Victoria continued to stare down at the black boots, trying to overcome the urge to look her tormentor in the face.
"Begging your pardon, sir, this boy here has a horse with him; it is no ordinary horse. I never saw the likes of him before. That horse don't belong to no dirty little thirteen-year-old boy. He probably stole him. Most likely from one of our officers."
"Indeed. Where is this horse?"
"Taylor has him outside, sir."
"Well, Sergeant, let us see this animal. Bring him here."
"Right away, sir." The sergeant gave a quick salute and left the tent.
The black boots paced back and forth in front of Victoria. She caught her breath as he stopped in front of her. "Charles Miller, look at me," he demanded. Something in the major's voice made her obey. It was a voice of authority, one that was used to giving orders, used to being obeyed. Slowly she raised her eyes. She was startled to find that Major Courtney was so young. She had thought from his voice that he would be much older. His hair was brown and neatly trimmed. His face was handsome; his blue eyes were steady as he gazed at her.
He stared at her so long, Victoria felt that he had drawn all her secrets from her. She could not move. He studied her with a frown on his forehead. When Victoria thought she could stand it no longer, the sergeant's voice came from the tent opening: "I got the horse, sir. He is right outside."
The major's eyes never left her face. "Shall we see to your horse, Charles Miller?" They walked out into the daylight. Victoria breathed in the fresh air. This Yankee major was not going to be easy to fool. She knew she was going to need all her courage if she was going to gain her freedom.
Rebel stood proudly before them, his black satiny coat glistened in the sun. He threw his head back proudly; his front hoofs dug at the earth.
"Ain't he a beauty, Major? Can't tell me he belongs to this lad here." The sergeant pointed to Victoria and gave her a malicious look.
She returned his look with one of contempt. "He is my horse," she said hotly.
The major looked at the tall stallion. He walked over and put his hand out to touch him. Rebel turned his head, reared back on his haunches, and pawed the air. The major jumped back as Taylor used all his strength to hold on to the reins.
"He won't let no one touch him, sir."
"Tell me, Charles Miller, what is this black devil's
"Rebel," she said defiantly.
"Aptly named. How did you come to have such an animal?"
"He was given to me by a friend."
"Come now, Charley. You do not mind if I call you Charley, do you?" She gave him a look of pure hatred. "It is best if you tell me the truth."
"Major, you see, my mother and five sisters depend on me. We have no food and I was out hunting. My family will be worried if I do not return soon."
"Let me see, Charley, you would have me believe that you are out hunting to provide food for your mother and five sisters, was it? Did he have a gun with him, Sergeant?"
"No sir, he did not."
"No gun, huh? And a friend gave you this horse, which unless I miss my guess is worth a king's ransom?" He was playing with her, and Victoria knew it. He was trying to trip her up. She had to keep a cool head.
"It is true, Major. Every word." She gave him an innocent look, not feeling a bit guilty about lying to the enemy. Her big blue eyes looked straight into his. Suddenly an idea came to her. "Major, if I can prove to you that Rebel belongs to me, will you let
"Oh, Charley, you bargain with me." He studied her face for a moment; his eyes raked her slim, boyish figure. A smile creased his face. "All right, Charley, if you can prove to me, without a shadow of a doubt that this horse is indeed yours, then we shall see about letting you go free. I would be interested in how you will go about proving your claim. You have papers, perhaps?"
"No," she said eagerly, "but I can prove to you that Rebel is mine."
He gave her a curt bow. "Proceed, Charley. I confess that you have whet my curiosity."
A large crowd of soldiers had gathered around the little group and they were admiring the horse from a distance, afraid to get too close to the unpredictable black stallion. Victoria looked about her at all the blue uniforms. She was beginning to enjoy herself.
"Gentlemen, if any one of you can ride Rebel, I give him to you." There was a murmuring among the crowd. She looked at the major for his approval. He nodded his head, smiling. Everyone came forward at once, each wanting his chance to try for the magnificent black stallion.
"Major, since I found the boy and the horse, I would like to be the first to try," Sergeant Bates volunteered.
"Of course, Sergeant. It seems fair to me that you should be paid for the kindness you have shown me today," Victoria answered before the major could. The sergeant looked at her suspiciously. Then, shrugging his shoulders, he wrapped a big hand around the saddle horn. He had one foot in the stirrup and the other in midair. That was as far as he got. The big stallion reared on his hind legs and spun around in a circle. Blue-coated soldiers scattered, trying to avoid flying hoofs, and Sergeant Bates went flying through the air and landed with a thud, not ten feet from where Victoria and the major stood. The crowd roared with laughter. "Why, Sergeant, are you hurt?" Victoria asked in a honey-sweet voice. He gave her a look of pure poison as he painfully gained his feet.
Another soldier tried his luck and still another, each with the same disastrous results. Each man in turn was sure he could ride the black horse, and each in turn landed on the ground. Finally Major Courtney raised his hand. "Enough," he called. Then he turned to Victoria. "If this keeps up I will not have an army to command."
"That would be a pity," she responded sweetly.
Sergeant Bates came forward. "He did not prove it was his horse, Major. He only proved that no one can ride that devil. That horse needs to be shot."
"He is right, you know. This is not proof positive. I am afraid that I cannot let you go free, Charley."
"Wait, Major. I get my chance now," and with that, she called softly. The black stallion perked up his ears and walked over to Victoria. He thrust his nose into her outstretched hand. The crowd was quiet, watching in awe, the small boy and the demon horse, who was now as docile as a lamb. Victoria put her foot in the stirrup and hoisted herself into the saddle. Rebel cantered around the circle of men. Victoria could see the looks of admiration on the faces of the soldiers. She was enjoying her victory. Finally she drew Rebel before the major with a look of triumph on her face. "See, Major, Rebel knows who he belongs to."
"All right, Charley, dismount. I think you have won your point." She hesitated, looking at the trees in the distance. Could she make it to safety if she spurred Rebel on? As though the major had read her mind, he said with a voice of authority, "Get down, Charley. I do not have time for any more of your games." Reluctantly, she did as he ordered. "Follow me, Charley. There are still some questions I need answered."
She sullenly followed him into the tent. He seated himself at his desk and studied her for a moment. "You never did intend to let me go, did you, Major?"
"Enough, you are trying my patience. A good spanking is what you need. A good bath would not hurt either."
"How dare you," Victoria stormed. "You and your men come into our state, you burn our homes, destroy our lives, and accost our women."
He looked at her wearily. "I have not accosted a woman in at least an hour."
She glared at him. "Why don't you go home and just leave us in peace?"
"Ah, Charley," he said, rising to his feet, "would that I could. I grow weary of this war."
There was a commotion outside the tent. A man entered and presented himself to the major. "Lieutenant Carter, sir." He snapped to attention. "I have a dispatch from General Sherman."
Major Courtney took the dispatch and then dismissed the lieutenant. Then he turned back to Victoria. "I do not believe your story for one moment, but I am going to let you go." He came over and stood in front of her. Before she knew what
had happened, he pulled her to him and smiled down at her. "I cannot credit that my men mistook you for a boy, Charley." He lowered his lips and kissed her long and hard.
She shoved him away. "How dare you," she said hotly.
He grinned at her. "I wish I had more time to get to know you."
"I do not wish to be on intimate terms with a Yankee," she replied.
He threw his head back and laughed. "Run along, Charley. Maybe we will meet again. I would like very much to see you in a dress."
"I hope," she said hotly, "if we ever meet again, I can repay your hospitality in kind."
He grinned down at her. "I hope so, too."
"You . . . you Yankee," Victoria said disgustedly, unable to think of a worse name to call him. His laughter followed her as she backed out of the tent. She lost no time in mounting Rebel and riding away. Her heart did not return to normal until she was well away from the Yankee camp.
Maj. Ray Courtney stood by the open tent flap and watched her ride away. He was tired of this war. He had seen so many strange events since they had started on the Georgia campaign. He much preferred a battle that did not include women and children. He went back to his desk and was intent on finishing his report when the tent flap opened and his friend, Maj. Edward Hanover, came in.
"Is this the way you fight a war," Edward said grinning, "behind a desk?"
Ray smiled at Edward. "The person who said an army travels on its stomach was badly misinformed. They travel on paperwork."
Edward Hanover was tall, well over six feet. His hair, black as a raven's wing, fell stubbornly across his forehead. Black sideburns framed his handsome face. His chin was stubborn, with a slight cleft. His lips were firm and full. His eyes were dark brown, framed by long black lashes. His shoulders were broad and tapered down to a narrow waist. His legs were long and lean. He and Ray Courtney had often been in competition for the same woman's favors, and it was Ray who always seemed to come out the loser. In spite of this, Ray still counted Edward Hanover his closest friend. They had both been assigned to General Sherman's command, and had acquired a respect and friendship for each other.
"Have you just come from the general?" Ray asked.
Edward nodded. "Yes, he rides into Savannah the day after tomorrow," he replied.
"The back of the South is all but broken," Ray said.
"Yes," Edward agreed wearily. "The end of the war is very near. The general told me he intends to give Savannah to President Lincoln for a Christmas present."
"That seems appropriate," Ray said looking at Edward's face carefully. "You do not seem too happy about the conquest," he added.
"It is not that," Edward said. "I, unfortunately, will not be going to Savannah."
"Why ever not?"
Edward pulled up a campstool and seated himself. "I am returning to Texas. My mother has died."
"I am sorry, Edward," Ray said with genuine sympathy. "I know it is a great blow to you."
Edward's eyes clouded over. "Yes. She was a great lady. I am sorry I was unable to be with her at the end."
"Maybe it would be less painful if you did not return to Texas just now."
"No, I must return. A ranch the size of Rio del Lobo cannot run itself."
"I am surprised the general would let you leave. He is very fond of you," Ray said thoughtfully.
"He was very understanding. In fact, it was his idea that I leave for home."
"How will your neighbors receive you, Edward? I have often wondered how you would be able to return, since Texas fought for the Confederacy, and you fought for the Union."
Edward rose and walked over to the open tent flap. "That remains to be seen," he said wearily.
"But I do not expect too much trouble." Ray sat back in his chair. "How can you be sure?" Edward smiled at him. "If it comes, I can handle it."
Ray did not doubt his words for a moment. He had fought at Edward Hanover's side, and found him both brave and fearless. Ray thought of the battle of Bull Run. It had been a long battle with many skirmishes. Ray and Edward had ridden out just before nightfall, each with a small company of men. Their orders had been to secure a barn where a group of Confederates were holed up. They had been caught in a cross fire between the barn and a cornfield, and Ray's horse had been shot out from under him. They had been outnumbered ten to one, and Ray knew that he did not have a chance to survive. All his men but three had been killed or wounded, and the three survivors had ridden away in a cloud of dust. Ray had prayed for a quick death. His gun and saber had been lost in his fall from the horse, and he had been defenseless. All of a sudden, he had seen Edward riding toward him, with the Confederate guns firing all about him. Edward had taken Ray upon his horse and they had both ridden away unharmed. Later, when Ray had tried to thank him, Edward had only laughed and said, "You owe me one." No, he had very little fear that Edward Hanover would run into anything in Texas that he could not handle.
"When do you plan to leave?" Ray asked him. "Well," Edward replied, "if you will offer me your hospitality for the night, I will leave for Texas in the morning."
That evening the two Union majors sat over coffee after a well-prepared meal. "You will not have any trouble when you get home," Ray told Edward, "if the ladies have anything to say about it. That is, if your Texas women are anything like the ones I have seen giving you the eye."
Edward smiled at him over his coffee cup. "I find women much the same the world over."
Ray laughed at him. "Even you will have to admit defeat where the charming southern ladies are concerned."
Edward placed his cup on the table and traced the rim of it with a long lean finger. "I have not found the southern beauties too hard to get to know."
"Yeah," Ray said teasingly. "I forgot about the red-headed one at the plantation outside Atlanta who made such a fuss when I announced that we were going to bivouac in her front yard, until she saw you; then she insisted that you, being a high-ranking officer should stay in her guest bedroom."
Edward laughed. "She was rather insistent, wasn't she?"
"Yes," Ray said easily, "and when I reminded her I shared the same rank, she suggested that I remain with the men to see that they did not misbehave. You never did say," he added; "did you sleep in the guest bedroom?"
"Ah, Ray, a gentleman never tells," Edward answered him.
Ray laughed. "Hey, speaking of southern ladies, Edward, I met one today that really intrigued me." Ray told him of the girl who had tried to pass herself off as the boy, Charley. Edward listened intently, while Ray told him of the girl and the horse. "I knew all along that she was not the boy she pretended to be."
Edward laughed. "I am not surprised you spotted the deception, being such a connoisseur of the fair sex.
"Let me tell you, Edward," Ray said thoughtfully. "I could tell in spite of her attire, or maybe because of it, that she was the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. I wonder what her story is."
"Why didn't you pursue her?" Edward grinned.
"Lack of time, for one thing," Ray told him. "She was in some sort of trouble, I could tell. She was the kind of woman who could make you want to slay all her dragons for her."
"Well," Edward said, looking at Ray closely, "she got under your skin. I wish I had ridden over earlier so I could have seen her with my own eyes."
"Oh, no," Ray said. "You would not have gotten any further than I did. This was a real lady. I could tell from her voice that she had breeding and a genteel upbringing."
Edward laughed and clapped his friend on the back. "I do not know when I have seen you react to a female in quite this way."
Ray looked at him seriously. "After she left, I regretted letting her go so easily. I don't know how to find her, and I don't even know her correct name."
"Cheer up," Edward said. "Maybe you will meet her again."
"No, I do not think so. At least," Ray continued, "I kissed her good-bye."
Edward raised his eyebrows. "L thought you said she was a lady."
&n
bsp; Ray laughed. "I did not say that she kissed me back."
"Offer me a brandy, Ray, and we will drink to your paragon. Then, if you will point me in the direction of a cot, I will turn in.
"Too bad, Ray," Edward told him over a glass of brandy, "that I cannot stay behind to see if you find your mysterious lady." Edward set his glass down and offered his hand to his friend. "I will say good-by now. I leave before first light. If you are ever in Texas, my home is open to you."
"I will remember that," Ray said, shaking his hand vigorously. He knew he would miss Edward Hanover, but doubted that their paths would ever cross again.
3
As the result of Victoria's capture by enemy soldiers, Bodine was careful not to leave her alone and unprotected again. For the next week, they were very cautious and avoided the main roads.
There was devastation all about them. The Union Army had swooped down on Georgia like a bird of destruction. They had punished the once-proud Georgians sorely, leaving them stunned and helpless.
One day Victoria and Bodine traveled along the railroad route and saw that the iron rails had been ripped from the tracks by the Union Army. For miles, as far as they could see, the rails were bent out of shape. Many of them had been wrapped around trees. What manner of a man was this Sherman? Victoria wondered. He seemed determined to make Georgia a wasteland. Victoria knew it would be many years before Georgia would recover, if at all.
When they crossed the border into Alabama, Victoria felt both relief and regret. She wondered if she would ever be able to see her beloved Farraday Plantation again. The future and Texas both seemed a long way off. For now, her life centered around long weary hours in the saddle. She found she could not plan from one day to the next.
The days turned into weeks. One morning Bodine told her they would be traveling at a much slower pace. He no longer feared pursuit. It was much easier going after that. Victoria and Bodine found many wayside inns, which more often than not, were dirty and the food none too good, but they were thankful nonetheless for the shelter over their heads because the weather had turned bitterly cold.
Ecstasy's Promise (Historical Romance) Page 4