The Loyal Heart (25 page)

M
IRANDA HAD HOPED
R
OBERT MIGHT BE BACK IN TIME TO
accompany her to her weekly visit to the bank. Unfortunately, he was nowhere to be found. After watching the clock tick past early afternoon and creep toward four o'clock, she knew she could wait no longer.

As she slipped the week's worth of receipts and notes into her reticule, Miranda resigned herself to the next hour's difficulty. Lord knew, she'd survived the encounter with Mr. Winter on her own plenty of times before. She would simply have to suffer through his rudeness again.

Unless . . .

Gazing up the stairs, she thought about Major Kelly. He was as close to Phillip as Robert and Captain Monroe were. He'd also already told her he took his vow to Phillip seriously. She hated to be so weak as to need him to accompany her on this errand, but in the scheme of things, it surely wasn't much to ask, was it?

And he did seem to be simply waiting for the men to return too. Running this errand with her would help make the time go faster.

Making a decision, she walked up the stairs and knocked on his door before she lost her nerve.

He answered immediately. “Yes, Mrs. Markham?”

He'd taken off his suit jacket, vest, and tie. He'd also rolled up his sleeves. He looked so much like how Phillip had after church on the few Sunday afternoons they'd had together. She soaked in his appearance, savoring the memory that she'd pushed away for far too long.

Then she recalled herself. “Major Kelly, I don't wish to inconvenience you, but I have a favor to ask.”

He smiled, as if she'd truly made his day by needing him. “All you have to do is ask and I'll help in any way I can.”

She smiled back before concentrating on her words. She wanted to beg his help in just the right way, so he would understand why she was asking. At the same time she wanted to be sure he knew this favor wasn't going to take up hours of his time. “You see, every Friday I must make a deposit to the bank. The teller there . . . well, he is rather rude. He . . . well, he says disparaging things to me.”

He blinked slowly, as if he was trying to come to terms with what he was hearing. “He is rude to you. To Lieutenant Markham's widow.”

“He . . . well, he is one of the people who has been saying Phillip was a traitor. And . . . well, he has suggested that my character has much to be desired.”

“Your character?” he asked slowly.

“Yes. On account of the fact that I have turned Phillip's house into a boardinghouse.”

“This is your house too, Mrs. Markham.”

“Yes. And, well, I have had no choice but to take in boarders. The bills must be paid.”

“Of course.” His eyes narrowed. “Therefore, you would rather not go to the bank alone.”

She swallowed. “Yes. Um, well, I did go by myself for several years. But since Robert has been here, he's accompanied me and the task has been much easier to bear. That is why I decided to ask you to come with me. If you wouldn't mind, that is.”

“It would be my honor to go in Robert's place, ma'am. When would you like to depart?”

“As soon as it is possible. I am supposed to be there before five. I usually am there before four.”

The muscle in his jaw jumped. “Let's not make him wait, then. I'll be downstairs presently.”

Afraid she was making too much out of what was usually a routine errand, she said, “Please, take your time. I need to put on a bonnet.”

“I'll await at your pleasure, ma'am.”

“Thank you.”

“There is no need for thanks. You have given me a way to help you. I am grateful for that.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, Miranda walked to her room, only to find her door open and Belle dusting the furniture.

She started when she saw Miranda walk in. “I'm sorry, ma'am. I didn't realize you were coming back in here right now.”

“No need to apologize. I came in to put on a bonnet and gloves. I've asked Major Kelly to accompany me to the bank.”

“I'm glad of that. With you standing next to him, I have a feeling Mr. Winter will think long and hard about his manners today.”

“I would be very happy if that was the case.” She took a simple black bonnet out of the box, then sat down at her dressing table to fashion it on her head.

Belle came to stand behind her. “If I may, Mrs. Markham?”

“Of course.”

Carefully, Belle took down her hair, brushed it, then pinned up her tresses again. As she looked in the mirror, Miranda saw that her hair was in essentially the same style as it always was. However, Belle had pulled her hair back less severely. The looser arrangement was more becoming. She looked more feminine, even younger.

Miranda was amazed. “I wasn't aware you knew how to fashion hair.” And surprised Belle would want her to be more attractive in the presence of the man she had so recently admired. Actually, she suspected it was Sheriff Kern who had caught Belle's eye, but whoever Belle cared for, that was her business.

“I learned a long time ago.” Blushing, she said, “Sometimes my mother would ask me to dress her hair.” She picked up the hat, eyed two of the pale pink roses in the vase on her table, and threaded them into the brim. Then she pulled out one of Miranda's more ornate hat pins and secured it.

Looking in the mirror, Miranda tilted her head this way and that. The effect was very pretty. “I don't believe I've ever been so thankful to have received such pretty roses in the winter.”

“They do you proud, ma'am.”

“Major Kelly is waiting for me downstairs,” she said as she pulled on her gloves. “Wish us luck.”

“You won't need any luck. Mr. Markham's friends are at last making everything better.”

“They are.” She glanced at Belle and realized they were both most likely thinking the same thing. It was going to be so very hard when Phillip's comrades left.

When she appeared on the stairs, Major Kelly glanced up at her and smiled. “You look as pretty as a picture. All the men in Galveston Island will undoubtedly be green with envy.”

After she double-checked her reticule for her deposit, she
closed the top of it with a firm snap. “The women we pass will no doubt feel the same way.”

Major Kelly's laughter rang through the house. “I am beginning to understand why Phillip was so smitten, ma'am. Now, let's go take care of this odious errand.”

Thinking that was the best descriptor yet, she allowed him to help her put on her cloak and then led the way outside.

Thirty minutes later, Miranda was trying her best not to clutch Major Kelly's arm as a lifeline. Because the atmosphere at the bank had not changed a bit. Not in the slightest. Not without Robert there.

Once again the various officers of the bank looked down their noses at her, the other customers barely acknowledged her, and Mr. Winter seemed to be as determined as he ever was to make sure she felt like a second-class citizen.

She could feel Major Kelly's ire rise as he took in every slight. From the hard expression that had appeared in his eyes, she was starting to even think that he was practically cataloguing each person so he could get retribution at a later date.

After Mr. Winter finished with the wife of one of the city's well-known cotton suppliers, he shuffled some papers on his counter, obviously taking his time to force Miranda to stand even longer for his bidding.

Major Kelly tensed up. She laid a hand on his arm. “I know it is hard, but please, don't make a fuss.”

He leaned down. “Someone needs to make a fuss. This is inexcusable.”

“I agree. But when you and Robert and the captain leave, I'll have to be here in Galveston by myself. And unless something changes, I'm going to have to continue to make my weekly deposit. This errand is hard enough. I don't want things to get worse.”

“We will not leave you like this. Things will get better, I promise,” he said before stepping forward to Mr. Winter. “Mrs. Markham has business to take care of,” he said in a loud, authoritative voice. “She has waited long enough. You will see her now.”

Mr. Winter lifted his chin. “I'll see her when I am ready.”

Major Kelly's expression turned to ice. “I suggest that moment be now.”

Unperturbed, the clerk wrinkled his brow. “I don't know who you are, and I don't care. As far as I'm concerned, you are simply another man warming the bed of a traitor's widow.”

Major Kelly slammed his hand on the counter. “Bring me whoever is in charge here. Now.”

“I don't answer to the likes of you.”

Kelly glared at him, then turned and spoke to the room at large. “Who is in charge in this institution?”

The whole room—easily at least twenty-five people—went quiet. After a moment, Mr. Carrington stood up and approached. “I am. Is there a problem?”

“From the moment we arrived, Mrs. Markham has been both ignored and derided.”

“Sir, I'm sure you have misunderstood the situation.”

“Do not tell me what I witnessed. Furthermore, I don't care to learn why you have permitted such behavior in your establishment. But I will tell you that it will stop now.”

Mr. Carrington blanched. “You should watch yourself, sir. If you are the latest guest in Mrs. Markham's boardinghouse, your concern is of no interest to me.”

The cold, harsh stare Major Kelly sent to the bank president should have stopped him in his tracks. “I beg your pardon, but I am certain you should rethink your decision. As far as I'm concerned, there is everything for you to worry about.”

“I beg your pardon,” Mr. Winter said. Still standing behind the counter, he leaned his elbows on the top. “But you have obviously no idea to whom you are speaking. This is Mr.
Marcus Carrington
.”

Miranda had had enough. “This gentleman is Mr. Ethan Kelly. He served as a major for the C.S.A. and was held prisoner on Johnson's Island. He is a decorated war hero. Do you truly dare to pawn off your prejudices of me onto him?”

The bank president paled. “You are Major Ethan Kelly? Of the Kelly family in Houston? Who rode with the Texas Rangers?”

“I am,” Major Kelly replied, his voice like ice. “Are you going to tell me now that we have a problem?”

As low murmurings flew through the occupants of the room, the bank president paled further. “Of course not. I am sorry, Major Kelly.” He snapped his fingers. “Winter, please see to Major Kelly and, uh, Mrs. Markham right now.”

With a sigh, Miranda stepped forward, only to be pulled back by her escort. “I'm afraid, Mr. Carrington, that your apology is not sufficient.”

After freezing for a second, the bank president stepped forward, his rotund appearance looking as if it was shrinking before their eyes. “Pardon me, sir? What else do you need?”

“I need you to apologize to Mrs. Markham. Immediately. Next, I will hear you order this . . . this clerk of yours to speak to her in a more respectful way.”

Mr. Carrington looked at Major Kelly, then his clerk, then glanced around the room.

Miranda was surprised to find that most everyone present was glaring at the bank president. It seemed there were few people in Galveston who would disrespect such a war hero so publicly.

After swallowing hard, Mr. Carrington turned to her. “I do beg
your pardon for my clerk's mistreatment of you, Mrs. Markham. I hope you will not hold it against us.”

She was so surprised, she merely nodded.

“And?” Kelly prodded.

Sweat formed on the gentleman's brow. “And . . . and I will give you my word that you will be treated better in the future. I assure you.”

Miranda wasn't sure if she believed such a pretty speech. She actually doubted the promise would last after Phillip's friends left. “Thank you.”

“Very good,” Major Kelly said with a nod of his head. “Now you will help Mrs. Markham with her deposit.”

“What? No, that is Mr. Winter's job.”

“Not today.”

Mr. Carrington visibly debated whether to argue. Then, with a halfhearted shrug, he said, “Very well. Kyle, stand aside.”

Mr. Winter paled. “But, sir—”

“Don't say another word,” Mr. Carrington said.

But instead of listening, Mr. Winter puffed up, his whole body filled with indignation. “But you know who she is. You know who her husband was.”

Major Kelly stepped forward, obviously intent on boxing the man's ears.

But before Kelly could do a thing, Mr. Carrington pointed to the back door. “Out, Winter. Now.”

At last Mr. Winter stepped away. Looking increasingly upset with every step, he left the room and slapped the door shut behind him.

“Idiot,” Kelly muttered under his breath.

Miranda stayed completely quiet.

By the time Mr. Carrington finished noting her deposit, which he did with shaking hands due to Major Kelly's fierce glare, Mr. Winter still had not returned.