“Little early in the morning isn’t it?”
“Not when you wake up with a hangover.” He drank it straight down then ordered breakfast.
“What time did you and Garnett call it quits?”
“I’m not sure but I don’t think he spent the night alone.” Garnett stopped and checked for his mail before joining them for breakfast.
The young soldier came up the steps carrying a pouch around his shoulder. He stopped at the Tavern door until he found the officer he was looking for before walking up to the table, saluting and opened his pouch taking out an envelope. The Major opened the envelope and folded it back up waiving the soldier away.
“Surprised how slow the mail is nowadays.”
Garnett ordered breakfast and asked James if there was anything of interest in the paper and they started talking about the news from Washington. The Major got up from the table and left the Tavern. His men followed him and they all mounted their horses heading north where their unit must have been camped. He wondered sometimes if the Union truly believed that an entire town in Mississippi would be welcoming when they were about to lay siege on Vicksburg. Securing the town of Vicksburg along with their control of Port Hudson at the mouth of the Mississippi would be very bad for the south.
“Anything happening?”
“No, they are closing all the gaps in the lines so we are virtually on the outside watching. I don’t think there is anything else we can do except pray that they have the ability to hold the city.”
Mirisa didn’t let Dominic out of her bed even to eat. He had her up against him as they lay back in bed.
“Mirisa?”
“What Dominic?”
“I love you but your insatiable appetite is going to kill me if you react this way every time I come home.”
“Then take me with you.”
“I don’t think so darling.” He kissed her nose and she seduced him slowly and perfectly stopping just short of killing him. He fell asleep holding her and woke up with her still wrapped in his arms as he breathed in her essence.
WHEN the sun rose Dominic dressed and went down to the library. He spoke to Mrs. Chauvin and sent for his foreman to discuss the plans for Grant’s unit to camp on the lower side of the plantation that was just pasture. He didn’t want any problems on his property or with his workers. A cold front came from the northwest bringing the first snow along the river and with the Army scouring the countryside for the murder or murders; Dominic decided it was best to lay low for a while. The boys had moved back to the Tavern after the Army unit relocated closer to Vicksburg. Even though no major campaign had been initiated, there were many small skirmishes between small bands of Mississippians and Union patrols. Wanted posters were tacked up all over town seeking information as well as a hefty reward for the killing but no one stepped forward so the reward was increased. The Sheriff tacked them up as James stood back watching.
“They must be awfully anxious to catch these scoundrels.”
“I think they said he was one of their best Captains. Wasn’t he a graduate of VMI?”
“No. He was a West Point boy.”
“Hummm.” The Sheriff rolled up the old poster and tucked it under his arm. “Well, he was either too successful or he crossed the wrong person.”
“He was very good at strategies as well as keeping his men loyal but he left a wake of destruction as an unnecessary aftermath.”
“Knowing your opponent in any game of chance is a wise decision.”
James nodded then headed down the boardwalk toward the barbershop. It had been a much needed week to reorganize and recharge. With the lines of communication in an upheaval, James had to trust that his business holdings were being handled appropriately and seriously considered a trip to New York but decided to put it off.
Dominic had both horses brought around as Mirisa headed upstairs to put on her riding habit. He had decided to take her into town for an afternoon of shopping and diner at the Tavern. As they approached the town, he was met by a courier who handed him an envelope and waited as he read it. She watched his face which didn’t change except the look in his eyes which meant he was weighting something. He put the envelope in his jacket pocket as they continued into town.
When they reached the Tavern, he tied up his horse and lifted her down taking her by the elbow up the stairs and through the large doors heading down the hallway to the Judge’s chambers.
Judge Lightfoot looked up from his writing in surprise and took in the look on Dominic’s face as well as hers. “Has she been bad?”
“No, sorry I didn’t have time to explain nor time to return to the plantation.” The Judge nodded and realized that it must be very serious for him to be this careless in front of her.
“How can I help?”
“I want to leave her here for a moment. I need to find Garnett.” He turned leaving her standing in the middle of the room with her mouth set in anger.
“Can I get you a cup of tea?”
“No. Thank you.” She walked over to the window and he knew by the set of her backbone that she was on the verge of releasing her innermost thoughts. “I would much rather have a shot of whisky.”
He raised his eyebrows then opened his drawer and poured two shots of whisky. “It is apparent that Meeks and James have had an absolutely positive influence on you. And they wonder why my wife would never let them near our daughters.” He had an easy and hearty laugh that made her smile. They spoke about social issues though it was obvious she was not paying attention. She reached over his desk and picked up a “Wanted Poster” reading it several times before she looked back up at the Judge. He sipped his drink but offered no information.
Dominic came back into the room and told her that he needed to handle something but would be back before morning. He looked at the whisky in front of her and the poster in her hand and she could see the change in his eyes even though it was brief. He took it away from her handing it to the Judge then kissed her softly. “James is going to take you shopping then back to the Plantation. I will make it up to you later.” He put on his hat and left the Tavern as she went over every detail of his behavior and his promise.
Garnett was waiting when Dominic came out and James was leaning up against the railing. “Dominic, we’re going to keep Mirisa in town with us.” Dominic looked at James and started to object but he didn’t have the luxury of time so he just nodded and they headed east out of town.
Meeks got off his horse as James was turning to go back into the Tavern. They found Mirisa sitting by herself as the server put down a bowl of stew in front of her. James pulled out a chair next to her and Meeks sat across from her. She knew they were sizing her up but she wasn’t about it make it easy nor would she tolerate the way Dominic treated her despite his belief that she should not know anything about this other life. In fact, all of them worked hard to keep her in the dark and she assumed that it took a lot of their energy. The thought that disturbed her the most was that she was nothing more than a liability and work. That made her very sad because she was growing to enjoy their company very much.
The server brought both men lunch but neither picked up a fork nor acknowledged that they had ordered anything. Meeks leaned across the table as she looked at him.
“I do believe that you are more beautiful when you are working so hard to control your temper.”
“Meeks, I am not trying to control anything.”
“Really?” His smile enveloped his eyes which were so green that if hers did not have gold flakes in them they would be identical. “I would say that you are so angry that you cannot control the little tick under your left eye.”
She started laughing and struggled not to touch the spot she knew so well. She should be used to dealing with the way men behaved since her brothers were notorious for pulling her leg until she lost her temper but she was having trouble with the way Dominic went from hot to cold. She sipped her tea then decided to defuse her anger.
“Why does he di
smiss me so readily?”
“He has never had to deal with questions about his work nor does he have the patience for what he considers unnecessary explanations.”
You could see the emotion cross her expression but she kept her voice low. “Unnecessary? To assure me is unnecessary? And what exactly are the two of you? My guardians, necessary precautions for my safety or to keep me entertained so he doesn’t have to explain? Am I merely part of your work or an extra burden that you don’t want or need?”
James could see that defusing her would be a challenge so he put up his hand and the server brought over two shots of whisky. “Mirisa, you can either get angry with his briskness or you can decide that when he is…inappropriate that you should just spend as much of his money as you can.”
“James, that is the worst advice I have ever heard and something my mother did every time my father made her angry. At what point does allowing your wife to spend your money do you stop feeling guilty about your behavior? I may be young and not mature enough to understand your world but I shall not allow anyone to hurt my feelings and buy their way out of it.”
“Then you do not wish to go shopping?”
“Of course I want to go shopping. That was my plan for the day before my husband decided to abruptly leave without explanation. Disappointment is something I don’t handle well nor being dismissed as if I didn’t have the ability to understand.”
“Well, then after lunch we shall go shopping.”
“And aren’t you afraid of what people will say?”
“Are you?” His smile was so challenging.
“No. Everyone knows if you do anything to me that he’ll shoot you.”
“Is that so?” Meeks picked up his fork to taste the catfish. “And that would be because you assume that he is faster than me.”
“I’ve never seen him shoot but I also don’t think either of you would ever hurt me.”
“I’m glad you have such high opinions of us.”
She looked away from him as James watched her struggle with what they both knew was the emotion of how easily she had become close to them. She was such a beautiful young woman whose heart would either be broken or she would put up a wall keeping her emotions imprisoned until there was nothing left. James put his hand over hers drawing her attention.
“We enjoy your company and your stubbornness.”
“James, I am anything but stubborn.”
“Then finish your tea and we will teach you how to enjoy shopping.”
James took Mirisa up to Meeks’ room telling her he would be back in a few minutes. She looked around the room. There were several books next to the bed that had to deal with business related things, a book of poetry and a journal of drawings. She sat down on the bed and went through the journal. The work made her simple drawings of plants look very childish. She looked for a name of the artist but there was nothing.
James walked into the Judge’s chambers where Meeks was talking to the Judge and closed the door. “What happened?”
“They found the safe house and captured Razzel right outside the cave along with an operative.”
“Well, what the hell can Garnett and Dominic do? Don’t tell me they are going to try to extract someone.”
“They are trying to head off couriers with orders who will walk into an ambush. They don’t know who cooperated but someone did.”
“I doubt it was Razzel. Who was the operative?”
“I don’t know.”
“How did you find out?”
“I stopped them on the road coming back into town but they didn’t have time for details.”
“This attitude of Dominic’s that he is the only one who can handle things is unacceptable and risky.” James took out a cigar and lit it walking back and forth. “We’re keeping Mirisa in town instead of taking her home. I put her in your room so you can bunk with me.”
“I’d much rather bunk with her.”
Judge Lightfoot wondered if they had any idea how she changed the dynamics of all of their lives. “If you prefer, I can take her home. I don’t think it’s appropriate that she is in the Tavern with the two of you.”
“She wouldn’t go.” James turned back to Meeks. “How did they find out about the capture?”
“Captain Tipps sent a message that she was going to try to find the couriers through the east pass but didn’t know which route they would be taking since she was sleeping with the enemy and not Davis.”
James narrowed his eyes. “Something is not right. They should not have left merely on a note from a subordinate nor one who knew enough to know where to send the note.”
Garnett and Dominic made the pass before dark and decided to set up surveillance in hopes of finding the riders as they came through. They were sitting in the dark when they heard the sound of a horse trotting very slowly. Garnett pulled his gun and walked toward the road keeping to the shadows. It was a lone horseman but he couldn’t make out any other details. The horse was favoring his front leg but the rider hadn’t dismounted for some reason.
Garnett stepped out onto the highway and ordered the rider to dismount, drop his weapon and step away from the horse. The rider obeyed slowly. Dominic had come up behind the rider with his gun pointed dead center. The rider reached up as Garnett slid back the hammer of his gun and as she removed her hat the red hair tumbled out to her shoulders.
“Captain Tipps?” Dominic put his gun away but Garnett just stood there looking at her. “What happened to your horse?”
“I found the couriers and they have changed routes. I think I pushed my horse too hard.”
“How did they find the safe house?”
“We think by accident. It seems they have been scouring the mountains since Captain Ranken was killed. They are so pissed that someone breached the security that they are spitting musket balls.”
“Then we need to get out of the area. You can ride behind one of us.” She turned, hit her hat against her thigh and looked right at Garnett.
At that very moment a shot zipped past Dominic’s ear and he hit the ground rolling to his left and Garnett grabbed Maggie and pulled her the opposite direction. They listened for sound which came from Garnett’s side of the road and without having to see Dominic they both reacted simultaneously. Garnett left Maggie on the ground and worked up into the woods fifty feet then toward the area of the shot. Maggie pulled her gun but stayed where she was since she didn’t know which direction they had gone after the shot. Dominic heard the sound of someone loading a gun; he holstered his gun and slid down between two trees as he drew his knife. The man stood to get a better view of the roadway when the knife hit him with such accuracy that he went down with only a slight moan. He moved down toward the body, removed his knife and looked across the highway. Garnett signaled him, wiped off his knife and headed back to where he had left Maggie. Her horse had spooked with the shot so they decided to let it go and they headed back to Natchez.
You could hear the horses breathing heavily as they flew through the night. Maggie was amazed at the accuracy and cold bloodedness that these two possessed. She had always heard that their Unit was the best to ever serve in the Army but what she has just witnessed was the fastest most thorough killing she had ever witnessed. She held onto Garnett remembering that night in the safe house.
Mirisa answered the connecting door when James knocked. He was so boyish looking compared to the others and she just wanted to touch him.
“Didn’t I tell you not to answer the door unless you knew who was there?”
“I knew it was you.”
“No, you assumed it was me but you didn’t know.”
“But I was right.”
“This time.”
He escorted her out of the Tavern where Meeks was waiting for them. They descended the stairs and crossed the street to the dress shop and Mirisa went through some new cloth and ordered several new riding outfits since she had more formal gowns then necessary then she bought a simple dress which they wrap
ped up for her. They walked down the boardwalk window shopping until they came to a small sign pointing down the alley: “Madame Clair’s Fine Apparel”.
“Is this store new?”
James looked at Meeks who just shrugged as they headed down the alley. He opened the door and they stepped in as the smell of orange marmalade washed over them. Mirisa looked around but there was no fruit anywhere. She walked down the aisle of little jars and candles. A well dressed clerk appeared from behind the curtain as Mirisa reached the end of the aisle.
“May I help you?”
“Thank you. May I just browse?”
James and Meeks smiled as the lady nodded at them then turned back to Mirisa. “We specialize in French accessories in the finest silk. May I show you some of our finer garments?”
Mirisa turned and looked at James and Meeks but they gave no indication of leaving the store so she nodded to the clerk.
“Misuses, if you will have a seat while I assist your friend.” She rang a small bell around her neck and a young girl appeared carrying a tray with a carafe and two glasses setting it between the two chairs. After an hour of discussion, the clerk rang her bell again and the girl appeared and began to wrap up the many purchases. Mirisa turned to James.
“How do I have this paid for by my husband?”
“Please have all the purchases put on Mr. Lanfear’s account and send them to the hotel.”
“Which Mr. Lanfear?”
“Dominic.”
Mirisa watched the exchange with interest. “Why does my husband have an account for women’s accessories?”
No one responded to her question so she stood there with her hands on her hips with the distinct impression that she wasn’t about to leave until someone, anyone gave her an explanation.
James turned back to the proprietor. “Please have them sent to the hotel.”
Mirisa stood in the center of the store waiting. “And?”
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