now they were riding so close to the perimeter they were in danger of trampling the guards.
Kane wondered how it was possible to be curious and angry at the same time. Mac would never endanger Cady, but he knew it wasn’t necessary to stay so near that the guards choked on the dust their horses kicked up. So it must be Cady’s idea.
He remembered telling her to stay within sight of the fort, but she was carrying it to an extreme. For a woman who had altered the obey part of their wedding vows to the point where she could practically do as she pleased, this was curiously out of character.
Why had Mac agreed to go with her? He hated riding. Cavalry officers spent so much time in the saddle, you couldn’t pay them to ride when it wasn’t part of their job. Mac had assured him he had no interest in Cady. Then Kane remembered their conversation more clearly. Mac had said he wouldn’t horn in on another man’s territory. Kane had told him that Cady was free to see whoever she wished. But that was before yesterday, before they were married.
When they rode by again, he saw that Cady was laughing at something Mac said. The knot of anger in his gut tightened.
“That does it!” He yanked open the door and strode quickly to the perimeter, waiting as the pair came into view around the corner of the stable.
Cady waved when she saw him and said something to Mac before pressing her knees to the horse’s flanks to increase the animal’s pace. When she came close, she pulled back on the reins. Mac was right beside her.
Her cheeks were a becoming shade of pink. She smiled brightly and looked a little too happy. She never looked that way when she was with him. Maybe she found Thorne’s company preferable to his own. The irritation he’d recognized before sliced him more sharply this time. In one fluid motion, the other man swung his leg over the animal’s rump and stepped down, then moved beside Cady and raised his arms to assist her.
Kane stood alongside Mac, staring at his junior officer. “At ease, lieutenant. She’s my wife. I’ll help her down.”
Mac’s brows lifted slightly. Then he touched the brim of his hat and backed away. “Anything you say, captain.”
“No one needs to help me. I’m not finished with my ride yet,” Cady said. Then she frowned. “Forgive me, Mac. You probably have more important things to do than act as nursemaid. I’ll stop now.”
“Ma’am, there’s nothing going on that could keep me from riding with you.” Mac slanted Kane a questioning look. “Unless your husband has some objection?”
“I have no objection,” he said. “But since I’m free, I’ll accompany Cady.”
“I’d like that,” she said. “But I thought you were too busy.”
He frowned. “I can spare a little time.”
“You’re sure?” Mac asked. “I don’t mind escorting this pretty lady.”
Kane glared at him. “Mac, do us both a favor. Stay away from my wife.”
“Just trying to be neighborly.”
Mac Thorne’s attitude was beginning to wear on his nerves like a persistent toothache. It was high time he was set straight.
“Don’t be neighborly. And don’t go near Cady. Is that clear?”
Cady looked down at him, shocked. “What’s wrong with you? I asked him to ride with me because you ordered me not to ride alone.”
Kane knew he was making a fool of himself and couldn’t seem to stop. He knew if Mac had ulterior motives where Cady was concerned, he sure as hell wouldn’t do anything about them in front of the whole fort. But Kane was acting on
pure emotion now, beyond caring why he was behaving like a jackass.
Kane looked up at her. “Cady, listen—”
“No. I don’t think my temper can stand it right now.” She wheeled her horse away and cantered toward the open desert.
“Cady, come back!” he hollered.
Mac handed him the reins of his own horse. “Better go after her, captain.”
Kane took the leather strips the other man handed him, swung quickly into the saddle, and kneed the horse, urging it into motion. He had no difficulty catching up, and his horse fell into an easy pace beside hers. They rode for a while without speaking. He could feel her annoyance. The funny thing was, he didn’t blame her but he didn’t know what to do about it.
Finally he broke the silence. “Cady—”
“Am I too far from the fort?” Her tone was clipped and taut with irritation.
“No.”
She glanced at him and her eyes flashed green fire. “You’re sure?”
“We’re not right on top of it, but yes, this is within sight of the sentries.”
“You’re positive? I wouldn’t want to disobey orders.”
“Since when?”
“Since—” She looked at him, then straight ahead, and he could see the tension in her profile. “Never mind.”
“Cady, listen to me. I didn’t mean to—”
“I’m not Annie,” she said, still not looking at him.
Kane’s whole body tensed. His mount grew restive and difficult to control. He pulled back on the reins. Cady halted beside him and patted her mount’s neck.
“What did you say?” he asked.
“I said I’m not Annie. I won’t betray you with another man.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You behaved like a complete ninny with Mac, and I can only conclude it’s because you’re jealous.”
“That’s ridiculous.” But he knew she was right. Since he’d already crossed the line, he decided he couldn’t do more damage. He had to know something. “Why did Mac Thorne ride with you?”
She shrugged. “I asked him.”
“But why Mac?”
“You seem to have a lot of faith in him. I thought he’d be good to have along if the Indians showed up.”
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