by Rita Hestand
"I had to. I am the one who talked him into a truce."
She nodded, "Of course."
"Don't worry, no harm will come to you." He assured her.
"How can you be so sure?" She asked.
Now he stopped and stared into her worried face, "Because I asked him not to harm you."
"And he agreed?"
"He did."
His hand traced the softness of her cheek. Their eyes met once more.
"And Miles. Did they accept him?" She tried to distract him now.
"Yes, after he proved himself worthy. He will fight with them." Quirt told her. His fingers grazed her lips. "You’re a very strong and good woman, Jenny."
She trembled, but her head moved so he could cradle it in his hands. "Sometimes," she barely breathed now. "I don't feel so strong. Especially when I'm in your arms."
He smiled, his eyes lighting with fire, "When you're in my arms, Jenny, you don't have to be strong."
"Promise… "
"Promise… " He murmured and then he kissed her again, this time so softly, so tenderly her knees nearly buckled. Her breathing quickened, her arms went around his neck and she hung on for the ride of a lifetime. Her eyes closed, and she gave him leave, as his lips explored her neck and back to her waiting lips that received him with a fervor.
As he gently pulled away, he stared into her sparkling eyes. "I want to always remember you like this,"
"Like what?" she sighed breathlessly.
"With such fire and sparkle in your eyes, a soft trembling of your body, the sweet wetness of our lips."
"I should not be so transparent… " she gasped.
He smiled with a warmth she'd never seen, "Always be transparent with me, Jenny, as I feel the same. This war takes away a lot of things I want to say, but I know you, and you know me. I know your mine, Jenny."
"How… " she swooned.
"By this," he said and kissed her with such passion, she felt her knees buckle. He held her tighter. "You are my woman, Jenny. You must know it." He whispered, as he kissed her cheek, her ear.
She hung on for life, "Yes…. I know it."
He smiled.
She studied him now, with a furrowed brow.
He was staring at her so intently.
"Why do you look at me like that… " she asked breathlessly.
"I look at what is mine." He whispered before he kissed her again.
She felt weak, pliant in his arms. His tongue grazed the outside of her lower lip and he felt the wonderous tremble within her as she opened her lips to him, and their hot tongues caressed.
He felt the sweet peaks of her breast press against his chest, and the way her legs and thighs brushed his. He wanted her in every way now. He wanted to claim her, but he knew it wasn't the right time. He longed for that time.
The warm summer night kiss melted her heart and bore his brand into her quickly. She was his, and he knew it. Instead of rebuking it, as most ladies might, she embraced it, took power from it, as her heart fluttered against her breast. He felt everything within her as it was the same with him. They were like one, even though they only shared a kiss or two.
"When they raid the village, I will not be with them." He whispered as he pulled away. "You women will be safe here. I will be here with you. I and my men. So, do not fear my sweet Jenny."
She nodded slowly and kissed the hand that slipped away from her blushing cheeks.
"What will become of us here?" She asked in a husky voice.
"I do not know for sure. But I do know this, we'll weather it together… "
"Yes," she barely breathed the word. "We will!"
He smiled, took her arm and walked her back to the fort. They didn't need words now. He had claimed her in the only way he could for the time being, and she knew it. She never felt this complete in her life. So, her destiny was here, in Texas with Quirt, she was sure of it.
Two days later the Captain left with his troop, to raid the village. Quirt knew they were going but he made sure the Captain knew he had arranged to bring in more settlers to the fort.
True to his word, he brought six families to the fort for their safety, they were the ones closest to the Indian Village and Quirt feared the raid might spur further action from the Indians. For although the chief said they would be prepared, he also knew that the Confederate Captain meant to kill the entire village and if that happened, other Apaches would gather to war against them.
Of the six families Quirt gathered one was a widow with three children, who had eyes for Quirt. She made no secret that she cared for him either. Quirt indulged her to an extent, but he sought Jennifer out of every crowd to let her know it was she he cared about. Jennifer did not feel threatened. She knew how Quirt felt and she returned his feelings.
Still the woman wanted a husband to help her take care of her family and she was bold enough to try to manipulate herself between them too. Jennifer ignored her.
The troops returned, over half of them dead, they hadn't expected a fight. Many of the young men were wounded, and the women rushed to help them inside and doctor them as best they could.
From the expression on the Captain's face, Quirt knew their raid was a failure. But the ominous glance he gave Quirt told him he'd have a reckoning for this.
When the Captain saw Quirt, he called him to his quarters.
"You wanted to see me, sir?" The Captain stood looking out the small window, his brow furrowed, his stance one of defeat.
"Yes," He was staring at his desk but raised his eyes to Quirt, his frown marring his better looks. "I want to know; did you warn them?" He turned to look Quirt in the eye.
"Warn who?"
"The Apaches, that's who?"
Quirt studied the Captain, his distaste for the man grew by the moment. He grit his teeth and sunk his feet into a challenging stance. "How could I, I was not informed of your intention before you left."
"They were ready for us." The Captain muttered.
"You raided the Apache camp?"
"Do not pretend you did not know."
"I wasn't informed you were going to break the truce sir."
"Nevertheless, you knew, didn't you?"
The Captain eyed him with suspicion.
"I had heard after you left." When the Captain didn't say anything, he went on. "Look, Indians stay ready." Quirt replied. "They've had nothing but lies from us, why wouldn't they?"
"Sit down scout! I don't trust you."
Quirt took a seat. "I don't trust you, either."
"I've noticed."
The Captain seemed to think about that. "Really, look, we won't be here long now. We'll be moving on to New Mexico territory. The fort will close down."
"What of the women, sir?" Quirt asked.
"The women are of no concern to us. Washington sent them. If the war is won by the north, they can take care of them."
"And in the meantime?"
"They can remain here or take their chances going home."
"There are no chances right now if they try to go home, and you know it. With war everywhere, they'd be in real danger."
"My priorities are not these women." The Captain's fist came down on his desk.
"Captain, you have come from a different state, you are not familiar with our ways of doing things. Putting aside our differences, sir, these women are innocent. But by closing the fort, you'll force them to leave at a most dangerous time."
"Washington should have thought of that, shouldn't they?"
"Sir, you are somehow under the illusion that I'm a northern sympathizer, are you not?"
"It has occurred to me, yes."
"I assure you nothing could be farther from the truth. My allegiance, if you will, is with Texas. It always has been, and always will be. I didn't want this war."
"Texas is not the only state in the south, scout. And it is treason to assume such."
"Treasonous? Texas has succeeded from the Union, and it has taken arms against the north. It is part of the Confeder
acy."
"Perhaps so, but you refused to join the Confederacy, I could easily have you hung for that."
"And what would you do for a scout?" Quirt challenged.
"That is the only reason you are not already dead!" The Captain informed him.
"Well," Quirt tried to look offended. "I guess I know where I stand, don't I, Captain? You sent me on a wild goose chase to procure a truce. Which I see no advantage except to have me laughed at. I did so, successfully, did I not?"
"Y-yes, you did."
"Then I have carried out your orders. The fact that you broke that truce two days later, has nothing to do with me, as I was probably the only one you didn't inform of your intentions."
"Dismissed scout!" The Captain slammed his gloves down on his desk and frowned at Quirt.
"Yes sir!" Quirt marched out to see the bedraggled troops. None of which was happy to see him.
"And make no mistake, if you weren't the only scout I have, I'd hang you now!"
"Yes sir."
Hans walked by, "How did it go?" He whispered.
"Not well." Quirt said tightly. "We'll have to tiptoe around this one…"
Hans nodded and walked off.
Later in the mess hall Quirt heard a Corporal talking about it. The Corporal had sustained a head wound and was in considerable pain judging from his facial expression. He had a bandage around his head. A couple of the others that were with him sat beside him. "They whipped us good. It was as if they were waiting for us to show up. Someone said the scout tipped them off, but I know for a fact that the Captain never told him of the raid. He wanted to shock him with it, when we returned. So, I don't know how that could be."
"Did many die?" Joe Cooper asked, one of the regulars from Ft. Davis.
"Not like we planned, no. But oddly there was this one man, a Negro. He was dressed like them and had paint all over his face. I wonder where he came from?"
Hans was sitting beside them and added, "Probably some run-away slave joined them. Maybe he's the one that tipped them off."
"But how could he know?"
"I don't know, but those blacks seem to know a hell of a lot. Was he killed?"
"No, but he sure did his fair share of the killings."
Quirt smiled to himself. So, Miles survived!
"And the chief did you get him?" another of Quirt's soldiers asked.
"No, he was there at least at first, leading his warriors, but after the fighting started, he vanished. There was no sign of him, I guess he got away."
"They protect their chiefs, usually."
"Another time, maybe!"
And the chief lived, Quirt put his food up and left.
He was satisfied, but he knew he'd have to walk softly for a long while, at least until these Confederates pulled out. Not being in the know of what was happening was a hinderance, but Quirt would get some of the women to find out a few things. Victoria was very good at that, and so was Jennifer.
He thought of Jennifer and imagined a day when he could make her his… for good.
Chapter Sixteen
"You're in love with him, aren't you?" Sally Rutherford was saying as Jennifer watched Quirt and the troops on the parade grounds. Sally was a handsome woman with beautiful red hair and blue eyes. She had a very pronounced figure and wore her dresses to display her ample breasts.
"Who?" Jennifer whipped about to see the widow staring at her intently.
"Quirt Noble, don't play so coy. I know you are. I've seen the two of you kissing in the moonlight."
Jennifer felt a blush creep up her cheeks. "We're good friends, yes."
"That's not what I said. You are in love with him, aren't you?"
"I don't think I'll answer that." Jennifer moved away now.
"You don't have to. You wear it on your sleeve. But mark my words, I'll give you a good run for your money on him."
Jennifer looked at her squarely now, "I've always heard all's fair in love and war."
"Yes, it is, and he would make a wonderful father for my children… not to mention a great husband." Sally sighed.
"I suppose so." Jennifer agreed.
"How long have you known him?" Sally asked.
"About three months now."
"I've known him for two years. He's the man that found my husband, dead on the prairie."
"What killed him?"
"Indians, what else?"
"I'm sorry for your loss… "
"Don't be, he was a drunk and he beat me regular."
Jennifer stared at her now. "I'm sorry for that, too."
"Really, why would you care one way or another?"
"I don't think women should be beat upon, for one thing." Jennifer defended. "So, if you've known Mr. Noble that long, why haven't you done something about your feelings for him."
"I was in mourning. A lady must be discreet. Don't you think?"
"I suppose."
"Where are you from?"
"New York."
"Awe…that explains your bluntness. You're a Yankee?" She said rather loudly.
"I'm a woman, not a soldier."
Heads turned, as most of the Confederate soldiers stared at her with renewed interest.
"What are you doing here, then? Spying?" Again, the woman's voice was loud, as more heads turned.
"Washington sent us here to return our loved ones to their home resting places.
"Washington sent you, all of you?"
Now the widows joined Jennifer's side and Victoria stepped forward. "We all came together for the same purpose."
Sally raised a brow, "And are you all from the south?"
"No, we are from all over the United States." Victoria barked at her stepping closer. "Lady, if you want to cause trouble, I'll advice you to rethink it. We were here first."
"But you don't belong here, do you?" Sally went on.
Now Sylvia stepped forward. "If you don't want your hair pulled out, then shut your mouth now!"
"Are you threatening me!"
That did it. Sylvia and Sally tumbled to the floor in an all-out war. Fists flew, hair was pulled, nails scratched, and they rolled all over the floor.
A guard came up to them trying to stop them, but the women ignored him.
The fight went on and on, until a Sergeant came and poured water on them.
"Ladies, the Captain wants to see you. Both of you."
Jennifer stepped forward. "She was attacking me verbally. That's how this started."
"Then you can come along too." The guard said.
The women finally pulled apart, their clothing torn, their breathing labored.
Jennifer helped Sylvia up, and they all three marched to the office.
The Captain eyed them, "What's this?"
"Captain these… ladies were fighting."
"Close the door," The Captain ordered. He turned his attention to the two women, their tattered clothes, their disheveled hair, the scratches, and the sullen look on their faces.
"Yes sir."
He eyed the three of them. Since Jennifer's clothes were not torn, he looked at her for answers. "What's this about?"
"Just a misunderstanding, sir." Jennifer told him.
"Why are their clothes tattered?" He asked her.
"They were fighting."
The Captain stared at the three of them. "Ladies, I have a war to conduct. I have no time for this. There will be no fighting, is that clear?"
"Yes sir… "
"You two, go get yourself cleaned up. You…" he looked at Jennifer, "Stay."
Sally started to leave, Sylvia grabbed Jennifer's arm, but Jennifer smiled, "I'll be fine."
They left.
"Now, what was the fight about?"
"A-a man sir."
"A man?"
"That's right, a man. It's what most women fight about."
"I see. Which man?"
"I'd rather not say, sir."
"Fine," he looked aggravated, "In the future if anyone fights, they will be thrown in the stocka
de, is that clear?"
Jennifer's mouth flew open in shock. Was he serious? "I suppose it's clear enough sir."
"Dismissed."
"I am not in your army, sir." Jennifer got her back up with this hateful man. He was older, rather handsome, but quite full of himself.
"I realize that, but I have no time to sort the differences out. We have problem with the Indians and a war coming bigger than you can imagine, and you want me to sit here and play games with women who can't hold their temper?"
"We are just as worried about the war as anyone sir. We came here, not imagining staying forever, but it looks very much as though it might be. Naturally, tempers flare."
He sighed heavily, "I do apologize for that, but I have little contact with Washington right now, and there is no way I can allow you to leave yet. I'd be delighted to have you escorted home, but it is impossible."
"We realize that, but it doesn't make staying here with a bunch of men who don't want us here in the first place any easier."
"It's not that you are unwelcome, it's that we have more pressing issues."
"Of course, you do, and we have one issue, getting home."
He stared at her, "You're the one from New York, aren't you?"
"Yes. What does that matter."
"It matters greatly as we are fighting your Yankees. Or soon will be."
"And that is my fault?"
"No ma'am, it is not, but it is a fact. I will have a talk with my men, to make sure you are all treated fairly. But understand this, if I could, I'd ship you all home today. Unfortunately, I cannot. So, we'll all have to make the best of the situation. Understood. And young lady since you are from the north, I want you to know I will be keeping a close eye on you."
"Understood."
"Thank you, you may go now."
She nodded.
Jennifer left immediately with a heavy sigh. The woman called Sally could be a lot of trouble and Jennifer wasn't sure how to handle it. Since Quirt was busy, she went to see Hans.
"What's the trouble miss?" Hans asked. "I saw the three of you go into the office to the Captain."
"Hans, as you know, some of us women are from the north. But we've not made an issue of where we are from, on purpose, knowing this war could bring all kinds of trouble. But this Sally woman seems to be trying to stir things up among us. I do not know how to prevent it."