Issued to the Bride: One Soldier

by Cora Seton

  “Why do I get a feeling there’s more to this story than you’re letting me know?”

  Richard was too damn perceptive.

  “I’ve got to do this on my own. Can’t let my father call the shots on this one.”

  An edge crept into Richard’s voice. “Sometimes fathers know best, son.”

  “And sometimes they don’t. Sometimes they have to take things on faith.” He hadn’t meant to get into all this tonight. Jack was beginning to wish he hadn’t answered the call.

  “I’ve taken things on faith before. I took you on faith. Last thing I expected when I came along on that call to your parents’ ranch was to come home with a seven-year-old child.”

  “I know, Pop.”

  “I’ve never regretted a minute of it, either.”

  Jack closed his eyes. “I know that, too.”

  “You were right about those Raiders. Should have laid down more money,” Landon said when Alice took his call.

  “Lucky guess.” She wished she’d never mentioned it. It wasn’t like her to show off her abilities. Besides, it wasn’t like she could count on her hunches. Sometimes she got them; most times she didn’t.

  She wondered where Landon was now. In some city where some professional costume designer had shown him her creations? Was she even still in the running?

  Someone was coming up the stairs. One of her sisters, since the tread was light. Jo popped around the corner and waved when she noticed Alice was on the phone.

  “Who’s going to win tonight?” Landon asked.

  “I don’t know. I don’t even know who’s playing.” She carefully kept her mind blank. She wasn’t going to tell him a thing. “I’ve been too hard at work on the dresses,” she added. Jo crossed to stand before the gown she was working on and looked it up and down.

  “I’m sure you have. Just wanted to check in. I’ll call again later. See how you’re doing.”

  “Okay.” She wondered why he was being conciliatory now when he’d been such a bear yesterday.

  “It’s hard to be alone all the time on the road.”

  “Hm.” She wasn’t going to fall for that trick. Landon probably wanted some phone sex. She stepped back to survey the lilac gown now that she’d removed the lace.

  “Guess I’ll turn on the game,” he said glumly.

  “More football?” She kind of liked the neckline without the lace, now that she’d had a second look at it. Maybe she should edge it with—

  “Basketball.”

  “The Celtics,” she murmured, deep in thought.

  “What was that?” Landon’s sharp tone recalled Alice to herself. What had she said?

  Celtics. Crud. Why had she done that?

  “I didn’t even tell you who was playing,” Landon said.

  “The Celtics are the only basketball team I know,” she lied. “Who’s your favorite?”

  “How did you know—”

  “Gotta go. Talk to you later.”

  She nearly dropped her phone in her haste to cut the call. Jo lifted an eyebrow. “Handing out hot tips now?”

  “I didn’t mean to.”

  “Who was that?”

  “Landon.” She sighed again. “I screwed up. Mentioned the Raiders winning last night. When he told me he was going to watch another game, the winner just slipped out.”

  “Wish you’d told me about the Raiders.” Jo grinned and ducked when Alice tossed a tape measure at her. “That’s not like you, though.”

  “He rattled me. He’s not taking it seriously. At least, I hope not.”

  “What are you going to do to it?” Jo gestured to the gown.

  “I’m still working on that.” An idea had taken shape in her mind, but she was still refining it. Alice was beginning to give Landon credit for seeing her work better than she had. When she was done, the dress would be better.

  “I bet Mom could have made a mint making predictions. I wonder if she was ever tempted?” Jo mused.

  “She was a lot better at managing her gift than I am, that’s for sure.” Alice had always wondered how Amelia did it. Had her foresight plagued her the way it did Alice sometimes? How did she know when to speak up about what she’d seen and when to keep quiet?

  She didn’t realize she’d asked that last question out loud until Jo said, “You know what animals do?”

  “No.” Alice took a seat and gave her sister her attention. Jo had a feeling for animals—a special way of relating to them.

  “Animals listen to their gut. That’s all they have to go on. They can’t ask questions or do research or consult with their friends, so they have to rely on their observations and their instincts. Humans are so unhappy all the time because they ignore their gut—and because they fight against their fate.”

  “Do animals have fates?”

  “Sure they do.” Jo was serious. “So do we. I don’t think it’s your fate to wind up with Landon.”

  “I don’t think so, either,” Alice said sharply.

  “But you’re spending a lot more time thinking about his opinion of your gowns than you are wondering what Jack thinks about you.”

  “I know what Jack thinks.” She plucked at a length of cotton fabric nearby.

  “Then you know he likes you.”

  “He likes me. But he doesn’t believe me.” She met Jo’s gaze. “I don’t want to be with a man who doesn’t believe me.”

  “Give him a chance. I think he’ll change his mind. Speaking of Jack, I’d better go find him. I’m supposed to teach him about pasture management.”

  “Sounds like a good time.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  ‡

  Jack joined the rest of the men in the barn at the end of the afternoon, trailing Jo.

  “Well, would you look who’s come calling,” Connor called out. “It’s about time. Was thinking you were one lazy son of a bitch.”

  “I’ve been making sure no one’s prowling around this ranch,” Jack pointed out. It had taken days to get his surveillance system up and working. And more days to learn his way around the chores with Jo.

  “Whatever. We’ve got a sick critter, looks like. Come with me, and let’s see what we can figure out before we go in for dinner.”

  Jack cast a look back at Jo, willing her to step in and deflect Connor, but she had already grabbed a pitchfork and was headed for the stable.

  “Well? You coming?” Connor asked.

  “Don’t know a lot about sick critters,” Jack said uncomfortably.

  “Your folks have some magic formula to keep them all well?” Connor scoffed.

  Brian looked up from where he was sorting through some tools. “I’d like to know that trick.”

  “Wouldn’t we all?” Hunter said.

  “No trick.” He’d backed himself well and good into this corner, hadn’t he? Jack braced himself against their derision. “Just haven’t spent that much time on a ranch.”

  “Thought you grew up on a ranch.” Brian straightened.

  “I did. Until I was seven.”

  “What happened then? Folks have to sell out?” Connor asked.

  Jack hated the sympathy in his face. Hated what would come next more. “Died.” He would have walked out of the barn, but Connor blocked his way.

  “Your folks died when you were seven?”

  “Yep.” Jack stood his ground, but it took doing.

  “Hell, why didn’t you ever say that?” Brian asked.

  “Never came up.”

  “And that’s why you’re trailing around my wife like a lost puppy dog?” Hunter drawled. “Thought I’d have to teach you some manners.”

  Just like that, the heaviness lifted. Jack allowed a smile to tug at his mouth. “Only one Reed girl has my interest.”

  “Better not be Sadie,” Connor said.

  “You know it’s Alice.”

  “Better come learn how to be a rancher then,” Connor said. “I’m the best teacher you’ll find.”

  The other men groaned.


  “Better go find Jo again,” Brian advised, “or you’ll have to unlearn everything Connor teaches you.”

  In the end Jack went with Connor, who proved to know quite a bit about sick critters, although he ended up calling in the vet to take a look, too. Jack knew he hadn’t heard the last of the jokes, but he also knew he could take it. He liked this work.

  Liked these men, too.

  He was beginning to think he’d found a home here at Two Willows.

  If only he could convince Alice to let him stay.

  Alice was sitting on top of the refrigerator again when Lena and Logan arrived home from their honeymoon about an hour before dinnertime. She should have been in her studio working, but she’d hit a wall. Tabitha was curled up in her lap sleeping. Alice had been petting her, trying to get her racing mind to calm down, but it wasn’t working, so she was happy to shoo Tabitha off her lap and climb down to greet her sister.

  “Look how tan you are,” Alice exclaimed jealously. Oh, to relax on a tropical island. Wouldn’t that be heavenly? “I’m surprised you didn’t extend your vacation.”

  “Missed the ranch too much. The sun was great, so was the water, but nothing beats Two Willows.”

  Alice had to smile. Lena would never change.

  “Is the General really home?” Logan asked, lowering his voice, after allowing Alice to give him a welcome home hug.

  “In his office. He’s spent most of his time there. Corporal Myers—Emerson—guards him like a dragon guards its gold. Emerson bunks down in the living room, but you’d never know it. He’s got his bedding folded up and stowed away every morning and the room straight as a pin before breakfast.” She touched the dog tags she carried in her pocket but decided this wasn’t the time to bring them out.

  “Is the General trying to run everything?” Lena asked.

  “Trying, but not succeeding.”

  Cass came in, and soon the others joined them until the kitchen was full of talk and laughter.

  “Well? Where is everyone?” The bellow jolted them all. A moment later Emerson popped his head around the doorway.

  “Muster time.”

  “We already did muster time,” Jo complained, but they all trouped into the office, including Logan and Lena, who looked like she’d rather be walking toward a firing squad.

  “So. You finally decided to come home,” the General said to Lena once everyone had arranged themselves around his bed. Like usual, he was dressed but sitting with his leg propped on several pillows. Alice wondered if his injuries hurt much. Neither he nor Emerson ever complained about them, but toward the end of the day she had noticed Emerson made more trips back and forth from office to kitchen. She had a feeling the General got crankier at night, probably because of the pain and enforced rest.

  Lena sputtered for a moment before she found her voice. “Are you serious—?”

  “I’m waiting for my report,” the General said to Logan, ignoring her. “Status?”

  “Uh… fine, sir. We had a great honeymoon. We’re both rested and ready to get back to work.”

  “Good, good. Lake?” the General turned to Brian.

  Lena’s eyebrows shot up. “That’s it? After eleven years, all you have to say is ‘good’?”

  “What do you want me to say?”

  “How about, ‘Great job running the ranch, Lena. I always knew you had it in you. Wow, you handle things way better than those assholes I sent—’”

  “Lena,” Logan said.

  “No, I’m going to have my say.” Lena shrugged off her husband’s restraining hand. “You are a lousy father,” she said to the General. “Always have been, always will be. This is my ranch, and I’m going to run it the way I see fit, and you just stay out of it!” Lena caught herself, took in the men around her, who’d all been helping to run things the last few months, and the wind went out of her sails. “You all know what I mean,” she said.

  “We do,” Brian assured her. “We’ve been through this before, and we have a system in place that works. No need to rock the boat. Sir, with all due respect, we’ve got this ranch running shipshape.”

  “That’s what I just said,” Lena growled.

  “I’m still the senior officer here,” the General began.

  “And what—you think you can do a better job than I can? When’s the last time you even rode a horse?” She gestured at his leg supported on the pillows. “What are the chances you’ll ever ride again? A cowboy who can’t ride isn’t a cowboy—and you aren’t fit to run this ranch—”

  “Lena!” Logan said again. “Think about what you’re saying!”

  Lena stilled. Alice couldn’t remember ever hearing Logan raise his voice before—or her sister letting anyone restrain her temper. For a moment she thought Lena might walk out. Instead, she closed her eyes, turned back to the General. “I’m… sorry,” she managed to say stiffly, although her anger was plain to hear. “I shouldn’t have said that, but there are a lot of things you shouldn’t have said or done, either. Maybe I’m not a man, but I’m your wife’s daughter—”

  “You’re my daughter, too,” the General snapped.

  “Am I? You sure as hell haven’t ever acted like it. Not since I got—” She gestured to her breasts and hips, making an hour-glass shape in the air with her hands. “Why do you hate women so much?”

  “I don’t hate women.” The General pushed himself up straighter in the bed. “I’ve done everything I can to protect you—”

  “I don’t want protecting. I want respect! Why is that so hard to understand?”

  The General searched for an answer but couldn’t seem to come up with one.

  Lena threw her hands up. “I’m so over this.” And she walked out the door.

  “Momentous day,” Cass said a half hour later when Jack walked through the kitchen, checking to see if it was dinnertime. The smells emanating from the oven had him salivating. “The General is joining us at the table for dinner.”

  “To celebrate all his daughters being home?” He wondered how Lena would handle that.

  “Probably.” She smiled at her friend, who was chopping vegetables to add to a salad. “Plus, I’m pretty sure he’s trying to set up Wyoming with Emerson.”

  “Either that or he’s sweet on her himself,” Sadie quipped, coming in and opening the fridge.

  Wyoming dropped her knife and faced her. “Don’t even joke about that.”

  “You’d be our mom,” Sadie teased her. “You could boss Cass around.”

  “Sadie.” Cass’s voice was sharp.

  “Just kidding.” Sadie reappeared with a soda and left the room again.

  “If your father hits on me, I’m out of here,” Wyoming told Cass while Jack crossed to grab himself a beer. “I’ll be out of your way and back home in a couple of days, anyway.”

  “No hurry at all,” Cass assured her. “I love having you stay here. We all do. You know that.”

  “It’s true,” Jack added. “You’re not in anyone’s way.” Quite the contrary. He wanted her close in case Alice needed a chaperone again.

  “I need to find a real job, though.”

  “Any new leads?”

  Jack left them to their discussion. When he made it upstairs and bumped into Emerson coming out of the bathroom, he was pretty sure it would be the corporal hitting on Wyoming, rather than the General. Emerson’s hair was damp. His face newly shaved.

  “Dinner’s almost ready,” Jack told him. “Wyoming’s here.”

  “Thanks.”

  “You all right with this? The General setting you up?”

  The younger man flushed. “Why not? Wyoming’s sweet. Pretty, too. This place—it’d be a good home.”

  “Where is your home?” He knew Emerson’s parents were gone. Was pretty sure the man’s only home was the Army.

  Emerson’s flush deepened. “Don’t have one,” he said and hurried away.

  “Dinner is going to be a disaster,” Alice whispered to Cass when they met in the upstairs hall. She�
�d passed Jack a minute ago and had just popped into the bathroom to freshen up before the meal. She’d found Cass waiting for her turn when she got out again.

  “Is that a prediction?”

  “I don’t need a vision to know it. Lena’s furious, and the General is practically throwing Wye at Emerson.”

  “I think it’s the other way around, actually.” Cass sounded amused. “Wye is getting a taste of what we’ve all gone through. After the way she’s laughed at our expense these past months, I kind of think she deserves it. Besides, Emerson seems like a pretty nice guy. I don’t know how he stands the General.”

  “He’s a corporal. He signed up to be ordered around. We didn’t.”

  When Cass announced that the meal was ready, Emerson helped the General to his seat at the head of the table, then took the empty chair by Wyoming. Alice thought he looked handsome tonight, although he had to be several years younger than Wye. She appeared rather discomfited by the situation, which was amusing, seeing as Wye was usually so practical and calm. Alice had long thought Cass had chosen her as a friend for those very characteristics.

  She wasn’t calm now. And Lena was practically smoldering.

  When Cass passed Wyoming a bowl of green beans, Wye dropped the serving spoon on the table. She dropped her napkin later and nearly bumped heads with Emerson when they both bent to fetch it.

  But it was when she spilled milk across the table halfway through the meal that Alice realized Wye was nervous.

  Nervous—about Emerson?

  Or the General?

  The General was watching Wye and Emerson like they were two rats in a laboratory experiment. His avid attention seemed to unnerve Wye.

  Lena watched the General the way a mountain lion watches a tethered goat. Alice was finding it hard to eat.

  Emerson wasn’t faring much better.

  He remained silent through the meal, until the General barked, “Cat got your tongue, Corporal? Lord, you yammer all day long when you’re with me. What’s the problem?”

  “Nice weather we’re having,” Emerson managed.

  Wye’s eyebrows shot up. “It’s twenty-five degrees out there.”