In His Eyes(61)

The moisture in her eyes increased and spilled over. Blast. He’d hoped that the offering would be enough to keep that anguish that wrenched his gut from appearing in her eyes.

She reached out and laid a hand on his sleeve. “You bought him medicines?”

“Yes. Two kinds. One you feed him and the other to rub on. They are both supposed to ease the coughing.”

Before he could react, Ella threw her arms around his neck. “I thank you.” Her words, so sweet, tickled his skin. Then, just as quickly as she embraced him, she flung him away. “Oh!” Her eyes widened. “I…I shouldn’t have, I’m terribly sorry.”

His mouth twitched. “No need for apology. I am glad you are pleased with my effort.”

He painstakingly rose and helped her to her feet, making certain she would not wobble again. “Here. Take these on up to him.” He pressed the bottles in her hands.

Her eyes settled on his, questions swimming in their emerald depths. Then as though remembering the man they both had forgotten shared the room with them, she cut her eyes to the soldier. “Thank you. If you would kindly see to this gentleman, I will go tend Lee.”

“Certainly.” Westley watched her go, things inside him feeling set a kilter.

The other man cleared his throat. “Well, I must admit I had my doubts about you and this household, sir.”

Westley regarded him with lifted eyebrows.

He straightened his jacket. “You must understand that people have come up with all manner of tales to avoid paying their taxes. It would seem, however, that at least part of her story is true.”

Westley watched the wiry man run a hand through his blond hair. “Part?”

The corporal’s gaze crawled across him. “Obviously, the affection of man and wife is between you, so even though she wears the black, it would seem she belongs to you.”

Westley let the words slide over him, trying to ignore the odd feeling they tried to stoke.

The man shifted his weight. “She also stated something else about you. Do you know what it was?”

Westley shrugged. She could have said any manner of things. “As you are being vague, I do not know to what you are referring.”

“Hmm.”

Aggravation brought by a lack of sleep and the biting pain in his leg slaughtered Westley’s patience. “See here, Corporal Briggs. I am Major Remington—Third West Virginia Calvary Regiment, Third brigade, Army of the Shenandoah—and I would like to know what business you have in my house.”

The man instantly straightened and snapped to attention. “Forgive me, sir, I had to be sure. But I’m certain you can understand our caution with such things.”

Westley begrudgingly acknowledged the truth in the man’s statement and forced his anger out with a long breath. “I do. Take your ease.”

The man relaxed as he looked Westley over. “Medical furlough, sir?”

The reminder sent another wave of searing pain down his leg, but he refused to reach for the cane that still lay on the floor where he’d dropped it. “I was injured at Sayler’s Creek. I have been given leave to see to family matters after my father’s passing, and I will return north and to duty thereafter.”

The man bobbed his head. “Very good, sir. Seeing as you are a Federal officer and therefore a citizen of good standing,” he said, plucking papers from inside his blue frock, “then once the taxes are paid and the proper forms signed, all will be in order.”

Westley accepted the papers and unfolded them. Line after line of assessments filled the page. “You are sure these are correct?”

The man shrugged. “I delivered what I was given, sir.”

Westley glanced up at him and he diverted his gaze. “If you have any questions, though, Major, you can present them to Lieutenant Colonel Larson in town. He has an office in the old bank.”

Westley clasped the papers so tightly they crinkled. “Please inform him that I shall call upon him tomorrow to settle the affairs.”

“Very good, sir.” The man turned and looked over his shoulder. “Thank your wife for her hospitality. I can see my own way out.”

He snapped a salute and then left without waiting for a response. Westley watched him through the window until he disappeared around the bend. Then he let out the air that burned in his lungs and sat down to rub the ache.

He dropped his head back and stared at the ceiling. Trepidation thrummed in his chest and pumped its way through his veins. If the numbers on the papers were correct, then all of his money in Washington wouldn’t cover his father’s debt. Even if he took out every cent, he would still be deficient. Westley rubbed his temples and tried to ease the thought that repeated in his head with each contraction of his heart.

He was going to lose Belmont.





Ella rubbed the downy hair on Lee’s head, relieved to see him sucking on the cloth she’d dipped in the medicine. It had taken her an enormous amount of effort yesterday, but she’d accomplished it.

“I still can’t believe you done got him to suck on that rag.”

Ella swelled with pride at Sibby’s words. In this, at least, she had not failed. Lee looked up at her, his little eyes growing heavy. “I just hope it works.”

So far, the elixir seemed to make him rest more peacefully last night. She hoped this morning he would start to eat, but the elixir made him quite sleepy, and he still didn’t take much milk because whenever he was awake, the coughs caused him to be unable to nurse. If he got too weak, Ella feared he would not be able to recover.