Authors: Georgina Gentry
To Tame A Rebel (27 page)
“You're so kind.” April's mind was busy. She had a job and a place to stay, but she'd have to be very careful because she could trust no one. The next several weeks were going to be both dangerous and important.
Every night now, she woke up drenched with sweat, and it wasn't just the summer heat. She was having nightmares about being stood up in front of a firing squad, but she was never quite sure what the color of the uniform was. However, there was no doubt who the officer leading the execution squad was. She saw his grim, handsome face glaring at her as he gave the order to fire. It was Jim Eagle.
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The colonel's wife dug in her closet to come up with an old ball gown, and some of the other ladies offered pieces of ribbon and lace. April, being clever with a needle, managed to transform the old dress into a beautiful pink fashion by the afternoon of the dance.
As she dressed for the event in the July heat, she decided she would listen to all the gossip and see if there was any hint of a traitor in their midst or any information that might bring her that reward.
Lieutenant Will Eagle called for her that evening. “I had forgotten how beautiful you are, Kawoni.”
“April,” she corrected him firmly, and took his arm. In her other hand, she carried a lace fan.
“It's just across the parade ground,“ he said as they walked into the dusk of evening. “The band has been practicing all week. We haven't had a dance or anything much except fighting the last few months.”
She fanned herself as they walked along through the hot July evening. “I'm looking forward to it, Will.”
He smiled at her. “And the men will look forward to dancing with you. I'll have to fight to get my name once on your dance card, but I intend to monopolize you.”
She remembered now how sweet and gentle he had always been, not at all like his fiery older brother. “I'll be sure to save you plenty of dances, Will.”
“You know, KawoniâI mean April”âhe glanced sideways at herâ“when your father took you away north, I was thinking of proposing marriage, except that you were too young.”
She didn't want to get in any deeper with him emotionally, because she did have some scruples about leading him on when it could never be. “Will, let's not talk about the old days. I've closed the door on my past. I'm living like a white girl in Boston now.”
He smiled at her as they strolled across the fort's grounds. “Maybe you'd like being one of those society ladies with a husband on the president's staff. No one would laugh or be snooty to you then.”
She thought about being Will's wife, then remembered the heated passion of Jim's kisses. “Let's talk about something else, shall we?”
He sighed. “All right. Let's talk about the future. The Union is going to win this war, and I'm doing everything I can to help them. Maybe when this is over, I'll be a highly placed officer, with a lot of traveling and mingling with important people. It sounds as if we want the same things.”
“I suppose so.” She focused on the path as she walked. “I'm just not the type to be an old-fashioned Cherokee wife on a ranch out in this wilderness.”
“So for the right manâ”
“It is a lovely night for the dance.” She changed the subject.
For the right man.
She wondered if the right man for her was Jim Eagle, but of course, that could never be.
For the right man.
She wondered if the right man for her was Jim Eagle, but of course, that could never be.
He glanced sideways at her and patted the hand that was gripping his arm. “All I'm asking is that you consider it.”
“I will. Oh, look,” she said brightly, “it looks like there's going to be a big crowd.”
Up ahead of them, in the mess hall, lights streamed, and music floated on the hot air from the open windows. A few buggies were tied up outside, and a handful of officers gathered in small groups, talking and smoking before going inside. She noted that many of them were Indiansâmostly Cherokee, no doubt. They quickly snuffed their smokes and hurried to greet Will Eagle. “Lieutenant Eagle, we had no idea you knew such a lovely lady; do introduce us.”
Will frowned. “I'll introduce you inside, but be warned, I intend to hog her dance card.”
A white officer grinned. “We'll see about that.”
Another made a bow. “We will be awaiting the pleasure of the lady's company.”
April nodded and fluttered her fan, acknowledging them.
Inside, the room was crowded and heavy with the scent of wildflowers that had been picked and put in vases around the few tables. Faded red, white, and blue banners hung from the rafters. At the front of the hall, a perspiring group of musicians in blue uniforms and gleaming brass buttons was playing loudly but not too well.
Were the ladies ever so slightly hesitant because she was Indian, or was it only her imagination? Some of them greeted her.
“Well,” the colonel's wife said, “it's amazing what can be done with a hand-me-down dress and a skillful needle.”
April felt a flush rise to her face. She wasn't sure whether she was being complimented or insulted. Perhaps she was being too sensitive.
One of the plump, older ladies gushed, “I do hope you get a chance to meet my nephew.”
“I hope so, too,” April said.
The band broke into the old army song “The Girl I Left Behind Me.”
Will nodded to April. “Appropriate, or vice versa.”
She pretended she hadn't heard that.
When the band finished, the fat little corporal who led the band announced, “Let's have a Virginia reel, folks.”
There weren't many women, but the officers' wives and grown daughters danced with as many men as possible. There didn't seem to be many single women in this war zone. Of course, there might be a few Indian girls around the fort, but they wouldn't have been invited to an officers' dance. April was only too aware that if she weren't a polished person from back east, and if no one thought she might be related to General Grant, she wouldn't have been welcome, either.
She and Will danced the reel, and when it ended, they were both panting. She fanned herself with her dainty fan.
He smiled down at her. “That was wonderful. May I get you some punch?”
“I'd love some.” She fanned herself and looked around. Officers were gathered in small groups talking, and here and there she heard gossip about troop maneuvers and the latest news from the eastern front. She edged closer, wondering if she might pick up enough to find that leak her mysterious major had sent her to search out. If she did find out anything, just who would she report to, and where? Well, her contact was bound to show up soon.
Will came back with the punch. “I had to search for you; I didn't expect you to move.”
She thought quickly as she accepted the punch. “IâI wanted to get near a window; it's so hot in here.”
“We could go outside,” he said.
That was the last thing in the world she wanted to do. All the tidbits of important information would be found in here. Besides, she didn't want to encourage Will. “I think your fellow officers would be so disappointed if we did that; there's so few ladies for them to dance with.”
“I suppose you're right.” He looked glum.
A handsome captain strode over to them and bowed. “I do hope, Miss Grant, you've saved this next dance for me?”
“Certainly.”
The band began to play a favorite of the time, “Lorena,” and the captain put his white-gloved hand on her small waist, took her hand in his other, and they danced away, leaving Will frowning behind them. “I can't tell you, Miss Grant, how pleased we are to have you on the post.”
She gave him her most fetching smile. “I suppose your men have seen a lot of action lately, Captain?”
He nodded. “No one knows exactly what the rebs are up to, but we've got many more troops than they do.”
“Oh, really?”
He was so pleased that she was interested, he told her how many soldiers were on the post and how many horses they had under saddle.
When the dance ended, it was evident he was reluctant to return her to Will Eagle, but immediately the colonel came over for a dance. “Miss Grant, will you do me the honor?”
“I'd be delighted, sir.”
But about that time, the band struck up a polka, and the old officer looked disappointed. “I'm afraid I don't polka.”
“Well, why don't we have some punch and visit?”
The old man's face lit up, and he led her over to the refreshments, talking all the way about how the war was going. “Oh, but I'm probably boring you, Miss Grant.”
She batted her eyes at him. “Why, not a bit of it, Colonel. I love hearing military men talk.”
“Well, in that case . . .” He began to talk of the war, what his role was, where the troops expected to be sent next.
April was rather startled by how much information she was picking up at the dance. Evidently, it never occurred to any of these big strong men that a pretty girl might be rooting out a spy or gathering information.
The colonel leaned closer as they sipped their punch. “Something big happening in a few weeks,” he whispered.
“Oh?” She leaned closer.
“Oh, I'm not to discuss it; neither are my officers.”
She giggled. “Why, sir, I don't know what harm there could be in talking about it. Who around here, especially a mere girl, would have any use for military information?”
“That's true.” He puffed up with his own importance. “Still, I don't know much yet. I'm waiting to hear more details from headquarters.”
She nodded. “I'm sure headquarters has chosen well in entrusting you with this endeavor, Colonel.”
Now he colored modestly. “Well, if I do say so myself, it's about time. I've been feeling forgotten out here in the Territory, with the major part of the war happening in places like Virginia and Georgia.”
She looked over and saw Will watching her. “If you don't mind, Colonel, I really must forgo such fascinating company. I promised Lieutenant Eagle the next dance.”
“Oh.” He seemed loath to let her go. “I do hope you are going to stay a few days, Miss Grant?”
“Well, I hadn't originally planned to, but I hear travel across the Territory is growing increasingly dangerous, so it looks like I might be here several more weeks.”
Or at least until that major shows up to give me directions.
Or at least until that major shows up to give me directions.
“Good.” The officer's gray mustache wiggled as he talked. “I'll look forward to more conversations with you.”
“And I shall, too. I'm working at the sutler's store, you know.”
He laughed. “How could I not know? The whole post is abuzz with the coming of a pretty and eligible young lady.”
She fanned herself and fluttered her eyelashes. “Colonel, you flatter me too much.”
The senior officer smiled, evidently pleased, as he walked her back to the younger officer. “My apologies, Lieutenant, for keeping her so long. She's delightful.”
“The feeling is mutual.” She curtsied, and the colonel left as Will frowned and took her out on the dance floor, where he held her a little too closely as they danced. “Please, Will, ” she murmured, “people will talk.”
“I don't want other men to get the idea that you're available.” His tone was possessive and jealousâa side she hadn't expected from him.
She pulled away from him a little and looked longingly at the groups of blue-coated officers gathered around the punch bowl, laughing and sharing conversation. Was there a spy picking up valuable information there? Were there strategic bits that would help her get that reward?
As they danced near a French door, Will unexpectedly whirled her out onto the veranda, into the darkness. “It's hot in there,” he complained, “and I thought you'd like a breath of fresh air.”
“People will talk.” She looked toward the crowd inside.
“What difference does that make? You make too much of what people think about Indians, April.”
“Perhaps I do, but the more I act like a very high-class white girl, the more accepted I can become.”
He took both her hands in his. “You know I wanted to marry you years ago, and I still do.”
“Will, this isn't the time or place,” she protested, “at least, until we see what this war holds.”
“You're right, my darling.” He brought her hands to his lips and kissed them. “It wouldn't be fair to leave you as a widow. However, this war won't last much longer, and then we can make plans.”
She tried to disengage from him. “We'll talk about that some other time. In the meantime, the war rages on. What do you know about this big event the colonel's talking about?”
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