Daniel's Desire by Callie Hutton

soldiers rode behind him, with the last soldier riding double. As she grew closer, the sight of the second man, his head hanging down, hands tied behind his back, caught her eye, making her breath catch. The shirt and pants he wore had hung on the hook by her back door for months.
    She kicked the horse and rode up to the group. “Daniel!”
    Daniel’s head snapped up and his eyes met hers.
    “Captain, why is Lieutenant McCoy tied up?”
    The captain smirked. “How is it you know my prisoner, ma’am? And by name? And rank?”
    Realizing her mistake, she stiffened. Then remembered the war was over. He couldn’t do anything to her now. “You need to release him. The war is over.”
    Captain Nelson stretched his lips in the imitation of a smile. “Well, ma’am, it seems I can’t do that.”
    “Why not?”
    “First of all, since my men and I have been on the road for a couple of weeks, I haven’t gotten official word that the war is over. So after Lieutenant McCoy here spends a night in the town jail, I’ll be taking him back to Camp Morton in the morning.”
    Rosemarie furrowed her brows. “But then you’ll release him?”
    “Afraid not, ma’am.”
    She shook her head in confusion. “I don’t understand.”
    Daniel looked her square in the eye as Captain Nelson spoke.
    “Well, see ma’am, Lt. McCoy will be hung for stealing federal property. In fact — ,” he leaned forward, “ — the horse you’re riding right now.”

Chapter Eight
    Daniel’s lips tightened as Captain Nelson’s words hung in the air. Rosemarie had gone so pale he was afraid she’d pass out and tumble from the horse. Still stunned to have run into her in town, he nevertheless ate her up with his eyes.
    Leaving her last night had been the hardest thing he’d ever done. Even surviving and escaping prison camp had not torn him up that way. Rosemarie was everything he ever wanted in a wife and lover. He loved her children, could be very happy working her farm, but most of all he desired her. This strong, beautiful, passionate woman was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. But it appeared that life would soon be cut short.
    “Captain, may I speak with Lieutenant McCoy?” Rosemarie had recovered some of her color, and now her eyes flashed in anger as she stiffened and made her request.
    “Afraid not, Mrs. Wilson. We’re headed to the jail right now. My men and I are anxious to get baths, a meal, and a little fun before we return to the fort tomorrow. If you want to talk to the sheriff about seeing the Reb you been bedding down with, that’s up to you.”
    “Shut your filthy mouth!” Daniel felt the heat rise to his face, and his fists clenched behind his back.
    “I suggest you keep quiet, prisoner. You ain’t in no position to demand anything.” Captain Nelson turned and tipped his hat at Rosemarie. “Ma’am.” Then he moved his horse forward, the other men following. After a few steps, he turned. “Oh, and we’ll be taking that horse back, as well.”
    “You can’t leave her here without a horse,” Daniel growled.
    “Soldier, you don’t seem to understand that you have no say.” He smiled in Rosemarie’s direction. “Remove yourself from the horse, ma’am.”
    Rosemarie slid off the animal and began to unfasten the straps. “This saddle belongs to the livery,” she snapped.
    “Fine. We’ll be by your place soon to pick up the saddle that was on the horse when your lover here stole it.”
    A surge of anger so strong raced through Daniel that he broke the piece of leather fastened around his hands. He jumped from the horse and pulled Captain Nelson from his. Taken completely by surprise, Nelson received three good punches before he recovered himself and yelled to his men. Two soldiers grabbed Daniel by his arms. Nelson rotated his neck, dusted his jacket, and pulled on the cuffs. “Hold him.”
    “No!” Rosemarie screamed as the captain pulled back and slammed his fist into Daniel’s face.