“This.” Grabbing Richard firmly by the collar of his shirt, Jamie pulled him off Sophie. Richard tried to fight, but he was no match for Jamie, especially drunk. Every move he made, Jamie countered with another that not only bested him but humiliated him as well. In the end, Jamie gave one good punch to the jaw and Richard was out cold.
Jamie turned to see Sophie slide down the wall of the stall, her face in her hands. “Sophie, are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
Sophie shook her head as Jamie hunkered down next to her and touched her shoulder. He gathered her in his arms and carried her to the bale of hay outside of Samson’s stall. Settling her onto his lap as he sat down, he stroked her back. Samson stuck his head out of his stall and shoved his nose in between the couple.
Sophie reached up and stroked his nose. “I’m okay, boy.”
Jamie took a ragged breath. “Did he hurt you?”
She shook her head and wrapped her arms around his neck. “No. He just scared me.”
Jamie kissed her cheek. “Déjà vu.”
Sophie looked at him. “What did you remember?”
“Chad the ass.”
“Chad? My ex, Chad?”
Jamie nodded. “Remember the day I threw him out?”
Sophie put her hand on his cheek. “He thought he needed to save me from you. You thought otherwise and explained that to him.” She smiled. “I fell in love with you that day.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really? I thought it was when—”
Pain splintered as he tried to remember what he was going to say. He drew air in through his teeth and felt Sophie’s grip tighten. “Baby, don’t push it.”
He nodded and she laid her head on his shoulder. “What’s on your agenda today?”
“It has changed slightly. We had a few new horses arrive, so Richard is going to work with them and the men.” He looked over at the passed-out form of Richard. “Well, he was going to work with them. Ash can probably take over for him.” Jamie rubbed his temples, his headache subsiding almost as quickly as it came. “Would you like to do something with me? A picnic maybe?”
“I’d love that. Let me organize the food though, okay?”
“Hardtack not appetizing enough?”
She laughed. “No, can’t say that it is. Meet me at the house in a little while and I’ll have everything ready.”
“I’ll take care of Richard and make sure he gets home to sleep it off.” He gave her a little squeeze.
* * *
Jamie arrived an hour later and they took off toward the lake, hand in hand, Jamie carrying the picnic basket. When they arrived at the water, Jamie laid the blanket out, and Sophie went to work pulling out the food.
“How are you feeling?” Jamie asked.
“I’m exhausted.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Well if you hadn’t accosted me last night…”
Sophie grinned. “Yeah, I heard you complaining all night long.”
“Why don’t you lie down and relax? Watch the clouds with me.”
She lay down on her back, and Jamie settled himself next to her. He took her hand in his and held it to his chest. She pointed to one above them. “That one looks like an elephant.”
“More like a monkey, I think.”
“What? You’re crazy. Look at the trunk.”
“No, that’s his tail.”
She laughed and he drew her hand to his lips. She turned her head, and as he leaned over to kiss her, he noticed the dark rings under her eyes. “Why don’t you sleep, Sophie?”
“Do I have time to sleep? Shouldn’t we be getting back soon?”
“We have time. Go to sleep.”
She smiled. “I don’t know if that would be entirely appropriate, sir.”
He kissed her cheek. “A nap in the afternoon with my wife? What could possibly be more appropriate?” Sophie nodded, tears slipping down her temples. Jamie kissed one, drawing the tear into his mouth. “I love you.”
She rolled on her side with a sigh, and he formed his body around hers, pulling her closer to him. “I love you more,” she whispered.
Jamie spent several minutes watching her sleep. He may not remember everything, but he remembered her as his wife, and he wouldn’t let her go again. He closed his eyes and drew her body closer to him. Awakened by Sophie shivering, Jamie pulled her closer before leaning down, and kissing her cheek to wake her.
“Hi.” She turned to face him. “How long was I asleep?”
“At least two hours. How do you feel?”
“Cold but otherwise okay. Did you sleep?”
“I did.” He kissed her and then added, “but only until you started snoring.”
She pushed him away with snort and sat up. “I do not snore!”
Jamie chuckled as he pushed her back down. “You do snore, and it’s adorable.”
He leaned down to kiss her but she turned her head. “Take it back.”
“I’m only speaking the truth. Now kiss me.”
“No.” She moved her head to deflect his every attempt.
“Did you just deny me?”
Sophie giggled. “I did. What are you going to do about it?”
“You don’t really want an answer to that, do you?”
“Ooh, I’m scared.” He leaned down for one more attempt at a kiss, and at her deflection, grabbed her sides and began to tickle her. Sophie squealed. “Not fair!”
“Do you surrender?”
“Not on your life.” She tried to roll away from him but he followed. Grabbing her around the waist again, he increased the level of torture and it didn’t matter how much she protested, he wouldn’t give up.
“Jamie! I’m going to pee.”
“Say ‘uncle,’” he ordered.
“UNCLE!” He tickled her one more time and Sophie gasped. “Hey! I said ‘uncle.’”
“Sorry, love, I didn’t hear you.”
“You are such a sneak!” She laughed.
Jamie leaned down to kiss her and suddenly dirt splattered over them.
“What was that?” Sophie sat up and wiped the dirt from her skirts.
A whistle and then dirt kicked up again, and Jamie shoved her down and covered her body. “Stay down!”
“What’s going on?”
“Those are bullets, Sophie, stay down!”
“What are you talking about?”
Jamie rolled, grasping her around the waist and pulling her to relative cover. “Someone is shooting at us.”
“Why?”
Jamie groaned. “I don’t know, why, baby. Just sit there and stay out of sight!”
Sophie flattened herself on the ground behind a few large river rocks and watched as Jamie hunched down and began to move toward the lake. “What are you doing?” she squealed.
Jamie waved his hand to stay back and continued forward. Sophie couldn’t breathe as she watched him inch further away from her and then, suddenly, a rider tore out from the cover of trees and took off—away from them.
Sophie jumped up and rushed over to Jamie. “Who was that?”
Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her close and kissed her temple. “I don’t know, but I think it was the same man that shot Lund.”
“The soldier you brought into the hospital?”
At his nod, Sophie squinted across the man-made lake. “Is he shooting at us on purpose?”
Sophie’s skin crawled at the thought that the man was hiding in plain sight—close enough to get at them.
“I don’t know but I mean to find out. Let’s get you back to the house so I can find out what’s going on.”
Sophie’s head whipped up. “What? No! Absolutely not! It’s too dangerous.”
Jamie chuckled as he cupped her face and kissed her. “I’ll be fine.”
“Famous last words,” Sophie grumbled as they gathered their things and started back toward home.
Jamie took her hand, and she found herself distracted by the feel of his strong hand, now rougher than before, covering
hers. The calluses were a heady feeling against her small, smooth palm and she smiled as she looked up at him. Without warning, she stumbled and went down hard. Luckily, Jamie had a good grip and was able to keep her from falling completely.
He dropped the basket and wrapped his free hand around her waist to help guide her gently to the ground. Grasping her ankle, the tears slid down her face as she tried to catch her breath.
“What happened?”
“Gopher hole, I think,” she rasped.
Jamie knelt beside her. “Let’s have a look.” Pulling her boot off gently, Jamie let out a quiet whistle. “This just hasn’t been your day, has it?”
Sophie grimaced.
“Come here, love.” He picked her up and started to move toward the Wades house.
“Jamie, if I get too heavy, you must tell me.”
Jamie carried her back to the house and into the parlor so that Michael could look at her ankle. While the doctor examined her, Jamie gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I’m going to grab the basket. I’ll return soon.”
She glanced up at him and smiled. “Okay. Thanks.”
Her focus was pulled back to Michael as he squeezed her ankle. “Ouch.”
“Sorry, Sophie.” Michael rose to his feet. “It’s swollen but nothing appears to be broken. Rest for a few days and keep it elevated.”
Sophie pushed her frustration aside. “Thanks, Michael.”
Sophie rested in the library, her foot elevated on a stool and packed with ice, per doctor’s orders, grimacing at the constant throb.
Jamie came into the room and sat in the chair next to her. “How’s your ankle?”
“I think I might have brittle bone disease.”
“Excuse me?”
Sophie sighed. “I’m fine as long as I don’t walk on it.”
“So, don’t walk on it,” Jamie joked.
“Funny, ha, ha. Maybe I have cancer.”
“I am reminded of your hypochondriac tendencies. You don’t have cancer.” Sophie opened her mouth to respond but Jamie cut her off. “Or brittle bones.”
“What did you find out when you went to “retrieve the basket?””
Jamie rolled his eyes. “I really did retrieve the basket.”
“And it took you almost an hour, so what else did you do?”
Jamie turned as he heard the library door open and stood when Christine entered the room. “I heard Sophie had an accident.”
Sophie wrinkled her nose and whispered, “You are so not off the hook.”
Jamie chuckled as he stood to give Christine his seat and then sat on the hearth facing the girls.
“Just call me gimpy,” Sophie said pathetically from her chair.
Christine frowned. “What happened?”
Sophie filled her in on the day, leaving out some of the more personal portions.
“Richard did all that and you were shot at?” Christine exclaimed.
Sophie nodded. “Yep.”
Christine frowned. “I’ve never known Richard to treat anyone like that.”
“I think he objects to the competition I present.” Jamie kissed Sophie’s hand.
Christine smiled gently. “Can I get you anything?”
“No, thanks. I’m fine.” Sophie turned to face her.
The butler chose that moment to interrupt the group. “Dinner is served.”
Jamie and Christine stood. Jamie nodded toward the door. “I’ll take Sophie in, Christine. You go on ahead.”
Jamie picked Sophie up and carried her to the dining room. Settling her in her chair, he prepared a plate for her and then himself. Sophie smiled her thanks.
“How’s your ankle, dear?” Nona asked.
“It’s fine, Nona. I just have to stay off it for a few days.”
“At least a week,” Michael interjected.
Jamie rolled his eyes. “Won’t that be fun?”
“Yes, Jamie, I’ll look forward to our evenings filled with playing cards and great conversation.” Sophie turned her head, and gave Jamie a mock scowl, before turning back to Michael with a serene smile.
Jamie sat next to Sophie and kissed her hand. “It’ll be my pleasure.”
Conversation swirled around the table as everyone began to eat. Sophie on the other hand, picked at her food. Unable to elevate her foot, the pain made her sick to her stomach and the strain of hiding it made it difficult to catch her breath.
Nona and Christine were discussing the strife a few of their distant neighbors were dealing with, while Michael interjected the occasional observation. All the while Sophie sat silent.
“Sophie, is it that bad?” Jamie whispered. She gave a stilted nod, so he laid his napkin on the table and stood. “Excuse me, Nona. Sophie is in a great deal of pain. I thought I’d move her back to the library, if that’s acceptable.”
“My word, yes, yes. I’ll send Betty in with some ice.”
“No, I’m happy to take care of that. Please, finish your dinner.”
Jamie picked Sophie up and carried her back to the library. As they crossed the threshold into the room, Sophie burst into tears and took several deep breaths in an effort to push the pain away.
“Sweetheart,” Jamie whispered as he settled her in her favorite chair and placed a pillow under her leg. “I’ll be right back.”
Sophie squeezed her eyes shut and nodded as he left the room. Lifting her skirt, she examined her ankle and grimaced at the sight. Twice the normal size and bruised, the longer she stared at it, the more it seemed to throb. She’d managed to convince herself she’d never walk again by the time Jamie returned with the ice.
“Here.” Jamie sat on the hearth and wrapped the ice around her ankle. He handed her a glass of amber liquid, and Sophie raised an eyebrow in question. “Whiskey. It’ll help dull the pain.”
Despite the fact that she barely drank, she downed the liquid and sputtered at the burn.
“You were supposed to sip that, sweetheart.” Jamie chuckled.
“Oops.”
Jamie took the glass from her with a concerned frown.
“What did you find out about the shooter?”
Jamie sighed. “Nothing yet. I have a few of the men on it. How’s your ankle?”
“Bad.” She dropped her head to the back of the chair. “Don’t leave me here, okay?”
Jamie leaned over her and lifted her chin. “I’m not going anywhere. Would you like another drink?”
Sophie shook her head. “I want drugs.”
Jamie stroked her cheek, catching a tear with his thumb. “Would you like Michael to give you laudanum?”
“No. I hated it when they gave it to me before.”
“Before?” Jamie sat back on the hearth and handed her his handkerchief.
Sophie filled Jamie in on her arrival and the events that led up to her forced drugging. Admittedly, she purposely made it sound a little worse than it was, but was still taken aback by the vein pulsing in his neck.
“I’m going to kill him.”
“Who? Richard or Michael?”
Jamie stood. “At this moment in time, I don’t know.”
Sophie had a sense of conviction and reached out to take his hand, tugging softly. “Sorry. I’m fine, and I’m sure Michael was just trying to help at the time.”
Jamie squeezed her hand before kissing her fingers and sitting down again. “Richard, however, was a bully.”
“Yes, you’re right, but it’s in the past, and quite frankly, I’m over it.”
“Well, what can I do for you then?”
“Nothing.” Sophie let out a deep sigh. “Just sit there and let me be pathetic.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
May and June found the couple growing closer. Sophie had shared the news of Jamie’s recovery, albeit not complete, with Michael and Nona, and they had welcomed him into the family fold. He still slept most nights in his tent, but Sophie had managed to steal him away for a few nights in the privacy of her room.
The cavalry training was bru
tal, and Jamie found he didn’t have as much time with Sophie as he’d have liked, but he spent every morning and every evening with her, which would have to be enough for now.
Although he and Richard formed a tentative treaty, Sophie wouldn’t have anything to do with him, going so far as to limit her visits with Samson. Jamie was fine with her decision, but he did have to work with the man, so he tried his best to rise above the animosity to succeed in their mutual goals. He also spent a great deal of time working with Topper. The young man was becoming quite adept at using his left hand, almost to the point that people didn’t realize he was missing his right.
One morning, when he didn’t find Sophie at home, Jamie walked out to the Wades barn and as expected, found her standing outside of Samson’s stall.
Jamie pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “Good morning, sweetheart. I should have just waited for you here.”
Sophie smiled and kissed him back.
“You’re up early. How did you sleep?”
Sophie looped her arms around his neck and crinkled her nose up in annoyance. “I wasn’t with you, so I didn’t sleep very well.”
“I missed you, too.”
She reached up again to kiss him, but they were interrupted by one of Jamie’s men rushing in to say that there was word of General Lee advancing on Gettysburg. They had to gather the troops and provide support. Sophie went white. What’s today?
She did a quick calculation in her head. “Jamie, it’s July 1. Today’s the first official day of the battle.”
Jamie pursed his lips. “Gettysburg address?”
She nodded. “In November, but yes, now is the battle.”
This battle would turn out to be the most famous and most important Civil War Battle. It occurred over three summer days, July first, second, and third. It started out seemingly small, but by the end of the battle it involved 160,000 Americans. Rubbing her forehead with her palm, her groan was audible, even over the rush of people moving around the barn.
Today the two divisions of Confederates will head back to Gettysburg. They run into Federal cavalry west of the town at Willoughby Run and the skirmish began. Events would quickly escalate. Lee would rush 25,000 men to the scene. The Union had less than 20,000.
The Union ends up winning the battle, but how do I warn the men without changing history?
The Bride Price Page 18