by Tara Johnson
She sucked in a breath when his warm fingers encircled hers. He stepped so close, she could feel his breath upon her cheek. Could see the golden flecks mingled with the chestnut-brown stubble lining his jaw.
His voice was low when he spoke. “Don’t make the mistake of thinking Captain Archer is forcing me to do something against my will, Cadence. The situation is unusual, granted. But I promise you, you would give me no greater honor than becoming my wife. I promise to care for you and protect you with every ounce of strength I possess until I cease to draw breath.”
Her heart quivered at his words. He was a man of passion. A tempestuous storm. Had she not tasted his intensity once? Surely he would grow to love her, wouldn’t he?
God, help me be the wife he needs.
He lifted her chapped hands to his lips and pressed a kiss to the back. “Will you marry me, Cadence Piper?”
Lord, help me.
“Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Every fiber of Cadence’s body trembled as she stood before the dour military officers under the grove of pines.
Once plans were made, Joshua had been granted leave to gather the children. Moxley, Maisey, Penelope, James, and Etta had all returned with Joshua and Cadence to the battlefield to make hasty preparations under the watchful eyes of Captain Archer.
The chaplain clutched his worn prayer book, swaying on his feet in exhaustion. Cadence’s groom was nowhere to be found.
She rubbed her clammy hands down her skirt and winced. Her navy work dress. A poor wedding gown. Nothing about this moment was how she’d once pictured it.
The chaplain turned to the captain and muttered, “Where is the groom?”
All eyes flew to her.
Squaring her shoulders, she croaked, “He’ll come.”
The men exchanged glances. She looked down at the grass beneath her boots and let her eyes slide shut. Please, Joshua, come.
In seconds, the sound of feet tramping through underbrush could be heard in the woods. Heads turned. Relief cascaded through her as the children burst from the trees, beaming. Penelope carried a bouquet of wildflowers . . . tiny blooms of purple, white, and yellow. She ran to Cadence’s side and thrust them into her hands.
“Sorry. We tried to hurry, but Papa Gish was insistent. Said you should have a proper bouquet.”
Cadence inhaled the scent of the blossoms and cupped Penelope’s soft cheek. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
She was rewarded with the child’s sunny smile. “I’m so happy you’re going to be my mother.”
Her mother.
Cadence was woozy. She was gaining a husband and three children all in one day. James and Etta had joined them, but where was Joshua?
Her heart tripped as he emerged from the shadows of the forest. He was wearing clean trousers and a crisp white shirt that only made his tanned skin seem more golden. He had shaved, and his chestnut hair was combed, but it was his dark eyes that caused her breath to flee. They were fixed on her with an intensity that made her toes curl.
He walked toward her slowly and grasped her hand. “Are you ready?”
She could manage nothing more than a simple nod. The flowers in her left hand quivered.
His strength enveloped her as he gently led her toward the circle of austere men waiting under the grove of trees. Cadence caught Maisey’s sweet smile, and a ripple of peace washed through her.
The captain eyed Joshua sternly. “Are you ready to do your duty by this young lady, Dr. Ivy?”
He lifted his chin. “It is no duty, sir. It is my honor and privilege.”
She warmed at his words and watched as the faintest twinkle lit the captain’s eyes. “Very well. You may begin, Chaplain.”
The weary clergyman slowly opened his prayer book. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the presence of God . . .”
Cadence heard few of the words, save her own when the chaplain turned to her and asked if she promised to love, honor, and obey Joshua until death parted them.
“I do.”
Yet despite the whirlwind moment, she would never erase the memory of the determination in Joshua’s eyes when he gazed at her and promised to love, honor, cherish and protect her until death. A fire blazed in their depths.
“I do.”
Words, actions, movements . . . all else was a blur until the chaplain’s directive cut through the fog. “You may now kiss your bride.”
Her pulse galloped. What would he do in front of all these people? The memory of his passionate kisses rippled through her, causing a flash of heat that was anything but proper in front of these sour-faced men. Joshua faced her fully before brushing her lips with a chaste kiss and pulling away.
She was bereft but merely dropped her gaze when the chaplain offered his congratulations and asked for signatures on the marriage certificate. After the ink was blotted and dried, Captain Archer turned to Joshua. “You may have leave for the rest of the day. No need to report back until tomorrow morning.”
He shook the captain’s hand. She was given little time to think as James, Etta, and Penelope surrounded her, hugging her waist. Moxley slapped him on the back as Maisey came up behind her and whispered in her ear.
“Don’t worry about the children, dear. I’ll watch them tonight.”
“But I didn’t expect—”
The matron winked. “You two go on and enjoy yourselves.”
Cadence’s face flamed. A hand slid around her waist as a masculine voice sounded near her ear. “Thank you, Maisey. I’m in your debt.”
The older woman harrumphed. “You certainly are, young man.” He laughed and kissed her cheek.
“Go on with you now.” Blushing, she waved him away. Cadence braved a glance at Joshua. Her husband. That would take some adjustment.
He slid his hand from her waist, down her arm, and wove his fingers between hers. A smile tipped his mouth. “Feel like riding to Bristoe Station, then perhaps a walk?”
Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She nodded.
Setting her atop his mount, they rode in the direction of Moxley and Maisey’s farm but veered away from the road leading up to their house, instead choosing a narrower path. When the foliage grew thick and cool, he pulled the horse to a stop.
Placing his hands on Cadence’s waist, he helped her down carefully.
“Where are we going?”
He merely smiled. “It’s a secret.”
They said nothing. The only sound was the occasional scamper of a squirrel, the distant call of birdsong, the horse’s soft clop as he followed behind, and the soft crunch of leaves and twigs beneath their feet. Joshua led her with purpose, as if he had a destination in mind. How could he? What had he been doing before the ceremony?
They walked for fifteen or twenty minutes, and she relished the solitude with him, the sloping terrain leading them farther into the quiet of nature. Trees towered overhead, providing a shadowy canopy. Ferns, moss, and wild mushrooms covered the forest floor. The loamy scent of earth filled her nostrils. He glanced over his shoulder as he tugged her along.
“You seem awfully sure of your destination, Dr. Ivy.”
He winked. “Perhaps.”
She still clutched the bouquet in her free hand. Lifting it to her nose, she inhaled the scent. “I don’t think I thanked you for the flowers. They’re lovely.”
He offered a sheepish smile. “I doubt it was the wedding of your dreams, but I wanted to do something for you.”
Her heart warmed. “And you did.”
He paused to help her over a particularly jagged rock. “Forgive me for not saying anything earlier, but you look beautiful.”
A laugh burst from her throat. She freed her hand and grabbed a fistful of her skirt fabric. “In this?” She shook her head. “It’s a poor excuse for a wedding gown. My hair is a mess and I’ve not had a chance to bathe—”
Dropping the reins, he silenced her by stepping close and studying her face before rubbing his thumb across her lips. All protest
s fled.
“Beauty isn’t something you have to put on, Cadence. It’s who you are. Believe me when I say you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.”
He stepped away suddenly, leaving her knees weak and senses reeling. It took her a long moment to realize he was continuing on. She hurried to keep pace with him. Soon the sound of rushing water filled her ears. The narrow trail turned to reveal the front of a small cabin.
Cadence breathed. “It’s lovely. What is this place?”
“Moxley’s hunting cabin.” He grinned. “Although we’ve been known to use it for other things on occasion.”
“Like taking slaves to freedom?”
“Perhaps.”
“Are we near a river?”
He smirked like a mischievous boy. “Better. Wait.”
Pausing only to tie the horse to a tree, he slipped behind her and led her down a sloping hill, stopping near the bottom to place his hands over her eyes.
She laughed. “What are you doing?”
“Getting ready to surprise my bride.” His voice caused shivers of pleasure to skim down her neck.
She shuffled forward slowly, letting him carefully lead her over the bumpy terrain. “You could just ask me to close my eyes, you know.”
“I could, but I have a sneaking suspicion you would peek, Mrs. Ivy.”
Mrs. Ivy.
Another long minute and he pulled her to a stop. The sound of rushing water was louder now, the air cooler. Warmth cocooned her back as Joshua murmured in her ear. “Ready?”
She nodded. “Ready.”
He removed his hands from her eyes and she drew a quick breath. The spot was like something from a picture book. Stone walls jutted up from the ground. From the mouth of a cave in one of the walls, a small waterfall gushed forth, spilling into a clear stream. She looked to Joshua.
“It’s not much, but I thought the spot was idyllic. Do you like it?”
“It’s beautiful.”
He sobered and reached for her hand, his touch gentle. “Cadence, I—” he swallowed—“I want you to know that I have no intention of taking liberties.” A muscle worked in his jaw. “None of this was your idea. The last thing I want to do is hurt you.”
What to say? To think? Part of her was relieved. The other part was disappointed. What was wrong with her?
“If all you want to do is bathe and catch up on your sleep, you have my promise to give you all the privacy you need.”
He stood waiting for her to do something, say something. She had no way to express what she was thinking. What she needed or wanted.
Instead, she responded with “Thank you.”
He squeezed her hand before releasing her.
Yet she was consumed with the thought that she had been rejected once again.
Darkness had fallen, bringing a measure of relief from the sticky summer humidity. After Cadence had prepared them a meal of corn bread cakes and coffee, Joshua had urged her to bathe as she’d longed to do. He gritted his teeth as he listened to her gentle splashes. Even though he stayed inside the cabin to afford her privacy, his mind wandered far too much.
This was surely a way to drive himself mad. They were joined together now, before God and man, and yet he would not touch her if she didn’t desire it. His heart thundered. He loved her. Loved her too deeply to let anything or anyone hurt her . . . even if that someone was him.
A piece of wood snapped in the fireplace, sending up a pillar of sparks. He inhaled the acrid odor and ran his fingers through his hair. Hadn’t he hurt her already? Inadvertently shackling her to a man she didn’t love, to be mother to three children and laundress to a group of grouchy Union surgeons? An ache burned in his chest. Their marriage ceremony must have been a disappointment. No family. No fancy dress or trim. Not even a ring he could offer her as of yet.
Growling, he took in their lodgings for the night. A far cry from a nice hotel with feather pillows and a soft mattress. A poor man’s honeymoon.
“You’ll never be anything but trash.”
He slammed his eyes shut against the old barb resurrecting itself. How many times a day had he been told that very thing while living on the streets? Twenty? A hundred? Perhaps the cruel, sneering faces had been right. Look at him now. Cadence deserved so much more and he had naught to offer her.
Droplets of water hit his face, startling him from his morose thoughts. “Huh?”
He turned to see Cadence standing there in her navy dress, eyes dancing, dimples deepening as she smiled down at him. She was squeezing excess water from her long hair, twisting it like a cord. She flicked more water at him and laughed before releasing the waist-length tendrils. His breath caught. She was beautiful.
“You’re glaring at the fire.”
He released a long exhale and forced a smile, praying it would scatter his dark musings. “Just tired, I suppose.”
“Understandable.” She scooted down next to him, arranging her skirt, and tossed a handful of leaves into the fire, watching them burn. “Truthfully, I thought you’d be asleep by the time I finished.”
Hardly. As if he could sleep with the thought of her being so near. Every nerve was stretched taut. God, help me.
“If you’d like to bathe, the stream is free.”
Upon hearing the cheerfulness in her voice, he turned to study her. “You don’t have to pretend, you know.”
A line furrowed between her brows. “Pretend?”
“To be happy about all of this.” He waved his hand toward the rough walls and crumbling chinking.
Her eyes rounded. “What do you mean?”
He ground his jaw. “Your honeymoon suite.” He shook his head. “A bath in a stream. A musty cabin for a room. I can’t even give you a proper meal.”
He stood, suddenly angry, and stomped out the door, ready to let the cold slap of water dull the heat pouring through him.
“Just one minute, Joshua Ivy!” Cadence’s hand curled around his arm and tugged him backward.
He turned to see her fuming, blue eyes snapping fire. His own ire melted as she stood facing him looking like a riled kitten.
“This is our honeymoon, and in no way are you going to ruin it with your surliness. Look around you.” She opened her arms wide. “God created this spot. His handiwork is everywhere. A waterfall and trees. Stars shining overhead and—” a blush rose to her cheeks—“solitude. What makes you think we would need anything more?”
He reached for her slowly, letting his hands slide around her waist. “You deserve so much, Cadence. And I—”
“You are more than I deserve . . . Husband.”
The way she said the word ignited a fire inside. He looked into her eyes and waited, his heart hammering. His gaze dropped to her lips. A moan wrenched from his throat as his fingers moved through the wet tendrils of her hair.
He couldn’t, wouldn’t break his promise to her. Not if she didn’t want his affection. If he kissed her, he would be unable to stop.
“I’ll bathe now.” His voice was hoarse as he let her hair slip from between his fingers. He walked to the edge of the stream, far away from the cabin and the light shining through the single window. It was dark here. She would respect his privacy. He carefully removed his clothes and slid into the cool water, letting the ripples wash away the thick tension cording his muscles.
Long minutes later, he heard a rustle followed by the sound of stirring water and a light splash. His senses snapped.
“Who’s there?”
“It’s me.”
Cadence’s voice, soft and timid, drifted across the water. His chest pounded.
“What are you doing?”
A thin shaft of moonlight glistened through the trees overhead, illuminating her form as she drifted toward him in the inky stream. Only her head and bare shoulders appeared over the top of the water.
“Joining you.”
She couldn’t do this. How did she think he could possibly maintain a modicum of self-control? Panic clawed at his thr
oat.
She was before him now, water dripping from her hair, her lashes as she gazed up at him. Had the water felt cold only moments ago? Now it was warm. Far too warm.
She tilted her head and studied him. “Why did you think this time with you here would possibly be less than desirable for me?”
He said nothing, only stood in silence, a war raging within him.
“Being here with you, it’s all I want.”
His breath thinned. What was she saying?
Her lips curved, though a flicker of uncertainty flashed through her eyes. “You wanted to kiss me just moments ago. Am I wrong?”
“You’re not wrong.”
He knew then she was as desperate for him as he was for her. Reaching for her through the water, he found her waist and dragged her to him. With his free hand, he pushed the wet hair away from her face and lowered his head slowly, waiting and hovering, giving her plenty of time to pull away. Instead, her hands slid up his chest and her lips eagerly met his.
Then he was lost.
Chapter 26
CADENCE AWAKENED IN THE DARKNESS of the cabin, wrapped in warmth. Contentment seeped through her like warm honey. Where was she? She blinked, but the night offered no light. Steady breathing filtered through her senses, along with the slow rise and fall of a muscular chest beneath her head.
Joshua.
Wonder rippled through her as she reached up to stroke his stubbled jaw. He stirred slightly and drew her closer before falling into slumber once again.
Her pulse tripped at the memory of his tender touch and passionate whispers of affection. She knew she had loved him before, but now? She buried her face against his chest and inhaled the fragrance of him. He had branded himself on her heart, irrevocably knitting them together.
He stirred and nuzzled her ear. “It’s not morning yet, is it?”
“No. Far from it.”
“Good.” His voice was low and husky. Shivers skimmed her skin. “What has you awake, my love?”
“You.”
“Snoring already, eh?”
Giggling, she shifted to her side, trying her best to see his handsome face in the darkness. “Not yet.” She reached for his hand kissed his knuckles. “I was lying here thinking how blessed I am to have you as my husband.” She swallowed. “And wondering if you wish you hadn’t . . . that is, if we—”