Chapter 9
Sabrina stared after Sloan incredulously as he strode back into the house. He couldn’t mean it. He was teasing her, tormenting her because she hadn’t jumped to follow his orders. He couldn’t mean that he wanted to leave in the middle of the night.
She stepped back into the house, suddenly sorry that she had been quite so sweet to quite so many soldiers—it was difficult slipping through the main room to the foyer because she was stopped every few steps to meet another soldier, a wife of someone, a cousin, a daughter, a great-aunt once removed.
Finally, though, she reached the stairs and ran up them so swiftly that she was breathless by the time she reached the doorway to her own room.
Meggie, Hawk’s very kind and matronly housekeeper, was humming away as she carefully folded a delicate chemise to pack into a saddle roll. Sabrina paused, staring at her in disbelief.
“Ah, Sabrina!” Meggie said, shaking her head, her eyes damp.
“I was so accustomed to you bein’ here. It’s a joy.
But then, that’s the way of the world, isn’t it?
A husband says it’s time to move on, and so…
it’s time to move on. Well, I knew I couldn’t keep you forever, lass.
Your sister is going to miss you frightfully, too, you girls having been through so much together and all.
But Skylar’s wee babe will be along soon enough, and after that, well, you and Major Sloan will be having your own family.
You needn’t fret because the fort is not at all far from Mayfair; you’ll be able to visit whenever Major Sloan has a few days off duty. ”
“So…the major did say that he intended to leave here—tonight?” Sabrina asked her.
“Oh, indeed, he and Hawk were both up here, and the major was saying how there would be more room in the house for the guests if you left tonight, and what a beautiful night it was for traveling. Hawk agreed, of course. You’ve seen how blindingly bad the weather can be!
A night like tonight is a sheer gift from God; it’s just so stunningly clear.
And no wind! But, ah, lass! I will miss you! ”
Meggie wiped a large tear from her cheek, and Sabrina went to her.
“Meggie, how sweet, how wonderful of you. As you said, I won’t be far.
I can come back.” She didn’t know if she was trying to reassure Meggie or herself.
“And before the baby comes at the end of June, I’ll be back, and you will all be so busy here! ”
She was losing her mind, babbling. She’d been so torn over her feelings for Sloan, and then in such a panic when she had first seen him downstairs and realized the strength of both his presence and his will.
She wasn’t sure if she had immediately brought up the issue of an annulment because it was what she really wanted—or because she would rather end the marriage than live with him when he had virtually been forced into it.
It didn’t matter. It had seemed that she had forever to contemplate the future.
But her “future” was about to begin tonight.
And she was suddenly afraid.
She wondered if she couldn’t feign an illness that would force Sloan to stay here through the night. It was the coward’s way out, she told herself.
Well, she had already decided that she was a coward.
“I’m acting like an old fool!” Meggie sniffed, patting Sabrina’s shoulder. “This is all quite right, the way it should be. And how wonderful, really, Skylar and Hawk, you and the major! Those men have always been best friends—blood brothers, if you will—and now their children will be cousins.”
“It’s just—wonderful,” Sabrina said dryly.
“Now, I think that I’ve packed you well for the next few days…
Willow will be going to the fort with the remainder of your things very soon.
There’s your good, warm, wool coat, the one with the hood, ready for you to ride in—oh, dear, perhaps you should change your clothing; you’ve got on that lovely party dress…
oh, here I am going on and on and your husband has come for you at last!
And you’ll have a wonderfully romantic ride in the moonlight—you must be so very excited. ”
“She’s just beside herself,” Sabrina heard Sloan say.
She swung around. He was leaning against the doorframe, his arms casually crossed over his chest.
“Well, Major Sloan! As you requested, your bride is all set to go. How lovely for you both; it will be like a second honeymoon.”
“Well, not quite,” Sabrina murmured.
“What was that, dear?” Meggie said.
Sloan strode into the room, his arms encircling Sabrina’s waist. “She means that we never had a first honeymoon, so this will be true ecstasy.”
Sabrina curled her fingers around his arms where they encircled her waist, trying to break their hold. “True ecstasy—riding into the snow, in the middle of the night. I can’t wait.”
“Well, there is no need to wait, if you’re packed,” Sloan said pleasantly.
Meggie smiled. “I am delighted for you young people!” she assured them.
“I haven’t said goodbye to my sister,” Sabrina said, struggling to break his hold with renewed energy. “If you’ll just excuse me…”
He released her. She fled from her room and down the stairs, wondering at her sense of panic.
Well, she had deluded herself into believing that she could bring Sloan around to her way of thinking.
She should have known this was coming. She had married him.
She had married him despite his threats and warnings—and promises that it would be a real marriage.
But that had been in Scotland, before she had lost the baby. And now…
Now they were in territory where the tensions escalated daily, where she had agreed to live among strangers with a man who remained an elusive stranger himself in many ways.
The fort! She wasn’t going to be able to bear it, living among those women who gossiped about her…about him! What was the fort like? How harsh were the living conditions? Every day would be a far more rugged experience than she was accustomed to, and every day might offer new dangers as well.
Sabrina walked back into the parlor, where the musicians continued to play. Nothing had changed. The guests were still dancing, laughing, and drinking punch.
She looked around but saw neither her sister nor her brother-in-law.
Louella and Norah stood by the punch table. Norah was flirting with a young soldier. Louella was returning Sabrina’s stare.
Sabrina smiled, gritting her teeth. She was going to have a wonderful time at the fort. Indeed.
She walked on through the room, looking for Skylar. A handsome young man with long gold curls and light blue eyes stepped into her pathway, excusing himself.
“Mrs. Trelawny, I’m Lieutenant Nathan Greenway. I ride with your husband upon occasion. I’ve been trying to meet you all night, but you’ve been incredibly busy. Perhaps you’ll give me this dance?”
“I—certainly,” Sabrina said, and with Greenway, she found herself whirling around the floor once again.
“Frankly,” Greenway told her, smiling, “I didn’t believe that Major Trelawny had really married—not until I saw you. Now, of course, I know why he did.”
No, Greenway didn’t know, but Sabrina decided not to enlighten him.
“Thank you,” she said simply.
“I’m grateful that you’ll be with him now, Mrs. Trelawny. These are difficult times for the major.”
“So I understand.”
Greenway nodded gravely.
“Personally, I think that the generals are daft, but please, don’t go repeating that.”
Sabrina smiled, shaking her head. “No, Lieutenant, I certainly wouldn’t do that. But why are they so daft?”
He shrugged. “It’s a beautiful night tonight.
But the weather here is fickle and brutal.
A winter campaign is sheer folly. Sloan knows that.
I’m sure he’s voiced his opinion. Then, of course, he recently went in search of Crazy Horse, and while he was gone, apparently, the springs of action wound into motion.
There are a few honest Indian agents out there, men who knew that the Indians hadn’t really been given time to comply with the government order.
Didn’t matter—no one gave a quarter of an inch to allow more time.
Not that Crazy Horse was coming in, nor Sitting Bull, for that matter.
Those two advocate living completely away from White influence.
Can’t say that I don’t admire them. Still, since the time limit has expired, I think we’ve already taken steps toward a really terrible war. ”
“It was my belief that the generals intended war.”
“Not the war they’re going to get. Some of the fellows in the field wouldn’t know a Sioux from a Chinaman, if you’ll pardon me, ma’am. Not to mention a peaceful Sioux from a hostile one.”
“Aren’t the peaceful Sioux on the reservations?”
“My point, ma’am. Some who might want to be peaceful haven’t had time to reach their agencies—some of the big reservations have several agencies, and you know what paperwork can be—and it’s hard to imagine just how big this country can be!
Beautiful country, though. Some of the prettiest in the world! ”
“And most hostile—and I don’t mean just the Sioux,” Sabrina murmured.
“Your pardon?”
“The weather, Lieutenant. You’ve told me that it’s vicious.”
“Well, yes, that at times, I do admit. The snows can last through to June. But, oh, you should see the rivers in the spring, the wildflowers…it’s all quite glorious.
And yet, for now…” His voice trailed away, and he looked at her unhappily.
“Sioux attacked the men at a post established by traders, called Fort Pease. General Terry ordered a Major Brisbin to relieve the post, which Brisbin did. The Sioux had escaped, but—”
“They know that it was a Sioux party attacking? How?”