The Unlikely Wife

Cover Page

Excerpt

Dear Reader

Title Page

Books by Cassandra Austin

About the Author

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Copyright

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To Jonathan, Eden and Paul

For all the times you let me write when you would rather have had cookies. You turned into fine adults anyway.

Kansas, 1867

“T
he window’s so dirty I can barely see out,” Cousin Alicia Evans said.

“There’s nothing to see anyway,” responded Aunt Belle.

Rebecca Huntington’s only response to her companions’ conversation was a muttered “Hmm,” which she assumed they took as agreement. She didn’t agree, however. She leaned slightly into the aisle, quite pleased with the view. Since the train had pulled out of Kansas City that morning, she had been keeping close watch on the activities of a very good-looking soldier. His uniform told her he was a cavalry lieutenant. He was clean-shaven, something slightly unusual in the West. She thought his choice to shave could have been vanity; he had the most magnificent
jaw she had ever seen, strong, square and welldefined. It would have been a shame to cover it.

He had left the car some time ago and had only just returned, stopping to talk to someone in a forward seat and giving her a wonderful opportunity to admire his profile. One hand rested on the back of the seat as he bent slightly forward. Rebecca marveled at how easily he braced himself against the train’s erratic rocking.

He ended the conversation and straightened, turning toward the rear of the car. Rebecca jerked upright but continued to watch. Three steps down the aisle, his eyes met hers. His were gray, quite a charming contrast to the tanned face and charcoal lashes.

She thought his step might have faltered when he caught her watching him, but it could have been the jerking of the train. His face didn’t register surprise, even when she refused to turn demurely away. He tipped his campaign hat, and a dark lock slid free to settle against his brow. “Ma’am,” he murmured.

Rebecca smiled, well aware that the dimples that appeared in her cheeks had a devastating effect on some men. “Lieutenant.”

He didn’t stop, and in two steps he was past. Rebecca was wondering what excuse she could use to stand and look behind her when a sharp pain on her knee made her jump.

“Don’t do that!” Aunt Belle snapped open her weapon and fanned herself briskly.

Rebecca tried not to scowl. The woman, of course, felt compelled to act as chaperone to both girls. At twenty, Rebecca considered herself fully grown and had for some time. Alicia might need her mother’s restrictions, she thought, since she was still a child of sixteen.

“Don’t do what?” Rebecca asked, feigning innocence.

Belle hissed, “Don’t smile at strange men.”

“Oh, Aunt Belle, he’s an officer. I’ve been around them all my life. Most of them are gentlemen.” She gave her companion a dimpled smile, afraid it would have little or no effect on her.

“Don’t smile at strange gentlemen, either.” With this pronouncement of decorum, the older woman returned her attention to the nearly opaque window.

Rebecca wasn’t ready to let it go. “He’s a soldier. He deserves a civil greeting.”

Belle didn’t glance at her. “That wasn’t a civil greeting.”

Pretty little Alicia was eyeing her with a combination of fear and awe. Alicia rarely defied her mother, and she never, ever flirted with men. While the look begged her to behave, Rebecca knew Alicia would be disappointed if she did.

She stretched, a most unladylike activity since it would have been impossible to accomplish if she actually wore the corset the other women assumed she did. “It’s quite stuffy in here,” she murmured. “I
believe I’ll take a breath of air on the platform. Would either of you care to join me?”

Both women stared at her. Aunt Belle found her voice first. “Is that safe? Why, the train’s moving so fast you could tumble off.”

Rebecca blinked innocently. “It does happen occasionally. Still, if one is careful…” She let her voice trail off as if she were doubtful. She looked from one shocked face to the other. “No? Well, I’ll only be a few minutes.”

She stepped into the aisle and, pretending to take a moment to gain her balance, searched the rear seats for the lieutenant. She was lucky on two counts. He faced in her direction, and he hadn’t put his hat over his face to try to sleep. It took no effort at all to get him to notice her. She walked slowly past, smiling sweetly. As she opened the door at the rear of the car, she cast a glance over her shoulder, pleased that he was watching.

Lieutenant Clark Forrester enjoyed the view of swaying hips as the young lady left the car. Her message couldn’t have been clearer if she had sent a telegram. He relaxed, giving her a minute to wonder if he was coming. He knew the game. First she must pretend to be shocked at being alone with a man, then she would relent and agree to talk for a few minutes. If he said all the right things, he might be lucky enough to win a kiss.

Of course, if they were caught, she would have to
slap his face and he would have to take it to save her pride. That was the gamble. He didn’t have to wonder if it was worth it. No man who had ever been stationed on the frontier passed up a chance to spend time with a woman, let alone a beautiful one. The next chance could be months away.

Deciding he had left her in suspense long enough, he glanced toward her companions. They weren’t watching, and he rose, placing his hat in his seat so it wouldn’t be blown away, and slipped out the door. The gallant soldier-to-the-rescue was always an acceptable image, he thought, but, before he could express his concern for her safety, she turned from the railing and smiled.

“The hills are lovely, aren’t they, Lieutenant?” she asked.

“Yes, ma’am.” The hills? The hills were lonely and barren and, though it was only June, already burned to a yellow-brown by the sun. But she was most certainly lovely. “It’s hard to even notice the scenery when I have you to look at instead.”

“Charmingly said. Come stand beside me so we don’t have to shout above the wind.” She turned away to gaze at the passing hills.

Clark hesitated. She wasn’t following the rules, and it left him unsure of his next move. The wind was blowing, of course; it was always blowing on the prairie, but, even with the constant clatter of the train, in such a small space there was no need to
shout to be heard. The edge of the platform with the lovely young lady was only a step away and narrow enough that if he stood beside her, he would be standing against her. He took the step.

“I’ve been gone for six years. It’ll be wonderful to get home,” she said. “Where are you from, soldier?”

“Virginia, ma’am.”

“I thought I heard it in your voice.” She was now directly in front of him, her upturned face only inches away. He wasn’t sure how much longer he ought to wait, how much longer he
could
wait.

“And what would take you away for six years and leave you homesick for the prairie?” He put one hand gently on her waist, ready to remove it at the slightest sign that he was acting too quickly.

“The war first. And an education,” she said, still smiling.

Clark grinned. Now he knew the game. “Did they teach you everything you wanted to know?”

The young lady shook her head, her smile gradually fading as her whiskey-colored eyes darkened. Time to call or fold.

He lowered his head slowly, watching her eyes drift shut before his lips found hers. He kept the touch as gentle as possible, allowing her the choice of pulling away. When he felt no hesitation on her part, he brought his free hand up to her neck, urging her closer.

Her lips parted sweetly, and her tongue met his. This was
not
the lady’s first kiss. But he wouldn’t hold that against her. His arms tightened and felt warm, firm flesh beneath several layers of cloth. No whalebone or steel cinched this slender waist The realization made his pulse leap.

Something in her blood responded. He tasted it on her lips, smelled it on her perfumed skin. Suddenly he hated the game; he wanted this to be real.

Raising his head, he let the breeze cool his face. He would step away from her, but the tight space made it difficult. He waited for her eyes to open, then grinned down at her. “I pity the poor man who marries you, my dear.”

The saucy smile returned. “I should be deeply wounded by those words, Lieutenant, but with that soft Virginia drawl you could say just anything. Now, tell me why you pity my future husband.”

“Because, he’ll never be able to let you out of his sight.”

The dimples deepened. She leaned against him, standing on her toes. Her hands went around his neck, pulling him toward her as she whispered, “Why would he want to?”

“Good question.”

Clark took the willing lips again, knowing that she had all the cards stacked in her favor. He would take only the liberties she allowed, and when she decided to cash in her chips, the game would be over. She
had picked her time and place well. He wasn’t fool enough to think he was anything more than her idea of a little adventure.

After a long leisurely kiss, she sank away from him with a trembling sigh. “I really must go back,” she whispered.

He nodded. “I’ll stay out here a few minutes, of course.”

“Do be careful,” she said, slipping away from him. In a moment she had gone inside and closed the door.

“Careful,” he murmured, resting his head against the car behind him. “You, too.” Someday that little minx was going to play with the wrong man. Or some poor fool would fall in love with her and not know it was hopeless. But not today.

Rebecca took her seat, noticing with pleasure that Aunt Belle had fallen asleep. Alicia, however, was wide-awake. “You were gone so long, I was worried,” she whispered.

“There’s a rail all around the platform. You would have to try to fall,” Rebecca assured her in quiet tones.

“That’s not what I meant.” Alicia glanced furtively at her mother and lowered her voice until Rebecca could hardly hear it. “Was he a gentleman?”

Rebecca giggled and bit her lip. Nothing roused Aunt Belle’s suspicion like merriment. “Barely,” she whispered.

She knew Alicia was aware of her fondness for men. Alicia had come to her rescue a couple of times when Rebecca had nearly been caught sneaking in or out. Though Rebecca looked on the little flirtations and stolen kisses as innocent fun, Aunt Belle saw them as signs of loose character. Rebecca knew her father was treated to every detail in his sister’s letters. At least every detail Belle knew or imagined. And that was part of the reason Rebecca hesitated to share too much of her escapades with her young cousin. What she didn’t know, her mother couldn’t force out of her.

Something else held her back, as well. This lieutenant was older than the others, more experienced. He had been a dangerous choice. She had a feeling that in another place he wouldn’t have stopped with a kiss. The notion wasn’t as alarming as it should have been.

Alicia was watching her expectantly. Rebecca grinned at her. “He pronounces prairie like it ends with
a,
and says the most charming things.”

“Will you see him again?”

“Of course not” Rebecca heard more conviction in her voice than she felt.

“What if he insists?”

“Alicia,” Rebecca hissed. “He won’t insist. He’s a gentleman.”

“Barely.”

Rebecca scowled at her cousin, wishing she’d be
quiet. She wanted to sit and savor the warmth that still tingled in her stomach. That was by far the best kiss ever. In fact, this was the first time she wanted to corner the same man a second time. She wondered if she
could
see him again. No, that was a bad idea. If they met under any other circumstances now, he might think she was a loose woman and expect more than a couple of kisses.

Too bad, she thought. He was incredibly charming.

When the train pulled into the station at Fort Riley, Clark was more than ready to get off. If he had to hear the dark-haired girl’s voice or see the top of her head for much longer, he would be hustling her back out to the platform. He had no explanation for his reaction to her flirtation. It was the kind of thing he ran into often enough. On this trip back home, two different women had practiced their wiles on him. Neither had left him feeling confused the way this young lady had.

He got his bag and left the station, resisting the urge to see where the girl went. There were more important things to think about. At the post commander’s headquarters, he dropped his bag beside the door and entered. Answering the orderly’s salute, he requested a meeting with General Hale.

While the orderly stepped into the inner office, Clark took a look around the room. All headquarters looked much the same, dark and bare with only a
few reflections of the person in charge. This is what my life has become, he thought, dark and bare. The observation had come to him once before, also after a visit home. Home? Virginia was hardly that anymore; he had been out here too long.

The orderly interrupted Clark’s thoughts. “Please go in, Lieutenant,” he said.

Clark nodded and entered the office. General Hale stood behind his desk, offering his hand and dismissing Clark’s salute. “We’ve been expecting you. Welcome back to the West, Lieutenant,” he said. “Did you have a pleasant trip home?”

“Yes, sir.” Clark stood at ease as the general took his seat

“I understand you’ve been at Fort Dodge and are to report to Fort Hays. You know they moved again?” He didn’t wait for a response. “They were flooded out on the eighth. Moved farther west and closer to where the railroad will run. Colonel Huntington requested more men as well as supplies. These are due to leave…” he consulted a ledger on his desk “…in two days. I’m putting you in charge.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I believe you know Sergeant Whiting. He’s been here working with the new recruits you’ll be taking with you. He’ll see about your quarters and anything else you need.” The general’s attention had already
been drawn back to the papers on his desk. “Was there anything else?”

After the formalities of dismissal, Clark turned to leave the office. The orderly caught the door as he opened it, stepping aside and entering the inner office behind him. The door swung shut before Clark noticed three women waiting in the outer room. They all turned in his direction, but the dark-haired girl with the dimples was the only one he truly saw.

Habit let him walk past the orderly’s desk toward the outside door. He managed a polite, “Ladies,” as he passed. His hand was on the doorknob when the general burst from his office.