Ecstasy's Promise (Historical Romance) (5 page)

"Of course, Sergeant. It seems fair to me that you should be paid for the kindness you have shown me today," Victoria answered before the major could. The sergeant looked at her suspiciously. Then, shrugging his shoulders, he wrapped a big hand around the saddle horn. He had one foot in the stirrup and the other in midair. That was as far as he got. The big stallion reared on his hind legs and spun around in a circle. Blue-coated soldiers scattered, trying to avoid flying hoofs, and Sergeant Bates went flying through the air and landed with a thud, not ten feet from where Victoria and the major stood. The crowd roared with laughter. "Why, Sergeant, are you hurt?" Victoria asked in a honey-sweet voice. He gave her a look of pure poison as he painfully gained his feet.

Another soldier tried his luck and still another, each with the same disastrous results. Each man in turn was sure he could ride the black horse, and each in turn landed on the ground. Finally Major Courtney raised his hand. "Enough," he called. Then he turned to Victoria. "If this keeps up I will not have an army to command."

"That would be a pity," she responded sweetly.

Sergeant Bates came forward. "He did not prove it was his horse, Major. He only proved that no one can ride that devil. That horse needs to be shot."

"He is right, you know. This is not proof positive. I am afraid that I cannot let you go free, Charley."

"Wait, Major. I get my chance now," and with
that, she called softly. The black stallion perked up his ears and walked over to Victoria. He thrust his nose into her outstretched hand. The crowd was quiet, watching in awe, the small boy and the demon horse, who was now as docile as a lamb. Victoria put her foot in the stirrup and hoisted herself into the saddle. Rebel cantered around the circle of men. Victoria could see the looks of admiration on the faces of the soldiers. She was enjoying her victory. Finally she drew Rebel before the major with a look of triumph on her face. "See, Major, Rebel knows who he belongs to."

"All right, Charley, dismount. I think you have won your point." She hesitated, looking at the trees in the distance. Could she make it to safety if she spurred Rebel on? As though the major had read her mind, he said with a voice of authority, "Get down, Charley. I do not have time for any more of your games." Reluctantly, she did as he ordered. "Follow me, Charley. There are still some questions I need answered."

She sullenly followed him into the tent. He seated himself at his desk and studied her for a moment. "You never did intend to let me go, did you, Major?"

"Enough, you are trying my patience. A good spanking is what you need. A good bath would not hurt either."

"How dare you," Victoria stormed. "You and your men come into our state, you burn our homes, destroy our lives, and accost our women."

He looked at her wearily. "I have not accosted a woman in at least an hour."

She glared at him. "Why don't you go home and just leave us in peace?"

"Ah, Charley," he said, rising to his feet, "would that I could. I grow weary of this war."

There was a commotion outside the tent. A man entered and presented himself to the major. "Lieutenant Carter, sir." He snapped to attention. "I have a dispatch from General Sherman."

Major Courtney took the dispatch and then dismissed the lieutenant. Then he turned back to Victoria. "I do not believe your story for one
moment, but I am going to let you go." He came over
and stood in front of her. Before she knew what had
happened, he pulled her to him and smiled down at
her. "I cannot credit that my men mistook you for a boy, Charley." He lowered his lips and kissed her long and hard.

She shoved him away. "How dare you," she said hotly.

He grinned at her. "I wish I had more time to get to know you."

"I do not wish to be on intimate terms with a Yankee," she replied.

He threw his head back and laughed. "Run along,
Charley. Maybe we will meet again. I would like very
much to see you in a dress."

"I hope," she said hotly, "if we ever meet again, I
can repay your hospitality in kind."

He grinned down at her. "I hope so, too."

"You . . . you Yankee," Victoria said disgust
edly, unable to think of a worse name to call him. His
laughter followed her as she backed out of the tent.
She lost no time in mounting Rebel and riding away.
Her heart did not return to normal until she was well
away from the Yankee camp.

Maj. Ray Courtney stood by the open tent flap and watched her ride away. He was tired of this war. He had seen so many strange events since they had started on the Georgia campaign. He much preferred a battle that did not include women and children. He went back to his desk and was intent on finishing his report when the tent flap opened and his friend, Maj. Edward Hanover, came in.

"Is this the way you fight a war," Edward said grinning, "behind a desk?"

Ray smiled at Edward. "The person who said an army travels on its stomach was badly misinformed. They travel on paperwork."

Edward Hanover was tall, well over six feet. His hair, black as a raven's wing, fell stubbornly across his forehead. Black sideburns framed his handsome face. His chin was stubborn, with a slight cleft. His lips were firm and full. His eyes were dark brown, framed by long black lashes. His shoulders were broad and tapered down to a narrow waist. His legs were long and lean. He and Ray Courtney had often been in competition for the same woman's favors, and it was Ray who always seemed to come out the loser. In spite of this, Ray still counted Edward Hanover his closest friend. They had both been assigned to General Sherman's command, and had acquired a respect and friendship for each other.

"Have you just come from the general?" Ray asked.

Edward nodded. "Yes, he rides into Savannah the day after tomorrow," he replied.

"The back of the South is all but broken," Ray said.

"Yes," Edward agreed wearily. "The end of the war is very near. The general told me he intends to give Savannah to President Lincoln for a Christmas present."

"That seems appropriate," Ray said looking at Edward's face carefully. "You do not seem too happy about the conquest," he added.

"It is not that," Edward said. "I, unfortunately, will not be going to Savannah."

"Why ever not?"

Edward pulled up a campstool and seated himself. "I am returning to Texas. My mother has died."

"I am sorry, Edward," Ray said with genuine sympathy. "I know it is a great blow to you."

Edward's eyes clouded over. "Yes. She was a great lady. I am sorry I was unable to be with her at the end."

"Maybe it would be less painful if you did not return to Texas just now."

"No, I must return. A ranch the size of Rio del Lobo cannot run itself."

"I am surprised the general would let you leave. He is very fond of you," Ray said thoughtfully.

"He was very understanding. In fact, it was his idea that I leave for home."

"How will your neighbors receive you, Edward? I have often wondered how you would be able to return, since Texas fought for the Confederacy, and you fought for the Union."

Edward rose and walked over to the open tent flap. "That remains to be seen," he said wearily.

"But I do not expect too much trouble."
Ray sat back in his chair. "How can you be sure?"
Edward smiled at him. "If it comes, I can handle it."

Ray did not doubt his words for a moment. He had
fought at Edward Hanover's side, and found him both brave and fearless. Ray thought of the battle of Bull Run. It had been a long battle with many skirmishes. Ray and Edward had ridden out just
before nightfall, each with a small company of men.
Their orders had been to secure a barn where a
group of Confederates were holed up. They had been
caught in a cross fire between the barn and a cornfield, and Ray's horse had been shot out from under him. They had been outnumbered ten to one, and Ray knew that he did not have a chance to survive. All his men but three had been killed or wounded, and the three survivors had ridden away
in a cloud of dust. Ray had prayed for a quick death.
His gun and saber had been lost in his fall from the
horse, and he had been defenseless. All of a sudden,
he had seen Edward riding toward him, with the Confederate guns firing all about him. Edward had taken Ray upon his horse and they had both ridden
away unharmed. Later, when Ray had tried to thank
him, Edward had only laughed and said, "You owe me one." No, he had very little fear that Edward Hanover would run into anything in Texas that he could not handle.

"When do you plan to leave?" Ray asked him. "Well," Edward replied, "if you will offer me your hospitality for the night, I will leave for Texas in the morning."

That evening the two Union majors sat over coffee after a well-prepared meal. "You will not have any trouble when you get home," Ray told Edward, "if the ladies have anything to say about it. That is, if your Texas women are anything like the ones I have seen giving you the eye."

Edward smiled at him over his coffee cup. "I find women much the same the world over."

Ray laughed at him. "Even you will have to admit defeat where the charming southern ladies are concerned."

Edward placed his cup on the table and traced the rim of it with a long lean finger. "I have not found the southern beauties too hard to get to know."

"Yeah," Ray said teasingly. "I forgot about the red-headed one at the plantation outside Atlanta who made such a fuss when I announced that we were going to bivouac in her front yard, until she saw you; then she insisted that you, being a high-ranking officer should stay in her guest bedroom."

Edward laughed. "She was rather insistent, wasn't she?"

"Yes," Ray said easily, "and when I reminded her I shared the same rank, she suggested that I remain with the men to see that they did not misbehave. You never did say," he added; "did you sleep in the guest bedroom?"

"Ah, Ray, a gentleman never tells," Edward answered him.

Ray laughed. "Hey, speaking of southern ladies, Edward, I met one today that really intrigued me." Ray told him of the girl who had tried to pass herself
off as the boy, Charley. Edward listened intently, while Ray told him of the girl and the horse. "I knew all along that she was not the boy she pretended to be."

Edward laughed. "I am not surprised you spotted the deception, being such a connoisseur of the fair sex.

"Let me tell you, Edward," Ray said thoughtfully. "I could tell in spite of her attire, or maybe because of it, that she was the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. I wonder what her story is."

"Why didn't you pursue her?" Edward grinned.

"Lack of time, for one thing," Ray told him. "She was in some sort of trouble, I could tell. She was the kind of woman who could make you want to slay all her dragons for her."

"Well," Edward said, looking at Ray closely, "she got under your skin. I wish I had ridden over earlier so I could have seen her with my own eyes."

"Oh, no," Ray said. "You would not have gotten any further than I did. This was a real lady. I could tell from her voice that she had breeding and a genteel upbringing."

Edward laughed and clapped his friend on the back. "I do not know when I have seen you react to a female in quite this way."

Ray looked at him seriously. "After she left, I regretted letting her go so easily. I don't know how to find her, and I don't even know her correct name."

"Cheer up," Edward said. "Maybe you will meet her again."

"No, I do not think so. At least," Ray continued,
"I kissed her good-bye."

Edward raised his eyebrows. "L thought you said
she was a lady."

Ray laughed. "I did not say that she kissed me back."

"Offer me a brandy, Ray, and we will drink to your paragon. Then, if you will point me in the direction of a cot, I will turn in.

"Too bad, Ray," Edward told him over a glass of
brandy, "that I cannot stay behind to see if you find your mysterious lady." Edward set his glass down and offered his hand to his friend. "I will say good-by now. I leave before first light. If you are ever in Texas, my home is open to you."

"I will remember that," Ray said, shaking his
hand vigorously. He knew he would miss Edward
Hanover, but doubted that their paths would ever cross again.

3

As the result of Victoria's capture by enemy soldiers, Bodine was careful not to leave her alone
and unprotected again. For the next week, they were
very cautious and avoided the main roads.

There was devastation all about them. The Union Army had swooped down on Georgia like a bird of
destruction. They had punished the once-proud
Georgians sorely, leaving them stunned and helpless.

One day Victoria and Bodine traveled along the railroad route and saw that the iron rails had been ripped from the tracks by the Union Army. For
miles, as far as they could see, the rails were bent out
of shape. Many of them had been wrapped around trees. What manner of a man was this Sherman?
Victoria wondered. He seemed determined to make
Georgia a wasteland. Victoria knew it would be many
years before Georgia would recover, if at all.

When they crossed the border into Alabama, Victoria felt both relief and regret. She wondered if she would ever be able to see her beloved Farraday Plantation again. The future and Texas both seemed a long way off. For now, her life centered around
long weary hours in the saddle. She found she could
not plan from one day to the next.

The days turned into weeks. One morning Bodine
told her they would be traveling at a much slower pace. He no longer feared pursuit. It was much easier going after that. Victoria and Bodine found many wayside inns, which more often than not,
were dirty and the food none too good, but they were
thankful nonetheless for the shelter over their heads because the weather had turned bitterly cold.

Once, after eating at one of these inns, Victoria
and Bodine had contracted food poisoning, causing
them to lose a whole week. From that time on, Bodine insisted that they eat nothing but fresh vegetables, eggs, cheese, and milk. As a result, Victoria swore she would never drink milk or eat eggs again when they reached their destination.

After they reached Mississippi, Bodine would often allow them to rest three days out of the week.
He was concerned that the horses could not keep up
the pace for much longer, he told Victoria, but she knew it was as much for her sake as for that of the animals.

One night, in a small inn on the outskirts of Jackson, Mississippi, they had just retired for the
night, after a long day in the saddle, when they heard
a commotion coming from the barn. They could hear Rebel as he raged and kicked at the stall where
he had been placed. On investigating, Bodine found
two men trying to put a rope around the stallion's
neck. When the two would-be thieves saw Bodine's
size, they fled into the night. After that, Bodine
began sleeping with the horses. He told Victoria that
horses were at a premium; with the railroad
destroyed and the gulf blockaded, they were the only
means of transportation. She was concerned for Bodine's safety, but he assured her that he could take care of himself as well as the horses.

It was late March before the two weary travelers crossed the border into Louisiana. Spring was in evidence along the road they traveled. The grass was turning green and the trees were budding. The weather was mild, and they were able to shed their heavy coats.

April found them in Shreveport. They entered the city late in the afternoon and rode down the main street, which was bustling with activity. There were many Union soldiers mixing with the local populace. By now Victoria felt no need to fear them. She felt only an overwhelming hatred for anyone bearing the blue uniform of the Union Army.

Bodine found a small hotel in the heart of the city and registered them at the front desk. The desk clerk looked at them suspiciously and insisted that they pay for the rooms in advance, and not in Confederate bills. His attitude changed abruptly, however, when Bodine paid him the price he had asked for the rooms.

Though it was a small hotel, it was an elegant one. Bodine and Victoria made their way up the staircase, conscious of the looks they were receiving from the other, well-dressed patrons. Victoria was made to feel aware of her shabby appearance. She wondered why Bodine had chosen such a plush hotel instead of one of the usual out-of-the-way rustic inns to which she had become accustomed. She said nothing, however, and as always relied on Bodine to make
the decisions.

Bodine took the key, opened the door to her room, and placed her pack on the floor. Then he left her to go to his room next door. Victoria looked about her. How nice it was going to be just to relax and enjoy the luxurious surroundings. She went over to the bed and sat down on it. She sank into the soft mattress. How heavenly to sleep in a bed without lumps, she thought. She lay her tired body across the bed and soon fell asleep.

She was awakened some time later by a knock on the door. She got up sleepily and opened the door. Two maids stood in the hallway. Their gray pinstriped uniforms were covered with crisp white aprons.

"We have orders to prepare you a tub bath," one of them told her.

Victoria could hardly contain her joy as they brought in a galvanized tub and filled it with hot water. As they had traveled across country, she had been forced to wash herself as best she could from a pan of water—or sometimes from an icy stream. Her last tub bath had been before she left Farraday Plantation.

Bodine came in just as the two maids were leaving. He smiled at her over an armload of packages.

"What have you there?" Victoria asked him, puzzled.

He set the packages on her bed and turned to her. "Well, why don't you see for yourself, Imp," he said, smiling down at her.

Victoria walked over to the packages and picked up the card that was lying on top. She opened it and read:

"Happy eighteenth birthday, love Bodine"

"It
is
my birthday," she said softly. She could hardly credit that it was her birthday and she had not even been aware of it. A smile brightened her face as she ran to Bodine and threw herself into his arms. "You did not forget," she said, tears shining in her eyes.

"No, Imp, I could not forget something as important as your eighteenth birthday."

"Oh, thank you, thank you, Bodine. It is the best birthday I have ever had."

He dislodged her arms from around his waist. "Why not save your thanks until you open them. Besides, as I recall, every year on your birthday, you say it is the best one."

"May I open them now?" Victoria asked eagerly.

"Of course," he told her. "But I will leave and let you open them in privacy. See if you can be bathed and dressed in two hours," he said. "I am going to buy you the best birthday dinner this town has to offer." He smiled at her and went out the door.

Victoria rushed over to the packages and tore into them. She found a blue cotton gown. She held it in front of her and ran her fingers over the soft texture of the material. Then she laid it gently across the foot of the bed, and opened the other packages. She found undergarments and a stiff white petticoat. She smiled at the thought of Bodine shopping for the intimate garments.

The last package contained a box of lilac soap, her
favorite. She held a scented bar to her nose and breathed in its sweet fragrance. "Bodine," she said aloud, "you are the dearest man in the whole world."

She quickly undressed and stepped into the tub of water. She lathered her hair and body with a bar of the lilac soap. The weariness of the long months in
the saddle washed away from her in the luxury of the
bath.

After she had finished bathing, Victoria stood before the mirror of the small dressing table. She
was slimmer now, and her body was firm from long
hours in the saddle. She looked at her face and
noticed with horror how dark it was. She had been so
proud of her creamy white complexion. How was she
ever going to get rid of this horrible tan?

She hurriedly dressed herself in her new clothes, then stood before the mirror again and studied her reflection. The blue dress was simple and unadorned, but she treasured it more than if it had been the latest Paris original.

Her hair was almost dry. It hung below her shoulders, and curled about her face in ringlets. She
noticed it was a much lighter color now, bleached by
the sun.

She turned around in a circle. The skirt of her
gown billowed out about her. She felt the softness of
it caress her body. It was not going to be as hard as she had suspected to return to being a woman.

There was a knock on the door and she rushed to admit Bodine. He had also bathed and shaved. His
hair was neatly combed, and he wore a new shirt and
pants. Victoria gave him a mock curtsy. "La, sir, are
we not grand?" she teased.

He looked her over. "Very pretty, Miss Farraday," he said soberly, the twinkle in his eyes giving the lie to his formal words. "Shall we dine?" He offered her his arm.

Victoria linked her arm through his. "I do declare, sir, you do know how to please a lady." Then she said seriously, "Thank you for a wonderful birthday, Bodine." She kissed his cheek.

"You deserve much more," he told her. "You have been so brave and have not complained when the going was rough."

"That is because I knew you would take care of me," Victoria told him simply.

"Come," he said, "I am hungry." Bodine pulled her toward the door.

"Wait," she cried, "I have no shoes."

He looked down at her. "It seems I forgot your footwear. How could I have been so remiss?"

"It does not matter," Victoria told him, as she sat on the side of the bed and pulled on her scuffed brown boots. She raised her skirt and looked down at the boots that had been Paul O'Brian's as a child. Then she grinned up at Bodine, "Do you think anyone will notice?"

"I doubt it. When they see the beautiful lady that you are, they will not think to check out your feet." They both laughed and made their way down the stairs and to the dining room.

Bodine had been correct. No one looked at her shabby boots. They stared in open admiration at the beautiful girl on the arm of the giant man who escorted her. Victoria was totally unaware of the sensation she was causing. She had always known she was pretty, but had not given it a great deal of thought. She did not realize that she had grown into a breathtakingly beautiful woman.

The food was delicious as Bodine had promised. Victoria had steak and potatoes dripping with butter, and for dessert she had pecan pie. "This is heavenly," she told Bodine. "I had forgotten that well-prepared food could taste so good."

"You sure ate your fair share tonight, Imp. Are you not afraid that you will bust the seams of your new gown?"

"Not in the least," she told him laughingly. She put her hand over his. "Thank you for a wonderful day, Bodine."

"You have already thanked me, Imp. Now how would you like to go for a stroll?"

Victoria's face brightened. How wonderful it would be to walk leisurely down the street and act like normal people. She nodded her head eagerly. "I would like that very much," she told Bodine.

The streets were far from deserted. There were many people walking about. The street lamps gave off a friendly glow. They saw two men in Yankee uniforms approach them. Victoria drew in her breath as they came near. She felt Bodine put pressure on her hand, as though he knew what she was feeling and was giving her courage. One of the men stepped aside to let them pass, but his companion stood in front of them. His eyes met Victoria's and he smiled at her. She gave him an icy stare. She knew one of them would have to give way to the other, and was determined it was not going to
be her. The man spoke:

"I believe you are blocking my path."

"The way I see it," Victoria said coldly, "you are impeding our progress."

"I am sick and tired of you Southern ladies with your mightier-than-thou attitude. You think of us as dirt beneath your dainty feet," he said hotly.

"I can assure you, sir, that I do not think of you at
all."

"Come on, Carl," the other soldier said, "leave them alone."

"No, damn it, I will not," he said. "We have the right of the conqueror to be here. Let them walk around me." For the first time his eyes went to the giant man who stood in his path. The cool gray eyes held a threat in them. He knew as surely as if the man had told him, that he was looking death in the face. Without a word, he stepped into the street where his friend waited and let them pass. But the
mood of the evening was spoiled so Bodine decided
they would return to the hotel.

Bodine took Victoria to her room and saw her inside. "I have been wondering," she told him as he was about to leave, "can we really afford these
rooms, Bodine? They must have cost a great deal of
money."

He came back and stood before her. "You are not to worry about finances, Victoria."