Constance Bennett—Moonsong
[ e - r e a d s ]
“Go to hell, Meade,” she said viciously as she disappeared behind a clump of bushes.
“I probably will,” he muttered, then wondered if perhaps he’d already arrived.
The remainder of their journey was even more tense than the first part had been. Where before, Rayna had been eager for conversation to relieve the boredom of the trail, now she wanted nothing more than for the earth to open up and swallow Meade whole. It was her great misfortune to have fallen in love with a man who was determined to deny whatever tender emotions he felt for her simply because she wasn’t enough of a lady to suit him. He wanted to marry her, but only out of guilt and a sense of honor that caused Rayna more pain than if he’d cavalierly taken her virginity and left her without so much as a farewell.
For his part, Meade was almost as furious as Rayna, but his anger was directed inward. His emotions were tangled in knots so tight he didn’t think they’d ever unravel. He couldn’t think straight when Rayna was anywhere near him, and though he hated the thought of what marriage to her would do to his life, he couldn’t imagine letting her go. He had taken her virginity; the only honorable thing to do was marry her. That conclusion should have been simple, but Rayna was just too stubborn to see it. While he fumed and tried to sort out the mess he’d made of both their lives, she fumed and did an excellent job of ignoring him completely.
Once they traversed the Caldero Mountains, the going became much easier despite the encumbrance of the two additional horses they were leading.
Their encounter with the thieves had cost them a great deal of time, and despite the grueling pace they set, they didn’t reach Fort Apache until midday on Wednesday.
The regimental flags that signaled Crook’s presence were flying over the fort, and as Rayna neared the outpost, her anger at Meade began taking second place to her anxiety at the thought of meeting Crook. She had been disappointed by too many military men to have any faith in Meade’s earlier assurances that Crook would release Skylar. As they rode between the two headquarters buildings at the entrance to the fort, Rayna would have loved an encouraging word from her companion, but she was much too proud to ask for it.
Their unexpected arrival caused a considerable stir on the parade ground as former colleagues and subordinates called to Meade in welcome, but only one man came to greet them officially when they dismounted in front of Crook’s headquarters.
“Major Ashford! Welcome back,” Lieutenant Neville Franklin said effu-sively, pumping Meade’s hand. “When did you return to the territory?”
187
Constance Bennett—Moonsong
[ e - r e a d s ]
“It’s just Dr. Ashford now, Neville, and I’ve only just arrived,” Meade answered. “This is our first stop.”
Franklin glanced at the blanket-draped bodies. “I see you two fellows had a spot of trouble.”
Fellows? Meade thought. How could any man be so blind as not to realize instantly that Rayna was a woman, despite her mannish clothes? “Yes, we did.
These two tried to bushwhack Miss Templeton and me in Denning Pass.”
He nodded. “Denning Pass, you say? We’ve had a number of ambushes there in the last few months. Maybe you’ve—” Meade’s words finally soaked in, and Franklin swiveled toward Rayna, who was tethering her horse to the rail. “Oh, I beg your pardon, ma’am. I didn’t mean to be rude. Welcome to Fort Apache.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant. Could you tell me, please, whom I should speak to about arranging an interview with General Crook?”
“Um, that would be Lieutenant Cary, ma’am.”
“Thank you.”
Meade could see that Rayna was anxious to go, and understandably so.
“Neville, would you take care of these bodies, please? They’ll have to be buried at once, but I’d like to know if anyone recognizes them.”
“Of course, Maj—er, Doctor. I’ll see to it at once.” He unleashed the reins from Meade’s saddle horn and led the horses away, tipping his hat to Rayna as he departed.
Meade looked at her. “Would you like to freshen up and change before we meet the general?”
She shot him an exasperated glance. “Why? Are you afraid he’ll mistake me for a man, too? Heaven forfend I should embarrass you with my attire.”
Meade bit down on his tongue and sighed before reminding her, “You’re the one who mentioned something in Santa Fe about wanting to be appropriately dressed when you met Crook. If you want to waltz into his office reeking like a horse and looking like an itinerant saddle bum, far be it from me to object.”
“Good, because I want to get this over with,” she replied.
Meade gestured toward the stairs to Crook’s headquarters. “After you, dear lady.”
He was right behind her as she bounded up the steps, but once they were inside, Meade took charge of arranging an appointment with Crook. He’d never met the general’s aide, and he anticipated having to wait awhile to see the commander, but the mere mention of Rayna’s name sent the aide scurrying into Crook’s office. Less than a minute later they were being ushered inside.
If George Crook was startled by Rayna’s appearance, he gave no indication of it as he greeted her with a warm but restrained smile, then turned 188
Constance Bennett—Moonsong
[ e - r e a d s ]
to Meade. “Good to see you again, Dr. Ashford. I heard you had decided to retire.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, it’s a very grave loss for the army.”
“Thank you, sir,” Meade replied, genuinely warmed by the compliment.
Crook never said anything he didn’t mean. “May I take it from the way the lieutenant rushed us in here that you have some inkling of why Miss Templeton has come?”
“Yes, I do.” Crook came around the desk and pulled a second chair away from the wall. “Please sit down. I’m afraid this isn’t going to be easy, and I certainly hadn’t anticipated being able to discuss this problem with you in person, Miss Templeton. In fact, I’ve been trying to draft a letter to you and your family.”
What did he mean, it wasn’t going to be easy? Rayna’s heart thudded heavily as she took the chair. “You received my letters, then, General?”
“Yes, and you have my heartfelt apologies for the suffering the army has caused you and your family.”
“Then you can help me rectify this injustice?” she asked, almost afraid to hope.
“I am doing my very best,” he said solemnly.
Rayna frowned. “What does that mean? My sister is now on the reservation at Rio Alto. Surely freeing her is a simple matter of signing a form ordering her release.”
“I wish it were that simple, Miss Templeton.”
Meade knew that Crook wasn’t completely at ease in the company of women, but his discomfort was out of proportion to the behavior Meade had witnessed in him in years past. “General, has something happened that Miss Templeton and I are not aware of?”
Crook couldn’t look at either of them. “I’m afraid so.”
“Oh, God,” Rayna breathed, clenching her hands into fists. “What’s happened to Skylar? General, tell me, please!” she begged, coming to the edge of her chair.
Crook was forced to look up from his desk. “The details are as yet unclear, Miss Templeton, but it has been reported to me that a young Apache woman named Skylark killed a soldier before their caravan reached the Rio Alto. She was placed under arrest, interrogated, and subsequently removed from captivity by a Mescalero brave named Sun Hawk. Both have vanished.”
“Dear God.” Rayna’s words were no more than a hushed whisper. Tears sprang into her eyes, and she rose abruptly, whirling away from Crook so that he couldn’t see them.