Were the ladies ever so slightly hesitant because she was Indian, or was it only her imagination? Some of them greeted her.
“Well,” the colonel’s wife said, “it’s amazing what can be done with a hand-me-down dress and a skillful needle.”
April felt a flush rise to her face. She wasn’t sure whether she was being complimented or insulted. Perhaps she was being too sensitive.
One of the plump, older ladies gushed, “I do hope you get a chance to meet my nephew.”
“I hope so, too,” April said.
The band broke into the old army song “The Girl I Left Behind Me.”
Will nodded to April. “Appropriate, or vice versa.”
She pretended she hadn’t heard that.
When the band finished, the fat little corporal who led the band announced, “Let’s have a Virginia reel, folks.”
There weren’t many women, but the officers’ wives and grown daughters danced with as many men as possible. There didn’t seem to be many single women in this war zone. Of course, there might be a few Indian girls around the fort, but they wouldn’t have been invited to an officers’ dance. April was only too aware that if she weren’t a polished person from back east, and if no one thought she might be related to General Grant, she wouldn’t have been welcome, either.
She and Will danced the reel, and when it ended, they were both panting. She fanned herself with her dainty fan.
He smiled down at her. “That was wonderful. May I get you some punch?”
“I’d love some.” She fanned herself and looked around. Officers were gathered in small groups talking, and here and there she heard gossip about troop maneuvers and the latest news from the eastern front. She edged closer, wondering if she might pick up enough to find that leak her mysterious major had sent her to search out. If she did find out anything, just who would she report to, and where? Well, her contact was bound to show up soon.
Will came back with the punch. “I had to search for you; I didn’t expect you to move.”
She thought quickly as she accepted the punch. “I—I wanted to get near a window; it’s so hot in here.”
“We could go outside,” he said.
That was the last thing in the world she wanted to do. All the tidbits of important information would be found in here. Besides, she didn’t want to encourage Will. “I think your fellow officers would be so disappointed if we did that; there’s so few ladies for them to dance with.”
“I suppose you’re right.” He looked glum.
A handsome captain strode over to them and bowed. “I do hope, Miss Grant, you’ve saved this next dance for me?”
“Certainly.”
The band began to play a favorite of the time, “Lorena,” and the captain put his white-gloved hand on her small waist, took her hand in his other, and they danced away, leaving Will frowning behind them. “I can’t tell you, Miss Grant, how pleased we are to have you on the post.”
She gave him her most fetching smile. “I suppose your men have seen a lot of action lately, Captain?”
He nodded. “No one knows exactly what the rebs are up to, but we’ve got many more troops than they do.”
“Oh, really?”
He was so pleased that she was interested, he told her how many soldiers were on the post and how many horses they had under saddle.
When the dance ended, it was evident he was reluctant to return her to Will Eagle, but immediately the colonel came over for a dance. “Miss Grant, will you do me the honor?”
“I’d be delighted, sir.”
But about that time, the band struck up a polka, and the old officer looked disappointed. “I’m afraid I don’t polka.”
“Well, why don’t we have some punch and visit?”
The old man’s face lit up, and he led her over to the refreshments, talking all the way about how the war was going. “Oh, but I’m probably boring you, Miss Grant.”
She batted her eyes at him. “Why, not a bit of it, Colonel. I love hearing military men talk.”
“Well, in that case . . .” He began to talk of the war, what his role was, where the troops expected to be sent next.
April was rather startled by how much information she was picking up at the dance. Evidently, it never occurred to any of these big strong men that a pretty girl might be rooting out a spy or gathering information.
The colonel leaned closer as they sipped their punch. “Something big happening in a few weeks,” he whispered.
“Oh?” She leaned closer.
“Oh, I’m not to discuss it; neither are my officers.”
She giggled. “Why, sir, I don’t know what harm there could be in talking about it. Who around here, especially a mere girl, would have any use for military information?”
“That’s true.” He puffed up with his own importance. “Still, I don’t know much yet. I’m waiting to hear more details from headquarters.”
She nodded. “I’m sure headquarters has chosen well in entrusting you with this endeavor, Colonel.”
Now he colored modestly. “Well, if I do say so myself, it’s about time. I’ve been feeling forgotten out here in the Territory, with the major part of the war happening in places like Virginia and Georgia.”
She looked over and saw Will watching her. “If you don’t mind, Colonel, I really must forgo such fascinating company. I promised Lieutenant Eagle the next dance.”
“Oh.” He seemed loath to let her go. “I do hope you are going to stay a few days, Miss Grant?”
“Well, I hadn’t originally planned to, but I hear travel across the Territory is growing increasingly dangerous, so it looks like I might be here several more weeks.” Or at least until that major shows up to give me directions.
“Good.” The officer’s gray mustache wiggled as he talked. “I’ll look forward to more conversations with you.”
“And I shall, too. I’m working at the sutler’s store, you know.”
He laughed. “How could I not know? The whole post is abuzz with the coming of a pretty and eligible young lady.”
She fanned herself and fluttered her eyelashes. “Colonel, you flatter me too much.”
The senior officer smiled, evidently pleased, as he walked her back to the younger officer. “My apologies, Lieutenant, for keeping her so long. She’s delightful.”
“The feeling is mutual.” She curtsied, and the colonel left as Will frowned and took her out on the dance floor, where he held her a little too closely as they danced. “Please, Will, ” she murmured, “people will talk.”
“I don’t want other men to get the idea that you’re available.” His tone was possessive and jealous—a side she hadn’t expected from him.
She pulled away from him a little and looked longingly at the groups of blue-coated officers gathered around the punch bowl, laughing and sharing conversation. Was there a spy picking up valuable information there? Were there strategic bits that would help her get that reward?
As they danced near a French door, Will unexpectedly whirled her out onto the veranda, into the darkness. “It’s hot in there,” he complained, “and I thought you’d like a breath of fresh air.”
“People will talk.” She looked toward the crowd inside.
“What difference does that make? You make too much of what people think about Indians, April.”
“Perhaps I do, but the more I act like a very high-class white girl, the more accepted I can become.”
He took both her hands in his. “You know I wanted to marry you years ago, and I still do.”
“Will, this isn’t the time or place,” she protested, “at least, until we see what this war holds.”
“You’re right, my darling.” He brought her hands to his lips and kissed them. “It wouldn’t be fair to leave you as a widow. However, this war won’t last much longer, and then we can make plans.”
She tried to disengage from him. “We’ll talk about that some other time. In the meantime, the war rages on. What do you kno
w about this big event the colonel’s talking about?”
He looked puzzled and shook his head. “The younger officers aren’t always privy to top information—at least, not until it’s time for action. Why?”
“Just making conversation,” she said lightly. “Now, let’s go back inside before people start gossiping. Then I’d like to leave early. I’m very tired, and tomorrow will probably be a busy day at the store.”
As July passed, April enjoyed working at the sutler’s store. The fort was a safe place to be, and certainly her living quarters were more comfortable than the primitive conditions at the Confederate camp. She picked up a lot of useful information from soldiers and passing traders, but nothing that would indicate a spy at the fort.
Will Eagle came by the store as often as he could and seemed determined to court her, although she was cool to him unless he was talking about post business. Many days, he was gone from the fort on scouting patrols and minor skirmishes. To April, it seemed the war was indeed slowing down, at least in Indian Territory.
She was saving her small salary so she could afford a stage ticket when the need arose. Two things kept her here: awaiting the arrival of the mysterious major, and hoping for more news of the big event the colonel had hinted at the night of the dance.
One evening in late July, she was sitting in the swing out back of the store when Will Eagle showed up. “Are you all right? You look tired, Kaw—I mean, April.”
“We’ve had some busy days at the store,” she admitted, “and maybe I’ve been working too hard.”
“You need to marry me and quit that job.” He sat down in the swing and took her hand.
“Remember?” She looked up at him and tried to keep things light, “we’re not to discuss that until the war ends.”
He grinned. “In that case, anything I can do to hurry that up, I’d better do.”
She shook her head. “I wish you could. I’m so tired of the killing and destruction.”
“I’ll take you far away, back east like you wanted.”
April didn’t answer. She couldn’t marry Will and let him make love to her while thinking of the man with whom she’d shared such passion, his older brother.
“You need to stop working so hard,” Will said.
“I’m not feeling terribly well,” she admitted.
“You see?” He looked her over anxiously. “In the summertime, we always have outbreaks of malaria and yellow fever. There’s no telling what else these new recruits bring in. You’ve got to be careful.”
“I’ll be careful,” she promised, and pulled her hands away from his. “Maybe I just have a delicate constitution.”
He took her hand again. “April, you need someone to look after you. The war can’t last forever, and maybe—”
“The war doesn’t seem to ever end,” she sighed.
“The Union will win,” he promised her, “and I’m doing everything in my power to help make that come true. So someday, you might think about—”
“Oh, Will”—she pulled her hand away again—“I wish you wouldn’t—”
“Maybe if I did something big, got a promotion, maybe we could afford to live back east.” He would not be dissuaded.
She shook her head. “I can’t honestly encourage you.”
“Then I’ll keep trying until I change your mind.” His voice was so earnest, she felt ashamed and didn’t look at him. She was embarrassed that her mind was on his big brother, and she was afraid Will might see that in her eyes. The swing creaked loudly in the silence.
“April,” he tried again, “I’ve picked up information that the rebs have been called to Arkansas to fight, but I don’t think it will go well for them, no more troops and cavalry than they’ve got. Especially since our troops at Fort Smith have been tipped off that the rebs are coming.”
“How do you know that?” She looked up at him, puzzled.
He hesitated. “Everyone says so. When we capture rebel soldiers, they’re always hungry and ragged. They’re getting almost no supplies from the east because everything’s going to the war efforts in places like Virginia and Georgia. It’s only a matter of time before they’ll be forced to surrender.”
She sighed and thought of Jim Eagle. “Some soldiers may never surrender as long as they think they’ve got a chance.”
“But they haven’t, don’t you see that? Maybe I can get myself a big promotion. We could live pretty well back east on a major’s or colonel’s salary, maybe.”
She didn’t answer, thinking of his brothers. Yes, Jim and Tommy were probably going hungry, and the supplies from the captured Yankee supply boat couldn’t have gone very far. “What of your brothers?”
Will sighed. “Sooner or later, they’ll see that they can’t win. They’d both be better off back on the ranch raising cattle and horses—at least, Jim would; he loves the place. Tommy never cared for the hard work of ranching. If he could get enough money, he’d probably move to a city and look for an easy life.”
Yes, that was what Tommy had told her, she thought. She looked into Will’s eyes and smiled. “Tell me about this big thing that’s about to happen.”
Will shrugged. “Don’t know much right now. We’re waiting to find out more about what the other side’s doing before we go into action.”
“Now, how would you learn that?”
Will hesitated, then kissed the tip of her nose. “Never mind, dear. The less you know, the better.”
Chapter 21
“What are you telling me?” April sat bolt upright, causing the swing to creak loudly.
He seemed taken aback. “Don’t look so shocked. I’m sure it’s something both sides do, but so far, the rebels haven’t been very successful. Why, there was a major . . .” He stopped suddenly, and April held her breath, waiting for him to say more, but the expression on his dark face told her he was certain he’d said too much already.
She took his hand and smiled up at him. “Of course, I’m just a silly, naive girl who doesn’t know much about war. What was that about a major?”
He shook his head, his eyes guarded. “Forget I said that; forget everything except that I love you, April.”
She didn’t answer, her mind busy. He’d almost told her something that she might need to know. Was the major he spoke of John Smith? There was no way to know, and if she pressed the issue, Will might become suspicious—too suspicious. There was nothing to do but wait and hope that he’d slip and drop more information. She looked at the small X of steel pins on Will’s collar and thought of Jim scratching that symbol in the dirt. Was Jim Eagle the spy among the Confederate forces, and Will his contact? She didn’t want to believe that. “I—I’m suddenly not feeling very well; it’s so hot,” she said. “I believe I’ll go in.”
“I told you, you looked pale.” Will took her hands in his and kissed her fingertips. “I’ll be leaving on a scouting patrol tomorrow and may be gone a few days. You take care of yourself while I’m gone.”
“I will.” She extracted her hands from his and fled into the store, up the stairs, and threw herself across the bed, sobbing. Was Jim Eagle a spy and not a highly principled officer? If so, he was a low-life scoundrel. But was he any worse than she was, spying for cold, hard cash? Jim did not fit into her plans of returning to the east, rich and respectable. Somehow, her goal was not as appealing as before. She didn’t want to think about that. In the meantime, all she could do was wait and hope that Will would tell her more or that the major would show up at the fort with further instructions . . . if he ever showed up.
She dropped off to sleep, and when she did, she dreamed Jim Eagle came to her and they made frenzied love on the soft grass, and she never, never wanted the dream to end.
Late July 1864
It had been almost a month since the Cherokee girl had knocked Jim in the head and escaped with his horse. The horse had returned, and Jim wondered if it had gotten away from the girl or thrown her. When he pictured her lying out in the woods somewhere, helpless an
d slowly dying, he almost went crazy. Then he reminded himself that she’d attacked him, not caring what happened to him when she left him out there unconscious and defenseless. He tried to be angry with the little chit, but at night, when he closed his eyes, he saw her as she had been in his embrace, passionate and giving. He didn’t want to think of April at all, and yet he couldn’t stop remembering her kisses and the moments of ecstasy she had given him.
As days passed, things were not looking good for the Southern cause. The Confederate troops were ragged and often hungry. Some of his men deserted, and he couldn’t blame them—the war news from farther east was so discouraging. He knew some of them probably went over to the Union side, where there was food aplenty. Others probably just went home to neglected and ravaged farms. Yet Jim Eagle fought on because of a forlorn hope that the Confederates would treat the Five Civilized Tribes better than the Union had. It would be good to have their own state. Already, the Cherokees were talking of calling it Sequoya, after their hero who had created the Cherokee alphabet so that now most of the tribe could read.
One hot summer day, word came that the Cherokee Mounted Rifles were being sent to Arkansas on a raid.
Another officer brought the news. “Why the hell do you think they’re doing that?”
Jim shook his head. “Fort Smith, just across the border, is strategic. Besides, there’s probably plenty of supplies and fresh horses there if we can take it.”
“I reckon we’d better be gathering our troops and passing the word.” The officer started to walk away.
“Who brought us that news?” Jim yelled after him.
“Clem Rogers. You know he always knows what’s going on since he’s a scout.”
Jim thought about the other officers; particularly Captain Big Horse. The captain wasn’t a very good officer and didn’t inspire much confidence in his men. Besides being a goldbricker, he disappeared a lot. Jim wondered if Big Horse was like Tommy, slipping off into the woods to gamble, or if he was simply hiding out from his duties.
Tommy sauntered up just then, distracting Jim from his thoughts. “What’s going on?”
To Tame A Rebel Page 26