Love by Dawn (8 page)

At first, the girl wouldn’t accept the
dress; claiming that she’d never owned anything so pretty before or
worn anything as nice. She admitted that she couldn’t even recall
the last time she had worn a dress, but Sharon insisted. It fit her
to a tee, except for being slightly long. Her guest said that she
was only five-feet-two inches.

“I hope I don’t trip and fall on my face. I’m
not used to being in a dress,” she giggled, looking at her feet
clad in her worn out boots.

Sharon’s gaze followed the girls. “No, no,
that won’t do. Here try on my slippers.” She handed her matching
soft shoes.

They were too big, but Casey decided to stuff
them with rags, making them due for the night. “I am not used to
walking in something so soft. How do women walked on them without
bruising their soles on rocks in the dirt?”

“Just remember to hold the dress up in front
when you walk and you’ll be fine.” Sharon elaborated as she gave
her friend the once over. “But don’t pick it up too much, we
mustn’t let the men see too much of your pretty ankles. It’s not
ladylike. Now sit while I put your beautiful blonde hair up.”

She saw Casey blush before she proclaimed,
“Oh, I am so uninformed of proper etiquette but feel like a
princess in a story book.”

Sharon waved her guest’s comment aside,
combed and styled her hair this way, then that way, making faces at
herself and Casey in the mirror until she accomplished the style
she was trying for. When she was finished, the girl was astonished
and couldn’t believe her eyes.

“I didn’t think it was possible for you too
look more beautiful,” declared Sharon, “but you are radiant.” She
hugged the blushing girl. “There isn’t going to be a man at the
table who won’t be able to take his eyes off of you. I may not go,
for I feel like the ugly duckling next to you.”

“Oh, no!” cried Casey, “You don’t mean that.
You’re being kind. I never thought myself pretty and especially
hated the freckles across my nose, but you transformed me into
someone I cannot believe is me.”

“Well, there is no one here at the fort that
interests me anyway,” Sharon laughed, “so flirt to your hearts
content. Oh, phooey,” she tapped Casey’s shoulder, “now don’t look
so serious, I was only funning you,” she scolded lightly.

Casey thought there was only one man she
wanted to impress. Then she assumed that Sharon hadn’t meet Blake
yet, or she wouldn’t have said that. It did not take her long to
realize that she didn’t like the idea of the beautiful dark-haired
woman being in the same room with her. Jealousy was not a good
feeling and she was glad when a light rap on the door startled her
out of her disturbing emotion

“Oh, that must be my brother,” said
Sharon

She was told to answer the knock. To her
disappointment it wasn’t the lieutenant but she was greatly
surprised to see that handsome cowboy standing there. They stared
at one another with equal astonishment and Casey’s heart leaped at
the clean shaven man who stood before her. She was enthralled by
what she saw and couldn’t resist another glance at his face. He
brushed his unruly locks off from his forehead, smiling. The
gesture made him look boyish and clean shaven he looked years
younger without the facial hairs. The cowboy extended his arm but
she hesitated and turned to introduce Sharon to Blake. Sharon said
that she was glad to meet him and visa-versa, but Casey didn’t miss
the interested gleam in Sharon’s eyes. She then excused herself and
left.

“I… I didn’t expect you. I thought
Walter…err, the lieutenant was coming.” She was a little ashamed of
her comment and her failure to talk without babbling. She forget
the promise she had made to herself not to let the cowboy
intimidate her. But Blake could put her stomach into a constant
flutter and when his grin flashed, dazzling against his tan skin,
her heart took a leap.

“You look beautiful, Casey,” he complimented
her but there was a slight tinge of wonder in his voice. His blue
eyes seemed to darken with emotion and betray his ardor, a fact
that didn’t go undetected by Casey, but she had no answer for
praise. And why didn’t she return the compliment? His arm still
waiting for her hand, she looked at it as if it was the jaw of a
lion and then shrugged, “Oh, fiddlesticks, lets j-just go!” she
sputtered and put her hand on his arm promising herself that she
would enjoy the night and try to ignore this exasperating man. A
feat she knew she’d find impossible.

When Lieutenant Shepherd and Sharon arrived a
short time later, she didn’t miss the scowl on Walter’s face when
he entered the room, but then the soldier looked at her and his
features lit up with a big smile. Casey wondered what that was all
about as she looked from one man to the other. Blake by her side
was grinning wolfishly and she knew he was up to no good. She
watched his mouth widen from the grin to a sensual smile when he
saw Sharon and instantly her heart fell to her stomach with a
crash. Sharon returned the smile making Casey lose some of the
affection towards her new friend. Stiffing her spine, she told
herself not to let the man next to her spoil a good friendship.
Anyway, if her plan worked, she’d be long gone from here and Blake.
Why should she care if he and Sharon got together? It honestly made
her no nevermind!

Inhaling deeply, the lieutenant seated
himself next to her at the table. Casey saw from the corner of her
eye that Sharon sat next to Blake. She was uncomfortable again, but
quickly dismissed the feeling with renewed determination in her set
shoulders. Her full attention would be given to Lieutenant
Shepherd, who insisted that she called him Walter.

There were two more ranking officers and
their wives at the table and the evening started out to be very
enjoyable. Casey made idle chatter with the men and their wives but
her eyes continued to roam in Blake’s direction, something she
found impossible to avoid. She noticed Blake enjoying Sharon’s
company but he would catch her looking at him and smile before she
could glance away. It gored her to no end when he caught her
looking and she picked at the delicious food finding it hard to
swallow. Finally, she kept her head down through the rest of the
meal, but sensed Blake was watching her.

His eyes seemed to bore
into her flesh making her feel like an inferno ready to explode.
Between Blake irritating her and her plan to help Hunter escape,
her nerves were ready to unravel like a coiled cobra.
Damnation! Control yourself before you leap out
of your skin.
Gulping down a glass of
water and nearly choking, she managed to swallow some of her
irritation, and then smiling sweetly to Walter, she asked if he
would escort her back to the barracks; she quickly developed a
headache. Rising to the occasion, Walter said that he would be
delighted to see her safely back. Just as he took her hand to help
her from the chair, a soldier interrupted with apologies for
disturbing dinner. The soldier informed him that an important wire
has just been received from Washington. The lieutenant’s smile
tightened, but he politely bowed to Casey with regrets.

She saw the cowboy flash
his white teeth, saying he would be delighted to escort both lovely
ladies home, but Sharon excused herself, declaring that she was
curious about the wire.
The beauty told him that there were
new
problems out west with the Indians and she
was afraid her brother would be stationed somewhere in no man’s
land. Blake nodded and told Sharon that she had brightened his
evening.

It took great effort for Casey not to groan
aloud at Blake’s smooth declaration. She now felt trapped and
cursed with rotten luck as she rolled her eyes toward the ceiling.
Her gesture went unnoticed by all, but that insufferable cowboy who
chuckled, making her hiss madly under her breath. He took her elbow
and they walked in utter silence as Casey boiled with rage. He had
managed to ruin her evening with his stares and smug smiles. He was
the damnedest male she ever had the bad luck to meet and she would
certainly tell him so. As soon as they reached the door she turned
on him, spitting every foul word she had heard from her pa when he
was in his cups. He held a wrist over her head and lowered his face
so close his hot breath touched her mouth. Too late, she remembered
his threat and her own breath lodged somewhere in her dry throat.
She wanted the kiss but she’d be damned if she’d let him see the
power he had over her again. She had her pride and wouldn’t be
caught swooning over his kisses. Not this time!

Blake began to nibble on her earlobe and down
her neck turning her legs to jelly. Sheer determination gave her
the resistance and strength to reach behind with her free hand and
turn the door knob, opening the door. She believed that Blake was
so engrossed with desire, he hadn’t an inkling what was happening.
She wrenched away from his grip and pulled herself into the room.
The last thing she saw before slamming the door was the surprised
and confused look on his handsome features. She was grateful to see
his expression change from desire to chagrin.

Casey leaned against the crude wooden door
letting pent up tears roll down her cheeks. It was some time later
she applied cold water to her puffy eyes. She had to gather her
wits if she was to put her plan to work.

He just had the door
slammed in his face and Blake stood completely, without a doubt,
flustered. Earlier, her declaration about expecting Walter had cut
him to the quick, but he had made sure Lieutenant Shepherd would
not escort Casey by giving him a false message that a soldier
wanted to see him about an important matter. He was sure he’d hear
about it later, but seeing her, he was glad he did it. His heart
had beat wildly, could hardly believe that a dirty faced ragamuffin
girl, dressed like a boy, could be transformed into a
Femme Fatale
. Frustrated
over the painful condition he found himself in, he shook his head
wondering how he was going to release the ache. The nearest town
was too far to find a woman so he decided on a bottle, but the
little minx owed him a kiss and maybe more. Slamming his hat on his
head, he went to get a bottle, hoping it would take away the itch
in his breaches.

NINE

When Sharon entered the barracks, she
noticed the girl was asleep. She was disappointed because she had
wonderful news, but her new friend was tired and the morning was
soon enough to share her excitement. Quietly, she slipped out of
her clothes, donned a nightgown and eased her body into bed. She
would’ve loved to spend more time with the handsome cowboy, but she
saw the sly look between he and the girl; but what she couldn’t
understand was their feigned dislike. The tension was so thick
between them one could cut it with a blade. Well, she wouldn’t
waste precious moments thinking about something she could never
acquire; Blake had eyes for only Casey. She wouldn’t belabor it;
her man was out there somewhere; she would be patient. Her brother
had expressed his desire for Casey, as he walked her to the
barracks, but she informed him that he was also wasting his time.
She was surprised to see him agree so easily, but the news was so
overwhelming, she figured nothing could dampen Walter’s spirits
now.

The clock in the outer room had chimed ten
times when Casey slipped out of the dress, got under the cover to
wait for Sharon. She wished she had her own clothes, but the young
woman took them away to be washed. All she had were her boots and
her knife which she slipped into her footgear. Nervously counting
the loud tick-tocks of the clock until it chimed on the half-hour,
she prayed her roommate would return soon, it was getting late.
When Sharon finally came into the room, she pretended to be asleep.
Upon hearing Sharon’s easy breathing, Casey slipped from the bed
and quietly put on the dress. She frowned, disliking the idea of
wearing it, especially to ride a horse. She sneaked out leaving the
petticoats behind.

Flattening against the building in the
shadows, the moon was on her side, hidden behind the clouds. With a
deep, nervous breath, she slowly opened the gate to the coral.
“Sadie,” she whispered a few times until she heard her horse
whinny. The mare came to her and Casey led her mount out of the
corral. Hunter and she would have to double up; she had no
intentions of stealing an army horse. Tying Sadie to the rear of
the building that housed the prisoners, Casey placed her saddle on
the animal and didn’t waste too much time in hitching it; all the
while she hushed her horse, as she quickly put a bit in the
animal’s mouth.

Swallowing hard, she opened the heavy door
and spotted a young soldier behind the desk. He looked no older
than seventeen, this couldn’t be better. It was time to take
Sharon’s advice and flirt with the enlisted man. This was not
something she was experienced at and prayed she could pull it off.
The door closed behind her as she took a few steps into the room.
At first the private didn’t notice her and then Casey took him by
surprise. He blinked and stood so quickly that the chair toppled
over. So as not to follow the chair he grabbed the edge of the
desk. Stunned, he managed to stay erect.

“Err…ma’am,” he sputtered, “can I help you?”
He tucked his finger inside his shirt collar to allow more room for
him to swallow. Casey had to stifle a grin when she noticed his
large Adam’s apple bob up and down.

“Oh,” she replied meekly, smiling as sweetly
as she knew how, knowing that her twin dimples would add just the
right touch. Placing her hand over her breasts, seeing him follow
her deliberate ploy, she purred, “I know I shouldn’t be here but my
po’ little brother is your prisoner and if’n I don’t see him fo’
just a minute, I think I’d surely die.” Her southern accent came
naturally but she laid it on thick, then she dramatically stumbled
into the chair with a swoon. The soldier seemed to hesitate a
moment as if he was caught in a dilemma.