The Lieutenant's Bargain

by Regina Jennings

  “After listening to their Christmas practice, it’s good to see them doing something that comes easier,” she said.

  “They can sing, believe me. It’s just the language that’s getting in the way. Mrs. Lehrman will have them ready in two weeks.”

  In two weeks? Was Christmas coming that fast? Hattie knew she wouldn’t be able to learn an Arapaho or Cheyenne song in that time.

  “Now it’s your turn,” Jack said. Hattie could never predict what he’d come up with next, but she was delighted.

  The whistle blew, ending the turn for the second round of skaters. Only a handful were left who hadn’t skated already. A few teachers appeared to escort the kids back to the classroom, except for those who had patiently waited their turn. Several students came by to be acknowledged by a wink or smile from Jack before they went back to class. Once the room was mostly empty, Jack fetched two more skates and headed back with them dangling from their straps.

  If she ever thought her face could split from a smile, it was fixing to.

  “You’re going to make me try it?” she asked.

  “You’ve been dying to.” He handed her the skates. “You can’t fool me.”

  With a little instruction, Hattie finally got her skates attached to her boots. When they’d first arrived, the room had been cold. It was still cool, and her cheeks felt tight and rosy, but all the activity had warmed the air enough that it was very comfortable.

  Hattie reached for a nearby barrel and walked her hands up it until she stood at her full height. With a dozen tiny steps, she turned herself around.

  “It’s now or never,” Jack said.

  As she released the barrel, the skates took off on her, rolling forward. With a squeal, she grabbed Jack’s hands, but as she tried to straighten, she ended up leaning back farther and farther, and the skates shot forward faster and faster. If it hadn’t been for Jack’s skates getting in the way, she would have landed on her backside.

  “Upsy-daisy.” He laughed as he blocked her skates with his own and hauled her upright. “I had no idea you were this clumsy. You aren’t going to blame me if you get hurt, are you?”

  “One hundred percent, Jack Hennessey. You will have to pay for every scrape and bruise I get today.” She was so out of breath from laughing, she could barely talk.

  “If you’re too chicken—”

  “Not on your life.” She kept a strong grip on his forearm with one hand and let go with the other. Then, with one hand outstretched, Hattie inched forward. Jack remained in place, allowing her to work a shuffling circle around him. “The skates are steadier than ice skates,” she said, “but they’re harder to propel.”

  “You’re doing beautifully.”

  She was prepared to argue, but he spun her around and pulled her into his arms.

  “Are you feeling steadier?” he asked.

  Not hardly. Hattie clasped his wool uniform, glad for something to hold on to.

  “Ready to try a little faster?” he asked. A tint of pink had colored his face. Were she painting him, she would have had trouble finding the right shade.

  “Hattie?”

  She took a deep breath and forced a sunny smile. “Sorry, I was just thinking.”

  He watched her too intently. If he kept gazing at her like that, people were going to think . . . exactly what he wanted them to think. Hattie pulled out of his grasp. “My goodness, you’re a better actor than I thought. I didn’t realize how far you were willing to go to fool everyone.”

  “I challenge your suggestion,” he countered. “I’m being honest, remember?”

  Not knowing what to say, Hattie decided to walk away, but it wasn’t that easy. It took about a dozen steps to turn around, but she finally had her back to him and was headed toward the middle of the room to join the skating students. A girl with short black hair and her blouse untucked sped by, cutting close to Hattie. Hattie swerved out of her path, but the sudden movement set her wobbling again. Jack took her arm and slowed his pace to match hers.

  “I read a lot of books, you know. I write about other people, study them, always living in other people’s words and in my own words on paper.” He paused as she flailed her arms to get her balance, then continued. “I want to live my own life today, Hattie. I’m not going to waste this time trying to fool anyone. It’s already been amazing. Do I have your permission?”

  Permission to drop their act? She was having so much fun. She didn’t want their time to end. Especially now.

  “Will you help me back to the wall before you stop acting your role?” she asked.

  He raised an eyebrow. “Absolutely not. I’m going to skate with you until neither of us can walk tomorrow.”

  Had she misunderstood? He kept her arm as she found her pace. Once her feet really did leave her, but by holding her arm, he was able to keep her from hitting the floor hard. More than a few children laughed along with her.

  “I’m never going to be as good as they are,” Hattie said.

  “Nothing to do but get up and try again,” Jack said. And true to his word, he hauled her back up.

  “Easy for you to say. You’ve already got it figured out.”

  “Let’s try something new. I haven’t mastered backward yet.” His tall boots looked odd with the silver skates strapped on the bottom. He spun around in front of her and held out his arms. “May I have this dance?”

  Wait. She thought he wasn’t trying to convince anyone of anything today. But she couldn’t deny that the idea sounded splendid . . . and likely to get them both hurt. Gingerly, she lifted her hands to his shoulders. He just as carefully took her waist.

  “Are you ready?” he asked. “Here we go.”

  He stepped backward, pulling Hattie forward. “We need some music,” she said. A dark-eyed boy skated by, watching curiously.

  “Music would distract me.” His hand flexed on her waist. “I have enough distractions as it is. You’re . . . you’re—”

  His heel caught on something, but Hattie was still moving. She slammed against him, and it was enough to send them both to the ground.

  Jack landed on his back with Hattie on top of him. The look of surprise on his face was priceless. She started giggling and dropped her forehead against his chest. She could find much to admire about her current situation, yet something was wrong. A tough little knot marred the smoothness of his chest and nearly put a crease in her forehead.

  She rolled off him, sat up, and asked, “What do you have in your pocket? A rock?”

  His mouth tightened as he covered his pocket defensively. “It’s nothing.”

  “Nothing? Then why don’t you tell me?”

  A whistle sounded. Skate time had ended for the last batch of children.

  “Better get out of the way,” Jack said as he stood.

  The troopers gathered the skates as the students removed them and ran out the door back to the school.

  Hattie reached for the buckles on her skates. “That was fun,” she said.

  “We’re not done,” Jack said. “Private Willis, I’m taking a detail here to reconnoiter the skating campaign. Can you lead your unit in a general survey of the area until I’m done?”

  Willis answered with a sharp salute. “Yes, sir. We’ll escort the children to the school and find something to keep us busy until you complete your mission.”

  Hattie’s mouth dropped open, and she pulled on her bare earlobe. “Lieutenant Hennessey, are you abusing your position?”

  He grinned, looking more boyish than he ever had at twelve years old. “I can’t have those little kids outmaneuvering me. They’re cocky enough as it is. Now, come on. We can do this.”

  Just standing up was comical enough. Hattie was laughing so hard that she had trouble catching her breath. Jack didn’t seem to care that she was still tickled. He took her by the waist and started pulling her as he tried to pick up some speed going backward. With each stride, he lifted a leg and set it behind him awkwardly, like he was walking through thick mud backwa
rd.

  “I’m afraid to go any faster,” he said.

  “Would it help if I did the pushing?” she asked.

  “Be my guest.”

  Hattie strengthened her grip on his shoulders and took a step. They wobbled as she found her pace, but Jack’s help steadied her.

  “If I’d known this was so much fun,” he said, “I wouldn’t let the kids do it anymore. I’d just bring you here every day.”

  Hattie lifted her head. “Shame on you, Jack. No one can hear you now, so you don’t need to talk like that.”

  “Hattie.” He moved his hands higher on her waist. “Don’t correct me again.”

  She looked up, and what she saw surprised her. Jack was looking at her with more than just the warm, friendly gaze he’d shared since leaving the house. There was a possessiveness in his eyes that sent a jolt through her. With a tug on his shoulder, she rolled closer into his arms. She had to admit, they were having fun. At the moment, skating with Jack was what she wanted, too.

  Besides crates, barrels, and sacks, the room was empty. Hattie’s attention moved to avoiding Jack’s feet as she helped propel them around the room. One step too far was all it took.

  Her foot brushed against the side of Jack’s skate. The wheels on his skate stopped spinning, and once again he pitched backward. This time he thought to let go of Hattie before dragging her down with him, but it didn’t matter much. She still ended up tumbling on top of him.

  “You’re going to be flatter than a pancake,” she said. She flopped to her back and crawdad-crawled a decent distance away. “You hit the floor hard again, and you don’t have the padding I do.”

  Jack rose on his elbow. “Mrs. Hennessey, I find your statement shocking.”

  She cackled. “I’m talking about my skirts. My skirts and petticoats compared to your trousers, you cad.”

  “Oh.” He smiled wickedly as he stood. “You had me confused.” He pulled her up and took her by the waist.

  “Again?” she asked.

  “I’m determined.” Focusing on the far wall, he said, “But this time you’re going to go backward. It might be easier.” Without waiting for her answer, he pushed off, and they were moving again.

  She was running blind. Nothing to look at besides him. “Are you sure? I can barely stand up.”

  “All you have to do is hold on to me,” he said. “Don’t move your feet and let me lead.”

  They certainly were picking up speed. Where before Hattie had felt responsible for directing them, now she only had to hold on to Jack and feel the seams of the floor vibrating beneath her feet. But that wasn’t all she was feeling. Her pulse raced. Her skin chilled as the air blew against her damp neck. Who knew skating was so much work? Who knew skating could be so intimate?

  Jack had been right. Letting him do all the work was proving to be their best attempt yet. In fact, they were so successful that Hattie began to worry. “We’re going so fast,” she said.

  “And we can go faster.”

  “But should we?” The crates that lined the room passed by in a blur.

  He looked more than a little reckless. “We can do this. Just one more turn, and we’ve set a new record.”

  He was trying to turn her. Hattie could feel added pressure to the outside of her left skate. Jack leaned that way, his right hand bearing down against her waist like she was the tiller on a ship. She should probably lean to take the turn, but she didn’t trust her balance. And the speed Jack was going—

  “Don’t think about it, Hattie. Just let it come. Trust yourself.”

  “I’m trying,” she said as she closed her eyes. “I’m trying.”

  “That’s right. I’ve got you. Just hold—”

  But once again, his skate bumped into hers. One of her feet left the ground. Jack flew forward. He tried to get an arm beneath her to cushion her fall, but it did little to help. Hattie landed flat on her back with Jack sprawled over her.

  She lay there with no air at all. Slowly her lungs expanded, and she surprised herself with a throaty chuckle.

  Jack was holding most of his weight off her with his arms braced on both sides. His dark eyes searched hers intently. “Are you all right?”

  Her blood still pulsing, her hair awry, and her nerves tingling—she’d never felt better. And there was Jack, so close that she could see his pulse bouncing just below his jaw. If it hadn’t been good old Jack, she might mistake this breathless feeling for attraction. But it couldn’t be that. Besides, he didn’t know the first thing about girls.

  Or did he?

  She was fixing to find out, because the impossible was happening.

  Jack leaned down. His breath was sweet, his eyes captivating. What would it be like to be kissed by the handsome officer? His scent was the same as the coat she’d slept with last night, but to her mind, he was someone new, exciting, and strange. No dusty scholar could make her heart run out of control like this.

  Placing his weight on one arm, he searched her face. “You never answered me,” he said. “Are you all right?”

  All the awkwardness over misunderstood ceremonies and childhood regrets had vanished, leaving two people with infinite respect for one another lying in each other’s arms. Her eyes were drawn to his sensitive lips as she wondered what they were capable of.

  “I feel dizzy,” she said.

  He paused, so close as he considered his options. For Pete’s sake, why couldn’t Jack ever do anything spontaneous? Her heart sank as he rolled away, then took her hand and helped her sit up.

  She dusted off her hands while trying to shake away the tingly feeling that had gone unresolved. She knew what would come next—the apology for playing with fire, for imposing on her, because cautious Jack would never have allowed himself the familiarity they’d shared.

  Instead he asked, “Did you hit your head?”

  “What?” The air between them was cooler than she remembered. It made her skin prickle all the more.

  “When you fell. Dizziness and memory loss are symptoms of a concussion. We were skating and we fell. If you can’t remember that . . .”

  Hattie rolled her eyes. After that moment, the looks they’d exchanged, he was worried about her medical condition? She crooked her knees and began to unfasten her skates.

  “I’m not injured, if that’s what you’re asking.” Honestly! Why did he take everything so literally?

  “That’s good.” Silence filled the room like a steam boiler about to blow, but Jack seemed unaffected. “We made it all the way around the room,” he said. “See, if you set your mind to something, it’s surprising what you can accomplish.” Finally, free of his skates, he gathered all four of them and offered her his hand.

  Hattie hesitated before taking it to stand. “We beat a record?” she mocked. Unbelievable. Was he made of stone? “Congratulations to us, then.” No wonder it had never worked out between them. He wasn’t the man for her.

  Jack studied her with that inscrutable expression. Then, with a swing of his arm, he gestured toward the door.

  He might be book smart, but when it came to women, Jack Hennessey was flunking his exam.

  Chapter Eighteen

  He’d nearly kissed Hattie Walker. Jumping Jehoshaphat, he’d nearly kissed Hattie Walker. Of course, she might have been suffering from a head injury and unable to read his intent, but it could have happened. She hadn’t tried to stop him. Only his good sense had pulled the reins quickly enough to save him.

  Jack followed Hattie down the stairs of the warehouse, hoping she knew the way out, because right now he wasn’t thinking straight. He had thought that he was growing immune to her—that noticing her flaws and having disagreements nearly every day meant that he couldn’t be in love. On the contrary, the strengths she displayed—her ability to calm Francine, befriend Miss Richert, and persevere during the day even though she spent every night terrified—far outweighed her flaws and only increased his admiration. Unfortunately, his admiration was forbidden. He’d made her a deal—p
retend to be married, and he’d let her go. It wasn’t fair to take advantage of her compliance, and it would hurt too much when she left.

  He’d walked straight by Bradley Willis before the private stopped him. After a few hurried instructions on rearranging the commissary room, they headed back to the school.

  The school. That was what was important. Saving the school meant everything, and until he was reassigned, he’d do what he could to help them succeed.

  They reached the schoolhouse door. Jack didn’t have the heart to take Hattie’s arm. He held the door open and let her pass. Her jaw was set, her face pale. No more laughter. Was she angered by his familiarity or still suffering from the fall? He might take her by the post hospital just to make sure.

  Mrs. Lehrman was greeting Tom when they passed through her office. Tom’s usually erect posture was even stiffer. After the skating, Jack was surprised to see him so solemn. With no translator available, Jack used his Arapaho to ask how he’d liked the skating. Tom said it was fun, but his eyes never left the headmistress’s desk. What could be bothering him? Jack didn’t see anything sinister.

  “Tom is settling in here at the school,” Mrs. Lehrman said. “Superintendent Seger is on his way over to get him that first haircut.”

  A lump formed in Jack’s throat. It might only be a fraction of what Tom felt, but he shared his anguish. Although Tom was at the school with his chief’s blessing—in fact, he was there at his chief’s command—he would still feel like he was betraying his people. Cutting those braids was an act of shame. Scalping an enemy meant total domination of your tribe over his. While this haircut wouldn’t cost Tom his life, it would cost him his pride. And yet the school and missionaries deemed it an important step in embracing their new culture.

  Superintendent Seger entered with the barber. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Lehrman,” he said. “Is this the fine young man we’re going to give a trim today?”

  The superintendent knew well enough the agony the young man was going through. Perhaps it was best that he kept his tone light and efficient. Perhaps it was easier if Tom could pretend to have no qualms.