Read Online Bright Morning Star by J. R. Biery - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: J. R. Biery
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motivate them and train both to at least handle the guns safely, how to load and fire each one. He encouraged them to practice.
The women were a different story. Elizabeth Wimberley didn’t hesitate. She was only interested in learning to fire the pistol, but when she sighted down the barrel, she fired as though she had already picked out her target. Bella only took the weapon at his insistence. She seemed horrified at the idea of ever firing it until he asked her what she would do if Indians attacked, and she was the only one left to protect her son.
Instantly, she stiffened. He went through the instructions again and all three women paid close attention. Claire was last. He was not surprised when the little blonde came to practice with a lace collar added to her plain tan dress. She really was pretty, but he could have done without the fresh spray of perfume. Flirting, she pretended she couldn’t figure out how to hold the weapon. He willingly pulled her into his arms, supported her arm and held her tiny hand within his own. When she finally fired the gun, he was not surprised when she squealed at the noise and the kick of the shot. It was a relief when he finished and little Mary Anne showed up. She didn’t ask, just waited.
He released the annoying blonde and took the little girl with her impish features and big eyes onto his knee. “Don’t you think there are enough people to shoot the guns, that you’ll be safe now?”
“I can do it if Tom and Jim can, please,” she tilted her head, batting her lashes over those lovely gray eyes.
Calum laughed. What was it about women? Were they all born knowing how to work their eyes and voice to get their way?
When they walked back to eat, Calum left the others and walked over to the wagon where Bonnie slept. He was rewarded by the opportunity to see her sitting up, rumpled and still half asleep. Her dress was open a button and a damp cloth was on her neck over the sting.
As she opened her eyes and saw him, her eyes changed from soft, nutmeg brown to a lighter shade with little sparks of yellow. Calum tried not to, but he hoped the lights were for him.
All during the meal, he sat next to Bonnie, attentively cutting her meat, getting up to get her coffee. Claire sat on the bench across from them, trying to catch the Lieutenant’s eye or draw him into conversation. Ignored, her father or mother would try to answer her questions when the silence stretched out. It was clear, the officer had eyes only for Bonnie.
As soon as the meal was over, he escorted Bonnie back to her wagon. She watched him lift Bonnie up to sit on the tailgate. Although the wagon was between them and the couple, she could see his tall legs, the blue cloth decorated with bold yellow bands down the sides of each leg.
She tried, but she couldn’t hear what they were saying. As the couple talked, she watched Calum lean so his legs were at an angle, then move back straight. After the third time she saw him mount up and ride slowly off into the dark. It wasn’t her place, but she was surprised that her father didn’t ask him to stay until daylight.
Her parents said Goodnight and retired next, urging the others to sleep well. Bella lifted her son to take him to bed and apologized to Claire for leaving her with the cleanup. Henry gave her the same annoying shrug, he had earlier. Peeved, Claire stood, ready for bed as usual, but tonight she was left with the job of clearing up. Fine, it was a good thing that no eligible man would notice her. She didn’t want to be a wife and have to do this every day.
CHAPTER NINE
Claire came out of her wagon last, groaning as she sat on the tailgate, still in her wrapper. Bonnie, had risen early, eager to get the fire stirred to life, coffee made and hoecakes fried. The deer meat hung over the ashes of the fire where it had smoked overnight. Claire inhaled the hot smells and groaned.
Bonnie served her friend a stack of cakes drizzled with molasses.
“Thank
The women were a different story. Elizabeth Wimberley didn’t hesitate. She was only interested in learning to fire the pistol, but when she sighted down the barrel, she fired as though she had already picked out her target. Bella only took the weapon at his insistence. She seemed horrified at the idea of ever firing it until he asked her what she would do if Indians attacked, and she was the only one left to protect her son.
Instantly, she stiffened. He went through the instructions again and all three women paid close attention. Claire was last. He was not surprised when the little blonde came to practice with a lace collar added to her plain tan dress. She really was pretty, but he could have done without the fresh spray of perfume. Flirting, she pretended she couldn’t figure out how to hold the weapon. He willingly pulled her into his arms, supported her arm and held her tiny hand within his own. When she finally fired the gun, he was not surprised when she squealed at the noise and the kick of the shot. It was a relief when he finished and little Mary Anne showed up. She didn’t ask, just waited.
He released the annoying blonde and took the little girl with her impish features and big eyes onto his knee. “Don’t you think there are enough people to shoot the guns, that you’ll be safe now?”
“I can do it if Tom and Jim can, please,” she tilted her head, batting her lashes over those lovely gray eyes.
Calum laughed. What was it about women? Were they all born knowing how to work their eyes and voice to get their way?
When they walked back to eat, Calum left the others and walked over to the wagon where Bonnie slept. He was rewarded by the opportunity to see her sitting up, rumpled and still half asleep. Her dress was open a button and a damp cloth was on her neck over the sting.
As she opened her eyes and saw him, her eyes changed from soft, nutmeg brown to a lighter shade with little sparks of yellow. Calum tried not to, but he hoped the lights were for him.
All during the meal, he sat next to Bonnie, attentively cutting her meat, getting up to get her coffee. Claire sat on the bench across from them, trying to catch the Lieutenant’s eye or draw him into conversation. Ignored, her father or mother would try to answer her questions when the silence stretched out. It was clear, the officer had eyes only for Bonnie.
As soon as the meal was over, he escorted Bonnie back to her wagon. She watched him lift Bonnie up to sit on the tailgate. Although the wagon was between them and the couple, she could see his tall legs, the blue cloth decorated with bold yellow bands down the sides of each leg.
She tried, but she couldn’t hear what they were saying. As the couple talked, she watched Calum lean so his legs were at an angle, then move back straight. After the third time she saw him mount up and ride slowly off into the dark. It wasn’t her place, but she was surprised that her father didn’t ask him to stay until daylight.
Her parents said Goodnight and retired next, urging the others to sleep well. Bella lifted her son to take him to bed and apologized to Claire for leaving her with the cleanup. Henry gave her the same annoying shrug, he had earlier. Peeved, Claire stood, ready for bed as usual, but tonight she was left with the job of clearing up. Fine, it was a good thing that no eligible man would notice her. She didn’t want to be a wife and have to do this every day.
CHAPTER NINE
Claire came out of her wagon last, groaning as she sat on the tailgate, still in her wrapper. Bonnie, had risen early, eager to get the fire stirred to life, coffee made and hoecakes fried. The deer meat hung over the ashes of the fire where it had smoked overnight. Claire inhaled the hot smells and groaned.
Bonnie served her friend a stack of cakes drizzled with molasses.
“Thank
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