dispersed, Effie Hurlburt approached him. “Captain, would you kindly help me hang streamers from the walls? A bit of bunting will add a festive air to the proceedings.”
As they went about their work, Effie chattered about the weather and offered tidbits of fort gossip. Caleb couldn’t help wondering why she had selected him, rather than an enlisted man for this duty, but the answer soon came. When they finished, she turned to him. “For your labors, you deserve a reward. Escort me home for tea cakes and a spot of lemonade.” From the brisk way she began walking toward her house, he had little choice but to follow.
At her door, she led him in and urged him to sit in what was clearly the major’s armchair. When Caleb raised his eyebrows in question, she anticipated his concern. “You stay right there. Hurly’s in his office working on a dispatch, so we won’t be disturbed. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I will see to our refreshments.” She bustled from the room, leaving him to study the lacy antimacassars on the sofa and the Chinese vase on the fringed scarf atop the piano. It was almost as if Mrs. Hurlburt had lured him to her parlor for some purpose.
“Here we are.” She set a tray on a nearby table. After she had served him his lemonade, she took her own drink and sat on the sofa facing him. Without preliminary, she said, “I understand you will be leaving the army late this summer.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“It’s just the two of us, dear. You don’t need to ‘ma’am’ me. I’m Effie. Besides, we’re just two friends having a cozy tête-à-tête.” She paused to sip from her lemonade. “What are your plans after you muster out?”
He told her about working with his father and brother on the ranch.
“Then you should not be too far from here.”
“About one hundred-fifty miles as the crow flies.”
“Do you plan to marry and start a family?”
“Eventually, but that’s down the road a long ways.”
“Why?”
Her bluntness set him back. “I’m not ready yet. I need to get settled.”
“Forgive an old woman’s candor, but I think you’re fooling yourself.”
A trickle of perspiration worked its way down the small of his back. This was more inquisition than polite chat. “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand.”
“It’s simple. Why are you waiting when golden opportunity is knocking at your door? You’ll be hard-pressed to find the likes of Lily Kellogg again.”
The light dawned. Just as he’d originally deduced, Effie Hurlburt delighted in matchmaking. “I do not dispute that she is a fine young woman. I value our friendship, but a friendship it must remain.”
“Poppycock!” Effie pursed her lips. “I do not understand why you are deluding yourself when you are so clearly in love with Lily.”
He couldn’t have been more shocked if she’d suddenly turned into a lioness. He sputtered, searching for a response. “With all due respect, wouldn’t I know that better than you?”
“Not at all. You young people can be oblivious to what’s right under your nose.” She fixed her eyes on him. “Are you going to sit there and tell me you’ve never thought of Lily as a potential wife?”
There was no satisfactory answer to that question. “No matter, because she would never regard me in that light.”
Ellie’s tinkling laughter unnerved him. “Are you daft, boy? She is crazy about you. She just hasn’t admitted it to herself yet.” She stifled a giggle. “And you? You big galoot. Whatever nonsense you tell yourself, you are in love with Lily Kellogg as all the world can clearly see.”
In love? He couldn’t be. He wouldn’t be. Not after Rebecca’s betrayal. “You mock me, ma’am.”
“On the contrary, I’m trying to knock some sense into that thick head of yours. If you let Lily Kellogg get away, you’ll regret it the rest of your life.” She sat back, leaving the idea suspended in the silence. Then in a gentler tone, she said, “Now then, young
As they went about their work, Effie chattered about the weather and offered tidbits of fort gossip. Caleb couldn’t help wondering why she had selected him, rather than an enlisted man for this duty, but the answer soon came. When they finished, she turned to him. “For your labors, you deserve a reward. Escort me home for tea cakes and a spot of lemonade.” From the brisk way she began walking toward her house, he had little choice but to follow.
At her door, she led him in and urged him to sit in what was clearly the major’s armchair. When Caleb raised his eyebrows in question, she anticipated his concern. “You stay right there. Hurly’s in his office working on a dispatch, so we won’t be disturbed. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I will see to our refreshments.” She bustled from the room, leaving him to study the lacy antimacassars on the sofa and the Chinese vase on the fringed scarf atop the piano. It was almost as if Mrs. Hurlburt had lured him to her parlor for some purpose.
“Here we are.” She set a tray on a nearby table. After she had served him his lemonade, she took her own drink and sat on the sofa facing him. Without preliminary, she said, “I understand you will be leaving the army late this summer.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“It’s just the two of us, dear. You don’t need to ‘ma’am’ me. I’m Effie. Besides, we’re just two friends having a cozy tête-à-tête.” She paused to sip from her lemonade. “What are your plans after you muster out?”
He told her about working with his father and brother on the ranch.
“Then you should not be too far from here.”
“About one hundred-fifty miles as the crow flies.”
“Do you plan to marry and start a family?”
“Eventually, but that’s down the road a long ways.”
“Why?”
Her bluntness set him back. “I’m not ready yet. I need to get settled.”
“Forgive an old woman’s candor, but I think you’re fooling yourself.”
A trickle of perspiration worked its way down the small of his back. This was more inquisition than polite chat. “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand.”
“It’s simple. Why are you waiting when golden opportunity is knocking at your door? You’ll be hard-pressed to find the likes of Lily Kellogg again.”
The light dawned. Just as he’d originally deduced, Effie Hurlburt delighted in matchmaking. “I do not dispute that she is a fine young woman. I value our friendship, but a friendship it must remain.”
“Poppycock!” Effie pursed her lips. “I do not understand why you are deluding yourself when you are so clearly in love with Lily.”
He couldn’t have been more shocked if she’d suddenly turned into a lioness. He sputtered, searching for a response. “With all due respect, wouldn’t I know that better than you?”
“Not at all. You young people can be oblivious to what’s right under your nose.” She fixed her eyes on him. “Are you going to sit there and tell me you’ve never thought of Lily as a potential wife?”
There was no satisfactory answer to that question. “No matter, because she would never regard me in that light.”
Ellie’s tinkling laughter unnerved him. “Are you daft, boy? She is crazy about you. She just hasn’t admitted it to herself yet.” She stifled a giggle. “And you? You big galoot. Whatever nonsense you tell yourself, you are in love with Lily Kellogg as all the world can clearly see.”
In love? He couldn’t be. He wouldn’t be. Not after Rebecca’s betrayal. “You mock me, ma’am.”
“On the contrary, I’m trying to knock some sense into that thick head of yours. If you let Lily Kellogg get away, you’ll regret it the rest of your life.” She sat back, leaving the idea suspended in the silence. Then in a gentler tone, she said, “Now then, young
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