Chapter 8 #2
A murmur from Morning Fawn snapped him to attention. Had she noticed his disapproval, or was she merely voicing her own?
LeBeau puffed out his chest. “Daughter, I have no intention of fleeing. Cotton is the blood of this Confederacy. If the Yanks dare set foot in Colorado County, I’ll stand my ground. This is our land, our cotton.”
Devon rubbed his thumb over his fork handle. If the Rebels made a stand in Colorado County, he’d be expected to help. What a conundrum that’d be. He glanced up from his plate to catch Morning Fawn staring at him.
She played with her spoon. “It sounds like the army needs every man it can get.”
Meaning him? She might as well come out and say it.
His hand twitched upward to his eyepatch.
“If the enemy heads this way, Miss Logan, I imagine even you would be relieved that not all of the men are in the middle of a swamp somewhere defending the coast or marching through cacti to defend the cotton.”
She plunked her forearms on the table. “Seventeen months ago, when you sneaked into my village and paid someone to lure me to the creek so you could kidnap me, you were the one I needed to be protected from. I’d rather take my chances with the Yankees.”
His food turned to sawdust in his mouth.
“Young lady, you will be respectful to our guests or go to your room.” LeBeau clenched his fork.
“It’s all right, sir.” Devon waved his hand toward his host. He deserved her wrath.
Morning Fawn flicked a strand of hair from her forehead. “Don’t worry, Uncle. I’m done pining away for what was. You’ve made me an offer, and I’ll accept it.”
“What kind of offer?” Thea perked up.
LeBeau pinched the bridge of his nose. “I might as well say it and be done with the fussing here and now.” He tossed his napkin on the table. “I’ve agreed, if certain stipulations are met, to give Beth the plot of land in Parker County that belonged to her parents.”
Land? Not a horse. Amazing.
“Land?” Thea’s voice crescendoed. “You’re going to give her land? What about me? You promised the plantation to my brother Arthur—”
“Parker County is on the frontier. Dry, scruffy land with little protection from Indian raids. Nothing you’d want, daughter. As for your inheritance, we’ll discuss that at another time.”
Thea gaped. “She has a fit and steals a horse, and you’re rewarding her?”
“Watch how you speak to your father.” Mrs. LeBeau firmed her voice.
Brow furrowed, LeBeau fingered the silver fob that dangled from the pocket of his waistcoat. “I did say there are stipulations. Conditions that must be met.”
“And pray tell me what?” Thea bristled out of the chair.
LeBeau’s glower lowered Thea to a sit. “The land will be a gift upon her marriage to a respectable Confederate of good family.”
Marry? Devon blinked wide. LeBeau was going to force Morning Fawn to marry to get her freedom? What kind of freedom was that?
Thea sputtered. “Beth? Marry a man of class?” She slapped her hand to her chest and coughed for effect. “That will be the day.”
“You’ll see.” Morning Fawn narrowed her gaze at her cousin. “I haven’t made my mind up who. Only who it will not be.” Hazel eyes zeroed in on Devon like a gun sight.
What in the world made her think he was interested? What had her uncle told her?
Thea leaned toward her cousin. “As if any man this side of a saloon would have—”
“Silence.” LeBeau clinked his wine goblet against his plate.
Cross-armed, Thea smoldered.
Morning Fawn’s hands dropped to her lap, her lips pressed together, and Mrs. LeBeau fumbled with her emerald necklace.
LeBeau touched his midsection. “This family is enough to give me indigestion at times.” He heaved a sigh. “Judith, I’d like for you to accompany Beth to Columbus and help her pick out material for a couple of dresses.”
Thea gaped at him. “Dresses? Lucy’s hand-me-downs should fit her—”
LeBeau held up his hand. “Next week, you may travel to Columbus, as well, on a separate trip with your mother, but I’ll not have the two of you going together.”
“Beth might still be in Columbus when I travel there. It wouldn’t surprise me if she didn’t find a way to get herself thrown in jail.” Thea snickered.
“Perhaps you’re right. That’s why I’m asking Lieutenant Reynolds to accompany them. Besides, I’d never send two women on the road unprotected.”
Devon almost choked on his saliva. LeBeau might as well have fired a cannonball right into the middle of the table.
Thea was beyond words. She shot out of her chair and shoved it against the table.
Mrs. LeBeau handled the announcement with a measure of decorum. She dabbed her mouth with her napkin. “If you say so, Robert, and if the lieutenant is willing.”
“My dresses are fine as is.” Morning Fawn gnawed her lip.
“You’re excused from the table, niece.” LeBeau snapped his fingers at a servant and pointed to a wine bottle on the sideboard. “Take the rest of your dinner with you. Lucy will escort you. I’ve had enough commotion this evening.”
Her gaze flickered over Devon as she stood, her expression unreadable. Did she believe he’d orchestrated this? Was this the reason for her whispered outburst when she’d come down the stairs?
Probably already plotting how she was going to run away from him tomorrow. But the thought of sitting beside her on a wagon seat or riding alongside of her perked him up more than a cup of good, dark coffee.
As the door closed behind her and Mrs. LeBeau, Devon braced himself. It didn’t make any sense. Was this man targeting him as a potential husband for his niece? LeBeau had said a loyal Confederate from a good family. That’s exactly what the man believed him to be. Only. he wasn’t.
“Forgive me for not talking to you ahead of time, Reynolds.” LeBeau swirled his wine.
“Excuse me, sir?” What was this man up to?
LeBeau waved the other two servants from the room and settled back in his chair.
“I see the way Thea looks at you. You’re a good man, but I have someone else in mind for my daughter, a fellow planter named Major Leander Thomas.
They courted before the war. He only needs a little more persuading, but Thea is impatient.
She thinks she has to grab a husband before they’re all gone.
” LeBeau swallowed more wine. “Thomas comes from one of the finest families in the county and has a thousand acres of good bottomland. I’m not opposed to your keeping company with my daughter for a stroll or a dance, as long as you know where she’s intended. ”
Second rate? Not good enough for his daughter?
Thank God. He’d welcome the insult if it saved him from Thea.
But what about the man’s niece? What was expected there?
His pulse strummed at the base of his neck.
Foolish. He had no intentions toward Morning Fawn, other than making amends for past wrongs.
Had her uncle mistaken kindness for something else?
Devon deflated his voice, doing his best to present a token of regret.
“I understand and respect your decision, sir.” He tugged his coat sleeve to his wrist. The sooner he got into his own clothes, the better, but that wasn’t going to happen until the mission was over.
Destroying as much cotton as he could—that was the mission.
Not looking after a girl who speared him with her eyes every chance she got.
“But what about your cotton? Shouldn’t I work on arranging the shipment instead of escorting the ladies? ”
“All in due time, Reynolds. With the uncertainty of the invasion forces on the coast, I’m not ready to move it yet.
Waiting might also give me a chance to avoid the government getting their grubby fingers in a portion of the profit.
But you’ll have a chance to make connections in Columbus while the ladies shop. I’ll write you a couple of references.”
Devon rubbed the back of his neck and chose his words carefully. “Since you’ve been upfront with me, sir” —the man had hardly done any such thing—“I’ll return the favor. I’m not looking to marry. My wife was very dear to me. My heart is not open to new love.”
The corner of LeBeau’s mouth quirked up. “Love isn’t a requirement for marriage. But thank you for clarifying your position.”
What kind of dismissal was that? “I will very likely never remarry.”
“I understand.” LeBeau tapped his fingers together.
“I’m simply asking you to look after Beth and my wife tomorrow.
I have confidence you can restrain my niece.
And I’d greatly appreciate it if you’d stick around for the time being.
With all the unrest on the coast, we’ll need every gun we can get if worse comes to worst.” His host’s voice took on a wistful note.
“Beth reminds me of her mother, not in features necessarily, but in heart. I cannot and will not allow her to throw herself away on some rebellious adventure. If giving her the land buys her a settled, respectable life, so be it.”
Could land really buy all of that? What about love? Not his concern. But a flash of memory sent his heart thudding. Hazel eyes, her fingers around his neck, a dreamy voice… Stupid. He’d better get ahold of himself by tomorrow, or he’d be chasing her halfway to Dallas.