But while she did, indeed, have legitimate reasons to give the hotel a wide berth, she hadn’t been able to do that. Not when Captain Monroe still needed help, knowing Julianne must be very tired by now.
And chances were good Major Kelly wasn’t going to be able to do much for either of them for a while. He had his family here, and they looked both formidable and demanding. Lizbeth imagined they were going to require every bit of his time. She had decided to offer to sit with the captain so Julianne could get some rest. Spending the evening feeling useful would be the best thing for her state of mind.
To her surprise, the lobby of the hotel was bustling, a rare sight so late in the day. Several couples who looked well-to-do were sipping tea in the lounge areas while a great number of soldiers was standing near the entrance of the bar, their blue uniforms a stark reminder of who was in charge.
Lizbeth turned from them before one could catch her eye. She knew her habit of avoiding Yankee soldiers as much as possible was rather futile, but it couldn’t be helped. Her brain and body would likely always tense up around any man in that blue wool uniform.
Her cousin was standing near the entrance, looking as if she would love nothing more than to exit the premises as soon as she possibly could. When she spied Lizbeth, she gestured for her to come closer.
“What’s going on?” Lizbeth asked.
“It seems Major Kelly’s parents have a great many friends in the area. When their appearance became public knowledge, scores of people descended on us. We are now filled to the seams. Every guest room has been taken.”
“Dallas must be pleased.”
Aileen shrugged. “I don’t know if he is or not. By and large they are demanding in the extreme.”
“It’s a well-run hotel, Aileen. You and Dallas do a good job of managing it.”
She looked just about to say more when Dallas approached. As usual, he was dressed in a three-piece suit. Unusually, however, he was sweating. She could see it on his brow.
Though she didn’t owe him anything, she smiled. “Good evening, Dallas.”
“Lizbeth. Hello.”
“I hear you are filled to capacity.”
His cursory nod stilled. Then he stared at her as though she were his new lifeline. “Are you here to work?” he asked.
“I am not.”
“Any way I could persuade you? Since both you and Cassie left, we are extremely short-handed.”
Ignoring the jab at her, she asked, “What happened with Cassie? Do you know where she went?”
“She left without a word,” Aileen said. “I must admit to being surprised. It seemed out of character.”
“Do you think something could have happened to her?” Lizbeth asked, feeling her anxiety rise again. “Maybe we should go to the sheriff.”
With an impatient move of his hand, Dallas waved off her concern. “Cassie’s departure is hardly noteworthy. Maids leave all the time without notice. What matters is that we are now extremely short-handed.”
As much as he was heaping on the guilt, she wasn’t going to feel a bit of it. “I hope you’ll fill the jobs soon, Dallas.”
He coughed, whether from embarrassment or irritation, Lizbeth didn’t know. When he regained his composure, he said, “We have an important family staying here, you know.” Looking around the crowded lobby, he added, “All their important friends too. Good service would cement the Menger’s reputation as one of the top establishments in the state.”
Lizbeth almost smiled. It was hard to imagine such things still meant so much to some people. “Since you’re so busy, I had better let you both return to your duties. I only stopped to say hello to Aileen.”
“You mean you came here to gloat. Now that you are connected with the major, I guess you’re feeling high and mighty.”
“Stop, Dallas,” Aileen said, surprising Lizbeth. “As I told you earlier, we need to move forward. All of us do.”
Dallas looked angry, but he held his tongue.
Knowing it wasn’t the time to ease the tension between them, Lizbeth left for the captain’s suite. When she arrived, she knocked on the door.
Almost immediately, Ethan opened it, then stepped into the hall. He closed the door quietly behind him. “I thought you would stay the night back at the Harrison.”
“I thought I might be of some use here,” she explained. “Since your family is in town, I assumed you would have other obligations to attend to.”
“I already met with my family.” Looking a little put upon—and a little bit resigned too—he smiled. “I believe they are currently holding court in the dining room. They have a great many friends here in San Antonio. Fortunately, one couple kept them occupied while I took care of some telegrams Devin asked me to send.”
“I saw Aileen and Dallas on my way through the lobby. They said your family has created quite a stir.”
He chuckled. “That’s one way of putting it.” Sobering, he continued. “I stopped here at Devin’s room to check on him. I was planning to visit you next.”
“Now you don’t have to.” Feeling conspicuous and a little embarrassed that she came when it was becoming obvious Ethan didn’t want her to stay, she cleared her throat. “I will be seeing you, then. Julianne must be caring for Captain Monroe.”
“She insists. But please allow me to walk you back. I want to speak to you about what happened earlier.”
“There’s no need.”
“There’s every need.” He held up a hand. Almost reached out to touch her … then seemed to reconsider. “Please, stay here a second while I tell Devin and Julianne what I’m doing.”
“All right.”
“Don’t you leave,” he warned.
His expression was so hard, she almost smiled. “I promise. I won’t go anywhere.”
True to his word, Ethan stepped back into the hall mere minutes later.
“How is he?” Lizbeth asked.
“He already seems much better. Julianne has put on a pair of spectacles and is reading to him.”
Ethan sounded bemused. “Are you surprised they are doing something so mundane or that she wears glasses?” she asked as they walked through the hotel lobby.
“A little bit of both, I guess,” he replied as he led her outside. “I’m ashamed to say I made far too many hasty decisions where she is concerned. At first I was sure she was nothing more than a pretty face.”
Lizbeth might have felt jealous if the same thing hadn’t crossed her mind. “They seem well suited. Perhaps they will have a long and happy future together. After all, people do say opposites attract.”
“I don’t know if we are opposites, but I hope you and I might find a future together one day as well,” he said as they continued to walk down the street.
“Oh?” She couldn’t be sure he was still talking about marriage.
“Yes. You see, it’s a long story, but I think I finally mended things with my family.” He took a breath. “Actually, I told them I will eventually return home for good.”
“That’s wonderful.” She meant that sincerely. “Family should stick together.” She was happy for him, but feared his new bond might ultimately force him to move on to a woman who was more of his social equal.
“They would like me to take over the running of the ranch and our holdings.”
“Ah.” He would be leaving soon. No doubt when they were apart he would wonder why he’d ever felt so attached to a maid. It was a struggle to keep her composure.
He looked down at her. “You don’t seem to be sharing my enthusiasm.”
“No, I am happy for you.”
“Lizbeth, when I return, I want you by my side. I told my brother and parents that.”
Shocked, she almost stumbled. “Ethan, I don’t know—”
“Shh. You don’t need to say anything yet. Just know that I haven’t given up on us. I am looking forward to my future, Lizbeth. Just as importantly, I want you to want to be there with me.”
It was on the tip of her tongue
to say she wanted to be by his side as well. But those painful years during the war and experiencing so much loss made her wary.
“Say you’ll think about it,” he said.
“I’ll think about it.” Then, because she didn’t want him to imagine she wasn’t touched by his words, she curved her hand around his elbow and smiled up at him. No matter what, she wanted him to know she was proud to be walking by his side.
After a moment, the muscles in his arm relaxed and he smiled too.
It was so lovely, a new warmth filled her insides. Right at this moment, they were together. Her hand was on his arm. That was enough for now.
31
Johnson’s Island, Ohio
Confederate States of America Officers’ POW Camp
They’d become a greeting party of sorts. Whenever one of them heard word of additional soldiers arriving, five of them would stand at the entrance of their barracks and welcome the newly imprisoned.
As the dozen or so men walked toward them, their expressions as ravaged as their bodies, Devin figured he’d done nothing harder in his life. He had nothing to offer them except acceptance. Sometimes that was received gratefully.
Other times? The men lashed out at them in anger. Resentful of their circumstances. Scared they wouldn’t survive. Worse, that they would while their comrades who hadn’t been picked up would die while fighting. It was a difficult transition to make, leaving the ranks of the brave for the company of the survivors. Devin knew. He’d experienced every range of emotion during his long months of incarceration.
Officer Crosby stopped at the entrance and looked at Devin with a practiced eye. “You ready for them, Monroe?”
Devin nodded. He wouldn’t go so far as to say Crosby and he were close, but they had definitely come to an agreement over the last two months of Devin’s captivity. They treated each other with respect, sometimes even bordering toward the friendly.
Devin thought the man was a lot like him. Unlike some of the other guards, Crosby had fought with valor during much of the war. He seemed to find the lack of exercise as difficult to bear as the whole feeling of helplessness that pervaded their surroundings.
Sometimes, too, Devin would catch Crosby eyeing the other guards with something close to impatience and disdain. And no small wonder. Devin realized some of these men wouldn’t have lasted an hour on the battlefield. They were as unruly as they were lazy.
Crosby pulled out a heavy brass key ring and unlocked the doorway. “Listen up, you Johnny Rebs. You are under our jurisdiction now. Best mind yourselves and watch your backs. Save yourself some pain and worry and listen to Monroe here. He’ll make sure you get on all right.”
All at once, the dozen new prisoners turned to Devin and stared. Their expressions ranged from cautious hope to pure disdain.
Devin was used to that too. Some of the incoming prisoners were sure any man who survived imprisonment must be a traitor. Sometimes, after the guards left, the new prisoners would take out their anger and pent-up fears on him. He’d learned the hard way never to face a new band of men alone.
When Crosby left, locking the gate securely behind him, Devin spoke. “I’m not going to tell you welcome, because we all know this is no place where any of us would choose to be. Instead, I’ll just introduce myself. I’m Devin Monroe, Captain, C.S.A. Behind me is Major Ethan Kelly, Lieutenant Robert Truax, Lieutenant Phillip Markham, and Sergeant Thomas Baker.”
A man wearing captain’s bars eyed him suspiciously. “How come you’re greeting us? You work for the Yanks or something?”
Before Devin could answer, Markham stepped forward. “We have the dubious honor of being some of the longest residents of this place. We got sick and tired of watching each man new to our ranks enter here looking like they were weeks away from dying.”
The captain eyed Phillip, then nodded. “Name is Underman. Randolph. I’m out of Kentucky.”
Markham nodded. “Captain Underman, I’ll do my best to help you and your comrades survive here.”
“Is it possible?” another man asked, this one a colonel. His expression was slightly incredulous. “We heard no one survives here long.”
“We do our best to beat the odds,” Devin said. “Now, come along and we’ll make sure you have cots to sleep on.”
“Do you observe rank here?”
Devin barely refrained from rolling his eyes. In almost every group of new prisoners, someone always made sure Devin knew he didn’t intend to follow the directives or advice of a lowly captain. “We try to honor each man’s worth, Colonel.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means we’ve learned that the men’s ranks usually stem from honor and bravery on the battlefield, not while sitting in a prisoner of war camp.”
“Rank and file means everything, Captain.”
“Not here, it doesn’t,” Ethan Kelly blurted.
The colonel swung around to face him. “I know you. You were at West Point.”
“I was. Markham was as well. I don’t recall you being there, however.”
His expression tightened. “I did not have that benefit.”
“Seems like you’ve still done all right for yourself.”
The colonel lifted his chin. “One learns quickly to prevail no matter what happens. All that matters in life is who comes out on top.”
Phillip Markham, the man who’d always been their voice of honor, eyed him coldly. “No, sir. All that matters is who survives.”
“That’s the same thing.”
Phillip shook his head slowly. “I beg your pardon, but I must disagree. That’s not the same at all. It’s not even close.”
32
The following evening Devin was feeling even more like himself again, and with Julianne at last getting some sleep in her own room, he and Ethan were spending a few late-night hours in the Menger bar. Though it was connected to the hotel, it was everything the lofty Menger was not. With its wide plank floors, polished copper bar, scuffed tables and chairs, and dim lighting, it was a man’s retreat. Devin imagined scores of men over the years had found solace here, especially the men who had been to war.
Returning to civilized society was a challenge. Sometimes men needed to be around masculine comforts and away from elegant wallpaper, etched drawings, genteel voices, and feminine sensibilities. Devin had found it to be something of an oasis in the midst of so much fussiness. He was now used to soldiers’ plain speaking. And many men like him were in San Antonio. Former officers, former Confederate soldiers—they were a rough-and-tumble lot. After spending years in only the company of men, they were uneasy at spending too long a time in feminine company.
Oh, some men were the exception. Devin figured Ethan was one. He was a true gentleman, and no matter how hard he protested that he didn’t fit the title, it remained true.
But that didn’t mean he didn’t enjoy holding court with Devin in one of the bar’s back tables. Smoking cheroots, sipping whiskey, and trading stories with other men who had survived.
Devin had just accepted a second round of drinks from the barkeep, paid for by a cavalry officer from Louisiana, when Mrs. Howard opened the bar’s ornate door.
Right away, the atmosphere in the room changed. It was obvious her presence wasn’t welcome.
Women weren’t wanted here, that was true. But it was more than that. Ethan had told him there was something condescending about her, and Devin could tell many of the men in the room didn’t care for that. As for Devin, he only needed one reason to stay as far away from her as possible: she’d sided with Bushnell instead of Lizbeth.
Leaning back, he watched Mrs. Howard make her way through the maze of tables. She ignored the men who stood up when she approached or nodded in her direction. Beside him, Ethan fidgeted.
“Looks like we’ve got company,” he muttered.
Devin didn’t reply, only picked up his cheroot and inhaled. When she stopped in front of their table, obviously ill at ease, he barely got to his feet. Then, after ex
haling his smoke in a way that would make his mother cuff his ears, he raised his eyebrows. “Mrs. Howard. To what do we owe this honor?”
Ethan, who had stood up politely, tossed him a look as he gestured to the chair that had just been vacated by the Louisianan. “Evening, Mrs. Howard. Care to join us?”
She looked taken aback. “Uh, no, thank you, Major Kelly.” After clearing her throat, she spoke again. “I am sorry to disturb y’all, but you have visitors.”
She hadn’t tried to contain the sarcasm in her voice, and Devin didn’t attempt to hide his lack of respect for her. “Who is it?”
“A pair of, uh, men.”
She had purposely not said gentlemen. Well, so be it. At the moment, he wasn’t feeling like much of a gentleman either. “Well, where are they?”
“I wasn’t sure where you were. Or if you wanted to see them …”
“Mrs. Howard, if you could show me where you left them cooling their heels, I’d be obliged,” Ethan interjected as he stood up once again and circled the table.
Looking relieved to no longer be dealing with Devin, she smiled hesitantly at Ethan. “Yes, of course, Major. If you will follow me. I asked them to wait in the lobby.”
After giving Devin a pointed stare that said to settle down, Ethan followed Mrs. Howard back through the smoky bar and out the door.
When the door firmly closed behind him, two men at the bar clinked glasses. That gesture returned the festive air back to the room.
And with it, the tension Devin hadn’t even been aware he’d been carrying dissipated. He smoked his cheroot and sipped his whiskey while he waited. One or two men paused near his table, obviously eager for him to extend an invitation for them to join him.
He didn’t.
After exchanging the minimum of small talk, he used the time to think about Julianne. She’d looked very fetching that afternoon when, over her objection about his readiness, he’d taken her for a short stroll on the street in front of the Menger.
She’d worn a dark-gray dress that should have looked drab on her. Instead, it only served to accentuate her auburn hair and blue eyes. She had held his arm and smiled at him as though he were the only person in the state. Under her spell, he’d told her a story or two about growing up with his brothers and how he’d gotten into far too much mischief. Despite her concern for his health, she’d laughed and teased him, coaxing him to chuckle too.
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