Jodi Thomas - To Wed In Texas

While Karlee washed the dishes, she glanced out the window and saw Wolf approaching with his head low. Something was wrong!

She was out the door and onto the porch before he reached the first step. “What is it?”

Wolf's frown made his lips disappear into his beard.

“Daniel didn't come home last night.” Karlee tried to keep her voice calm. “I know something's wrong. What's happened?”

The big man pressed his lips together as though he could keep from telling her.

Karlee waited.

“He's all right,” Wolf finally began. “At least as far as I know. When he went to the stockade yesterday morning, Logan detained him. At first, we thought it was just for a few hours. But when he didn't come out with the midnight shift change of guards, I knew it would be longer.”

“How long? Why?”

“I don't know how long. There are men who've been in there for months for no reason. As for why, my guess is Logan knows Daniel's been helping some of the Rebs around these parts but can't prove it. To make matters worse, the guard said Daniel refuses to talk to anyone.”

“But he's hurt. He hasn't done anything.”

Wolf raised an eyebrow. “He's done more than you think, but that's for him to tell you. I've seen him risk his life more than once to fight the injustice going on. It's almost as if he places no value on his life, only that of others. And if I know him, he won't leave that stockade until he can get Altus Blair out.”

Karlee paced across the porch. “What can we do to help?”

Wolf rubbed his beard. “I don't know; I've spent my life trying to stay out of jail, not get in. The only way we're going to get Danny boy out is by smuggling him a gun, and there's not much chance of that. I can't get near the place. As a Ranger, the Army hasn't made up its mind which side I'm on.”

“Would they let me see him?”

“Maybe,” Wolf shrugged. “I've seen wives pass pretty freely through the gate. They'll check you for weapons, make you empty your pockets, that kind of thing. I've even seen them check the hem of a woman's skirt. Course, they don't do anything improper, but a lady might find it embarrassing.”

“That doesn't matter.” Karlee whirled. “I have to bake some fresh pies, then I'll be ready.”

Two hours later, she was dressed in her most proper Sunday dress of black with a black cape hanging off her shoulders to her waist. Her bonnet bore no lace. Her only jewelry was a tiny cross. She looked very much a preacher's wife.

The twins were playing in the kitchen with Valerie on watch. Karlee wrapped two hot pies in clean linen towels and started out for the stockade.

Ten minutes later, she was arguing with the guard at the gate. Thirty minutes later, she'd been stuffed into a small room and the guard had taken her pies. Karlee straightened her clothes. They'd patted on her shoulder pads and pressed her hem to make sure she wasn't concealing something, just as Wolf had predicted.

She glanced up as Daniel stumbled through the door-way, almost falling. The guard slammed the door closed, leaving them alone in the tiny dust-filled room with not even a chair in sight.

Karlee straightened, bracing herself for his anger. He'd tell her she shouldn't have come. He'd think her plan was crazy. She wouldn't have been surprised if he'd refused to see her.

But Daniel didn't say a word. He raised his handcuffs and encircled her with his arms. For a long while, he just held her.

“I…”

“Shhh,” he whispered against her ear. “They're listening at the door.”

He rubbed his face against her hair. “You smell so good. It's been a long night without my bride. I'm so glad you're here, Darling.”

Karlee knew he was talking for the guard's benefit. She needed to ask him about Altus but she didn't dare. “I brought you pie.” She played along with his conversation. “You know I promised you I'd bake you a pie every day of our marriage.”

Daniel chuckled and slipped his arms over her head so they could stand apart a little. Without a word, they moved to the furthermost corner. “I know.” He watched the door as he spoke. “I saw the guards eating it when I came in. They were fine-looking pies. I didn't know you knew how to bake.”

“I don't, but I'll bring you another tomorrow.” Karlee put her arms around his neck. “I promise, my love.”

Daniel rubbed his scratchy chin along her cheek. “I'm sure I'll be allowed to keep the next offering.” He leaned close. “You really do smell good, Karlee. I can almost taste the spices you cooked with.”

Karlee turned her head and their lips met. “Then taste me,” she whispered against his mouth for no one to hear but him.

He hesitated a moment, surprised at her boldness. Then, he joined in the pretend game she played. Kissing her like any newly married man would kiss his wife.

“Can they see us?” she whispered.

“Only through the bars at the door.” He continued to brush her lips with his as he spoke. “But you can bet they're hearing every word.”

Karlee turned her back to the door. “I don't care,” she raised her voice slightly. “I had to see you and have you kiss me and touch me. I'd die without your touch.”

Daniel's surprise at her boldness turned to shock. He knew her words would be repeated among the guards. A proper lady, a proper wife, didn't behave so wantonly.

Before he could answer, she cupped his hands in hers and placed them on her breasts.

When he would have objected, she closed her mouth over his and kissed him as he never thought she'd kiss. Boldly, wildly, passionately.

Daniel's control shattered. His fingers closed around her breasts as the memory of her standing nude before him flashed through his mind. If she wanted so desperately to be touched, he'd touch her.

He moved his hands over her breasts, suddenly wanting more. She was like some kind of wild creature, behaving so.

“Is this what you wanted?” he whispered.

“More,” she answered.

His fingers spread wide to please her, knowing that the guard would see nothing in the shadowy room. As his hand crossed over the valley between her breasts, he felt metal block his path. He widened his hand and brushed the outline of a derringer.

She'd smuggled him a weapon!

“I missed you so much, Darling,” she said as her hand moved alongside his and began unbuttoning her blouse. “The days and nights are torture without you near.” She unbuttoned enough for his fingers to slip into the dress.

“I feel the same.” He kissed her lightly as his hand sliced beneath the cotton. “I promise I'll be home as soon as I can.” He moved across the thin camisole and found the pink ribbon he remembered. “We have our lives to spend together.” He tugged at the ribbon pulling the thin garment low. The small gun slipped into his palm as he felt her bare flesh on either side of his hand. For a moment, he paused, loving the feel of her warm skin.

“Hold me, my love,” she cried. “Hold me once more before I go.”

She pressed against him as he slipped the derringer into his vest pocket.

He kissed her then in earnest as she buttoned her blouse. With a sigh, he walked her to the door. He didn't know how this trouble would end, or how long it would take him to get out of this prison. But one thing Daniel knew without doubt. He would touch the valley of bare flesh between her breasts again. And soon.

VALERIE MET KARLEE A BLOCK FROM HOME WITH A twin in each arm. All three girls were crying.

“What is it? What's happened?” Karlee jumped from the wagon.

“Soldiers!” Valerie said between gulps. “They broke in the front door without knocking and told us to get out. They said they had orders to search the place.”

“For what?” Karlee lifted the little girls into the wagon bed with a strong hug for each. “It's going to be all right,” she whispered against their blonde curls. “ Everything will be just fine.”

“I don't know why they're there.” Valerie tried to stop her own tears. “I just grabbed the twins and ran. They were throwing things and breaking things. When I ran out Ida, the old German, was trying to tell them to stop breaking things, but they weren't listening.”

Karlee hugged Valerie. “Things don't matter,” she whispered. “You and the girls do. You did the right thing by leaving.” She thought of asking Valerie to watch the twins longer, but she'd imposed enough. The girls were now her responsibility. “Climb in, and I'll drop you at the bakery.”

“No thanks.” Valerie waved. “I can cut through the houses and be there in half the time. I think I want to see my madre right now.” She tried to smile. “Be careful.”

“Don't worry.” Karlee flicked the reins. “We'll be fine.”

A few minutes later, Karlee left the wagon at the front door and walked into her house with a twin on each side of her. “Now don't worry, girls. These men are just playing hide-and-seek, and they have to learn it's an outside game.”

She moved through the house listening to the racket from above. They must all be on the second floor. From the sound, she'd guess four, maybe five men.

Karlee grabbed a quilt and spread it out in the wide foyer where the sunlight shone in through the open doorway. She sat the twins down and collected all the dolls she'd made. “You and all your friends can watch the men leave,” she tried to sound cheery.

A soldier stepped to the landing above. He was shorter than her by half a head and a few years older in age. His clothes and body were the bagginess of a man who'd worn the uniform too long.

She quickly straightened, blocking the seam in the paneling where the wall slid open. She had no idea what they were looking for, but she didn't want them finding the guns. Daniel had never mentioned his arsenal to her. Until this moment, it had never occurred to her as strange that a man who wore no weapon of any kind would have owned so many guns.

“What are you doing here?” the soldier yelled from the landing. “I thought I told everyone to leave. I'm Sergeant Whiteley, and I've got the authority if you want to see the papers.”

“I'm Mrs. McLain and I live here, sir. I have every right there is to ask what you and your men are doing in my house, paper or not!” Karlee yelled back. “And there's no need to yell, Sergeant Whiteley! I have no problem with my hearing.”

“We've been ordered to search, and search we will.” He stormed down the stairs, his voice still a notch below an all-out scream.

She heard something familiar in his tone. A touch of home twisted in his words. “Then do your duty, but be careful what you break, or you'll answer to me, Sergeant.”

He paid her no mind.

“Or,” she added, “your mother back home in Indiana.”

The stout sergeant turned and stared at her with tired eyes.

“You are from Indiana, aren't you?” Karlee had guessed right.

“Indiana Regular. First to fight, first blood spilled,” he said proudly. “A Volunteer force all through the war, and I'm proud to say I was one of them.”

“Well, I guess your mother would be real tickled to know you're down in Texas tearing up the home of a good preacher who fought with the Indiana Regulars as well.” Karlee was guessing, but after all, Daniel was from Indiana, he must have fought with the state's regiment. “The reverend was wounded a few months before the war ended. He came home to find his father's farm had been raided by Rebs. His parents were both dead. And now he has you and your men as a plague.”

The sergeant's face paled. “McLain fought for the North? I figured him a Reb for sure.”

Karlee tried to remember what she'd heard Aunt Rosy tell of the McLain brothers. “He fought along with his brothers, Captain Wes McLain and Doctor Adam McLain.”

The sergeant's face was starting to look sickly. “He don't favor his brothers, does he?”

“No,” Karlee answered slowly. “Daniel has blond hair, but both his brothers are darker.”

Men stomped down the stairs and into the study throwing things aside as they searched. Their shouldered rifles bumped into walls and tables with no care taken.