Holding the Fort

by Regina Jennings

  There was a knock downstairs at the front door.

  “Who’s that?” Daisy asked. “Do you think it’s Frisco Smith?”

  Caroline flew out the door. After pinning a rose in her hair, Louisa followed.

  “Major Adams?” Evidently Private Gundy had opened the door before Caroline reached it. “What are you doing, knocking on your own door?”

  Louisa stopped at the top of the stairs. She shouldn’t eavesdrop, but somehow she knew his answer involved her.

  “I’m calling on Miss Bell. Is she receiving visitors?”

  Louisa could only imagine the old private’s expression. She heard his uneven tread thumping away toward the kitchen. He clearly had no answer for such a ridiculous statement.

  “Pa, you’re being silly,” Daisy said. “You live here. You don’t need to knock.”

  “When a gentleman calls on a lady, he doesn’t just walk into her house. He shows her respect and waits to be asked inside.”

  Louisa felt warm and toasty. What would it have been like to have had a father like Daniel who demonstrated the correct behavior of a gentleman? How different her life would have been! Then again, as she looked forward to their evening together, she could only be thankful for the good turn it had taken since she’d reached Fort Reno.

  And if he was going to demonstrate correct behavior, so must she. She couldn’t do anything tonight that would embarrass him in front of his daughters.

  Lifting her chin and trying to suppress her excitement, she descended the stairs like royalty. At first glance, she saw Daisy’s eyes grow wide at her approach, and Caroline bit her lip as if studying her for clues. But then she saw Daniel, and after that, he was all she could think of.

  With his polished boots, the golden shoulder straps denoting his rank, and the double row of gleaming buttons down his chest, he cut an impressive figure. Then he removed his hat and reached to take her hand for the last few steps. Louisa accepted his help daintily, her wrist at just the correct angle as she descended, her pinkie finger raised slightly. Daniel bowed low over her hand with his back straight. Her heart sped at the memory of his kiss, but this time he skipped that ritual.

  “You look beautiful this evening, Miss Bell,” he said.

  Daisy giggled.

  “There’s nothing wrong with a gentleman expressing his appreciation for a lady’s beauty,” Daniel said, “if it’s done tastefully and is not repugnant to her.”

  “I assure you, it’s not repugnant,” Louisa said.

  “That’s a start.” He smiled. “Then if you are ready to depart, may I escort you to dinner?”

  “I’d be delighted.”

  “Girls, Private Gundy should have your dinner ready. Eat up, then get yourselves to bed.”

  “Can’t we go with you?” Daisy asked.

  Caroline took her by the shoulders and steered her toward the dining room. “That would defeat the purpose, little sister. Don’t worry, Father. I’ll explain it to her.”

  “Thank you, Caroline. I’ll leave it to you.” His eyes shone with equal parts humor and pride.

  He opened the door, and Louisa passed through, being sure to inhale the unfamiliar scent of sandalwood he was wearing. He’d gone through extra efforts in his presentation, just as she had. The thought that he’d done all of this for her amazed her.

  But that was just the beginning.

  “I wish we had a longer promenade before us.” He took her hand and tucked it into his arm. “More time to enjoy the evening. But walking in circles around the fort isn’t a viable activity.”

  Sure enough, the new troops that had arrived that afternoon were taking notice. Louisa felt a twinge of misgiving. What would the agency ladies think of her? But they made the short walk to the lieutenant’s house quickly.

  At Daniel’s knock, Lieutenant Jack swung open the door. His face registered happy surprise, reminding Louisa once again how drastically different she was presenting herself tonight.

  “I thought you were looking after the new troops,” Daniel said.

  “I just dropped in for a moment. Miss Bell, may I be the first to tell you how beautiful you look?” As ever, Jack kept one amused eye on his commander.

  “No, you may not,” Daniel groused. “Don’t you think I took care of that? First, indeed!”

  “Relieved to hear it, sir,” he answered. “A good assistant always looks to make up for his superior’s weaknesses. Come this way.” Jack led them through his quarters, a mirror image of Daniel’s but with simpler furnishings and more books stacked in odd places.

  “You knew we were coming,” Daniel said. “I thought you might have cleaned the place up.”

  “You said you were coming for dinner, not for an inspection. Besides, I have too many books to keep them all in my office. Nothing shameful in that.”

  If he were that smart, Jack should have been teaching the girls. At least she and Private Gundy were better housekeepers.

  She didn’t need Daniel to escort her to the dining room, since the house was so similar, but when she turned the corner and saw the lit candelabra on the table and the two bowls of lilies flanking it, she stopped in her tracks. Instead of the cotton tablecloth they used daily, a cream-colored damask cloth draped the table. Two china place settings anchored the picture with real silverware, more forks and spoons than she knew what to do with.

  The men in the room didn’t say a word, waiting for her pronouncement. She had to say something, but the realization that this had been done on her behalf was more than she could account for.

  Her throat closed up. Her hand tightened on Daniel’s arm.

  “Thank you, Jack. I’ve got it from here,” he said.

  She was barely aware of the lieutenant fading from the room before Daniel stood before her. He bent so that even with her bowed head, she couldn’t avoid his tender eyes.

  “What’s the matter, Louisa? Can you tell me what’s wrong?”

  Could she? She had so many secrets from him that anything close to the truth would likely expose something else. But as she gazed into his caring face, she wanted to give him something true. Something of herself. “I’ve never had anything this fancy done for me.” Wait, that wasn’t true. She’d had sets and stages designed for a princess, but it was all counterfeit. How to make him understand? “Nothing authentic,” she added. “Nothing real. I don’t know how to . . .” She gestured to the elaborate table set for a formal dinner. She’d had enough trouble making it through a family dinner with the children. What hope had she of keeping up the ruse here?

  Daniel took a deep breath and stepped back. His normally granite posture relaxed as he studied all the glasses, forks, and spoons on the table. “I just figured that anyone who could play chess as well as you wouldn’t have any problem figuring out how to move each of these implements.”

  He was back. The man who’d spent those long summer evenings—that were never long enough—challenging her across the chessboard had returned. Whatever had kept him away didn’t matter now, and Louisa couldn’t be happier.

  “Forgive me for losing my composure,” she said. “I’m ready to eat with you . . . or best you at this new contest. Whichever you prefer.”

  He eagerly pulled her chair out for her, then tucked it in as she sat. His jaunty steps around to his side of the table made the silver rattle. Once in place, he fixed her with a devastating smile that could have no response except for her own grin. With a flourish, he flung his napkin high and then laid it across his lap. She already knew that much. Then he reached for a brass bell. It was clanging before Louisa realized she didn’t have a bell of her own. How about that? A chess game where the pieces were uneven from the beginning? But before she could protest, the door to the kitchen flew open.

  Louisa startled. She gripped the sides of her chair, but her fright was only brought on by a skinny man bursting through the door with a large tureen.

  “Miss Bell, this is Sergeant Nothem,” Daniel said. “He is our resident culinary expert, and he
’s serving us tonight.”

  As the sergeant ladled turtle soup into her bowl, Louisa marveled at his hair. It was as white and curly as lamb’s wool.

  She waited until he left the room before asking, “Does the cavalry approve of you using your staff for events such as these?” The longer she sat in this fine atmosphere, the more comfortable she grew.

  “They expect us to be able to entertain in style, and that takes practice. Since General Sheridan will arrive any day now . . .”

  “Oh.” Louisa picked up a blunted spoon as Daniel reached for his. “This is to practice for General Sheridan, is it?”

  He pursed his lips and blew on a spoonful of soup. “It’s for you. Only for you. Nothem’s getting practice is just a nice coincidence.” No trace of flattery. Just sharing information.

  Sergeant Nothem scurried back into the room, bubbling with apologies. Crystal chimed as he filled their glasses. “Sorry, sir. I should’ve seen about this first.” It was a startling reminder of Daniel’s authority here and the fact that he, for whatever reason, was elevating her to sit at his table. Being equals in the privacy of his office was one thing, but to expect honorable men like Nothem to serve her was another. What good could come of it?

  Determined to think of something else, she asked, “When will the Darlington people be able to return home?” She lowered her arms so Nothem could take her soup bowl away.

  As hoped, Daniel launched into a litany of steps that would likely be undertaken to restore order. With him droning on, she could sort through her turmoil. Keeping her head bent over her venison steak also kept the bright light of the candelabra between them as she tried to identify what had changed. Why had Daniel suddenly decided to put on this show?

  He was going through the schedule of events planned for the general’s arrival now. His head was tilted to look around the candelabra she’d been hiding behind. The flame illuminated specks of auburn in his wavy hair. It bounced over a happy crease on his cheek when he smiled, warmed to red a slight scar on his forehead. Not only had he forgiven her, but his attentions appeared to be of a personal nature. Could it be true? Everything he was doing was the recommended, prescribed method for courting a woman. And if Louisa knew anything about Major Adams, it was that he would do everything by the recommended, prescribed method.

  But she was hardly the recommended, prescribed mate for the major.

  Then a phrase drew her out of her morose musings. “. . . and Private Willis is embarrassed by his commendation, but grateful.” Daniel was smiling, just like he did when he thought he had her game piece trapped by a subtle move. “What do you think of that?”

  She lifted her glass, then deciding she couldn’t get a drink past the lump in her throat, lowered it. “I’m . . . I’m glad that he is pleased.”

  “Louisa.” He lifted the candelabra and set it to the side of the table, giving him an unobstructed view of her tapping nervously on her plate. “I know.”

  “You know? You know what?” She folded her hands in her lap, assuming a serene pose that couldn’t be shaken, even if a drunk mule skinner started firing off a shotgun from the audience.

  “I know about Bradley. He’s your brother. It explains everything.”

  Her unshakable poise was failing. She looked past the flowers, the fine china, searched the room for some diversion.

  “I don’t blame you for not wanting me to know,” Daniel continued with maddening calm. “It must have been difficult for a lady of your education to be associated with him.”

  Her fear arose again. The major thought she was so far above Bradley. If he only knew.

  “I don’t mean to insult your brother,” he said. “I’m only repeating what Bradley told me himself. How you tried to look after him when he strayed. How you set the example of industrious work and insisted on his taking a commission in the army.” Daniel smiled, unaware of the turmoil he was causing. “You were right. The army is exactly what he needed. While I sympathize with your earlier embarrassment, I believe Bradley is going to fool around and turn himself into a man you will be proud of . . . as a sister.” The last words were added with an unusual amount of emphasis.

  “You mean you aren’t mad?”

  “Just relieved. If I had caught you talking to him again, I’m afraid it would’ve meant trouble for both of you. But now that it’s all cleared up, there are no more secrets.”

  She closed her eyes. Oh, but there were a few.

  Daniel rarely started a campaign without being confident of its success—and this one had shown every indication of being a rousing victory.

  He needed a mother for his children, and Louisa had already proved that she could take on that task. The girls loved her and responded well to her direction. She was an asset to his household.

  Many women weren’t suited to the isolation that came from being married to a cavalry officer on the frontier, but it didn’t seem to bother Louisa. In fact, she preferred staying away from society. Unlike other officers’ wives he’d known, she wasn’t eager to meet every stagecoach for news from Kansas. Instead, she preferred the open air of Fort Reno and the big skies, as he did.

  Then there was the matter of accepting him as a partner. If he possessed any uncertainty over his campaign, it was in this area. Testing her success as a teacher was one thing, but testing her affection for him personally was another. He had much to lose if he was mistaken, but the reward was too great to be ignored.

  As Nothem served them blackberry pudding for dessert, Daniel tried to look at the situation from a tactician’s view. Louisa enjoyed his company. She eagerly sat in his office for hours, just the two of them, when she could have easily excused herself for the day. Although younger than he, she wasn’t naïve—not the woman who’d held him so tenderly when he fell. She had to know his intentions when he invited her to a private dinner.

  The sky-blue of her silk dress shimmered in the candlelight. The rose in her hair and the shell earrings he’d bought at Darlington evidenced that she knew exactly what this was. A woman didn’t array herself like that for a meeting to discuss her pupils’ progress.

  Dinner ended with them sharing a laugh over Caroline’s paintings.

  “She continues to give Daisy pointers,” Louisa said, “when Daisy’s already better than she is.”

  “That’s Caroline for you,” he replied. “Her confidence knows no bounds.”

  Their plates were empty. No excuse to linger any longer in Jack’s house, although being away from the girls did have its benefits. It looked like Jack might be inconvenienced more often.

  Daniel stood. Louisa started to rise, but he held out a hand to slow her down until he could assist her with her chair. She turned pink beneath his gaze, the fair skin on her neck blushing a delicate shade.

  “Thank you, Major Adams.”

  “Why not call me Daniel?”

  “This just seems like more of a formal occasion.”

  “I intended for it to be an intimate one.” He was pleased by his boldness, and if he wasn’t mistaken, so was she. A stroll through Jack’s dusty parlor wasn’t quite moonlight and magnolias, but at least it wasn’t under the eyes of his perpetually curious daughters.

  “Thank you for a wonderful evening.” Her musical voice was low and dusky. “You went through so much trouble.”

  “It’s what a man does . . .” For the woman he loves.

  They stepped outside and took the short walk next door. He had to laugh at himself for his dread of saying good-bye, when he knew that she would be right there with him every day. He just wasn’t ready to end this special evening.

  He reached for his own door, but to his surprise, she stopped him.

  “Daniel, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Bradley. I was afraid of what you would think. There are things you might not approve of. Things that might shock you.”

  Her fingers trembled beneath his. Daniel hesitated, fully able to conjecture any number of damaging secrets, but he had one of his own.

 
“Louisa, there’s something I need to tell you. Something I should’ve confessed earlier.” He took a deep breath. “That letter you found, it was never meant to be seen by anyone. I wrote it. To you.”

  She frowned as if her hearing had failed her. “That’s impossible. You wouldn’t . . . you couldn’t . . .” Her lashes fluttered as she lowered her eyes. “I won’t presume anything. As you said, you didn’t mean for anyone to see it, so it’d be wrong for me to dwell on the words.”

  “No, it’d be right. Perfectly right for you.” He leaned a shoulder against the wall next to her, to better appreciate her profile by moonlight. “I wouldn’t have expressed my feelings for you that early—or this early—but it seems that my secret has been revealed, and I’m not one to retreat from the truth.”

  She turned and matched his posture, leaning against the support of the wall. “I’m sorry, Daniel. I can’t comprehend what you’re telling me. Not right now.”

  “I’m not asking you to respond. My announcement is premature and only prompted by my clumsiness in leaving a rather embarrassing letter on the ground.”

  Her eyes widened. “Oh no. I showed it to Bradley.”

  Daniel had to appreciate the irony. While he was fuming over the trooper, Willis knew why his major was guarding the governess so carefully. “Someday I’m going to ask Private Willis to describe his amusement at reading it.”

  “Bradley’s not in more trouble, is he?”

  “No. This is all my doing.” A shadow passed over the green as a silent owl swooped down to pluck its dinner off the empty parade grounds. “It could’ve been much worse. I could’ve written more.”

  Perhaps it was the late hour or the long day, but Louisa’s defenses had softened. She no longer acted as if she were afraid of him.

  “What more would you have said?” she asked.

  His eyes traveled her heart-shaped face. The generous cut of the blue silk gown perfectly framed her porcelain shoulders.