Cheyenne Captive (41 page)

“There is no more Whig party, Robert.” Elizabeth Shaw used a tone one would take to a rather stupid child.

“I know that! That’s why the country’s in the shape it’s in! I don’t think that new party, the Republicans, will ever make a go of it.”

David leaned back in his chair and looked at the rich nut cake and coffee the butler placed before him. “You didn’t think much of that fellow who just lost the Senate race in Illinois last month?”

“Hah!” Father snorted as he dug into the cake. “That gawky, ugly nobody! That’s his second loss running for the same office! You’d think Lincoln would realize he has no talent for politics and go back to his piddling law practice!”

Summer sighed and sipped her coffee, barely tasting the rich, brandied cake.
Had conversations at this table always been so much wrangling? Of course they had
.

“Well,” said Maude, looking up and down the table as if to make sure she was the center of attention, “if I can’t be a pioneer, I may decide to do what my friend Louisa May Alcott says she is going to do in case of war.”

She had everyone’s attention now.

“Which is?” Summer prompted, holding her breath.

“Well, we’re talking of going to the front and helping our brave boys in uniform by being nurses!”

Summer thought for a moment Mr. Peabody might drop his coffee cup. “No daughter of mine is going to do something as scandalous as that!”

“Miss Alcott is not getting any younger,” Father said icily. “It might behoove that strong-minded spinster to spend her energy looking for a husband which she certainly won’t find after getting involved in such a dubious field as nursing.”

“Louisa May intends to support herself by writing books!” Maude retorted with such spirit that Summer suddenly admired her.

“Books!” Father wiped his mouth and threw down his napkin. “Who’d buy a book by a woman?”

“That’s exactly what you said when Mrs. Stowe came out with
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
,” Summer snapped, throwing down the gauntlet to him verbally.

Father glowered at her and she held her breath. But before the battle could go any further, Mother came out of her fog and stood up. Naturally, all the gentlemen scrambled to their feet.

“I think the ladies will retire to the music room,” she announced loftily with the slightest glance of congratulations at Summer. “I’m sure the gentlemen are ready for their cigars and brandy anyway.”

“In the music room, each lady accepted a glass of sherry as Summer poured and they sat in the glow of the Christmas candles and opened gifts.

Coaldust prowled about like a small, menacing panther, climbing the tree, tearing ribbons from packages. Maude tried to pick him up to pet him and he snarled and scratched her, running under a desk to hide.

Angela snickered and Mother said, “I’m sorry, Maude, at times, animals do reflect their owner’s personalities.”

The child glared back at Priscilla and her look made Summer shiver.
She was not really a child at all, had never been. Angela was a spiteful, cruel adult trapped in a child’s body
.

“Here’s gifts for everyone!” Summer put in quickly, passing the rare oranges around while everyone exclaimed in delight and reached for the gifts Summer handed out. There was a magnificent blue sapphire necklace for Summer from her parents. She expressed delight although she knew someone in Father’s office had no doubt chosen it for her. Mother seldom went out and Father couldn’t ever be bothered with such small details. There was also expensive jewelry for Mother, no doubt purchased the same way.

Angela tore into her packages in a greedy frenzy and held up a wooden mallet with puzzlement. “What is this? A joke?”

Her pouty little face clouded and Summer held her breath, wondering if they were about to be treated to one of the child’s kicking, screaming tantrums.

“My goodness!” Maude gushed, visibly impressed. “A croquet set! What a lucky girl you are! That’s the new game that’s so popular in England. They say it will soon be all the rage here!”

Mother nodded vaguely. “I do remember Silas saying he was having a great deal of trouble getting one of his employees in London to track the game down and get it on a clipper so it would arrive in time for Christmas.”

The child looked a little less sullen, obviously pleased that she had put someone to a great deal of trouble. “What do I do with it?”

She swung the mallet wildly and Summer grabbed the crystal wine decanter to keep the mallet from smashing it.

“Well,” said Maude with enthusiasm, “I’ve never played it, of course, but I think you are supposed to put those little wire things out on the lawn and knock those wooden balls through them. Just thing how much fun we will have out on the lawn next spring with it.”

Summer yawned in spite of herself. “Sounds a little dull to me.” She picked up the decanter and poured another glass for Mrs. Shaw.

“I suppose it’s at least a game women can play,” Mother said, holding out her goblet unsteadily for a refill. “There’s so few sports that are ladylike enough that men would approve or that women could actually do in a tight corset and hoop skirts.”

With a sigh, Summer gently took the goblet from Mother’s shaking hand and set it on the desk. One more and there would be a terrible fuss later. By not refilling Priscilla’s goblet, perhaps she could protect her from Father’s wrath.

Mrs. Shaw regarded Summer with satisfaction. “Now, Summer, I’ve been thinking about Austin’s and your wedding.”

“You’re a trifle premature,” Summer said shortly as she reached for a piece of candy. “Austin has not asked me to marry him.”

“Oh, I’ve spoiled the surprise!” Her hand went to her mouth with a quick gesture of feigned dismay. “But of course he’s going to ask you! I’ll admit I was a little uneasy about it last summer when he mentioned it since I thought you might be a little-shall we say, too spirited for him. But I’ve reconsidered.”

Summer regarded her coldly. “Even my father would be the first to admit a little spirit in either a woman or a saddle horse is not all bad!”

“Touche!” said Mother.

In the sudden silence, Summer and Mrs. Shaw studied each other like two opponents and Summer saw respect in the other’s eyes. The woman knew a worthy adversary when she saw one. Summer could best her on all fronts and she seemed to know it.

Mrs. Shaw seemed to decide to ignore the remark. “Anyway, Austin and I have discussed the honeymoon and I told him Nahant at the seashore was the fashionable place to go right now since it will be a June wedding. A grand tour of Europe was more what I had in mind, but the war department might take a dim view of Austin leaving for six months with all this war talk.”

Summer smiled a little too sweetly. “I’m sure you know someone in high office who could pull the right strings and aren’t you kind to plan both my wedding and honeymoon and save me all that bother!”

Mother looked both amused and troubled. It occurred to Summer that Mother didn’t really like her cousin at all.

“Why don’t we sing some more carols?” Maude said a little desperately, rushing to the piano. She played very badly but it broke the tension for the rest of the evening.

Todd Shaw left for Kansas right after Christmas, not even waiting for the Shaw’s annual ball. The weather was none too good but he said the group wanted to get out there and get themselves organized so as to be ready for early spring planting. The settlers would be dependent on their crops to survive the next year. Summer wondered if he were all that interested in Kansas or just trying to get away from his mother.

Then it was New Year’s Eve. Summer had chosen her dress with great care, knowing there would be dozens of people there she hadn’t seen since her return who would inspect her curiously. The dressmaker created a gown of yellow satin that complemented her light hair. The skirt was so full over the hoop that she thought she might have trouble getting through doorways. The neckline was cut low to show off her smooth shoulders and the soft swell of her creamy breasts. The pale blue satin sash accented her small waist and was just the color of the sapphire necklace which reflected her blue eyes.

Mrs. O’Malley outdid herself on Summer’s hair, piling it up on her head in a great mass of curls entwined with more sapphires and small wisps of ringlets about her heart-shaped face. Summer put a few drops of the sweet lily of the valley scent on her wrists and in the shadow between her breasts.

She thought Mother looked almost happy and a little more steady on her feet as Summer and the Irish maid helped Priscilla into a magnificent pink and burgundy gown with diamond jewelry.

Since the hoops were so full, both women could not squeeze into the carriage at the same time so Flannigan first drove the parents over to the neighboring estate and then came back for Summer and David.

They were both silent for a moment as the horses started away and Summer said, “Have you still said nothing to Father about your plans?”

“No, but my mind is made up,” he replied stubbornly. “I’m going to remove myself from that miserable household sometime soon.”

Summer sighed. The occasional visits from David when he came from school were the only bright spots in her life. How could she stand to live there without her twin?

David cleared his throat. “I’ve never pried, Sis, but I’ve always had a feeling you left a man behind you out west.”

She ran her tongue over her lower lip. “Yes, I did,” she admitted quietly.

“Then for God’s sake, why don’t you go back to him? I realize that if you did, Mother and I would probably never see you again. But we could stand it, knowing someone in this unhappy house had finally found a little comfort.”

She wondered if she should tell him, decided she trusted him enough. “He’s dead, David.”

“Oh.” He paused. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize—” A long moment passed while she listened to the horses’ hooves clatter on the street.

“Summer,” he said. “I know Austin is going to ask you to marry him tonight. What are you going to tell him?”

She studied him in the dark carriage. “It would make you very happy for me to marry your best friend, wouldn’t it, Brother?”

“Yes,” he said grudgingly, “but I wouldn’t want you to do it for that reason. If you don’t love Austin—”

“I love him,” she answered, pulling the expensive cloak more closely about her against the biting chill. “Not like I loved the other one, but I suppose I have always loved Austin. But I don’t know if it’s enough. He’s a fine person. I wouldn’t want to hurt him or give him less than he deserves.”

“Then what are you going to tell him?”

“I—I don’t know! I just don’t know!”

The carriage pulled up in front of the big Georgian mansion. Ornate coaches were parked about the grounds. Drivers and footmen gathered in groups, visiting. Elegant ladies and gentlemen arrived in fine carriages for this annual and most important of Boston’s social events. The faint sounds of the orchestra drifted on the frosty air and light streamed through all the windows, reflected by the drifts of shimmering snow.

Torn by indecision, Summer let Flannigan assist her and her brother out and they went inside to the ball.

The large entry and the ballroom beyond were ablaze with lights. Summer and David entered and gave their coats to the butler.

Austin had obviously been watching for them. He rushed up and took both Summer’s hands in his. “My dear, you are easily the most beautiful woman at the ball!”

“And you are so handsome in your uniform.” She meant it as she smiled at him.

A large crowd of Boston’s most prominent families filled the ballroom and many spoke to her. Austin took her arm and guided her across the floor while David stopped to visit with friends. She saw bold curiosity on some faces but she stuck her chin out and didn’t flinch as she returned each look boldly.

Let them talk
, she thought defiantly. The gossips would gradually lose interest in speculating on her adventures out west and finally stop whispering.

The orchestra struck up a tune. Austin grabbed her hand and pulled her out toward the dancers. “Oh, it’s a polka, Summer! We must dance-this one!”

The new dance was so popular that a woman’s jacket had been named for it, she remembered. Then she had no time for thought as he whirled her out onto the floor. They danced briskly among the other couples out under the giant chandeliers. She found herself laughing and really enjoying herself for the first time since she had returned to Boston.

The music ended. She laughed almost breathlessly and patted the slight dew of moisture from her cheeks as they left the floor. “That was such fun, Austin! I don’t remember when I’ve had such a good time!”

He smiled at her as he took her arm. “This is only the beginning, I assure you! I intend your life should always be full of fun and happiness! Would you like some punch?”

She nodded and they made their way through the crowd toward the refreshment table, stopping to speak to different ones. Austin was well liked and respected among the older crowd. They joined David and Maude at the punch bowl.

“My!” Maude simpered. “Isn’t it a wonderful party? What a pretty dress, Summer! So chic!”

“Thank you, Maude dear,” she answered politely, thinking “chic” must be the latest word from the fashion magazines. Maude didn’t read anything else. When “elegant” and “stunning” had come into being several years ago, Maude had worked them both into every sentence she uttered.

Austin smiled kindly at the rotund girl. “That is certainly an—interesting gown you’re wearing, Miss Peabody.”

“Thank you!” Maude reddened with pleasure.

“Such a bright green!” Summer stammered, trying to say something nice. Maude looked a bit like a large Christmas tree.

The new dyes had brightened all the ladies’ dresses, Summer noticed, looking around at the garish colors.

The musicians started a slow waltz and Maude looked longingly toward the floor. Summer knew that the beefy girl was a poor dancer. A sedate waltz was one of the few steps she could manage. Summer decided to do something about her friend’s plight.

“Isn’t that a lovely waltz?” she noted innocently. “And I know you waltz divinely, Maude. I’m sure David is trying to get up the nerve to ask you, aren’t you, Brother?”

“What?” David gulped. “Oh, of course! Would you do me the honor, Miss Peabody?”

“Delighted, I’m sure!” Maude simpered and they moved out onto the floor. David went at it with the dogged determination of a captain steering an unwieldy vessel.

Austin watched them. “That was a kind thing for you to do, Summer, although I’m sure David won’t think so.”

She shrugged and sipped her champagne punch. “It won’t kill David! It occurred to me how terrible it would be to stand all evening and never be asked to dance!”

“You’ve never had that problem, have you?” He winked at her. “You’ve always been the belle of these balls. But I’ve already warned all the gentlemen not to cut in on me tonight. I don’t intend to share you for even a single dance. However, I will ask Maude for a dance myself and see that some of the others ask her so she will have a wonderful time.”

Summer looked up at him a long moment. “Sometimes I forget what a kind, caring person you are, Austin.”

“You bring out the best in me; you always have.” He gave her such a tender look that her heart was touched.
There were many things worse
, she thought,
than to spend the rest of her life with a kind, caring man who offered deathless devotion.

Across the floor, one of the Osgoode girls danced by and waved to her. She could see Mother and Father in conversation with the older Shaws.

David and her friend returned to them as the waltz ended. Maude puffed like a beached whale and gulped her punch. Summer wondered if there were any kind way to change her friend’s manners and decided it wouldn’t be worth it to hurt her feelings.

David wiped his face and said, “I do hope you give me a chance, Austin, to dance with my own sister at least once if we can keep the usual rogues from monopolizing her.”

Austin laughed. “I’ve passed the word weeks ago they should all stay away from her permanently. But speaking of rogues, I want to introduce you to one of my younger classmates from the Point.”

A handsome, almost pretty blond cadet in jaunty short gray jacket and white pants joined them. He offered his hand. “Good to see you, Austin, you were kind to invite me to the ball.”

“Fannie! So glad you could come!” The other shook hands with the young man vigorously.

“Fannie?” Summer questioned.

Austin laughed. “It’s a joke, of course! Fannie is what the others at West Point call him. They say he’s as good-looking as any girl. Miss Van Schuyler, Miss Peabody, David, may I present George Armstrong Custer.”

The handsome boy bowed charmingly and shook David’s hand. “I’m enjoying my short trip to your fine city.”

Summer sized him up. He was probably not much older than she and every bit as blond and blue-eyed. “Where are you from, Mr. Custer?”

“Ohio, originally, but I really think of Michigan as my home. I’ve lived with my sister there much of the time and my sweetheart’s there.”

“And how do you like West Point?” David inquired politely. “Austin used to tell us the Point was tough and the discipline hard.”

Custer laughed easily. “Well, I don’t make the grades Austin did and I must admit to often being in trouble over the discipline.”

Austin blushed modestly. “What Fannie isn’t telling you is how popular he is with the other men and a born leader! I think as an officer, his men would follow him anywhere without a backward glance! And when he does get into trouble, things always seem to work out for him. The others are beginning to call it ‘Custer’s luck.’”

Now it was the young cadet’s turn to flush. “I don’t know about that but I do hope my luck holds out and the war doesn’t start until I graduate. There’s going to be a shortage of officers and that will mean a golden opportunity for ambitious young men.”

Summer sighed. “All I hear is talk of war. I’m sure another way can be found to settle the differences.”

“Well, if war does come,” Maude waved her hand in a melodramatic flourish, “I intend to be on the front lines as a nurse! If Florence Nightingale can do it, so can I!”

“How interesting!” Custer had a winning smile. “If I’m wounded in the fray, I do hope I’m lucky enough to be attended by such a charming nurse as yourself! Perhaps we’ll all meet someday on the battlefield.”

“You can count me out,” David said stiffly. “I don’t care to go even if congress passes a draft!”

The others eyed him with such obvious disapproval that Summer felt compelled to rush to his defense. “What my brother means is he’s going to be so badly needed in our business, we won’t be able to spare him. He’ll reluctantly have to pay someone to go in his place as will a lot of other young men.”

“What I mean is,” David said, a bit testy, “I don’t have any intention of getting mixed up in this glorious game. It’s not going to be a lot of fancy parades and uniforms, it’s going to be terrible bloodshed, brother against brother, father against son!”

Custer stared at him. “You’d just let the South pull out of the Union?”

“I would!”

There was a long, awkward silence. The orchestra struck up “Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair.”

“I do wish they wouldn’t play Stephen Foster’s songs,” Maude prattled inanely. ”You know he writes for those blackface Christy Minstrels and his songs are so common!”

The young cadet offered his arm gallantly. “Even if it is a common song, Miss Peabody, I’d be charmed to have this dance.”

Maude simpered as she took it and they pushed through the crowd to the dance floor.

“Really, David,” Austin scolded gently, “if I were you, I’d keep my thoughts to myself. Most of us are eager to give those Rebels a good whipping! Why, it’ll all be over in a month, once it starts!”

“I’m sorry if I made it awkward for you just now with your military friend.” David shrugged. “But I think you are all taking this too lightly. The idea of all that suffering and bloodshed breaks my heart.”

Austin put his hand on David’s shoulder. “If war does come, I hope there are going to be a few medics or chaplains out there who care as much as you do. Now I need to talk to your sister.”

David nodded as Austin took Summer’s arm and they moved away toward the conservatory with its jungle of plants.

“David is very concerned about anything involving suffering,” she said as they entered the dim greenhouse.

“I know that, Summer,” he said gently. “He’s my best friend, remember? David is one of two people I care most about in this world.” He hesitated. “You surely know who the other is.”

She didn’t answer as she sat down on a bench among the steamy atmosphere of the potted palms. There were times that away from the competition of his more dashing brother and his scolding mother, Austin changed in personality, becoming, almost, a man she could love.

He sat down on the bench beside her. “Do you remember the first time you were ever in this conservatory?”

“I’m afraid not,” she confessed.

“I suppose you don’t because it doesn’t mean as much to you as it does to me. The first time I ever saw you that I recall was right here. You had come with your mother when she came over to check on the new house your parents were building next door.”

“I must have been very young,” she said, laughing. “I’m afraid I don’t remember at all!”

“I remember. I remember every small detail. I was only eight years old and I remember the small child with the beautiful pale hair and a dainty blue frock. I fell in love with you that day and waited all these years for you to grow up so I could marry you.”

Such adoration made her uneasy. “So many things have changed since then, Austin! I’m not that innocent child you idolized all these years. There are things that if you knew—”

“I don’t want to know!” he said almost savagely, taking her face between his fine hands and looking into her eyes. “I—I don’t care what has happened and I don’t want you to ever tell me! My life stopped the day you disappeared off that stagecoach and only resumed the day I heard you’d been found. Whatever has happened, let’s forget and never speak of it. I love you too much to think of it!”

She felt her eyes widen in surprise as she looked up and saw the jealous pain and suffering in his eyes. He knows! she thought in puzzlement.
He knows somehow about the Cheyenne warrior and is willing to forget it if I can and make an attempt at a future.
She tried to hold back the tears as she thought of the dead brave but one rolled down her flawless skin.

Austin reached for a handkerchief and wiped her eyes gently. “Whatever you have endured, I’m going to make you forget,” he promised. “I know you’ve never cared for me as much as I did for you, but I’m willing to take the gamble that you might learn to.”

Summer turned her face away. “Your mother—”

“Forget about Mother!” he said so sternly that it surprised her. “If it comes to a choice between you, there’s no contest! I have plenty of money of my own, Summer. Where would you like to live? Washington? England? France? Whatever it takes to make you love me, I’ll do! Whatever you want, I’ll buy! I intend to devote the rest of my life to making you happy.”

She looked up at him, touched by his ardent fervor, thinking how few alternatives she had.
Could she ever learn to love him as he loved her?

He took both her hands in his. “Summer, please say you’ll marry me.”

She hesitated a long moment and considered. And in that moment, she closed the past as one does a book that is finished. Her beloved was dead but somehow she must try to pick up the pieces of her life and go on.
The best place to bury a dead love is deep in the depths of memory where it can be cherished forever. No one could ever take those few short, wonderful weeks away from her. She would have them always. But life is for the living . . .

Summer swallowed hard and she knew her voice was a whisper. “Yes, Austin,” she answered. “I—I’ll marry you.”

He gave a small sound of relief and gladness as he kissed her. It was a proper, prim kiss. As his lips touched hers lightly, she could not keep her mind from thinking of powerful arms lifting her, a hot, passionate mouth forcing hers open.

But she must not think of that anymore
, she reminded herself as she returned the prim kiss. She must be fair with Austin and try to give him as much love as he gave her and maybe, somehow, it would all work out.

He pulled away and reached into his pocket for a small box. “I didn’t dare hope, but I brought this along tonight anyway.” His eyes shone with moisture as he brought out a magnificent sapphire ring encrusted with flawless diamonds.

“Oh, Austin! It’s beautiful!” she gasped as he slipped it on her finger.

“I’m glad you like it,” he answered happily. “It’s a family heirloom. I’ve had our lawyer holding it for many years until you grew up. The first time I saw it, I knew it was meant for you because the stone is a perfect match for your sky blue eyes.”

She winced at the memory.
Sky blue eyes. Summer Sky ...

“Is something the matter?” he asked anxiously. “Have I said something wrong?”