Calico Brides (15 page)

For the first time in his life, Jeremiah almost hoped the soldiers might encounter signs of Indian activity. If the men were involved chasing a phantom enemy, they could delay exposure to womanly wiles.

Not every woman was like Fannie, of course. But his distaste for the task only increased after the women left and Mrs. Peate relayed a bit of essential information, gleaned in a few quick seconds from the woman herself. Redheaded Birdie Landry worked at the Betwixt ’n’ Between Saloon before she came to know the Lord last year. Mrs. Peate promised Birdie was a new person in Christ, and he could trust her. But in case any of the soldiers had strayed with her…

Jeremiah ground his teeth at the thought. In principle, even prostitutes could be redeemed—consider Rahab and Mary Magdalene—but he found the account of Hosea’s wife more believable.

Jeremiah brought his attention back to Mrs. Peate, who was still talking. “I know you think you are hard on the men, that they’d rather go to Sergeant Chaswell about their problems, but when it comes to serious questions, they come to you.” She leaned forward. “That’s why my husband recommended you as chaplain at this fort. He saw that men seek you out when they need someone to talk with. He only made it official by getting you assigned here.”

Jeremiah had no response to that, but only stared down at his hands. Guilty hands, ones that had failed the woman he claimed to love twice. First, he used her in the same way other men had. And then he deserted her when she needed him, and she had paid with her life. Ever since then he had been unable to turn away anyone who came to him for help. He’d taken a vow of chastity—and sworn to keep others from repeating his mistakes. “I just listen, that’s all. And pass on a few words of advice.”

“And now you’ll advise them about taking part in the community activities.” Mrs. Peate patted his hand. “I’m trusting God for a quick and safe solution to the Indian problem. But you will hear of that before I will.”

Her prayer must have flown to heaven on wings, because the captain returned the next evening and sought out his officers. He and the scouts had found a few Kaw Indians, doing nothing worse than trying to hunt the long-gone buffalo before returning to Indian territory. After determining they posed no threat to white settlements, the scouts escorted them to the border before returning to the fort with good news.

The captain kept Jeremiah back when the others left. “I see that Miss Bliss has been busy with her knitting needles again. That sweater she made for me is a work of art.”

“Yes sir.”

“I understand my wife has suggested the soldiers join the folks of Calico for community events.”

Jeremiah nodded.

“And that since you and Miss Bliss have established such a good working relationship, that the pair of you should partner on this project as well.”

“Yes.” Jeremiah kept his answer as simple as possible, hoping his brevity might convey his distaste for the task.

“Perhaps you and Miss Bliss will partner in other ways as well, hmm, Lieutenant?”

Jeremiah’s face pulled in a frown before he could stop it. The captain waited him out, forcing him to make some response. “I doubt that, sir.”

“Lieutenant.” The captain hesitated before he said, “Jeremiah. I have known you these many years. Perhaps the time has come for you to set aside the fears from the past and march into the future that the Lord has for you. God sent Miss Bliss to our fort to do more than distribute hats and scarves.”

Jeremiah couldn’t get the captain’s words out of his mind as he went to bed that night.

Is it possible, Lord?

I
sn’t God wonderful?” Annie knew she was carrying on like a schoolgirl, but she couldn’t stop herself. Jeremiah was escorting her back home after making arrangements for “adopting” the soldiers. “You identified six young men who could benefit from a homey touch, and we found exactly that number of families willing to spend time with them.”

“In that case, He supplied in excess of the need. I thought you intended to assign someone to your own family, because of your brother.”

Annie stopped in midstride. Did the man not realize… ? “He supplied exactly the right amount. My mother and father believe God arranged for my family to take
you
in. As the spiritual leader of the others, you need a place you can cast those worries aside.”

Annie had tried to convince Ruth to ask her father to take the chaplain under his wing. Ruth declined. “Why would God want that when He sent the lieutenant to you?”

Jeremiah drew in a deep breath. “Shall we walk a ways farther?” Instead of heading left toward her house, he pointed in the opposite direction, toward the Keller mansion and the Polson home. Annie could only agree.

They strolled—far from the lieutenant’s normal pace, which was so fast Annie felt like she was drilling with the army—down the street without exchanging a word. Annie’s senses expanded, taking in the smell of the new leaves forming on cedar trees, the beauty of sunflowers dancing in the breeze, the song of a sparrow, even the warming temperatures that defied comfort in either wool or cotton.

At the Keller mansion, Jeremiah paused to look at the baskets of flowers cascading across the fresh wood of the porch. Annie knew that the difference Gladys had made in the Keller family went far beyond house repairs. Mr. Keller hadn’t missed church a Sunday since Easter, and he had even shown up at Aunt Kate’s diner on a regular basis. Such a positive outcome for Annie’s project remained unclear.

Annie opened her mouth, but God’s still, small voice told her to hush.

“The more I’ve worked with you, the more I’ve seen God at work. So I will accept your invitation to join your family.” He shrugged his shoulders, as if getting rid of a heavy weight.

“It’s our pleasure.”
It’s my pleasure
. A warm feeling washed over Annie. The Bear was turning more and more into a cuddly cub every day, one who still mourned the loss of his fiancée. But she feared any mention of that would bring stony silence. She rushed to the next topic on her mind, to rid herself of the unexpected emotions flooding over her. “The first community event will be a box social, a week from Saturday. The money raised will go toward the charity the entire women’s missionary society supports.” She smiled at him. “The society has been very kind and supportive about our individual mission projects. It’s time we returned the favor.”

The bemused expression on the lieutenant’s face suggested she should hurry. Mr. Keller came out to the porch and waved, reminding Annie how long they had lingered on the street. The lieutenant offered her his arm. “Shall we go back?”

Strong fingers cupped her elbow. Annie didn’t know what to make of his touch, so she continued with the discussion of the box social. “We are hoping that the majority of soldiers at the fort can take part. Or we could bring the social to the fort—” She hurried on at the frown that crossed his face. “Or we could hold two box socials, so that everyone can attend one or the other.”

Jeremiah blew out his breath. “Two separate days sounds like a good idea.”

“And the basket goes to Mack Jackson.”

Annie stepped forward, a warm smile beckoning Private Jackson forward.

Jeremiah released a breath he didn’t realize he was holding, fighting the feelings that swirled in him. When Mrs. Peate echoed Annie’s request for Jeremiah to attend both socials, he hadn’t anticipated this situation. Surely he couldn’t—it was impossible—jealousy?

No
. He pushed the thought away. In light of the speculation circulating about him and Annie, he should be happy that someone else had won her box. After he unknowingly bid on her box last week, he had made private arrangements with Pastor Fairfield to donate money this time instead of bidding.

But of all the men in the company who could have won Annie’s basket, Jeremiah would have listed Jackson as the least desirable. He had spent time in the stockade more than once. He resisted even Chaswell’s attempts to get to know him.

Jeremiah realized he was still scowling in Jackson’s direction and hoped no one had seen him. All manner of good-natured ribbing would follow if they had.

Chaswell won the next box, and Jeremiah smiled as Ruth Fairfield stood. Haydn Keller had bid on Gladys’s contribution—that must have been prearranged. Mrs. Peate approached him. “This next box should prove interesting.” She smiled at the larger-than-usual box.

Jeremiah raised his eyebrows. “Why is that?”

“Kate, the lady from the diner, decided to contribute. She told me she had the right because she was unmarried, and some of the soldiers might prefer a more mature woman.”

Jeremiah wondered how Mrs. Peate knew all this. He was amazed at the way women communicated—information reached the most remote home even faster than the Pony Express.

Ned Finnegan, the storekeeper acting as auctioneer, peered inside the box. “Lots of good food in here. Ham sandwiches thicker than a man’s fist. Crispy fried chicken. Beans and potato salad, two pies, a wedge of watermelon…” He smiled. “I can’t tell you the name of the lady who fixed this box, but we can all make a guess.” He winked at the men remaining in the audience.

An older gentleman stood, leaning on a cane. Even before Gladys appeared at his side, Jeremiah guessed he was Mr. Keller. His surprisingly strong voice called out, “Is the auction open only to our soldier boys, or can anyone in the community bid?”

Finnegan glanced at Annie, whose eyes sought Jeremiah out, questioning him. He nodded his approval, and she whispered in Finnegan’s ear.

Finnegan banged his gavel. “We have no objection. Let the bidding begin.”

A couple of soldiers—one thinner than a stick no matter how much he ate and the other an older, stocky man with a hearty appetite and a body shape to prove it—combined their resources to bid on the box, but they couldn’t keep up. When the bid reached fifty dollars, they dropped out. The entire group broke out in applause when a blushing Miss Kate accepted Mr. Keller’s arm and retreated to a quiet spot on the church lawn. Jeremiah looked back at Annie. She was clapping, bouncing up and down, her skirt lifting enough to show an intriguing patch of stockinged leg. Jeremiah looked away. He was too old to be distracted by the glimpse of a lady’s limb.

All around Jeremiah, couples separated from the group gathered in front of the auctioneer. Five soldiers remained, not counting himself or the captain, and five baskets remained for auction. Annie must have arranged that. Interesting to see that the fourth member of the younger women’s circle hadn’t sent a basket. At least he assumed she hadn’t; he hadn’t seen her at today’s festivities at all. For someone with her background, she showed great discretion. From what he had observed of Birdie’s involvement with Annie’s group, she was proving her new life in Christ over and over again; but how could he say anything to her without causing offense? Instead, he offered thanks to God and revised his long-held opinions.

But one woman’s change didn’t mean every one would follow her example, any more than most prostitutes followed the example of Mary Magdalene in the Gospels, Jeremiah reminded himself. He was still right to warn the men under his care against the dangers of women, especially those who fell into sin.

When Mrs. Peate learned that Jeremiah didn’t intend to bid on a box this week, she had insisted that he join her and the captain for the meal. As the auctioneer called “sold!” on the last basket—coupling a shy young lass with an equally shy soldier—he crossed the lawn to the spot near the front steps where the captain had spread their quilt. Jeremiah appreciated the central location, which allowed him to keep an eye on most of the young couples.

He surveyed the groupings, probing for potential trouble spots. Mrs. Peate leaned over and poked him gently in the arm. “At ease, Lieutenant. This is a social event, and the captain has commanded that everyone have fun.”

“Even you, Jeremiah.” The captain was one of the few people who called Jeremiah by his given name.

“Especially you,” his wife added.

Jeremiah listened with half an ear while he sought for the one couple he cared about the most. Annie spread a quilt under a tree even as Mack gestured toward a spot farther back. She shook her head and continued working. When she turned her back to unpack the box, Jackson withdrew a flask from his coat pocket and poured something into the jar of lemonade Annie had already set out on the quilt.

Jeremiah sprang to his feet, Mrs. Peate looking up in alarm. “Come, now, you must relax and enjoy yourself today.”

Jeremiah directed his response to the captain. “You may wish to join me.” He stalked across the grass, soldiers and townsfolk alike looking up in alarm as he strode past.