Chapter 9 #2
“They found the Sioux war lodges. Anyway, the Indians, it seems, are playing right into the hands of those who want to annihilate them. That’s why I’m glad you’re here.
” He grinned. “There isn’t a traitorous bone in your husband’s body, but I’m sure that some of the events that occur must infuriate him—they make me angry, and I haven’t a drop of Sioux in me.
I think your presence will be good for Sloan.
You can help him through a very difficult time. ”
Greenway frowned suddenly, halting though the music continued to play. He turned around, and his frown faded. Sabrina saw that Sloan stood behind him.
“Major!” Greenway said with pleasure.
“Lieutenant,” Sloan said. “May I?”
“Of course, sir!” Greenway said, allowing Sloan to cut in on the dance.
Swept into her husband’s arms again, Sabrina searched his eyes. “He was just telling me about a Sioux attack.”
“Anyone can tell you about a Sioux attack,” he responded, and she was surprised because he sounded bitter, and he so seldom did.
“A place called—”
“Fort Pease.”
“Yes. Sloan, if you’ve just been with the Indians who instigated such an attack, isn’t it your responsibility to make sure the army knows exactly where they are?”
“Sabrina, I wasn’t with the Indians who attacked Fort Pease. I did see Crazy Horse, but that was weeks ago, and in truth, I don’t know where he is now, though I imagine he has gone farther north. I delivered the government order to him, as I was instructed.”
“And he ignored it,” she said.
“Actually, Sabrina, you would like Curly.”
“What—who?”
“Curly—Crazy Horse. He’s light for an Indian—much lighter than I am, actually. And he’s careful and thoughtful and considerate.”
“When he isn’t scalping people.”
“You do know, my love, that from the time the Europeans first came to this country, White men have scalped the Indians to prove how many they had killed, in order to receive the bounty on their deaths.”
“That doesn’t happen anymore.”
“Don’t fool yourself.”
“But Sloan—”
“Sabrina, I am a major in the United States Cavalry, and I don’t forget that fact. Enough said?”
She swallowed, wishing that it was.
“Wonderful. Old Curly will put a bullet right through your heart one day! And since you insist on straddling this fence between two worlds, he’s going to have every right to do so. Just like General Sherman will have the right to shoot you!”
“Well, if it happens, you can applaud from the fort, my love. Have you said goodbye to your sister? There’s a point I want to reach before dawn.”
“Before dawn!” Sabrina whispered. She’d forgotten for a moment that she was leaving. She missed a step. He steadied her.
“Are you all right?” he queried.
“Of cou—I—no! Oh, Sloan, I’m not feeling at all well—” she began.
But his quick laughter cut her off.
“What’s so funny?”
“You.”
“I’m glad I’m so entertaining.”
“Oh, I intend for you to be much more entertaining!” he assured her.
She was tempted to kick him.
“Sloan, really—”
“Sabrina, our horses are outside, their packs are secure, Meggie has filled the saddlebags with good things to eat— and it’s time to go.”
“You’re a wretched man.”
“You’ll have to get accustomed to that fact.”
“I’d rather get used to it while starting out in daylight!”
He smiled. “But if I were kind and gentle and allowed you to lead me around by the nose, I’d no longer be such a wretched man—just a pathetic cuckold. We’re leaving tonight, Sabrina. Buck up. You knew you had to face me. Or were you, perhaps, hoping I’d get killed before coming for you?”
“Don’t be absurd. I’ve no desire for you to be killed; I had simply thought you might have come to your senses and allowed for an annulment, or if not an annulment, at least enough time to consider an annulment!” she told him hopefully.
“Tell your sister goodbye, and let’s go now, Sabrina.”
“The party is still underway—”
“I’ll carry you out,” he warned.
“Oh?” She lifted her chin. “In front of all your men, and the good people from the town and the fort?”
He smiled, his dark eyes smoldering strangely. “Is that a dare, my love?”
“A dare? Sloan, you’d be a fool—”
She broke off with a gasp, because he had easily whisked her up into his arms and begun striding from the room.
“Sloan!” she gasped, her palms pressing against his chest.
He swung around at the open doors that led to the foyer, “Excuse us, ladies, gentlemen, fellow officers!” he called out pleasantly. “As you all know, my wife and I are newlyweds!”
Sabrina was still struggling against him as those in the room broke into applause and laughter.
“Being that I’m a military man,” Sloan continued, “I take what time I can for privacy. Thank you all for your good wishes; we’ll see you at the fort!”
He spun around. Sabrina felt herself flush crimson. Laughter was rising again, along with ribald shouts from the men—and a few of the women.
“Sloan, put me down!” Sabrina urged.
“Not on your life. Not until we’re out of here!” he informed her.
“But my sister, my cloak! I can’t ride like this—I’ll ruin this dress—”
But they had reached the front door and were out of it, onto the porch.
She saw that Willow stood just beyond it with two horses: Sloan’s black military gelding, Thomas, and Ginger, the pinto she had ridden since she’d come to Mayfair.
The roll of clothing Meggie had packed for her was tied behind Ginger’s saddle, while Sloan’s horse carried saddlebags that looked as if they were about to burst.
“Sloan, put me—”
She didn’t finish her sentence. He had set her upon the porch and turned her around. Hawk and Skylar had come out to say goodbye. Her brother-in-law held Sloan’s overcoat and her hooded cloak.
Her stomach seemed to do a cartwheel.
“Skylar!” Sabrina said, suddenly feeling at a total loss. More than ever, she didn’t want to leave. She didn’t want to leave her sister.
“Sabrina! This is so sudden; I really wasn’t prepared,” Skylar told her as she embraced her warmly.
Sabrina hugged her back.
Clung to her.
“Incredibly sudden. And I’m not prepared.”
Skylar drew away from her slightly, staring at her intently.
“Perhaps Sloan could be dissuaded?…” she whispered, since Sloan stood close by, talking to Hawk.
“I’ve tried. You talk to him. He likes you.”
“Sabrina!” Skylar exclaimed. “Sabrina, you married him—”
“It was all your fault!” Sabrina hissed to her suddenly.
“What?” Skylar gasped.
“Shh!” Sabrina said.
“I cannot shush! What did you mean—”
“I didn’t mean anything—really, I didn’t! I’m sorry, I’m just…afraid. He wants to ride into the night! To live with those awful people!”
“What awful people?” Skylar demanded. “Sabrina, Sloan has quarters at the fort. Officers’ quarters. Very pleasant. You don’t have to live in a barracks with dozens of men. You know that.”
“The men are fine. It’s the women.”
Skylar stared at her a long moment, then said, “Sabrina, Sloan is married now. He never married before. Naturally, you’re going to hear tales. And most of the biddies are just talking because they’re jealous, and half of what you’re going to hear is going to be highly exaggerated.”
Sabrina sighed softly. “I’m sorry, Skylar…I just…I’ve been taken by surprise, that’s all.” She gave her sister another fierce hug. “We won’t be far away.”
“Not far at all.”
“Take care of yourself and the baby. And we’ll be back, of course. Definitely, before the baby is bora. I want to be with you.”
“I want you here—if possible. We’re really going to be close. And you, Sabrina, take care of yourself.”
“Sabrina?”
She felt hands on her shoulders. Sloan’s hands.
It was time to go.
She hugged Skylar again, then felt herself warmly enveloped by her brother-in-law. Then, once again, she felt Sloan’s touch. He set her cloak around her shoulders and took her by the hand, leading her to her horse. Despite her elegant blue dress, he picked her up and set her down astride her mount.
He mounted his own horse and lifted a hand to Hawk and Skylar, and then started off into the night.
Sabrina turned around, waving to her sister.
She waved and waved. Then she saw Skylar shiver, and Hawk slipped his arms around her. Then they turned toward the house and went back in.
The house became smaller. The lights eventually dimmed.
Her head was smacked by a low-dipping branch, and Sabrina turned around at last, touching her stinging cheek and looking forward. Ahead of them, it seemed that the snow-covered ground stretched endlessly. There was nothing, nothing at all except endless snow and endless sky—and the moonlight.
Sloan rode ahead, apparently heedless of any difficulty she might be having.
“This is insane!” she called out to him.
He didn’t reply.
“You are a cruel tyrant!” she informed him next.
He still kept riding.
“I’ll never forgive you for this!”
He stopped, turning around.
“Were you ever going to forgive me anyway?” he inquired.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she informed him, suddenly not liking the way he was looking at her, as if he could see clear through her.
“Yes, you do.”
“I really don’t.”
“What you can’t forgive, my love, is Gold Town.”
Her cheeks colored, and she suddenly nudged her horse, moving ahead. He caught up with her, catching her horse’s reins so that she was forced to stop and look at him.
“You simply can’t forgive what happened the night we first met—”
“Don’t be absurd. Just because I was horrified to see you again didn’t mean that I blamed you.”
“You’re not angry with me—you’re angry with yourself.”
“With myself! I was trying to save my sister’s life, my own life—”
“And if that had been it, you wouldn’t have hated me half so much.”
“I don’t understand—”
“It had nothing to do with the night—and everything to do with the morning. You were willing to make a sacrifice; you just couldn’t handle it when sharing my bed wasn’t such a damned sacrifice.”
“You’re wrong!”
“Am I? Of course, there could be more.”
“Oh, really?”